Elvis joins another brilliant Abbey Road Christmas creation

* Elvis, complete with giant sideburns, jumpsuit and mic, joins the Three Kings.

* The shepherds, surrounded by sheep, rinse out their socks ready for Christmas and hang them to dry on the fence.

 * An angel looks down on the tableau from above.

* Some handy signs around Elvis.

The crafty Christmas constructors of Tan Y Ddol have been busy again producing what must be their most adventurous seasonal tableau to date.

Over the past few years they've set the festivities off in style with a series of ingenious creations outside their court off Abbey Road. 

They've just put the finishing touches to their latest masterpiece - a three-part nativity scene featuring the Three Kings - including Elvis, the King of Rock 'n' Roll - and a group of shepherds washing their socks by night in a corruption of the famous hymn lyrics.

And presiding over the whole seasonal scene from a perch atop a brick pillar is a magnificent angel.

A close-up look shows a couple of clever signs on the Three Kings scene, one held by Elvis declaring there's "No Room at the Heartbreak Hotel" and another, on the wall, pointing the way to Bethlehem. 

Llangollen trio shine in fundraising dance competition

                                                                      

* Vicky from Tyn Dwr Hall and her partner Mario in their winning quickstep routine.

* Father Lee dances the tango with Julie.

* Norah with her partner Alex do the foxtrot.

Three fleet-footed competitors from Llangollen waltzed to stardom in a glitzy dance competition to raise funds for a hospice on Saturday night.

One of them, Vicky Jones from the team at the Tyn Dwr Hall wedding venue, took the coveted glitterball trophy in the Strictly Nightingales contest at Liverpool’s swanky Titanic Hotel on a night which saw over £36,000 raised for Nightingale House.

Two others – Llangollen’s showbiz vicar Father Lee Taylor from St Collen's and Norah Pye from the Vale of Llangollen Golf Club – were amongst the best scorers on the night, which attracted hundreds of hospice supporters.

The terrific trio were dancing against five other pairs, each comprising an amateur contestant plus a professional partner, from businesses and other organisations in the area served by Nightingale House.

All had trained for months to polish their dancing styles.

Vicky Jones, the eventual winner with both judges and audience members who also had the chance to vote, danced an extremely proficient quickstep with pro Mario Zwolinski.

One of the judges, James Wilson, described her performance as “absolutely fantastic”, adding: “You are a naturally gifted dancer.”

Father Lee is no stranger to the limelight as a key member of the British Music Hall Society and also founder and on-stage chairman of Llangollen's Collen Players which stages regular old time music hall and variety shows at the town's Community Hall – the next one this coming Friday evening.

He teamed up with Llangollen-based professional dancer Julie Thomas, who also partnered another dancer on the night, to display a dramatic Argentine tango which put them halfway up the leader-board.

Head judge Chloe Hewitt praised the routine and said it left her wanting to see more.

Also in the honours was Norah Pye, the local golf club’s lady captain. Dancing the foxtrot with professional Alex Whyatt, she won praise from head judge Chloe for her elegance of style and the 99 per cent efficiency of her footwork around the floor. 

County has warm welcome ready for residents

Denbighshire County Council is supporting a Warm Welcome for residents this winter. 

Across the county - including Llangollen - warm hubs are being set up as safe places for people to go to keep warm within their local community.

The 2025 Movement has brought partners together from across North Wales through the Croeso Cynnes/Warm Welcome initiative to deliver this project. 

Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) is distributing Welsh Government funding to charities and community groups in Denbighshire to help coordinate and deliver the activities in support of this project.

The venues are intended as locations in the local community where people can find a safe, warm and welcoming environment during the day.  

There will be a variety of offers, depending on the needs of visitors, from a simple offer of refreshments and somewhere to relax, through to hot meals, advice and information on energy saving and keeping warm; digital inclusion offers and social activities.  

A Warm Welcome webpage which people can access here has been set up to signpost Denbighshire residents to their nearest warm welcome venues.

Cllr Jason McLellan, Leader and Lead Member for Economic Growth and Tackling Deprivation said: “As we face the pressures of the current cost of living impact and increased energy costs, this is an important initiative that will help those who are struggling to have the ability to keep warm and safe during the winter months.”

“As partners in 2025 we all feel very strongly about supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis – Croeso Cynnes is about using the resources that we have in our buildings and community centres and opening up spaces that are safe, warm and welcoming to residents.”

“I would encourage anyone in the county who is facing pressures from rising costs to check out the available hubs near them in their community. As well as keeping warm, they will provide valuable welfare support and the chance to socialise with other people in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.”

Denbighshire Voluntary Services Chief Officer, Tom Barham, said: “It is a very difficult climate out there for many residents due to the Cost of Living crisis. Charities and community groups as well as libraries, churches and others are really working hard to support those in need over the winter months and this initiative we are helping to coordinate will make a difference for those struggling to heat their homes.

“The locations and information regarding the warm hubs can be found simply by clicking on the web link and if you are facing hardship, please don’t hesitate to take a look at where you could go for the day to keep warm and safe.”

* To find out the location of the warm hubs and what they offer please visit the Warm Welcome webpage at - https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/warm-welcome

Llangollen Warm Welcome Hub 

The local Warm Welcome Centre is at: Llangollen Library and One Stop Shop / Llyfrgell a Siop Un Alwad Llangollen

Cyfeiriad

The Chapel 19-21 Castle Street Llangollen / Y Capel 19-21 Stryd y Castell Llangollen

Côd Post

LL20 8NU

Rhif Ffôn

01978 869600

Dyddiau ac Oriau agor

Monday: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Tuesday: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Wednesday: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Thursday: closed
Friday: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Saturday: 9am to 12.30pm

Dydd Llun: 9am i 1pm a 2pm i 5pm
Dydd Mawrth: 9am i 1pm a 2pm i 5pm
Dydd Mercher: 9am i 1pm a 2pm i 5pm
Dydd Iau: ar gau
Dydd Gwener: 9am i 1pm a 2pm i 5pm
Dydd Sadwrn: 9am i 12.30pm

Christmas Festival fun packs town once again

* Sion Corn arrives outside the Town Hall to be greeted by the Mayor, Cllr Paul Keddie.

All the colour and fun of a full-blown Christmas festival came back to the streets of Llangollen for the first time in three years today.

At last able to shake off the constraints of Covid, organisers of the hugely popular annual event had gone all out to make sure everyone had a great time.

And the town centre was packed with thousands of people who came to see things start off in style with the traditional parade, which made its lively way along Abbey Road from the Pavilion, across the bridge and into the heart of the town.

* A huge tractor takes pride of place in the opening parade.

Special cheers were reserved for the day's special guest, the Welsh Father Christmas, Sion Corn.

With him in the line-up were a fire engine from the Llangollen station, Scouts and brownies and even a contingent from Cogwarts.

Providing a real spectacle was a cavalcade of tractors from local farms plus a couple of classic cars.

After arriving outside the Town Hall to be met by the Mayor, Cllr Paul Keddie, Sion Corn made his way up to the main hall where he took up residence in his grotto and met scores of his young fans. 

* A fire engine thrills the crowds on the bridge.

Chief organiser Austin Cheminais, who was also in the parade in his guise as town crier, said the day was proving to be a big success and had been made all the better thanks to sizeable cash donations, totalling over £1,000, from two well-wishers who want to remain anonymous.

In Market Street there was a record number of Christmas-themed stalls plus a fairground ride and a full programme of top-class entertainment was provided throughout the afternoon and evening under the expert guidance of local musician Chris Burton.

* Town crier Chem lets people know the parade is here. 

The big switch-on of the town's Christmas lights and the traditional firework display is due to take place around 5pm as darkness falls.

* Llangollen Silver Band sets the pace for the parade.

                      * A vintage Standard drives onto the bridge.

      * This group - plus dog - travels in style on a trailer towed by a tractor.

 * A locally-based tuk tuk was a crowd pleaser.

* All kinds of transport were represented in the parade.

* The Drosi Bikes crowd pedal by.

* Scooting past the Town Hall.

                        * Stalls lining Market Street were a big attraction.

                                 * A magic roundabout in Market Street.

* Ysgol Clywedog's steel band plays in Centenary Square.

* The silver band plays seasonal tunes in the square.

Results of the festival's treasure hunt are below:

Nick Dilley of the organising committee said: "We'd like to thank the kids who participated, and their parents ... we hope they enjoyed it. And if they've got any ideas about how we could make it even better next year I'd like to hear them."

Town ready for today's first Christmas Festival in three years

* Crowds packed the town for the last Christmas Festival in 2019. 

After a break of three years due to the pandemic Llangollen Christmas Festival will take place today (Saturday).

A spokesperson for the organising committee said: "We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible to mark the start of the town’s seasonal preparations. 

"There will be a Grand Parade starting from the Pavilion ground at 1pm and proceeding to the Town Hall for the official opening where Sion Corn - the Welsh Father Christmas - will stay for the afternoon to meet and greet as many of his friends as wish to do so at the start of his busiest part of the year.

"There will be lots to do for children old and young and a wide range of seasonal treats and activities.

"At the end of the afternoon there will be the usual firework display at which time the town's Christmas lights will also be switched on.

"Sion Corn will once again be dressed in his traditional green as he makes his preparations and is already planning his visit. 

"After three years he has lots to do as he decides how to make the journey as rapidly as possible." 

Rotary launches town's first Tree of Light

             * The sign at the base of the towns Christmas tree in Centenary Square.

Vale of Llangollen Rotary has teamed up with Llangollen Christmas Festival to create the town’s first Rotary Tree of Light to raise funds for the festival. 

Using the town’s Christmas tree in Centenary Square people can dedicate a light and a personal message in memory of someone special or someone no longer with us for £5.

All money raised will go towards the Christmas Festival and all the messages received will be shown on the Rotary Club’s website and on the dedicated Facebook page @LlangollenRotaryTreeofLight.

Names will also be displayed in the area at the foot of the tree for others to read. 

A sign will be in position at the base of the tree telling people how they can make their dedications.

A QR code will be displayed that takes a smartphone user to the page at Rotary club website - www.valeofllangollenrotary.com/tree-of-light. All the details on how to dedicate and donate are available there.

Vale of Llangollen Rotary meets at 7.15 for 7.30pm at the Liberty Tavern, 20 Market Street, Llangollen LL20 8PS on Monday evenings.

More information is available on Face Book @valeofllangollenrotary, contacting Mike on 07803 038858, via email at valeofllangollenrotary@gmail.com or through the web site www.valeofllangollenrotary.com.

MP highlights importance of step-free Ruabon station

* Simon Baynes MP speaking at the Westminster Hall debate. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has highlighted the importance of step-free access at Ruabon Railway Station.

He spoke during a Westminster Hall debate on the importance of North Wales transport infrastructure.

Minister for Railways in the Department for Transport, Huw Merriman, attended the debate and said he looked forward to visiting Ruabon with Mr Baynes. 

This follows a visit by the former Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, to Ruabon Station last year.

Speaking in the debate, Mr Baynes said: “I am very pleased that in September this year, following the Department for Transport’s call for nominations, Ruabon was nominated, along with my written support, for inclusion in the next round of the Access For All programme, Control Period 7, which I understand will begin in April 2024 and last for five years.”

He said later: “I was very pleased to raise the importance of step-free access as Ruabon Station directly to the Transport Minister recently, and to invite him to visit the station with me later in the year where I will make the positive case for step-free access, which will allow all passengers to access the jobs and leisure opportunities, making our community an even greater place to live and work. 

"Many representatives, organisations and residents in Ruabon have been campaigning for step-free access at Ruabon Station for several years and I was very pleased to be able to highlight the importance of our campaign to UK Government representatives in person.”