Vale of Llangollen Rotary has new president

New president of the Vale of Llangollen Rotary Club is Lee Todd (pictured), co-owner of a local supported living company.

From July 1 all 34,000-plus Rotary clubs in over 200 countries will have a new president for the year ahead. 

And Vale of Llangollen has welcomed 46-year-old Lee, who has been a resident in Llangollen for the past three years.

Originally from Exeter, he has been in the care sector since the age of 18, working in the NHS. 

He is currently a co-owner of a supported living company along with his wife and fellow owners. 

He has been a member of the Rotary Club for the past seven months and to be awarded the title of president is seen as a great achievement after such a short while.

Lee said: “It is a great honour for me to be taking on the role of president for the year 2023/24. The club is based in the town where I live,  so this will help enable me to connect with the local community along with our team of Rotarians and our community team.

"We welcome new members from all walks of life who have a desire to contribute to our local community.

"I hope to increase engagement with the club through social media and by word of mouth as this will reinforce the Rotary’s brand and showcase the opportunities that come with it. 

"We will grow the Rotary by way of membership, completing local projects and in our ability to provide a meaningful service."

He added: "My key aims over the next year will be to try and attract the younger generation to Rotary and increase membership.

 

"I want the community to talk to us and share their ideas on how we can help and offer support where needed. 

"I aim to recognise smaller charities struggling for funds, increase our involvement in the community and I would like to engage the young people from our local schools to get involved and to learn more of what we do.

"I am looking forward to the challenges and getting the Rotary name into the community, with more and more projects both locally and internationally."

* For more information on the club, contact Kurly Marwaha at: secretary.llangollenrotary@gmail.com, valeofllangollenrotary@gmail.com, @valeofllangollenrotary on Facebook or see www.valeofllangollenrotary

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

Latest local roadworks alerts from council

Latest local roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council are: 

OUTSIDE NUMBER 12 CHAPEL STREET 11/07/2023 13/07/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works SEVERN TRENT WATER (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Full Extent TRACK FROM VALLEY ROAD TO TYN CELYN WOOD 08/07/2023 09/07/2023 Digwyddiad ar y Priffordd/ Event on the Highway GRAVITY EVENTS UK LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

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

A539 OUTSIDE PROPERTY KNOWN AS 'GWENALLT' ABBEY ROAD ABBEY ROAD 14/06/2023 20/06/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY LLANGOLLEN

A542 Junction of Chapel St and Bridge St Llangollen LL20 8NW BRIDGE STREET 03/07/2023 03/07/2023 Gwaith BT/ BT Works SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Abbey Road ABBEY ROAD 19/06/2023 30/09/2023 Ailwynebu/ Resurfacing DCC WORKS UNIT (PETER PAR LLANGOLLEN No traffic management to be on site 01/07/23 - 12/07/23 due to International Eisteddfod Confoi 10 mya/10 mph Convoy

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.”