Get in touch ...

Know of something happening in
Llangollen?
Tweet
us on
@llanblogger

E-mail your contributions to: llanblogger@gmail.com

We are on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/llanbloggercouk/139122552895186



Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Choir bound for eisteddfod sells calendars to help hospice

* Akaash Das, 14, and Daniel Grove, 15, who are members of the choir and students at Oswestry School. 

A choir set to sing at next year's Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is selling limited edition calendars this Christmas with proceeds being donated to Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices.  

Wrexham-based Johns’ Boys Male Chorus became semi-finalists of Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year after wowing the judges with their incredible voices, getting high praise from Simon Cowell who called them a “beautiful choir”. 

They have now released a special calendar for 2024 showing pictures from theirs amazing last 12 months.  

The choir will make their eisteddfod appearance on Wednesday July 3 as part of the a celebration of Welsh music entitled Wales Welcomes the World also featuring Welsh folk band Calan and royal harpist Alis Huws.

The choir was formed in 2016 by Aled Phillips and has several members of staff and pupils from Oswestry School, where Aled is the director of music.  

“We are delighted to be able to release this calendar and raise money for such an important local charity,” said Aled.  

“The calendar is a collection of pictures from memorable moments from the last year, and there have been quite a few. 

“Please pick one up and help raise money to support local children and families.” 

Oswestry School’s headteacher Peter Middlewood said: “We are so proud of all the members of the choir and it is great to see different generations come together to sing. 

“We can’t wait to see what they have in store for the future.” 

Fundraiser Cat Dowdeswell said: “The John’s Boys Male Chorus have been amazing supporters of Hope House over the years and we are so grateful for everything they do to raise money. 

“This calendar is a perfect Christmas gift for any fans of the choir, so make sure you pick up a copy while they are still available.  

“Every calendar will see a donation made to support seriously ill local children this festive season. Thank you so much to everyone at the choir for choosing to support Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith once again.” 

* The calendars are on sale for £9.99 with all proceeds being split between Hope House Children’s Hospice and Andy’s Club. You can get your calendar at www.tickettailor.com/events/johnsboys/store 

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Dave relishes challenge of being Eisteddfod’s new artistic director


* Dave Danford outside the International Pavilion.

A top music industry professional who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business has been appointed as the new Artistic Director of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. 

At the age of 39 Dave Danford has already had a decade-long association with the iconic festival and has stepped up into the key role after a number of years as its Production Manager. 

He is “extremely excited” about his appointment, which has just been announced by the eisteddfod’s trust board. The appointment is funded through the Arts Council of Wales. 

And he says he is relishing the challenge of overseeing every musical aspect of the festival, from big-name concerts featuring stars as diverse as Sir Tom Jones and the Manic Street Preachers before and during the festival’s core week of July 2-7, to its unique programme of international-class competitions. 

Dave, 39, is originally from Swansea and studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff for his degree in orchestral percussion. 

He began his music career as a freelance percussionist working with a variety of orchestras. 

He played with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Royal Northern Sinfonia and recorded with Dru Masters, composer for The Apprentice on BBC TV, and former BBC Radio 1 DJ Judge Jules. 

From 2017 to 2023 he toured the world as the percussionist for Bat Out of Hell: The Musical, including a run in the West End in 2018, and on an arena tour of Australia and New Zealand at the start of 2023. 

Alongside this, in 2010 he added a new professional string to his bow by founding his own company, Absolute Music Services, which specialises in assembling orchestras to play at major concerts and tours across the UK. 

Some previous projects include providing orchestras for Hollywood composer Michael Giacchino’s 50th birthday concert at the Royal Albert Hall, Casablanca Live at the Royal Opera House and Home Alone in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, and in Aalborg, Denmark. 

In 2011 he formed the Welsh band Adran D who released two albums of traditional Welsh songs modernised for the 21st century, with many tracks still featuring on the BBC Radio Cymru playlist. 

Dave first began his association with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 2012 when, working closely with the festival’s then Music Director Eilir Owen Griffiths, he provided the orchestra for a performance of Sir Karl Jenkins’ The Peacemakers at the festival and, in subsequent years, helped to organise concerts featuring artists such as Alfie Boe, Dame Evelyn Glennie, and Rolando Villazón. He is looking forward to implementing some of his innovative ideas to move the festival forward. 

Apart from all his other roles he is also Artistic Director of his own orchestra, the British Sinfonietta, which has won a strong reputation for itself in the world of professional performance since it was established in 2010. 

He has already arranged for these other ventures to be in safe hands as he steps into his pivotal role at Llangollen. 

Dave says he doesn’t for a minute underestimate the challenge he now faces with the iconic Llangollen festival which is now fighting hard to recover and strengthen its international and home appeal after suffering a major financial setback last summer. 

The Eisteddfod has now forged a formidable partnership with international agency Cuffe & Taylor to book a host of top headliners for its evening concerts both during and in the lead-up to the festival, from Sir Tom Jones to Paloma Faith and from Gregory Porter to Manic Street Preachers. 

It has also reworked its competitions programme to ensure a perfect balance between traditional and more accessible aspects.     

“The concerts we have announced over the past few weeks represent the most formidable package of entertainment we have ever arranged, with its real star value and widespread appeal,” said Dave. 

“I am also relishing the part of my job which involves putting together and ensuring the smooth running of our competitions, with which in any case I have already had lots of experience in my last job as production manager. 

“We are doing things in a new way for 2024 by incorporating the finals of some of the daytime competitions into the evening concerts, for instance by having the final of the youth choir competition on the Wednesday of the festival during the evening concert that night. 

“We have done this because we may have some people who come along for the evening concerts and don’t even realise we have competitions going on throughout the days. So this will hopefully help to give them the overall picture of what we do.” 

Dave, who is married to Siân and has two children aged nine and five,  added: “I am over the moon about becoming Artistic Director as it’s my dream job. 

“I’m also very excited at the prospect of helping the Eisteddfod overcome the challenges it has faced over the past year and I can’t wait for next July to come.”

Professor Chris Adams, chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: “We are delighted to appoint Dave Danford to this central position at our festival. As a well-known figure in the UK music industry, with a reputation for innovating, Dave has worked with our Eisteddfod for several years and as Production Manager has been responsible for giving us many memorable nights. We look forward to working with Dave on some of his imaginative ideas to move our festival forward. 

“He is someone who shares our festival's ethos that through music and dance we can promote international harmony, and we look forward to working with him to present a 2024 Llangollen Eisteddfod that will be talked about for generations.”

Winners of record-breaking Christmas Festival raffle revealed


* The firework display which ended this year's Christmas Festival.

Below is a list of the winning numbers from this year's Christmas Festival Raffle which was drawn on Monday December 18.  

All prize winners will be contacted directly, say organisers.

A spokesperson said: "The Christmas Festival Group would like to thank all of the traders and businesses that supported us with their generous donations of prizes. 

"Thanks to the hard work of group members we managed to sell 4000 tickets, our best raffle ever.

The proceeds from the raffle, £4,000, will be shared between Air Ambulance, local community groups and Llangollen Christmas Festival. 

LLANGOLLEN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 2023

Raffle Prize Winners

1.     1.    £200 Worth Food Vouchers                                      2371

2.      2.     Flight for 3 People in Light Aircraft                           3449

3.   Flight in Glider                                                           1680

4.   Family Ticket for Llangollen Railway                          2954

5.   Family Ticket for Canal Boat Trip/Afternoon Tea        2636

6.   Whitewater Rafting for 2 people                                 1024

7.   Trip in Tuk-Tuk                                                            2443

8.   Voucher for Bike Hire Drozi Bikes                               3902

9.   5 Days Fishing on River Dee                                       3309

10.  £100 Activity Vouchers from TNR                               0254

11.  Voucher for two people Llangollen Eisteddfod            2070

12. Pair of Tickets for Comedy Club                                  1126       

13. £50 Voucher for Meal at Liberty Tavern                       2224

14. £30 Voucher for Meal at Fouzi’s                                  1134

15. Two Course Meal for two at Corn Mill                          2256

16. Voucher for Meal at Sun Trevor                                   0561

17. Voucher for Meal at Gales Wine Bar                           3160

18. £20 Voucher for Meal at m’Eating Point                      1722

19. Afternoon Tea at The Wild Pheasant                            3318

20.  Afternoon Tea at The Wild Pheasant                           2835

21. Food Hamper from Llangollen Oggie Shop                 3275

22. Voucher from Porters Delicatessen                             0285

23. Fruit Basket from Dee Valley Veg                                1469

24. Whisky and Red Wine Tesco                                       0719

25. Whisky and White WineTesco                                     1611       

26. Red Wine and White Wine Tesco                                0963

27. Hair & Beauty Voucher from Jades                             2390

28. Luxury Spa at The Wild Pheasant                               1280       

29. Luxury Spa at The Wild Pheasant                               3725       

30. £10 Voucher from Lilly Rose Interiors                         0002

31. Christmas Wreath LIME Floral Committee                 1589

32. 2 Knitted Scarecrows Nans Wool Shop                      1877


Latest local roadworks alerts

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

 

Willow Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire


21 December - 23 December

 

Roadworks, Delays unlikely

 

Traffic management: Traffic control (give & take)

 

Description: Short 0.1-4.5m Full Ex 32mm MDPE new water connection Job in Carriageway (10mm Bitmac (Tarmac) )

 

Works location: OUTSIDE NUMBER 9

 

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: ZU0025802/000006697979

 

 

Local roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council are:

Wrth / Nr Bryn Howel A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD 17/01/2024 17/01/2024 Gwaith BT/ BT Works SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN

A539 JUNC HALL STREET - JUNC VICARAGE ROAD HILL STREET 05/02/2024 15/03/2024 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works WALES & WEST (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

A539 JUNC HILL STREET - O/S NO. 4 VICARAGE ROAD 22/01/2024 02/02/2024 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works WALES & WEST (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

OUTSIDE ARMSTRONG TOWERS BIRCH HILL 10/01/2024 12/01/2024 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works WALES & WEST (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

JUNC VICARAGE ROAD - JUNC FRON CASTELL FRON BACHE 02/01/2024 26/01/2024 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works WALES & WEST (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

OUTSIDE ACTIVITY CENTRE, PARADE STREET LLANGOLLEN LL20 8RD CO ORDS: PARADE STREET 14/01/2024 14/01/2024 Gwaith ar Dwll Archwilio/ Man Hole Works ALUN GRIFFITHS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

EAST STREET 21/01/2024 04/02/2024 Resurfacing works DCC HIGHWAYS (PETER PARRY LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

OUTSIDE GLANAFON ABBEY ROAD 12/01/2024 12/01/2024 Gwaith Trydanol / Electrical Works NETWORK PLUS (DCC

CHURCH STREET (46700268) LLANGOLLEN, DENBIGHSHIRE CHURCH STREET 09/01/2024 09/01/2024 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works MORRISON UTILITY SERVICES LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure


Monday, December 18, 2023

Mazda3's a nice new motor but maybe not for oldies



Mazda3 drive by Steve Rogers

Family saloons are few and far between losing out to the more practical hatchbacks and SUVs, but here is one that still packs quite a punch.

For a long time Mazda3 has been recognised as one of the best looking saloons around, but before dashing off to the showroom a word of caution. This is not really a car for older drivers whose joints are starting to ache.

For someone of advancing years I am still fairy agile but stooping low enough to avoid banging your head on the door frame can be a tad challenging. The car sits low with a swooping coupe style roofline and has a good pedigree reminding me of the stunning 1994 Mazda 323, arguably the best looking family hatch of all time.

This fourth generation model will celebrate its fifth birthday in the new year yet still looks fresh and Mazda has done its best to keep pace with the fast moving updates in technology.

A significant improvement this year is a larger 10.25in central screen so clearer graphics for navigation with directions now included in the driver's head up display.

I am a big fan of the rotary controller for scrolling through files although I fear it might be on its way out because it was missing from the new MX30 R-EV featured a couple of months ago. For me it is still the safest and easiest way of selecting files if they cannot be activated by voice control, and Mazda's set up is the best I have come across. More brownie points for sticking with physical switches for radio and heating selections.

Another new feature is wireless charging for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there is also Qi wireless charging for high end mobile phones, along with type C charging ports. What happened to the days when we got excited over central locking and a cassette radio?

Getting into the driver's seat might be difficult (for some) but once there the driving position is spot on with plenty of adjustment for seat and steering wheel. And then the fun starts.  This is not a hot hatch but is not far off. The suspension tuning is sporty so it glides through tight bends, and what a joy to play with a fast changing manual gearbox for a change. If you want a super soft ride look elsewhere, but for me the set up is a good compromise.

No such problems for passengers getting into the back of the car where the roof rises enough to make it easier than the front. Legroom is no better than par and it feels dark because of the shallow door windows. Drivers will find rear vision poor but with sensors and a camera reversing should not present any problems.

If you are thinking saloon means less space for luggage then think again. It has more capacity than the hatchback but lacks its flexibility particularly when you take into account the narrow boot opening.

Mazda has taken a different, some would say controversial, route with its petrol engines. While all around were turbo charging smaller engines it stuck with a normally aspirated 2-litre but with a twist. This engine is almost as economic as a diesel thanks to a highly lean mixture of fuel and air fired by compression rather than a spark plug. It worked for me returing an average of 48mpg over a week of mixed driving. Exhaust emissions are low as well helped by a small electric motor - they call it mild hybrid.

Not that this is a perfect solution. Response at low revs is weak so change downs and high revs are needed to get the best out of the engine.

Even after nearly five years the Maz3 is still appealing although a full hybrid needs to come soon  to keep up with the opposition.

Fast facts

Mazda3 Exclusive-Line

£29,245

2-litre mild hybrid; 183bhp

0-62mph 8.1secs; 134mph

54.3mpg combined

118g/km. First tax £265

Insurance group 24

Boot: 450-1138 litres

St Collen's hosts glittering Carols by Candlelight service


* The congregation assemble for the service holding their candles.

A packed St Collen's Church was the setting for a glittering and moving Carols by Candlelight service yesterday (Sunday) evening.

Led by Father Lee Taylor, it featured a series of favourite carols interspersed with readings about the holy birth in both English and Welsh.   


* The choir sings before an altar fronted by two large Christmas trees. 


* Dyfed Thomas reads Ring Out, Wild Bells by Alfred Lord Tennyson. 

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Inner Wheel event fills Town Hall audience with seasonal cheer


* Emma Williams and Debbie Whitfield.

Llangollen Town Hall was filled with seasonal entertainment and fun, all in aid of charity, last night (Saturday) when the Inner Wheel Club of Llangollen hosted its annual Christmas Cheer event.

Arranged with the help of local musician Owen Roberts, the evening featured festive music from guest performers Debbie Whitfield, Emma Williams, Anna Romanenko and Phil Robinson.

Wonderfully melodic singers Debbie and Emma duetted their way through Winter Wonderland, Silent Night, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Walking in the Air, Oh, Holy Night and The Christmas Song.

Phil Robinson brought a taste of the old time music hall days when he sang Champagne Charlie followed by White Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Anna Romanenko, who is originally from Ukraine but now lives in Llangollen performed a poignant piece from her home country at the piano.

Gethin Davies, accompanied by Eulanwy Davies on piano, contributed the famous old monologue Sam Pick Up Thy Musket and later led the audience in some favourite carols.   

During the interval there was a festive two-course supper provided by the ladies of Inner Wheel.

Money raised by the event will go towards helping to support local charities. 

In the past year, the organisations helped by the Inner Wheel Club of Llangollen have included: Llangollen Food Share, Pentredwr Hub, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Wales Air Ambulance.

The Inner Wheel Club of Llangollen has been in existence for 60 years and is part of a worldwide organisation with the aim of promoting friendship and providing service to the community. 


* Anna Romanenko.


* Phil Robinson.


* Gethin Davies.


* Owen Roberts.


* Entertainers and organisers take a bow.