Exposed

So, Rhuthun is recognised throughout the UK for having a new celebrity in our midst. This is one Geoff Dwight, the half brother of Reginald Dwight AKA Elton John. Many in Rhuthun already know this (and this is not the first time GD has appeared in the papers) but, thanks to the Daily Mail last week, it's gone wider. But the most interesting facet published in the Mail was not about Geoff, Reg or the broken relationship between them, but the article's opening words, which went:

"Geoff Dwight lives in a teeny cottage in the windswept village of Ruthin in North Wales."

Geoff, living in Rhuthun, is probably better off than his more famous, wealthier relation. But what is the Daily Mail saying about our town? That it's somewhere in the back of beyond? That it's some tribal outpost where farmers gather around the village pond? Full of straw-hatted yokels and bumpkins? Where we still have gas lamps?

It certainly doesn't imply that we have a world class craft centre for the applied arts; a popular secondary school at the top of its league; a townscape with reputedly the most listed buildings in Cymru/Wales; and an ample collection of independent shops the envy of many a homogenised, "me-too", lookilikey high street.

And I had no idea that Borthyn was so exposed. When might we expect the wind turbines to arrive?

Daily Mail article