EssentialsMAG December 2022 Rossett/Marford/Gresford/Holt/Farndon

Welcome...

After two years of plans thwarted by Covid, it looks like it’s “business as usual” for the organisers of the numerous Christmas markets, school fairs, Santa’s grottos, pantos, and musical concerts in our region –if our magazine’s community pages are anything to go by! It appears that we’re craving some hopeful pragmatism, and we want to find ways to make this a Christmas to remember despite the hardships going on around us.

So, I’m urging all our readers and customers to do two things this year: Please shop local as much as you can. If everyone in our local community spent just £5 extra per week with small businesses it would help them to stay open in the long term.

Look out for our elderly and most vulnerable neighbours, who can find it difficult to get out to the shops or to keep their house adequately heated during the colder months, and just check that they are OK.

However you celebrate the festive season, I wish you joy and peace.

Cover Image: Christmas market

January Deadlines: Editorial - 9th December

Advertising - 16th December

We’ve got the local area covered! Delivered by hand to 6,400 homes and businessesmore than any other magazine in our area. Rossett, Marford, Gresford, Holt, Farndon, Churton, Aldford, Eccleston, Lavister, Poulton, Pulford, Dodleston, Burton and Golly.

Also available at 25+ pick-up points across the region.

You can also read our magazines online at: www.essentialsmag.co.uk

EssentialsMAG is published by Essentials MAG Limited, a local independent publishing company. All content within the publication is copyright of Essentials MAG Limited.

The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views or opinions expressed by contributors or for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers. All dates, times, URLs and phone numbers are understood to be correct at the time of submission to print.

EssentialsMAG Limited 2022.

This publication is printed on FSC® certified paper.

When you have finished reading it please pass it on, or put it in your paper recycling bin.

Goodbye, From Postman John

It saddens me to say, that after 17 years of being your Rossett postman, I am leaving. I never thought I would leave the best delivery round anyone could hope to have! But, time has taken its toll on my knees: 11+ miles/24,000 daily steps. It’s now time to change jobs to a one man van rural delivery in Burton - not too far away! I will obviously be back on the beat now and again when we can still have a gossip!

Thank you all for the great times we’ve shared, it’s been fun! We’ve had marriages, birthdays, anniversaries and sadly, lost a few friends along the way. I’d like to mention the following people: Mary for my cooking apples; George for my pickles every year; Stephanie for the cakes; Liz for the chocolates; and finally Doris for the jars of marmalade. I’d like to mention James, Anna, Alf, Margaret, Iain and Natalie, too. My final day will be on Christmas Eve, but I will see you all before then in the Golden Lion or The Alyn, as normal.

Finally, I’d like to close by saying “Thank you for being my friend”, John, the housewive’s favourite Postman! :-)

Rossett Speedwatch

Rossett Community Council are searching for volunteers for a Community Speed Watch Scheme to be put into place. They are in need of a minimum of one co-ordinator and two other operators for the scheme to go ahead. Although local Community Speed Watch (CSW) groups operate autonomously, the scheme works in close cooperation with the Police to ensure that the CSW activity is necessary, proportionate and effective in achieving the objectives of: reducing risk of death, injury and collisions, public awareness of speeding and other traffic offences, improving safety and quality of life for local communities.

If you are interested, please send over your details to: clerk@rossettcommunitycouncil.cymru

Please note volunteers must be 18 years old and over and will not be paid or be able to claim expenses for travelling.

Building Bridges

Darland

Community Theatre held a successful production of 'Building Bridges' at Darland School in November. The group made donations totalling £550.00 which were given to Darland School, Maelor Hospital Renal Patients Fund, Maes y Pant nature reserve, and a canine rescue charity. Their next production will be in April. www.darlandtheatre.com

Christmas Tree Festival

The Gresford Christmas Tree Festival has become an annual highlight for the local community, bringing people together from near and far. Each individual Christmas tree is sponsored and beautifully decorated by either a local business, or a family/individual. The event is held to raise much needed funds for Hope House/Ty Gobaith Children’s Hospice, Nightingale House Hospice and All Saints’ Church.

If you would like to sponsor a Christmas tree at the 2022 festival, or are able to give a donation or a raffle prize, please contact Jan ASAP at: arrowmakers@hotmail.com If you are too busy to decorate the tree, there are a few Christmas fairies who don’t mind decorating it for you with your supplied decorations and lights!

The 2022 festival will run 11th - 17th December at All Saints’ Church, Gresford. See our What’s On Guide for details.

Pulford Village Hall

Roman Remains

An archaeological dig, which took place in September on Barnston Estate land in Farndon, uncovered Roman remains. The 10-day dig was organised by the Holt and Farndon Community Archaeology Project and was supported by the Holt Local History Society. A public open day will take place at a date to be confirmed to display the findings.

Pulford Village Hall has been at the centre of local village life for over 100 years. It is a vibrant community hub hosting local groups of all ages and is a venue for family parties, meetings and other community activities. Pulford Village Hall Management Committee are fundraising for a complete refurbishment of the hall toilets with provision for baby changing - providing modern, safe and hygienic facilities for all.

Fundraising is through the CWAC-approved Spacehive crowdfunding platform. Following a generous donation from Poulton and Pulford Parish Council, we are seeking the support of local residents, user groups and local businesses. The project has pitched to the Cheshire West Crowd and Community Innovation Funds with a decision on council funding being made in early December, dependent upon evidence of local support. Therefore, we are keen to garner much local interest and many pledges before the council decision.

The project will cost £22,000, and since launching in November, we have received over 40 local pledges totalling £7,400 - a third of our target. The fundraising campaign closes in early January. Please help us reach our goal by visiting: www.spacehive.com/pulfordvillagehall and backing this worthy venture.

Dodleston Local History Group

By EssentialsMAG history contributor BERNARD DENNIS, MBE

From 1927 to 1940, St Mary’s Church, Dodleston had the pleasure of the incumbency of Canon Herbert LeighMallory MA. Prior to that, he had been at St John’s Church, Birkenhead. It was at St John’s where he learnt of the sad loss of his 37-year-old son, George. It was George, along with his fellow climber Andrew C. Irvine, who died on the 8 June 1924 during their attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest. There’s always been speculation as to whether they were successful in reaching the summit.

Canon and Mrs Annie Leigh Mallory resided in the original Rectory (now a private residence) opposite St. Mary’s Church and this photograph survives of them both celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary in the Rectory garden.

Their life in Dodleston was busy, yet fulfilled. The Canon presided over the local school and his signature appears regularly in the school logbook confirming the status of attendances, which was a legal requirement at the time.

Little is known about his life after retirement in 1940 and subsequent death in 1943 at the age of 87. He did leave a legacy in St Mary’s Church, that being the main Altar which he donated to

commemorate his time as Canon. Before his incumbency in Birkenhead, Canon Herbert was Rector of Mobberley where, in July 1882, his second son, Trafford LeighMallory, was born. Trafford would go on to have an illustrious career, firstly in the Royal Flying Corps and then subsequently, the Royal Air Force.

He became Air Chief Marshall with involvement in the Normandy Landings of August 1944. Following that, he was appointed Commander-in Chief South East Asia (SEAC). In November that year before he could take up his post, he and his wife were killed en route to Burma when their AVRO York MW126 crashed in the French Alps killing all on board.

Ironically, both Canon Herbert’s sons had encounters with mountains. George died on one, Everest, and Trafford flew into one in the French Alps.

A further irony is that George, when on a fund-raising mission in the United States before his attempt to scale Everest, was asked at an event why he wanted to conquer the mountain, replied “because it is there.” Prophetic words for him and his younger brother.

For further information please contact: Bernard Dennis on 07966 436073.

Can you Balance on One Leg?

By PHIL CABRAL from Natural Balance

Now, here’s a question that you didn’t think we would ask: can you balance on one leg for more than 10 seconds? And do you know how important it is to be able to do so? We probably all learnt to balance whilst riding a bike as a child but, as we get older our balance becomes more of an issue –whether consciously or subconsciously. As such, we find ourselves leaning on an inanimate object for support or sitting down to put on our shoes. But is this really necessary?

It is vital to our overall general health and wellbeing to continue to cultivate our balance so that it remains in tip top condition, but it takes practice.

The British Journal of Sports Medicine published a report earlier this year which was taken from a 10-year study of more than 1,700 people – all middle aged. It was found that the increase of death in those who struggled to balance was almost double.

One of the tests they had to try was to stand on one leg with the second leg pushed against the first. Both arms were by their sides and their eyes were open and staring straight ahead. They were given three chances to pass this test and, allowing for age, sex and any underlying health conditions, if they failed to hold this position for at least 10 seconds, they

were deemed to have an 84% increase in the chance of death, from any cause.

Around one in five people failed the test –a figure that rose parallel to age - and more than one in three people aged between 66 and 70, failed the test.

In summary, a lack of balance can be a symptom of a serious health condition or due to a lack of physical activity caused by the condition. For the rest of us, it is important to maintain balance to reduce the risk of health issues and untimely death.

And that’s where we come in. We can advise you on how to improve, and maintain, your balance by beginning a fitness programme that is designed specifically to address your balance problems. No matter how old or how fit you are, we can help you maximise your health for longer.

If you are suffering from poor balance and would like our help, please get in touch.

We would be delighted to help you continue to live a long, healthy, happy and productive life.

by Phil Cabral at Natural Balance

Physiotherapy & Sports Injury

Tel: 01244 639898

E: lorna@natbalance.co.uk www.natbalance.co.uk

Facebook: @philthephysio

Gresford Sailing Club

- Welsh Sailing Club of the Year 2023

Gresford

Sailing Club has been awarded

The Royal Yachting Association’s Welsh “Club of the Year 2023” and is going forward to the Great Britain final of this prestigious award in February. But how did we, probably the smallest sailing club in the world, get to be Welsh Champions and a contender for this prestigious award?

Gresford Sailing Club was established in 1959 by Arthur Jones and Reg Gibbs with the ethos, “cost must not be a barrier to participation”. We sail on the six-acre Flash by the Old Wrexham Road, near Wrexham. As far as we know, this is the smallest dinghy sailing club lake in the world. We have adult dinghy sailing, junior and adult training sessions and model boating. We are an RYA Recognised Training Centre with RYA Sailability Foundation status and hold a Sport Wales in Sport Ribbon for Inclusive Sports Activity.

Low water in 2018/2019, followed by Covid, almost led to the collapse of the Club in 2020. But a small group was determined for the Club to survive and grow again and EssentialsMAG was part of that story.

In May 2021, we relaunched the Club with our ‘Discover Sailing Week’ with some advertising in EssentialsMAG and a rejuvenated website. We Introduced stand up paddleboarding (SUP) and trained 120 people to SUP safely. This led to increased junior sailing (numbers up from 4 to 40). This, in turn, led to parents learning to sail and growing participation through 2021. We also introduced new Scout and school groups to sailing on The Flash.

We began working with others, including Mindful SUP, RYA, All Afloat charity, Sport Wales, and local schools.

With Covid restrictions being lifted, we were able to take our first steps toward rebuilding the social infrastructure of the Club by hosting a Regatta Weekend. This combined ‘Last Night of the Juniors’, ‘The Arthur Jones Classic Regatta’, our ‘Model Boaters Exhibition’, a ‘Quiz & Chips’ and ‘Paper Boat Championship.’ The crowning glory was ‘Pirate Day’ - total chaos with a pirate theme!

2022 has been a year of consolidation with continued growth in adult and junior sailing and SUP. The All Afloat Wrexham schools programme was enhanced as we became the hosts for the All Afloat fleet of Hansa accessible dinghies. A Sport Wales development grant has enabled us to improve our training fleet. Club boats can now be hired by members, so boat ownership is no longer essential. The social Infrastructure has thrived in 2022 and we now have over 100 adult and 40 junior members.

Evolving the Club into 2023, we will be focusing on improving our training and regrowing racing. The Flash is too small to be a cruising destination, but it’s a great place to hone skills through racing.

If you want to find out more, see our website: gresfordsailingclub.com To support our bid to be RYA National “Club of the Year” please vote for us at : awards.yachtsandyachting.co.uk/rya/

Dates for your Diary

1 - 23 DECEMBER

The Lanterns 2022

Chester Zoo, Upton, Chester CH2 1EU

Chester Zoo is transformed into a wonderland, full of sparkle, illumination and plenty of cheer!

From £12 Child/£15 Adults www.chesterzoo.org

1 - 31 DECEMBER

Wrexham Nativity Trail Wrexham

Follow the trail to reveal the Christmas story. 10am - 4pm Free www.facebook.com/ wrexhamnativitytrail

THUR 1 DECEMBER

FRI 2 DECEMBER

Farndon Christmas Fair

Farndon Primary School, Churton Road CH3 6QP Fun for all the familySanta’s grotto, games, festive food, mulled wine, gifts and jewellery.

3:30pm Free

1

DECEMBER

- 14 JANUARY

The Rock 'n' Roll Panto - Robin Hood

Theatr-Clwyd, Mold CH7 1YA

The popular Christmas panto returns! Rock, soul and pop songs, fabulous frocks, dazzling sets, and the anarchic panto puppets.

From £15 www.theatrclwyd.com

1 - 21 DECEMBER

Chester Christmas Market

Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HJ

A handmade, historical, magical experience awaits you in the heart of Chester with 70 market traders situated in the square around the Town Hall. Food, gifts and more!

Mon-Wed: 10:30am - 6:30pm

Thu - Sat: 10:30am - 8pm

Sun: 10:30am - 6:30pm Free

Rossett Christmas Tree Switch On

Outside Co-op, Chester Road, Rossett LL12 0HW

Carol singing, mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies and raffle. All welcome! 4:30pm Free

THUR 1 DECEMBER

2 - 4 DECEMBER

Chester Christmas Festival Weekend

The Carriage Shed, City Place, Chester CH1 3DR

Undercover Christmas market, with music, shopping, great food and drink for all the family. 10am - 5pm Free

Christmas Spectacular by Candlelight

Viennese

Chester Cathedral, Chester CH1 2DY

If you don’t consider yourself ‘in the know’ about Mozart, Beethoven, or Bach, fear not! The London Concertante has its audience laughing at jokes, gasping at virtuosity, moved by gorgeous string playing, and leaving with a smile on their faces.

7:30pm From £26.46 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e /314678902067

2 - 24 DECEMBER

Christmas at Bolesworth

Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall CH3 9HQ

Bolesworth is transformed into a festive wonderland with an enchanted Christmas Lights Trail. You can also look forward to a spectacular fairground, Christmas markets featuring shopping and food, magical meeting with the friendly reindeer, visit Santa’s grotto and indulge in an exclusive champagne experience.

www.bolesworth.com

FRI 2 DECEMBER

A Choral Christmas

St Giles Church, Wrexham LL13 8LS

The Fron Male Voice Choir return to St Giles Church for an exciting evening of choral music. With special guests - the Wrexham Youth Choir. 7pm £15/£12.50 concession www.wegottickets.com/ event/551994/

While every effort has been made to ensure all the details are correct at the time of going to print, it is advisable to check details with the venue concerned.

SAT 3 DECEMBER

Bangor-On-Dee Christmas Fayre

Ysgol Sant Dunawd, Sandown Rd, Bangoron-Dee LL13 0JA

The Christmas Fayre will be open to the public between 11am-4pm, followed by a Christmas lantern parade led by the children from Ysgol Sant Dunawd between 4pm - 5pm. 11am - 4pm

Free

SUN 4 DECEMBER

Gresford Artisan Market and Santa’s Grotto

Gresford Trust Memorial, High Street, Gresford, LL12 8PS

Gresford’s Artisan Market featuring great food and craft producers, carol singers from The Rofft School. Come and visit Santa’s Grotto! Donate if you can - all proceeds to go to Wrexham Foodbank. 11am - 3pm Free

3 DECEMBER Christmas Fayre

SAT

Erlas Victorian Walled Garden, Bryn Estyn Rd, Wrexham LL13 9TY

Enjoy a Santa’s grotto, activities, refreshments and winter plants for sale. The beautiful winter garden will also be on display for visitors to walk around. 10am - 2pm £1 Adults/Children free Tel: 01978 265058

SAT 3 DECEMBER

Christmas Craft Fair

Alyn Waters Country Park, Mold Rd, Gwersyllt, Wrexham LL11 4AG

A fun and family friendly Christmas event featuring crafts, gifts, food, activities and more!

11am - 3pm Free

SAT 3 DECEMBER Christmas Market

Gresford Royal British Legion, High Street, Gresford LL12 8PS

Crafts, gifts, festival treats, home decor, and more! 1pm - 5pm Free SAT 3 DECEMBER Carol Concert

St Giles Church, Wrexham LL13 8LS

A magical evening of classic Christmas carols and festivities featuring Aled Wyn Davies, Rhos Male Voice Choir and The Wrexham Salvation Army Band.

6:30pm

£18 (no concessions) Tel: 01978 314292 www.nightingalehouse.co.uk

WED 7 DECEMBER

Wrexham Victorian Market

Wrexham city centre

Over 100 stalls selling a host of festive goodies and gifts alongside Victorian Street entertainers and a traditional carousel. Stretching from Queens Square to St Giles’ Church. 12pm - 7pm Free

8 DECEMBER - 7 JANUARY

Cinderella Panto

Grove Park Theatre, Hill St, Wrexham LL11 1SN

Will the Prince ever find the owner of the crystal slipper or will Cinderella’s evil family keep her sweeping the cinders from the fire? groveparktheatre.co.uk

Dates for your Diary

9 - 31 DECEMBER

Beauty and The Beast Christmas Panto

Stiwt Theatre, Broad Street, Wrexham LL14 1RB

Go on a journey to a far-off land where we learn that true beauty comes from within!

£16.50 Adult/£14.50 Child £57.00 Family www.stiwt.com

FRI 9 DECEMBER

Gresford, Marford and Rossett Santa's Sleigh Tour

Villages of Gresford, Marford and Rossett Santa’s annual sleigh tour! Full route will be advertised on Facebook in due course.

From 4:30pm 01978 353800

Cllr Jeremy Kent

For a comprehensive list of Christmas events, shows, groups and classes please visit: essentialsmag.co.uk/whatson

10 & 11 DECEMBER

Wrexham Christmas Market

Queen's Square, Wrexham LL11 1AT

Amazing stalls for your Christmas shopping. Saturday 10am - 8pm Sunday 10am - 5pm Free www.facebook.com/ wrexhamchristmasmarket/

11 - 17 DECEMBER

Christmas Tree Festival

All Saints’ Church, Gresford LL12 8RG

SUN 1 JANUARY

The Chester & Wrexham Charity Heritage Bus Running Day

Chester

- Wrexham

SAT 10 DECEMBER

Carols Around The Christmas Tree

Chester Road, Gresford Village

Come and sing carols around the tree. Good company and mince pies - a winning combination!

Organised by Gresford Community Council. 4pm Free Tel: 07470 631184

Beautiful Christmas Tree Festival raising funds for local charities. 4pm - 6pm Free (donations welcome)

WED 21 DECEMBER

Woodland Solstice Celebration

National Trust Erddig, Wrexham LL13 0YT

Join us around the campfire, for a celebration of the Winter Solstice. 10am - 2pm £30.00 woodlandclassroom.com

A large selection of vehicles will be running on a free service between Wrexham Road Park & Ride, Chester and Wrexham on New Year's Day. The routes will follow the current Number 1 & PR1 services. Vehicles are expected from local Crosville and Chester Corpy buses to a mix of London Transport and many other non-local vehicles. Make sure you come for a ride and support Nightingale House Hospice. All vehicles will serve all normal bus stops along the route. 9:30am - 6pm Free (donations welcome)

Share your events with us - it’s FREE! Let us know your events taking place next month so we can feature them. essentialsmag.co.uk /whatson

Grove Park Theatre - Just the Ticket!

By SUE TUNLEY, Grove Park Theatre

Cinderella will finally get to go to the balltwo years later than planned! After our “Rapunzel” pantomime ended in January 2020, even the meanest panto villain couldn’t have predicted a global pandemic would force us to shut up shop and cancel the rest of our 2019/20 season.

The cast of “The Darling Buds of May” were deep in rehearsal when the first lockdown began and were forced to disband. Not to mention “Cinderella”, which was due to run in December, was also put on hold.

Grove Park Theatre are Wrexham’s oldest amateur theatre and with only 170 seats, we are often affectionately known as ‘The Little Theatre’. But it takes a big team of volunteers to put on every show. From lighting technicians and front of house stewards; to set builders and prop makers; not to mention our actors!

Once the green light had been given for theatres to re-open we decided to stage a simple play as quickly as possible. Alan Bennett’s “Talking Heads” Monologues were the perfect choice to welcome the first audiences back, but despite having just two actors, one was struck down with Covid forcing a slight postponement.

This autumn, we launched our new season and came back stronger than ever with the seductive “The Graduate” and the spiffing “Jeeves & Wooster In Perfect Nonsense” attracting big audiences and rave reviews.

So onto Cinderella, which this year, features a largely new cast with a debut writer and director. Grove Park’s annual pantomimes are the engine that drives the rest of the season. The support of generations of families cheering the heroes and booing the baddies helps us produce a wide variety of other plays all year round.

We’ve more to come in 2023 - from dark laughs in “The Anniversary”, to the emotional punch of “The Revlon Girl” and the ‘perfick’ season finale, “The Darling Buds of May”.

After a difficult time for everyone, Grove Park Theatre is just the ticket.

For a full list of performances and to book tickets, visit: groveparktheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on: 01978 351 091

Delmar World

By DELMAR WORLD in Gresford

Greetings All!

At this time of the year, we tend to reflect on the year and take stock.

The recovery of the travel industry is gathering momentum with many companies reporting their busiest Autumn ever, which is great news for us all.

Personally, I have observed that the initial start-up of worldwide travel was fraught with confusion as restrictions changed regularly with endless paperwork and PCR testing causing more anxiety than the normal excitement of going away on holiday.

Here at Delmar World, we have spent many hours with nervous clients who needed assistance in preparing for their travels to take away the worry. Thankfully though, these unwelcome demands have eased and more and more of you are planning a break or even a bucket-list adventure for next year.

Canada is proving to be one of the top destinations for next year. Japan, one of the latest countries to open up is experiencing much demand especially for the Cherry Blossom Springtime and the Autumn colours.

Cruising is growing with many new ships being launched next year and so many styles of cruises to choose from such as River and Adventure is enticing first time cruisers.

Luxury all-inclusive resorts are also in high demand due to no budget being necessary for extras before you travel –a real attraction in today’s world of escalating costs.

There is a lot to choose from which is why we are showcasing many inspirational ideas at our Travel and Cruise Show at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Chester on Sunday 15th January. You are most welcome to come along – just register your interest and we will keep you informed right up to the event.

To register your free place, please email: sales@delmarworld.co.uk or call: 01978 853 886. You can also scan this QR code on our advert opposite.

In the meantime, I send you all warm wishes for a peaceful and joyful Christmas. Delmar

BRHS - Burton Rossett Horticultural Society Gardening News

By EssentialsMAG gardening contributor CAROL EDWARDS

Before I start this month’s article, I would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and New Year too. We have had a very difficult time this last year and I hope things will improve for all of us. I have a new computer also at the moment and find some things difficult. As they say, things can only get better and by next year I hope to improve. One thing we can do this month is to plan for the next gardening year which means ordering seeds and plants.

December is usually one of the coldest months but, this year, it hasn’t been typical at all, so the best thing to do is keep an eye on the weather reports and remember to protect your plants in case of frost. This just means covering any tender plants with fleece and any pots outside need to be moved to a sheltered spot. Also remember to check stake ties and supports especially on windy days. Leave some areas in the garden lawn uncut for shelter for wildlife.

Apple and pear trees will benefit from pruning this time of the year, as well. Aim to take between 10% and 20% of the total canopy in one year. Keep an eye on your pruning pile - if it is looking a bit big, STOP!

You can always go back next year. Your aim is to take out a bit of old wood each winter to stimulate new growth.

Check any stored tubers of Dahlias, Begonias and Cannas for rot. You can also start forcing your rhubarb plants. This is quite simple to do. Use a large pot or a forcing pot. Turn them upside down on top of the plant, the result is lovely pale pink stems. It has a delicious flavour too.

If you are planning on growing first early potatoes, they can be started into growth now, this is called chitting. The best method is to place them in the greenhouse in old egg boxes. The boxes need to be opened and placed on a shelf where they will get maximum light. They will then start to sprout and can be planted out when the weather is suitable. You can also start sweet pea seeds, they will be earlier to start growing for next season too. Rose bushes can be pruned now while they are dormant, and grasses can be cut back as well.

Don’t forget, enjoy your gardens on dry days.

Local Birds and Wildlife News

By REVEREND HUGH LINN

In recent winters, Gresford Flash has provided a haven for a variety of water birds. Last month, as usual, Goosanders were regular visitors. On November 1st the first to appear was a solitary bird, probably a passage migrant, followed the next day by a group of seven with a flock of 32 on the 6th. Numbers tend to increase as more migrants arrive from further north. On November 20th 2018, 63 of these colourful ducks had taken up residence, feeding by day and roosting by night.

Other wildfowl present recently, include: Shovelers, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Pochards, Wigeon and Teal. Greylags and Canada Geese are regular visitors which also spend much of their time at Borras Quarry.

Several of our readers have commented on a shortage of their usual garden visitors, paticularly, Chaffinches and Greenfinches although one Gresford resident has enjoyed the company of a dozen Greenfinches visiting his garden feeder. Curiously he has missed out on House Sparrows. My garden, however, hasn't produced a Greenfinch sighting for months, but we do have an almost full-time resident group of a dozen House Sparrows.

Currently, our noisiest garden birds are a couple of Tawny Owls which start calling persistently within earshot of my bedroom each evening around 10:00pm. This duetting is likely to be the birds advertising their claim to territory strictly out of bounds to other Tawny Owls in the neighbourhood.

GOOSANDERS

Starlings have been conspicuously on the move recently. Last month one evening, as dusk approached, there was an impressive gathering of Starlings numbering somewhere in the region of 1,000 birds at one of their favourite sites on overhead wires in Trevalyn.

Such gatherings (though usually much smaller) are quite common there as winter progresses. The birds involved are likely to be migrants from further north which winter in the UK. They form large communal roosts which they advertise by what are known as “murmurations” - flying displays sometimes involving many thousands of birds.

We could possibly have such a roost locally. I'd be delighted to hear from anyone who could provide more information.

TAWNY OWL

Housing Law Changes in Wales

By Property Consultant CHARLES LAWSON

The Renting Homes Act: designed to make renting property easier in Wales.

From 1 December 2022, anyone renting out or living in a rented home in Wales, should be aware of changes to the way properties are rented. These changes are intended to improve and provide further security on how rented homes are rented, managed and occupied.

Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, all social and private tenants will see some changes to the way their contracts are provided, how their homes are maintained and how they communicate with their landlords.

All landlords, whether social or private, and including those who rent their properties via an agent or management company, must make sure that they comply with the new law and make all the necessary updates to their property and paperwork.

What will the changes look like and what difference will the new law make?

Tenants and licensees are going to be referred to as ‘contract-holders’ and ‘tenancy agreements’ are going to be replaced with ‘occupation contracts’.

If you are a ‘contract holder’, you will receive a written contract setting out your rights and responsibilities. Your ‘no fault’ notice period is increasing from two to six months and you will get greater protection from eviction. You will also have improved succession rights, which will set out who has a right to continue to live in a home, if the current tenant dies, for example. Joint contract-holders will have more flexible arrangements too, making it easier to add or remove other people to an occupation contract.

If you are a landlord, the system is going to be simpler, with two types of contract, either ‘secure’ for the social rented housing or ‘standard’ for the privately rented sector. If a property is abandoned it can be repossessed without the need for a court order. You must ensure the home is fit for human habitation (FFHH). This includes electrical safety testing and ensuring working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are fitted.

Landlords can find more information and helpful resources by going to https://gov.wales/landlords-housing-lawchanging-renting-homes

St. Peter’s School

Is your child struggling at school?

Early identification of learning difficulties is key to a child’s education

Qualified in teaching children with SpLD’s (Specific Learning Difficulties) and assessing for Dyslexia, using the GL Dyslexia Portfolio. I can provide an in-depth, individual evaluation and report which gives a comprehensive overview of your child’s difficulties.

Please contact Jan Maughan to find out more, or to arrange an assessment jan@janmaughan.co.uk Tel: 07776 134418

St. Peter’s Church in Wales Primary School in Rossett, for children aged 3 - 11

At St. Peter’s School we combine the traditions and expectations of a good standard of education, behaviour and self-discipline, with the latest curricular developments together with the development of skills and characteristics which will be needed in the future.

Come and explore our school!

Applications for Nursery places for September 2022 are now open and available on the Wrexham Council website. Please ring the school on: 01244 570594 to make an appointment and see our wonderful setting. stpeters-pri.wrexham.sch.uk St-Peters-Primary-School-Rossett @stpetersrossett

Applications for Nursery places for September 2023 are now open and available on the Wrexham Council website: www.wrexham.gov.uk/service/school admissions/nursery school admissions

To make an appointment to attend our Open Afternoon please call: 01978 853116, or email: mailbox@rofft‐pri.wrexham.sch.uk Visit our website: www.therofftschool.co.uk

Holt Community Primary School is a small friendly school for children aged 3 to 11. To make an appointment to our Open Day call: 01829 270021, or e-mail: mailbox@holt-pri.wrexham.sch.uk Visit our website: www.holtcpschool.com

You will be reading this with Christmas on your minds; the last time we had our usual Christmas activities in the library was back in 2019, when none of us had ever heard the word COVID!

Even though coronavirus has not gone away we now have weapons against it, so we are going to bring back some of our much-loved and lost activities. Once again, we will have our famous Gresford Library Christmas Hamper Raffle. If anyone would like to donate something to make the hamper even bigger and better we’ll be very grateful for your help. Tickets will be £1 each.

We are also reinstating our ‘Mince Pies and Mulled Wine’ afternoon which will take place on Thursday 22nd December. Even if you don’t want to borrow a book, please call in and say ‘Hello’ and share some Christmas cheer with us - everyone is welcome. Also, Santa will be in his Gresford Community Council Grotto at the Artisan Market in Gresford Trust on Sunday 4th December – Ho, ho, ho!

We are going to re-start our KidzKlub and Lego Club in the New Year. We’re thinking about the format and whether we will try a new approach this time (suggestions welcome!). As the weather improves we will be asking the children to help us plant up, and care for, the vegetables and flowers in our Children’s Garden - which is something new we developed during the pandemic specifically with the children in mind.

In the run up to our relaunch of the KidzKlub we will be having two Kristmas Kraft KidzKlubs on Saturday 10th and Saturday 17th December. Just drop in anytime between 10.30am and 12.30pm and join in the fun. Juice and Jaffa cakes will be on offer, along with tea and coffee for the grown-ups.

EssentialsMAG Tasty Recipe

Christmas Pudding Strudel

INGREDIENTS

250g/9oz leftover Christmas pudding, crumbled 250g tub mascarpone

2 tbsp Baileys

4 sheets filo pastry 25g melted butter

Icing sugar, for dusting Cream or custard, to serve

METHOD

Heat oven to 200°C/180°C, fan/gas 6.

Mix the pudding, mascarpone and Baileys.

Lay out a sheet of filo on a large flat baking tray, brush with some melted butter and lay another sheet on top. Repeat with more butter and filo until you have four layers.

Place the filling in a log in the centre and brush the border with butter.

Roll up to enclose the filling, then brush with the remaining butter.

Can be chilled for one day until ready to bake.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown, dust with icing sugar and serve warm with cream or custard.

Sarah Atherton MP Member of Parliament for Wrexham

As ONS data from the 2021 Census revealed, we have 5,066 veterans living in Wrexham County Borough. For myself and the thousands of veterans, service personnel, and service families, the month of November is particularly prominent for us all in Wrexham. This time allows servicemen, women, veterans, and their families to come together and remember. Even though Remembrance Sunday has just passed, I thought it would be fitting to share in this article how I paid my respects on behalf of Wrexham in Parliament and locally this November.

As we approached Remembrance Sunday, I was delighted to attend the British International Tattoo 2022 - The North Wales Military Music Pageant - A Reel of Remembrance in aid of The Not Forgotten Veterans Charity. It was particularly exciting that Wrexham hosted the Tattoo once again, a truly unforgettable and uplifting event for many in the crowd. A particularly fitting tribute to our Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today. A special thank you to all those who performed throughout the evening, bring on next year’s event!

I was honoured to plant my tribute on behalf of Wrexham in the Garden of Remembrance Parliament at a service conducted by the Speaker. Here I planted a tribute to Wales’ military history. This fantastic opportunity gives recognition, right at the heart of our nation in Parliament, to those who have bravely served our country.

donations in Asda, Wrexham. Owain, a young child from Wrexham, gave me a hand-painted poppy rock to leave in remembrance of his grandfather at the Welsh Guards memorial at Bluff Cove in the Falklands when I visit later this month. The generosity of Wrexham people in supporting the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal never fails to amaze me. Our city’s long and proud military history, coupled with our true sense of community spirit and generosity, undeniably shines through as a beacon of light in this time of commemoration.

On Remembrance Day itself, it was humbling to attend and lay a Parliamentary wreath at the R. W. F. Memorial, Bodhyfryd in Wrexham, paying tribute to our service personnel past and present. Following every service on Remembrance Sunday in Wrexham, starting at Rossett, then Llay, Gresford, Holt, and finishing at Gwersyllt, I was privileged to lay wreaths to show that we will indeed remember them.

As always, if you are a resident in Wrexham and need my assistance with any local or national issues, please contact me.

Locally, I supported the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal by helping gather Tel: 020 7217 4885 / 01978 291742 sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk www.sarahatherton.org.uk

Alyn Family Doctors Latest News

Christmas opening times

Frighteningly, Christmas is almost upon us, so it’s a good time to remind you of our procedures over the holiday period.

Both surgeries will be open as usual until 6.30pm on Friday 23rd December.

Monday 26th December: CLOSED

Tuesday 27th December: CLOSED

Wednesday 28th December: Open

Thursday 28th December: Open

Friday 29th December: Open

Monday 1st January 2023: CLOSED

Tuesday 2nd January 2023: Open

When the surgery is closed for the bank holidays, medical advice and urgent support can be reached by telephoning 111.

Planning ahead - prescriptions

It’s important to make sure you have all the medicines you may require ahead of bank holiday closures. Make sure that you order and collect any medication in good time.

A pharmacist should be your first port of call for any information about medication or prescriptions during any out of hours period.

If you run out of medicine outside of normal opening hours and need some urgently, you may be able to obtain an emergency supply from a pharmacist without a prescription

If you do not have a prescription You should take an old prescription/repeat slip or the medicine packaging with you to the pharmacy, if you have it.

You'll be assessed by the pharmacist to find out:

• If you need the medicine immediately.

• Who previously prescribed the medicine (to make sure they're a trusted source).

• What dose of the medicine would be appropriate for you to take.

The pharmacist needs to know the answers to these questions before they can supply a prescription–only medicine, without a prescription, in an emergency. They will keep a record of your details, the medicine they provide and the nature of the emergency.

If the pharmacist is not satisfied that the medicine and dose is appropriate for you, they may not supply the medicine.

The pharmacist may provide an emergency supply of up to 30 days' treatment for most prescription medicines. If in doubt, a pharmacist is the best person to talk to.

The doctors, clinicians and staff at Alyn Family Doctors wish all our patients a very happy Christmas and a safe New Year.

Tel: 0333 332 3260 www.alynfamilydoctors.co.uk www.facebook.com/alynfamilydoctors

Lesley Griffiths MS Member of the Senedd for Wrexham

It’s been another busy month in the constituency…

I officially opened Green Rock Group's new manufacturing facility in Wrexham. The business, which specialises in producing fully recyclable paper cups and lids, opened their facility on the Whitegate Industrial Estate following a seven-figure investment. The company is currently producing 200 million fully recyclable paper cups every month and this figure is set to increase. Green Rock already employs more than 50 people but they expect to create another 100 jobs by the end of this year. Green Rock investing in Wrexham is positive news and it is great to see an eco-friendly business moving from strength to strength.

Happy 30th birthday to Advance Brighter Futures. The Wrexham-based mental health charity aims to ensure that no individual experiencing mental health problems ever feel like they’re on their own. It was a pleasure to join in with the celebrations and to see their newly renovated building. The extension and refurbishments were funded by the Welsh Government and, having been closely involved with the charity for a number of years, I am sure the improved facilities will make a huge difference, enabling ABF to continue to provide a fantastic service to local people. Attitudes towards mental health have changed considerably since ABF was established in 1992 but there is still work to do to make people recognise a person’s mental health is just as important

as their physical health. We’re living through difficult and stressful times and it’s ok not to be ok. If you’re struggling, charities like ABF are there to help.

In addition to being passionate about filmmaking, Eternal Media is a local charity determined to have a positive social impact. The company, which often supports people who have experienced difficult times in their lives, use filmmaking, music production and photography as a way to encourage self-esteem, creativity and teamwork. Based at The Bunker in Borras, I recently visited founder, Marcus Fair, and the team to hear more about plans to expand and construct a recovery hub and community classroom in a neighbouring building, as well as creating a garden and new communal area. I will do all I can to help support the project.

If you’re a constituent in Wrexham and there is an issue I could help you with, please get in touch.

As this will be my final column of the year, I would like to wish all EssentialsMAG readers a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Tel: 01978 355743

Lesley.Griffiths@senedd.wales www.lesleygriffiths.co.uk

Facebook & Twitter: @lesley4wrexham

Talwyd costau’r cyhoeddiad hwn gan Gomisiwn y Senedd, o gronfeydd cyhoeddus / The costs of this publication have been met by the Senedd Commission from public funds.

Financial

with Hadlow Edwards

‘Moments of Clarity’

Well, what a year!

Who could have foreseen war in Europe, the death of our Monarch, political mayhem (let’s not go there!), an unbelievable heatwave, and very real concerns over the rising cost of living… all alongside the ‘normal’ day to day stuff?

As always, we have set new records for our Hadlow Edwards business. We have seen and supported more people in 2022 than in any other year of the last 20 and our team is now nearly 40 strong and is ready to help you throughout 2023, whatever your financial needs or concerns may be.

So, to wrap up this year’s articles, I’ve found some light-hearted ‘moments of clarity’ which I hope will raise a smile.

Here’s a few with a monetary or financial nod:

US Astronaut, John Glenn, is attributed to saying the line: “I felt exactly how you would feel if you were getting ready to launch and knew you were sitting on top of two million parts — all built by the lowest bidder on a government contract.”

Howard Hughes quipped: “I am not a paranoid deranged millionaire... I am a billionaire!”

And Arnie ‘I’ll be back’ Schwarzenegger said the line: “Money doesn't make you happy. I now have $50 million but I was just as happy when I had $48 million.”

When it comes to news, what and who do we believe? In the United States, Donald Trump perhaps claims that he created the idea of ‘fake news’. Or perhaps it may have been around somewhat longer…

Edwards Wealth Management Limited is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct

Hadlow of Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Limited hadlow.edwards@sjpp.co.uk Tel: 01978 311 611 www.hadlowedwards.co.uk

TV giant, David Letterman, said: “America is the only country where a significant proportion of the population believes that professional wrestling is real, but the moon landing was faked.”

A chap called Dave Lewis shared his Lewis’s Law of Travel: “The first piece of luggage out of the chute doesn’t belong to anyone, ever.”

Johnny Carson, another US TV giant and comedian, noted: “If life were fair, Elvis would still be alive, and all the impersonators would be dead.”

And finally, one last one from way over a century ago. Robert Benchley wrote: “I have kleptomania, but when it gets bad, I take something for it.”

All that’s left for me to say, as I know we are all looking forward to a break over the festive holidays, is that my colleagues and I wish all of you and your families a healthy, safe, and prosperous 2023.

If you would like to consider some rather more important topics in the New Year, please do give our office a call on 01978 311611, or email hadlow.edwards@sjpp.co.uk.

Best wishes, Warren and all the team at Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management.

financial affairs.

erience from an approachable,

away the frustration of

planning.

Hadlow

Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The 'St. James's Place Partnership' and the titles 'Partner' and 'Partner Practice' are marketing terms used to describe St. James's Place representatives.

By Warren

The Road to Hell

By EssentialsMAG environment contributor ROB RENOUF

At COP27, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that humanity was on a “highway to climate hell”. He went on to say that, “The global climate fight will be won or lost in this crucial decade – on our watch.” It’s worth reflecting on how we’ve reached a point where a statement such as this from the Head of the UN can be met with so much apathy.

The UN says global emissions must be halved by 2030 to have any chance of avoiding 1.5oC or more of warming. Current pledges to reduce emissions, if fully delivered, would result in warming of around 2.5oC.

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions” Pledges to act represent nothing more than good intentions and are absolutely worthless if not followed through. As highlighted earlier this year, the UK Climate Change Committee’s annual progress report concluded that “Current programmes will not deliver Net Zero“.

The UK Government is certainly not alone in its woefully inadequate progressCOP26 ended with an agreement to “revisit and strengthen” plans to cut emissions before COP27 - since then, only 24 of 193 countries have actually submitted improved emissions reduction targets.

There is no hope without action. The above is not intended to depress

you, but to instead motivate action. There is nothing inevitable about any of this - it’s a choice and we can still avoid this destination. However, if we’re not prepared to make significant changes, then there is no reason for hope.

Year’s end offers an opportunity for reflection - I’d suggest asking ourselves the following questions:

• What changes have I made in my own life to help tackle the climate crisis?

• What have I done to encourage/help others to take action?

• What have I done to pressure businesses to act?

• What have I done to pressure politicians to act?

Individual action on its own will not solve the climate crisis. However, I’d argue that this pivotal moment in history places a moral obligation on every one of us to do whatever we can. We’ve already squandered nearly a third of this critical decade - we’re currently being let down by politicians, large sections of the media unwilling to tell the truth, and those prioritising short-term financial gain over the future of our planet. I still believe that we’re far better than this - the remainder of this decade offers all of us an opportunity to prove it.

EssentialsMAG environment contributor is Rob Renouf robsrenouf@gmail.com

Gresford Community Council

Latest News

Christmas beckons. Last year, Christmas joy was tempered by COVID; this year we all have a different worry – the cost of living crisis.

Community Councillors are subject to the same household financial worries as everybody else but, in addition, they have a Council budget concern about rising prices generally, and the cost of electricity in particular. GCC looks after some (not all) of our footway lighting, and the bill is soaring. We made allowances to cover an increase when we set the budget back in November/December 2021, but we did not imagine things could get so bad, or that inflation would climb so high! We are already £8k+ overspent on our electricity budget - and it will get worse before it gets better.

People often criticise Councils for having a budget in reserve, but this is what will save the day, enabling GCC to meet the additional costs it faces and helping us to keep the amount we ask you to contribute from your Council Tax as low as possiblethat’s what reserves are for.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of the zebra crossing on Marford Hill - drivers are failing to stop when people are waiting, or even actually on the crossing!

We have tried, for years, to sort this out –it’s difficult because we can only legally do things we have duties and powers for and we have neither in relation to highway matters - these sit with the County Borough Council.

We will be coming to you in the New Year to hear your views and to see if there is any way we can, together, get action taken. In the meantime, if you see anything dangerous, please make sure you REPORT IT to WCBC; Facebook is great for a moan or a rant, but it does not provide official data - that’s what we need to demonstrate strength of local concern.

Here’s the link: www.wrexham.gov.uk/service/contact/ report-it

Try your very hardest to have a happy Christmas. Get in touch Get in touch via our Clerk, Camilla: 07470 631184 clerk@gresfordcommunitycouncil.gov.uk www.gresfordcommunitycouncil.gov.uk Facebook @GresfordCC

Hugh Jones & Ross Shepherd Councillors for Rossett

Pavements

We have asked Street Scene to ensure pavements around the village are clear and fit for purpose. This has included clearing away leaves and making sure they are passable where landowners have failed to cut back hedgerows. They have also cleared the drains in the Church Hall Car Park.

Station Road Junction

The Environment Department have included, in their programme of works, improving the area surrounding this junction. The illuminated bollards which no longer work are likely to be replaced with reflective ones as part on the council’s decarbonisation programme.

New Signs

A number of residents have asked if the signs which have been missing for some time indicating the way to Burton from the Llay Road can be replaced. These are on order and will be erected in due course when they have arrived from the manufacturers.

The Co-op Junction

We are both still working closely with the Highways Department to finding a suitable solution into the problems associated with this area. At present, the proposed plans involve creating a yellow ‘no waiting’ box outside the car park entrance on Rossett Road and extra road markings on the main Chester to Wrexham Road. We have again, asked the department to look at this as we don’t feel this will be a satisfactory answer to the issue.

Speed Checks

Speed tapes have now been placed on Chester Road, Burton Road and the B5102. This information will enable us to determine what more needs to be done to respond to speeding on these roads.

We will let you know what the results are. In addition, we are planning speed checks with North Wales Police in Trevalyn.

Station Road Spa

The planning committee unanimously supported the application to turn the former Spa Shop into a restaurant and coffee shop. The majority of residents who contacted us supported the application. In addition to bringing the site back into use, it will enable a more sensitive frontage commensurate with the conservation area to be installed. Concerns were expressed by some residents about the impact on The Copse. The view taken is that the movement of vehicles will be significantly less than for a retail shop. We were also conscious that an early and late opening shop could have moved into the premises without any need for planning approval other than external changes.

Castle Green Development

We are working with the Rossett Focus Group to actively object to the unacceptable details of this proposal, which includes defective footways and taking of WCBC owned land. This is in addition to the failure to recognise the impact of flooding both on the site itself and for neighbouring properties.

We wish you and your families a peaceful and blessed Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2023.

Hugh: Tel: 07769 706999 hugh.jones@wrexham.gov.uk

Ross: Tel: 07715 473776 ross.shepherd@wrexham.gov.uk

Beryl Blackmore Councillor for Marford & Hoseley

November is nearly over as I write this article, and I have just returned from a week in Malta with members from the Caffi and Gresford WI. We had a super time, the weather was warm and we did lots of walking, ate lovely food followed by laughter. These village groups are open to everyone and are such a lovely support network -get in touch for details.

December will see lots of community events which hopefully we can support, times are difficult so, if for the New Year, you think we need to set up a specific group in Marford to help anyone suffering, please get in touch.

Wrexham Council Borough Council (WCBC) are beginning to sort out your requests for hedge trimming etc, slowly but surely. The recent problem at The Red Lion which caused the Co-op to close, not for the first time, is being dealt with by local police and licensing, hopefully with an acceptable outcome. The event that caused the disturbance was just not suitable for the premises.

Residents have been in touch about speeding; congestion around The Rofft School gates; once again dangerous parking and, of course, the zebra crossing. I want to move forward with some plans and hope at the December Community Council meeting to get the backing from the Gresford Community Councillors to really sort these problem out once and for all.

As we get colder days, remember the Whist Club on a Monday offers a place to spend a couple of hours with a hot drink in a warm place alongside playing dominos, and other table top games. The hall is accessible for all and Tuesday sees seated exercise and coffee, tea and a chat.

I have bought myself a full length onesie which was less than £20 and is incredibly warm to sit and watch TV in. Well recommended!

Tel: 07933 201731

beryl.blackmore@wrexham.gov.uk

Jeremy Kent Councillor for Gresford

It’s nearly Christmas!

It is odd to be sat writing for what will be the Christmas edition of EssentialsMAG! November has seen some movement on a number of items that I have been working on across the village and it has been great to be out and about speaking to residents. I’m sure there will be much more over the coming weeks as I deliver my Christmas Cards to residents, wonderfully designed by pupils from All Saints’ School.

Gresford Roundabout

As you will know, this has been something that I have been working on for some time. I fully feel the frustration that things take as long as they do to move forward. I know that there have been more near misses and I continue to receive emails from residents. I have therefore written to the Chief Officer and Lead Member to request an urgent site meeting to find a resolution to this issue once and for all.

Gresford GP Surgery

When I last wrote on this matter I had been told that the request to close the surgery had been declined by the Health Board and to “look again” at the situation. I wrote at the time to the Health Board to seek answers to what this meant and I am disappointed to have not had a response. I have therefore written to both the Chair and CEO of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Parking

I have met with a number of residents regarding parking issues around the village. There are too many instances of inconsiderate parking, including one case

recently with someone parking on their neighbour’s garden while having guests around! Of course, this is rare, but more notable are people parking on double yellow lines, turning areas and close to junctions. I have requested that more enforcement takes place, away from the city centre and in our rural communities.

Arriva Services

I have raised the issue of missed services with the Lead Member for Transport and Arriva Wales to highlight issues with reliability of the No 1 Service from Wrexham to Chester. When people rely on this transport to get to work or school it is simply unacceptable that they do not show up on time, or at all!

Christmas

I have spoken to Santa and I know he is looking forward to the Santa Sleigh Ride through the village on 9th December, and also his appearance at the Gresford Artisan Market on 4th December. He will also visit All Saints School in the coming weeks!

Have a very Merry Christmas and festive season and as always, if you have anything you wish to raise with me, then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Tel: 07832 211085

Jeremy.Kent@wrexham.gov.uk

Gresford Trust Newsdesk Latest News

By IAN GIBSON, Chairperson

Along with the whole of the country, it was with immense sadness to hear of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II A long life dedicated to serving her country and people - she will be sadly missed. We at the Trust, were delighted to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service; an honour which now seems even more significant.

We now wish King Charles III a long and successful reign.

2022 where did it go? Life returned to something resembling normality and with it, the Trust has seen more and more people using our facilities. After all, that is what we are here for and it has been great to see people back out enjoying themselves.

The year though, has not been without its challenges. The increased running costs facing the Trust have caused concern. However, we are not alone in facing this situation, but our aim is to keep our buildings and grounds in the best possible condition for the community to make use of.

We are currently looking at opportunities to reduce the running costs of the building, particularly as the cost of lighting and heating the busy main hall takes a significant proportion of our income.

100 club

To help with that aim we raise money via several sources, one of which is our 100 club. It costs £12 for the year and prizes are given out every month. Please contact the Trust office on 01978 856650 or visit our website www.gresfordtrust.org for details of how to enter.

Some of you may have noticed that we have made a start on clearing the planting beds by the car park. It is quite a big job, so if you have an hour or two to spare and would like to help out, please do get in touch.

We, at the Trust, are very grateful to the families of Jeff Burroughs and Warwick Hulley for their kind consideration in making the Trust the beneficiary of collections taken at their recent funerals.

Both families held many memories of times spent on the Trust grounds, with special mention of the bowling club. We are very happy to have played some small, but happy, part in the lives of both the families.

Very many thanks for your very generous gesture.

Useful Numbers

In an EMERGENCY always dial 999

For your local POLICE STATION in a NON EMERGENCY dial 101

ANIMAL CARE

Daleside Veterinary 01978 311 881

Farndon Kennels & Cattery 01829 270 198

Gatehouse Veterinary 01244 570 364

Green Lane Veterinary 01244 683 858 Park Lane Kennels 01978 852 914 Rhyd Broughton Veterinary 01978 720 362 RSPCA 0300 1234 999 Vets4Pets 01978 352 499

COUNCILS

Cheshire West & Chester 0300 123 8 123 Wrexham 01978 292 000

DOCTORS

Alyn Family Doctors 03333 323 260

Farndon Village Surgery 01829 771 588

Marches Medical Practice 01244 520 615

Strathmore Medical Practice 01978 352 055 NHS Direct 111

DENTISTS

Bridge End Dental Practice 01978 762 030

Chapel Cottage Dental Practice 01978 854 745 Rossett Dental Care 01244 571 544 Springfield Dental Care 01978 851 300

OPTICIANS

Gresford Eyecare 01978 855 828

HOSPITALS

Countess of Chester 01244 365 000 Wrexham Maelor 01978 291 100

LEISURE CENTRES

Gwyn Evans 01978 269 540

Northgate Arena 01244 380444 Plas Madoc 01978 821 600

LOCAL FACILITIES

3C Pest Control 01948 838 111

Adult Social Services 01978 292 066

Citizens Advice 0300 330 1178

Foodbank - Chester 0151 355 7730

Foodbank - Wrexham 07538 547971

Recycling Centre - Chester 01244 372 764

Recycling Centre - Tattenhall 01829 771 337

Recycling Centre - Whitchurch 0345 678 9007

Recycling Centre - Wrexham 01978 292 000

Samaritans 116 123

LOCAL SERVICES

Air Ambulance - Wales 0300 0152 999

Fire & Rescue - Cheshire 01606 868 700

Fire & Rescue - North Wales 01745 535 250 Environment Agency 03708 506 506

Natural Resources Wales 0300 065 3000 Severn Trent Water 0800 783 4444 Welsh Water 0800 052 0130

LIBRARIES

Chester Library at Storyhouse 01244 409 113 Gresford Library 01978 852 627

Llay Library 01978 855 100 Overton Library 01978 710 557 Wrexham Library 01978 292 090

SCHOOLS & NURSERIES

Abbey Gate College 01244 332 077

All Saints’ Primary School 01978 852 342 Benison Nursery School 01244 676 199

Bishop Heber High School 01948 860 571

Dandelions Day Nursery 01829 272 277

Darland High School 01244 570 588

Dodleston Pre-School 01244 661 611 Dodleston C E Primary School 01244 662 990

Eccleston Primary School 01244 981 000 Farndon Primary School 01244 981 280 Gresford Playgroup 07523 398 880 Holt Primary School 01829 270 021 Holt Under 5’s Playgroup 07496 231 275 Leaps and Bounds Pre-school 01244 678 997

Little Scholars Nursery 01978 314 912 Marford Playgroup 07947 473857 Rhosnesni High School 01978 340 840 Rossett House Nursery 01244 571 872

St. Paul's VA Primary School 01978 661 556 St. Peters Primary School 01244 570 594 Shocklach Primary School 01829 250 285

The Catholic High School 01244 981 600

The Homestead Day Nursery 01978 853 946

The King’s School 01244 689 500

The Maelor School 01948 830 291

The Queen’s School 01244 312 078

The Rofft Primary School 01978 853 116

The Spinney Day Nursery 01244 577 948 Ysgol Bryn Alyn 01978 720 700

TRAVEL

National Rail Enquiries 03457 48 49 50 Traveline 0871 200 22 33

Crossword ACROSS

1 Cogitates (6)

Very long (7)

Conducts reconnaissance (7)

Requirements (5)

A woolly ruminant animal (5)

Epsom horse race (5)

Camera image (5)

Money (5)

Deadlock (7)

Returns to a former state (7)

21

22 Food merchant

1

2

3

6

7

Toys flown in the wind (5)

Great happiness (7)

8

13

14

15

16

17

19