Traffic light failure at Druid near Corwen, warns Traffic Wales

Traffic Wales is warning about a traffic light failure at Druid near Corwen, which is causing moderate traffic disruption 

Police appeal follows theft of motorbike from Llangollen

North Wales Police are appealing for information following the theft of a blue and white Suzuki GSXR motorbike from the Llangollen area on Monday July 14, at approximately 3am.

A spokesperson for NWP Conwy and Denbigh Rural said: "We believe the motorbike has been seen on CCTV turning right at the bridge, heading towards the general direction of Wrexham at approximately 03:24 hours.

"We are appealing for any witnesses and are keen on speaking with anyone that may have any information or dash camera footage. If you can help, please contact us via the live web chat on our website or by calling 101, quoting reference number 25000579151."

Supercar road trip due to pass near Llangollen

* The homepage of the Cannonball Ireland website.

A host of gleaming supercars are due to pass near Llangollen later today.

Vehicles taking part in the 2025 Cannonball Ireland City Luxe 2025 road trip will call at the Abbey Grange Hotel on their way over the Horseshoe Pass sometime in mid-afternoon.

No precise time for their arrival is available at the moment but a post on Facebook suggests it might be 3.45pm.

The event, based around Liverpool, lasts from today (Friday) until Sunday and runs through north Wales and Cheshire into the Peak District of Derbyshire.

According to its own website, it costs 2,000 euros for two people sharing a car. For that, entrants get, “magnificent drives by day on the UK’s most iconic roads Pen-y-Pass, Snake Pass, Horseshoe Pass, Holme Moss and the Peak District. By night, trade wild horizons for urban opulence!

“We stay at the luxurious Titanic Hotel, dine at Stanley’s Bar and Grill and also Zenn Roof Top and then explore vibrant city gems like The Cavern Club; the legendary venue where The Beatles played nearly 292 times!”

Railway volunteer set for national radio stardom

* Joanne firing engine 7754 earlier this year by Point & Shoot Photos.

Llangollen Railway says it is "super proud" of its volunteer Joanne Ormesher, who is one of five people to have a folk song composed about how railways have influenced their lives for BBC Radio 2's upcoming 21st Century Folk 2025. 

The stories are being told to coincide with Railway 200, celebrating 200 years of train travel in the UK.

Joanne is a fireman the the line's steam trains, a cancer survivor and advocate for diversity and inclusion in heritage railways. 

Her inspirational story has been turned into a folk song by the amazing Scottish singer-songwriter Findlay Napier. 

There will also be a chance to hear the songs, contributors and songwriters in 21st Century Folk 2025 on BBC Sounds and watch them by going to bbc.co.uk/folk from Monday 28th July to Sunday 3rd August - a week of folk music across Radio 2’s Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe (Weds, 9-10pm), and The Jeremy Vine Show (weekdays, noon-2pm).

Jeremy Vine will also broadcast live from "The Greatest Gathering", a festival to celebrate the past, present and future of rail travel taking place at Alstom Derby Locomotive Works between 1st and 3rd of August.

Fundraisers collect over £4,000 for family of father who died aged 41

Fundraisers have collected over £4,000 for the family of a Llangollen father-of-eight who has died aged just 41.

* For the full story in the Leader, go to: More than £4k raised for family of Llangollen dad who died | The Leader

Tasty treats transport Pavarotti’s widow back in time

* Moli Jones, from the Wild Pheasant Hotel, serves up white chocolate and strawberry tarts to Luciano Pavarotti's widow Nicoletta Mantovani, joined by concert sponsors Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill Kreft, who arranged the tasty treats. This was a favourite of Pavarotti on his visit in 1995. Pictures by Rick Matthews

The widow of opera maestro Luciano Pavarotti was taken back time by a tasty treat which brought back memories of her first visit to Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Nicoletta Mantovani was served with a delicious white chocolate and strawberry dessert at a reception ahead of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition on the final night of the festival where she was celebrating an emotional double anniversary.

It is 70 years since a young Luciano first performed at Llangollen eisteddfod with his dad’s choir, Chorus Rossini, in 1955, and 30 years since he returned as a global superstar in 1995 when he sang in a sell-out concert.

Nicoletta recalled how her late husband enjoyed the delicious menu famously served to him by ‘Dai Chef’ when he stayed at the Bryn Howell hotel, Llangollen, in 1995.

According to Dai his specially created white chocolate and strawberry tarts were one of the opera great’s favourite treats while he was there.

Nicoletta, who is now re-married to financier Alberto Tinarelli, had the opportunity to sample a modern day recreation of those tarts when she made a special journey to North Wales to celebrate the anniversary of Pavarotti’s appearances at the Llangollen festival.

* The tarts served up at the reception.

The thoughtful gesture was organised by Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill, the arts loving owners of the Pendine Park care organisation who sponsored the competition via the Pendine Arts and Communities Trust (PACT).

The tasty treats were served during a reception before the competition and the concert that followed, starring Sir Bryn Terfel and Cornish “buoy band” Fishermen’s Friends, which was also supported by PACT.

The Krefts also accompanied Nicoletta and Alberto on a train journey from Corwen to Llangollen when they arrived in the town where “Wales welcomes the world”.

The canapé style tarts were made by Keith Tapping the acclaimed executive chef of Llangollen’s Wild Pheasant Hotel which provided the catering for the reception held to welcome Nicoletta and other guests.

As part of the spread they served the canape-style white chocolate and strawberry tarts as a nod to Luciano’s 1995 visit and, on tasting them, Nicoletta said it was like travelling back in time.

She said: “They are beautiful, such sweet, delicious flavour. But it is not just the tarts that are beautiful, it is the memories they bring with them.

“So many memories can be triggered by our senses of taste and smell that when I tasted these it was like being back in 1995.

“It was such a generous thought to recreate this dish which Luciano loved. Llangollen and the International Eisteddfod always held a special place in his heart and I am so delighted to be back here experiencing the festival again 30 years later.”

Serving the tarts to Nicoletta and other guests was Wild Pheasant general assistant Moli Jones who said she was thrilled to be working on such a prestigious occasion.

Moli, 17, originally from Bala, but who now lives in Llangollen, said: “This is a great occasion, with so many well-known guests.

“It’s been a pleasure serving our menu to them. I have always been proud of the community ethos generated by the Llangollen eisteddfod. I have been here so many times and I have friends and neighbours who have volunteered here in the past. It is such a fantastic event to be a part of and always creates magical memories for anyone who comes here.”

Becky Shields, general manager of the Wild Pheasant Hotel, which is part of the Everbright group, said: “It has been our privilege to cater for such a special occasion as this and at what is the biggest cultural festival in Europe.”

The occasion also brought back memories for Mario and Gill Kreft who  witnessed Pavarotti’s visit to the eisteddfod in 1995.

The couple were among those watching his sell-out concert on a giant screen outside on the Eisteddfod field.

After the competition, Nicoletta presented the winning trophy of a silver salver and a £3,000 prize to tenor Andrew Henley who triumphed in the competition.

Among other guests at the pre-concert reception was the long-serving former president of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Sir Terry Waite.

Ken Skates MS pays tribute to Llangollen Eisteddfod

* From left, Eisteddfod Board Member David Hennigan, Ken Skates MS and Chairman of the Board John Gambles all regularly meet to plan the Eisteddfod.  

Ken Skates MS, Senedd Member for Clwyd South which includes Llangollen, has paid tribute to the organisers of the Llangollen Eisteddfod after another successful festival came to an end.

The Eisteddfod, run mainly by over 500 volunteers, has just completed its 78th year and is now busy preparing for Llangollen 2026 – which will take place on July 7–12 next year. 

This year, the festival brought tens of thousands of visitors to North Wales and saw over 4,000 competitors take part in competitions from across the world.

It also welcomed artists such as Sir Bryn Terfel, KT Tunstall, Lucie Jones, and Il Divo to North-East Wales.

The festival also co-promoted seven concerts featuring the likes of Texas, Rag’n’Bone Man, James and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, in partnership with Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

It also welcomed Luciano Pavarotti’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, who presented the Choir of the World award and unveiled a 120-foot chalk tribute to mark the 70th anniversary of the Maestro’s career-defining international debut in Llangollen. 

Mr Skates, a Vice-President of the Llangollen Eisteddfod and long-term supporter of the festival, said: “It was great to visit the Eisteddfod yet again and meet their wonderful volunteers.

"Our festival is a shining light across the world, and the fact that over 500 volunteers – mainly from Llangollen and Wrexham – make this happen is incredible.

"This year, Eisteddfod organisers pulled off another major success. Llangollen, where my office is based, is bursting with colour, song and vibrancy, and Llangollen’s slogan – ‘Where Wales Welcomes the World’ – is as relevant now as it was in 1947.

"The Pavarotti mural is the talk of the Senedd and illustrates the iconic status of the Llangollen Eisteddfod through its connection with the Maestro.” 

Last week, Jo Stevens MP – the Secretary of State for Wales – visited the festival, as well as Llangollen MP Becky Gittins.

Mr Skates has been a huge supporter of the festival, which he first attended as a child. He regularly meets with organisers throughout the year to help plan for the festival. He is also planning to visit Wrexham, which will host the National Eisteddfod from August 2–7. 

He added: "This year, we have two Eisteddfodau for the price of one – and the end of one Eisteddfod marks the build-up to another. I am looking forward to visiting the National Eisteddfod in August.

"I know volunteers in Wrexham have been working just as hard as those in Llangollen. In fact, many volunteers from Llangollen are planning to travel just up the road to celebrate Welsh language, arts and heritage. What a summer it is in North Wales. The positive impact on our economy is huge. The Welsh Government is proud to support both festivals.”