Work starts on two major improvement schemes at school

Work has started this summer on improvements at Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen.

Denbighshire County Council’s Property Team is managing two areas of work at the school to help benefit both pupils and staff at the site.

To support the wellbeing of pupils and staff, work will be carried out to replace the existing dining hall glazing.

It will be replaced with an insulated flat roof incorporating new polycarbonate roof lights. The work is expected to be completed by the end of August.

The property team is also commencing a second phase of work aimed at improving safety at the school site.

Phase 2 of the Ysgol Dinas Bran Safeguarding Scheme will see work carried out at the site to improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic management. The development will also increase segregation away from potential roadside risk to enhance pupil safety at the school.

This work is due to be finished by the end of October.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said: “We want to maintain the best environments at our schools across Denbighshire to support pupil development and promote strong learning. I’m pleased this work is going ahead at Ysgol Dinas Bran and would like to thank the school for their work and our Property Team for managing these projects.” 

Lads encounter pickpocket peril on next leg of their journey to Thailand

 

* The lads with Caco the bartender who helped them out with accommodation, food and a cash contribution.

* Louis had to visit the police station after being pickpocketed in Rotterdam.

The second week of their 10,000 cycling journey to Thailand began on a bitter/sweet note for the three lads from Llangollen who have taken up the challenge to raise support for heart research.

Their regular social media video log shows that just a day after landing in the Hook of Holland from a North Sea ferry 18-year-old Louis Dennis from Garth was pickpocket as they made their way through Rotterdam and his mobile phone was taken.

But there was some good news in the shape of a Caco, the bartender they encountered in the city. Not only did he fix them up with accommodation for the night, but also breakfast next morning and a welcome 100 euro donation to their travel fund.   

Louis, who admitted the theft had left him "at rock bottom", eventually found a replacement phone and on they went. 

The next day, as they reached Tilberg in thee Netherlands, the temperature hit 30 degrees which rendered them unable to do much cycling as they were "drenched in sweat."

Over the next two days the mercury shot up to 35 degrees, so it was day 13 out from Llangollen when they were at last able to hit the road again, setting out at 5am so they could do some miles before the sun started to beat down on them again.     

As they crossed the border into Germany at Venlo the lads found some apples growing in an orchard by the roadside. They were just helping themselves when the farmer showed up. A quick apology was all that was necessary before they were back in the saddles.

* Here's a link to the Westheads' socials on which you can follow their journey and make a donation if you wish: https://linktr.ee/westheads

* Caught scrumping in Germany - but the farmer accepted an apology. 

Town crier Chem and wife Jane mark golden wedding in style

* Chem and Jane, on the left, and their family thank guests for helping them celebrate 50 years of married life in the marquee at Plas Newydd.

Llangollen's well-known town crier, Austin "Chem" Cheminais, and his wife Jane put up a huge marquee in the grounds of Plas Newydd to celebrate their golden wedding yesterday (Saturday) evening.

* Guests mingle outside the big tent.

Over 60 of their family members from all parts of the UK along with a large number of friends from the town helped the couple mark their 50th anniversary in fine style.

Catering was by the team based at Plas Newydd while the bar was manned by members of Llangollen Fringe Festival.

A children's entertainer helped keep the younger guests entertained with games such as bubble blowing.

With close members of the family gathered around him Chem, a former town councillor and Llangollen mayor, thanked everyone for coming along to help Jane and himself celebrate the landmark occasion, adding that moving to Llangollen 14 years ago was the best thing they had ever done. 

* Young guests having fun blowing big bubbles with the children's entertainer.

Police appeal follows fatal road collision in Bwlchgwyn

North Wales Police have this afternoon (Saturday) launched an appeal for information following a fatal road collision in Bwlchgwyn yesterday evening.

It says: "We are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision involving four motorcycles and a Range Rover Evoque on the B5340 at Bwlchgwyn, Wrexham at 19:38hrs on Friday 15th August 2025.

"Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services, the male rider of one of the motorcycles was pronounced dead at the scene. A second rider sustained serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Wrexham Maelor Hospital, where he remains under treatment."

Sergeant Alun Jones of the Roads Crime Unit said: “Firstly, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family at this very difficult time. This is now being investigated as a fatal road traffic collision.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who was travelling in the area and may have dash cam or mobile footage, to contact us.

“The road was closed for several hours whilst the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit carried out initial enquiries, and we thank the public for their patience and understanding.”

* Anyone with information is urged to contact the Roads Crime Unit via the live webchat on the North Wales Police website or by calling 101, quoting reference number C126741.

Intrepid fitness fans' hot idea to open their own sauna

* The newly-opened STōKED SAWNA in its outdoor setting near Mile End Mill. 

Two proud Welsh men who say they are "passionate" about health and fitness have just opened their own sauna business in Llangollen.

Over 15 years of friendship Gilbert Matthew and Mark Roberts have shared many adventures, from skateboarding the length of Wales in memory of two close friends and raising £25,000 for Nightingale House Hospice to kayaking the River Dee from source to sea. 

It was during one of these trips that the two hatched the plan to bring a wood-fired sauna to their home area in the Dee Valley.

A post-surf sauna session got them talking about how wonderful the experience was - as they describe it, "The contrast of spending time in the elements and then coming to a serene place of calm, winding the body down after exertion, and looking out of the sauna to a beautiful place".

* The men behind the idea, Gilbert Matthew and Mark Roberts. 

And that is how STōKED SAWNA, based at the far end of Mile End Mill’s car park, was born.

They spent many hours over the summer of 2024 transforming an Ivor Williams trailer into an off-grid sauna, both bringing an eye for detail and an ambition to create a truly special place for their local community. 

Mark is a skilled joiner and brought a honed talent to the building of STōKED. Gilbert is a specialized welder by trade, so he was able to bring energy and drive with a touch of engineering precision to the project.

The new business has already created between four and eight part-time sauna host roles.

They say: "Together we have created a beautiful sauna that is a joy to while away an hour or so in. 

"We are excited to welcome you to STōKED SAWNA, making Llangollen a hotter, healthier and happier place to live or visit."

* For more details of the new business, go to: www.stokedsawna.co.uk

Legion marks 80th anniversary of VJ Day in Centenary Square

Members of the Royal British Legion's Llangollen branch held a short ceremony in Centenary Square this morning (Friday) to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, when the Second World war officially came to an end on August 15 1945.   

Before the traditional two minutes' silence at 11am came the reading of the famous passage from For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon: "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them."

The ceremony, held in brilliant sunlight, ended with the well-known verse from the Kohima Epitaph: "When you go home, tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow, we gave our today". 

Ales are blessed at cheery St Collen's gathering

* Father Lee draws himself a foaming pint of ale. Below, people enjoy the gathering amongst the aisles.

It was cheers all round at St Collen's Church last night (Thursday) as free beer was served at a Blessing of the Ales ceremony.

On the feast of St Arnold of Soissons — patron saint of beer and brewers — there was a special beer tasting.

A rare 16th-century prayer was said to bless the ales, honouring a tradition as old as the church's historic hammer-beam roof which even has a carving of a man who is rolling beer barrels,

Everyone was welcome — whether they were church-goers or not.

Priest in charge, Father Lee Taylor, who organised the event, said:  "The church has always been a gathering place for the whole community and this was a joyful way to bring people together.

"So we raised a glass responsibly, enjoyed some local brews and celebrated in good spirits!"