Male voice choir is recruiting singers

* A poster from 2018 when the choir sang for the RAF centenary celebrations at the RAFA Club in Llangollen.

A long-established choir based near Llangollen is on the look-out for new members.

Spokesperson Mike Gleed said: "Cor Meibion Dyffryn Ceiriog is a traditional make voice choir which is friendly and supportive but, for a number of reasons, our numbers have become depleted.

"We want our choir, who have been around for 49 years, to continue.

"There's no voice test and plenty of support and encouragement are given."

He added: "This is the nearest Male Voice Choir to Llangollen and we supported the dwindling Llangollen Male Voice Choir, boosting their ranks on the Eisteddfod field and the Food Festival.

"We would love to appear again at both events if we succeed in rebuilding."

The choir is based in the Memorial Hall, High Street, Glynceiriog.

* For more details, ring Mike Gleed on 07944 386550.  

Visitors gather to hear about Ladies of Llangollen

* Visitors gather around the grave of the Ladies of Llangollen at St Collen's to hear a talk by Sue Evans from the church. 

Visitors from across the country were given a talk about the monument to the Ladies of Llangollen yesterday (Saturday).

The description of the last resting places of Sarah Ponsonby and Eleanor Butler, along with their faithful housekeeper Mary Carryl, in St Collen's graveyard was given by Sue Evans from the church.

Her talk also highlighted some historical points of interest of the town's ancient parish church and the commemorative plaque depicting the Ladies which it displays on the wall.

* Visitors gather inside the church to hear about some historical points of interest.

The visit to the railed-of gothic style monument came during a special day of events to mark the launch of a new exhibition at the home of the Ladies, Plas Newydd.

The exhibition, entitled Beloved: Crafting Intimacies with the Ladies of Llangollen, has been created by Manchester-based artist Sarah-Joy Ford after a period of artist residency at Plas Newydd. 

She says the embroidered intervention is inspired by the deep and lifelong intimate relationship between the Ladies and the extraordinary home that they created together, as well as Sarah Ponsonby’s own creative practices undertaken in the home.

The day also included a symposium hosted by Queer Research Network Manchester at The Hand Hotel and a private view of the exhibition with drinks reception at Plas Newydd. 

Sarah-Joy Ford said: "Queer Research Network Manchester is an inter-disciplinary research network that aims to bring together researchers working with queer themes across the Manchester universities. We host regular discussion and reading groups for PhD students and organise bi-monthly events and speakers.

"This project is funded by the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership through their Researcher-Led Knowledge Exchange scheme, with support from the Arts and Humanities Research Council."

* One of the pieces of artwork featured in the exhibition.

Roadworks alert for Chapel Street

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Chapel Street, Denbighshire 03 May - 06 May   Delays unlikely - Some carriageway incursion   Description: LAY NEW GAS 1M PUBLIC...   Works location: OUTSIDE NUMBER 9   Public facing description: Wales & West Utilities Ltd has not assigned a specific description to this Works. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Wales & West Utilities Ltd.   Responsibility for works: Wales & West Utilities Ltd   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: XY254004000173206

Section of A483 closed to traffic

Breaking news

The A483 is currently closed from Halton to Ruabon in both directions, Wrexham.com is reporting this evening (Saturday).

For the full story, see: https://www.wrexham.com/news/full-a483-closure-between-halton-and-ruabon-218482.html

Latest Citizens Advice column

Here is the latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice:

Q: I am a single parent, with two young children. I am already struggling to stay on top of my household bills; my weekly food shop isn’t stretching as far anymore and now my energy bill is going up too. I don’t know how I’m going to afford all of these price rises. What can I do to stop my finances spiralling out of control?

A: First of all, you are not alone in this and there’s support to help you.

It’s always worth checking if there are benefits you don’t know about that you’re eligible for, including support with your energy costs and living costs. On the Citizens Advice website there’s a benefits calculator, advice on how to reduce living costs and information on other ways to increase your income.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/dealing-with-your-debts/reducing-your-regular-living-costs/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/dealing-with-your-debts/check-if-you-can-increase-your-income/ 

There’s also emergency support that you may have access to, such as food bank vouchers or fuel vouchers. You could contact your local council to see if they could also offer support.

If you’re struggling to stay on top of bills, it’s really important to understand what money you have coming in and going out each month. Citizens Advice has a budgeting tool on its website that can help with this.

And if you’re already behind on bills, prioritise paying your rent or mortgage, plus energy bills and Council Tax first. Not paying these bills has the most serious consequences. You should speak to the person or company you owe money to, to see if they can help you repay your bills sustainably.

We know that times are incredibly tough but please remember, you don’t have to face this alone, do contact your local Citizens Advice to help you find a way forward.

Work planned for next week on 2020 project

Work planned for week starting May 2 on the town's 2020 project is:

• Paving the west side of the bridge
• Begin night surfacing works along Castle Street from 6pm to 12am (midnight), Tuesday to Friday
• Miscellaneous works around Castle Street such as replacing manhole covers

More details of 2022 Eisteddfod and Llanfest revealed

* Performers lined up for this year's Eisteddfod. Top row L to R shows performers at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2022: Aled Jones (credit Simon Fowler); Russell Watson (credit Simon Fowler); Anoushka Shankar. Bottom row L to R: performers at Llanfest 2022: Amber Run; Llareggub Brass Band; Elles Bailey; And a past Llanfest stage (credit Allan Potts).

This July, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Llangollen Fringe Festival join forces to celebrate two significant cultural milestones for the town - the Eisteddfod's 75^th anniversary and the Fringe's 25^th.

These two events combine to make an amazing 100 years of summer festivals in the town.

To mark these two anniversaries, the Eisteddfod and Fringe are collaborating for the first time to produce Llanfest 2022 on Sunday 10th July, the final day of the four-day International Llangollen Eisteddfod music festival, which runs from 7-10^th July.

Llanfest has become a firm favourite in the summer festival diary and this year there will be an emphasis on home-grown talent incorporating eclectic music, theatre and comedy. 

Headliners British indie three-piece Amber Run will deliver lush, cinematic alt-pop with a moody and introspective tone.  

mber Run are supported by Welsh/Bajan singer Kizzy Crawford, described by Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens as ‘real talent' and ‘wonderful' by Radio 4's Richard Coles, and Elles Bailey, a smoky-voiced human dynamo, who straddles the worlds of Americana and the blues. 

Tickets are now on sale for Llanfest on the main festival website.

After an online event last year organisers are thrilled to welcome back visitors to Llangollen. 

This year's festival has been redesigned with a more compact site revolving around a single Pavilion music stage and a new in-the-round stage developed for spoken word events, offering a thought-provoking series of talks.  

Live music, talks, food stalls, bars and free community events will be around the site from midday to 9pm plus the Pavilion main acts will start at 6pm.

Llanfest is the final day of the Eisteddfod, which returns after a two-year hiatus with a line-up that celebrates the best traditional and contemporary music from around the world.

Two of the classical world's vocal powerhouses, Aled Jones and Russell Watson will be performing together for the first time to open the 2022 programme and further highlights include Grammy Award winner Anoushka Shankar with Manu Delago and the Britten Sinfonia .

Celebrating its 75^th anniversary, the festival returns this year with a broad cultural programme that spreads the message of peace and friendship on which it was founded in 1947 after the second world war.  

Each year around 4,000 performers from around the world and as many as 35,000 visitors converge on this beautiful small Welsh town to sing and dance in a unique combination of competition, performance and community spirit. 

The festival's ability to spot future talent is renowned and it's credited with helping to launch the career of Luciano Pavarotti among others.

In recognition of the festival's founding principle to spread peace, visitors to the festival and Llanfest will be invited to write a message of peace on a luggage label and attach it to trees around the site to create a forest of peace. 

On Thursday 7^th July, children's day, the festival is teaming up with The Welsh Centre for International Affairs, Size of Wales and Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services to create the first Young Peace Makers' Awards - celebrating young people who have contributed to peace and global citizenship at home and overseas.  Details of how to enter can be found here: www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk/get-involved/young-peacemakers-awards-2022/

Camilla King, executive producer of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, is leading the transformation of the festival into a fresh, diverse fusion of contemporary and traditional cultures that will connect with both new and existing audiences.

She said: "For years the festival and the fringe have worked independently to help Llangollen to punch above its weight on the international music scene so it is exciting that for the first time we are joining forces to co-curate Llanfest this year.  

"Together we will be bringing an eclectic and inspiring line-up of music, spoken word and comedy to north Wales in the spirit of peace and togetherness that the Llangollen Eisteddfod was founded on the 75 years ago and is now more relevant than ever."

Paul Keddie, chair of the Llangollen Fringe Festival, said:  "Llangollen Fringe Festival is delighted to be working alongside LIME this year to gather everyone together on the Sunday of the Eisteddfod.  75 years of the Eisteddfod and 25 years of the Fringe gives 100 years' worth of experience to share with the world... it's going to be magical."

The 2022 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod programme comprises:

Thursday 07 July | 7.30pm | Back In Harmony: Russell Watson and Aled Jones  
Following their 2019 sell-out In Harmony tour, two of the world's most loved classical voices launch the Llangollen 2022 concert programme performing songs from their album, Back In Harmony.  Limited tickets available.

Friday 08 July| 8pm | Anoushka Shankar & Manu Delago In Concert   
In this captivating concert highlights from Anoushka Shankar's catalogue are presented in new arrangements by Jules Buckley, featuring several co-written with her friend and collaborator Manu Delago, whose solo compositions round out the performance, for an evening that will transport audiences on a wild and surprising ride.   

Saturday 09 July | 7.30pm | Choir of the World, Dance Champions & Voice of the Future 2022  
Choral finalists compete for the coveted Choir of the World title and the Pavarotti Trophy. Alongside this we crown the 2022 Dance Champions with the Lucille Armstrong Trophy, and the International Voice of the Future. Expect an evening to remember with the best performers and dancers from across the globe.  

Sunday 10 July | from 11.30am | Llanfest  
Llanfest has quickly become a firm favourite in the summer festival diary with outside stages featuring live music throughout the day and a chilled, family friendly, atmosphere in the spectacular setting of the Dee Valley. Headliners, British indie three-piece, Amber Run, will deliver lush, cinematic alt-pop with a moody and introspective tone.  Amber Run are supported by Welsh/Bajan singer Kizzy Crawford, described by Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens as ‘real talent' and ‘wonderful' by Radio 4's Richard Coles and Elles Bailey, a smoky-voiced human dynamo, who straddles the worlds of Americana and the blues.

* For more information and to buy tickets please visit www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk/whats-on/