Glanrafon holds its Christmas fair

Glanrafon Evangelical Church is holding its annual Christmas fair until 3pm today (Saturday) featuring a range of fancy goods and crafts on a seasonal theme.

Collen Players present their Christmas music hall special

* The entire cast of Deck the Halls. 

All pictures: Jeanette Robinson

* Neil Barrett and Dave Lyne.

* Phil Robinson.

* Shea Ferron.

* Chairman Lee Taylor.

* Sue Stokes.

* John Williams.

* Helen Belton.

The Collen Players were back on stage at the Community Hall last night (Friday) to present their latest successful music hall and variety show.

Deck the Halls, their Christmas special, brought together a number of old favourites and newer performers, all under the chairmanship of music hall aficionado, Father Lee Taylor.

Eulanwy Davies was at the keyboard to accompany the various acts which ranged from singers to an hilarious comedy duo.

The chairman opened proceedings with his usual presentation of banter and music songs to help take us back to the naughty 1890s.    

First soloist up on stage was Sue Stokes with the haunting Scottish aires Skye Boat Song and Loch Lomond.

Neil Barrett teamed up again with Dave Lyne to take on their well-loved comedy personas of Barbara and Joyce, the old pals who just love to gossip about their world.

For the festive season they warbled out a specially-written piece poking gentle fun at the realities of another pandemic Christmas to the traditional tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Taking over the spotlight was Phil Robinson with a raucous rendition of nightclub ballad Fanlight Fanny and the much more subtle If You Were the Only Girl in the Girl.      

John Williams opened the second half with his jaunty version of music hall standard Pretty Little Polly Perkins.

Next it was off to London to hear Helen Belton present a beautiful interpretation of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.

Popping up in both halves of the bill was talented young singer Shea Ferron with his powerful West End show numbers and the music hall piece I Was One of the Early Birds.

Neil and Dave were back to round things off in style with another hilarious musical adaption, this time of Barry Manilow’s Copacabana with lyrics featuring Llangollen Co-op.

The entire cast as usual said goodnight with two rousing choruses of Down at the Old Bull and Bush.

No major changes planned to Welsh Covid restrictions before Christmas

The latest Welsh Covid review will not see any major changes to the country's regulations.

But the Welsh Government is asking everyone to use the lateral flow tests before Christmas shopping, going to parties or visiting others.

An diners and drinkers are being asked wear masks when not eating or drinking in pubs and restaurants.

In his latest statement First Minister Mark Drakeford is urging everyone to have their Covid-19 booster vaccine as he warned Wales is facing a new wave of infections caused by the omicron variant.

More than a million people have already received their booster vaccine in Wales but the programme is being speeded up following the emergence of the fast-moving variant.

The First Minister will say, at his regular 21-day review press conference, to be held later today (Friday) that even though only a handful of cases of omicron have so far been confirmed in Wales, we must be prepared for cases to rise quickly and sharply.

Omicron was first identified in South Africa just over two weeks ago. It has quickly spread around the world, including to the UK. There is now widespread community transmission in many parts of England and Scotland. He said: “The emergence of the omicron variant is another worrying development in this long-running pandemic. We are concerned about the speed it is moving and its potential to infect large numbers of people. 

“We are speeding up the roll-out of boosters in response to the new variant. We’re increasing the number of clinics and extending opening hours.

“Every single vaccination is a small victory against the virus – so please make getting your vaccine or booster a priority.

“This will be the best Christmas present you can give yourself and your family this year.”

There are a number of other measures people can take to help protect themselves from coronavirus, including the new omicron variant.

The First Minister will ask people to take regular lateral flow tests before going out and to wear face coverings in all public places help protect people in the lead up to Christmas.

Wales will remain at alert level zero after the latest review of the covid regulations. However, with the spread of the Omicron variant, the Welsh Government is strongly advising:

• People flow before they go. This means taking a lateral flow test before going out – whether that’s to a Christmas party; Christmas shopping; visiting friends or family; going to any crowded or busy place or before travelling.
  
  
• If the test is positive, don’t go out. Arrange for a PCR test and self-isolate.
  
  
• People to wear face coverings in pubs and restaurants, when they aren’t eating or drinking. Everyone must wear face coverings in most other indoor public places, in accordance with the law, including in cinemas and theatres. 

The First Minister added: “None of us wanted to hear about the news of this new variant. After almost two years of the pandemic, we had all hoped that we could put coronavirus behind us this Christmas. But, we have faced challenges many times during this pandemic. And we have learned from each one. 

"We are not back at square one. Please do everything you can to protect yourself and your loved ones. Please follow all the advice and all the measures which have kept us safe over the last couple of years. And let’s stay safe and well this Christmas.”

Parks project event raises £705 for town's open spaces

 

* Jamie Williams, Laura Jones (centre) with Debbie Jones at the event.

Llangollen Parks Project has thanked local people and businesses who supported their recent fundraiser at the RAFA Club.

Organised by Jamie Williams and Laura Jones, it raised a total of £705 for the parks project and the money will go towards equipment and facilities in Llangollen's parks and open spaces.  

Providing the entertainment were DJ Dave Boss and Luke Gallagher. 

These local businesses donated funds and raffle prizes: Ty Nook, Bear Trax, The Three Eagles, Gales Wine Bar, Riverbanc, Safe and Sound Outdoors, Henlle Park Golf Club, Coco Jones Aromas, Nemo Fish and Chips, The Corn Mill Llangollen, Bridge End Hotel Llangollen, Siop Fach, Gwalia Classics, The Wild Pheasant Hotel & Spa, SFTW Barbers, The Sun Trevor, Prince of Wales, Craig Gittins, Liberty Tavern and A N Richards.

Project spokesperson Jessica Evans said: "Their generosity will help to enhance our community and the facilities available for our local children in particular. Thank you all so much."

Llangollen's Four Great Highways scheme explained

 

Since llanblogger’s story yesterday about cash from the UK Government’s Levelling Up fund being used to support various schemes in Llangollen, readers have been requesting more details of one of these projects – ‘connectivity improvements including a new public space at the junction of Castle Street and Abbey Road’. Here Llangollen county councillor Graham Timms, who has been closely involved with what is known as the Four Great Highways scheme, explains what it is all about.

He says: “The Four Great Highways is a scheme that was conceived as another phase of the Llangollen 2020 project. We had community consultations and shared the project with the town council too.

“I understand that part of the levelling up fund for Clwyd South will be for a project based on this.

“The money is split between Denbighshire County Council (DCC) and Wrexham County Borough Council.

“The whole levelling up fund is being concentrated on the Dee Valley with some Aqueduct projects, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty projects, Four Great Highways, the railway to Corwen and other linked projects.

“DCC are managing the project on our side of the county boundary. We expected the Four Great Highways to be the next stage of the Llangollen 2020 project and had been actively seeking funds from a number of grant providers and received indications that it was the type of scheme that would be supported.

“It  will provide better active travel, improved disabled access between Lower Dee Mill Park, Llangollen Bridge and the wharf and a much safer route up to Ysgol Dinas Bran.

“The new public space gives a focal point at this historic junction in the town. It will provide opportunities to highlight the history of transport in Llangollen and encouraging visitors to explore our other great assets in the Dee Valley.

“The DCC part of the bid was approved for submission at a cabinet meeting in May this year. It was brought up in the "Urgent Matters" agenda item and both Mel Mile and I spike in favour of the project in the cabinet meeting.

“Details in the paper and the minutes for the May Cabinet meeting on DCC's website at: https://moderngov.denbighshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=281&MId=6270&Ver=4&LLL=0 

LUC environmental consultants, which has been working on Four Great Highways, explained in a briefing document: “The aim of the project is to draw attention to and celebrate the uniqueness of Llangollen in Denbighshire. We will explore issues such as improving access and connectivity, creating an uplift in the visual appearance of the public realm within the setting of the heritage assets.

“We will devise a network of interpretation, signage and public art which promotes a legible environment, creates a sense of place and reinforces the importance of the town’s legacy.”

Summarising the scheme, LUC said it includes:

* A proposed viewing platform located adjacent to Llangollen bridge

* A fully accessible footpath network into Lower Dee Mill Park

* Raised crossing points to resolve pedestrian and vehicle conflict

* An approach to interpretation with precedent examples.

Ford pick-up that's rugged enough for Clint Eastwood

Ford Ranger launch report by Steve Rogers

What did the Romans do for us? Amongst other things they built roads along some pretty treacherous, freezing, windswept Welsh hillsides so their foot-slogging centurions could carry on invading our lands.

Nearly 2,000 years later we are still driving those roads, preferably in off roaders, which I was doing in the Brecon Beacons for the launch of new models of the Ford Ranger. What those poor soldiers wouldn't have given to be tucked up in a warm Ranger cab because it is pretty wild along Sarn Helen even on a sunny winter's day.

So new Ford Rangers, but I am sensing confusion from those who have seen previews of next year's all new pick up on social media. Okay this is not THE new model, merely new names to keep interest alive because the next generation Ranger will not arrive here until 2023.

That said Ford has gone to extreme lengths to promote the additional models producing a film inspired by the classic Clint Eastwood spaghetti western called The Good, the Bad and the Bad-RSE and starring the top of the range Raptor Special Edition. It was even shot on the original film set in the mountains of Almeria Province in Spain.

Raptor SE joins Wolftrak, MS-RT and Stormtrak targeting life-stylers switching from SUVs to double cab pick-ups and the special edition is a real bad boy. It has a beefed up chassis and bespoke multi-link rear suspension, sits 51mm taller than the standard Ranger, is pimped up with blue and red racing style stripes and bulging plastic clad wheel arches and will set you back £54k. Ouch!

Power comes from a 209bhp bi-turbo 2-litre diesel engine mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox that is shared with the Mustang sports car. This is not the best model for trade or a farmer because the payload is halved and towing capacity down 1000kg.

Even though Raptor SE will tackle the toughest of off road challenges reality can be found in the everyday models which have leaf spring suspension upping the payload to just over 1100kg while towing capacity is 3,500kg, the norm for pick-ups.

The bi-turbo engine is a lot more powerful and more refined than the Isuzu D-Max tested last month with a whopping 500Nm or torque and although the 10-speed auto sounds over the top it provides smooth changes and is fairly quick off the mark.

The cheaper Wolftrak model is offered with a 167bhp power train and a six-speed manual option. It has a healthy 420Nm of torque which is 60Nm up on the D-Max and more than adequate for most heavy duty needs. Expect to average around 32mpg and 29-30mpg for the bi-turbo.

As readers will know I am not a fan of touchscreen heating controls but I will make an exception with the Ranger because it is the easiest I have come across. If you need quick demisting, temperature or fan adjustments there are physical switches in the centre console.

The pick-up market has been turned upside down with only Ford, Toyota, Isuzu and SSangYong left and Ford is hell bent on making sure it stays as the UK's best seller with special edition models taking the range to nine.

As we found out on the test drive Ranger has enough all wheel drive technology to tackle the most demanding of conditions whether it is traversing rocks, descending steep gullies or ploughing through a mud bath thanks to the low range setting, diff lock and hill descent control, and is likely to stay at the top of the pick-up league until more competition arrives.

Fast facts

Ranger Limited Double Cab

£41,455 (starts £28,785)

2-litre Bi-turbo diesel; 209bhp

0-62mph 9secs; 112mph

36mpg combined

205g/km

Insurance group 39

Towing: 3500kg

County hosts waste and recycling recruitment event

Denbighshire County Council is hosting a waste and recycling recruitment event as it looks to take on more workers to help with the expansion of services.

The event will be held at Denbigh Town Hall this Friday, December 10 over two sessions with a choice of attending one of two sessions to learn more about the service and the various roles available.

The first session will begin at 10.30am and the later one will start at 1pm.

The event aims to attract individuals aged 17 and over, who enjoy working outdoors within a friendly team environment, to discover available training and career opportunities.

Staff from the council will be talking about how local jobseekers can make a positive difference to the county as well as informing individuals on the benefits of working for Denbighshire.

A variety of posts from entry level right through to LGV driver level are available to help residents recycle even more.

Individuals who wish to apply for available waste and recycling vacancies will be supported on the day, says the council.

* Anyone is welcome to attend the free event but must register their attendance beforehand by emailing employmentcoordinators@denbighshire.gov.uk.