Sue and Dean, who run the branch on Pernrhyn Avenue, have explained that Post Office head office are proposing to move services elsewhere as it has not been possible to find anyone to take over the office in its current location.

They said: "We have not been given a fixed date but Post Office Limited have told us it will be some months before the move as this has to go through public consultation.

"Notices will be sent out in the next couple of days but we wanted to let you know ourselves.

"Many of you who started as customers have become our friends and we will miss you all when we leave but hope we have your understanding."

Coleg Llandrillo students took part in a wheelchair basketball session led by Team GB athlete Alex Marshall-Wilson.

Alex, who plays for Sheffield Steelers and Loughborough University, studied Level 3 Sport at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus.

The 20-year-old from Deganwy is in the Great Britain squad preparing for this year’s Junior European Championships.

He returned to college with Ffit Conwy disability sport officer Mark Richards, putting on a practical session for learners studying Sport (Performance & Excellence) and Sport (Sport and Exercise Science).

Alex talked students through the basics of wheelchair basketball, taught them various skills and led them in a game of British bulldog.

They then got the chance to try wheelchair basketball themselves in a match situation.

Alex also told students how they could get involved in wheelchair basketball with local clubs such as Conwy Thunder, where he started his journey to elite sport.

While at the Rhos campus, Alex talked about his time at Coleg Llandrillo, saying: “It was absolutely amazing - everyone was so inclusive from tutors to classmates.

“I was coming from school where I wasn’t included in a lot of things. The mindset was completely different here - the teachers were like ‘how can we get him to do this?’

“My classmates were so open and honest about stuff. They wanted to ask questions and I was actually able to get a few people involved in the sport - some of them took on volunteering roles.”

Alex won the Sport & Public Services category at Coleg Llandrillo’s FE Achiever of the Year Awards in 2022, and at the ceremony was named Overall Winner for the college.

He said: “I couldn’t quite believe I’d been nominated for the sport one, and then to go on and win the overall Achievers’ Award was something I’d not really expected.”

Alex is now studying Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University, and said coming to college helped prepare him for higher education.

“College helped me to prepare and know what’s to come,” he said. “Speaking with tutors about what university was going to be like was a big step forward.”

Alex recently travelled to Hanover, Germany, where his club Sheffield Steelers were playing in the EuroCup. He helped Great Britain win gold in the Kitakyushu Champions Cup in Japan in November, and his ultimate aim is to represent GB in the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.

Sports lecturer Charlotte Walker-Jones thanked Alex for taking time out from his training to return to the Rhos campus.

She said: “It has been a fantastic day with the main focus on ensuring our sport students engage in a fun taster session for wheelchair basketball. All students have enjoyed the session, with some looking to sign up for a local team. A big thanks to Alex and Mark for delivering the session.

“It has been great to hear how well Alex is doing in Loughborough University after leaving the college in 2022. Alex was an exceptional student, and it has been a pleasure to have him back with us.”

The trading season will commence on the 23rd of March 2024 and will end on the 6th of November 2024.

This concession is located in a popular play area which includes a children's paddling pool, slides, swings, zip wire and other play apparatus as well as a good-sized grassed area.

The concession will have access to the toilets on site as well as an electricity supply (with cost of consumption to be recharged).

The Authority is looking to attract local independent businesses that could include offerings such as ice creams, hot & cold refreshments, snacks and/or a bouncy castle.

To find out more and to apply, please click here.

In the event of a major man-made or natural disaster knocking out electrical supply and taking with it the landline and mobile phone systems David Morgan and fellow radio hams are ready to leap into action to provide a back-up communications network.

David and his wife, Sandy, have run The Northwood Guest House, on Rhos Road, Rhos on Sea, with its nine bedrooms for the past 20 years and combine looking after their guests with their hobbies – amateur radio and photography for David and line and circle dancing for Sandy.

The 75-year-old from Rhos on Sea keeps much of his sophisticated radio equipment in three 40-foot storage units on Lock Stock Self Storage’s giant Llandudno Junction storage park just off the A55.

He is part of a team of 30 radio hams from across North Wales who are tasked with keeping a vital back-up communications system up and running should disaster strike.

David, a former serviceman in the Life Guards Regiment, part of the Household Cavalry, has just been presented with a bottle of bubbly and a £200 thank-you from Lock Stock for his 20 years as a loyal customer.

He said: “The units have been ideal for us for storing spare furniture and various things for the guest house because we like to change things round from time to time but they’re also important for keeping our radio equipment dry, safe and secure.

“I’ve been a member of RAYNET - the Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network - for many years and we would step in to help provide communications for the North Wales region in the event of a major disaster knocking out communications.

“Our role would be to provide a communications network for the Councils’ Emergency Planning Officer and the Emergency Services for disaster control. I’m the RAYNET co-ordinator and have 30 operators across the region who can help.

“We could set up wherever we were needed – I can operate from my van - and the storage unit at Lock Stock in Llandudno Junction is ideal for our needs, it’s secure and I have 24/7 access there.

“But we don’t just provide a service in the event of disaster. We provide radio cover for very many events in difficult outdoor places where there is rarely any signal for mobile phones.

“We’re there for events like the Snowdon Marathon, we’ve covered the Round Anglesey cycle race and other cross-country races for mountain bikers and runners – I was at the Old Horseshoe Pass, near Llangollen, last autumn for the National Hill Climb Cycling Championships with members of the Meirion RAYNET group.”

Lock Stock’s North West Wales Area Site Manager Lee Hanson said: “We like to show our appreciation for loyal customers like David who has been with us for 20 years and is one of our longest-serving renters.

“The radio equipment he has is amazing and he and his amateur radio colleagues clearly provide a very valuable service – let’s just hope they’re not needed for anything other than sporting events.

“Our units are really versatile though so they make ideal storage options, especially for someone like David who could need them at any time of the day or night because they have 24/7 access, they’re weatherproof and are on properly surfaced, serviced and secure sites.

“We offer flexible terms which appeal to businesses like David and house movers. There is no minimum period and no notice needed when the unit is finished with so customers only pay for the days they have used.”

Lock Stock units come in 40-foot, 20-foot and 10-foot lengths, are eight feet high and wide, are painted the company’s uniform dark green and have been trucked onto the site by lorry with Lock Stock using computer-aided design to ensure the layout permits easy access to all the units.

Lock Stock, founded in Denbigh in 1999, is the UK’s largest containerised storage company with almost 4,500 units providing over four million cubic feet of space at storage parks across North and Mid Wales, the border counties and Merseyside.

Their existing sites stretch from Holyhead and along the North Wales coast at Porthmadog, Caernarfon, Bangor, Llandudno, Abergele and Rhyl, on the Dee at Flint, Saltney and Deeside and inland at Denbigh, Mold, Buckley, Wrexham and Newtown in Powys, and in England at Oswestry and Shrewsbury in Shropshire and now in Huyton in Liverpool.

The company estimate that 60 per cent of their containers are rented by people moving house or keeping treasured possessions but up to 40 per cent, almost 2,000 of their containers are used by small businesses for storing equipment and materials.

Lee Hanson added: “Businesses, especially small businesses use our sites because they have storage needs and with three different sizes of units they’re ideal whether people are looking to grow or to downsize.

“We respond to demand and where it is coming from and if it is from an area where we need more capacity then we look at opening somewhere new or extending our existing premises.”

Lock Stock also specialise in the off-site hire of containers, delivered to your location by their specialist lorry and hired on a month by month basis. The sizes range from 640 to 2,560 in cubic feet in volume.

Anyone interested in amateur radio or in joining RAYNET, can contact David Morgan at david@davidmorgan.wales.

For information about Lock Stock Self Storage including off-site container hire contact them on 01745 817178 or go to https://lockstock.biz/.

In a message on social media, Conwy Council confirmed that work on the final phase on the redevelopment would not not be greatly impacted and that the project completion was now approaching its final few weeks.

Work on the promenade is now due to begin tomorrow (Thursday 9 November).

Resurfacing work on the West Promenade and Cayley Promenade junction roads will commence on Wednesday 15th November with Rhos Promenade closed from opposite the Harlequin Theatre to Combermere Gardens on November 16th and 17th.

It is expected that the promenade will be open in time for the St. David's Tree of Lights switch on November 26th.

Coleg Llandrillo learners were given an insight into working in the armed forces when they went to Capel Curig military camp.

Students on the BTEC Level 3 Uniformed Protective Services course at the Rhos-on-Sea campus spent the day with male and female soldiers from the Army Intelligence Corps, Welsh Guards, Royal Logistical Corps and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. 

The students were shown army equipment such as personal issue clothing and field ration packs, as well as how to use camouflage and how to safely search for objects hidden in undergrowth. A presentation was also given on the different roles within the Army.

Learners took part in team work and leadership activities, and had the chance to undertake an Intelligence Corps test exercise, which involved planning an intelligence operation.

An Army officer also gave the learners an insight into the application process to become an officer cadet.

Lecturer Dewi Roberts said: “The Army personnel gave very positive feedback on the students’ engagement during the day.

“From a tutors’ perspective, on returning to college the students were very complimentary about the opportunity given to them and are keen to look at more career opportunities as they progress through the course.

“As part of the course, not only do we have classroom delivery for the students, we have access to the military - the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Marines - for raising awareness of the career opportunities for our students.

“We also engage with the police, fire and ambulance services and other organisations in North Wales so students are fully aware of opportunities as they contemplate their careers in the public services.

“We also get guest speakers into the college, and students are given the opportunity to ask questions and seek out public service opportunities.

“Anyone interested in finding out more about the course can visit our open evening at the Rhos-on-Sea campus on Monday, November 13.”

Student Ben Jones said: “It was of value to meet the Army at Capel Curig and get an overview of their different roles and career opportunities. As we progress on the course it is important to have that experience both in the classroom and during visits.”

Fellow student Angel Owen said: “It was an amazing opportunity to communicate and build relationships with my classmates whilst completing the teamwork and other exercises.”

For more information about courses in Public Services at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, click here. Open evenings will be held at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s campuses during November. For more information, click here.

It was his sport course at Coleg Llandrillo that proved the launchpad for a career at the cutting edge of aerospace technology.

Jacob, from Rhos-on-Sea, had always been a keen sportsman, playing football and competing in athletics as a youngster.

He studied a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport (Performance and Excellence) at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos campus, achieving a triple distinction in 2013.

Ten years later, he works as a Senior Aerospace Human Factors Engineer for BAE Systems Air, with the challenge of devising a cockpit system that can optimise human performance in a next-generation fast-jet aircraft.

Jacob said: “My specialism within the team is psychophysiological monitoring. This area of research explores how wearable technologies could be used to monitor pilot performance, by capturing physiological signals including brain wave activity, eye tracking, and cardiovascular measures.

“We can then use this data to help improve cockpit design, enhance pilot training, and even to measure behaviours such as mental overload or fatigue during challenging and stressful situations during flight.”

From Coleg Llandrillo, Jacob went to Liverpool John Moores University, where he studied Sports and Exercise Science, followed by a PhD in Biomedical Engineering.

“The aim of my research was to develop a novel wearable electromagnetic sensor to measure physiological markers in athletes,” he said. “As part of my PhD, I had the opportunity to work alongside professional athletes, including players from Liverpool Football Club, which was always a childhood dream and aspiration of mine.”

While at Coleg Llandrillo, Jacob completed his RNLI lifeguard training, and also played for the college football team - which led to him going on a work experience trip to Italy where he coached Torino FC youngsters and watched AC Milan.

He said: “This trip was unbelievable and provided a unique opportunity to work abroad with professional football clubs, including Torino FC, to coach their youth teams and watch their first team.

“We also played regular football against local teams, had the opportunity to visit Juventus’ training facilities, and watched AC Millan play at the San Siro Stadium.”

Jacob said college gave him the opportunity to combine his interests with gaining a foundation of knowledge which set him on his career trajectory.

He added: “My hobbies and interests have always centred around sport. I have always been fascinated by how you could improve human performance using science and technology.

“I think I knew early on that I wanted to study sports and exercise science at university, and college provided me with the perfect gateway to achieving that goal

“I’ve personally always found it important to study a topic that I was genuinely interested in. As my education progressed, I quickly realised that scientific research and technology development was an area I was passionate about, and I was fortunate enough to have the right opportunities and doors open at the right time.

“I believe sports and exercise science provides a varied and in-depth insight into topic areas such as exercise physiology, psychology and biomechanics, and provides insight into how to use scientific research methods.

“All of these areas have many applications across multiple disciplines outside of just the world of sport, including healthcare, science and technology, and engineering.”

There are still places available on Sport and Outdoor Education courses at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai. For more information, including how to apply, click here.

Conwy County Borough Council was criticised in April after it announced that paddling pools in Rhos-on-Sea, Llanfairfechan, Penmaenmawr and Craig y Don would not re-open in 2023 due to a high risk of people slipping, claiming that ‘the only UK provider and installer’ of a specialist anti-slip coating not being able to undertake the necessary work due to ill health.

In May, the local authority updated its communication to say that an alternative contractor had been found but failed to provide a timescale for the completion of the works.

At the time of publication, the paddling pool in Rhos-on-Sea remained empty and there were no signs of any work in progress.

After visiting the pool, in late July Mr Millar said: “Local residents are furious at the failure of Conwy County Borough Council to resolve the maintenance issues in local seaside paddling pools and get them open for the summer.

“The paddling pool in Rhos-on-Sea is a popular facility which has always been well-used by locals and visitors throughout the summer months. The lack of progress in getting it re-opened is totally unacceptable.

“I urge the local authority to pull out all the stops to get our paddling pools open as soon as possible.”

Rhos-on-Sea County Borough Councillors Jo Nuttall and Gareth Jones said: “In spite of promises we are yet to see any signs of work commencing at the paddling pool in Rhos. It is such a shame to see the pool empty when children are off school and families are looking for free activities for them to enjoy."

 Cllr Aaron Wynne, Cabinet Member for Culture & Leisure, said:

“We continue to work on our paddling pools, we’re dealing with a number of structural issues, and ensuring we’ll have a quality base and finish once completed.

“This is a major investment to secure the long term future of these much loved community assets, and we do appreciate the communities’ patience whilst we carry out this essential work. The local contractor has gone over and above and we’re very grateful to them for all their hard work.

“We’re committed to getting the work completed safely and the facilities open as soon as we can“.

After only one year, they’ve attained the BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and a C&G NVQ Level 2 in Performing Engineering Operations.

Midway through their second year, they are now undertaking a C&G level 3 Diploma in Wind Turbine Maintenance (Technical Knowledge) and additional units to the NVQ Level 2.

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai is already the UK training centre for the RWE Renewables UK Apprenticeships scheme, and a purpose-built workshop for RWE apprentices and staff will also be housed in the brand new £14 million Engineering Centre, currently under development in Rhyl.

Twenty three of RWE’s employees are also currently studying towards obtaining a Higher National Certificate (HNC), or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Engineering, through Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.

Speaking at last week’s presentation ceremony, RWE’s Head of Offshore Operations (UK North), John Mckenzie, said: “The completion of the Level 2 framework marks a key milestone in the development of the apprentices. It’s great to see them progressing well at Coleg Llandrillo, and I’m glad that we get a chance to recognise their achievements with the presentation today.

“I’m looking forward to following their careers over the next few years as they establish themselves as highly-skilled, wind turbine technicians, working on RWE’s existing wind farms, as well as those currently in development.”

Coleg Llandrillo’s Wind Turbine trainer & assessor Mark McDonough, said: “We are very pleased to continue working in partnership with RWE Renewables to train young persons for the ever-growing renewable power industry. We have a proven successful apprenticeship programme for hydro, offshore, and onshore wind power and look forward to many more years working with RWE Renewables.”

The first ever cohort of trainee wind turbine technicians - who were selected out of over 660 applicants after a rigorous selection process taking many months - started their training at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus in September 2012.

For more information on Wind Turbine apprenticeships at Coleg Llandrillo, please contact the college’s Learner Services team on 01492 542 338.

One of the youths was also charged with a second attempted burglary offence that took place in the Rhos-on-Sea area.

All three youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are due to appear before Llandudno Youth Court on Tuesday, April 18th.

Chris had been a puppeteer and integral part of the Harlequin since it’s opening by Eric Bramall in 1958. Throughout that time he performed countless shows, both at the theatre and on TV, worked independently as a cabaret performer with puppets and magic and entertained thousands of children with his Punch and Judy as Mr BimBamBoozle.

Since the death of Eric in 1996 he worked tirelessly to ensure the theatre continued; performing all shows, as well as every other element of theatre life, on his own - an achievement he was very proud of.

Mr. Somerville's funeral will take place on Friday 24th February at 2pm at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Colwyn Bay. Family flowers only please, with donations to be made to Hope House Children’s Hospice.

Mary Owen-Jones, a local hairdresser and teaching assistant from Rhos on Sea sadly died on Tuesday, January 3rd, following the incident on Sunday, January 1st.

Her family said: “Mary is survived by her son and daughter, Andrew and Jasmine, her granddaughter, April Rose and her husband, Arwel.

“She had a passion for life and her family and was particularly looking forward to being a grandma to her newly born granddaughter, April Rose.

“She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. We are absolutely heartbroken and would ask to be given the appropriate privacy to allow us time to grieve.”

Mary’s family, who continues to be supported by specialist officers, thanked those who have reached out to them during this difficult time.

Officers are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the collision that happened at around 8.40pm on the hospital grounds between two car parks, near to the main entrance of the hospital.

Anybody who may have witnessed or inadvertently captured the incident on their dash-cam whilst parked outside the hospital is asked to contact us as a matter of urgency on 101, quoting reference 23000006433.

Kindly organised by the Rhos on Sea Rotary, The Tree of Lights was switched on for the first time this year with its branches adorned with beautiful twinkling lights.

The ceremony took place on the Promenade and it was the first time the event has been held since 2019 due to the pandemic restrictions.

The weather stayed dry for the service, which featured music from the Beulah Brass and carols from Cor Meibion Colwyn.

Rotary President Pauline Hogan said, “We were so pleased to invite the public to witness the switch on this year following such difficult times. All proceeds from the Tree of Lights will go to support the fantastic work of St David’s Hospice in Llandudno.”

The lights were switched on by the Mayor of the Bay of Colwyn Cllr Colin Matthews after which an address and the blessing was given by Rev. Owen Morris.

Rhian Jacobs, Event Co-ordinator for St David’s Hospice said: “Our grateful thanks go to the members of the Rhos on Sea Rotary for organising the evening, the choir and band who led the crowd in carol singing, and also Griffiths Construction, Specialist Engineering Technical Services, Absolute Sounds, Conwy County Borough Council, Amberon and The Bay of Colwyn Town Council.”

Since its inception, 23 years ago, the Tree of Lights has raised over £350,000 for local end of life care. Donations in memory of loved ones can still be made either via the St David’s Hospice website

https://stdavidshospice.org.uk/donations/tree-of-lights-2/

The visit to the site on the coastal town’s West promenade was organised through CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) Wales as part of the ‘See Your Site’ initiative. Griffiths Civil Engineering began work on the project in the summer, and it is due for completion in spring 2023.

On arrival, the group of students were provided with all the information regarding the project, followed by a site visit and a question-and-answer session.

Coleg Llandrillo tutor Jeff Price said: “Many thanks to the CITB and Griffiths Civil Engineering for providing our brickwork and degree students with the invaluable opportunity to visit this major construction site. The talk was illuminating and the students got the opportunity to ask a series of questions concerning both the project and the construction industry as a whole.”  

The project’s aim is to improve the coastal defences by importing approximately 1 million tonnes of sand to place in front of the existing seawall. This will protect the seawall and the properties and infrastructure behind it from the continued threat of the sea and accepted climate change levels.

The scheme also includes modifications to the lower beach and improvements to the promenade, widening it to provide more space for pedestrians and cyclists. Street furniture and lighting will also be upgraded. The company is also adding play and recreation spaces, shelters, planters, public art and event spaces.

For more information on Construction courses at Coleg Llandrillo, contact the college’s Learner Services team on 01492 542 338. Alternatively, go to www.gllm.ac.uk or email enquiries.llandrillo@gllm.ac.uk.

In 2020, Hannah’s mother Krystyna Morgan-Jones passed away after a short time receiving care at St David’s Hospice, Llandudno.  Hannah explains:

“Until recently, I have had no direct connection with the Hospice. I’d even say that I really didn’t know or understand what hospices were all about. Being only 19, it’s something I had not ever given real thought to.  My mum was admitted into the Inpatient Unit for two nights, but that short moment in time was very precious to us. We are very thankful and so was my Mum.

“Whilst mum received hospice care, it also gave us all respite.  Being in the Hospice gave us an opportunity to see each other through the covid lockdown when we only had phone and video calls for months beforehand.

“This summer, alongside my stepsisters and friends, I took part in the Anglesey Coastal Path challenge walking 30km from Rhosneigr to Holyhead. In her memory we wore t-shirts with the words ‘Krystyna’s Warriors’. It was good to give something back. It allowed us to make my mum proud, and honour and remember her in a very positive way.

“We feel very close to this cause and are so thankful. St David’s Hospice helped us and mum when our need was at its greatest and when there was nowhere else to turn.”

Hannah and the ‘Krystyna’s Warriors’ Team successfully completed the challenge and raised £850.

To find out more about St. David's Hospice and their Christmas programme of fundraising events including the Tree of Lights which switches on this Sunday 27th November, please visit https://stdavidshospice.org.uk.