Work planned for the week starting Monday, March 7 on the Llangollen 2020 project is:
Castle Street west (Parade Street to Dee Lane): Finish paving installation.
Monday, March 7, 2022
Sunday, March 6, 2022
Hundreds attend peace vigil for Ukraine in town square
* Candles are lit along the square's back wall.
* Organiser Issy Richards welcomes people to the vigil.
* A special message to the people of Ukraine.
* The array of candles after dark.
* The castle lit up in Ukrainian colours. Picture by Scott Cooper.
Around 200 attended a vigil for peace in Ukraine staged in Llangollen's Centenary Square earlier this evening (Sunday).
Some were wearing the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainan flag while others carried placards supporting the people of the war-torn country who are currently fighting desperately to resist the Russian invasion.
At dusk scores of candles were lit and placed along the back wall of the square, over which fluttered a specially-placed Ukrainian flag, as a symbol of support for Ukraine.
Just before two the town hall clock struck 6pm the gathering stood in silence for two minutes.
Just before the silence the St Collen's Church tenor bell was tolled for five minutes.
At around the same time the castle was lit up in blue and yellow and remained so for around 90 minutes.
The town's former deputy mayor Issy Richards, who organised the vigil, welcomed all those who had come along and read out a poignant anti-war poem entitled Night in Al-Hamra by Saadi Youssef.
The castle illumination had been specially arranged by ASG Audio Visual and the Clwydian Range and dee Valley.
There was an opportunity to make donations to the Red Cross Ukraine Appeal, being run by the Ukraine Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross. A total of £584.88 was raised.
Town's own Ukraine peace vigil is this evening
Llangollen's former deputy mayor, Issy Richards, has organised a vigil for peace - Gwylnos Heddwch - for Ukraine in the town's Centenary Square this evening (Sunday).
She said: "The widely-condemned invasion of Ukraine is unfolding before our very eyes. People's lives, livelihoods and homes are being destroyed, and international tensions are running high.
"Ten years ago the staff and pupils of the Peace School, Kiev, Ukraine, sent good wishes to the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod on St David's Day.
"As we know, LIME was founded 75 years ago in the spirit of international peace and cooperation. Llangollen has many links with Ukraine, we are 'Where Wales Welcomes The World'."
Issy added: "There will be a Vigil for Peace in Llangollen between 5-6pm on Sunday March 6 in Centenary Square, and everyone is invited to gather together to express our solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine.
"Please arrive anytime after 5pm, wearing something blue or yellow if possible, (the colours of the Ukraine flag), wrap up warmly, and bring any refreshments you may need.
"We will light candles at 6pm, so please bring your own candle, or we can provide you with a tea light.
"Our aim is to peacefully raise awareness of the situation in Ukraine, and to show Llangollen's solidarity with the country and its people.
"There will be an opportunity to make donations to the Red Cross Ukraine Appeal, being run by the Ukraine Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross."
Collen Players go back in time for latest music hall show
* The entire Collen Players cast on stage to take a bow.
All pictures by Jeanette Robinson
* Julie Thomas.
* On the piano, Owen Roberts.
* Susan Stokes.
* A charming chicken meets Queen Victoria.
* Warren and his Dancing Dogs.
* Chairman, Father Lee Taylor.
* Gethin Davies.
* Phil Robinson.
* John Williams.
Llangollen Community Hall was once again transported back in time to the late Victorian era last night as the Collen Players' presented their latest successful music hall and variety show.
The production had its usual blend of laughter and song brought to a packed audience by a diverse cast but this time with the addition of an unusual novelty act.
In the chair for the evening once again was Father Lee Taylor, vicar of Llangollen and a dedicated follower of music hall.
He opened proceedings with a selection of numbers, such as Oh! The Fairies and Sons of the Sea, which had the audience joining in with vigour.
The crowd were back in tune with the first of the acts, Julie Thomas, as she belted out My Old Man, Wouldn’t it be Loverly and Lambeth Walk.
Then up came Warren and his dancing dogs - a marvellous concoction of cavorting canines plus a couple of well-trained chickens.
Another Collen Players favourite Susan Stokes charmed with her choice of After the Ball and Edelweiss.
A catchy medley of Feed the Birds/Let's Go Fly a Kite/Nellie the Elephant/Y Viva Espana delivered by the chairman proved the perfect opener to the second act.
Gethin Davies took the stage to weave his usual musical magic with The Hippopotamus Song and one of his crowd-pleasing monologues.
Phil Robinson's selection of sing-along numbers from music hall days included On Mother Kelly’s Doorstep and You Made Me Love You.
Warren and His Dancing Dogs came back to present their incredible routine in their grand finale performance before the powerful voice of John Williams wound up the show in style with Two Lovely Black Eyes and Sunshine of Your Smile.
With the full company back on stage to take their bows the chairman led a final rousing chorus of music hall standard Down at the Old Bull & Bush.
Acts were accompanied on the piano by Owen Roberts and Eulanwy Davies.
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Cat's back in action to support the people of Ukraine
The woman who helped Llangollen get through the worst of the pandemic has now turned her attention to organising local support for the people of war-torn Ukraine.
Cat Meade, who works at the Castle Street office of estate agents Wingett's, sprang into action two years ago to mastermind the setting up of the Llangollen Covid Support Group.
Based around a popular Facebook page, this rapidly developed into a network of volunteers who ensured that people self-isolating were kept supplied with everything from prescriptions to newspapers.
Cat also organised a series of highly popular raffles to ensure the town's businesses were able to keep in touch with their customers.
Now, as war rages through Ukraine, Cat is back in action.
In a Facebook post she says: "The Llangollen Covid Page was set up almost two years to the date to assist the community through a very difficult and uncertain time! I think we can all say it was a very useful tool.
"I have changed the name to "support group" so it can be a useful and helpful page to assist with whatever the world throws at us!
"The amazing humans that form our community are always willing to assist, so I thought a great idea to keep this page active!
"We all know the situation in UKRAINE and I know several people are already on the case with collections etc."
She adds: "I am working with UareUK - United to Assist Refugees UK (Refugees North Wales and Overseas) who have assisted for many years with refugees and donating aid."
Cat also asked people to put a Ukrainian flag in their window/shop to show support
In her latest post on the newly-renamed Facebook page, she has posted a "want list" for Ukraine, which includes:
ALL MEDICAL REQUESTS;
Bandages
Saline pods
Saline
Field dressings
Celox granules
Wound sealers
Tourniquets
Nitrile gloves
And in support of a Refugee family now here if you can assist
Boys Size 34 Wellies (UK Size 2)
Buggy with a big shopping space underneath
Rugs (big ones) – very good condition or new
Girls Clothes age 14-15. And new underwear/ PJs/ socks
Boys Clothes age 10-11. And new underwear/ PJs/ socks
Female 12-14
Male medium
Boy clothes age 8-9yrs
girls clothes age 4-5yrs
girls clothes age 2-3yrs. Including PJs, underwear and socks
Requirement for wheeled suitcases in useable condition
Wingett's, says Cat, will be open Sunday, from 5pm till 6pm for donations of the above along with any cash donations before the peace vigil for Ukraine in Centenary Square, organised by former deputy mayor Issy Richards, at 6pm tomorrow.
* See the Llangollen Support Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2605345223029039
Llangollen actor shares billing with stunt mouse in TV comedy
* Dyfed Thomas stars in the new series of Rybish.
A top actor from Llangollen is sharing the limelight with a stunt mouse with “star quality” that’s appeared in a blockbuster Netflix show and EastEnders.
Tipper, the talented brown rodent, is making her debut in a Welsh language TV comedy series alongside the popular actor, Dyfed Thomas, hails originally from Rhosllanerchrugog.
The mouse will feature in a scene in one of the
episodes in the second series of the award-winning sit-com, Rybish (Rubbish),
in which Dyfed is a key member of the cast
Produced by Caernarfon-based Cwmni Da, filming took
place at a real-life recycling centre in Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The first episode will be broadcast on S4C at 9pm
on Friday, April 1.
* Tipper the talented rodent is due to make an appearance.
Dyfed, who lives just outside Llangollen with his
wife, former Benny Hill actress Julie Kirk, plays Eurwyn, perhaps the most educated
of all the characters who can recite poetry instinctively and who is a keen
jigsaw player.
An actor with more than 45 years’ experience, Dyfed
has focused on work behind the camera in recent years, mainly adapting novels
into movie scripts.
“I’ve sold some scripts to Bollywood and in the
past few years I've spent a lot of my time in India.
"The invitation to appear in Rybish was
unexpected but I've really enjoyed it, especially being involved, albeit in a
small way, with the creative process.
"My character, Eurwyn, is one of
those traditional, ordinary and dear people who are devoted to Welsh culture.
One of the quarry hut crew that could recite R Williams Parry without a
problem. It’s very important to have people like that; genuine, hardworking and
totally happy in their work and important that such characters exist on
television to represent our unique Welsh culture and heritage.
“In playing the part, I almost feel
like I've gone full circle in my career, returning to acting in my native Welsh
and reminiscing about theatre work by being so close to the cast and crew.”
Dyfed added that after completing filming Rybish he is looking forward to taking part in another S4C programme later this year.
The plotline involving Tipper is being kept under
wraps but it is known that she will be seen in the Y Caban (cabin) where the
six members of staff take a break from the daily grind of their working lives.
Producer and BAFTA Cymru award-nominated writer
Barry Jones, known universally as Archie, said: "We wanted a real mouse so
that it appeared authentic and Tipper proved to be just what was wanted. It's
not a big part but it's still a very important part of the episode."
Eagle-eyed animal lovers may recognise Tipper from
one of her previous appearances on the BBC's Eastenders.
Animal trainer Mark Amey said Tipper was seen
scurrying about the London Underground station on the EastEnders set last year.
And he revealed Tipper has returned to Walford for
another, yet to be broadcast, episode of the long running soap opera.
Tipper, whose was named by Mark because of a little
white tip on her body, and her mum appeared in the hit Netflix show, Tiny
Creatures, which was awarded two prestigious Emmy Awards for Outstanding
Travel, Adventure and Nature Programme and Outstanding Cinematography at a
ceremony in Los Angeles last summer.
Mark, who keeps and breeds exotic animals at his
Hertfordshire home, said Tipper is from a long line of acting mice: "They
live for about a year and a half and Tipper's about ready for a well-earned
retirement and possibly have a family of her own," he added.
The first series of Rybish was filmed during the
first Covid-19 lockdown and Cwmni Da built their own recycling centre at an old
landfill site at Carmel, near Caernarfon.
According to Archie, the initial plan was to film
the series at a real recycling centre.
He said: "Lockdown put an end to that idea and
we built our own centre and the cast and crew created their own bubble living
an old pub during the filming.
"We were delighted when Gwynedd Council said
we could use the centre at Blaenau Ffestiniog. It is normally open three days a
week and we were able to use it when it was closed.
"The centre staff, like the rest of the town,
were very welcoming and helped us no end.
"The series has six episodes and they all
relate to the same day at the centre. Obviously, we filmed over a period of
weeks and the staff were really helpful in assisting us to maintain
continuity," he said.
While some scenes are shot on normal camera
equipment the Caban scenes are filmed using fixed cameras.
"The actors sit in the Caban and perform their
lines while the director, Sion Aaron and I sit in a gallery close by.
“We
filmed the interior scenes with remote cameras hung from the ceiling, and
because all the cameras were recording throughout, the actors were free to act the scene without having to worry which camera
was capturing what.
“It gives the scene a fly-on-the-wall type approach
which is very realistic and has worked really well," added Archie.
Each episode features a guest star as well as the
usual cast. Local people were recruited as extras who bring their unwanted
items to the centre and interact with the actors.
Rybish also features Sion Pritchard as Clive, the
site manager and Betsan Ceiriog as Bobbi.
Rhodri Trefor also returns as Nigel, the worker
with a theory to explain every possible aspect of everyday life and Mair Tomos
Ifans reprises her role as Val, the monosyllabic gate keeper.
The sixth member of the cast is the wonderfully
funny Carys Gwilym.
* The series, currently in post-production, will start on S4C at 9pm on Friday, April 1.
Friday, March 4, 2022
All Covid measures in Wales could go by March 28
First Minister Mark Drakeford has published the country's longer-term plan to live safely with coronavirus.
Together for a Safer Future will mark the start of Wales’ transition beyond the emergency response to the pandemic – emergency measures have been in place for two years.
It sets out how Wales can live safely with coronavirus – just as we live with many other infectious diseases – and what that will mean for public health services and protections put in place to respond to the pandemic, including testing services.
Wales will remain at alert level 0 for the next three weeks with the current level of protections in place. But all legal measures could be removed from March 28 if the public health situation remains stable.
Mark Drakeford said: "We’ve been living in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic for 2 long years. It has touched all our lives – across Wales, families and communities have made many sacrifices to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. People in Wales have followed the rules.
"But sadly, too many families have experienced the pain of losing a loved one or a close friend. My thoughts are with them all.
"As we publish this longer-term plan, there is no doubt we have reached a significant moment in this pandemic and we can look to the future with growing confidence that the next year will be one in which we have a different relationship with the virus.
"This has been made possible by the hard work of everyone and by the efforts of all the health and care staff, public sector workers and volunteers who have done so much over the last two years.
"But the pandemic isn’t over – this virus is full of nasty surprises and we are likely to see fluctuations in global patterns of infection for several years. We need to be ready to respond quickly to any future outbreaks or new variants as we learn to live safely alongside coronavirus in the long-term.
"We have learned so much over the last 2 years and we need to harness this as we look forward to a safer and brighter future together."
Together for a Safer Future: Wales’ Long-term Covid-19 Transition from Pandemic to Endemic sets out a gradual transition away from emergency measures, based on evidence and with the protection of everyone, especially the most vulnerable, at its heart.
The plan sets out how Wales’ response to coronavirus will change under the two core planning scenarios – Covid Stable and Covid Urgent.
Covid Stable is the most likely scenario – with Wales expected to encounter new waves of infection, but they are not expected to put unsustainable pressure on the NHS thanks to the effectiveness of vaccines and other pharmaceutical treatments, such as new Covid-19 antivirals.
The plan sets out a gradual, phased approach towards the long-term management of the virus under Covid Stable, including:
- Supporting people to maintain behaviours we have all become familiar with to help reduce the transmission of all respiratory infections, not just coronavirus.
- Vaccination boosters in spring for the elderly and most vulnerable adults, and a regular COVID-19 vaccination programme from the autumn.
- Test, Trace, Protect programme gradually moves away from universal and routine symptomatic and asymptomatic testing and the requirement to self-isolate, to a more targeted approach aimed at vulnerable people.
- Adaptation of public services, including, for example, using local risk assessments and outbreak control plans.
- Businesses and other employers to build on the elements of infection control they have put in place to protect staff and customers.
Contingency planning is also underway to enable the Welsh Government and other public services to quickly respond to a Covid-Urgent scenario – such as a new variant which evades the vaccine – if necessary.
The next three-weekly review of the coronavirus regulations will be carried out by March 24, when the remaining legal measures at alert level 0 will be reviewed.
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