Llangollen Ramblers tackle Wales Coast Path

Twenty-three members of Llangollen Ramblers have spent the last week on the Wales Coast Path. 

Here they're exploring a ruined mill at Trefin, near St David's. 

Over 500 miles have been covered now. Only 300 more and they'll be at the end in Chepstow.

BGT star Shea back in spotlight for Llan charity concert

* Shea Ferron in the John’s Boys line-up on Britain's Got Talent.

* John’s Boys Male Chorus on the show.

A young singer who was part of the choir which wowed judges on Britain's Got Talent is one of the stars of a glittering charity concert in Llangollen later this week. 

Twenty-year-old Shea Ferron was in the line-up of the Rhosllanerchrugog-based John's Boys choir which sang the soulful number Biblical on the TV talent show recently. 

The stunning performance brought tears to the eyes of new judge Bruno Tonioli and led old hand Simon Cowell to declare he had never seen a choir on the show produce 'that' moment before. 

Now Shea, who is currently on BA (Hons) Performing Arts course at the ICTheatre College in Manchester and is from Ruabon, is back in the spotlight for a solo performance in Llangollen on Show, a fundraising variety and music hall show in aid of survivors of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria earlier this year. 

To be staged over two nights at Llangollen Town Hall this Thursday and Friday, May 11 and 12, the show will make history as the first time all three of Llangollen’s most popular amateur stage groups have come together for a joint production.

Llangollen Operatic Society, Llangollen Twenty Club and The Collen Players

are combining their considerable talents for the show all proceeds from which will go to the Disaster Emergency Committee in which 15 of the UK’s top charities have come together to supply a lifeline to areas devastated by the earthquake. 

The Operatic, an all-singing and dancing outfit, will perform numbers from the smash-hit shows Hamilton, Six, Oliver Les Miserables and Half a Sixpence,  while the Twenty Club drama group will present comedy sketches – one specially written for the occasion – inspired by their own hilarious past hits. 

The Collen Players – including Shea who will sing two numbers - will provide a taste of the rip-roaring Victorian music hall shows for which they have rapidly become famous, with their founder Lee Taylor acting as chairman for the show which starts each night at 7.30pm.  

There will be a bar and prize raffle on both nights and a number of local businesses have pledged their financial support. 

* Tickets, priced at £12 (no concessions) are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety or from Courtyard Books, Llangollen, and the Llangollen Oggie Shop in Caste Street or on the door on the nights.

Tributes paid to town's British Legion chairman

* Phil Stroud.

One of the key figures in the town's ex-service community has died after a short illness.

Phil Stroud, well known locally as chairman of the local branch of the Royal British Legion, passed away at his home last week.

Mr Stroud, who was originally from Manchester and served for a number of years in the army with the King's Regiment, leaves his wife of 23 years Marie, children and grandchildren.

In a tribute to him, Llangollen Town Council says: "The Town Council were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Stroud after a sudden but short illness. 

"Originally from Manchester, he made Llangollen his home where he served as an active member of the town’s Royal British Legion for a number of years most recently in the role of chairman."

Commenting on the loss, the Town Mayor Cllr Paul Keddie said: “Phil was a well-known citizen of Llangollen and a stalwart of the Llangollen branch of the Royal British Legion. 

"He worked closely with the Town Council staff to ensure that the Annual Service of Remembrance ran smoothly and his presence on the day as the chair, supporting the clergy and laying the Legion's wreath will be missed.”

Gareth Thomas, the Town Clerk, commented: “I express my sincere condolences to Phil’s family; he was a gentleman and contributed a great deal of time and effort in supporting the Legion and especially the arrangements for Remembrance Sunday. 

"I will miss his dry wit and the support that he has offered me over the years. It is truly sad news.”

* The funeral of Phil Stroud will take place at St Collen’s Church on Tuesday May 23, at 2pm.

Emergency services called to incident at Chirk Aqueduct

Leader Live is reporting that emergency services have been called to Chirk Aqueduct this afternoon (Monday, May 8).

The Welsh Ambulance Service has confirmed they are responding to an incident and the air ambulance is also in attendance.

* For the full story, see: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/23508004.live-emergency-services-called-chirk-aqueduct/

Incident update....

Superintendent Jon Bowcott said "Officers from North Wales Police, along with colleagues from emergency services from both Wales and England this afternoon responded to a medical emergency in the vicinity of Chirk Aqueduct. The activity in the area has understandably created significant public interest and concern. Operations at the site have now wound down, and I would like to reassure people that there was never a threat to the wider public nor are there any ongoing issues of concern."

Talk on railway history planned for June

Llangollen Railway will be welcoming heritage specialist Fiona Gale (pictured) on the evening of Thursday June 1.

Until her retirement she was the county archaeologist in Denbighshire and has been a consultant and mentor to numerous community groups.

She has organised, led, or participated in, hundreds of events, guided tours, talks and lectures and in 2020 was was appointed an MBE for her services to heritage in Wales. 

On June 1 she will be presenting her illustrated talk on 'Denbigh, Ruthin & Corwen Railway in the Vale of Clwyd'. This will be held in the Henry Robertson Suite at Llangollen Station, with refreshments available.  

From the 1860s until the 1960s, the Vale of Clwyd was served by a railway which connected Corwen in the south to the North Wales coast line via Ruthin and Denbigh. 

Recently a project in Ruthin to refurbish a crane connected to the railway has worked as a catalyst for a wider project, collecting memories of the line, examining some of its features and researching a little of the history. The talk will explore some of this work. 

Tickets cost £5 each and are available to pre-book through Llangollen Railway's website: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/denbigh-ruthin-corwen-railway-in-the-vale-of-clwyd-an-illustrated-talk-by-fiona-gale/. 

Due to the size of the venue, only 50 tickets are available and these are being offered on a first-come-first-served basis, so organisers advise people to book now to avoid disappointment. 

Roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council

Latest roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council are:

FROM NUMBER 57 TO NUMBER 77 PENGWERN 07/05/2023 07/05/2023 Parti Stryd / Street Party, Road Closure

A539 Ponsonby Arms MILL STREET 10/07/2023 11/07/2023 NMWTRA

A539 Castle St, Llangollen CASTLE STREET 15/05/2023 17/05/2023 15/05/23 Road Lining/stop go DCC WORKS UNIT

Market St, Llangollen MARKET STREET 15/05/2023 17/05/2023 Gwaith Llinellu / Lining Works DCC WORKS UNIT

Wrth / Nr DALMORE ABBEY ROAD 22/05/2023 24/05/2023 Gwaith BT/ BT Works MJ QUINN (DCC)

Chapel St, Llangollen CHAPEL STREET 15/05/2023 17/05/2023 Gwaith Llinellu / Lining Works DCC WORKS UNIT

Wrth / Nr 3 ABBEY ROAD 10/05/2023 10/05/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

A542 carriageway MAESMAWR ROAD 30/05/2023 02/06/2023 Cynnal y Lon Gerbydau/ Carrigeway Maintenance AARON MACDONALD (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Parade St, llangollen PARADE STREET 15/05/2023 17/05/2023 Gwaith Llinellu / Lining Works DCC WORKS UNIT

Bridge St, Llangollen BRIDGE STREET 16/05/2023 16/05/2023 Adferiad/ Reinstatement DCC WORKS UNIT Road Closure

Oak St, Llangollen OAK STREET 16/05/2023 16/05/2023 Adferiad/ Reinstatement DCC WORKS UNIT Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closurei

Council cash brings power to Riverside Park bandstand

Supplying power to the bandstand in Llangollen's Riverside Park has been completed thanks to cash support from the county council.

A number of projects have been undertaken across Denbighshire to enable communities to host more sustainable and cost-effective events in their areas.

Total value of the schemes supported is £128,000. Also in the programme were sound, lighting and storage improvements at Y Ganolfan, Llandrillo and an upgrade to the kitchen at Carrog Hall.

All projects have been supported by Denbighshire Council’s Community Development Team which has been on hand to offer guidance, facilitation and act as liaison with internal departments as required.  Further projects are expected to be completed by November 2023.

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity for community groups and event organisers to improve facilities across the county. Many of these locations are a crucial hub for community engagement and events and we’re pleased to see the funding has led to improved infrastructure in Denbighshire and we look forward to bringing the remaining projects in receipt of funding into fruition soon.”

* For support in developing a community project or idea, please get in touch with Denbighshire County Council’s Community Development Team via email: communitydevelopment@denbighshire.gov.uk