Roadworks planned for Aber Adda

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Aber Adda, Llangollen, Denbighshire 21 June - 23 June   Roadworks, Delays unlikely   Traffic management: Traffic control (give & take)   Description: Long Comm pipe Renew 25mm Job in Footway (6mm Bitmac (Tarmac) )   Works location: O/S BUILDING KNOWN AS HOMELEA   Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Hafren Dyfrdwy.   Responsibility for works: Hafren Dyfrdwy   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: ZU0028102/000060514151

Llangollen's new park run gets underway

* Park Run volunteers at the test event the previous Saturday.

Llangollen's first and Wales's 70th Park Run was held yesterday (Saturday).  

A total of 249 people lined up at the start to run, jog and walk the 5k course which runs from Llangollen Health Centre out to the Wenffrwd Pocket Park looping around and returning to the centre with a short section of out and back. 

A team of local volunteers helped put the event together and co-events directors Mike Edwards and Michael Clarke have thanked everyone who took part for giving up their time to ensure the event went ahead.

Mike Edwards said: "I was run director this morning and thank the GP practice, Stephen Johnson, the owner of Llandyn Caravan park whose land the route goes over, and the Countryside Service of Denbighshire Council for allowing us to us their land. 

"I also thank Welsh Athletics, Parkrun Cymru, the GP practice and the Friends of Llangollen Health Centre who provided financial backing for the event to be established."

Parkrun is now a regular weekly event, starting at 9am every Saturday, in which people can volunteer, walk, jog or run to improve their health and wellbeing, please see: home | Old Railway Trail parkrun, Llangollen | Old Railway Trail parkrun, Llangollen

A5 at Glyndyfrdwy blocked after traffic collision

The Denbighshire Free Press is reporting this morning that part of a main road in Denbighshire has been closed due to reports of a road traffic collision in the area. 

The latest traffic updates have said that the A5 Westbound blocked, in Glyndyfrdwy.

* For the full story, see: Reports of a collison on the A5 in Denbighshire | Denbighshire Free Press

Update from North Wales Police at around 2pm:

"We are appealing for information following a road traffic collision this morning on the A5 at Glyndyfrdwy, near Corwen.

"The collision took place at 8.10am and involved a black Nissan Juke and a black Mercedes CLS. 

"Three people have been taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment – one casualty is believed to have suffered serious injuries.

"We are particularly interested in speaking to the driver of a maroon Ford Fiesta who we believe was present at the time and was luckily able to take avoiding action, preventing them being involved in the collision.

"Please could any witnesses of the collision or anyone with dash cam footage contact us on 101, quoting reference number A093834."

Vale of Llangollen Rotary members hear more about Borrow Bus

* The Borrow Bus which regularly visits Llangollen.

Vale of Llangollen Rotary had a talk from Janine Cusworth from reSource, the organisation which runs the Borrow Bus which regularly visits the town. 

Janine is the founder and director of resource and is responsible for the day to day running of the project and developed reSource CIC in Ruthin. 

One of the allied projects is the Borrow Bus, the large green vehicle that many will have seen in Market Street as well as other towns around the area.

The motto for the Borrow Bus is “Borrow instead of buying!” and sums up its mission and the  good range of tools and equipment is available. 

With the bus you can borrow from the travelling storeroom. You can find sewing machines, carpet cleaners, food mixers, garden equipment and so on. 

* Janine Cusworth from reSource with members of Vale of Llangollen Rotary. 

If you only want a tool to do a specific job for a short time, need a piece of equipment but can’t store it permanently or want to try some equipment before buying then this “hiring” arrangement is perfect for you.

* To find out more about the Borrow Bus go to www.borrowbus.wales, on Facebook go to @BwsBenthyg (Borrow Bus in Welsh) or Benthyg@resourcewales.com.

* For more information on Vale of Llangollen Rotary, contact Mike Lade on 07803 038858, valeofllangollenrotary@gmail.com or see www.valeofllangollenrotary

Terry Waite knighted in King's Birthday Honours

* Terry Waite at the official opening of Llangollen's Centenary Square in summer 2018. He is flanked by the then-mayor and deputy mayor Jon Haddy and Issy Richards.

Former hostage Terry Waite, who served for many years as president of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, has been knighted in the King's Birthday Honours for his services to charity.

Sir Terry, 84, who lives in Suffolk, spent almost five years in captivity after being kidnapped by Islamic terrorists in Lebanon.

He travelled to Beirut as an envoy for the Church of England to try to secure the release of four hostages, but was kidnapped and held captive from 1987 until 1991.

He was kept in solitary confinement, forced to put a blindfold on when anybody came into the room, faced a mock execution and was beaten.

Speaking to the BBC about his honour, Sir Terry, co-founder and president of Hostage International, said: "It really is a big surprise. I had no idea that this was coming up.

"I was given an MBE many years ago and then I got a CBE several years afterwards. Now this is the next one up, so to speak.

"I think I've been very fortunate to get this because there are many other people who are deserving of honours who don't get mentioned."

Sir Terry stood down from his position with the Eisteddfod in 2020 after being a familiar sight on the field and at the evening concerts in the Pavilion.

At the time his retirement was announced, Dr Rhys Davies, who was then Eisteddfod chairman said: “His commitment to the Eisteddfod has been exemplary forever promoting our festival and extending the hand of friendship.”

Woman dies following incident at Chirk Aqueduct, say police

Leaderlive is reporting this afternoon (Friday) that a woman has died following an incident at Chirk Aqueduct, police have confirmed. 

Emergency services were called to the incident this morning.

Police said surrounding paths were closed and urged people to avoid the area. 

* For the full story, see: Woman dies in incident at Chirk Aqueduct, police confirm | The Leader (leaderlive.co.uk)

World’s finest young singers head for Eisteddfod showdown

* Last year’s winner baritone Emyr Lloyd Jones.

Twenty-five of the world’s finest young singers will be heading to North Wales to compete for a prestigious international prize.

Entrants from five continents will be battling for the title of Pendine International Voice of the Future at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

It will be the first full festival since before the Covid-19 pandemic and it all gets underway on Tuesday, July 4, when thousands of international competitors will once again be flocking to the Dee Valley town where “Wales meets the world”.

The Pendine International Voice of the Future competition is celebrating its 10^th anniversary and is being sponsored by the arts-loving care organisation, Pendine Park, via the  Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT) which supports cultural and community initiatives across Wales.

In the past decade the contest has become one of the Eisteddfod's major highlights and Camilla King, the festival’s executive producer, said the aim was to advance the careers of the world’s most gifted young singers.

Last year’s winner, baritone Emyr Lloyd Jones, from Bontnewydd, near Caernarfon, was dubbed the new Bryn Terfel after his powerhouse performance.

He will be returning to Llangollen to take part in a concert called The White Flower: Into the Light where he will be sharing the stage with ‘Lleisiau Llan’, a massed choir of 200 voices brought together specially for this concert, and the NEW Sinfonia orchestra.

Camilla King said: “The Pendine International Voice of the Future has become a very popular competition and the 43 entries we received this year is one of the highest number we've ever had.

"The standard is again very high, and although at the selection stage you can determine a promising singer, hearing someone live is an altogether different and more thrilling experience. We knew that Emyr (Lloyd Jones), last year's winner, was talented we watched his application video, but seeing him on stage blew the judges and the audience away.

"There’s something about the human voice heard live, and witnessing someone’s stage presence which you just can’t capture on film, and this is one of the things thatmakes this competition so exciting," she said.

The selection panel have whittled down the entrants to the 25 singers who hail from Wales and Scotland as well as further afield from Canada, South Africa, China, Korea, Australia and the Philippines.

They will have to navigate a preliminary round on Thursday, July 6, and a semi-final the following day before the final competition on the famous International Pavilion stage on Saturday, July 8.

Competitors, who are aged between 20 and 32, are required to perform a contrasting programme of up to seven minutes in length for their preliminary round and up to 10 minutes for the final. Camilla said the programmes must include works from oratorio, opera, lieder or song and be sung in the original language.

Eisteddfod officials have agreed to a significant change in the competition with three singers set to take part in the final rather than the two last summer.

"We're having three singers in the final this year. It was such a strong final last year and the audience enjoyed it so much that we thought why not give the platform to a third finalist," said Camilla.

The winner will be presented with the Pendine Trophy, a solid silver salver, and a cheque for £3,000 as well as having the opportunity to perform in concerts at the Eisteddfod and other venues. Meanwhile, the runner up will receive £1,500.

The International Accompanist competition, which is linked to the main singing competition, carries a prize of £1,000.

Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE said: "The standard of the competitors in years past has been absolutely phenomenal and I have no doubt it will be incredibly high again this year.

"I wish all 25 young singers all the very best in this year's Pendine International Voice of the Future competition.  I do not envy the task of the adjudicators as the singers are all so extraordinarily accomplished."

The prize will be jointly presented to the winner by Nia Davies Williams, Pendine Park’s musician-in-residence and Sarah Edwards, the organisation’s artist-in-residence.

Looking forward to this year's Eisteddfod, Camilla said: "We have a new improved outdoor site, the ever popular Everbright Parade of Nations will be back and will be bigger and better than ever, this time finishing on the Eisteddfod Maes with a massed song and dance number, with town spectators invited to come onto the field with free entry, and some exciting new competitions on our closing Sunday, meaning our competitor experience offers even more.

"The concert programme is looking great, with Alfie Boe kicking things off on the Tuesday evening, along with Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists Welsh of the West End. They will have a solo set in the programme and will present their version of the rock-opera Nia Ben Aur.

"And on the Friday well known jazz musician and conductor, Guy Barker with his 17 piece Big Band will collaborate with top soloists such as Tommy Blaize, lead singer on Strictly Come Dancing, and soul and jazz musicians, Clare Teal, Giacomo Smith and Vanessa Haynes.

* For tickets or for more on Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and its competitions and concerts go to www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk or check out www.facebook.com/llangollen