Railway successfully completes tunnel safety exercise

* Platform one at Llangollen station before the exercise began.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has successfully completed a major emergency evacuation exercise inside the historic Berwyn Tunnel - the longest single-bore tunnel on a UK heritage railway - in partnership with the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service last night (Tuesday).

More than 90 volunteers from the Llangollen community, including members of the public and the railway’s own volunteers, took part in the exercise. 

They were joined by multiple fire crews from the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and operational staff from the railway.

The scenario simulated a realistic emergency - a passenger train travelling from Llangollen to Corwen experienced smoke and the smell of burning from beneath a coach floor while fully inside the tunnel. 

As the situation developed, the guard declared an emergency, passengers were safely evacuated to an assembly point, and a rescue locomotive was deployed to recover the train.

Conducted in heavy rain and challenging night-time conditions, the live exercise tested every aspect of coordination, communication, and response between the railway’s operational teams, local volunteers, patience and the emergency services.

Mike Williams, from the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, who was in charge of the operation, said: “This was as close to a real-life incident as we could make it: smoke, noise, the lot. 

"Despite the weather and the complexity of the scenario, every volunteer and professional worked brilliantly. Safety is the number one priority for everyone at the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, and this exercise proved just how skilled and committed our teams are.

“I want to thank every single volunteer who gave up their time to make this exercise possible - both our incredible railway family and the members of the local community who joined us to play passengers. Their enthusiasm, cooperation and good humour on a cold, wet night were amazing. They showed exactly what makes this area and this railway so special.”

Arron Jones, from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Exercises like this are invaluable. They allow our crews to test their response in realistic conditions and strengthen our partnership with organisations like the Llangollen and Corwen Railway. The professionalism of everyone involved - from the train crews and control staff to the volunteers and community participants - was outstanding.

“This was a complex and challenging environment, but the teamwork we saw between our firefighters and the railway’s operational teams was first class. The lessons learned from this exercise will make both our organisations even stronger and better prepared for the future.”

The exercise, which ran into the night, was completed safely and successfully, with all objectives achieved and valuable experience gained for both the railway and emergency services.

The Berwyn Tunnel evacuation marks another important step in the Llangollen and Corwen Railway Trust and the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s ongoing commitment to safety, training, and operational excellence, ensuring that the railway continues to lead the way in heritage rail standards while remaining an active and valued part of the local community.

* Mike Williams leads the operations beside scores of volunteers. Spot Llangollen town crier Chem on the left.

* The evacuation of Berwyn Tunnel gets underway.

* Firefighters start to clear the tunnel.

Twenty Club have another Blackadder hit on their hands

* General Melchett (John Clifford) chats to Blackadder (Mat Oswald-Haggett) in the dugout.

A platoon of masterful performances command Llangollen Twenty Club's latest Blackadder production which opens for a five-show run at the Town Hall this evening (Wednesday).

They last tackled a multi-play set of the same hit TV comedy by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton featuring Blackadder in the trenches some years back. 

They made an excellent job of it then but I reckon what is by and large the same core group of actors, assisted by some very useful newer performers, do even better this time round.

It's the same basic idea as always, with the notorious shirker Blackadder doing his best across four short plays with different themes to have a quiet but rather enjoyable life while striving to avoid the little inconvenience of being a frontline First World War infantry captain in 1917.

Alongside him to get him into and out of equal doses of impossible trouble are a band of cerebrally-challenged cronies. The result is pure comedic heaven of a sort seldom seen anywhere these days.

Our hero is played once again by Mat Oswald-Haggett who turns him into a seething cauldron of tart sarcasm spitting out his marvellous venom with the rapidity of a machine gun.

Back to set Blackadder's teeth on edge is John Clifford as the bumbling, buffoonish General Melchett who is so gloriously daft that he misreads the back of a wrongly-turned-over map as a featureless desert.

And deliciously stupid yet powerfully loveable as Lieutenant the Hon George Colthurst St Barleigh is Si Kneale.

Kevin Williams is so stinkingly good as Blackadder's smelly and eternally put-upon sidekick Baldrick that he deserves his own spin-off show.

New to the club is George Williams who is extremely good as the snidey Captain Darling. So good, in fact, that we're bound to see him again very soon.

Last time he was a posh airman in the club's 'Allo 'Allo. This time Ed Roscoe has swapped world wars to become the wonderfully overbearing fighter pilot Lord Flashheart who delivers more non-woke one-liners and gestures than a cancelled stand-up comedian.

And if you thought Bev Maier was good as Alice Tinker in the club's Vicar of Dibley you're not going to be disappointed with her as the cloyingly innocent yet cheeky Private Bob in this one.

Tracey Kempster-Jones nips across from the Operatic to comfortably don the uniform and persona of Nurse Mary, Jack Shimmin is an overbearing Baron von Richtoven and Luke Myers perfectly handles the dual role of Lieutenant von Gerhardt/Field Marshall Haig.    

But look out for the poignant closing scene which illustrates that war isn't all fun.

Naomi Riley comes the other side of the footlights to direct the piece with aplomb, reinforced by Helen Belton as producer and Chrissie Ashworth as director's mentor.

The backstage battalion have done a particularly good job on every aspect of the production's World War One setting which is quite simply brilliant.   

Blackadder Goes Forth is on from tonight (Wednesday) until Saturday, November 12/15 with a matinee.

* Tickets are available at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollentwentyclub

* Lord Flashheart makes an appearance.

* The general with Captain Darling (George Williams).

* A coy conversation between Ltd George (Si Kneale) and Private Bob (Bev Maier).

* Lt George in drag with Private Baldrick (Kevin Williams).

Cycling lads hit 100k on Tiktok and have Black Sea in their sights

* The lads hit 100,000 followers on Tiktok as they head on through Turkey.

On day 97 of their epic road trip to Thailand the three Llangollen area lads learned the joyous news that they had just reached 100,000 followers on Tiktok.

People over a wide area are with them every kilometre of the way as Dyfan Hughes, 17, James Thomas, 18, and Louis Dennis, 18, plough ever onwards on their 18-month challenge to reach Asia this summer.

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. 

Just as they were when we last looked in on them the lads were still suffering from heavy colds as they headed deeper into rural Turkey but began to shake off the worst effects as the sun came out a little.

They commented how much like this part of Turkey looked like north America, with its wide open spaces and, at one stage, noted that there was just 250 kms left to go before they reached the shores of the Black Sea - another major milestone in their quest to get as far east as possible. 

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

Final push for public to give feedback on National Park plan

With less than a month to go until the statutory consultation closes, people are being encouraged to attend an event and submit their response to the proposed Glyndŵr National Park. 

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have been running a 12-week statutory consultation since Monday September 15 2025 on a final map and supporting evidence.

The final face-to-face consultation session is at Llangollen Town Hall on Tuesday November 18, from 4-7pm.

The statutory consultation follows two years of detailed evaluation commissioned by Welsh Government, including data gathering, technical assessments, and engagement with communities and stakeholders across the region. Previous public engagement in 2023 and a public consultation in 2024 have helped shape the current proposal. 

Ash Pearce, Programme Manager said: “This is an exceptionally rare opportunity to influence the long-term protection of this special landscape, balancing the needs of local communities, visitors, and the environment. Please share your thoughts by submitting a response form before the consultation closes.”

* The proposed Glyndŵr National Park map can be downloaded at: NPP_001b_ProposedBoundary_A0P6mm_Margin_NEW Once downloaded, open with Adobe Acrobat. 

The remaining consultation events are as follows:

Date	Time	Location	Targeted audience	Type of event
Tuesday 18 November	4pm – 7pm	Llangollen Town Hall	Public	Drop-in
Wednesday 19 November	6pm – 7.30pm	Microsoft Teams	Public	Meeting
Wednesday 26 November	3pm – 4.30pm	Microsoft Teams	Environmental Groups	Meeting
Thursday 27 November	3pm – 4.30pm	Microsoft Teams	Tourism, Recreation and Access	Meeting
Tuesday 2 December	6pm – 7.30pm	Microsoft Teams	Public	Meeting

The main way to respond to the consultation is by submitting a responses form. To do so, visit: https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/north-east-gogledd-ddwyrain/proposed-national-park-statutory-consultation-2025

All responses must be received no later than 23:59 on Monday December 8 2025.

* For more information on the background to the proposal, visit: https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/north-east-gogledd-ddwyrain/new-national-park-proposal-information-page-wales/

Pop icon Rick Astley heading for Llangollen next summer

* Rick Astley is in Llangollen next June 24. Picture: Peter Neill.

One of the UK’s best loved pop stars Rick Astley is heading to Llangollen next summer.

The Never Gonna Give You Up hitmaker will headline TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion on Wednesday June 24 when he will be joined on the night by special guests Lottery Winners.

Friends of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod can access pre-sale tickets from 10am tomorrow via llangollen.net and tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday.

Rick Astley leapt to fame in 1987 with the era-defining smash single Never Gonna Give You Up, followed by hits including Together Forever and Whenever You Need Somebody.

After stepping away from the spotlight for several years, audiences in Llangollen were treated to a special night in 2011 when he performed during the opening of that year's Eisteddfod. Then in 2016, he celebrated his 50th birthday with a triumphant return to the top of the charts with his hit album, 50.

And the still-boyish singer, songwriter and producer has stayed at the top of his game ever since, enjoying collaborations with the likes of Foo Fighters and Blossoms, show-stealing sets at Glastonbury and a number two chart position for 2023 album Are We There Yet? contributing to more than 40 million record sales worldwide.

Joining him in Llangollen will be indie pop band Lottery Winners. Earlier this year the band racked up their second Number 1 album with the release of fourth studio album KOKO.

* Joining Rick Astley a the Pavilion will be the band Lottery Winners.

And 2025 has continued at speed as not only have the band performed some of their biggest headline shows to date this year, they also spent the summer on the road supporting Robbie Williams on his UK and Europe stadium tour.

Rick Astley joins Deacon Blue, Alex James’ Britpop Classical, Tom Grennan, Billy Ocean, Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics and David Gray among the headline announcements revealed so far for TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2026, which is presented as part of an ongoing partnership with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: “We can’t wait to welcome Rick Astley back to Llangollen next summer, returning for the first time in 15 years.

“There’s something truly special about live music in our incredible setting. It’s the perfect backdrop for a night of timeless hits, and when you add a hugely popular performer with a world-class band to that mix you know you are guaranteed a brilliant night of live music, with some humour thrown in for good measure!

“Llangollen has always been a place where music connects people, and Rick’s return will be another unforgettable moment in that tradition.”

* For more information go to llangollen.net  

Latest Denbighshire Citizens Advice column

Q: I'm stressed about being able to afford food for my family as the colder months set in. We will be spending more on heating, and we’re barely making it through as it is. Can I use a food bank if I need to?

A: It’s understandable to be worried about affording food when you’re in a tough spot financially - especially with the cost of your bills rising. You’re not alone, as Citizens Advice helps lots of people in this position.

Food banks are community organisations that can help if you can’t afford food, or if you need emergency food, but you’ll usually need a referral before you can use one. You can get a referral for yourself and any family members you live with, including your partner.

You can find your nearest Citizens Advice and ask them to refer you to a food bank. They'll usually make an appointment for you to discuss your situation with an adviser, who will ask you some questions to check you’re eligible. If you are, they’ll give you a voucher for your nearest food bank.

Citizens Advice can also check if you should be getting any benefits you're not currently claiming, assist with budgeting, and tell you about other local help you could get.

You can also ask for a referral from another organisation, for example your GP, local council, housing association or social worker. When an organisation refers you to a food bank, they’ll give you a voucher and tell you where the food bank is - be sure to check if the voucher is only valid on a specific day.

When you visit the food bank, let them know if you have any allergies or dietary requirements - they should be able to help you. You’ll get a food parcel and it will usually contain enough food for three days, and you might also be able to get essential toiletries, like toothpaste or deodorant.

If you live in a rural area and can’t afford to travel, or you’re sick or disabled and can’t travel, the food bank might be able to deliver your food parcel - you can contact them to ask.

If the food bank is run by a church or other religious group, they'll still help you if you're not religious or from a different religion.

You’ll need another referral if you need to use the food bank again. Some have a limit on the number of times you can visit, but it's still worth asking. If you're in this situation, talk to an adviser at Citizens Advice.

The adviser will ask you some questions about your ongoing needs. They'll refer you to the food bank if they agree it's the best way to help you - and even if they can't refer you again, they'll give you advice on debt and benefits, if you need it.

You might be able to use some food banks without a referral, for example, if it’s run by a church or community group. The easiest way to find out if you need a referral is to contact your local food bank.

The Kongs meet up with friends back in Hong Kong

* Bill Kong meets up with Robert Guy at the Hong Kong concert.

Well-known Llangollen resident Bill Kong has been meeting up with friends from back home on his latest trip to Hong Kong.

Bill so loved volunteering every year at the town's world-famous Musical Eisteddfod that he moved here from Hong Kong a few years back with his family.

He is currently staying in the former British colony due to family commitments and recently met up with a friend who also has strong Eisteddfod links, Wrexham-based conductor Robert Guy.

* Robert Guy with Selana Kong, Bill's wife, who is also well-known in Llangollen.

Robert is principal conductor to the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and has conducted the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Manchester Camerata which led to his work being on BBC radio and even recorded for Sony Play Station.

His international reputation is steadily growing with invitations to conduct in Austria, South Korea, Vietnam, Kazakhstan and Kosovo, among other destinations.

He and Bill first met when the New Sinfonia Orchestra, which he founded with his brother Jonathan, began playing at the Eisteddfod. 

In Hong Kong Robert was wielding the baton with the Hong Kong City Chamber Orchestra as it played a successful concert entitled A Night at the Musicals.  

It was old home week again for Bill when he was attending the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Wine and Spirit Fair. 

There he happened to bump into Dylan, son of Kelly, the former owner of the River Dragon Chinese restaurant in Llangollen's Bridge Street. 

* Bill Kong (second left) meets another friend from Llangollen, Dylan (next to him on right), whose family ran the River Dragon Chinese restaurant in Bridge Street.