Young 'Uns create a stylishly brilliant Oliver!

* Trouble in the workhouse: Oliver is taken in hand by Aled Morris as Mr Bumble and Leri Roberts as Widow Corney. 

llanblogger preview 

Llangollen Operatic Society’s Young ‘Uns have created a stylishly brilliant version of the musical Oliver! with its rich with gripping Dickensian drama and timeless Lionel Bart tunes bringing the Town Hall stage to rich, vivid life.

Production values are sky-high and include atmospheric sets and dazzling costumes.

And one of the best-ever casts from the Operatic’s formidable junior section transport the audience faultlessly along the road from a grim country workhouse to the dank crime dens of old London town, singing, dancing and acting their way with a competence and confidence that defies their tender years.

Bringing just the right level of vulnerability and mum appeal to the title role of the orphan who temporarily loses his way is Dylan Harrison, backed strongly by stand-out performances from Freya Mortimer as worldwise and swaggering crime pupil the Artful Dodger and Kelsey Thornton as wily old thief-master Fagin, who is at once scary and playfully deceitful.

* Oliver meets up with Freya Mortimer as the Artful Dodger.

Bringing a touch of real menace to his role as murderous robber Bill Sikes is Freddie Thornton and Sam Gonzalez Jones makes a marvellously caring Mr Brownlow, the old gentleman who rescues poor little Oliver from his misery.

The awful Mrs Sowerberry is played with a healthy level of obnoxiousness by Sophie Siddall and the undertaker himself, to whom Oliver is palmed off by wonderfully horrible Aled Morris as workhouse beadle Mr Bumble, is portrayed with a marvellously funereal touch by Sam Gonzales Jones.

A very spiteful Noah Claypole is turned in well by Edie Langford while Charlotte, the undertaker’s daughter, is brought nastily to life by Grug Bryan. Back at the workhouse Leri Roberts is a deliciously vile Widow Corney.

True plaudits must go to Heledd Edwards in her final Youg ‘Uns appearance before moving beyond its age-range. She plays the poor, put-upon robber’s moll Nancy with just the right balance of brassiness and big heart and, of course, that fine and poignant singing voice.

* Fagin (Kelsey Thornton) compares swag with Bill Sikes (Freddie Thornton).

Helping to move along the unforgettable songs, from Food Glorious Food through Consider Yourself and I’m Reviewing the Situation to Where Is Love and Oom Pah Pah, is an accomplished nine-piece orchestra.

Chorus members show true exuberance in the dance routines, strong musical ability when backing the songs and when acting out their parts as both the downtrodden workhouse children and Fagin’s motley gang.   

Also, it’s big applause for the production team of Robin Crowley (artistic director), Julian Cattley (musical director) Pamela Williams (producer), Deirdre Smith (assistant producer) and Sarah Marshal (choreographer).

Oliver! runs from this Thursday to Saturday, February 22-24, at 7.30pm, with a 2pm matinee on the last day.

* Tickets are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety or Llangollen Tourist Information, Jades Hair and Beauty, Llangollen Oggie Shop & Fine Foods.

* It's a Fine Life: Nancy kicks up her heels with the cast in the robber's den.       

   

 

Hand Hotel up for sale at £1.9 million, says story

* The Hand Hotel pictured on Rightmove.

The Daily Post is reporting that the Hand Hotel in Llangollen is on sale for £1.9m. 

The Hand has 58 individual en-suite bedrooms, a public bar and restaurant and conference and banqueting facilities.

According to the Rightmove website, the hotel - marketed by Graham & Sibbald - also has a "fabulous outside bar with decked seating area overlooking the River Dee, with a range of outbuildings with development potential", says the story.

* For the full story, see:The 58-bedroom hotel overlooking the River Dee on sale for £1.9m - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)

Former mayor complains to Minister about 'horrendous problems" with NHS

* Waiting list complaints: former town mayor and county councillor Stuart Davies.

A former Llangollen mayor has written to the Health Minister and both candidates in the race to become Wales’s new First Minister outlining the “horrendous problem” he faces in attempting to access NHS services in a timely manner. 

Stuart Davies, who is also a former county councillor for the area, tells Minister Eluned Morgan and leadership contenders Vaughan Gething and Jeremy Miles that he has had a 22-week wait for an echo cardiogram, a five-month wait for a hearing test and cancelled prostate cancer consultations. 

And he points out: “I write to you not as a patient attempting to get treatment just for me but as someone trying to get equitable treatment for all.” 

Mr Davies goes on to detail his problems with NHS waits:

* Problem One: During an examination the local GP practice picked up a shortage of breath, which is a problem as he suffers from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation The details were passed along the health service chain. This resulted in another examination but an eventual 22-week wait for further investigation and scan.

While on holiday in Portugal he sought help from a private clinic and eventually paid to have the scan, which was arranged within a few days. This reassured him he didn’t have heart failure and that the shortage of breath was due to his existing condition.

* Problem Two: Describing a problem with a hearing test, he says: “I am pretty deaf, almost totally in my left ear. I had a hearing aid fitted years ago. The tube went bad a while back. I phoned up to try and get a new one.

“I was told it was obsolete but to come in for a hearing test and a new one. I was also told there was a five-month waiting list.”

Problem Three: He says: “This morning the post arrived. I suffer from long term prostate cancer. I have six month check-ups by phone along with a PSA test. My upcoming consultation has been cancelled. It’s not the first time."

And he tells the Minister and the leadership candidates: "We are facing horrendous problems here in attempting to access Welsh NHS services in a timely manner.

“What is going on with the Welsh NHS and the Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board?

“The system is broken, the word on the street is that the Welsh NHS is broken. What are you going to do to address these issues please?”

Park runners dash to make donations to Llangollen Food Share

* Some of the donations made to Llangollen Food Share by park runners.

People taking past in yesterday's park run from the Health Centre were invited to bring along donations for Llangollen Food Share (LFS). 

And a run organiser said: "Steph from LFS tells me they were pleased with a successful morning."

* The food share team at the park run.

* Another busy park run Saturday morning.

Latest local roadworks alerts

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Aber Adda, Llangollen, Denbighshire

19 February - 05 April

 

Roadworks, Delays unlikely

 

Traffic management: Traffic control (give & take)

 

Description: REPLACE 102M OF OLD METALLIC GAS MAINS WITH NEW PLASTIC MAINS AND RENEW/TRANSFER APPROX. 14 SERVICE

 

Works location: O/S NO. 1 - REAR NO. 12

 

Public facing description: Wales & West Utilities Ltd has not assigned a specific description to this Works. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Wales & West Utilities Ltd.

 

Responsibility for works: Wales & West Utilities

 

Current status: Advanced planning

 

Works reference: XY254003001625597

* Latest roadworks alert from Denbighshire County Council is:

Outside The Corn Mill Dee Lane Llangollen CLYWD LL20 8PN DEE LANE 01/03/2024 01/03/2024 Gwaith ar Wasanaeth Uwchben/ Overhead Service Works SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure.

Town's Royal British Legion branch celebrates its 100th birthday

* The parade crosses Castle Street to head down Bridge Street past the war memorials.

Llangollen branch of the Royal British Legion marked its 100th birthday with a special celebration today (Saturday).

Branch members, in partnership with the town council, play a high-profile role in organising the annual Remembrance ceremonies around the war memorials in Centenary Square and also have a major role in the yearly poppy appeals.

The special event began with a parade, banners flying, through the town centre and continued with a special service of celebration in St Collen's Church. Later, there was a lunchtime gathering at the RAFA Club for branch members and guests involved in the organisation.

* Standards proudly flying, the march goes down Parade Street past the museum.

The marchers formed up outside Liberty Tavern at 11.45am to go head along Market Street and Parade Street then across Castle Street onto Bridge Street.

The parade performed an "eyes right" salute as it passed the two war memorials in Centenary Square before heading to church for the service conducted by Father Lee Taylor.

* Eyes right is ordered to salute the war memorial in Centenary Square.

* Father Lee leads the service in St Collen's.

Hundreds sign up for charity trek along the canal

* From left, event volunteer John Matthews, fundraiser Vicky Bradbeer and event volunteer John Isherwood from the Wrexham Erddig Rotary Club at Chirk Aqueduct. 

Hundreds of walkers have already signed up to pull on their boots and trek a 10-mile route along the Llangollen Canal to raise money for Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices this Spring.

On Sunday March 24 supporters will take on the ever-popular annual walk, which starts at the Trevor Basin in Llangollen, before heading over the world-famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and following the canal to The Poachers pub at Chirk for refreshments, before heading back to receive their special medals.

Last year the event, which is now in its 14^th year, raised a massive £20,000.

Fundraiser Vicky Bradbeer said: “This wonderful event is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step this March. Bring along friends, family, colleagues and those four-legged friends, and embrace the great outdoors.

“We have already sold lots of places for the canal walk, which is absolutely incredible.

“This event is extremely popular and has always been a sell-out, so make sure you sign up and get your tickets via the Hope House website to avoid disappointment.”

The event is sponsored this year by the Principality Building Society, which will also have a team of volunteer marshals on the day too.

James Harper, Social Impact Manager at Principality Building Society. said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Llangollen Canal Walk for a second consecutive year as part of our ongoing charity partnership with Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith.

“It’s such a lovely fundraising event that gives participants the opportunity to explore a world heritage site with such amazing cultural and historical significance.

“We look forward to welcoming lots of Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith supporters again this year and cannot thank them enough for all the support.”

Tickets for the event are £10 for adults and £5 for children and all entrants will get a special bespoke 2024 medal and a goody bag at the halfway point.

* Get your tickets at www.hopehouse.org.uk/canal