Famous Wrexham scientist to be celebrated at festival

Wrexham’s connection with the man credited with discovering oxygen is to be explored at the town’s university 235 years on from the landmark occasion.

Joseph Priestley, who discovered the gas while he was experimenting in 1774, is one of the most celebrated scientists of the 18th century.

His work and links to Wrexham will be the focus of a talk by Glyndŵr University’s Professor Peter Excell at this year’s Wrexham Science Festival, which runs from Thursday 26 March to Saturday 4 April.

Priestley’s career is widely known to have took off when he moved to Nantwich and married into the Wilkinson family of ironmasters from Bersham, near Wrexham.

‘Joseph Priestley: leading British scientist and thinker – and his connections with Wrexham’ takes place at Glyndŵr University at 7.30pm on Friday 27 March.

Wrexham is to be the focus of several other talks held as part of the town’s 2009 science extravaganza.

Author Phil Phillips, of Wrexham Town Trails, will be hosting guided tours around the town on Friday 27 March and Tuesday 31 March. The tours get underway at 2.00pm from the Tourist Information Centre, Lambpit Street, and will take in 30 sites of interest including Wrexham’s old cock-fighting pit.

One of the more unusual highlights of Wrexham is to be the focus of a talk by Matthew Eagles on Monday 30 March. ‘Why Do Some Streetlights Shine Yellow?’ will reveal anything and everything about the town’s streetlights. The show, which starts at 7.00pm, will include a demonstration of working lanterns.

The 2009 Wrexham Science Festival will once again feature popular presenter David Gwyn. He will be examining Mining and Quarrying in the Wrexham area on Wednesday 1 April from 7.00pm at Glyndŵr University.

Science Festival organiser Corrina Jeffreys, events coordinator at Glyndŵr University, said: “There’s plenty of fascinating facts and discoveries to be found out about Wrexham. The events which we’ve put together about the town will help to ensure that the festival continues to retain the local flavour of previous years.”

To reserve a place at any of these free talks call Glyndŵr University on 01978 293473 or email wsf@glyndwr.ac.uk. Alternatively, call Wrexham Tourist Information Centre on 01978 292015.