Armed forces move in tomorrow to help ambulance service

The Armed Forces will begin to support the Welsh Ambulance Service from tomorrow (Tuesday).

Fifty troops from 4 Regiment Royal Logistic Corp will drive ambulances across Wales from Tuesday having undergone training at Newport’s Raglan Barracks on the weekend.

They will be joined in the next week by a further 50 personnel from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

A 29-strong team of supporting personnel will make a total of 129 soldiers, sailors and airmen supporting the Trust until the end of November.

Lee Brooks, the Trust’s Director of Operations, said: “We’re proud and grateful to have the military working alongside us once again, who did a superb job of assisting us on two occasions previously last year.

“Having our Armed Forces colleagues back on board will help us put more ambulances on duty so we can get to more patients, more quickly, while the extreme pressure continues.

“Essentially, they’ll work with one of our clinicians on an emergency ambulance responding to the full range of emergency calls.

“The winter period is our busiest time, and having military support will bolster our capacity and put us in the best possible position to provide a safe service to the people of Wales.”

Major Alex Wilson, Officer Commanding 60 Close Support Squadron, Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, 4 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, said: “Over the weekend we spent time training with the paramedics and emergency medical technicians to familiarise ourselves with the ambulances, equipment and processes to make sure we can assist in the best way we can.

“The soldiers are ready to begin the task we have been deployed to do in Wales.

“It’s a privilege to be working with our Welsh Ambulance Service colleagues in supporting the NHS in Wales to ease the pressures that currently exist.”

It is the third time that the military have supported the service through the pandemic as part of the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) arrangement.

More than 200 British Army soldiers have already assisted the Trust’s Covid-19 effort by driving and decontaminating ambulance vehicles as part of Operation Rescript.

Among them were 90 soldiers from 9 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, who were enlisted on Christmas Eve at the height of the second wave of the pandemic.

More broadly, more than 20,000 military personnel have been supporting public services across the UK during the pandemic as part of a ‘COVID Support Force.’

Plas Newydd hosts successful family picnic

* Picnic people enjoy the day.

* An artistic touch.

* Having fun with bubbles.

* Harley the Clown entertains. 

Plas Newydd hosted a family picnic on a recent Saturday. 

The event was organised by Cllr Austin Cheminais, the current Mayor of Llangollen  and Paul Evans, manager at Plas Newydd. 

The picnic was aimed at local families and was advertised with help of Llangollen’s two primary schools.

One parent commented: “It’s great to have something that’s been put on just for local families to get together.”

There was music from Llangollen’s own Wandering Minstrel, Chris Burton, and Harley the Clown entertained the audience with his magic and juggling.

The  picnic was well attended and there was overwhelming support for it to become and regular event.

Another parent said: “What an fantastic idea and a wonderful afternoon for both children and their parents, let’s do it again!”

Kate Thomson from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) brought along a camera obscura and some easels for the children to use, which proved very popular. 

Kate is currently part of the Picturesque Landscapes Project, which centres on the landscape of the Dee Valley, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.

Cllr Cheminais said: “The afternoon was a great success and both children and adults enjoyed themselves, I’d like to thank Paul Evans and his staff for their support and enthusiasm. Look out for our next picnic in 2022!”

Visitors flock to bitesized food festival's opening day

Visitors flocked to the first day of Llangollen's "bite-sized" food festival yesterday.

A scaled-down version of the famous foodie gathering is being staged in the yard behind Gales Wine Bar as the usual full-sized affair would not be possible due to coronavirus restrictions at the Pavilion.

Exhibits ranged from designer chocolate to cheese and from artisan coffee to gin.

Today's line-up of exhibitors includes:

Gales Wine Bar, Steve’s Cheese, Mug Run (coffee), Angel Feathers (flavoured gin), Aballu (chocolate), Powell’s Pies, Goetre Farm Preserves, Ellesmere Honey Company (won a gold star for their honey at this year’s Great Taste Awards), Stone Circle Mead, Celtic Spirit, Little Fudge Box and Yellow Bicycle Cake Company.

One of the festival organisers Phil Gale said of yesterday's first day: "I'm very proud of the team in keeping the festival vibe alive.

"It's great to see local producers and merchants showcase their goods.

"Best of all it's great to see so many faces we have been missing for a while.

"We hope to see more today."

Llan man's warm praise for NHS team

* Mike Edwards before his illness.

A Llangollen man has praised a dedicated NHS team for the care they gave him when he fell seriously ill recently.

Mike Edwards says he wants to thank the Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU) at Wrexham Maelor Hospital's Glyndwr Ward "from the bottom of my heart" for the way they looked after him through a "horrible and difficult time". 

Mike contacted llanblogger to say: "On September 28 I was taken ill and my condition worsened by the following day - my birthday, would you believe. 

"We were fortunate to get a GP Trainer from Llangollen Health Centre to do a home visit and after examination she dispatched me to the hospital using the GP referral service. 

"My wife Lis took me to the hospital where again we were fortunate to get through A&E waiting relatively quickly to be triaged when I was admitted to the Surgical Assessment Unit, Glyndwr Ward.

"An X-ray and scan followed, the latter in the middle of the evening, and as a result early the following morning I was operated on for a perforated appendix. 

"Due to complications with a chest infection after surgery I remained in hospital until the following Tuesday morning and I am now convalescing at home.

"What I want to do is pay tribute to the staff of SAU. Firstly to the Consultant, Mr Ben-Sassi, and his team who were highly professional and extremely caring and they got me through a horrible and difficult time. 

"Secondly to the staff on SAU Glyndwr particularly Jo, Sue and Shannon who cared for me and the other patients on the ward at the time often in difficult circumstances.

"The whole team on the ward were brilliant and I have to say I learnt that all angels do not wear wings. 

"The staff of the NHS often do not get the credit they deserve and even get unfair criticism from certain quarters of the media. 

"These ladies and gentlemen work thirteen-hour shifts day after day and I have enormous respect for them and wish to thank them from the bottom of my heart."

llanblogger takes a short break

llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back in a few days time.

Bite-sized food festival to be staged on October 16-17

* The Courtyard at Gales, venue for the bite-sized food festival.

Organisers have announced they will be running a "bit-sized" version of the popular Llangollen Food Festival this year.

They say the scaled-down event will be held on October 16 and 17 in The Courtyard at Gale’s Wine Bar on Bridge Street.

On social media they add: "There will be a select group of amazing producers there. These will include both old favourites and some brand new ones for you to meet too.

"Lots of tasty treats will be available to explore, such as choclate, wines, fruit gins, patisserie and more.

"Throughout the days there will be talks from the producers, and on Saturday evening there will also be live music."

County launches new campaign to help businesses through winter

Following on from its #lovelivelocal winter campaign last year Denbighshire County Council says it wants to continue its support for Denbighshire businesses for winter 2021-22. 

It is therefore launching a new campaign which aims to raise awareness among Denbighshire residents and visitors of the importance of supporting local businesses and services so that the local economy can thrive through the winter months.  

Another aim is to highlight how acting sustainably can help tackle climate crisis and that shopping more on local high streets is one way to make a difference and reduce our carbon footprint.

The council is reaching out to businesses who would like to be featured in the campaign. 

It says it particularly wants to hear from: 

o   Food & drink – local producers/outlets who offer locally sourced food, use recycled packaging, hospitality sector recruiting local people etc

o   Sustainable/environmental friendly gifts – this could include second hand, businesses who upcycle.

o   Local Welsh gifts/products

o   Wreaths/flowers for Christmas – highlight those that source local

o   Social enterprises across Denbighshire

o   Locally grown Christmas trees

o   Local arts & crafts

o   Community shops

o   Businesses using a ‘bit of Welsh language’ 

The campaign will be launched on October 18 and will run until the middle of January to cover the Christmas period and beyond. 

The council says: "We are looking for a range of businesses including those who operate across the county therefore we may not be able to feature every business who responds. 

"If you are interested email tourism@denbighshire.gov.uk, or you can telephone us on  01824 706072/ 01824 706915 if you would like to get involved."