Bryn Collen's colourful end-of-term events boosts hospice funds

Ysgol Bryn Collen had a fantastic end to the Spring term on Thursday.

The whole shool did a sponsored walk and colour run for Hope House & Ty Gobaith Hospice in memory of Vicky Jones who died recently and was a parent, governor and vice chair of the school's PTFA. 

Their Facebook page says the children raised £5,368 by: 

* Year 5/6 - walking around Llangollen

* Year 3/4 - doing loops of Plas Newydd

* Infants  - walking around Pen y Coed Woods

* Nursery - walking around the school field 

The PTFA completed the colour run in the afternoon for the whole school. 

A comment on their page says: "Lots of fun and memories have been made as the whole school took part in a sponsored walk for Hope House & Ty Gobaith. Thank you to everyone who sponsored and helped this morning!

"We are delighted to announce that so far we have raised £5,368.

"We are still collecting sponsorships the final total will be revealed after the Easter break.

"In the afternoon we all took part in a Colour Run. It was a spectacular display of colour, laughter and smiles whilst remembering a very special Mummy who would have absolutely loved it.

"Thank you to all the staff, volunteers, the Ysgol Bryn Collen PTFA and our amazing children."

Illustrated talk on seed factory's history next Monday

Grow Llangollen and Llangollen Museum will jointly present an illustrated talk entitled "The Seeds of Llangollen Life - Cuthbert’s, Carter’s and Dobie’s" by David Crane next (Monday).

To launch a programme run by Grow Llangollen, and funded by the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape, David will present the history of the Seed Factory in Llangollen, which, at its height of operations, employed around 20% of the working age population. 

He will follow the rise and fall of the company, look at what they did and where they worked, and finish with a 10 minute film showing scenes from inside the factory and at the testing ground at Pentrefelin.

 

The talk will be at Llangollen Museum, Parade Street, Llangollen LL20 8PW on Monday April 14, with a 7pm start. Admission will be £3 per person, on the door, which includes tea/coffee/biscuits. Everyone is welcome.

 

As part of the programme, organisers are also looking to collect any memories that people have about the Seed Factory.

David Crane said: "If you have any recollections, either from working there yourself, or from stories of family or friends, please do come along and let us know. 

"Also, if you have any photographs or other information about the Seed Factory, either come along to the talk, contact David on dcrane1@btinternet.com or 07852 726934 or pop into the Museum to see him on a Monday, between 10:30am and 4:00pm.

Fire in Pen y Coed woods

The fire service say they are in the process of attending a fire in Peny y Coed Woods above Llangollen.

The blaze, which is visible from the A5, is creating a large volume of smoke which is blowing towards the town

Newbridge Road to benefit from Welsh Government funding boost

Newbridge Road is to benefit as part of a £30m funding boost from the Welsh Government, which will help pay for its reinstatement following the landslip which has kept it closed since 2021.

* For the full story, see the Leader at:

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/25035990.work-continuing-repair-newbridge-road-wrexham/

Clair's 630-mile challenge to help fight pancreatic cancer

* Clair Abbott. 

Clair Abbott from Cynwyd, Corwen is taking on pancreatic cancer – the deadliest common cancer – through a non-stop 630 mile hike around the South-West Coastal Footpath starting on Monday 14th April. 

She is determined to raise much needed funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, which will go towards vital research into early diagnosis and treatment, as well as support for those affected by the disease. 

Clair has chosen to support the charity because she has lost both her mother and husband to the disease, as would like to raise funds and much needed awareness of symptoms!

Clair said: “I think this could make a huge difference. I originally planned to complete this challenge in 2023, in memory of my mum on the 30th anniversary of her passing. But in a cruel twist of fate, my darling husband Richard Abbott was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer early that year. Before he passed away in July 2024, he told me it was his wish that I continue as originally planned and complete this mammoth hike, not only to raise funds but to raise awareness.”

* Clair's dog Brodie helps pack her kit for the trip. 

Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer in the UK, with more than half of people with the disease dying within just three months of diagnosis. Survival rates for pancreatic cancer have barely improved in 50 years – in stark contrast to the welcome progress made in outcomes for many other types of cancer. 

Vague symptoms – including persistent indigestion, back or tummy pain, unexpected weight loss and changes to poo – mean pancreatic cancer is very difficult to diagnose in its early stages and, currently, there are no screening programmes or early detection tests to help doctors. Tragically, 80% of people are diagnosed too late for lifesaving treatment.  

Pancreatic Cancer UK is taking on this devastating cancer by investing in ground-breaking research, and by supporting patients and their loved ones through its Support Line staffed entirely by specialist pancreatic cancer nurses.

Sue Collins, Director of Fundraising at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: “We are incredibly grateful that Clair is supporting us and we would like to wish her the very best of luck. 

“Tragically, 80% of pancreatic cancer patients are currently diagnosed too late to receive the only potentially life-saving treatment for the disease, surgery. Decades of underinvestment in research has meant that the odds of surviving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is no better now than it was 50 years ago. 

"The funds raised by Clair will help us offer support to patients and families, invest in vital research to help us see the breakthroughs we urgently need, and be a voice for everyone affected by the deadliest common cancer.”

*If  you would like to support Clair, you can do so at justgiving.com/page/clair-abbott-2 

For more information or to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, please visit www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/fundraise 

Railway kicks off golden anniversary in fine style

* Austin 1 with an early train at Berwyn in September 1986.

Llangollen Railway kicks of its 50^th anniversary year in fine style with a spectacular Branchline Gala this weekend, on Friday 11^th, Saturday 12^th and Sunday 13^th April. 

A packed timetable will see 4 steam and one diesel locomotive in use, including two visitors alongside the railway’s home fleet. This will include No 6880 “Betton Grange”, the 81^st member of the famous Great Western Grange class, which was built from new by a group of enthusiasts.8

* Betton Grange at Llangollen station on April 8.

The project started at Llangollen in 1998 and much of the locomotive was built and assembled in the railway’s workshops. 6880 left the railway in 2018 and was then completed at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham, hauling trains for the first time in 2023. 6880 arrived at Llangollen last week and has been put straight into use on two enthusiast photo charters this week.

Also visiting is Class 14 diesel No D9525, another product of the Great Western Railway’s world-famous Swindon works. Built in 1964, this little loco was designed to haul short freight trains between towns and goods yards. Unfortunately, with great change taking place on the railways at this time, the engine was largely redundant by the time it was built, so it was sold on to the National Coal Board, who found plenty of work for her in the Northumberland coalfields until 1987. Nicknamed “Teddy Bears” by Swindon Works, the Class 14 is staying on the railway for the whole season.

The line’s home fleet of locomotives will contribute two more Swindon-built GWR steam locomotives – 1938-built 2-8-0 “Heavy Freight” No 3802 and 1930-built 0-6-0 “Pannier” tank No 7754. Former Austin Motor Company Longbridge factory shunter Kitson 0-6-0 ST "Austin 1” will also play a starring role. This was the first steam locomotive to work a public train at the railway in preservation, which is celebrating its 50^th anniversary since members of the Flintshire & Deeside Railway Society began restoration work at a derelict Llangollen Station in September 1975. 

Austin 1 worked the first public trains on a short piece of track in the station in 1981, using two suburban coaches and a brake van – which are also taking part in the event. Visitors will be able to book footplate rides on “Austin 1” between 11am and 1pm on each day of the event and can also travel in a special brake van train (limited capacity).

The 2025 Branchline Gala is the largest event that the railway has put on for 10 years. It has been organised by longstanding volunteers Iain Ross and Matt Davies, working with new Commercial Manager Nicola Reincke.

* Pannier Tank 7754 at work last weekend with suburban carriages.

Iain said:“Creating the right theme for the Branch line gala in our 50^th anniversary year was very important. Matt and I looked at various options; locos that originally worked the line and locos that have either visited or been based at Llangollen during Preservation. We concluded that a star attraction would be a loco built at Llangollen. 

"Many thanks to the Betton Grange Society for allowing it to happen!” Matt Davies added “6880 was what got me involved as a volunteer at Llangollen over 20 years ago. Seeing her in steam for a test run last Saturday evening was a very special moment and I can’t wait to drive her on our line during the gala.”

Aside from the busy timetable of trains, visitors can also undertake shed tours of the Llangollen Motive Power Depot and see the incredible work that has been put in by volunteers to improve the facilities for locomotive overhaul and maintenance. 

Two further Great Western locomotives under restoration will also be on display – No 5967 “Bickmarsh Hall” and Prairie Tank No 5332. 5532 will be on display outside of the locomotive shed for the first time in 30 years and it’s owning group are launching an appeal to raise the final £55,000 required to return her to steam for the first time since 1962.  

The Sunday of the event will have a special South Wales theme, with all the locomotives carrying “target” headboards with letters and numbers that helped signalmen identify busy passenger trains leaving Cardiff bound for destinations like Newport, Swansea, Rhymney and Rhondda in the 1960’s.  

Named express trains like “The Pembroke Coast Express” also sped passengers away from this busy part of Wales for places like Fishguard or Bristol. Betton Grange will carry these express headboards, which have been recreated and hand-painted by Iain Ross.   

Real ale bars and shops will also be open at Llangollen, Glyndyfrdwy and Corwen stations along with food stalls. Berwyn Station café, recently voted one of the top 10 most beautiful railway stations in the world, will also be open.

Nic Reincke said: “I have been at the LR for 18 months and do not have a railway background but love being a part of our team. You can feel the dedication and enthusiasm of our volunteers over the last half century all around the railway and it gets into your blood.  We cannot wait to welcome everyone to our Branchline Gala. Betton Grange will only be with us for a short time, so anyone wanting to take a trip with her needs to come along this weekend. 

"Our team have worked extremely hard to get our railway ready for the biggest gala we have put on for many years. This is the first of several events we are putting on this year to celebrate our 50^th anniversary. The railway has come such a long way in that time – from a few hundred yards of track to a 10-mile heritage railway with a brand-new station in Corwen, which was built by volunteers and opened in 2023.”  

 

llanblogger is taking a short break

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