Clifford Jones Timber have invested more than £1 million in the new state of the art equipment at their eco-friendly 13-acre headquarters site in Ruthin.

It gives them the capacity to supply high quality, durable laminated timber for the leisure and construction industries and has increased the workforce at Ruthin to 67.

The project was backed by a Welsh Economic Growth Fund grant of £157,000 from the Welsh Government and means that a process that used to take days is now carried out in minutes.

Company Chairman Alan Jones said: “We were reacting to requests from existing customers, particularly in the leisure sector where we supply timber products for playgrounds and parks.

“They wanted material that was tougher, more durable and more stable – so that it didn’t crack or splinter – and laminated timber provides all those qualities.

“But we also believe that we can find new markets in the construction industry where laminated timber is strong enough to be used for lintels and beams and much more attractive than concrete as well as being much lighter.

“We saw an opportunity and we took advantage of the grant that was available though it meant we had to work fast to produce and application and a business plan in just three weeks but we managed it and were successful.”

Previously Clifford Jones Timber had either made their own laminated timber by gluing together lengths of sawn timber and then clamping them together for three days, or imported it in batches from Finland.

The new equipment can create moulded timber which is then passed through a £260,000 laminator in just six minutes.

The process is powered by a 987 kilowatt biomass boiler which is fed with wood chippings taken from the 100,000 tons of timber which is processed on the Ruthin site every year.

The imported batches of pre-laminated timber took three weeks to arrive and were of various lengths, some of which might be unsuitable for an order, and had to be prepaid.

Alan Jones said: “We are now able to produce laminated timber to order more cheaply and much more quickly than we could before and we believe this will open up new markets for us.

“The glue we use is the same as British Aerospace use for the wings for the Airbus and it produces a product that is four times stronger than a conventional wooden beam.

“For the building industry it also has the advantage of being attractive. People like the feel and the look of wood – it’s a tactile material and of course it’s sustainable and stores carbon.”

Clifford Jones Timber was founded by Alan Jones’s father in 1948 and has been at its Ruthin base for 25 years: “When we started here there were two people employed here and now there are 67,” he said.

“Every piece of timber that comes through these gates is used. There isn’t any wasted and there aren’t many industries that can say that.”

The range of products they supply includes fence posts – they are Britain’s biggest producer of round timber posts – and gates, bedding for horses and even cat litter, and a range of wood fuels from dried logs and wood briquettes to wood pellets for biomass boilers.

They use timber from forests all over the UK and also have a second site at Gretna in Scotland where they employ a further ten staff.

The wood fuel side of the business was launched in 2008 after the construction of a a £5 million 20,000 square foot factory at the Ruthin site on Brickfield Lane and it now produces 30,000 tons of fuel pellets every year.

Managing Director Keith Corbett said: “By its nature much of your output is seasonal with the peak time for fence posts in the spring and early summer and for wood fuel in the winter and we’re looking to the laminated wood products to bridge the gap in the summer with sales to the building industry.”

A project to create a long term Vision and Masterplan for the future of the town centre has been backed by a number of prominent figures, including businesspeople and local representatives.

Former County Councillor and local businessman J V Owen is a keen advocate of the town centre getting involved in planning its future and he said: “The idea of a long term Vision and Masterplan is great. We have a lot going for us but we need to promote ourselves more.

“Work has now started to bring some of the fine old buildings in the town centre up to scratch and that’s a good idea and it’s the right way forward for the town – a lot of money has been spent but we need to get something back to make a future for Holyhead.

“I am involved with the Townscape Heritage Initiative but even if I wasn’t it’s the right way forward for the town centre – a lot of money has been spent but we need to get something back to make a future for Holyhead.

“We need people to get involved in also thinking about the future direction for the town centre in setting a longer term vision and also considering projects that will assist in delivering the vision.”

“We have cruise liners coming and the railway and ferries but people in the town centre need to rise to the challenge and come forward.”

Local regeneration organisation Mon Communities First has been active in Holyhead, particularly in helping fill empty shops where it’s award-winning scheme is now being used as a blueprint in other areas.

It’s Prosperous Communities Co-ordinator, Alun Roberts, said: “In terms of the Masterplan it’s vital that people have their say.

“This is a pivotal time for the future of all town centres and it’s important that we don’t sit back and do nothing.

“We’re very supportive of the continued efforts to look to future projects because they’re playing a part in the regeneration of the town centre but this is about more than just that – it’s about helping people move onto the ladder.

“Holyhead has problems such as high unemployment and we need to address these and increasing community involvement is integral to coming up with new innovative ideas.

“I would like to have a regular forum where local people can get more involved in future in helping to steer regeneration proposals and seeing the outcomes from their involvement.

“People like to see things happening. It gives them hope for the future and things are happening in Holyhead so it’s about keeping the momentum going.”

Local Chartered Building Surveyor Dewi Williams, of DEWIS, is involved in a number of existing projects in the town centre but he is keen to see Holyhead bounce back into the future as well: “There is now a real opportunity to influence the future regeneration projects”

“But the research needs to come into its own and that includes the consultations with the community and businesses.

“If people take the opportunity to get involved there’s a better chance of a good outcome.”

Two of the people honoured by the Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers were from the Pendine Park care organisation while the third was a learner at Deeside College.

The event at Tallow Chandlers’ magnificent hall was organised in conjunction with the City and Guilds examination body.

Pendine Park Care Practitioners Amanda Dexter and James Bowen both gained Level 2 Diplomas in Health and Social Care for which they studied with the organisation’s in-house training arm, Smartcare Training.

Childminder Helen Wynne, who studied with Deeside College, was also judged to be the overall outstanding prize winner for her dedication.

Helen started Blythswood Childminding Services after her son, Dyfan, was born withan extremely rare condition, complex needs, including physical and learning disabilities, hearing and visual impairments.

The trio’s remarkable achievements were recognised at a special celebration at Pendine Park.

Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths was extremely proud that learners from her town had clinched 50 per cent of the excellence awards up for grabs in the whole of the UK.

She said: “I am not surprised though because the people involved the sector here take upskilling very seriously.

“It’s brilliant that Wrexham is setting the benchmark for the rest of the UK in terms of quality.”

Deeside College Principal David Jones said: “It’s really good news for Wrexham and has highlighted the outstanding achievements of the people involved in social care in the region.

“The fact that we have won such a high percentage of the awards shows ability of the people working in the sector and the level of commitment of employers and the people involved in training.

“I hope we can use the example of these people as role models and that’s why we need to celebrate their success.”

Mario Kreft was equally proud and added: “The professional and personal development of our staff is a key priority for Pendine Park.

“All three of the successful learners deserved huge congratulations. They are a shining example of what you can achieve.”

Since signing up with Deeside College, Helen Wynne has gone from strength to strength and has completed her Level 5 Children’s Care Learning and Development qualification.

She now supports students on placements and ensures that they receive a variety of experiences, guidance and encouragement to complete their qualifications.

Helen said: “I can’t believe that I have won such a prestigious award for doing a qualification in a subject and career that I love.

“It was an honour to be awarded and acknowledged for my hard work.  I really hope it encourages other learners to pursue further qualifications in their field of work.”

James Bowen, who works at Pendine Park’s Penybryn care home, is no stranger to winning accolades.

Last year he was named the winner of the organisation’s Smile Award for his happy disposition and the difference it makes to the lives of the residents and their families.

He said: “The presentation in London was brilliant and I really enjoyed it. To be granted an award of excellence was something else and I’m delighted to have been chosen.

“The teaching at Smartcare is superb and I am now putting into practice everything I have learned and hopefully that will make me a better all around Care Practitioner.”

Amanda, who works at the Highfield House care home, was also thrilled.

She said: “It was wonderful to receive the award; it certainly made me feel a bit special.”

Bryn Williams , who runs a swish London restaurant, will bring his crusade to Wrexham on Saturday, May 18.

He will be passing on his cooking tips for free when he gives an al fresco demonstration as a guest of Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham.

Bryn’s visit has been organised to coincide with Wrexham Food and Drink Festival weekend (May 18/19) which raises money for Wrexham’s Nightingale House Hospice.

Eagles Meadow has arranged for Bryn to do a book signing session at the food festival on Llwyn Isaf at 2pm on the Saturday before the demonstration at the shopping centre an hour later.

At a time when aspiring cooks are looking to achieve overnight celebrity status, the lad from Denbigh has grafted 15 years in the kitchen and learned his craft at the feet of the masters to reach the pinnacle of his profession.

In 1997 he began work under Marco Pierre White at The Criterion, went on to work under Michel Roux Jnr at Le Gavroche for three years.

He  went on to be Senior-Sous at The Orrery for four years and then moved to open Galvin at Windows with Chris Galvin, before opening Odette’s in Primrose Hill, London, in 2006, and becoming its owner in 2008.

In the same year that 35-year-old Bryn opened Odette’s, he was chosen to compete in the first series of the Great British Menu on BBC1.

Competing for Wales, Bryn triumphed with his fish course and went on to cook for the Queen’s birthday banquet.

But working at Odette’s also introduced him to special customer, Texas lead singer Sharleen Spiteri, and he and the Scottish singing sensation have been partners for more than five years.

“Obviously I will be cooking something seasonal when I come to Wrexham,” said Bryn, who has been in London since he was 20.

“A lot of the ingredients will be coming from North Wales although I won’t know the menu exactly until about a week before I come up.

“I try and get home about three or four times a year although unfortunately my visits are more work-related than purely social.

“I will have been in London 16 years this June – and I only came down here for a year!” said Bryn, who has just finished his second series for S4C Cegin Bryn (Bryn’s Kitchen) and has plans for a third series. He also has another cookery book out in October.

Bryn comes from a farming family and after leaving school at 16 he went to Llandrillo College where he was student of the year.

Bryn cooked live every day  in the GMTV kitchen with Myleene Klass during the last week of its 17 years as a breakfast television
broadcaster onITV.

He is passionate about the quality of Welsh food and believes it is as good as anything in Europe and probably the world. Many ingredients at his London restaurant come from Wales, the lamb from Henllan and the beef and pork from John Williams of Denbigh and cheese from South Wales.

“Fish is the only thing I struggle with from Wales. I think it tends to get sold in bulk and that’s a shame.”

He confirmed he is looking for a place he could buy in Wales, is he can find something at the right price and in the right location.

“I’m always looking but it would have to be the right building in the right location,” he said. It would not mean a move back to North Wales for Bryn however, and he would probably look to get one of the many “brilliant chefs” in Wales he has worked with to run it for him.

As chefs become ever more famous, Bryn cautions about expecting overnight success. “Being a chef is about experience. For me I worked with some of the best chefs in the world because I wanted to learn from them.

“It’s a tough industry, although not as tough as when I started but you still have to put in the time.

“People say it’s an unsociable industry but I have met some amazing people at Odette’s. You have to be enthusiastic and disciplined, which is true of any career.

Marks and Spencer will be supplying some of the ingredients for while there will also be a cookery demonstration by the centre’s Nando’s restaurant.

Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley was delighted that Bryn was coming to the shopping centre.

He said: “We are very pleased that we are working with the food festival to help raise money for Nightingale House which provides a fantastic and much needed service.”

The festival will take place on Saturday 18 and 19  at Llwyn Isaf, Wrexham.

Last year’s event was a huge success, attracting new people to Wrexham and raising the profile of locally produced food as well as the Hospice.

There will be also collections in aid of Nightingale House at Eagles Meadow.

Margaret Hollings, Nightingale’s fundraising and events manager  said: “This year we are looking forward to an even bigger day extravaganza. The weekend will include numerous food and drink stalls and demonstrations from many different local businesses.

“There will be cookery demonstrations from the AGA Rangemaster Kitchen, with Paul Prescott (Executive Chef, Nelson North West), Kevin Williams (Coleg Harlech) and many more over the course of the weekend.

“A full weekend of entertainment will also be provided using the fields band stand. Entry is £4 per person (Under 10’s free). Please come and support this wonderful event; taste some Wales’s finest foods whilst raising funds for a vital charity in the community at the same time.”

Nightingale House Hospice provides specialist palliative care services, completely free of charge, to people across Wrexham, Flintshire, East Denbighshire, the A494 corridor to Barmouth, and the borders, including Oswestry, Ellesmere, Wem and Whitchurch.

In 2013 it will cost £2.6 million to run the Hospice which equates to over £7000 per day. Since only 19% of this comes from the Local Health Board, it is only enough funding to support the Hospice for 69 days, and the hospice therefore greatly relies on the generosity of the communities it serves to raise the additional funding for the remaining 296 days of the year.

For more information please visit www.wrexhamfoodfest.co.uk or call 01978 314292. Stall spaces still available.