Latest news with #ClaireDouglas

Leader Live
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Free family fun this summer across Wrexham libraries
Come and join our Summer Wellies sessions this summer! Enjoy a mix of games, stories, crafts and more. These sessions are perfect for families to get together and make memories. The sessions will take place in most of our libraries and you will need to reserve your place. Please contact your chosen library directly - contact details on These sessions will be facilitated by Groundwork North Wales and all children must be accompanied by an adult aged 19+. Summer fun at some of our libraries We are busy planning some fabulous activities for young children this summer. At Cefn Mawr Library we have Craft for Kids every Friday throughout August, from 10am-4.30pm. Just drop in and see what you can make each week. Every Wednesday we have family Lego from 1.15pm-4.15pm. At Ruabon Library we have Lego Club every Monday 1pm-4pm, Wednesday is Children's Craft, 2pm-4pm, Thursday is Children's Jigsaw's from 10.30am-12.30pm and Friday we have Family Board Games and Colouring 1pm-4pm. All of these activities are free, so why not call in and join in the fun! The Game of Murder by Hazell Ward - book launch The Game of Murder is a fresh and immersive murder mystery that reflects crime classics, the reader is put in the role of the Great Detective, reinvestigating an infamous never-before-solved case from 1970's England. You are invited to a very special murder mystery party. The game is simple: listen to the witnesses. Discover the most original crime novel of 2025 at Wrexham Library on Thursday, August 21, from 5.30pm, when debut author Hazell Ward will be launching her book in her home town. This is a free event but you must reserve your place - contact the library on 01978 292090 or at library@ PressReader PressReader is an app which will give you free access to newspapers and magazines, from 120 countries around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The publications are available in full text, on the day of publication and look just like the printed edition. They can be viewed online through a web browser, or via the Libby app on a smart phone or tablet. All you need is a valid library card and access to a digital device. Visit and follow the online services link to Libby our e-magazine app, then search for PressReader. You will have access to all of the major UK daily and weekend newspapers, plus new titles have just been added. Did you know…? Did you know that all of our libraries have WiFi printing? You can print in the library from your phone or device or you can send it from home. For more details visit and select Libraries - what we do, then select Printing. Book review The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Lena, a recently separated mother, assists her teenage son with a media project, inadvertently capturing a conversation between her new neighbours, the Morgans, using a boom microphone. The conversation suggests they might be planning a crime and Lena becomes obsessed with the possibility that she overheard something sinister. Her investigation into their lives intertwines with her own hidden past, leading her down a dangerous path where uncovering the truth could have dire consequences. Split into three parts and told through multiple POVs, the story has an intricate plot and compelling characters (although it was quite difficult to keep up with them all). Well worth a read and should keep you captivated until the very last page. Lynda T


The Independent
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Labour council criticised after banning military equipment from Armed Forces Day celebrations
A council has been criticised for banning military equipment from its annual Armed Forces Day celebrations, citing residents' concerns about planned protests. Labour-controlled City of York council made the decision to ban the equipment over fears that the Peace Pledge Union (PPU), a pacifist organisation, and ForcesWatch, which is committed to 'demilitarising the future', said they would hold protests in the city this weekend. York marked Armed Forces Day on Saturday following the official national commemorations last week, but city authorities banned equipment ranging from weapons to vehicles from the parade by local military groups and institutions. The city instead introduced a 'brand new Armed Forces Day Trail', a self-guided tour of its key military sites with a map and guidebook. 'With our military partners, we carefully considered residents' concerns and decided that the day will go ahead as planned, with the only change being no military equipment on show,' explained council leader Claire Douglas. 'This decision in no way diminishes how seriously we take Armed Forces Day and our deep respect and commitment to those who serve and have served. We look forward to a fantastic day.' While Ms Douglas did not confirm what the residents' concerns in question were, one soldier who lives in the region told the UK Defence Journal it was over 'fears it would spark protest'. 'It's frustrating, especially when Armed Forces Day is meant to be a chance for the public to see what we do and engage with us directly,' the soldier said, adding that it was a 'ban by any other name'. But the PPU argues that Armed Forces Day events give children a 'simplistic image of armed force as glamorous and fun' and helps to fuel the rise of 'militarism in everyday life in the UK'. Over the years, protest groups have regularly staged protests across Britain on the day of military celebration. But the number of events being held on the day across the country has dwindled over time. ForcesWatch and PPU recorded a record number of demonstrations on the national Armed Forces Day last weekend, claiming that protests had tripled compared to last year, taking place in more than 50 locations. Chris Steward, leader of the conservative group of councillors in York, said military equipment was a 'crucial part' of the day. He told the Telegraph: 'What use is any military without equipment? We totally condemn this decision of the Labour councillors. There has been no cross-party involvement,' he said, Mr Steward accused the Labour party of falling from a 'proud, patriotic party' to one which is 'more concerned how their actions may offend their increasingly extreme supporters'.


The Sun
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I saved myself £2.3k by creating bespoke fitted wardrobe with flatpack Argos furniture – and it only took a weekend
A SAVVY mum saved £2,000 after creating a bespoke fitted wardrobe using Argos and B&Q bargains. Claire Douglas wanted to give her son's bedroom a revamp, creating a practical and tasteful space where he could sit and do his homework - and game, of course. 7 7 7 7 But she was determined to complete the project on a budget, which meant that commissioning a carpenter to build bespoke fitted wardrobes was out of the question. Instead, the interior designer purchased two standard flatpack wardrobes from Argos for around £80 each and styled them using MDF wall panel sheets from Panels by Sofia. Claire, of Claire Douglas Styling, explains: 'As well as a desk, we really needed somewhere to store clothes in my eldest son's bedroom. "He'd had a freestanding clothes rail for years which was a bit wobbly and the less-worn clothes were starting to collect dust. 'I love the look of built-in wardrobes so I came up with this storage hack to make the most of the space we had available. "The beauty of this DIY fitted wardrobe project is that you don't need many tools as you can get the MDF sheets pre-cut and sent to you. "This also saves a lot of effort and makes it an achievable weekend project for a novice.' In total, Claire's project cost just £ comparison, Checkatrade revealed the average cost of a standard fitted wardrobe in 2025 is £3,250 meaning the savvy mum saved £2,338. Sharing her top tips and learnings from the DIY project, she said: 'This was such a satisfying DIY project and I was able to save hundreds compared to if I was to have bespoke wardrobes fitted. 'If you need multiple panels, look into whether you can save money by buying a larger sheet and cutting it into multiple panels rather than buying many smaller ones. The pre-primed panels are a game changer too and will save you so much time and effort. I bought a dated caravan & turned it into my family's very own second home for £4.5k - now we holiday for just £10 a day 'To bring the overall look together, I'd recommend adding coving at the top of the MDF sheet where it meets the ceiling as this gives the appearance of truly built-in bedroom furniture. "It also creates a really neat finish. You can buy pre-cut corners which are quick and easy to attach." Here, she breaks down exactly how she created her DIY fitted wardrobe set-up in seven simple steps. Step 1: Building and positioning the wardrobes Claire said: 'Before I started, I made sure the wardrobes would fit well within the space by measuring the ceiling height and width. "I sketched out the wardrobe design which helped me to visualise how everything would come together. 'The freestanding wardrobes I chose were quite short, so I built a frame above them for additional storage." Step 2: Building a CLS timber base frame 'To give the wardrobes a sturdy and level foundation, I constructed a CLS timber frame for them to sit on", Claire continued. "As I was building a desk in between, I only wanted the base under the wardrobes, with a gap in the middle for the desk. "If you are creating a full wall of fitted wardrobes, build your frame the entire length of the wall. 'To build the CLS base frame, I measured the footprint of the wardrobes and cut the CLS to size. "Then, I assembled the frame using screws, ensuring it was level and secure. I fixed the frame to the floor to prevent movement and then placed the wardrobes onto the base frame.' Step 3: Framing the gap Claire then filled the gap between the top of the wardrobes and the ceiling with a timber frame to "create the perfect fit". She added: "Depending on the height of your freestanding wardrobes, you might only need to fix a baton along the top of the wardrobe edge or onto the ceiling to attach the tops of the MDF cladding sheets to. 7 'To build the frame, I measured the gap between the wardrobe tops and the ceiling and constructed a simple CLS timber frame to fit within this space. I then secured the frame to both the wardrobes and the ceiling with fixings.' Step 4: Fit your MDF wall panels Claire then attached the MDF wall panels. "We chose traditional bead and butt style panels - to the wardrobe sides, front frame and top gap to complete the built-in look", she said. "The panels came pre-primed which saved a lot of time, effort and cost and can be cut-to-size and delivered. 'I used grab adhesive and screws to fix the panels to the wardrobes and CLS timber frame, making sure all edges aligned neatly for a seamless finish. Once the side panels were fitted, I covered the joins by attaching a piece of ribbed strip moulding over the edge.' 'To create a cohesive finish, I attached a large MDF panel to the wall in-between the wardrobes to create a backdrop for the desk.' 7 7 Step 5: Fitting an MDF desk between the wardrobes To incorporate a desk between the wardrobes, Claire then measured the space in between and cut an MDF panel to be used as the desk surface. "I then fixed the desk securely to the wardrobe sides using brackets and a spirit level to ensure the desk was level", she added. Step 6: Extending the wardrobe to the ceiling Claire said: 'To fill in the gap above each wardrobe, I attached floor to ceiling MDF panels to the existing wardrobe doors. "When cutting the MDF panels to match the width of the wardrobe doors, I allowed a gap so that the outer edge of the existing door could go inside the wardrobe when fully open.' Step 7: The finishing touches For her final step, Claire filled the screw holes and seams with wood filler and allowed them to dry before sanding everything until it was smooth. She added: "I then applied two coats of paint to the wardrobes and desk. 'Finally, I installed our chosen door handles to the doors using sticky adhesive pads.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Talks aim to bring city's Ukraine link closer
A partnership between York and the Ukrainian city of Lviv has moved a step closer, following calls to complete a process which first got under way three years ago. In April 2022, two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, councillors in York approved the adoption of Lviv in western Ukraine as a "sister city". But at a recent meeting, delays in implementing the link between the two cities was branded by opposition councillors as an "embarrassing failure". However, it has since been confirmed that talks between City of York Council's Labour leader Claire Douglas and Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv, were due to be held, though the date had yet to be decided. The completion of the "sisterhood" process would see both cities work together on culture, education, business and other areas, according to the Sister Cities International organisation. Ukrainian embassy officials were understood to have met Douglas, as well as Katie Lomas, City of York Council's Labour finance and human rights spokesperson, earlier in April. Douglas said she now looked forward to speaking to Lviv's mayor about how the two cities could work closer in the future. "Our immediate focus is on continuing to demonstrate our solidarity with Ukraine," she explained. "This includes offering practical support for our Ukrainian guests here in York, extending our heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the people of Ukraine - both those here in York, who are so far from their loved ones, and those in Ukraine who are bravely coping with the most unimaginable hardships." According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lib Dem councillor Chris Cullwick had welcomed movement on the link between York and the Ukrainian city. He said his party had "been pushing for stronger ties with Lviv since the full-scale invasion began", including tabling the original motion back in 2022 calling for a "formal sisterhood" between the two cities. "We've repeatedly urged the administration to follow through, so it's good to see our efforts starting to bear fruit. We now want to see this momentum continue," Cullwick added. Lviv has a population of just over 700,000 people and is situated about 70 miles (112km) away from the Polish border. Its centre is a Unesco World Heritage Site and, like York, Lviv is designated a Unesco Creative City, recognised for its literary culture. Since 2022, 416 Ukrainians have arrived and settled in York through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Row over 'embarrassing' delay to Ukraine link-up City of York Council Sister Cities International Local Democracy Reporting Service


BBC News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Talks aim to bring York 'sisterhood' link with Lviv closer
A partnership between York and the Ukrainian city of Lviv has moved a step closer, following calls to complete a process which first got under way three years April 2022, two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, councillors in York approved the adoption of Lviv in western Ukraine as a "sister city".But at a recent meeting, delays in implementing the link between the two cities was branded by opposition councillors as an "embarrassing failure".However, it has since been confirmed that talks between City of York Council's Labour leader Claire Douglas and Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv, were due to be held, though the date had yet to be decided. The completion of the "sisterhood" process would see both cities work together on culture, education, business and other areas, according to the Sister Cities International organisation. Ukrainian embassy officials were understood to have met Douglas, as well as Katie Lomas, City of York Council's Labour finance and human rights spokesperson, earlier in said she now looked forward to speaking to Lviv's mayor about how the two cities could work closer in the future."Our immediate focus is on continuing to demonstrate our solidarity with Ukraine," she explained."This includes offering practical support for our Ukrainian guests here in York, extending our heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the people of Ukraine - both those here in York, who are so far from their loved ones, and those in Ukraine who are bravely coping with the most unimaginable hardships." 'Stronger ties' According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lib Dem councillor Chris Cullwick had welcomed movement on the link between York and the Ukrainian said his party had "been pushing for stronger ties with Lviv since the full-scale invasion began", including tabling the original motion back in 2022 calling for a "formal sisterhood" between the two cities."We've repeatedly urged the administration to follow through, so it's good to see our efforts starting to bear fruit. We now want to see this momentum continue," Cullwick has a population of just over 700,000 people and is situated about 70 miles (112km) away from the Polish centre is a Unesco World Heritage Site and, like York, Lviv is designated a Unesco Creative City, recognised for its literary 2022, 416 Ukrainians have arrived and settled in York through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.