THE SUMMER months brought more headlines around north Wales - from lottery winners to new bridges and poorly children. Check out the first in our series of flashbacks by clicking the link at the bottom of the article, but here's a look at May to August...

May

Members of the Welsh choir Gôr Glanaethwy who hailed from the Porthmadog and Pwllheli area were celebrating in May after becoming finalists in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent. Choir members hailing from the Dwyfor area included Ben Jarman Jones, Canna and Celyn Roberts, Erin Fflur Jones Parry, Cawyn Williams and Lora Lewis.

Cedron’s mum, Gwenda Murray, head of geography at Ysgol Eifionydd, said: “Côr Glanaethwy has certainly put north Wales on the map. “It’s wonderful to see them singing in their own language and sharing it with the nation.” Côr Glanaethwy finished in third place on the talent show.

• In Tywyn, a young carer was also celebrating after scooping the top prize on the National Lottery’s £250,000 Blue and Green scratchcard. Briony Elson, 23, said the card cost her £2 and she bought it from the local Premier store. She said the win had totally changed the future for herself and her boyfriend Kieron McCaffrey.

She said: “We had been hoping to get on to the property ladder but never believed this would be possible. We are in a rented house at the moment but now, thanks to the win, we can look to buy our first dream home.”

June

A Criccieth singer bravely waived her right to anonymity in June in a bid to help other victims of sexual abuse find the courage to speak out and get justice. Nest Aneurin Jones, 22, spoke of her abuse aged just seven, after her attacker, Bob Owen, was sentenced to 14 years and nine months behind bars.

She said: “It took me so long to speak out because I felt so isolated and believed people wouldn’t believe me or would judge me.

“I was so wrong and I hope other victims will see that. Once your voice is heard, it’s the first step to bettering your own life and it should be encouraged more for victims of sexual abuse to speak out.”

• Tywyn’s medical centre faced a staff crisis during this summer which was forced to run during the busy months with only three trained doctors. The three GP’s all increased their hours to help tend to the health centre’s 5,500 patients, which doubled during the summer.

Dwyfor Meirionnydd’s MP, Liz Saville Roberts, described the situation as terrifying. She said: “Half the doctors in Dwyfor Meirionnydd are of an age where they could retire tomorrow if they wanted to.

“I’m concerned because we have an ageing population in the constituency and healthcare provision needs to be better than it is right now – especially when we consider the most vulnerable in society.”

July

A relieved family praised a cool-headed Abersoch beach patrol officer who rushed to the aid of their two-year-old son after he became unconscious in his pram. Harrison Ridge (right) was enjoying a family day on Abersoch beach in July when he suddenly became very unwell.

His father, Jason Ridge, said he thought Harrison was at first sleeping in his pram but then alerted the nearby beach officer after he wasn’t responding who alerted the emergency services.

Harrison who was suffering from a virus made a full recovery and his father wished to thank the fast acting beach patrol officer.

He said: “I’d like to say a special thanks to the beach patrol officer who was first on scene that day and who alerted the emergency services, we were all in a major panic and we are truly grateful to him.”

• In Tywyn, thousands of train enthusiasts, historians and celebrities took over the town to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Talyllyn Railway. TV stars and steam engine buffs, Timothy West and Prunella Scales, were on hand to celebrate the milestone in style with a variety of activities, unique trains and special events keeping guests entertained.

One of the highlights of the weekend was when schoolchildren from Penybryn helped Talyllyn staff fill and bury a time capsule, which will not be reopened until 2065.

August

A FOOTBRIDGE which links the villages of Llanbedrog and Rhydyclafdy was re-opened in August after remaining closed for over 10 years.

AM Dafydd Elis-Thomas was present to officially open the footpath at Cefn Llanfair Mill, which links the two Llyn villages.

Cllr Angela Russell, who represents Llanbedrog on Gwynedd Council, said: “I’m delighted this footbridge is back open to the public, it will benefit locals as well as those who visit here. It’s a wonderful place to go for a walk and has such history behind it – it is one of the most peaceful places on the Llyn.”

• Former Blaenau Ffestiniog town councillor Bob Cole gained international coverage in August after he ended his life in an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland, 18 months after his wife did the same.

Mr Cole, 68, died in the Dignitas Clinic in Zurich on Friday, 14 August rather than face the indignity of an agonising, slow death due to a recently contracted cancer.

In February 2014 Mr Cole’s wife, Ann Hall, 67, ended her own life at the euthanasia clinic after she was diagnosed with the incurable disease, supranuclear palsy.

Mr Cole said: “I don’t want to die painfully and slowly watching TV and eating chocolate ice cream. There is absolutely no quality of life in that.

“Everyone should be allowed the choice to die with dignity, which is exactly what Ann chose to do – and is exactly what I will do.”