There’s a lot going on in November’s Community Corner. Read all about the new City of Culture bid, Phantasmagoria, Strictly Nightingales, Ysgol Rhiwabon as well as Wales Women’s Hockey.
City of Culture 2029
After losing out narrowly to Bradford in the 2025 vote, our city has committed to taking Wrexham County Borough towards a future where culture plays a key role and will lead to a bid to become the UK City of Culture 2029.
They are working hard behind the scenes to develop infrastructure, establish key links and also invest in projects with local significance, including working with Wrexham AFC to develop the Racecourse Ground, refurbishments to our heritage markets, creation of a brand new Football Museum for Wales and growing our large-scale events programme across the County Borough.
The city has recently established an interim board comprising a diverse range of individuals with the necessary skill set to develop further and nurture Wrexham’s cultural potential, putting community values at the heart of the organisation to ensure we continue to Rise Together and utilising culture to benefit everyone.
Phantasmagoria
The Phantasmagoria Horror Film Festival, held at George Edwards Hall, Cefn-Mawr, delivered two thrilling days of spine-chilling horror films, fascinating talks, and unforgettable moments, drawing horror fans from across the region. The festival treated attendees to Welsh premieres, expert panels, and spooky entertainment that left audiences buzzing.
Children of the Night
The festival kicked off on Saturday with the Welsh premiere of Children of the Night, followed by screenings of classic cult films like Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Destroy All Monsters. Between screenings, attendees enjoyed a musical performance by Professor Elemental, an engaging horror talk from Robin Ince and Jeremy Dyson, and also the ever-popular horror pub quiz. The day concluded with the premiere of Slasher House 3, wrapping up a packed schedule of scares and fun.
The excitement continued on Sunday with robot combat talks from the Robot Wars team, a series of short films, and the UK premieres of Massacre at Femur Creek and Suzzanna: Queen of Black Magic. The day concluded with the Welsh premiere of Cursed (AKA Malditas), leaving fans eagerly anticipating next year’s event.
Cefn Community Council’s Councillor Helen Brimfield played a key role in organising the event: “We were thrilled to see so many people come together to celebrate their love of horror. The support from the community has been overwhelming, and we couldn’t be happier with how the festival turned out.”
Marc Brimfield, the festival’s founder and organiser, echoed her sentiments: “This was the biggest Phantasmagoria yet, and it’s all thanks to the fans, volunteers, and guests who helped make it happen. We aimed to create a weekend that brought people together for a shared love of the horror genre, and the response was incredible.”
Welcoming Atmosphere
The event attracted attendees of all ages, with fans praising the diverse line-up of films, interactive discussions, and also the welcoming atmosphere. Furthermore, local businesses and volunteers were crucial to the festival’s success, ensuring it ran smoothly across the two-day schedule.
As the curtain closed on Phantasmagoria 2024, organisers and fans are already looking forward to next year’s event, with plans underway to make it even bigger and better.
For now, horror fans can continue to share their favourite festival moments online with the hashtag #PhantasmagoriaWrexham, celebrating the community spirit and enthusiasm that made this year’s festival a success.
Nightingale House
Craig Weeks, Operations Director at JCB and a proud Wrexham resident, traded in his work boots for dancing shoes as he took part in the upcoming Strictly Nightingales fundraising event. The event, in aid of Nightingale House Hospice, was held at Carden Park on Saturday, 26th October, with a follow-up showcase at the Stiwt on Saturday, 9th November.
Craig’s involvement with the hospice is deeply personal, as his brother, Mark, received care there during his battle with cancer. Craig’s emotional connection to Nightingale House and his admiration for the hospice’s exceptional staff inspired him to take on this new challenge despite having no prior dance experience.
Paired with his dance partner, Hannah Roberts, Craig has additionally learnt new skills and raised awareness for a cause that has touched his heart. He invites everyone to support Nightingale House by attending the event and enjoying a night of entertainment while also contributing to a vital community service.
Ysgol Rhiwabon
Partners for Learning
Wednesday evening saw the beginning of a new initiative at Ysgol Rhiwabon (YR) called “Partners for Learning”. This scheme aims to overcome barriers detrimental to young people’s well-being and academic success by equipping families to support our students at home.
YR’s maths curriculum leader, Mrs Beveridge, gave the first session, which focused on accessing and also using Maths Watch, YR’s online Maths homework platform.
Mr Paddy Bingham, Assistant Headteacher, said, ”All in attendance described it as excellent and left feeling more confident supporting their child to use the platform. One parent commented, “Informative, very useful session – I will be back for more”.
Free to You
The school’s Swap Shop and Free Items scheme offers free uniforms to all parents and students across all year groups, including winter coats, bags and other clothing items.
The first event was a great success, and many people came and went during the afternoon after school. In addition, free stationery (following a large donation to the school) and sanitary products were available to help with the daily cost pressures that families face.
There is a stall every Tuesday afternoon from 3.15pm to 4.15pm during the school term.
Wales Women’s Hockey
The Over 35’s Wales Women’s Masters Field Hockey team travelled to Cape Town to participate in the World Cup. The tournament the team worked so hard towards for the past 12 months was a celebration of hockey, passion, and also the worldwide hockey community. With 100 teams, over 2,100 participants, four venues, and seven turfs ready for action, Cape Town was alive with the energy of Masters Hockey like never before.
Local interest accordingly centred on squad member Rhiannon Whittaker of Wrexham Glyndŵr Hockey Club, who was playing her part in trying to improve on the bronze medal they won at the last World Cup in 2022. We hope to bring you news of how Rhiannon and the rest of the team fared in our next issue.
We hope you enjoyed reading “Community Corner November 2024“. Click here for more of our community features.
