New signs of the times for Lock Up Heritage Building

No longer do people have to ask: what is that building? 

Because when they walk past the now fully-restored former Lock-up, Police-Station, Town Hall and  Armoury passers-by will have noticed two magnificent bi-lingual signs recently erected on the Lock Up Heritage Building - one in Berwyn Street and one in Victoria Square.

These signs were designed by Jessica Coath, graphic designer and daughter of Jamie Coath, the architect responsible for the design and implementation of the restoration of the semi-derelict building known as the Old Armoury acquired in 2013 by the Armoury Conservation Trust.

The sign over the shop in Berwyn Street was hand-painted by Jessica and erected by Jamie, Jess and Justin Langford in November.

* Above and below: the shopfront signage

being erected in November.

The Armoury Conservation Trust is delighted both with the sign and the hand-painted logo over the wooden door.

Last week, the Trust welcomed on site Llangollen Tidy Town Team to erect the sign over the main entrance to the Lock Up Heritage Centre in Victoria Square. There has been no sign there since the Eisteddfod vacated the building to move to the Pavilion in 1998.

* The Tidy Town Team putting up the sign 

over the main entrance in Victoria Square.

This was by no means an easy task for the Tidy Town Team, but they tackled it with skill and inventiveness, and made a great job of it.   

They also helped ACT erect a seat outside the studio flat in Hall Street, which is much appreciated by people needing a rest for a while on their way to and from town.

ACT has expressed its grateful thanks to Jamie and Jessica Coath and the Tidy Town Team for their work and effort in designing, producing and erecting these signs for the Lock Up Heritage Centre.

* The seat outside the studio flat in Hall Street. 

Clwydian Range voted amongst most beautiful places in UK

In a recent survey by Consumer magazine Which, members voted the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley among the most beautiful places in the UK. 

* For the full story in Wales Online, go to: I visited one of Wales' most beautiful places and was absolutely blown away | Wales Online

Collen Players present their festive variety show this Friday

Llangollen's Collen Players are giving you the chance to step back into the magic of Christmases gone by with their heart-warming festive variety show this Friday.

They promise an evening filled with timeless singalong favourites, sparkling nostalgia and old-fashioned charm, which is the perfect way to start your Christmas celebrations.

All money raised goes to the appeal to restore and preserve St Collen's ancient and historic hammer beam ceiling.

Topping the evening's bill, which starts at 6.30pm, will be Colin Bourdiec, the ukulele maestro who pays a jolly tribute to the great George Formby.

The Chairman of Charm delights with some daring ditties and Phil “Razzle-Dazzle” Robinson returns with a seasonal selection. 

Miss Sue Stokes, billed as our Silver Songbird, will enchant with her splendiferous arrangements and Mike Connolly will exercise his considerable choral expertise to the full.

Jayne and Clayton — the Melodious Magicians of Melody and Mirth - will provide some stupendous backing throughout the night, with Jayne weaving wonder upon the keys and Clayton conjuring cadence on the drums, this dynamic duo deliver rhythm, rapture and rollicking rejoicing.

There will also be the chance for the audience themselves their own vocal talents with many sing-along opportunities. 

Entry price includes festive supper.

* Book your tickets at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/llangollen/st-collens-community-hall/deck-the-halls-christmas-show/2025-12-12/d-zvvxkysygvqkp

International photographer goes on fashion shoot at the station

* Photographer Amberly Valentine captures model Jolina Sothie on camera.

* A wave from Jolina forr llanblogger's camera.

* Amberly makes some adjustments to her camera before the next sequence of shots.

An internationally acclaimed fashion photographer stopped off at Llangollen station for a photo-shoot earlier today (Tuesday).

Amberly Valentine, who works across the world, was on the heritage railway's famous Platform 1 for a commission from the high-end clothing retailer Holland Cooper whose clients include Catherine, Princess of Wales.

And she was working with a model who had flown in specially for the occasion from her home in Germany.

Amberly explained that it was no coincidence that she chose the station as her latest setting, as her parents, Susan and Mark Drew, live nearby.

She said: "I work in some stunning locations across the world - from glaciers to the Sahara Desert - but I love Llangollen Railway and come here two or three times year whenever I'm in staying with my parents.

"It's a beautiful and unique place and a shop window for the town."

She added: "The model who I was photographing today, Jolina Sothie from Germany, has been wearing some of the classic fashion from the company I have been working on behalf."

Haval Jolion EV isn't likely to bother Ford or Vauxhall

Haval Jolion Pro drive by Steve Rogers

Meet the Haval Jolion, the latest Chinese invader looking for a chunk of the UK car market.

With around 15 companies plying their trade this is the biggest invasion since the Roman conquest. At least this one is friendly although Ford, Vauxhall and the rest of the pack would probably disagree because they cannot understand how the Chinese brands can sell cars so cheaply, taking huge chunks out of their sales.

Haval has slipped in under the radar without the same fanfare as BYD or Jaecoo. It is an offshoot of Great Wall Motor, a technology and automobile company with a handful of brands although Haval and Ora are the only ones to come to Europe, so far.

Great Wall, or GWM as it is now branded, dipped a toe in British waters more than a decade ago with a cheap as chips pick up. It didn’t work out but they are having another go with a new pick up in the new year.

Jolion Pro is a mid-sized hybrid SUV with the same DNA as its Chinese brethren: Shed loads of kit and rock bottom pricing. You can pick up the entry Premium model for around £24k but unlike the aforementioned this isn’t going to provide Ford and co with too much of a headache.

So what’s the problem? It is not bad looking but not one that is going to turn heads for any other reason than peering at the over-large Haval name bar on the front grille. I had quite a few ‘never heard of this one before’.

Styling is conservative, too conservative compared to offerings from the likes of Kia, MG, BYD and Jaecoo. Wait till you see the sensational X-Peng in next week’s road test.

Things improve in the cabin which is typically Chinese: Minimalist, neat and tidy, and dominated by a 12.3in touchscreen. You won’t find many switches, just a few quick keys for heating, then it is a case of diving into the telephone directory style menus and sub menus. Last week I wrote how Volvo had turned complicated into simple and Haval could do with taking a fresh look at the Jolion interface. It’s complicated and can be distracting for the driver.

At least voice control is helpful as well as amusing. Say ‘hey GWM’ and a female’s voice replies ‘I’m coming’. I continued the chat with a risque comment and was told ‘you can’t say that’.

I seemed to spend my time being irritated by little things. I could not work out how to get the cabin lights to come on when opening a door, wipers don’t come on with the screen wash, the only volume control for radio is on the steering wheel.

My wife searched everywhere from the passenger seat and eventually gave up and used voice control, but a simple switch would be better. Oh, and the radio does not have DAB stations.

On the mechanical side the ride is not up to standard. This is no bucking bronco but the slightest road blemish is felt in the cabin. If we Brits are too fussy it is because we are used to better.

The steering is too light for me and lacked feel although Mrs Rogers enjoyed driving the Jolion and she is not alone because Haval is a huge hit in Australia where it is the third best seller in its class.

Jolion is a hybrid with a 1.7kW battery, which is good, and has a similar setup to Nissan Qashqai with an electric motor doing the heavy lifting supported by a 1.5 litre petrol engine. Don’t worry, you will be paying a lot less than the Nissan.

It’s no slouch either and after some annoying front wheel spin pulls away smartly. With a two speed automatic gearbox the engine note resembles a muted siren that can be turned into a wailing siren by dipping the accelerator. Ok, that’s the child in me coming out.

What should be better is the economy. I ended the week in the mid forties which is no better than a straight petrol. Hybrids featured in these columns this year have been in the mid fifties.

On a positive note Jolion is well equipped even at entry Premium grade with the top of the range Ultra gaining things like a 360 degree camera with excellent definition, auto parking assist, heated and ventilated seats. All models have a full suite of safety features.

The cabin is a good size but the boot is small and has less space than a smaller Volkswagen Polo or Toyota Yaris.

The kindest observation I can make is that Jolion is a work in progress and bound to get better.

Favourite feature: I struggled to find one, but let’s say a spacious cabin. I’m feeling generous.

Fast facts

Jolion Pro Ultra

£30,590 (starts £23,995)

Electric motor 148bhp

1.5 litre petrol 95bhp

0-62mph 9secs; 115mph

47mpg combined

133g/km. 1st VED £540

Boot: 255-916 litres

Warranty: 5 years

Join Inner Wheel's festive tea party this Sunday

 

MP welcomes new scheme to help young people back into work

Clwyd East MP Becky Gittins (pictured) has welcomed the Labour Government’s new investment to provide training and work opportunities for young people who are neither earning nor learning.

It means a major expansion of its Youth Guarantee scheme, backed by £820 million of new funding, to tackle the problem and give a brighter future to young people across Britain.

This investment aims to:

• Create 350,000 new workplace and training opportunities in sectors such as construction, health and social care, and hospitality.
• Expand Youth Hubs to every local area of Great Britain – over 360 in total – offering lifechanging support such as CV advice, skills training, mental health support, housing advice and careers guidance.
• Provide a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, giving almost 900,000 young people on Universal Credit a dedicated support session followed by four weeks of intensive coaching.
• Deliver a Jobs Guarantee for 18–21-year-olds who have been long-term unemployed, offering six months of fully subsidised paid employment.

Becky Gittins MP said: “I am delighted that the Work and Pensions Secretary has committed hundreds of millions of pounds of investment to the young people of this country. Too many in Clwyd East are being held back. With 285 young people stuck on benefits, this new package of support will provide opportunities for them to turn their lives around after the previous government neglected them. Labour has a plan to get Britain working, and this Youth Guarantee will make sure no young person is left behind.”

Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden, added: “Every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed. When given the right support and opportunities, they will grasp them. This funding is a downpayment on young people’s futures and the future of the country, creating real pathways into good jobs and providing work experience, skills training and guaranteed employment.”