Latest news with #WrexhamMinersProject
Leader Live
19-05-2025
- General
- Leader Live
MS sheds light on Wrexham Miners Project's latest work
MS for Wrexham Many readers will be aware of the Wrexham Miners Project and the wonderful work it does in helping preserve our mining history and heritage. After a challenging period in which the future of building was under threat, the centre on Maesgwyn Road is now a thriving community hub, housing a café, museum, an arts and events space and a memorial in remembrance of the 266 miners who died in the Gresford Colliery disaster. The restoration is ongoing and the entire team, led by the brilliant George Powell, deserves a huge amount of praise. Their latest ambitious project, entitled 'Lost in the Dark', is aiming to erect a memorial in every local community and village around Wrexham affected by the Gresford Mining disaster. I had the honour of unveiling the first memorial on Green Road in Brymbo directly opposite the former home of Earnest Edwards. Earnest was just 16 years old when he lost his life and although record keeping at the time wasn't entirely reliable, it is believed he was the youngest person to die in the tragedy. Credit must go to Margaret Jones of The North Wales Miners Association Trust (NWMAT) who has searched and cross checked the records and archives to obtain the most accurate information possible. It is hoped the project will be completed over the next couple of years and if any families wish to help with the creation of the Lost in the Dark memorials, please contact the Wrexham Miners Project. Hwb yr Orsedd is a vibrant community meeting place and café in the heart of Rossett that officially opened in October last year. I first visited in 2020 when all that was on site was a disused toilet block. I remember writing letters of support as the volunteers successfully applied for funding from the Welsh Government, as well as other sources, to help turn their ambitious plans into reality. The transformation is incredible and everyone involved in the project should be proud of what they have achieved. The state-of-the-art facility is already a key part of the community and during a recent visit, it was pleasing to hear from staff and volunteer trustees how the hub is moving from strength to strength. I will certainly be visiting again soon! As always, if you're a constituent in Wrexham and there is an issue I could help you with, please contact me via email: or call 01978 355743.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Local man's company sees T-shirts worn globally, on TV and by sports teams
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – From Columbus, Ohio to the United Kingdom, it's been anything but your typical story for Joe Hoye, the man behind Life Long Tees. 'I started out as an education major and then realized I didn't want to go to school for six years.' Joe Hoye, Life long Tees Joe switched his focus to art and eventually to making T-shirts. 'I had a couple of friends who were really encouraging. One of them grew up here and played for the (Atlanta) Falcons and I started making shirts for the Falcons,' Hoye said. 'Just fun themes, shirts for their special teams or their defense. You know inside jokes that coaches were saying stuff like that. And it just kind of grew organically from there.' Nightlight 614 announces 2025 summer movie lineup It's those organic relationships that helped to propel Hoye's business through the pandemic. A life-changing opportunity presented itself when he rolled his T-shirt shuttle into yellow springs at the request of Dave Chappelle 'Dave was great, it was a big surprise,' Hoye said. Originally hired to make shirts for Dave Chapelle's friends and family at his birthday party, Hoye ended up spending four months printing shirts at his shows in Yellow Springs. 'That was Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and so I ended up calling some friends down and helped pull off the operation,' he said. Live shows aren't the only places you'll see Hoye's designs. You can also catch them on shows like 'Always Sunny in Philadelphia.' 'I've counted over 50 shirts on Sunny alone and then there was some on 'Entourage'. They pop up all over the place.' It's that relationship with 'Sunny' producer Megan Gantz and her husband Humphrey Ker from the show 'Welcome to Wrexham' that has Life Long Tees helping across the pond. Joining the fundraising efforts to support the Wrexham Miners Project in restoring a local recreation center which doubles as a rescue center for coal miners. Early in-person, mail-in voting deadlines approach before Tuesday's Election Day 'I reached out and I had an idea to auction off some of the shirts worn on Sunny. And so to see one get auctioned off for $600 is crazy.' Hoye is making an impact and leaving a legacy one T-shirt at a time. This weekend the fundraising for the Wrexham Miners Project continues at Sweeney's Walnut Street Tavern. Saturday at 10 a.m. Sweeney's is hosting a Wrexham AFC watch party with Wrexham Lager on tap. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Wrexham Miner's Project and Hoye will be there with limited edition Wrexham Sweeney's pop up tees. For more information visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Leader Live
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham man's Land's End to John O'Groats charity trek
Stuart Jones will be travelling on a small 125cc motorbike, towing a trailer from Land's End in Cornwall to John O'Groats in Caithness, Scotland. Due to the specially adapted trailer, the 70-year-old will be unable to use motorways, so is having to take a much less direct route. He hopes the 1,200-mile ride, in aid on Nightingale House Hospice and Blood Bikes Wales (who he has previously ridden for), will take between a week and 10 days. Read more: Social care heroes' birthday boost to children's hospice charity Stuart aims for cover 150-200 miles a day, and en route he will sleep under a tarp sheet attached to the side of the bike, with a Welsh flag. He said: "It's all a big zigzaggy, and have no real set time, so will just have to see how it goes. "The plan was originally for me to do it both ways, starting from Wrexham but members of the family weren't too keen. Read more: Wrexham man's weight loss journey leads to Three Peaks charity challenge "But now two of the lads from Blood Bikes are taking me in a van to Land's End, and picking me up from John O'Groats. "It's a long way for them to come and they're very good offering to help." Not one for taking it easy, he added: "I'm fairly fit for my age but you've just got to keep going while you can." Stuart, who has already secured sponsorship ahead of the trek, will also be collection donations during his travels, with 100% going to the two causes. Read more: Humphrey Ker completes marathon to raise over £125,000 for Wrexham Miners Project Setting off for his solo ride on May 8, he hopes to be completed by his birthday on May 24. Lifelong friend Mark Richards added: "Stuart has a heart bigger than anyone I've ever met." Before his journey, Stuart and his bike set up at The Turf to collect donations, ahead of what would be Wrexham AFC's big league promotion match. Hopefully the good luck will continue, and he will be in for some decent weather on the way.
Leader Live
29-04-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Richard's physical feat in aid of a trio of charities
After an impressive weight loss, Richard Williams is now taking on a new challenge - the Three Peaks in aid of a trio of charities. Richard will embark on the challenge with Castle Green Homes colleagues in the summer, but it's something he could only dream of doing just 15 months ago. "In 2023 I had a bit of a scare in life and the doctor said to me 'you are 50 and if you carry on the way you are, within five years you will have a heart attack, a stroke, type one diabetes and you might die'," Richard said. Read more: Humphrey Ker completes marathon to raise over £125,000 for Wrexham Miners Project "I was 22 stone, my knees were hurting and I was quite depressed." He'd had to have a seat belt extender on a flight and couldn't fit through a scaffold on a job. He was so embarrassed he'd make excuses not to attend social events. Having previously tried various diets with mixed results, he said: "I decided in December 2023 to go on a mission - if I'd waited until January, I never would have done it. I started off cutting food portions down and eating fresh food, then started walking a bit at a time." His old diet consisted of three cans of energy drinks, chocolate and "all the unhealthy stuff". Now he takes a packed lunch to work with wraps and fruit in, making a conscious choice to control portion size. Read more: Meet 6 cats and dogs hoping for their forever homes He said people started noticing his weight loss after about four stone. Richard, operations director at St Asaph-based Castle Green Homes, spoke at the company's staff conference about his journey and moved some colleagues to tears, while inspiring some to start losing weight. "It took a lot of courage to talk to 100-plus people about how I concurred my weight problem," he said. Richard is now firmly focused on training for the Three Peaks. He'll be joined on the challenge by colleagues Nigel Pritchard, Mike Williams, Gethyn Evans and George Povey. "The Three Peaks was something I'd dreamed of doing but couldn't because I was so overweight," Richard explained. Read more: Riding school charity's 'all or nothing' emergency funding plea "In August I started training hard, going up mountains including Snowdon. It killed me the first time but now I do it every month and in April and May I'll be doing it every week in preparation for tackling the Three Peaks in June." He's chosen to raise money for mental health charity Chasing the Stigma, Prostrate Cancer UK and Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue. "I want to make a difference with a group of people. If we can raise £100,000 it would mean a lot to me," Richard added. Revealing why he chose the charities, he explained: "I was suffering in silence. Being overweight made me hate myself which I was depressed about, but I put a smiley face on at work. I was quite a good actor, masking and making people think I was jolly, but I wasn't happy with myself. Read more: Flintshire group's fun 'call to action' puts spotlight on prostate cancer "It was like I was in a deep hole and when I tried to get out, I'd slip deeper but eventually I managed to climb to the top. Chasing the Stigma is a charity helping people who are struggling with their mental health, like I did, with the Hub of Hope, the UK's largest directory for mental health resources. With construction workers said to be four times more likely to die by suicide than the national average, it's a charity that's close to home. "Friends and colleagues have had prostate cancer, so helping that charity was a natural choice. Supporting Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue means that if someone is stranded, there's help coming." The group will take on the Three Peaks on June 26. They aim to start at Ben Nevis at about 5pm, sleep during the overnight drive to Scafell Pike, scale that peak by 8am and then on to Snowdon, with a target of finishing by 4.30pm. • To donate to Richard's fundraiser, visit:
Leader Live
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Wrexham AFC's Humphrey Ker completes Manchester Marathon
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney may be the face of the club, but Humphrey Ker has also become a popular figure via the Welcome to Wrexham documentary. On Sunday (April 27), he participated in the Manchester Marathon on behalf of the Wrexham Miners Project, for which he is a patron. His superb effort saw him raising more than £125,000 to support the restoration of the historic Wrexham Miners Rescue Station. In his own words, Humphrey, who had never run a marathon before, joked: 'I'm not a marathon runner—having never done one before—as I'm tall and built to take things off a top shelf.' After the marathon, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm that he was still alive... Not dead. A day after Wrexham earned promotion to the EFL Championship, Humphrey crossed the finish line with courage, humour, and a heart full of determination to support a cause close to his heart. Originally setting a target of £100,000, Humphrey's incredible effort, combined with overwhelming generosity from fans, supporters, and the wider community, saw the total surge well beyond expectations. All funds raised will contribute toward the restoration of the Superintendent's House, part of the Grade II listed Miners Rescue Station. Once completed, the building will provide supported living accommodation for four individuals with Special Support Needs, helping them lead fulfilling, connected lives within the Wrexham community. John Gallanders, Chair of Trustees at the Wrexham Miners Project, said: "Humphrey's achievement is nothing short of inspiring. His personal commitment and the extraordinary support from donors will help us transform the Rescue Station into a vibrant home and community hub, honouring the memory of Wrexham's miners while creating new opportunities for the future." TOP STORIES TODAY The restoration project is part of Wrexham AFC's broader pledge to donate over £250,000 to the Wrexham Miners Project, supporting its mission of "saving history, building community." The total cost of restoring the Superintendent's House is estimated at £400,000, with construction expected to begin in May and the first residents moving in by January 2026. Humphrey Ker at the Manchester Marathon finish line. (Image: Wrexham Miners Project) Adding to the celebrations, earlier in April, Humphrey, alongside WMP trustees, volunteers, and staff, was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from Wrexham University—marking the first time the University has honoured a group in recognition of "services to heritage, culture, and the wider community." The Wrexham Miners Project warmly invites donors, supporters, and the general public to visit the Rescue Station, open Monday to Saturday, to see first-hand how their contributions are making history and changing lives.
