Town will see red today at Most Wuthering Heights Day

Llangollen will be seeing red today. Lots of it, in fact.

Because that's the colour at the heart of the town's first Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever, in which over 200 Kate Bush fans from across Britain will come together in the grounds of the Plas Newydd historic house to dance to the singer's iconic 1978 hit of the same name.

For the past couple of years similar events have been held across Britain. But this will definitely be a first for Llangollen.

And it's all the more remarkable given that the local lady whose brainchild it is and who has spent months leading the dedicated team making her dream come true began her task soon after learning she was terminally ill.

Moira Gleed explained: "A few months back in 2025 someone sent me a video of one of the Most Wuthering Heights Days Ever and what a revelation it turned out to be.

"It arrived in my WhatsApp at a grim time in my life after having received a diagnosis that I was terminally ill with cancer and would start palliative care. 

"What motivated me to look further into the possibility of putting on an event like this ourselves here in Llangollen was the looks on the participants' faces of pure joy and glee I saw on that video.

"Frankly, it delighted me and bucked me up hugely to see such positive jubilation on a big scale. I thought, why can't we do that here in Llangollen and enable folk to have a similar experience?

"So, today we'll have our own event, with over 200 participants dancing to that famous song by Kate Bush.

"All tickets were sold within 11 days back in March with scores of enquiries for more but we couldn't increase capacity due to health and safety. 

"We believe up to 100 spectators will also be coming along to Plas Newydd to see the event unfold and local people are also invited to watch."

As they arrive dancers, wearing red dresses or items as requested, will be led to the lawned area with the stone circle where the dance will take place. 

At noon there will be picnics, with entertainment during lunch being provided by the day's MC Charlie Jones plus local musicians. 

Gates open at 11am and the actual performance starts at around 1.30pm - with a few encores. The whole dance sequence will be recorded by a professional videographer and photographer. 

Moira added: "People are coming from far and wide - London to Scotland and from Yorkshire to Cardiff and of course more locally.

"None of this could have been done without our amazing team who have driven this thing ever forward. 

"All money raised today will go to Welsh Women's Aid to help with the amazing work they do across our country."

Riverside Park toilets – temporary provision secured and refurbishment brought forward

Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards has this evening issued this statement about the problem public toilets in Riverside Park: 

"I have been working with Denbighshire County Council regarding the ongoing issues with the public toilets at Riverside Park and have sought assurances that a solution would be put in place as quickly as possible.

 

"Given the importance of Riverside Park to residents and the many thousands of visitors who come to Llangollen throughout the summer, particularly during the town’s festivals and major events, I raised concerns about the lack of toilet provision and pressed for both immediate temporary provision and an accelerated timetable for the permanent refurbishment.

 

"I am pleased that the Council has now confirmed that a temporary Portaloo will be installed at the park and that the planned refurbishment of the existing facility has been brought forward, moving from a completion target at the end of the summer season to the 14^th August. Work on the new permanent toilet facility is expected to commence in the coming weeks.

 

"I have also sought assurances regarding the management of the temporary facility and have been advised that it will be cleaned and serviced daily by the Council’s public convenience team. In addition, I have asked that the siting of the unit be reviewed, and officers have agreed to explore whether it can be relocated closer to the existing toilet block whilst balancing the health and safety considerations associated with servicing the facility.

 

"I will continue to monitor progress as the works move forward."

 

Penalty charge warning for thoughtless parkers at Horseshoe Falls

Denbighshire County Council has put out a warning on its social media that anyone breaching parking restrictions near Llangollen's Horseshoe Falls this weekend face receiving a penalty charge by civil enforcement officers on duty there.

The get-tough message comes after narrow roads leading to the beauty spot became clogged with scores of parked vehicles last bank holiday Monday leaving some local residents unable to get to or from their homes.

The problem has already been the subject of discussions between Llangollen Town Council and the police. 

Now, on its Facebook page today (Friday) the council says: "Horseshoe Falls, Llangollen. With a busy weekend expected, the council is working to manage the increase in visitors and has made a number of preparations.

"The council is also aware of parking issues at the tourist spot and will be deploying civil enforcement officers to manage the site.

"People are reminded parking restrictions are important for both road safety and ensuring there is a fair turnover of parking spaces.

"Drivers not complying with parking restrictions risk receiving a Penalty Charge Notice.

"The council is also working with North Wales Police to manage the tourist spot and areas around it.

"Visitors are reminded to be respectful to those working to ensure the safety and enjoyment of visitors and residents." 

£300 raised in minutes after Westheads bike destroyed in desert crash

Llangollen Barber Shop boss Emma Davies quickly cut to the action when she heard that the bike of one of the Westheads lads heading for Thailand had been destroyed in a crash in the Chinese desert.

Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 19, from Garth, and James Thomas,19, from Wrexham are making their 1,000 journey in aid of the British Heart Foundation in memory of Tony Edge, the father of their friend Harrison who died following a heart attack in 2024. 

They have so far raised over £30,000 for heart research.

The trio are currently making their way through the punishing conditions of the Taklaman Desert, which they must cover as quickly as possible to stay within the limits of their visits.

But the last message on their daily video log shows that disaster struck when Louis ran into the back of a car as he momentarily looked down at his map, leaving his Dawes bike "a total goner", he explained.

Luckily, Louis himself was unhurt.

Emma from the barbers, who is a friend of the lads, picked up the message and acted on it immediately.

She put out a plea for help on her own Facebook page and within minutes she had secured a pledge of £300 towards the cost of a new bike for Louis.

"Ten minutes it took me. £300 to get Louis Dennis back on the road. Come on you Westheads!"  she said on social media.

 

Llangollen Youth Centre set to re-open

Denbighshire County Council has announced the official reopening of Llangollen Youth Centre tomorrow (Wednesday). 

It says the centre will once again provide a welcoming, safe, and supportive space for young people in the community.

Open Access Youth Club sessions will take place every Tuesday from 6pm to 7:30pm during term time. Sessions are open to young people aged 11 to 17.

The space is also used during the daytime by the Youth Service to support young people with a range of needs, including targeted work, accreditation, and youth voice activities. The building will also host a range of partner organisations to ensure it is used effectively and to best serve the needs of young people and the wider community across Denbighshire.

Having a designated space for young people within their community is extremely important, and the aim is to create a vibrant and safe environment for young people and the wider community.

Following investment into the centre, a new Families First and Flying Start hub will also open at the facility. The Families First and Flying Start team will now be working alongside Denbighshire Youth Services from Llangollen Youth Centre to help provide support, activities and opportunities for local children, young people and families.

The Families First and Flying Start team will be running engagement events from the hub, starting next week until the end of the summer holidays, where the team can get to know the families and find out what families would like to be offered from the centre.

The reopening marks an important step in strengthening local youth provision and ensuring young people have access to opportunities that support their personal and social development.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to see Llangollen Youth Centre reopening its doors to young people in the community. Youth services play a vital role in providing safe spaces where young people can build confidence, develop new skills and form positive friendships.

“I am also really pleased to see that our amazing Families First and Flying Start team will now be working side by side with the Youth Services team at the Youth Centre.

"This integrated approach will allow families and young people to get the best out of the help and support that is offered by both services.

"This reopening reflects our continued commitment to investing in youth provision across Denbighshire and ensuring young people have access to high-quality support close to where they live.”

In addition to the Llangollen provision, open access youth club sessions are also available in Corwen every Wednesday evening from 6pm to 8pm during term time.

More information about youth clubs and centres in Denbighshire can be found on the Council's website. 

llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back soon

Llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back in a few days' time ...

One month until start of 2026 Llangollen Eisteddfod

* The New Zealand Youth Choir became the 2025 Choir of the World winners.

With less than a month to go until the start of the 2026 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, preparations are gathering pace for another spectacular celebration of music, culture and international friendship. 

Founded in 1947 in the aftermath of the Second World War, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod was created to bring nations together through music and culture.

Nearly 80 years later, that vision continues, with performers from across the world gathering to celebrate friendship, understanding and international harmony.

This year's festival will welcome competitors from countries including the United States, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine, Belgium, Estonia, Italy, Indonesia, Rwanda, India, South Africa and across the United Kingdom.

With the Eisteddfod's evening concert programme audiences can look forward to Sir Karl Jenkins' One World, Global Rhythms: Made in Wales, the internationally acclaimed Orchestral Qawwali Project, a world-exclusive performance from Emeli Sandé with The Absolute Orchestra, and an evening with musical theatre favourite Michael Ball. 

* Thousands of international competitors are about to arrive for Eisteddfod 2026.

New for 2026 are the Sound-Bridge Sessions, a series of performances taking place daily between 5pm and 7pm. Designed to bridge the gap between the daytime competitions and evening concerts, the sessions will bring the festival site to life with contemporary Welsh folk, jazz, global fusion and emerging artists.

Artistic Director Dave Danford said: "As we look forward to welcoming the world back to Llangollen in just one month's time, there is a real sense of excitement building around this year's Eisteddfod. 

"Our competitions, outdoor performances and evening concerts showcase the very best in international music-making and cultural exchange. Every corner of the Eisteddfod site will be alive with activity throughout the week, creating a truly unique atmosphere for performers and visitors alike.

"Last year's unforgettable Haka from the New Zealand Youth Choir demonstrated the power of music and culture to bring people together. With competitors travelling from across the globe once again, this year's festival promises to be another unforgettable celebration of international friendship through music."

The Eisteddfod's competitions will reach a thrilling climax at the prestigious Choir of the World concert on Sunday July 12. Winners from the festival's choral categories will compete for the coveted Pavarotti Trophy before an international audience in the Royal International Pavilion. 

The concert will also feature the final of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition, where emerging opera singers from around the world will compete for one of the most significant titles in international vocal performance.

* Tickets for the Eisteddfod's evening concert programme and festival events are available now. Visit llangollen.net to view the full programme and book tickets.