Author: Alice Gregory

Two world acclaimed harpists are to link up at a special benefit concert to raise money for children with profound learning disabilities in war-torn Ukraine. Veronika Lemishenko, who hails from Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, will play a number of solo pieces in the concert at Bangor University’s Powis Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday, November 21 when she will also perform some duets with concert organiser Elinor Bennett. “It will be an opportunity to hear a world-renowned harpist play in north Wales and is not to be missed,” said Elinor who studied with the late, great harpist Osian Ellis before going…

A Christmas Elf Trail and Santa’s Grotto visit will take children and parents on an adventure through Cardiff’s Morgan Quarter, for just £5 per child. The Morgan Quarter, made up of the Morgan and Royal Arcade, will soon become a hive of festive activity as their annual Christmas activities kick off. Santa’s Grotto will return to the shopping arcade, plus a brand-new interactive elf trail led by Jolly the Elf. Jolly will guide families on a mission through the historic arcade searching for some cheeky elves who have escaped Santa’s Grotto. Once the elves have been found, the trail will…

St David’s Catholic Sixth Form College in Cardiff has announced support for the #BetheChange campaign, aimed at educating the public and garnering greater understanding of the needs of people living with hidden illnesses such as a stoma. The College has adopted new accessible toilet signage, a broken circle, which is designed to encourage entry and be inclusive and supportive of all people living with hidden illnesses, be it Alzheimer’s, a stoma, anxiety or any other of the conditions experienced by people who need to use an accessible toilet but don’t have a visible illness. The accessible toilet signage has been…

Leading accountancy and business advisory firm Hazlewoods has opened a new Welsh office to meet growing demand for its services in the South Wales market. One of the largest independent accountants and business advisers in the South West, Hazlewoods has over 550 employees principally based in Cheltenham, along with a growing Bristol office. The firm specialises in accounting and advisory services for both corporate and private clients, and is particularly well-known for its specialist sectors across the UK. The firm’s new city centre office is based in Capital Tower and will be staffed by a mix of existing team members…

Homebuilder Anwyl has appointed two new directors to lead key departments. Oliver Johnston has been promoted to commercial director, while Gareth Haslam has stepped up to technical director. Both work for Anwyl Homes’ Cheshire and North Wales division, based at its Flintshire headquarters. The Ewloe-based company has also further developed its commercial and technical teams promoting several other colleagues as it works towards its ambitious growth targets over the next five years. Oliver joined the Anwyl ranks in 2023 as head of commercial for Cheshire and North Wales. After leaving school, he pursued a career in the Army, serving in…

Welsh-born writer Tanya Pengelly has won the 2024 Rhys Davies Short Story Competition for her story, ‘A Dictionary of Light’, which was written in memory of her father. The competition celebrates the best unpublished short stories in English by writers aged 18 or over who were born in Wales, have lived in Wales for two years or more, or are currently living in Wales. Stories may be in any style or on any subject up to a maximum of 5,000 words. Through a series of dictionary entries from A to Z, ‘A Dictionary of Light’ tells the story of a…

Cardiff is a buzz of excitement as the Scouts and Guides celebrate the 50th anniversary of their beloved Cardiff Gang Show. This year’s event promises to be a spectacular display of talent, featuring over 100 young people experiencing the excitement of performing on a professional stage. Cardiff Gang Show is a show that brings together Scouts and Guides from across the region to showcase their talents in singing, dancing and acting. The young performers have been diligently preparing for months, learning not only performance skills but also building confidence and fostering lifelong friendships. Empowering Youth Through Performance  The show is…

A Christmas concert with a difference is being hosted at Gregynog Hall in Tregynon, near Newtown this year! Quindici Chamber Choir is teaming up with Gregynog’s resident orchestra Sinfonia Cymru to put together a unique programme of festive favourites, combining some of Wales’ finest chamber music performers with choral classics and sing along carols. The cosy and heart-warming hour-long chamber concerts are sure to uplift spirits and the audience will be invited to join in some carol singing, too. The concert starts at 7pm on Tuesday, December 3 in Gregynog’s Music Room. Tickets cost £12 for adults and £5 for…

A rare 411-year-old bible sold for £4,500 at a leading Shropshire fine art auction house last week. The Great She Bible of 1613, a second folio edition of the King James Bible by royal printer Robert Barker, was one of the stars of Halls Fine Art’s successful books, coins and stamps auction in Shrewsbury. The bible was consigned by a North Wales vendor and had been in the same family for several generations. It’s called ‘Great’ because of its size and ‘She’ to distinguish it from some copies of the 1611 edition which have the reading in Ruth 3 verse…

Two local businesses have teamed up to help improve sustainability in Cardiff – whilst delivering artisan breads and pastries at the same time. Bakery and boulangerie Ground, which opened its flagship Pontcanna site three years ago, now has a new addition on the menu – an electric vehicle (EV) provided by fellow city business FleetEV. Mindful of racking up the miles with deliveries across South Wales and beyond, the bakery turned to leading electric specialist FleetEV, based at The Maltings, for an environmentally friendly van, just in time to mark Wales Climate Week (November 11-16). FleetEV Founder and CEO Jarrad…