Despite a stolen bike Westhead lads battle on into Asia

* The Westheads flew across the Caspian Sea from eastern Europe into Asia.

As they arrived in Asia one of the first things that happened to the three young friends from the Llangollen area cycling to Thailand was one of them having their bike stolen.

Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 19, from Garth, and James Thomas,19, from Wrexham aim to pedal the 10,000 miles to the Far East in memory of Tony Edge, the father of a friend who died following a heart attack in 2024, raising money for a heart charity along the way.

The intrepid trio, calling themselves the Westheads, had just flown across the Caspian Sea from Georgia to Aktau in Kazakhstan when they stopped at a shop for some supplies. They left their bikes outside and Louis came out to find his had disappeared. 

The good news is that it was found after about an hour and they were able to resume their journey, first stocking up on all the bottled water they could carry as they headed off into the desert.

They spent the next couple of days battling high temperatures and wind. And running out of water despite loading up beforehand they hit a lowpoint when they had to drink the juice from a tin of tuna, which they called "going all Bear Grylls."

Even more water loaded aboard their bikes it was back on the road to the town of Beyneu from where they took a train into neighbouring Uzbekistan. Once there, pedalling off again they had reached a town named Karakalpakia by early today (Thursday).

There was another small setback when Louise took a tumble from his bike and sustained a cut on his arm but that didn't stop him getting back in the saddle.

The lads set out from Lllangollen Football Club's HQ last August on their marathon ride which they reckon will take them at least 18 months to complete. 

Originally, they aimed to raise £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation but, so far, well-wishers following their daily social media updates have pledged more than £24,000 to their cause.

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

Live music features in railway's Branchline Gala

* Chris Greve will play on Saturday April 11.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway is gearing up for one of the biggest events in its calendar, as its Branchline Gala returns for three full days from April 10 to 12 bringing together an exciting mix of steam, heritage traction and live entertainment in the heart of the Dee Valley. 

As part of the weekend’s programme visitors will be treated to a special evening of live music, as Chris Greve and Friends take to the stage on Saturday April 11 at 6pm in the Station Master’s Marquees, located on the ramp at the front of Llangollen Railway Station.

 

The performance offers visitors the chance to relax and enjoy live music after a day experiencing the Gala’s intensive timetable and attractions.

 

Chris Greve is a musician and songwriter known for his distinctive blend of UK Americana with strong Celtic influences. Born in London, raised in Calgary, Canada, and now based in Llangollen, Chris brings an international flavour to his performances. He began playing guitar at the age of four and has spent many years recording and performing both as a solo artist and with his band Claymore.

 

Joining Chris on stage will be champion fiddler Richard Powell, bringing fiddle and mandolin magic to the performance and adding an extra layer of energy and musicianship to the evening. The night will also feature solo sets from John Hughes, the Singing Farmer, adding further variety and entertainment to the line-up.

 

Chris has earned praise from audiences across the UK and beyond, with performances described as “an evening constructed of a high quality songlist, abundant musical talent and charm,” while others have highlighted his “amazing sound” and energetic, engaging style. One reviewer summed it up by saying, “You won’t notice Chris off stage, once on stage though, his voice will cut the air like a knife and shake your soul like a tree in a storm.”

 

Chris Greve said: "It’s really special to be performing here in Llangollen. The railway is such an iconic part of the town, and to be able to play music in that setting, with friends, is something I’m really looking forward to. After a day at the Gala, it’s the perfect way to wind down, and we’re excited to put on a great show for everyone."

 

Iain Ross, Branchline Gala organiser, said: "We’re really pleased to be welcoming Chris Greve and Friends to the Gala this year. It’s a fantastic addition to what is already a packed weekend, and gives visitors the chance to enjoy some high-quality live music in a unique setting. The Station Master’s Marquees will be a great place to round off the day, and we’re sure it will be a very popular part of the event."

 

Across the three-day Gala, visitors can expect an impressive mix of home fleet and visiting locomotives, including the return of 1924 built GWR Small Prairie No. 4555 to the Dee Valley for the first time since 1964, the final running days of visiting Class 14 D9525, and home fleet favourites Pannier Tank No. 7754 and Heavy Freight 2-8-0 No. 3802. Taking centre stage will be GWR No. 1369, a 1366 Class 0-6-0 pannier tank designed by Charles Collett and built at Swindon Works in 1934. With only six ever built and No. 1369 now the sole surviving example, its appearance promises to be a rare and unmissable highlight for visitors and enthusiasts alike.

 

Special highlights also include the opportunity to take part in unique footplate experiences, giving visitors the chance to ride aboard working steam locomotives, as well as free vintage shuttle buses linking the railway with the national network at Ruabon Railway Station, adding to the atmosphere and accessibility of the event.

 

The event is free for all Branchline Gala ticket holders, with entry available for just £5 for non-ticket holders.

 

* For more information and to book tickets, visit: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/branchline-gala/

Llangollen submits official bid to become first UK Town of Culture.

Llangollen yesterday has now officially launched its bid to become the first ever UK Town of Culture.

After an exhaustive programme of public consultation, our Expression of Interest was submitted to the UK Government's Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) by Gareth Thomas, Town Clerk at Llangollen Town Council which is spearheading the bid.

In this new competition DCMS invited towns across the UK to enter the competition to showcase original storytelling, and empowering, accessible culture. 

All towns across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been able to enter - whether small, medium or large. 

* The official emblem of the UK Town of Culture competition.

Inspired by the success of the flagship UK City of Culture - neighbouring Wrexham has made the longlist - which is a proven model for cultural placemaking, this competition aims to spotlight the cultural contribution of towns to the national story. 

The winning town will be awarded £3 million to deliver a cultural programme in 2028 of around six months. The two finalists from their category will receive £250,000 each to deliver elements of their bid.

The UK Town of Culture competition aims to celebrate the significant contributions of towns to our national story. 

It focuses on building a more socially cohesive country where communities feel proud of their place and empowered to celebrate it. 

Next stage in the process now that the Expressions of Interest have gone into the department is for towns to be notified whether they have been included on the shortlist, which should happen this spring.

It's not known at this stage exactly which towns Llangollen will be competing against but it's understand a number in Wales are bidding including Abergavenny, Blaenavon, Monmouth, Pontypridd, Port Talbot & Afan Valley,  Machynlleth, Llandrindod Wells, Hay-on-Wye and Cwmbran.

Llangollen's bid includes neighbouring Llantysilio and Llangollen Rural.

In his submission of Llangollen's Expression of Interest by the March 31 deadline, the Town Clerk wrote to the Minister: "I am pleased to submit the attached Expression of Interest for the UK Town of Culture 2028 title on behalf of the community of Llangollen.

"This submission reflects the strength, heritage, and cultural ambition of our town, and we are proud to present it for your consideration. An exact Welsh translation of the document is also enclosed."

Confirming receipt of the submission, a competition official replied: "Thank you for your interest in the UK Town of Culture 2028.

"We can now confirm receipt of your Expression of Interest (EOI) and appreciate you taking the time to submit this. Once all EOIs have been assessed by our expert advisory panel, we will be back in touch to inform you of the outcome."

New Dot Cinema's Easter treat is free for children

New Dot Cinema, Llangollen's community cinema, is offering some family entertainment this Easter holiday. 

On Saturday, April 4 they will be showing the magical, How to Train Your Dragon, the live-action remake of the beloved animation. 

Children go free and adult tickets are £4. Doors open at 2.15pm and the film starts at 2.30pm. Refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the film, and children will receive a free drink and snack, thanks to a grant from the Welsh Churches Fund.

The cinema has also announced its Spring programme. On Friday, April 17, they will be screening The Choral, a feel-good, gentle comedy-drama set in Yorkshire during the First World War. 

Ralph Fiennes plays a choirmaster trying to bring together a motley collection of amateurs for the local music society's annual concert when most of the choir's male singers are fighting overseas. Written by Alan Bennett, it combines humour, tragedy and some stirring choral music. 

On Friday, May 22, to celebrate the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough, New Dot is showing his film Ocean, a stunning documentary that shows the spectacular habitats that lie under the sea and which we know so little about.

Sir David has called this film one of the most important of his long career saying: "After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea."

While Ocean makes clear the many challenges facing the world's oceans, Sir David ends on a note of hope that a healthier ocean ecosystem can emerge and he hopes that this film will help make that happen. 

* All films will be screened at Llangollen Town Hall and tickets for all New Dot's films can be purchased online from TicketSource or in person from Laura's Tea Room in Oak Street, Llangollen (cash only). 

Plan to combine new outdoor gym with dips in the Dee

* Gym equipment ready to be installed at the new outdoor gym in Riverside Park, which is still under construction.

Dateline: April 1

Following the installation of outdoor Gym equipment in Riverside Park, subject to regulatory approval and funding, wellbeing organisers are hoping to host a series of regular events for all ages in the area.

Spokesperson David Davies said: "The proposal is to link a gym session to a riverside sauna facility or quick dip in the Dee, gaining the health benefits of physical exercise heat generation with that of cold water cleansing.

"Sessions will initially be free and include a special weekly, early morning time for those over 75 years old.

"Initially, dress style will need to be suitable for both activities until changing cabins can be provided."

He added: "Research from Scandinavian countries shows many benefits from such an activity programme combination including improved health, social communication skills improvement and an increased happiness index."

* How about a refreshing dip in the Dee after a session at the nearby gym? 

Mazda CX-30 is a slick stick shifter and more

Mazda CX-30 drive by Steve Rogers

Something that really gets my car juices flowing is a slick gear change.

We are in an age when the manual gearbox is going out of fashion. Just about every car I drive is automatic but changing gears is proper driving isn’t it?

Accelerating hard through a six speed box, getting the revs and clutch balance right is great for an adrenalin rush. A good gearbox has to be a given and not every car manufacturer was up to scratch in the days when manuals were the norm. No naming and shaming today but there is one company that is always head and shoulders above the rest.

Mazda does a lot of things right and crafting the perfect gearbox is one of them. I have been driving their cars for more than 40 years and they were always geared up for a fun drive.

So there was a smile on my face when CX-30 turned up with a six speed manual to play with and it did not let me down, smooth as silk and an absolute joy. My wife wasn’t too pleased, she’s an automatic convert.

What are we to make of CX-30? It’s a car with a clash of identity, an SUV version of the Mazda3, a bit taller with bits of body armour around the wheel arches and sills to give it a masculine look, yet it doesn’t look like a boxy SUV. It is more rounded, the perfect shape for a crossover between the two styles and all the better for it. This is a good looking car.

It is also a car which can be driven without spending 10 minutes learning how to select functions from the endless menus on a huge touchscreen. That is a kind way of saying CX-30 is starting to feel its age compared to the ultra modern, switch free layouts in the current crop of cars from China although Mazda has gone down that route with the new electric 6.

At least this is still a stress free zone for the driver who is faced with three crystal clear dials backed up by an equally clear head up display while adjusting the heating controls with clearly marked switches.

There is a touchscreen, a modest 10.25 inches by today's Chinese standards, with options chosen using a rotary switch between the front seats, much safer than taking your eyes off the road dabbing a screen. Honestly, this is the easiest and safest modern system of any car I have driven.

The tech has been updated but there is a glitch in the system somewhere because the speed limit alert told me the limit in my 20mph village is 80mph!

Build and trim quality are impressive. Mazda set out to promote its cars into the premium league and has nailed it. Specification from entry Prime-Line is strong with a full pack of driver safety aids including my favourite rear emergency braking. Push the boat out for Takumi and the list includes adaptive LED lights, wireless charging, Bose sound system, surround camera, heated front seats and heated steering wheel.

Mazda prides itself on building cars with a sporting edge and CX30 handles like a good old hot hatch. The payoff is a firmer ride but you can’t have everything.

The biggest change to the model is a new engine, and a controversial one at that. The lacklustre 2-litre petrol was ditched for a 2.5 litre, a big leap when rivals are going for small turbocharged hybrid engines. This has solved the lack of grunt in the mid-range without compromising economy which is good for middle to high forties, or more than 50mpg on longer runs.

If this isn’t enough the 184bhp 2-litre Skyactiv X is quicker but you would have to be satisfied with the lower Exclusive spec to match the 2.5 litre Takumi price.

Would I have a CX-30 over a Maz3? Probably not, the hatch is two grand cheaper, looks even better and has a bit more cabin space.

Favourite feature. The manual gearbox, of course.

Fast Facts

CX-30 Takumi

£32,780 (starts £27,280)

2.5 litre petrol; 138bhp

0-62mph 9.7secs; 121mph

47.1mpg combined

135g/km. 1st VED £595

Boot: 422-1398 litres

Insurance group 17

Warranty: 6 years

Llangollen canal business goes up for sale at £695,000

The Llangollen Wharf canal business has gone up for although it's owners say it's business as usual. 

* For the full story in the Leader, go to: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/25981331.iconic-llangollen-wharf-canal-business-placed-sale/