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Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
A look back at life in Llandinam in the early 2000s
WELCOME to another stroll down memory lane as we celebrate the village of Llandinam. Perhaps best known as the birthplace of Victorian industrialist and philanthropist David Davies, 1st Baron Davies of Llandinam, the village is inextricably linked to the Davies family's legacy. Davies, a self-made man, rose to prominence through his work in railway construction and coal mining, becoming a significant figure in the development of modern Wales. His impact is felt throughout the region, and Llandinam serves as a tangible reminder of his accomplishments. Llandinam Primary School was initially slated for closure as part of a broader education review in the Llanidloes area in 2013. However, Powys County Council's Cabinet voted to keep the school open. The village was also once home to a pioneering football club which was one of the oldest in the region but sadly Llandinam Football Club has risen and folded several times over the past 125 years. Jane France Curtis, Kate France and Eirlys Jones behind the bar of the Lion Hotel in Llandinam in 2005. (Image: County Times.) Llandinam Flower and Music Festival memories from 2005. (Image: County Times.) Llandinam Primary School's garden was officially opened in 2004. The opening of a new IT suite at Llandinam Primary School in 2004 thanks to donations from the PTA, Celt Power and the Gwendolyn and Margaret Davies charity. (Image: County Times.)
Glasgow Times
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Lando Norris reveals Monaco Grand Prix success is a dream realised
The 25-year-old converted his scintillating lap-record pole position on Saturday into victory on Sunday as he held off local hero Charles Leclerc and overcame the strategy puzzle of a mandatory two-stop race. Norris became McLaren's 16th Monaco winner but their first since Lewis Hamilton in 2008 and cut team-mate Oscar Piastri's championship lead to three points after the Australian finished third. Monaco is the jewel in the Formula One crown and undoubtably the famous prestigious on the calendar and Norris was overjoyed to etch his name into the history books. Princess Charlene of Monaco congratulates Lando Norris (David Davies/PA) 'Seeing the chequered flag and winning in Monaco is something I dreamed of when I was a kid,' Norris said. 'The view of the team and seeing everyone, my mum and dad down below… it's the feelings inside, which are really the special ones. 'There are many things that I think everyone dreams of – it's getting to Formula 1, winning a race in Formula 1 and winning a race in Monaco. And we achieved it today. 'I think the best bit is that my kids one day will be able to tell everyone that I won in Monaco. That's probably the thing I'm most proud about. 'It's the meaning, the history, the people that have won here in the past. When Lando has the bottle in hand, no one is safe from the spray 🤣#McLaren | #M7AReborn | #MonacoGP 🇲🇨 — McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 25, 2025 'They don't always go on to be champions, but most of them have. And just to know in 30 years' time, I can say 'I mastered Monaco that one year' – or hopefully a few more – but that one year is something I look forward to saying.' Norris survived a scare when he locked up at turn one but stayed ahead of Leclerc and he remained in control of the race despite the mix of pit-stop strategy. The FIA introduced a mandatory two-stops for this year in a bid to spice up the race on a track where overtaking is nigh-on impossible. Max Verstappen left his second stop until the penultimate lap, backing Norris up into Leclerc and taking his chance on a red flag playing into his hands. Norris cut Piastri's gap in the championship to three points (David Davies/PA) That did not materialise as he finished fourth and Norris was able to savour his Monaco moment. The British driver has been open about his frustration over qualifying struggles which left him trailing in the championship race and he has been criticised for making mistakes under pressure. Norris insists he always had belief and feels he now has positive momentum to take into the Spanish Grand Prix next weekend. 'I was more proud of yesterday than I almost was of today,' Norris added. 'Not just because a pole in Monaco sets up a win but the accomplishment of doing it, no matter what the track would have been, was something I'm more proud about. 'To kind of give myself that momentum, that boost, definitely makes me feel better going into Barcelona next week. 'People have their own opinions, they can do all of those things. Thing is, none of them are true, 99 per cent of the time. So, it's all crap. 'I don't mind what people write as long as I know the truth and my team know the truth.' Lewis Hamilton gained two places to finish fifth for Ferrari.
Glasgow Times
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Lando Norris says overcoming qualifying struggles makes Monaco pole his best
The British driver set a new record around the streets of Monte Carlo of 1:09.954 to beat local hero Charles Leclerc to pole by 0.109 seconds. Norris, who has bemoaned his qualifying slip-ups throughout the season, put it together at the death to clinch his first pole since the season-opener in Melbourne. The 25-year-old has been open about his Saturday struggles hindering his championship bid after qualifying sixth in Bahrain, 10th in Saudi Arabia and a disappointing fourth in Imola last weekend. But Norris put all doubts aside with a flawless lap and says his 11th pole position is his most prized. 'Even if it was any other track, I think this is the pole that means the most to me because of what has happened over the last couple of months – it might not seem like a lot – but for me it is quite a big deal,' Norris said. 'It means a lot, not just because it has been a while since I have been here but just because of how things have gone over the last couple of months in qualifying. 'To come here with a fresh mindset and plenty more opportunities, it is a harder place to do it because it is more difficult as a lap, more exciting, more pressure.' Lando Norris clinched the 11th pole position of his career (David Davies/PA) Leclerc sparked jubilant scenes when he clinched his first home victory after numerous near-misses last season and the Monaco master topped every practice session to hint at a fourth pole in five years here. The Monegasque toppled Norris' initial time but the McLaren man responded brilliantly to take pole. 'To classify it as a breakthrough you need consistency of results,' Norris added. 'It is positive and a breakthrough that I had a good Saturday which is at least a step in the right direction which I am very, very happy about. 'I don't think I have ever doubted what I can do, I got frustrated, I have not been happy because if I don't get pole I am not going to be happy. 'I have not doubted what I am capable of doing and having a day like today certainly backs that up.' Oscar Piastri, who leads Norris by 13 points in the championship standings, qualified third ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton crashed into the barriers at Massenet in final practice, forcing extensive repairs to his car, but responded well to claim his best qualifying position – aside from a sprint session – of the season. But he was summoned to the stewards for impeding Max Verstappen – who qualified fifth – in Q1 and was hit with a three-place grid penalty, meaning he will start from seventh. Ferrari appeared to inform their driver that the Dutchman was on a slow lap, with Hamilton saying: 'You said he was slowing down, f*** sake man!' Monaco is widely considered to be the most crucial qualifying session of the year, due to it being nigh-on impossible to overtake around the narrow streets of the principality. Leclerc predicts 'chaos' in Sunday's race (David Davies/PA) But the FIA has introduced a mandatory two pit-stop rule for this season in a bid to create more strategy options. Norris admits that makes life more tricky for the pole-sitter than in recent years, saying: 'Sadly I think there will be more opportunity for everyone. Formula One has tried to put on more of a show. 'In my position now I probably don't agree with what's been done but I'm not the one who makes the rules.' Leclerc said: 'I think there will be a bit of chaos. I think we might be under pressure from cars that we don't expect from the back.' Mercedes endured a miserable qualifying, with George Russell breaking down and Kimi Antonelli crashing out. They will start 14th and 15th respectively.
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Herald Scotland
Aston Martin signing Max Verstappen is a pipe dream for now
The 66-year-old started work as managing technical partner at the Silverstone-based team in March and has been clear that his aim is to help Aston Martin become a championship-winning team. Newey is in the paddock in Monaco this weekend for the first time since joining Aston Martin and said drivers of four-time champion Verstappen's calibre would not consider joining the team until the car is capable of winning. Max Verstappen is bidding for a fifth successive world championship this season (David Davies/PA) 'Max is clearly a phenomenal talent and he's a supreme competitor,' Newey told selected media including the PA news agency. 'Part of that means that Max likes to break things down to a simple equation if you like and that is, in this particular case, choosing a team that he believes will deliver the fastest car. 'So if we're to ever attract Max, the first thing we have to do is make a fast car. 'There's no point in pipe-dreaming about anything else for now.' Asked how long that process will take, Newey added: 'I've got absolutely no idea.' Newey accepts Aston Martin need to build a winning car in order to attract drivers like Max Verstappen (David Davies/PA) Discussion over Verstappen's future was rife amid Red Bull's early-season struggles with their car and motorsport director Helmut Marko said after Bahrain in April the 'concern is great' that the Dutchman might leave before his contract expires in 2028. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, 43, and Lance Stroll – son of Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll – are the team's current driver line-up. 'Lance I think has an unfairly bad rap,' Newey added. 'Any driver who gets to Formula One is clearly very good but I think Lance is much better than people give him credit for. 'Fernando is such a good character. He's been an enemy for many years, along with Lewis (Hamilton). Newey says he has always wanted to work with Alonso (David Davies/PA) 'Two drivers I've always, from the modern era, felt I would enjoy working with were Lewis and Fernando and I couldn't work with both so at least I got one of them.' Newey, who has won world championships at Williams, McLaren and Red Bull, has been focused on the 2026 car and the sport's new regulations. 'It's been pretty much full on since I started in March,' he added. 'My wife says I go into a design trance and I can understand what she means, that when I get into this sort of period of intense concentration I tend to not see left and right. 'All my processing power is going into one area which is trying to work with everyone to design a fast racing car.' Looking good in green, Adrian. 💚 Adrian Newey arriving at the #MonacoGP for his first race weekend trackside with Aston Martin Aramco. — Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) May 22, 2025 Aston Martin are seventh in the constructors' standings, trailing the likes of Williams and Haas, underlining the task ahead of Newey in making them title contenders. But he says he has seen potential in his new team. 'There's a lot of individually very good people. We just need to try to get them working together perhaps in a slightly better organised way,' Newey said. 'I think that's simply a result of the roots of the team being Jordan that became Force India, that became Racing Point. 'As such it was always a small but slightly overperforming team, to now in a very short space of time a very big team that in truth has been underperforming this year.'
Glasgow Times
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Aston Martin signing Max Verstappen is a pipe dream for now
Newey, widely considered the greatest technical mastermind of his generation, committed his long-term future to Aston Martin in September 2024 after his departure from Red Bull sparked a bidding war for his services – with Ferrari among those interested. The 66-year-old started work as managing technical partner at the Silverstone-based team in March and has been clear that his aim is to help Aston Martin become a championship-winning team. Newey is in the paddock in Monaco this weekend for the first time since joining Aston Martin and said drivers of four-time champion Verstappen's calibre would not consider joining the team until the car is capable of winning. Max Verstappen is bidding for a fifth successive world championship this season (David Davies/PA) 'Max is clearly a phenomenal talent and he's a supreme competitor,' Newey told selected media including the PA news agency. 'Part of that means that Max likes to break things down to a simple equation if you like and that is, in this particular case, choosing a team that he believes will deliver the fastest car. 'So if we're to ever attract Max, the first thing we have to do is make a fast car. 'There's no point in pipe-dreaming about anything else for now.' Asked how long that process will take, Newey added: 'I've got absolutely no idea.' Newey accepts Aston Martin need to build a winning car in order to attract drivers like Max Verstappen (David Davies/PA) Discussion over Verstappen's future was rife amid Red Bull's early-season struggles with their car and motorsport director Helmut Marko said after Bahrain in April the 'concern is great' that the Dutchman might leave before his contract expires in 2028. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, 43, and Lance Stroll – son of Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll – are the team's current driver line-up. 'Lance I think has an unfairly bad rap,' Newey added. 'Any driver who gets to Formula One is clearly very good but I think Lance is much better than people give him credit for. 'Fernando is such a good character. He's been an enemy for many years, along with Lewis (Hamilton). Newey says he has always wanted to work with Alonso (David Davies/PA) 'Two drivers I've always, from the modern era, felt I would enjoy working with were Lewis and Fernando and I couldn't work with both so at least I got one of them.' Newey, who has won world championships at Williams, McLaren and Red Bull, has been focused on the 2026 car and the sport's new regulations. 'It's been pretty much full on since I started in March,' he added. 'My wife says I go into a design trance and I can understand what she means, that when I get into this sort of period of intense concentration I tend to not see left and right. 'All my processing power is going into one area which is trying to work with everyone to design a fast racing car.' Looking good in green, Adrian. 💚 Adrian Newey arriving at the #MonacoGP for his first race weekend trackside with Aston Martin Aramco. — Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) May 22, 2025 Aston Martin are seventh in the constructors' standings, trailing the likes of Williams and Haas, underlining the task ahead of Newey in making them title contenders. But he says he has seen potential in his new team. 'There's a lot of individually very good people. We just need to try to get them working together perhaps in a slightly better organised way,' Newey said. 'I think that's simply a result of the roots of the team being Jordan that became Force India, that became Racing Point. 'As such it was always a small but slightly overperforming team, to now in a very short space of time a very big team that in truth has been underperforming this year.'
