THE Year in Review for the Pioneer concludes with our coverage in November.
Thursday, November 5, ‘Tributes paid to Connor’: Connor Reed, the first Briton known to have contracted Covid-19, died at the age of 26. Tributes flooded in after the Llandudno man died after returning from China to go to Bangor University. Mum Hayley said: “It brings me great sadness to announce our beautiful son Connor Reed has passed away in a tragic accident at Bangor University at the weekend. He will be so greatly missed by his brothers, family and friends.” Mr Reed previously said that contracting coronavirus was “not as serious as how it has been reported” and thanked the Chinese government for being open and providing information. He said: “The best case of recovery is having enough rest and keeping quarantined and being by yourself.”
Thursday, November 12, ‘Town silent for the fallen’: Despite the firebreak lockdown causing Remembrance ceremonies to be cancelled across Conwy, communities found ways to pay their respects to fallen British soldiers. Residents held two minutes’ silence from home, in online ceremonies and via radio broadcast as the clock struck 11am. Conwy mayor Emma Leighton-Jones visited the Conwy Cenotaph and Llandudno Junction Cenotaph to lay red poppy wreaths, while Colwyn Bay Town Council held an online ceremony with Reverend Christine Owen before asking residents to stand at their doors to mark the two minutes’ silence. Colwyn Bay residents tuned in to Bayside Radio for a service produced by Rydal Penrhos School director of music Peter Williams which featured the Last Post. Meanwhile RNLI Llandudno Lifeboat volunteers held a socially-distanced ceremony at their boathouse on the Pier. “For us, the collective act of remembering the fallen is an especially important thing for us to do,” said coxswain Graham Heritage.
Thursday, November 19, ‘Six-year-old superhero’: Six-year-old schoolgirl Bea Dean-Lewis saved her mum after she collapsed with a heart condition. Bea acted promptly and beyond her years by calling 999 from the landline, when she was asked by the call handler to check if her mum was breathing. Due to a shallow pattern Bea thought her mum had stopped breathing, however she stayed calm until police and ambulance crews arrived. The Ysgol y Bryn pupil was reportedly hesitant to unlock the door to a stranger but eventually did after being reassured by the call handler. A school spokesperson said: “Bea acted promptly and beyond her years,” adding that Bea remained calm “despite the anxiety she must have been feeling”.
Thursday, November 26, ‘Black Cat works end’: Relief was the overwhelming response as five-month works at the Llandudno Junction Black Cat roundabout neared completion. Traffic signals were put in place to manage congestion during the works, however those stuck in the queues may not have noticed the difference. “I will be relieved to see the work completed,” said Cllr Sue Shotter, county councillor for the Marl ward in Llandudno Junction. “It was a necessity but the disruption it caused has been unbelievably difficult for people.” The works have provided safer crossings for cyclists and pedestrians on the busy slip roads. Cllr Mike Priestley, county councillor for Llandudno Junction, said the improvements “totally outweigh the disruption suffered”.
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