Collen Players back live for their latest hit music hall show

* The Collen Players take their curtain call at the end of the show. 

Pictures by Jeanette Robinson

* Father Lee Taylor in the chair.

* Neil Barrett and David Lyne as Barbara and Joyce.

 * Phil Robinson as Champagne Charlie.

* Magician Paul Edwards - the Welsh Wizard.

* Susan Stokes - Danny Boy.

* Gethin Davies - Have Some Madeira M'Dear.

* Mike Connolly on the Road to Mandalay.

* Louise Cielecki closes the show.

After a gap of many months due to the pandemic The Collen Players were back in front of a live audience last night for their latest music hall and variety show in the Community Hall.

In the chair as usual was St Collen's vicar Father Lee Taylor - a devout fan of traditional Victorian music hall - introducing the evening's packed programme which featured a host of talented entertainers.

Following his opening breezy bout of patter and comedy songs first up came a favourite of Players audiences Susan Stokes with the catchy K-K-K Katy and a moving Danny Boy.

They've done a similar routine for previous Collen shows and there was another warm welcome for the double-act Neil Barrett and Dave Lyne doing their hilarious skit on gossips Barbara and Joyce.

Phil Robinson then took to the authentically-dressed stage to present the music hall staples Champagne Charlie and The Spaniard Who Blighted My Life.

During the interval a well-enjoyed buffet meal was served for the audience prepared by Fabiano Silva.

In the second half of the show Father Lee resumed the chair to present a rousing musical medley of golden oldies including Tulips from Amsterdam, Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer, Loch Lomond and Let’s Go Fly a Kite.

For something a little different there was Paul Edwards presenting some amazingly cunning magic tricks in his guise as The Welsh Wizard.

Staying in lighter mood Gethin Davies followed with the ditty Have Some Madeira M’dear and The Spanish Guitar, both accompanied on the piano by his wife Eulanwy.

Mike Connolly's powerful and well-received contributions were Keep the Home Fires Burning and The Road to Mandalay before Barrett and Lyne returned to take an hilarious peek at George and Leonard, husbands of Barbara and Joyce.

Louise Cielecki rounded off in fine style with a couple of big-hearted show numbers, Little Girls from Annie and I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.

All that was left was for the chairman to lead the entire cast in a rousing chorus of one of the best-known of all music halls songs, Down at the Old Bull and Bush.

Locals encouraged to use valley sightseeing bus

* The bus stops at the Ponderosa on the Horseshoe Pass.

* Another stop at the Wenffrwd pocket park just outside Llangollen.

Llangollen people are being encouraged to try a trip aboard a bus service which is spending the summer touring some of Dee Valley's key beauty spots. 

The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus service is a circular route which runs every Saturday until October 2021.

It links Llangollen and the surrounding villages to popular local attractions including Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wenffrwd Nature Reserve, Horseshoe Falls, Valle Crucis Abbey, PlasNewydd Historic House and the Horseshoe Pass.

The service aims to enable people to visit these key locations without the need of a car and reduce the need for parking spaces, making it easier for those without their own vehicle to access these places, and helping to reduce congestion at some of the busiest sites in the Dee Valley.  

The service also provides both visitors and local residents the opportunity to explore the wider area.

The service has been made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales, and delivered in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Our Picturesque Landscape project, a landscape partnership scheme which is working to conserve and improve access to the inspiring landscapes of the Dee Valley and Pontcysllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.

The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus Service, number 199, operates Saturdays only until October 30. 

* For the full timetable and ticket prices for the Picturesque Bus service , see Denbighshire bus timetable webpage or pick up a leaflet from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre.

Kate Thomson, Partnership Officer for the Our Picturesque Landscape project, said: “This project was due to launch in 2020 but was delayed by the pandemic, so we are really pleased that this service was able to run in 2021 and hopefully for many years to come.  

"By working in partnership with Denbighshire County Council, we have been able to ensure that the service complements existing public transport provision.  

"Connecting to bus timetables from Corwen and Wrexham makes the Picturesque Bus service the ideal option for planning walks in the area.  

"We are grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Walesfor making this service possible, and hope it will go on to be a great success and a real legacy for the Our Picturesque Landscape project.”

Driver shortage means pause on council bulky waste collections

Denbighshire County Council is pausing new requests for the removal of bulky household items due to rising demand and a backlog of existing collections.

The Council is unable to take new bookings for this service until Monday, September 13, due to driver shortages.

Cllr Brian Jones, the Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “We are doing everything we can to keep all services going at this time.

“We would like to apologise to residents for any inconvenience caused and thank them for their understanding.

“Our priority is to collect requests from existing customers, with wait times currently around six weeks.

“We are seeing a rising demand for the service and this is exacerbated by driver shortages currently affecting many industries. 

“To enable the service to continue, the Council is working with Denbigh-based firm CAD Recycling who are providing staff to carry out collections.

“The Council is currently managing to keep all other waste services operating, despite staffing issues, and we hope this short suspension will ensure those who have already booked a bulky waste collection have their items cleared more quickly.”

Many bulky items collected by the Council can be reused or recycled if they are kept dry and clean until they are collected.

Residents are asked to keep items inside or protected until they are notified of their collection day.

Business is booming for Llangollen hotel after pandemic

* The Wild Pheasant is welcoming more brides than ever before, it says. 

* The spa is now open again following the pandemic.

A Llangollen hotel is reporting record business in the wake of the pandemic. 

The Wild Pheasant on the A5 stayed open throughout the Covid-19 crisis to accommodate key workers and is now rapidly getting back to normal. 

Fresh from its caring role The Wild Pheasant is once again welcoming the more usual kind of guest to its 47 bedrooms, restaurant and spa and the weddings side of the operation is booming. 

It was back in 2016 that the hotel was acquired by the Evenbright company which in its stable of hotels also numbers Rossett Hall, two in Lake District, Stonecross Manor and The George, as well a new one in Llandudno. 

Wild Pheasant guest accommodation includes standard double/twin rooms, executive king rooms, the Dinas Bran & Berwyn Suite and the Dee Valley Penthouse with private hot tub on the balcony. 

When it comes to dining there’s the Courtyard Restaurant and The Glasshouse with the Glanrafon Suite catering specifically for weddings.

 

A hotel spokesperson said: “The Wild Pheasant Hotel & Spa has always been a popular choice for weddings in North Wales.

 

“Our Glanafon Suite is ideal for weddings up to 100 people and boasts its own private bar area.

 

“In 2020 we were awarded the title of best countryside wedding venue regionally and nationally That was a fantastic achievement for all the team, which includes over 40 full and part-time staff.”

 

Following the pandemic the hotel’s Llangollen Spa is now open for access to its hydrotherapy pool and treatments.

 

The hotel says the sauna and steam room will be open at a later date once it is felt safe to do so.

 

A spokesperson said: “The Wild Pheasant and its team are delighted to welcome people back after the easing of Covid restrictions, although we remained open throughout to accommodate key workers. 

“The recent pandemic took the world of hospitality from one extreme to the other. But since the easing of lockdown restrictions all Everbright Hotels have enjoyed incredible levels of business and it seems as though the trend is set to continue. 

“Both The Wild Pheasant and Rossett Hall have seen levels across every area of their business exceed any previous record. 

“By the end of the year each hotel will have welcomed more brides and grooms than ever before, having rescheduled some weddings as many as three times during the pandemic. 

“The two hotels have also experienced unprecedented numbers of leisure guests coming into the area for their holidays and short breaks. 

“Restaurant and bars have been constantly busy with many passers-by and locals calling in to eat and drink. This has resulted in record numbers of enquiries from the local community already getting in early with their Christmas bookings.”

Politicians call for Universal Credit increase to go ahead

North Wales politicians are calling on the UK Government to abandon plans to halt increases to Universal Credit after it emerged their constituencies would be among the hardest hit in Wales. 

Ken Skates and Lesley Griffiths have urged MPs to ‘show some humility’ and fight for their constituents by opposing Westminster’s plans to withdraw a proposed £20-a-week rise in payments – equivalent to £1,040 a year – from October 6.   

Both Members of the Senedd say they have received emails and telephone calls from ‘extremely anxious’ constituents about the UK Government’s plans, but as benefits are not devolved to Wales it is incumbent on Members of Parliament to vote against the cut.   

“We continue to hear daily soundbites from the Tories at Westminster about ‘levelling up’, which all sound pretty hollow when they’re complicit in plunging low-income families into further financial problems,” said Mr Skates, Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South.   

“I would implore Members of Parliament to stand up and be counted. People have long memories and they won’t forget it if their MP supports the Tory Government taking this much-needed money away from them. It’s time for them to show some humility.”  

Figures recently published by the independent Joseph Rowntree Foundation revealed that all but four Welsh constituencies will see over a third of working-age families with children hit by the cut – including all six won by the Tories from Labour at the 2019 General Election.   

In Clwyd South, which includes Llangollen, 42% will be affected, it says.  

Ms Griffiths, Member of the Senedd for Wrexham, said: “In just a few weeks, the UK Government will impose the largest reduction to the basic rate of social security since World War Two. It’s impossible to over-state how hard this will hit local families, and it’s heart-breaking.   

“As we cautiously emerge on the other side of the pandemic, governments should be aiding social and economic recovery, but the statistics prove significantly reducing the support offered by Universal Credit will have a detrimental effect on many Wrexham residents.”  

It is estimated that 22% of all working-age families in Wales will see a £1,040-a-year cut to their incomes from October 6. A huge 42% of families with children in Wales will be affected.   

Across the UK, more than a third (38%) of those who will see their income reduced are in employment – while one in six (16%) are under 25.   

The Welsh Labour Government, along with the UK's other devolved administrations, has written to the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions, Thérèse Coffey, expressing ‘grave concerns regarding upcoming plans to withdraw support to the poorest in our society’.  

Use our service wisely, says Welsh Ambulance

The Welsh Ambulance Service is appealing to the public to use its services wisely as it recovers from a busy Bank Holiday weekend.

More than 4,200 calls were made to 999 over the three-day weekend, up three per cent from the same weekend last year but down six per cent from the spring Bank Holiday weekend in May.

More than 370 calls (nine per cent) were immediately life-threatening ‘Red’ calls – but almost a fifth (19 per cent) were non-urgent ‘Green’ calls.

Among them was someone who said they had lost a toenail, someone who had gashed their shin by kicking a bike and someone who claimed they were on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles before hanging up.

The top three reasons people called the ambulance service this weekend were for breathing problems, falls and chest pains.

In the face of continued high demand, the Trust has set out how it prioritises 999 calls so that the public can make an informed choice about what to do if someone is ill or injured.

Lee Brooks, the Trust’s Director of Operations, said: “We rightly prioritise patients that are the sickest or most severely injured.

“A Red call is when someone is in imminent danger of death, like if they are in cardiac arrest or choking – we try and respond to these immediately life-threatening calls in eight minutes.

“An Amber call is serious but not immediately life-threatening, like chest pain or fractures – we’ll still send the nearest resource as fast as possible.

“A Green call is neither serious nor life-threatening, like earache or minor injuries – Green calls are often passed to NHS 111 Wales for a clinical telephone assessment.

“If you’re not in imminent danger of death, you could wait longer for our help in periods of high demand – potentially several hours – and you could also be directed to help without an ambulance being sent.

“If you’re unwell but it’s not a serious emergency, the best thing to do is take one of our online symptom checkers on the NHS 111 Wales website.

“You’ll answer a set of questions which will help you decide what to do next, be that to visit a pharmacy or GP, administer self-care at home, visit the Emergency Department or call 111 or 999.

“Taking some ownership and using our service responsibly will mean that more of our precious resources are available for those who need us most.”

Ahead of the start of a new school year, the Trust is also asking the public to continue to take precautions to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

Lee said: “We look around the rest of the UK to assess how Covid-19 is spreading as this could provide signals about potentially what might unfold in Wales.

“There has been a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases in Scotland, and whilst that could be for a number of reasons, schools restart in Scotland much sooner than here in Wales.

“With the re-opening of schools comes increased interactions, so it’s important that the public continue to play their part to halt a further spread, particularly now as we edge toward winter which is usually very busy for the NHS.

“The Covid-19 vaccine remains the best line of defence to protect yourself and others and also helps to reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying from Covid-19.”

Welsh Government is asking families and learners to continue to follow guidance on isolating, testing and vaccination to minimise the risk of the spread of Covid-19 in education settings –

1. Get the vaccine if it’s offered to you.
2. Maintain regular handwashing.
3. Any staff or learner with symptoms of Covid-19 – however mild – should stay at home and book a PCR test at their closest test site.
4. Staff in primary schools – and staff and learners in secondary schools and colleges – without symptoms should take two lateral flow tests three days apart during the week leading up to their first day back. If the test is positive they should self-isolate and book a PCR test.
5. Going into the new term, staff in primary schools and staff and learners in secondary schools and colleges not showing symptoms should continue to take regular rapid lateral flow tests twice a week and report the results online.
6. Learners in Year 7 and above should continue to wear face coverings on school and college transport.

* For up-to-date Covid-19 guidance, visit the Welsh Government website.

Stylish Spaniard more than pulls its weight

Seat Tarraco drive by Steve Rogers

Hauling my 24ft caravan 250 miles to the New Forest seemed a straight forward enough task for a seven seat SUV until I read the pre delivery spec for the Seat Tarraco.

Surely a three-cylinder 1.5 petrol was a mistake? Towbars are always matched with a diesel and Seat has an able 2-litre in its armoury. A call to Katie in the Seat press office confirmed I was getting the petrol model...and to stop worrying!

I know this engine well from various Seat, Volkswagen and Skoda test cars but didn't figure it as a capable tow car. Did I need to be bothered? Of course not it towed like a dream, cruising effortlessly and with a good punch of acceleration on climbs. Humble pie eaten.

Modern day automatics are the best solution for towing taking away the drudgery of constant gear changing and tricky hill starts and the Tarraco's seven speed DSG was always in the right gear at the right time.

Most of the drive was dual carriageway and motorway and Tarraco was always stable in crosswinds and while overtaking big artics when you can be troubled with sway. Oh I did like towing with this car.

If there was a downside it was economy. For a while we were ticking over at around 24mpg but a check at journeys end showed just over 22mpg. The 2-litre diesel would probably have managed 27-28mpg but then diesel costs more so the difference is marginal.

That's towing done and dusted but how does Tarraco measure up in everyday life? Seven seats tells you it is a big car but it does not drive like a big car. Seat has always been the sporty arm in the VAG group so it drives a little firmer than its Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan AllSpace cousins although they share the same platform and mechanicals.

This is good because Tarraco stays tight through twisting and undulating roads and we came across plenty driving around the New Forest. It does not absorb bumps quite as well as Kodiaq or the seven seat Peugeot 5008 but is only a minor point.

Inside is practical rather than eye catching with a clear digital driver's binnacle which includes a central block for information or a small navigation screen all easily selected from steering wheel buttons.

The central 8in touchscreen sits high so is in the driver's eye line and although there are lots of menus and sub menus they are easy to fathom and helped by short cut buttons. The graphics are sharp and quick to respond.

Tarraco has been thoughtfully designed as a big family car with sensible touches like door bins big enough to take things like a litre bottle, pop up tables on the front seat backs so children can do what they do to while away the time on long journeys. There are Isofix points on the front passsenger seat and the outer seats on the middle row but not in the third row where children are likely to sit.

That third row is best suited for children because space is tight for an adult and headroom is not that great although a grown up could cope with a short journey. The only car in the class that can take adults comfortably is the Kia Sorento.

Tarraco does well for load space with the third row folded and even has room for a couple of carry on cases with all seats in play. Try Kodiaq if more space is needed for family holiday clutter.

The Spaniard does well when it comes to value for money although it would do even better if it was offered as a five seater which it is not. There are six trim levels with entry SE good for LED headlights, 8in touchscreen, digital cockpit and smartphone integration among the highlights.  Moving up to SE Technology gives navigation but push the boat out to Xcellence Lux and you will want for nothing in luxury or safety.

If you are wondering about the name it is not just a jumble of letters. Seat is proud of its Spanish heritage and has named its cars accordingly since birth - Marbella, Toledo, Alhambra, Ibiza and so it goes on. Tarraco is the original name for Tarragona, a beautiful city I know well with its ancient amphitheatre overlooking the Mediterranean.

Fast facts

Tarraco Xcellance Lux

£35,970 to £29,155 

1.5 litre TSI turbo; 148bhp

0-62mph 9.5secs; 124mph

37.7mpg combined

171g/km. 1st VED £870

Boot: 230; 700; 1775 litres

Towing capacity 2000kg

Insurance group 21