Date for Llangollen Flower Club's next meeting

Llangollen Flower Club's next meeting is on Tuesday June 24 at the church hall in Regent Street, starting at 2pm.

Suzuki Across is a well kept secret of a hybrid SUV

Suzuki Across drive by Steve Rogers

Could this be the car world’s best kept secret?

A sophisticated plug-in hybrid SUV, with bags of room, four wheel drive, and 50 plus to the gallon.

The surprise is the badge on the bonnet… Suzuki.

I was asked in a supermarket car park if it really was a Suzuki? The answer was ‘yes and no’. You will buy it from a Suzuki showroom but the car is a rebadged Toyota Rav4. Nothing suspicious here. The two companies have a partnership and this is a case of quid pro quo. Suzuki gets a top flight plug-in hybrid for its range and Toyota gets a piggy back into the lucrative Indian market where its partner is king of the road. Just about everyone has a Suzuki.

Without wanting to be unkind, Across is a bit of a stranger to the UK market and Rav4 will always be the one to be noticed but Suzuki picks up sales from loyal followers who stick with the brand for the reliability of its cars and renowned customer service.

But here’s something to consider. Across is into its fifth year and if the 50 grand price tag is a bit salty just think of the second hand buys out there because cars in this bracket have a habit of depreciating quite quickly.

On the subject of the sport utility vehicle, a survey has found that half of the new models available in showrooms are SUVs, and that has gone up 543 per cent since 2000. Staggering or what? Or it could make a good pub quiz topic.

Back to Across which has had a bit of a refresh. Nothing drastic, they got it right from the start, but the technology updates are welcome. It now has ‘intelligent speed assistance’ which is about as close as you can get to a driverless car. In traffic it brakes, accelerates and keeps the car in its lane without input from the driver, well apart from holding the steering wheel.

Basically the car will emergency brake whether going forward or reversing. The cross traffic alert is particularly useful when side reversing, like in a supermarket car park where reversing from a space can sometimes be frightening the speed some drivers come down the lanes.

There are new graphics for the digital driver display while upgrades to the central touchscreen include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with navigation. Suzuki initially took a bit of flak for selling a 50 grand car without onboard satnav, although it was likely a case of Toyota holding something back for fear of losing too many Rav4 sales Across.

Frankly it is no longer something to shout about when one of the many smart phone navigation apps can be patched straight to the touchscreen providing up to the minute information on road conditions.

Across might be five years old but the hybrid technology has not been bettered by anyone. The 46 miles on a full charge is still about as good as it gets but it is the no fuss driving that makes Across so appealing. Once the battery is spent the car can be recharged on the go with the simple press of a button. But it is worth noting that the economy will dip because the engine is working harder to charge the battery so it is all a

bit of a balancing act. Or just let the car do its own thing although it won’t give more than three or four miles of electric driving but makes life simple.

We beat the official petrol only economy figure by a country mile, recording all but 53mpg over more than 500 miles which is outstanding for a car of this size.

And Across is a big SUV with tons of room for a family of five. It sits between Mazda CX-5 and the Honda CR-V and is not quite long enough to add a third row of seats which really would seal the deal. Nevertheless rear legroom is plentiful no matter how tall your passengers are.

Boot space sounds good but against rivals without the hybrid gubbins is underwhelming but in no way a deal breaker. A sliding rear seat would produce extra litres of carrying space.

Across is a useful car to have in the locker but Suzuki’s focus now is on its first electric car - the Vitara later this year.

Fast Facts

Across Plug-in hybrid

£49,529

EV range: 46 miles

2.5 litre petrol; 306bhp

0-62mph 6secs; 112mph

22g/km. 1st road tax £110

Boot: 490-1168 litres

Insurance group 40

Recent Llangollen jobs fair hailed a success

Working Denbighshire’s recent jobs fair in Llangollen has been hailed a success by both employers and attendees, with interviews already being arranged and new opportunities shared across the community. 

Held in St Collen's Community Hall, the event brought local people together with a diverse range of organisations and businesses, offering a valuable gateway to explore jobs, training, and volunteering opportunities.

Exhibitors included the Army, RAF, Anheddau, Branas Isaf, Denbighshire Citizens Advice, Business Wales, and Clwyd Alyn, among others. 

While not all attending employers had immediate vacancies, many used the fair as an opportunity to share live opportunities, offer career advice, and promote upcoming roles.

All participating employers reported they would be happy to take part in similar events in the future. Branas Isaf confirmed they’ve already scheduled interviews with attendees, and others distributed application links and signposted training routes and open positions.

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation, said: “This jobs fair highlights the strength and spirit of our local community. It’s inspiring to see employers and jobseekers come together in such a positive way to create real pathways to employment and training.

"Working Denbighshire is proud to play a key role in supporting people on their journey to meaningful work and a brighter future.”

Ruth Hanson, Principal Manager at Working Denbighshire, said: “The success of this event reflects the hard work and collaboration between employers, partners, and our team. We’re committed to continuing these opportunities and supporting jobseekers every step of the way. It’s incredibly rewarding to see so many people engaged, motivated, and taking the first steps towards their new careers.”

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice

Here's the latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice:

Q: My son and I are both struggling to find work at the moment. He’s just finished university and looking for his first job, and I’m retired but need to top up my income. We’ve both been sending out applications for a while now, could unpaid work help us find something?

A: Whether you’re trying to get into work for the first time or after time off, finding a job can be really challenging.

It’s always a good idea to think about what skills or experience you could be missing for the kind of work you want, especially when feeling stuck after weeks or months of sending out job applications.

If you can afford to take unpaid work, it can be a good way to plug gaps in your CV and get a taste for different types of jobs. These sorts of roles usually come in the form of volunteering, work experience, or internships.

If you receive welfare benefits, you should check the Citizens Advice website or speak to an adviser before taking unpaid work.¹

And because the rules around unpaid internships are complicated, you should get advice on being paid less than minimum wage before applying to this type of role.²

Volunteer roles are often well-defined and can expose you to specific types of work, whether you’re looking for experience in an office or something more practical, like supporting people in your local community. Charities, including Citizens Advice, usually have a range of opportunities available.

Being a volunteer doesn’t just give you a chance to learn and improve skills that are transferable to paid work, it can also help you gain confidence and self-esteem in a professional setting, and provide structure to your day or week.

This can set you up well for job applications and interviews by showing employers you’ve got transferable skills, relevant experience, and are ready to enter paid work. Just like any job advert, you can find plenty of volunteering opportunities online, so it’s well worth seeing what’s out there if you’re interested.

Older People’s Commissioner welcomes restoration of winter fuel payment

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies (pictured) has welcomed the UK Government announcement that the Winter Fuel Payment is to be restored.

She said: “While details are still somewhat limited, I welcome the Chancellor’s announcement that the Winter Fuel Payment will be restored to older people with incomes of less than £35,000, following widespread calls to reinstate this crucial form of financial support.

“This was an issue that caused significant concern and continued to be raised with me by older people across Wales. People have told me about the extent to which they were forced to cut back on fuel and other essentials last winter as a result of the changes last year, putting their health and well-being at risk.

“So it is positive that the changes announced today will be in place for the coming winter.

“According to the UK Government, around 75% of older people will now receive the payment, a figure that is likely to be higher in Wales as older people’s incomes here tend to be lower than other parts of the UK.

“I also welcome that the payment will be made to all older people above the qualifying age, and that those with incomes above the threshold will have the option to opt out or to repay what they receive through a form of taxation. This will mean that there will not be a means tested claims process as such, something that often results in eligible individuals missing out, as well as adding significant costs in terms of administration.

“However, it is crucial that clear communication is quickly shared to provide full details about how the new system will work in practice to prevent potential concerns or anxiety amongst older people about whether they will be eligible for the payment and what they might be liable to ‘pay back’ if their incomes are above the threshold. This will enable people to properly plan and make any preparations they need to ahead of the winter.”

Pavarotti’s widow “deeply honoured” to award prizes at Eisteddfod

* Nicoletta Mantovani with Luciano Pavarotti.

The widow of superstar tenor Luciano Pavarotti is making an emotional visit to Llangollen International Eisteddfod which inspired his stellar career. 

Nicoletta Mantovani says she’s “deeply honoured” to be presenting a trophy to the winner of a competition to find an opera star of the future aiming to follow in his illustrious footsteps. 

During her trip she will also be marking several major milestones, the 70th anniversary of his first experience of the festival, the 30th anniversary of his triumphant return in 1995 and what would have been his 90th birthday on October 12 this year. 

Pavarotti was just 19 and a trainee teacher when he came to the Llangollen Eisteddfod in 1955 with his father, Fernando, as part of Chorus Rossini, from their home city of Modena. 

* Nicoletta as she is today.

They left as the overall winning choir and Pavarotti went home determined to make music his career and later said that winning at Llangollen was the spark that ignited his dream. 

When he came back as a global icon for a sell-out concert in 1995, he said: “I always say that to the journalists when they ask me what is a day more memorable in my life, and I always say that it is when I won this competition because it was with all my friends.” 

Nicoletta Mantovani is journeying from her home in Italy to hand over the coveted Pendine Trophy to the winner of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition, the final of which is on the closing Sunday evening of the 2025 festival. 

Sharing the presentation will her be Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill, owners of the arts-loving Pendine Park care organisation which is once again sponsoring the award, and another megastar of the opera world, Sir Bryn Terfel. 

And in another coup for the Eisteddfod, the previous evening Nicoletta will have been on the world-famous Pavilion stage to hand the Pavarotti Trophy, named in honour of her late husband, to the winners of the Choir of the World Competition alongside festival chair John Gambles. 

Nicoletta Mantovani said: “I am deeply honoured and excited to be coming to the Llangollen International Eisteddfod to make both these amazing prize presentations. That is because this festival was the beginning of everything for Luciano and to mark both these anniversaries is very important,” said Nicoletta who founded and became president of the Pavarotti Foundation following his death.  

The foundation organises tribute concerts with opera stars such as Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo, hosts exhibitions reflecting Pavarotti’s life and work and also arranges performances by young opera singers discovered or promoted by the Foundation.  

Nicoletta explained: “Luciano had two dreams. The first was to bring opera to everyone and the second was to bring new people into the world of opera who could become the singers of the future, which both of these Eisteddfod competitions fulfil.   

“Coming to Llangollen will be very emotional for me because without his first appearance there in 1955 he told me his career would not have been possible.  

“He would tell me how his choir did not expect to win, how they waited for the announcement and first came the choir who were in sixth place, then fifth and so on. They were concerned but when it got to the second place and their name had still not been called they knew they had won and they cried with joy.  

“In 1995 Luciano wanted to go back there to celebrate the 40th anniversary of that win and to inspire others about opera because it was such a special place.” 

John Gambles, Chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod said, "We are delighted to welcome Nicoletta Mantovani, the widow of the great Luciano Pavarotti, to Llangollen this summer.  

“Her presence to present both the Pavarotti Trophy and the Pendine Trophy, alongside global stars like Sir Bryn Terfel and our partners at Pendine Park, will make this year’s Eisteddfod a truly memorable occasion.  

“Luciano’s legacy has long been intertwined with Llangollen, and to honour that connection while celebrating his remarkable life and milestones is a genuine privilege for us all."  

Pendine is sponsoring the International Voice of the Future via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT) which supports cultural and community initiatives across Wales. 

 

The competition will take place during the festival’s closing concert on Sunday, July 13, when Sir Bryn Terfel  will be performing songs from his latest album, Sea Songs, along with acclaimed folk group Fisherman’s Friends. 

 

Mario Kreft said: “Gill and I were privileged to be on the Maes outside the pavilion watching on a big screen for Pavarotti’s brilliant performance in 1995 when he even performed a couple of arias outside. 

 

“Pendine is also celebrating a big birthday this year – our 40th anniversary – and we’re absolutely thrilled that Nicoletta Mantovani was particularly keen to present the Pendine Trophy during what I am sure will be a memorable and emotional visit for so many reasons. 

 

“Luciano Pavarotti will always be remembered as one of the finest and most beloved tenors of all time – and it’s wonderful to think that Llangollen Eisteddfod is where his remarkable journey to greatness began. 

 

“The fact that Nicoletta Mantovani will be presenting the prizes will surely be a huge inspiration to the current crop of talented young singers who are aiming launch their own fledgling careers. 

 

“It was lovely to learn that the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition chimes with Pavarotti’s desire to encourage and foster the singing stars of the future, ensuring that his legacy lives on. 

 

“The fact that Sir Bryn Terfel will also be there will make it all the more special because he is also living proof that supreme talent can take you a long way and we are delighted to be doing our bit to help gifted young singers attain new heights.” 

 

* The Llangollen International Eisteddfod starts on Tuesday, July 8, and more details are available at https://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/

Operatic's Into the Woods reveals a spectacular surprise

If you go down Into the Woods today - or rather the Town Hall later this week - you're sure of a big and very pleasant surprise.

Because you'll see a large and stunningly good cast from Llangollen Operatic Society staging a show the likes of which they've never done before.

It's Stephen Sondheim's hugely acclaimed 1986 piece entitled Into the Woods, which can only be described as a colourful, tuneful and rather frantic show-with-a-message. And it's about as far from the society's traditional offerings as you can get.

Characters from a host of Brothers Grimm fairytales, such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel team up in a crazy kaleidoscope of scenes which sees them thrashing about in the woods to find objects such as a snow white cow and a blood red cape.  

Whether they do find them I daren't say but what they do discover is a lot of things about themselves and life generally.

All this is stylishly conveyed by a largely young and extremely talented cast who have spent months honing their performances to perfection.

Like Ethan Roberts as Jack, Jessica Fidler as Rapunzel, Rose Burgon as Cinderella and Steph Williams as the Witch, they can sing up a storm.

And they can also act - like Robin Crowley and Rachel Dobson as the Baker and his wife, Kevin Williams as the Wolf, Leri Roberts as Little Red Riding Hood, Graham Bannister-Kelly and Kelsey Thornton as, respectively, Cinderella's and Rapunzel's princes and Naomi Riley and Hannah Taylor as the Step-sisters.

But it's not just the young ones who make a big impression. Alongside them to add  a touch of seasoning are Operatic veterans Bill Cheshire (the Mysterious Man), Sue Cheshire (Granny), Justine Bradey (Cinderella's Mother), Sue O'Neill (Jack's Mother), Chris Williams (splendidly attired and authoritative Narrator), Louisa Jones (voice of Giant and Cinderella's Mother) and Jan Bellis (an unforgettably moo-ving Milky White the cow).    

Unless you're familiar with the piece you are unlikely to be on sing-along terms with the songs but around 30 of them are there to ease along the action and you may well find yourself humming a couple of the catchier ones as you leave. 

Make no mistake, this fairytale with attitude really works.

And that's due in no small part to the excellent production team of artistic director Chrissie Ashworth, joint producers Tracey Kempster-Jones and Caroline Anthonisz, musical director Elen Mair Roberts and choreographer Rob Stevens. 

With a five-performance run, you can catch the show at Llangollen Town Hall from this Wednesday-Saturday June 11 -14, with performances on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings as well as a matinee on Saturday afternoon.

* Tickets are available online at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety as well as local outlets in Llangollen: The Tourist Information Centre, The Oggie Shop, and Solitaire Jewellers.