Cheers to Shea for winning Wrexham Lager award

                         

                                         * Shea sings his winning set at the Eisteddfod.

Versatile young entertainer Shea Ferron has become the latest winner of Wrexham Lager's Fjones initiative 2024-2025 Wrexham Recognition Award.

Shea, 22, joined Ruabon church choir age seven, became involved in various groups, including the Operatic Society in Llangollen and at age 14, joined Johns' Boys Male Chorus.

He has just graduated from the Institute for Contemporary Theatre in Manchester and also won the Musical Theatre Competition crown at Llangollen Musical Eisteddfod this year.

He is currently on tour with Johns' Boys, as well as working on the canal in Llangollen, and has just secured his first professional role, working for the P&O cruise line, in December, playing Buttons in the on-board pantomime.

His award nomination says: "Shea is an amazing young performer, singer and actor. From a very young age he has devoted his himself to sharing his love of music and drama with the wider community, regularly singing to raise money for local charities and helping people and organisations in the local area.

"Throughout Covid he organised socially distanced music nights on his street, to entertain those stuck at home without family nearby.

"He performs as part of Johns' Boys regularly and also organises his own fundraising events, as well as volunteering at the Llangollen Eisteddfod each year.

"He truly is a special young man, who has done so much for the local community for many years, always with a smile on his face and a kind word for all. He really deserves to be recognised for all he has done and continues to do.”

On his Facebook page Shea said: "I am honoured to receive this Wrexham recognition award."

#wrexhamrecognitionawards

Eisteddfod concert-goer thanks First Responders who saved his life

* Alwyn Williams and his wife Judith with (inset right) Community First Responder Richard Witheridge. 

A man who had a cardiac arrest at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in July has thanked the onsite medical team who saved his life.

Alwyn Williams, 76, collapsed suddenly and stopped breathing after attending the Katherine Jenkins concert.

Event medics MediEvent quickly moved Alwyn from his car, where he was slumped over the wheel, and administered life-saving treatment defibrillating him and restarting his heart before the arrival of Community First Responders Emma Lawrenson and Richard Witheridge. 

Community First Responders are trained by the Welsh Ambulance Service to administer life-saving treatment and support in the precious minutes before an ambulance arrives.  

The newly-qualified volunteers arrived on scene within minutes of a 999 call being made and worked under the direction of the on-site medical staff from MediEvent to stabilise the grandfather-of-eight and take him to hospital. 

Community First Responder Richard, 49, of Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham, said: “We were just coming to the end of our shift and decided to have one last drive around the area before logging off. 

“As we approached the car park we received an alert, notifying us of a confirmed cardiac arrest just 100m from our location. 

“We rushed to the scene and found that event medics had already obtained a return of spontaneous circulation. 

“Everything went so well and we knew that, between us, we had given him the best possible chance of survival. 

“All in all, it was the perfect way to end our shift.

MediEvent director Chris Robinson-Springall said: “MediEvent were delighted with the positive outcome following Mr Williams cardiac arrest. Our highly skilled paramedics and clinicians were able to restart Mr Williams hear within minutes of commencing lifesaving CPR and defibrillation. 

“This is a prime example of the need for medics at high capacity venues and the spend in which you need to act in these situations.”

Alwyn is recovering alongside his wife, Judith, 76, in their Llanfyllin, Powys, home after being fitted with a pacemaker.

He said: “I don’t remember anything about the incident at all but what I do know is that I’m incredibly grateful to the medical staff who saved my life. 

“My son is a police sergeant and he has told to me that if it wasn’t for the immediate intervention of MediEvent UK staff and the Community First Responders from the Welsh Ambulance Service, it may well have been a very different outcome.”

Martin Spencer, Operations Assistant (Community Support) at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “Alwyn’s story highlights exactly what our Community First Responder initiative is about.

“Being based in the local community means our volunteers can be there much quicker than a conventional ambulance crew.

“It’s a role which is making a real difference to people's lives, and the fact that Emma and Richard had only just completed their training makes this even more impressive.

“In this instance it was also the quick action of MediEvent staff on site who were able to begin working on Mr Williams as soon as it became apparent that he’d suffered a cardiac arrest that saved his life.”

Latest local roadworks updates from the county council

Latest local roadworks updates from Denbighshire  County Council are:

ONE WAY SYSTEM FOR HALL STREET

HALL STREET

16/09/2024

18/09/2024

Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY

A539,

Ponsonby Arms, Mill Street, Llangollen

MILL STREET

30/09/2024

01/10/2024

Manned TTL to assist with Trunk Road traffic flow

whilst A483 is closed between J1 Ruabon and Halton

Roundabout - Overnight from 20:00hrs and 06:00hrs

A539

Llandyn Hall Farm Culvert

TRACK TO LLANDYN HALL FROM A539

02/09/2024

11/10/2024

Gwaith ar Gylfat/ Culvert Works

A539

A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD

14/10/2024

17/10/2024

Gwaith Draenio / Drainage Works DCC - HIGHWAYS

LLANGOLLEN

A539

NR 1 THE BEECHES MARKET ST JNC BERWYN ST AND HALL ST LLANGOLLEN LL20 8

HALL STREET

18/10/2024

18/10/2024

Gwaith BT/ BT Works SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC)

Outside PROPERTY KNOWN AS TAN Y BONT

SUN BANK

30/09/2024

02/10/2024

Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY

Local nominees shortlisted in Active Communities Awards

* Last year's awards ceremony.

Two schools and a wellbeing project in Llangollen have been shortlisted in the Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) 2024 DLL Active Communities Awards.

The awards are a prestigious celebration of the outstanding achievements within the community in sport, activity, arts, and culture over the past year. 

Shortlisted in the Primary School of the Year category is Ysgol Bryn Collen in Llangollen while in the Secondary School of the Year category is the town's Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Up for honours in the Best Arts for Wellbeing Project category is Make, Meet and Create based in Pengwern.  

The awards ceremony, sponsored by Lockstock storage, will take place on Wednesday, November 13 at Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, and will recognise and honour individuals, schools, clubs, and projects that have made a significant difference in their community. 

Jason Mohammad, Welsh radio and TV star and presenter of BBC One’s Final Score, is hosting the presentation evening.

From exceptional coaching to inspiring arts projects, these awards highlight those who have contributed to creating a healthier, more active, and culturally enriched community.

Individuals, clubs, charities, groups and schools from across Denbighshire have been shortlisted, all coming together to celebrate the amazing work happening across the county.

* Individuals are shortlisted in a number of other awards categories although Denbighshire Leisure Ltd has provided no details of where in the county they are from.  

For the shortlist and more information on the 2024 DLL Active Communities Awards, please visit https://denbighshireleisure.co.uk/ac-awards-2024/

Area's new MP explains why she voted to cut winter fuel payments

* Becky Gittins MP.

Llangollen's new Labour MP has issued a statement on why she voted in favour of cutting winter fuel payment cuts for thousands of pensioners in her constituency, according to a story in the Denbighshire Free Press.

* For the full story, see: Clwyd East MP statement on vote to cut winter fuel payments | Denbighshire Free Press 

Newbridge Road repairs could be completed next spring, says story

WREXHAM Council say they hope Newbridge Road repairs will be completed in spring next year despite challenges with funding, according to a story in Leader Live today.

* For the full story, go to: Wrexham Council give estimated date for Newbridge repairs | The Leader (leaderlive.co.uk) 

Pengwern Hub's end of summer celebration on Saturday

People of Llangollen are invited to an End of Summer Celebration at Pengwern Community Hub this Saturday, September 14, starting at 12 noon. 

The event has a Harvest theme and lots of lovely activities will be available for free for all ages. 

There will be nature arts and crafts provided by local artist Rosie McConnell.

Professional beekeeper Kirsty Williams will be on hand to chat ‘bees’ and provide some honey tasting. 

Nature 4 Health will be along with the apple press and Jilly from the Area for Outstanding Natural Beauty team will be doing Vegetable Block Printing. 

Kelly will be making keyrings with an autumn theme. There will be jacket potatoes and lovely fillings for lunch.

Friends of Pengwern will have a number of stalls to raise funds to replace pads in the defibrillator based at the hub including tombola, raffle, guess the weight of the pumpkin, plant sale, homemade jams and Bric a Brac. 

As well as a celebration, the event has been organised by South Denbighshire Community Partnership (SDCP) to ask the people of Llangollen what they would like to have happen at Pengwern Community Hub and Llangollen over the next few years – so be sure to bring your ideas! It’s bound to be a great event – so pop up and enjoy a warm welcome.

If you can’t make this event, perhaps you’ll be around for another event planned by SDCP on Thursday September 19 at St Collen's Community Hall. 

Enjoy a free buffet from 12.30pm and get involved in planning, designing and developing our activities in Llangollen from 1pm – 3pm.