Former Town Clerk Ian Parry passes away

 

* Ian Parry with his wife Cerys.

Tributes have been paid to Ian Parry, the former Town Clerk of Llangollen, who passed away peacefully on October 2.

Ian was born in 1942 with a twin sister Gill to Jack and Lily, with his little sister Judy coming along later. He grew up in around the Cefn Mawr and Acrefair area where he was quite the sportsman, earning medals in cycling road races, squash and table tennis.

He started in local government from almost day one of his working life, working in Wrexham Council.

He met his wife, Cerys, and they wed in 1969. Shortly after this Ian and Cerys moved south to Alton in Hampshire for work, then on to Maidstone in Kent where they had their first child.

In 1981 they moved to Enfield in North London where Ian started to work for the local council and the couple had their second child. 

They lived in Enfield until 1997 when they decided they would take the opportunity to move back up to the Wrexham area to be closer to family.

Ian worked for Belfour Beatty the builders in Manchester for a couple of years upon moving north but missed working in local government. When the opportunity came up to be the town clerk for Llangollen he could not pass it up and was successful in getting the role.

He did a lot to help the town grow its profile and helped many of the local businesses, while also taking on roles with the food festival and Christmas festival to help them get a broader reach. 

It was not just the local businesses he would help, he also supported many local and national charities and as many individuals as best he could.

After being diagnosed with prostate cancer back in 2010 he recognised the need for a local group where people could come together for advice and companionship, and with the late Mike Law set up the Llangollen Prostate Support Group. This is still running today, currently has a membership of 40 and would love to welcome more to it.

Ian is survived by his wife Cerys and his two sons, Ross and Ryan. Along with his grandchildren Jay, Aaron and Sophie.

In a tribute to Ian, his predecessor, current Llangollen town clerk Gareth Thomas said: “It is with deep sadness that Llangollen Town Council acknowledges the passing of Mr Ian Parry, former Town Clerk, whose dedicated service and unwavering commitment to the town and its community will long be remembered.

“Ian served as Clerk to the Council with distinction, guiding the council at all times with professionalism, integrity, and a genuine passion for public service. His deep knowledge of local government, calm demeanour, and thoughtful leadership earned him the respect and admiration of councillors, colleagues, and residents alike.

“Beyond his administrative excellence, Ian was a kind and approachable presence in the community always willing to listen, always ready to help. He remained a committed supporter of community initiatives and played a key role in inaugurating the Llangollen Christmas Festival, which he continued to champion over the years.

“The Town Council extends its heartfelt condolences to Ian’s family and friends at this difficult time. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of working with him.”

Llan councillor scores victory in battle of diversion routes

* A thing of the past - Llangollen will no longer be used as the diversion route when the viaducts are closed.

One of the town's county councillors has secured an agreement for the newly re-opened Newbridge Road to become the official diversion route - instead of Llangollen - whenever the viaducts on the A5 and A483 are closed.

Last Friday afternoon the North and Mid Road Traffic Agent (NWMTRA) declared traffic should be diverted through Llangollen after high winds from Storm Amy shut the two viaducts.

That was despite the B5605 Newbridge Road having been re-opened hours earlier following months of remedial work.

* Success: County Cllr Karen Edwards.

This resulted in heavy traffic congestion in Llangollen town centre for the rest of Friday and into Saturday afternoon, with motorists taking to social media to question why Newbridge - which was the standard diversion route before its long temporary closure - could not have been used once again.

This prompted Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards to ask NWMTRA why the Llangollen route had been chosen, especially when Newbridge was open again.

An official told her: "Because we must always utilise trunk roads for our service to accommodate HGV’s etc, drivers can determine their own route if safe to do so."

But she continued to call for a change of route and earlier this afternoon (Wednesday) she heard that she had been successful.

She said: "Further to my previous statement, I have been lobbying NWMTRA regarding using Llangollen as the official standard diversion route when the A483 is closed as I wasn’t satisfied with their initial response.

"I am now pleased to report that today it has been confirmed by NWMTRA that in the event of any future closures of the A483 Dee Viaduct a signed diversion via the B5605 Newbridge Road will be implemented.

"Hopefully, this will reduce some of the traffic pressures we have experienced whilst the Newbridge Road was closed."

Half-million lottery grant will help boost communities

* At the official launch event held in Corwen last Friday. 

By Heulwen Wright

South Denbighshire Community Partnership (SDCP) has secured £499,708 of funding from The National Lottery Community People & Places III fund for their ‘ Your Place or Ours - South Denbighshire’ four-year project. 

The project will enable the partnerships not only to continue delivering some of their current provision but also further develop these and new initiatives.

Sally Lloyd Davies, Chief Officer of SDCP,  said the funding will allow them to build on its strong foundations and meet the growing needs of the local community.

She expressed her gratitude to the residents of South Denbighshire communities and partner organisations who took the time to participate in their community consultation last summer which enabled the partnership to identify the needs of the community.

“Our aim is to now continue developing wellbeing and social opportunities, extend some provision into evenings and weekends, and create further opportunities for local people to engage, connect and learn."

SDCP already offers a wide range of services from their head office in Corwen, Hwb Cymunedol Pengwern Community Hub Llangollen and from various outreach community venues across the area.

This includes support for older people, community transport, children and family activities and volunteering opportunities. 

The new funding will enable SDCP to take things even further – with a strong focus on promoting the Welsh language, heritage and culture and improving access to training and learning opportunities for all ages in our community.

Future plans include collaborating with partners such as Working Denbighshire to develop the opportunity for residents to access to skills-based courses, adult education sessions, and support for those returning to the workforce in suitable venues in South Denbighshire, and to perhaps engage with local colleges and other providers to deliver from community-based settings in Llangollen and Corwen.

Sally added: “Securing this funding is recognition of the value of grassroots community organisations such as SDCP, and we are proud to be recognised as an organisation that other service providers and organisations want to work with to enable them to reach a wider audience and ensure positive change for people living in our communities."

It's out of Serbia into Romania for Llan's three cycling heroes

* Getting ready to enter a dark road tunnel as they head into Romania.  

The three Llangollen area lads cycling to Thailand made it out of Serbia and into Romania on the latest leg of their mammoth journey.

Known collectively as The Westheads, Dyfan Hughes, 17, James Thomas, 18, and Louis Dennis, 18, had never ridden a bike further than the shop near their homes when they set out on their 18-month quest to reach Asia.

Once there they aim to meet up with their friend Harrison who moved to Thailand six months ago after his dad died from a heart attack and to raise money for heart research. 

* Next stop Romania.

Their daily video logo shows that on day 58 and in one of their last stops in Serbia the woman running the shop where they stopped for supplies offered to cook them their evening meal - which they reckoned was typical of the friendliness they had encountered in the country.

The following day saw them take a ferry over the river Danube and head onwards into Romania. Not long afterwards they were battling through pouring rain, which failed to dampen their spirits but did break Dyfan's mobile phone.  

Soon after crossing into the next country they had to go carefully around a pack of "massive" stray dogs.

Next problem they confronted was a broken pedal on one of their bikes, which they managed to temporarily fix with the help of a local. 

* To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads

Llangollen Railway welcomes new Trust Manager aboard.

* David Hennigan (third from left) with some of the Llangollen Railway Board, management and commercial team on Llangollen Station.

Llangollen Railway Trust has announced the appointment of David Hennigan as its new Trust Manager, working with the team at one of Wales’ most cherished heritage attractions as it looks ahead to its next 50 years.

David brings a wealth of leadership experience across the cultural, heritage and local government sectors, including his role as a Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and senior leadership positions in local government. 

He has a proven track record in transformation, fundraising, volunteer engagement and community partnership building.

Speaking about his appointment, David said: “It is a huge honour to be appointed Trust Manager of the Llangollen Railway during a landmark year. This is a hugely exciting time as we celebrate 50 years of heritage railway running in the Dee Valley and look forward to our next half century. 

"My focus will be on strengthening our sustainability, supporting our volunteers and ensuring the railway remains at the very heart of our community and visitor economy. Together, we can make sure that Llangollen Railway continues to inspire and delight for generations to come.”

He added, “What makes this railway truly special is its incredible volunteer family. Their dedication and passion keep the railway running day-in, day-out and it’s a privilege to work alongside them. This is an especially busy and exciting time as we ramp up for our ever-popular Santa Special Season, which brings joy to so many families every Christmas. 

"I also can’t wait to see the railway play a big part in the Llangollen Food Festival this weekend (October 11 and 12), where we are hosting eight tempting food stalls and running our final evening Real Ale Train of the 2025 season on Saturday 11^th”.  

Chair of Llangollen Railway Trust, Bob Creasey, welcomed the appointment, saying: “We are thrilled to welcome David as our new Trust Manager. He brings not only strong leadership and financial expertise but also a real passion for Llangollen and the wider Dee Valley. David is determined to work with us to increase footfall across the town and the wider region, ensuring the railway plays a central role in supporting the local economy. This is an exciting new chapter for the railway, and under David’s stewardship we are confident that Llangollen Railway will go from strength to strength.”

Special events will mark Baby Loss Awareness Week

Special events will take place in Llangollen to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, which takes place between October 8 and 15.

One of the local organisers said: "From Wednesday October 8, we invite you to visit our Tree of Remembrance at St Collen’s Parish Church, a special space where you can hang the names of the little ones who are forever loved and never forgotten. The tree will be there all week.

"To mark the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week, there will be a Wave of Light on Wednesday October 15, between 7–8pm.

"This means there will be a visible wave of light in Llangollen, where part of the landscape will be lit up in blue and pink."

Dance extravaganza at 2026 Llangollen Eisteddfod

* Nachda Punjab Youth Club were the Eisteddfod's 2025 dance champions. 

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has today unveiled its 2026 competitions syllabus.

This marks a landmark expansion of opportunities for performers at next summer’s world-renowned festival, which runs from Tuesday-Sunday July 7-12.

A standout highlight is the huge increase in competitive dance categories, increasing from just five in 2025 to 14 distinct classes. 

This unprecedented expansion opens the door for soloists, ensembles, and cultural dance groups from across the globe to showcase their artistry. 

From the elegance of ballet and contemporary performance to the colour and vitality of folk and traditional dances, the Eisteddfod stage will host more variety than ever before.

The changes come directly in response to feedback from performers and audiences who expressed a strong appetite for more opportunities to celebrate the diversity of global dance traditions. 

At the same time the festival says it will continue to honour its most cherished competitions, including male voice choirs, the Choir of the World, and many other established favourites. This ensures that the heart of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod remains as strong as ever.

* New Zealand Youth Choir, 2025 Choir of the World winners.

In 2025, the festival welcomed over 4,000 competitors from around the world, all coming together to celebrate culture, creativity, and international friendship. With the 2026 syllabus now published, organisers anticipate record-breaking interest, cementing Llangollen’s reputation as one of the world’s most inclusive and dynamic international arts festivals.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: “The Eisteddfod has always been about bringing people together through music and performance, and dance has a very special role in that mission. By expanding our competition categories, we are creating space for more traditions, more performers, and more stories to be shared on our stage. We can’t wait to see the energy and creativity that dancers will bring to Llangollen in 2026.”

Fiona Brockway, a Trustee of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, and a former First Soloist with the Royal Ballet, said: “Throughout my dance career I have been privileged to have performed on stages across the world, witnessing the extraordinary power of dance to transcend language barriers and unite people of all cultures. 

"That is why I am so excited that in 2026, the Llangollen Eisteddfod will significantly expand its Dance program, embracing styles from Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Heritage and Traditional Folk, to Ballroom, Hip-Hop, and Street Dance. 

"Dancers will have the amazing opportunity to showcase their creativity and artistry, to tell their stories on a unique stage where many world famous artists have performed before them, and to receive invaluable feedback from a panel of esteemed industry professionals.

 “Llangollen is a place where dancers and musicians can come together to share their culture and their love of performance with others from across the globe. It’s a celebration of connections and I can’t wait to see the incredible and inspiring talent here in 2026!”

The full 2026 competitions syllabus is now available to view online with details of all classes and entry requirements. Performers and ensembles are encouraged to apply early to secure their place at what promises to be an unforgettable week of music, dance, and friendship in the heart of North East Wales.