Band plays to launch patchwork bridge and 2021 Eisteddfod

* Ifton Colliery Band plays on the patchwork-draped bridge. 

Ifton Colliery Band played a selection of tunes to officially launch the giant patchwork art installation  on the town's ancient bridge on the opening day of the 2021 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Artist Luke Jerram was commissioned to create Bridges Not Walls which has seen over 100 individually handcrafted squares of fabric, from people in the local community and around the world, draped over both sides of the bridge.

The aim is to connecting this year's festival, being held mainly online, with its physical roots by producing an ever-changing artwork depending on the angle, light and weather conditions - all of which will be reflected in the water beneath.

The artwork will remain on the bridge until August 5.

During this year's Eisteddfod, with funding support from the Welsh Government, will see the main programme presented free of charge over this weekend. 

All performances will be streamed live online via the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod website with no need to book tickets or pre-register. 

The festival aims to celebrate a broad range of genres from classical, choral, hip hop, dance and world music, as well as Luke Jerram's Llangollen bridge artwork, to connect with existing and new audiences in preparation for its physical return in 2022.

The programme comprises:

·        Tangnefedd by Paul Mealor and Mererid Hopwood

World-premiere of a new choral piece by Paul Mealor, one of the world's most performed living composers and Mererid Hopwood, renowned Welsh poet and the first woman to win the National Eisteddfod Chair. The performance will feature choirs from around the world that have successfully competed at the Eisteddfod, from the UK, US and Africa. In the Welsh language, Tangnefedd means the result of bringing together two elements in peace and harmony.

·        Home/Adref with Horizons (BBC/ACW), Rachel K Collier, Magugu and Lily Beau

A new dance track, Home/Adref, commissioned for Llangollen Eisteddfod by up-and-coming electronic producer and performer Rachel K Collier, Nigerian-born, avant-garde rapper Magugu and talented young Welsh singer-songwriter and actress Lily Beau. The track is designed to inspire the Eisteddfod international music and dance community and wider public to respond with their own moves on social media. It's also a world first of combining the English, Welsh and Nigerian Pidgin Rap languages!

·      Catrin Finch and Guests

A new musical composition exploring the peace message with internationally renowned harpist and composer Catrin Finch, pioneering beatboxer and rapper Mr Phormula (Ed Holden), British Asian musician and tabla player Kuljit Bhamra, Eliza Marshall and Nick Ellis on Bansuri, Lee House, electronics and RAV drum and the refugee and asylum seeker Oasis One World Choir, from Cardiff.

·       Beth Yw Heddwch?/What is Peace? schools project

Project exploring children's thoughts about peace through the written word, dance, movement and drama sessions involving 1,000 pupils from three schools from Rhyl, Llanberis and Llangollen. A creative video will be produced and an exhibition of postcards expressing children's views about peace will be displayed throughout the town.

·       Peace Pavilion Programme

A thought-provoking programme of talks and activities with Academi Heddwch Cymru exploring peace and peacebuilding. The programme includes ‘The Peace Lecture' given by Begoña Lasagabaster, UN Women Chief of Leadership and Governance Section; ‘The Art of Peacebuilding'; ‘Peace Poems' and much more. For young people, this series includes virtual cultural exchange and the Young Peacemakers Awards ceremony. [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/academi-heddwch-cymru-33667861775]

This year's digital Llangollen Eisteddfod will feature videos of the world premiere performances, many filmed in the town itself. 

Betsan Moses, interim chief executive of the Llangollen Eisteddfod for 2021 said: "Llangollen Eisteddfod was founded on the idea of bringing peace and this year's cultural programme expresses what it stands for; peace, creativity and togetherness. 

"We're looking forward to sharing a varied and inspiring programme of events online this weekend, with an array of world-class performers across musical and artistic genres and exciting new commissions to delight both existing and new audiences across the globe.

"And we're hugely excited about Bridges, Not Walls which celebrates everything Llangollen's much-loved Eisteddfod stands for, as well as offering us a physical connection with this beautiful town for this year's online event and attracting visitors over the summer."

Artist Luke Jerram said: "From the moment I saw it, Llangollen Bridge struck me as incredibly powerful, both physically and symbolically. 

"The message and celebration of peace is at the heart of the Llangollen Eisteddfod and so this historic bridge, one of the seven wonders of Wales, makes the perfect canvas. As Sir Isaac Newton once said, 'We build too many walls and not enough bridges.'

"From Israel to the USA, we are at last exploring the possibility of building bridges rather than walls."

Former Dinas Bran teaching assistant helps recruit for ambulance service

* Helen Pritchard.

A mechanic who switched gears on her career to join the Welsh Ambulance Service is encouraging others to apply for a role.

Helen Pritchard, 42, of Bala, was a mechanic and later a teaching assistant at Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen before joining the ambulance service as an urgent care assistant.

The mum-of-three is now training to become an emergency medical technician and has ambitions to qualify as a paramedic.

She is encouraging others to apply for a role with the service.

Helen said: “I’d always wanted a job in the ambulance service but I thought there’d be no point in applying because I hadn’t done well at school – I didn’t have a single GCSE.

“I was a mechanic for several years before I pursued a Level 3 Diploma in Child Development, and I actually sat my GCSEs in the school where I worked as a teaching assistant.

“As soon as I had those under my belt, I was in a position to apply to the ambulance service – and here I am.”

Helen joined the service in 2020 as an urgent care assistant in Bala, and is now training to become an emergency medical technician so that she can work alongside paramedics to deliver life-saving care in the community.

She said: “It was the fast-paced nature of the role which attracted me.

“I was also a first aider at the school, and felt proud to have the skills to be able to care for the children who were ill or injured – and sometimes the adults too.

“I love it at the Welsh Ambulance Service, and everyone has been so helpful and welcoming.

“My advice to anyone thinking about applying for a role is that it’s never too late in your career.

“Whatever your background and whatever you’ve done previously, it really doesn’t matter – I’m proof of that.”

Visit the NHS Jobs website to search for jobs at the Welsh Ambulance Service.

To train as an Emergency Medical Technician like Helen, follow the link to apply for vacancies in North Wales: https://bit.ly/3qW92Ao

* The closing date is this Sunday July 11.

Paper features story on rogue speed camera near Llan

The Daily Post has featured a story on a traffic speed camera near Llangollen which went rogue and began snapping motorists at speeds as low as 9mph.

It says that scores of drivers passing the fixed camera, on the A539, complained their vehicles were being flashed despite travelling well below the 50mph speed limit. 

* For the full story, see: The 'rogue' North Wales speed camera that's flashing motorists - even ones travelling at 9mph - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)

Foodshare now reaches out to even more people

* Llangollen Foodservice team at their new premises on the Market Street car park. From left, Stephanie Mitchell, Kirsty Wild, Lesley Greasley and Jess Horner, South Denbighshire Community Partnership Co-Ordinator. Picture by Mandy Jones Photography.

A Llangollen community group has graduated from holding coffee mornings to playing a vital role in the fight against pandemic hardship by feeding up to 40 households a week.

Llangollen Foodshare, which began 18 months ago in the Pengwern Community Centre as a project to prevent food waste going into landfill, has moved into new premises in the heart of the town and is reaching out to even more people.

Supported by South Denbighshire Community Partnership (SDCP), an additional £20,000 in funding has been secured from Community Foundation Wales and the National Lottery Community Fund.

This has allowed the fitting out of new kitchen and storage rooms at the venue on Castle Street.  

It has also enabled the appointment of a part-time project officer to support the operational needs of the project.

The volunteer team behind the project are members of the community who started holding coffee mornings with the Friends of Pengwern and passed on food donated by local food suppliers to families facing challenging circumstances.

Project volunteer and committee member Kirsty Wild said: “It began when Emma Davies, former Chair of Friends of Pengwern Residents’ Association, started collecting surpluses which enabled the coffee morning to run.

“It started with surplus food from the Co-op and Aldi which we shared, but then with Covid it became clear that more and more people were struggling for food.

“Emma, myself and another former colleague Jane Townend developed the project by collecting more surplus food and sharing it more widely, following further voluntary involvement from Steph Mitchell, Lesley Greasley, Heulwen Wright and Jen Davis.”

The pandemic saw the demand for the service increase significantly and they have regularly been providing food parcels for over 130 people.

Kirsty added: “People’s situations were changing very quickly as many families were having to come to terms with self-isolation, unemployment, furlough and increased demand placed on family units from home schooling etc

“There is a perception of Llangollen as a well-to-do little town but you only have to look at the number of children on free school meals and the self-employed people whose work has dried up in the pandemic.

“This said, Llangollen is such a fantastic community with many generous people, groups and retailers who donated many food items and money contributions.”

Llangollen Foodshare has benefited from support from SDCP, which has recently captured further funding from the Big Lottery Fund to expand their community activities and services into the Llangollen area, as part of their Your Place or Ours Project.

Kirsty said: “SDCP have made a huge difference to us. It was crucial for us to find other more suitable premises than those at the Friends of Pengwern.

“It meant we could be supported to rent and fit out the premises and importantly appoint a paid member of staff, who can help the group develop a sustainable future in our own right. Without SDCP we wouldn’t have been able to get us to this point.”

Jess Horner, the recently appointed Llangollen Food Share Coordinator for SDCP, said: “The site is in a prime position backing onto the main car park in the town and is in walking distance for most of our clients.

“It’s perfect for us and we are just looking to get more volunteers with a variety of skills so that we can deliver even more services such as cooking hot meals here on the premises.

“It has been very positive, the way the local community has backed us and we are so grateful for all the donations.

“One of our aims is to reduce food waste so we are happy to receive anything that is within its sell-by and use by date, is non-perishable and un-opened, so that we can distribute to those in real need.  Unfortunately, we are unable to accept home cooked meals.”

In the last three years SDCP have built up a wide portfolio of services for the Edeyrnion area around Corwen including meals-on-wheels, a lunch club, community transport including electric vehicles, green energy generation and grocery and prescription delivery services.

It is hoped that the new premises in Castle Street, accessed via the Market Street Car Park, will also provide a home for Citizens Advice Denbighshire and for SDCP to support other local groups.

SDCP’s Strategic Implementation Officer, Tom Taylor said: “Llangollen already had a number of fantastic groups like Food Share and we are now aiming to work alongside many of them.

“The Food Share Project volunteers are a very committed and enthusiastic group who have worked tirelessly to ensure families facing difficulties receive a worthwhile service.

“Throughout the pandemic they have remained determined to respond to increased demands and coordinated much-needed resources. It’s a commendable project with genuinely lovely people.

“We will now continue to work closely with the Food Share Committee so they can ensure a sustainable future for project, so as to meet the needs of Llangollen residents and the surrounding area.”

* For more information on Llangollen Food Share or you wish to get more involved as a project or Committee volunteer please go to https://www.neighbourly.com/project/5e1dc2f0c7ac8e29d4d3c69b https://www.facebook.com/llangollenfoodshare

* For more information about SDCP visit https://www.facebook.com/sdcpartnership or contact SDCP on 01490 266004.

Police launch probe after protected bird is poisoned

The North Wales Police Rural Crime Team has launched an investigation into the poisoning of a red kite, found dead in the Ceiriog Valley.

The bird of prey, protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, was found on February 27 this year and attended to by RSPB Investigations Team.

Toxicology tests carried out by the Welsh Government have now revealed the bird tested positive for Bendiocarb – a highly toxic insecticide.

Officers believe the incident was potentially a deliberate act and are asking anyone with information to get in touch.

It comes following several similar incidents reported in the area over the past three years, with a number of ravens and crows also found to have been poisoned using another substance.

PC Dewi Evans, North Wales Police Rural Crime Team manager, said: “We suspect the red kite died as a result of the unlawful use of poison and as a result, we have launched an investigation into the incident.

“The deliberate poisoning of a bird brings a serious risk to humans and other animals and is hugely irresponsible.

“We are currently looking into a potential motive for this incident and ask members of the public who have information to get in touch.”

Anybody with information is asked to contact officers at the North Wales Police Rural Crime Team via the website or by calling 101, quoting reference number 21000458355. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Inner Wheel enjoys first live meeting in over a year

Llangollen Inner Wheel met in the garden of one of its members for afternoon tea. 

This was the first live meeting they had been able to have since March last year. 

Members took the opportunity to present a certificate of congratulations to Cat Meade in recognition of the outstanding service she has given to the people of Llangollen during the pandemic.

Several members have been with the club for more than 30 years and they were presented with certificates by Eulanwy Davies, past District 18 Chairman.

Enid Law, President of Inner Wheel Great Britain and Ireland, and a member of the Llangollen club, was presented with a bowl to commemorate her time in office.

Eileen Dart, the club's outgoing President, welcomed Val Cartwright as President for 2021-22.

MP slams Welsh Government's tourism tax plan

* Simon Baynes MP in the Chamber of the House of Commons. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes criticised the Welsh Labour Government’s proposed tourism tax during Questions to the Wales Office in the Chamber of the House of Commons.

Mr Baynes highlighted the Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site, Llangollen Canal and Steam Railway as examples of vital tourist destinations and said that the tourism and hospitality businesses in his constituency would be hard-hit by Welsh Labour’s proposal. 

He asked whether the Minister responding would agree with him that the Welsh Labour Government’s plans would be disastrous for the hospitality industry in Wales, particularly as it just comes out of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In response, Wales Office Minister, David TC Davies MP said: “I absolutely agree with my Hon. Friend and I look forward – I hope – to an invitation to visit his constituency at some point in the future to see some of these superb tourist attractions that are there. 

"And I do agree with him. The UK Government has shown its commitment to the tourism industry by cutting VAT down to 5%. 

"The Welsh Labour Government want to implement a tax on the tourism industry at a time when it is at its most fragile. The UK Government will always want to level-up the economy. Welsh Labour will always want to levy taxes. 

Commenting later, Mr Baynes said: “This tourism tax could devastate hospitality businesses in Clwyd South and the rest of North Wales, which relies heavily on the tourism industry. 

"It will discouraging people from visiting Wales and making the average family holiday much more expensive – at a time when we should be encouraging visitors to come and spend money in our local economies. 

“It’s the job of Welsh Government to want to attract people to come and spend money in Wales – not try and discourage them. I was very happy with the Minister’s response, which highlights the contrast between the UK Conservative Government’s support for Wales and Labour’s ill-conceived policies.”