Llangollen Canal has been ranked amongst the most popular waterside destinations to visit in the UK, according to a story in the Leader.
The picturesque canal,
which crosses the border between Wales and England, saw an average of 4,775
monthly searches on Google, which placed it fifth out of 128 waterside
destinations from the Canal & River Trust.
* For the full story, see: Llangollen Canal among most Google searched UK destinations | The Leader (leaderlive.co.uk)
The Eisteddfod’s weekend-long Daffodil Flower Festival reached a tuneful finale this afternoon (Sunday) with a well-attended Hymns and Pimm’s event in St Collen’s Church.
Presided over by Father Lee Taylor, it featured a broad selection of hymns – accompanied by cups of Pimm’s – with each guest presenter connected with the Eisteddfod telling the story behind why it was their favourite. Each was then sung by the congregation.
Father Lee said hymns were like “cherished heirlooms” because they held the weight of history.
An example, he said, was the famous Welsh hymn Guide Me, O They Great Redeemer, which had been sung so well and strongly by Welsh soldiers in the trenches of World War One that it had also been adopted by their German opponents.
Welcoming people to the event, Eisteddfod board trustee David Hennigan said St Collen’s was very fortunate in its presentation of hymns by having Owen Roberts, who was accompanying the afternoon’s musical offerings, as its resident organist.
Explaining the reason for choosing his own favourite, Eternal Father Strong to Save, which has as its most famous line “For those in Peril on the Sea”, he said it was appropriate for its international element and the fact that a number of the 3,000 people from 32 different countries who would be visiting the 2024 Eisteddfod would be journeying by sea.
Former Eisteddfod chairman Gethin Davies chose Amazing Grace as his favourite because, as he explained, it reminded him of the 1995 festival when it was hauntingly sung by a girls’ choir at an evening concert.
The hymn How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds was selected by Alison Jarvis and Eisteddfod deputy chair John Gambles picked I, the Lord of Sea and Sky.
Long-time Eisteddfod volunteer Bill Kong chose and sang a version of Anfonaf Angel in the original Welsh.
There was another solo performance from his wife Selana, a trust board member, who sang Give of Your Best to the Master in Chinese.
The afternoon came to a close with the singing of The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended.
All of the weekend’s special events were held to support the Eisteddfod’s own charity and included a concert on Friday evening and the decoration of St Collen’s on a Daffodil theme by the festival’s floral committee.
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Latest local roadworks alerts from one.network are:
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Berwyn Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 08 April - 10
April Delays
likely - Temporary one-way Name: Berwyn
Street, Llangollen Location:
Hall Street Description:
Streetworks / License - Streetworks Responsibility
for event: Denbighshire County Council Current
status: Planned
Hall Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 08 April - 10
April Delays
likely - Diversion route Name:
Diversion Location: Hall
Street Description:
Streetworks / License - Streetworks Responsibility
for event: Denbighshire County Council Current
status: Planned |
* A duet from soloists Shea Ferron and Clare Harrison.
The weekend’s Daffodil Flower Festival in support of
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod blossomed into life at St Collen’s
last night (Friday).
Thanks to the efforts of the Eisteddfod’s floral
committee the church has been decked out with a profusion of spring blooms
including, at the back, an enormous daffodil wave with yellow flowers of all
shapes, sizes and materials created by schools and organisations in the
community.
It was the perfect setting for the opening event – a
concert showing off the combined talents of the Carrog-based Lleisiau’r Afon
Ladies Choir conducted by Leigh Mason and soloists Shea Ferron and Clare
Harrison accompanied by pianist Owen Roberts.
It was the choir who got the show underway with three Welsh
songs to set the ideal tone for the evening.
Well-known young local entertainer Shea Ferron’s first
set included the three numbers he sang so successfully in last year’s musical
theatre competition at the Eisteddfod, including You’ll Be Back from Hamilton.
The choir came back with more beautifully-crated Welsh folks
including the very lively Deryn Y Bwn.
Soprano Clare Harrison stepped up to present a stunning
version of Let the Bright Seraphim by Handel and was later joined by Shea for a
memorable duet of The Prayer.
There was more from the choir before soloist Clare
returned a lightly jazzy Can’t Help Loving That Man from Showboat and others.
At last year’s Llangollen Eisteddfod Shea memorably hit
the headlines when he climbed up on the Pavilion stage during an evening
concert to belt out Bring Him Home from Les Miserables with his singing hero
Alfie Boe.
The whole brilliant evening reached its grand finale when
the choir backed both soloists with a storming One Day More from Les
Miserables.
* Festival events continue
today (Saturday) when the daffodil wave and the other stunning floral displays
go on show to the public inside and outside the church throughout the
day.
The Community Hall is also
open from 10am-4pm today and tomorrow with stalls, refreshments and prize raffle.
Free entry.
The weekend’s programme comes to an
end on Sunday when, from 3pm, Father Lee Taylor leads a free Hymns and Pimm’s
choral concert of favourite hymns in the church.
Father Lee says: “All are welcome,
regardless of belief or background, to come together and celebrate the joy of
singing.
“Research shows that singing has
numerous benefits, including boosting mood and promoting a sense of
well-being.
“Come hear the stories behind some of our most beloved hymns and discover how they have inspired and uplifted individuals on their spiritual journeys.”
Llangollen takes one of the top 10 spots in a new list of the UK’s best inland towns.
With its 79% it wins seventh place overall out of 94 towns and villages ranked by consumer champion Which?
It is also the
top Welsh town in the list, which is based on feedback from over 9,000
holidaymakers with rankings worked out according to scenery, food and
drink, tourist attractions and value for money.
Which? said of Llangollen: “From canal boat cruises
to horse-drawn boat trips, as well as its annual International Musical
Eisteddfod festival, there’s plenty for visitors to enjoy.”
Claiming the top spot is Wells, in Somerset which scored 83% overall and at the other end of the scale is Gretna in Scotland with a score of just 49% for bottom spot.
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* Oswestry Minor Injuries Unit at the town's health centre, Picture: Whitchurch Herald.
A health authority has responded to a question about the minor injuries units which Llangollen people can use.
These units (MIUs) are staffed by experienced
emergency practitioners who are supported by health care assistants but not
doctors.
The query about Oswestry
MIU, which is located at the town’s health centre, arose when a local social
media user revealed that they had received excellent treatment there for an
ankle injury sustained over the bank holiday weekend.
Their Facebook post
described how they were first advised by the health information service 111 to attend
hospital accident and emergency.
But not wanting to face a long
wait for an x-ray the person contacted their GP a few days after the injury and
was told they could visit the Oswestry MIU, which they did and received “excellent”
treatment there.
But they then questioned
why 111 didn’t advise them about the Oswestry service.
Llanblogger raised the issue
with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) where a spokesperson
said: “We publicise our Minor Injuries Units on our
website here: Minor
Injury Units - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (nhs.wales)
“We’ve also make regular posts on social media directing
people to their local MIU.
“The nearest MIUs to Llangollen are Mold, Holywell or
Denbigh.”
Llanblogger checked out the suggested link and found
that, actually, Oswestry is listed as the nearest MIU for the central Llangollen
postcode area at just under nine miles distant. Then comes Mold (13.9 miles), Denbigh
(18.1 miles) and Holywell (20.8 miles).
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According to the BCUHB website, patients attending one of these units
will be assessed and treated as quickly as possible. If their condition cannot
be dealt with at the Minor Injuries Unit, then they will be referred to their GP
or nearest Emergency Department or to another appropriate service.
Injuries dealt with at MIUs include:
The website adds: “Minor injury units cannot treat patients who have collapsed,
chest pain, breathing problems, abdominal pain, alcohol related problems, drug
overdose, gynaecology problems, health conditions normally seen by a GP such as
minor illness, mental health problems, dental problems, neck injury, chest or
back injury.
“MIU's are a walk-in service and no appointment is required and NHS
111 Wales is the first port of call of course. However, if the patient is still
unsure it is better to telephone the MIU, to allow us to put the patient in the
right place, at the right time first time.”
Oswestry MIU is located at the health centre in Thomas Savin Rd, SY11 1HS.
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