Llan lads cycling to Thailand cross from Hungary into Serbia

* Trouble with the bike gears for the lads. 

A welcome visit by friends and family from home, more bike trouble, a return to heatwave conditions and an triumphal entry into Serbia all marked the seventh week of their epic road trip to Thailand for three lads from the Llangollen area.

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. 

Day 43 from their daily video diary saw the trio reaching the Hungarian capital of Budapest where there was a meet up with familiar faces from back home who stayed with them briefly in the city.

A couple of days later they were back in the saddle to ride on through the vast plains of Hungary towards the Danube river.

There was a bit more bike trouble - gears and innertubes etc - which was cured for them at a local cycle shop.

It was then a battle with 33 degree heat as they crossed over into Serbia after initially trying the wrong border control. 

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

Ysgol Dinas Brân wins national environmental accolade

Ysgol Dinas Brân has won a prestigious national accolade for its sustained commitment to improving the environment for its students, not just in school but also in the wider community.

The school recently received an assessment visit from Catrin Hughes, the awarding officer from Keep Wales tidy, the organisation which runs the Eco-Schools environment education programme in Wales.

And due to the combined team efforts of its governor Howard Sutcliffe, the students involved in the Eco-Council, the support and hard work of a large number of staff from a wide range of departments, the school has been awarded Platinum Eco-schools Status for another two years.

This is the highest accreditation that Keep Wales Tidy can give to a school.

Andrew Wallis, PSE Whole School Coordinator at Ysgol Dinas Brân, said: "This is the ninth time the school has been accredited with Platinum status, which is an exceptional award-winning track record that the school is rightly very proud of.

"The school has a number of exciting plans for the next two years, which will involve the community and outside agencies to further develop our students’ educational opportunities. Da Iawn Ysgol Dinas Brân!”

Catrin Hughes of Keep Wales Tidy told the school: "I am delighted to confirm that you have retained your Platinum Eco-Schools status and wish you every success with future projects. Maintaining the Eco-Schools Platinum status is a fantastic achievement. The school, staff and pupils, should feel proud of their hard work and commitment.”

Sheep killed in 'vicious livestock attack' near Llangollen

Police are seeking information after a sheep was killed by a dog near Llangollen.

* For the full story see Leaderlive at: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/25483377.sheep-killed-vicious-livestock-attack-near-llangollen/

St Collen's revives ancient ceremony of baptism in River Dee

* Dylan is immersed in the swollen river by Father Lee and the Rev Gary Anderton.

* ... and coming up for air after the submerging.

St Collen's this afternoon (Sunday) revived an ancient and sacred practice of the Christian church when one of its new members was baptized in the swollen and rapidly-flowing waters of the River Dee.

After the morning service the congregation walked across town to the riverbank where Father Lee Taylor, the priest in charge, performed the full-immersion of Dylan Houchin in a ceremony rich with symbolic actions that would have been familiar to Christians in Jerusalem, Milan, Antioch, and other centres of early Christianity.

* A large crowd watches from Riverside Park as the baptism takes place.

* The scene watched from the riverbank.

Father Lee explained: "The ceremony draws deeply from both Eastern and Western baptismal traditions, incorporating gestures such as turning to face east and west, a generous outpouring of holy oil on the crown of the head, and tasting milk and honey — a sign of entering the Promised Land and of the sweetness of new life in Christ. These practices harken back to the first centuries of Christian life, when baptism was a vivid, full-bodied celebration attended not only by family and friends, but, according to early texts, by the angels themselves.

"In most churches today, some of these actions survive only in simplified form — a drop of water, a touch of oil, or a small taste of sweetness. While these remain beautiful signs, they are only faint echoes of the richness of early Christian celebrations. In this service, we aim to recover something of that depth, drawing on historical sources and giving them new life here and now."

* The baptismal group makes its way through town to the river. 

The baptism included the blessing of the waters, and the presentation of a white garment to symbolise purity and new creation. 

After emerging from the river Dylan was given a taste of milk and honey, reviving a practice that stretches back to at least the 2nd century, symbolising entrance into the Promised Land and the sweetness of new life, according to Father Lee.

Councillor's fears over tourist 'saturation' of aqueduct area

* Pontcysyllte Aqueduct at the heart of the World Heritage Site.

A Wrexham councillor says the area around the world-famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct doesn't need any more tourists and is at "saturation point" after attracting over half a million a year at the last count. 

And Rondo Roberts, the independent member for the Llangollen Rural ward which covers the World Heritage Site, describes some of the problems being caused by visitors to the iconic River in the Sky as "just not unacceptable", including swearing or threatening with violence residents who point out they are parking in the wrong places.

* Cllr Rondo Roberts.

He also fears things could get even worse if the proposed new National Park gets the go-ahead.

Cllr Roberts, who was born and brought up close to the aqueduct, hinted at the problems being caused by the large influx of tourists in a comment he made on a Facebook post highlighting a llanblogger story last week in which North Wales Senedd Member Sam Rowlands said Welsh Government policies were hitting tourist numbers in his constituency.

But Cllr Roberts commented on Facebook: "... Don't need any more tourists in Llangollen Rural (Aqueduct) we're at saturation point with the 500K and rising."

When llanblogger asked him to explain further he said the figure he quoted came from Wrexham Council's economic development department.

"The annual figures are based on counters and clickers placed at two points close to the aqueduct. In 2019, before the pandemic, these recorded that the area had been visited by 394,000 people. By the time of the latest count this summer this had risen to over 500,000.

"We've had enough and we can't handle any more. The infrastructure and roads around Fron and Trevor just can't cope.

"People just park anywhere. They leave their litter and rubbish behind them and walk off. They are parking on grassed areas which just get churned up when it rains.

"Some are very rude to local residents who say anything to them about this. They have been sworn at or even threatened with violence. This is just not acceptable." 

Cllr Roberts added: "I do what I can and I must say I have had plenty of support from the leader of the council, Mark Pritchard.

"I recently had a meeting with senior council officers about the delay in opening up a large, new car park for the area on the old Monsanto chemical site. I have also had temporary signs put up helping people coming in off the A5 to locate the existing car parks. I'm now pushing for permanent signs.

"The aqueduct is the jewel in the Wrexham crown and right up there with the football ground when it comes to attracting visitors. But even if this wasn't a World Heritage Site the genie is now out of the bottle and they would still come here in droves.

"If the new National Park is approved there would be even more people coming to the area and we are not coping with the numbers we already have.

"We have got to bite the bullet with the finances and find a different way of managing our World Heritage Site."          

Colourful and crowded Comic Con comes to the Pavilion

Hundreds of fans from across the country packed into the Pavilion as Wales Comic Con made its Llangollen debut today (Saturday).

The popular event has traditionally been held annually at Wrexham University.

But, this year, the comic con team found a new location in the International Pavilion, which is now run by the Eisteddfod team.

For the event, which also runs tomorrow, a host of top guests have been lined up, including Jennifer Beals (The L Word/Flashdance), Mark Addy (Game of Thrones/Dune), TJ Thyne (Bones) and Katie Leung (Harry Potter series).

The fan convention, which organisers see as an exciting new chapter in the event’s history, is expected to attract up to 10,000 fans across the weekend, offering a packed schedule of celebrity signings, panels, cosplay competitions, gaming zones, traders and more. 

Fans entered into the spirit of the event with some fine examples of cosplay.

* Tickets are on sale via the official website: www.walescomiccon.com

* Fans queue to have their photos taken with Jennifer Beals of Flashdance fame.

Update from day five of the castle's big dig

* Volunteers at work on the Castell Dinas Bran dig.

Sam Thompson of Llangollen Museum gives an update on Day 5 of the Dinas Bran dig diary.

Arriving in the morning to an overcast Dinas Bran, both the weather and the archaeology looked promising. Each day the castle seems to grow taller as the climb tests our aching knees and overstretched hamstrings, yet we march on regardless—drawn to the green and grey in pursuit of priceless knowledge.

Today I was allocated to the castle trench, which is cutting ever deeper and edging closer to the 13th-century floor level of the gate. The finds trays are already filling with the previous day’s discoveries (see Faith’s report from Day Four), a mix of Victorian pottery and hobnails from horseshoes that have worked their way to the surface.

As the morning progressed, more of the trench reached the gatehouse floor level, which appears to be stepped. Slowly we peeled back the layers of soil that have accumulated over the centuries. The architecture is now becoming clearer, offering hints of what the original structure may have looked like in its brief working life—insights that will only sharpen as we dig further.

From the gatehouse trench, more of the sandstone architecture has emerged, including fragments once part of the portcullis guide and door blocks. In my own area, I was thrilled to uncover a beautiful and unmistakable piece of medieval green-glazed pottery—a small but evocative reminder of the people who once lived here.

The castle saw many visitors today: a school trip from Shrewsbury, tourists from across the UK, and even from the Netherlands. All were eager to glimpse the discoveries taking shape, learning more about the monument than they might on a simple visit.

Meanwhile, at the ramparts, the upper section of the trench has now reached bedrock—exposed for the first time in over two millennia. It was a sobering and thought-provoking sight. The context here is now ready to be recorded, and the students from Chester University have the patient task of drawing—an artform in archaeology that most of us attempt, but few truly master.

As the week draws to a close, the team feels triumphant. We have many artefacts to process and much to ponder in interpreting what has been unearthed. It is a moment to take stock: to reflect on the endurance and tenacity required to push through fog, wind, rain, and, thankfully, the occasional burst of sunshine. Even more will be revealed in the week ahead, and we look forward to sharing that journey with you all. Thank you sincerely for the likes, shares, and comments—they mean a great deal to us.

I will leave you with the words of British archaeologist and author Geoffrey Bibby:

“Every archaeologist knows in his heart why he digs. He digs, in pity and humility, that the dead may live again, that what is past may not be forever lost, that something may be salvaged from the wreck of ages.”

— Geoffrey Bibby, The Testimony of the Spade

* See the museum's Facebook page for more pictures of the dig at: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AGsNM5ySb/