Shock closure for Vale of Lllangollen Rotary Club

* The Facebook post in which the closure announcement was made.

The Vale of Llangollen Rotary is being wound up, according to a post on its Facebook page this afternoon (Friday).

Since it was set up in the autumn of 2022 the club, which always said it would “do things differently” has helped to revive a well-loved Llangollen event, staged two successful illuminated tractor runs and raised thousands of pounds for local charities.

But the Facebook post, in the name of club president Lee Todd, says: “It is with deep regret that we announce the closure of the Llangollen Rotary Club, effective July 1st.

“This decision was not made lightly, and we understand it will come as a disappointment to many. 

“After careful consideration and deliberation, the membership has determined that continuing operations is no longer feasible. 

* Club president Lee Todd.

“We are deeply grateful to all those who have supported the Rotary Club here in Llangollen. 

“We are particularly proud of our commitment to supporting local charities, and we are pleased to announce that all funds raised by Llangollen Rotary Club will be distributed to them in July. 

“While the Llangollen Rotary Club will be closing its doors, the spirit of service that has defined our organisation will live on through the continued work of these worthy charities. 

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have been a part of the Llangollen Rotary Club journey and thanks again for all your support.” 

Only last month, the club assisted with the revival of the annual Llangollen summer fete at Plas Newydd which had been halted by the pandemic in 2019.  The event raised £1,600 for a number of good causes.

The Rotary also organised two Christmas-time tractor runs, raising £6,000 and £1,600 respectively.

* The Rotary Club team at the summer fete. President Lee Todd is with town crier 'Chem' Cheminais on the right.  

Eisteddfod volunteers put finishing touches to the field

* Members of the floral committee outside their almost-complete tent.

With less than a week to go before the 2024 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod begins a small army of volunteers have been putting the finishing touches to the field.

And they've let llanblogger have these pictures to show the kind of work they've put in to create what promises to be the biggest and best festival in years.  

Things kick off with the traditional Children's Day and the debut Tom Jones concert on Tuesday and continue at that high level, with a host of competitions and activities inside the big tent and outside on the field, until Sunday when the Family Fun Day and Katherine Jenkins round things off in style the following Sunday. 

* Issy Richards sets out the merchandising display.

* Marketing's headquarters almost ready to go.

Contact me direct with your waste collection problems, says councillor

With no sign of any improvement in Denbighshire's ongoing waste collection crisis a Llangollen county councillor is encouraging people whose bin collections have been missed to get in touch with her direct.

Cllr Karen Edwards says she has been inundated with calls for help from people whose recyclable waste has not been picked up, sometimes since the controversial new collection system was introduced in the first week of June.

She added: "I have been able to help in a number of cases but if people don't tell me about I obviously can't assist them.

"If you have a problem with your recyclable waste collection please email me at: Karen.Edwards@denbighshire.gov.uk simply stating your address and postcode and how long you have been waiting for a collection and I will look into it for you."

Ysgol Dinas Bran offers parking for tomorrow's Eisteddfod concert

Ysgol Dinas Bran is offering people attending tomorrow (Friday's) Manic Street Preachers and Suede concert being hosted by the Eisteddfod at the Pavilion, parking spaces for £10 each on the school's own car park, not its playing field. Follow the one-way system. 

They say 100 spaces will be available from 4pm.

Railway children to return to Llangollen after 60 years

* Ysgol Carrog children leave the train at Llangollen station heading for the Eisteddfod’s Children’s Day in 2019.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has teamed up with the town’s heritage railway to turn back time by more than 60 years for scores of eager schoolchildren.  

On Tuesday July 2, the first day of this year’s Eisteddfod, 160 pupils from three schools in the Dee Valley will board a train to transport them in style between Corwen and Llangollen railway stations to enjoy Children’s Day which is traditionally held on the first day of the core festival.

And that’s something that’s not happened since the summer of 1963 when the last ‘Eisteddfod special’ left Corwen before the line was closed as part of the infamous Beeching rail cuts the following year. 

Since then, dedicated railway volunteers have gradually re-opened the whole of the 10-mile-long line, with the final link being completed last summer when the new £1.25 million Corwen station was officially opened by Lord Hendy, chairman of Network Rail.      

This has enabled a party of youngsters plus their teachers to travel into Llangollen station on Tuesday July 2 to enjoy a fun-packed day at the Eisteddfod along with their counterparts from schools across north Wales.  

The three lucky Dee Valley schools involved in the time-shifting travel experience are Ysgol Bro Dyfyrdwy in Cynwyd,  Ysgol Caer Drewyn in Corwen and Ysgol Carrog.

Ian Lebbon, chairman of the Eisteddfod’s marketing committee who has organised the special excursion, said: “Llangollen and Corwen Railway has agreed to run the special service for pupils to attend our children day instead of travelling by coach.  Not only is this good for our environment but adds to the children’s excitement.  

"The last children to use this exact route would have been pupils from Llangollen’s Ysgol Dinas Bran travelling from Corwen in 1963, which means it has taken over 60 years to return such a service.  

"We did do our best to recreate the Eisteddfod special pre-pandemic in 2019 but that was before Corwen opened and we had to board the children at Carrog, the station further along the line.  It’s quite possible that some of our 2024 travellers may have had grandparents who used the service daily in 1963."

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has teamed up with Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor for this year’s festival. Bryan Adams, Simple Minds and Paloma Faith are just some of the names who have already performed on the iconic stage at Llangollen Pavilion. 

A spokesperson for Llangollen and Corwen Railway said: “The railway is very proud to be involved in the International Eisteddfod again after a long absence of running trains to bring schoolchildren and other guests to this historic and prestigious event.  

"Our beautiful station at Llangollen has welcomed many visitors to the town since it first opened, some 162 years ago.  We hope all those who travel with us over the next few weeks thoroughly enjoy their time at the Eisteddfod and take away extra special memories of travelling to the event by train.”

The Core Eisteddfod starts on Tuesday, July 2 – as thousands enjoy a Children’s Day Concert in the Pavilion and a variety of performances throughout the day, on the vibrant outside stages.  

Tom Jones is will make his Llangollen debut that evening as the Eisteddfod embarks on its biggest and most ambitious festival yet.

County council addresses concerns about waste collection service

Denbighshire County Council has addressed concerns raised by residents regarding its new waste and recycling collection service, according to a story in today's Denbighshire Free Press.

* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/24411903.denbighshire-waste-collection-service-council-answers-questions/?ref=socialflow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2n8X6pn18s8SpkKOWzV3VpjSDg4o9awIq6yELM-_c1LFIDfFkB2pJW4CY_aem_Yr-kzjdK8XZQammz0zmXng 

Eisteddfod's lunchtime choir recitals are back at St Collen's

* One of last year's international competitor choirs sings in the historic church of St Collen's.

Popular lunchtime recitals are back again at St Collen’s Church this year, allowing visitors to get a glimpse of some of the choirs competing at this year's Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The 'Recitals at 1pm' will feature choirs from The Philippines, Singapore, Poland, USA, Czech Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe.  

The 6th century church is an iconic setting for the annual recitals that have attracted some of the best choirs from across the globe.  

Choir of the World winners Kammerchor from Manila won the Pavarotti Trophy last year, and performed at St Collen's. 

John Gambles, Vice-Chair of the festival, said: "We are delighted to be working again with Father Lee Taylor and the team at St Collen’s Church to host some of the world's most outstanding choirs.  

"St Collen’s is an amazing place and the acoustics really suit our competitors. Many of our past competitors told us how much they enjoyed preforming in our church, and we look forward to welcoming everyone there during our Core Eisteddfod Week.  

"The recitals are our way of giving back to the Llangollen Community, and to welcome people to our amazing historic church."

All of the performances are free, and will be held from 1pm - 2pm.  

The timetable is subject to change, and a collection will be held every afternoon for the Llangollen Eisteddfod Bursary Fund.

Choirs performing at St Collen's during the Core Eisteddfod week are:

* Wednesday / Dydd Mercher  3 July: GC Ensemble, Philippines + Voice of Singapore Children’s Choir.

* Thursday / Dydd Iau  4 July: Choir Collegium Medicum UMK, Poland + Cantemus Camerata, USA.

* Friday / Dydd Gwener 5 July: Červánek + Jitřenka, Czech Republic.

* Saturday / Dydd Sadwrn 6 July:  Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors, Trinidad + Tobago & Pathway Choir, Zimbabwe.