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Monday, September 16, 2024

Community hall to host ghostly fundraiser

* Picture: Stephen Lloyd.

Tickets are now on sale for a Ghost Story Supper to be staged by Dee Valley Dramas at St Collen's Community Hall on Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26.

Billed as a "Llangollen evening with a twist," proceeds from the production will go to the Friends of St Collen’s Church for vital and historically significant restoration and community arts projects, including restoration of the church's medieval hammer beam roof, which is culturally significant to Welsh bards and their presence in Llangollen.

The piece, directed and produced by Jo Lloyd, is adapted and narrated by Mat Oswald Haggett and stars Emily Swindley, Arwel Jarvis, Aled Morris and Katie Clark.

Tickets are £20 and include the performance and a buffet. Wine and soft drinks are available for suggested cash donations on the evening.

Edwardian fancy dress is optional although there is a prize for the best dressed.

Tickets for the prize raffle will be on sale at £2 a strip (cash only).

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Rehearsals going well for Twenty Club's 'Allo 'Allo 2

Rehearsals are underway for Llangollen Twenty Club's latest production of 'Allo 'Allo 2: The Camembert Caper.

Following on from the success of 'Allo 'Allo: The Fallen Madonna in 2021 cast and crew are hard at work to ensure that this production meets the club's exacting standards.

Based on the hugely popular TV comedy series, this sequel to the popular stage production of 'Allo 'Allo continues the adventures of reluctant resistance hero and harassed café owner, René Artois, in German-occupied wartime France. 

Rehearsals are buzzing, with the actors portraying the various characters and nationalities - English, German and French.

"There are masses of different roles and while some of the characters are being re-enacted by the 2021 cast, there are a number of new people who have come forward to take up the challenge. It's all really encouraging and exciting," said director Chrissie Ashworth.

Performance dates are from Wednesday November 13 to Saturday November 16 at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2pm. Ticket prices are £14 and £12.

Limited Early bird tickets for opening night Wednesday November 13 go on sale on Monday at 9am costing £10.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Horseshoe Pass road partially blocked after accident


Leader Live is reporting this evening that motorists are being warned of slow traffic following an incident at the Horseshoe Pass.

According to Inrix, as of 5.30pm on Saturday, the A542 at Llangollen is partially blocked in both directions.

This is due to an accident near the Ponderosa Cafe.

* To see the story, go to: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/24585353.horseshoe-pass-partially-blocked-following-accident/?ref=socialflow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2u5rABa3--2ocWdYWTI_PuD-JrlUNu_jxNyAxBJoxHcSFheQHHbCaiQr4_aem_gmjge-c9TzMPVquQKKoZDw&sfnsn=scwspmo 

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."

Friday, September 13, 2024

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

Thursday, September 12, 2024

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/