West End star Lucie Jones promises powerful Eisteddfod performance

* Lucie Jones.

A Welsh West End superstar promises to melt the audience’s hearts with the power of her performance when she makes a special guest appearance at the iconic Choir of the World final at Llangollen International Eisteddfod next month.

The Eisteddfod’s competitive schedule culminates each year with this famous evening, which includes the presentation of the coveted Pavarotti Trophy, named in honour of the Italian maestro who twice sang in Llangollen, in 1955 with his hometown choir from Modena, and again at a memorable solo concert in 1995.

The trophy will be handed over by Pavarotti’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, with festival Chairman John Gambles and Artistic Director Dave Danford.

Making a guest appearance on the big night will be multi award-winning leading lady Lucie Jones who has starred in a string of hit musicals over the past few years, playing roles such as Cosette in Les Misérables, Holly in The Wedding Singer, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Meat in We Will Rock You, Jenna in Waitress and Elphaba in Wicked.

Lucie, from the village of Pentyrch near Cardiff, first rose to fame at the age of 18 in the sixth series of The X Factor and in 2017 represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Despite all this, she admits that although she’s heard much about it and had a long-standing desire to perform there, this will be her first visit to the Eisteddfod.

She said: “Rather weirdly, although I always aimed to come to the festival, I never actually had the opportunity to do so as a child. I’ve been to Llangollen and seen the Pavilion, heard lots about the Llangollen Eisteddfod and know what a huge and exciting event it is.

“So I'm making my debut at the grand old age of 34 and I'm really excited. I'm really, really pleased that I jumped at the chance to come and sing at the festival. I know it's not in a competitive way anymore, but still, it's nice to be there.

“I was also thrilled to hear that Luciano Pavarotti’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, will also be there on the night and I can’t wait to meet her, which will be a great honour for me.”

Another reason Lucie says she wants to appear at the Choir of the World is that it provides a showcase for budding star performers – a thing that’s very important to her as she showed when she opened her own Lucie Jones Academy in 2023 and which runs workshops and master classes for young theatre hopefuls given by her fellow West End stars.

“The academy is a big part of what I do as a performer and as an educator. It’s very important to me that we live through this crazy time with positivity and make sure that the next generation who are coming up behind us are properly looked after,” she said.

“I firmly believe that they should be taught to handle the good, the bad and the ugly of life as a performer, which is why I started the academy. To be part of a day where people have learned things is really special to me.”

Lucie wouldn’t give away too much about the songs she’ll be singing at Choir of the World but she promised: “I’ll be doing some musical theatre numbers from the shows I’ve been in and the audience won’t be disappointed with what I’ve chosen. I promise to melt their hearts.”

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Lucie Jones to the Eisteddfod stage for the first time. Her powerful voice and stage presence will bring an unforgettable energy to our Choir of the World final – a night already steeped in passion and prestige. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the talent of tomorrow and honour the legacy of Pavarotti.”

New Dot Cinema returns with the classic film Stand By Me

* A scene from the film Stand by Me.

New Dot Cinema, Llangollen’s very own movie palace, is back.

The doors open again on July 25 with the classic coming-of-age film, Stand By Me. 

The monthly screenings will take in classic films as well as new and independent movies to bring people together to enjoy the magic of cinema on the big screen and offering a welcoming space for audiences across the Dee Valley. 

“We’re delighted to relaunch New Dot Cinema with such a brilliant, classic film," said Olivia Brown, who has spearheaded the relaunch of this much-missed community organisation.

“We have a new team of enthusiastic volunteers with lots of ideas for future films and events and we can’t wait to share more details with people in the coming weeks. 

"We’re also setting up a new website along with new pages on Facebook and Instagram where people will be able to check our programme of upcoming films. The team would also like to thank Llangollen Town Council, who gave us a community grant which enabled us to bring New Dot back.”

Stand By Me, based on a novel by Stephen King, takes place over a summer weekend in Castle Rock, Oregon in 1959. 

Four friends set out on a life-changing adventure to look for the body of a missing boy. Knowing only the general location, the boys head out into the woods. What starts out as a lark turns into the defining event of their lives, when they discover the meaning of friendship, learning much about themselves and each other.

 

* Tickets cost £6 and can be purchased online from Ticket Source (+50p booking fee) or in cash from June 27 from Laura’s Tea Room in Oak Street, Llangollen.

New ambulance nerve centre opens in the county

* Staff in the new coordination and communications centre.

The Welsh Ambulance Service has unveiled its new coordination and communications centre in Denbighshire.

The centre, which occupies space within the Trust’s existing estate on St Asaph Business Park, is the new home of Emergency Medical Services Coordination, Operations Quality, Resourcing and Ambulance Care - Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services.

 

The new facility has replaced the former site in Llanfairfechan, which had been in operation since 2001 and was no longer fit-for-purpose.

The official opening was attended by High Sheriff of Clwyd, Julie Gillbanks, who unveiled a plaque at the St Asaph Business Park facility commemorating the occasion.

In a carefully planned operation, staff at the Llanfairfechan site attended their final night shift on 07^th May, with the final 999 call at the site being taken the next morning by Senior Emergency Medical Dispatcher, Lauryn Edwards.

 

Meanwhile, while Lauryn was taking the final call, colleagues on the following morning shift began their first day at Ty Elwy, with 999 call taker Katy Hall taking the first call at the new site.

 

Lee Brooks, Executive Director of Operations at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “This new facility will have a positive impact on all those who work here as well as our patients.

 

“It’s a state-of-the-art facility, providing everything you would expect to see in a modern ambulance call centre.

 

“At a time when pressure and call volumes are consistently high across the entire system, this new centre gives us greater flexibility and resilience, enabling us to better deal with the demands being placed upon us.”

 

The decision to relocate came when the previous building was deemed to be unsuitable due of the expansion of the service, the natural age of the site, and the costly maintenance required to maintain the facility.

 

In November 2023, after careful consideration, Ty Elwy, St Asaph, was determined to be the most suitable option overall.

 

The new site also boasts a gym, relaxation area, on-site training facilities, secure parking, clean, bright, comfortable working areas and easy access to the A55 expressway.

 

During the opening ceremony, High Sheriff of Clwyd, Julie Gillbanks said: “Today, having seen firsthand what is involved in taking an emergency call to the ambulance service, I can really appreciate the advantages of working from this new centre.

 

“I have learnt so much about triaging and screening calls, ensuring that the right care is provided to the right people while providing alternatives to those who may not require an ambulance.

 

“Each and every one of the wonderful staff who work here should be proud of themselves and I congratulate them all for what they do to help the people of Wales.”

Families invited to join county libraries' Summer Reading Challenge

Denbighshire Libraries are inviting families across the county to take part in The Reading Agency’s 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, encouraging children to explore the magical connection between storytelling and the natural world.

This year’s theme is Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors.

Launching on July 5 the Summer Reading Challenge invites children aged 4–11 to visit their local library, discover new books, and enjoy a summer filled with fun, imagination, and outdoor inspiration.

Featuring beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Dapo Adeola, Story Garden offers young readers a world of stories, creatures, and nature-based adventures. 

Children can collect free activity packs, take part in nature-themed events, and borrow specially selected books — all designed to keep them curious, active, and engaged with reading over the summer holidays.

Deborah Owen, Principal Librarian for Denbighshire County Council said: “We’re really excited to welcome children and families back for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. It’s a brilliant way to spark a love of reading while encouraging young minds to explore nature and creativity. We can’t wait to see our library transformed into a Story Garden this summer.”

Councillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage at Denbighshire County Council, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is a wonderful way to inspire children to read for pleasure while celebrating the beauty of the natural world. Our libraries play a vital role in supporting literacy and creativity, and this year’s Story Garden theme brings all of that together in an exciting and imaginative way. I’d encourage families across Denbighshire to join in and make the most of everything their local library has to offer this summer.”

Now in its 26th year, the Summer Reading Challenge is delivered in partnership with public libraries and is completely free to join. In 2024, the Challenge reached nearly 600,000 children and inspired over 100,000 new library memberships across the UK.

* To find out how to join in the fun visit your local library or go to www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk.

@readingagency

#SummerReadingChallenge #StoryGarden

MP explains why she voted 'yes' in debate on assisted dying

* Becky Gittins MP.

Clwyd East MP Becky Gittins has explained to her constituents why she voted "yes" in today's House of Commons debate on assisted dying. 

By a narrow margin of just 23, Members backed The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which will now progress to the House of Lords where it will face further scrutiny before potentially returning to the House of Commons in due course.  

After several hours of emotional debate MPs were allowed to vote in accordance with their personal beliefs, rather than along party lines. 

Writing to all those constituents who had contacted her about this issue, Ms Gittins says: "Today, I have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at its ‘Third Reading’

" I would like to thank the hundreds of constituents who have engaged with me on this topic since its ‘Second Reading’ in November. Whether via email, in my constituency surgeries or through the in-person events I have undertaken to hear the views of constituents. I am so grateful for the contribution that these many conversations have made to my understanding of the Bill and ultimately my decision.

"What has been clear is that my constituents in Clwyd East are very divided on this issue, with many representations being made on both sides of the debate. These opposing representations have interestingly come from constituents of the same faith; constituents with a shared occupation, such as in health or palliative care; and constituents with personal experience of terminal illness, be it their own or that of a family member or friend. 

"What unites them all, however, is a recognition that the current state of end of life care in the UK is desperately in need of change. That is why I voted today to include in the Bill a compulsory review of palliative care, reinforcing the case that it is not “either or” and that good palliative care and a limited option for assisted dying should both be treatment options available to the terminally ill."

She adds: "In my view, dignity in dying and freedom from inextinguishable pain comes down to one thing – choice - and today my decision ultimately came down to the importance of giving people that choice over their own lives. 

"With the freedom to choose also comes the freedom to not choose. I believe there are as many safeguards as practically possible contained within this Bill to ensure free and fair choice for patients to make this decision in an informed way, free from coercion. I hope that the high level of parliamentary scrutiny that this Bill has received will encourage a more forensic consideration of the role of patient decision-making across the NHS and broader society. 

"Throughout the legislative process, the attention given to the needs of the most vulnerable people and the importance of ensuring a free choice has brought an essential focus on the role of coercion, domestic abuse, disability, ableism, and poverty on people’s ability to genuinely make a free decision about their lives – whether on this issue or many others. 

"Finally, I would like to note the many people who, regardless of their position on assisted dying, will have found the discourse around this debate in recent months incredibly difficult and traumatic, perhaps rekindling personal experiences of death and dying. Thank you for the openness and kindness that you have shown to me and my fellow parliamentarians in coming to this decision today. As I have said at my in-person events, please remember that all positions on this Bill have been arrived at in good faith and with good intentions."

First curlew chicks of season hatch in this area

The Curlew Connections Wales team are celebrating the arrival of the first Eurasian Curlew chicks of the 2025 season in the South Clwydian Hills and Dee Valley.

This comes as a significant milestone for one of the UK’s most endangered bird species which has seen its numbers in Wales drop by over 80% since the 1990s.

Commonly known as Europe’s largest wading bird, the Curlew is easily recognised by its long, curved bill and distinctive bubbling call. 

Once a common sight across Welsh uplands and wet grasslands, the curlew population has dramatically declined due to only being able to raise one chick every four years, which is far too low to sustain their population.

Working alongside local farmers and landowners, the Curlew Connections Wales team have been working hard to protect these rare ground-nesting birds by monitoring known nesting sites on the moorlands in North East Wales.

To give the nests the best chance of success methods such as temporary electric fencing has been used to keep predators and farm animals away from the vulnerable eggs.

This simple but effective measure is already making a big difference, with 12 nests being protected by the fencing this year, which is a significant increase from four nests fenced last year.

Jillian Howe, Community and Engagement Officer at Curlew Connections Wales said: “The arrival of these first chicks is very encouraging, as it shows that with community support and targeted protection, we can give curlew chicks a better chance to survive and help reverse their decline.”

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “To hear of these Curlew chicks hatching in Denbighshire is a testament to the important work that our dedicated officers and partners do to ensure the protection of these red listed species. Without urgent action the possibility that Curlew’s could be extinct from Wales entirely by 2033 is a harsh reality. However, these early hatches are a positive sign for this iconic bird and a hopeful step forward for curlew conservation in Wales."

* If you see or hear a curlew in the project area, contact our Curlew Connections Wales Officer at: samantha.kenyon@denbighshire.gov.uk or for more information visit: www.gwct.wales/curlew-connections/

New charity shop aims to benefit Dee Valley Trust

A new charity shop is opening in the heart of Cefn Mawr selling clothes, homeware and collectables to raise cash for the Dee Valley Trust  (DVT). 

All profits will go to a registered charity funding projects that will benefit the local community. 

A spokesperson for the charity said: "Our fantastic managers Nadine Earle and Ian Wright have worked hard to get the shop off the ground with the support of adviser Sue Sealy and local artist Carol Davies. 

"We will be celebrating the formal opening on Saturday June 21. Cutting the ribbon we are delighted to welcome Ken Skates MS and Steve Witherden MP. This will be followed by a brief tour of the shop with cake and refreshments to follow.

"If you have good quality items to donate, or would like to volunteer, please contact Nadine or Ian on 01978 219351. Find us on Facebook or Insta."

The directors of Dee Valley Trust CIC are Dave Gittins (Chair), Emma Brennan, Sonia Benbow-Jones and Mark Lacey. For info email mark.lacey@deevalleytrust.org.uk.