Tributes paid to well-loved member of Llangollen Twenty Club

* Iola Roberts when she was a resident at The Old Vicarage in Llangollen.

A leading member of the Llangollen Twenty Club has paid warm tribute to one of the drama society’s best-loved figures. 

Iola Roberts, who died on March 3 in her late eighties, was for many years the group’s chairperson but had also worked both on stage and in front of house. 

Chrissie Ashworth, who in latter years has directed many of the club’s productions, said of her: “Iola was married to the late Delwyn Roberts and lived in Garth, just outside Llangollen.  

“From an early age, she had connections with the Twenty Club, having been, it could be said, ‘reared’ in it by her 'Aunty Edna' (Bowen).  

“Iola was an enthusiastic member of the society, which had been formed in 1947, and her contribution to it was immense.  

“She acted in the plays, which performed twice yearly, and if not acting, would help front of house and take on all sorts of jobs.  

“A notable role she played was the mother, Alice Fisher, to Billy Liar (played by Idris Evans, a stalwart acting member at the time). 

“Delwyn was also a loyal member, and helped build many, many sets over the years. 

“At the start of the season in early autumn, both Iola and Delwyn would host a BBQ at their home, welcoming present and new members of the society.  

“She was instrumental in organising, very efficiently, the holidays to various places, often to London to see a show in the West End, and together with Noreen Turner, ensured that everything ran smoothly.  They were an extremely competent and hard working duo. 

Iola thrived on being busy, loved a lively social life and had many friends throughout  her life.

“In addition to the Twenty Club, Iola was also a driving force in the Inner Wheel and the NSPCC, taking on committee roles with great efficiency and verve. If you asked Iola to do something, you just knew it would get done! 

“Her New Year parties were, it is believed, legendary and a firm date in the calendar for her many friends. She was in the centre of most events, and would always have a story to tell, holding her avid listeners spellbound and amused, such was her larger than life character.  

“Iola also enjoyed playing bridge and was a formidable opponent; one preferred to be on her side. 

“She was voted in as chairperson of the Twenty Club in the early 2000s and held that position for many years until she felt that someone younger needed to take on the role.  

“She was a real figure head and everyone who met her, fell under her spell, she had the wonderful knack of making people feel treasured. 

“Llangollen is a better place for having had the likes of Iola in its midst for such a long time and by merely scratching the surface, it is hoped that one can catch a glimpse of the extraordinary lady Iola was.” 

Although for the past few years Iola had been a resident of The Old Vicarage nursing home in Llangollen, it is understand that she died at home surrounded by her family. 

Betthan Mascarenhas, owner of The Old Vicarage, said: “It was so sad to hear of Iola’s passing. She was such a marvellous lady and is missed at the home.” 

Iola’s daughter, Sarah Banfield has announced on social media that her funeral will take place at St Collen’s Church on Friday March 18 followed by burial at Trefynant Cemetery, Acrefair, with refreshments at the Delph, Acrefair.

Town's Foodshare puts out urgent call for supplies

Llangollen Foodshare has put out an urgent call for supplies on social media.

On the Nextdoor site one of its volunteers recently posted: "Help please.....

"I volunteer at Llangollen Foodshare and we are running low on food donations for people who need assistance. We often help anywhere between 20 - 40 people on our Wednesday drop in session.

"If you could donate 1 or more tins of "in date" food that would be amazing. As you can possible see behind Aldi's very kind donation for this week, our "tins" shelves are somewhat bare.

"The best tins to donate are below and the donation session is 10 - 11am on Tuesdays. We are located at the top of Market Street Carpark. there is a big sign on the wall outside:

Baked beans Soups Cereals Tinned Tuna Tinned veg Tinned meat Tinned Stews "Nothing fancy, just the basics.

"Thank you so much for your help in advance. Call for more information - Jess - 07734109937."

Railway refuses to buy Russian coal for its steam trains

Llangollen Railway is to stop buying Russian coal to power its steam engines as a result of the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The heritage attraction has also revealed the "challenging" situation it is facing as a result of soaring diesel prices.

Problems surrounding the two fuels has forced the railway to revise its service timetable.

In a statement, it says: "We currently holds good reserves of coal which were delivered before the hostilities began in Ukraine. 

"Our stocks are sufficient for around 30 days of steam operation. Further stocks of Russian steam coal are still available in the UK, however we do not feel it would be ethical to purchase any more given the horrific situation unfolding in Ukraine.

"The situation is very challenging. As well as coal supply, diesel prices are also vastly inflated, making operation of our diesel railcars and diesel locomotives more expensive too. 

"As a result, the current plan is to revise our timetable for at least the spring months, reducing both the number of trains we operate and how frequently we use steam locomotives. 

"We will be sure to publicise these changes well in advance so that customers hoping for a steam-hauled train can still travel on one. 

"We do however expect demand to be high, so advanced booking is recommended, which can be made via our website (www.llangollen-railway.co.uk) and office (01978 860979). Our diesel-hauled and diesel railcar trains also offer the chance to enjoy the Dee Valley's wonderful scenery."

The railway adds: "Alongside carefully managing our coal stocks, we are looking at alternative fuel sources, including a British-made processed coal known as "ovoids", which may offer us a viable alternative. 

"We are also looking into the very limited remaining coal supplies from South Wales and whether these may be able to offer us a supply. 

"Clearly Welsh coal used to fire steam locomotives in Wales would be a great way of sourcing fuel from a more ethical supplier as well as having reduced transport miles which lowers the overall carbon impact.

"In a time where the use of fossil fuels is quite rightly being challenged, the Llangollen Railway is carefully considering the environmental impact alongside our objective of telling the very important story of our industrial and transport heritage, in which coal played such a huge part. 

"The 150 or so UK heritage railways would welcome the support of both the UK and Welsh Governments in being able to source a limited but sustainable supply of British coal. 

"Our industry support body, the Heritage Railway Association, is actively involved in discussions as to how this may be facilitated."

 

 

Next week's work on 2020 project

Work planned for week starting March 14 on the Llangollen 2020 project is:

• Continue with paving preparation on East Side of bridge
• Paving preparation outside Town Hall
• Finish paving Parade St-Dee Lane (Castle Street west)
• Paving outside Fouzi's (Castle Street east heading North)

Young 'Uns star Celyn takes her final bow with Little Shop of Horrors

* Celyn Orton Jones plays Audrey in the show.

One of the best-loved and most experienced performers with Llangollen Young ‘Uns is due to take her final curtain call with the group later this month.

Celyn Orton Jones has been appearing on stage with Llangollen Operatic Society’s junior section since she was just six, winning many plaudits for her acting and singing abilities along the way.

But as the maximum age for appearing with the group is 18, which she has now reached, she’s finally ready to bow out with her final role, the female lead Audrey, in the fun musical Little Shop of Horrors which comes to the town hall stage from Wednesday March 30 to Saturday April 2, with two performances on the Saturday at 2pm and 7.30pm.  

The Young ‘Uns are pleased that it will be the first live musical theatre show in Llangollen since the pre-pandemic days of February 2020 and the group is excited to be back performing for the community. 

The show, billed as a black horror rock comedy, is packed with memorable songs and has a small cast of 10 of the older Young ‘Uns who have each been with the group for years.

The show is co-directed by Robin Crowley and Jo Lloyd with Julian Cattley as musical director.

Celyn, who due to complete her course in performing arts at Coleg Cambria this summer, is one of the group’s longest-serving and most successful performers ever.

Little Shop of Horrors will be her eleventh show. Her first role was Molly, the youngest orphan, in Annie in 2011 set in a New York orphanage.

Celyn’s reckons her proudest moment came when playing Blousey Brown in Bugsy Malone in 2017, because this was the first time she got to sing a solo number and it also won her the Jane Herniman Trophy for best performer that year.   

Her favourite role remains Rizzo in Grease in 2019 but Celyn says she loves the new show and considers it very challenging and iconic but “really, really fun”.

She is also amused at having to go blonde for the role, wearing a wig over her naturally dark hair throughout the show. 

Celyn says she has greatly valued and enjoyed her time in Young ‘Uns, gaining confidence and overcoming her nervousness and also making many friends.

After college she sees her future in the performing arts and has submitted 11 applications to join suitable courses in locations across the UK.

* Tickets for Little Shop of Horrors can be purchased from www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety or the outlets in town, The wharf, Jades, Oggies, Tourist Information Centre and Georges cafe, at £12 and £10.

Search is on for unsung social care heroes

* MC Wynne Evans.

A search has been launched to find the unsung heroes and heroines of social care in Wales who have “risen magnificently” to the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Entries are being sought for the 2022 Wales Care Awards, to honour the skill and devotion of people who work in social care looking after vulnerable children and adults.

The event is making a welcome return after being cancelled during the last two years because of the pandemic

The awards were introduced Care Forum Wales to inspire excellence in the care sector.

As ever, this year's event will take place in the magnificent surroundings of City Hall in Cardiff, on Friday, October 21. The deadline for nominations is Friday, April 29.

Anybody who has been nominated over the past two years will be automatically entered this time.

Short listed finalists will receive a Gold, Silver or Bronze Wales Care Award, an invitation for themselves and a guest to the Oscars-style gala award ceremony.

The event will be hosted by the top opera singer, Wynne Evans, perhaps best known these days as Gio Compario, the moustachioed tenor from the Go Compare TV ads.

There are over 150,000 people in Wales receiving social care and the sector employs more than 80,000 staff. That's equivalent to five per cent of the Welsh workforce.

Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales and the founder of the Wales Care Awards, "Care Forum Wales is engaged at every level in trying to raise the status of the social care profession and in particular the value to society of the many thousands of social care workers who provide such an important service to communities across Wales.

"The Wales Care Awards is now firmly established as one of the highlights in the Welsh social care calendar although over the past two years everything had to be put on hold because of the pandemic.

“Front line staff working in care homes and in domiciliary care have been in the eye of the Coronavirus storm, protecting the most vulnerable people in Wales from the ravages of this dreadful virus.

“The pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges and our fantastic workforce responded heroically, putting their own lives on the line to shield their beloved residents and staff.

“Care Forum Wales continues to campaign vigorously to ensure that these frontline heroes and heroines are properly rewarded.

“In Wales, pay rates for carers are effectively determined by local councils who set the level of fees care homes and domiciliary care companies receive.

“Most local authorities and health boards use a formula which calculates how much they want to allocate towards all care home costs, including what staff are paid.

As a result, wage levels have been unfairly suppressed by the local authorities who have managed the budgets for a quarter of a century.

“This  is an opportunity to nominate the champions and ambassadors of social care and contribute to raising public awareness of the vital contribution of our sector, a contribution that has been even greater during the nightmare of the past two years.

"The dedication, professionalism and quality of the workforce within the care sector are an absolute inspiration.

"It is occasions like the awards night that enables Care Forum Wales to recognise and celebrate such skills, talents and heroic commitment.

"Our aim is to acknowledge the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of the unsung heroes and heroines working in the care sector.

"It is always a pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists. Each and every one of them should be very proud of their achievement.

"We are now accepting entries for the 2022 awards and we are looking forward to a fantastic occasion during which the dedicated men and women who work in social care can enjoy their well-deserved moment in the sun."

* Further information, including nomination forms can be found on https://walescareawards.co.uk/ or you can call 01978 755400 or email janet@careforumwales.co.uk

Updated story: Council admits damage to bridge and says repairs are underway

* The picture of the bridge on social media yesterday evening.

Denbighshire County Council has admitted that stones were ‘displaced’ from Llangollen Bridge by contractors working on the town’s 2020 Project yesterday afternoon. 

They say work is now going on to replace the stones while a full site survey is carried out to see what other work may be needed.   

Pictures were posted on social media yesterday afternoon showing what seemed to be cracks in the stonework of the ancient monument as the contractors worked on the pavement to renew pavements on Castle Street above.

Llangollen town councillor Stuart immediately asked questions about the consequences of any damage to the bridge, which is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, and urged that a full structural survey being carried out.

This morning the county council has told llanblogger: “Stones displaced on Castle Street Bridge in Llangollen on Thursday afternoon are currently being relocated back into position. 

“During ongoing public realm improvement works in the town, a small number of stones were displaced from the bridge during the removal of the base of a street lighting column. 

“Work is ongoing to put them back into position and there is no risk to the structural integrity of the bridge. 

“A full survey of the site is being carried out in partnership with CADW to determine what further repair works will be required.”

Stuart Davies said yesterday evening: “Back in 2017, when I served as a county councillor for the area, we received a report from engineers to say that water ingress had caused some damage to the structure of the bridge. They said it was alright for the moment but that we would have to keep an eye on it.

“I have now written to the county council’s chief executive and leader to say that what appears to have happened yesterday means that we should have a structural engineer take a good look at it to see if there has been any damage which might weaken the bridge.”

He added: “If there has been any damage, repairs cannot be done quickly as this is a Grade 1 Listed structure and an ancient monument for which permission needs first to be obtained from CADW.

“If there has been any damage there is also the question of whether heavy traffic can still be diverted through Llangollen and over the bridge as happens when the A483/A5 viaduct is closed.

“These are the questions I have asked of the county council leaders.”