Author: Alice Gregory

A hugely gifted young North Wales pianist has paid tribute to his inspirational late grandmother ahead of his first starring appearance at a top festival. Ellis Thomas, from Penrhyn Bay, will be performing with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at the North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral on Friday evening, September 20. The 23-year-old Cambridge University Music graduate, who has just gained a Master’s degree from the Royal Academy of Music, will play festival founder William Mathias’s First Piano Concerto while the BBC National Orchestra of Wales will also perform Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations. Professor Mathias,…

The new owners of a Ruthin country estate are organising a football match to raise funds for a local schoolboy currently in hospital. Aiden Jones, 8, from Denbigh, is being treated for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool after falling ill a few weeks ago. Andrew and Louisa Godfrey, who are restoring the historic Pool Park Estate in Ruthin over the next five years, are hosting a football match between Aiden’s school, Ysgol Bryn Clywd, and its Federated school this month. Pupils from years 4, 5 and 6 at Ysgol Gellifor and Ysgol Bryn Clwyd, both in…

Pupils of Clytha Primary School recently shared the story behind their street name selections for leading developer Lovell’s Royal Victoria Court development in Newport, inspired by the Newport-born historical figure, Perce Blackborow. Year 5 pupils gave a presentation to Lovell and housing provider Tirion, where they told the incredible story of Perce Blackborow, who inspired the name ideas they had come up with. Perce Blackborow, born in 1894, was a sailor and stowaway on the historic Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914 to 1917, led by Sir Ernest Shackleton. At the age of 19, Perce snuck onto the Endurance ship by…

Real estate advisor, Savills, along with partnerships developer, Lovell, Acuity Law, Yolk Recruitment and Newport City Homes, have together launched LUSH (Ladies Unite in Social Housing) Cymru, a brand-new networking group for professional women who deliver and manage affordable housing in Wales. The official launch event for the organisation was held on Thursday 27 June at The Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff and was sponsored by Savills, Lovell, Acuity Law and Yolk Recruitment. Attendees were able to discuss challenges faced in the industry, share ideas on making improvements within the sector and, most importantly, build relationships. Further events are set to…

Theatr Iolo – Wales’ leading children’s theatre company – are producing a brand new, touring show celebrating Britain’s black ancestry, using the mythological story of the Welsh dragon. Written by Kyle Lima, The Welsh Dragon is a historical, mythological children’s storytelling show that fuses verse, rhyme, music and rap. It will challenge audiences of all ages to question the stories handed down from generation to generation. The show will open at Chapter in Cardiff on 7 October 2024 before touring to nine venues across south Wales. When the walls of a Welsh castle start to crumble because of the two dragons who…

Age Cymru has nominated the internationally renowned painter, printmaker, and author Mary Lloyd Jones as its first Changemaker, an accolade that celebrates those people who have not only challenged ageing stereotypes but who have also trailblazed in their fields of creativity.   Mary was born in 1934 and grew up in Devil’s Bridge near Aberystwyth. Her works have been described as multilayered using devices that reflect an interest in the beginnings of language, including early man-made marks and the ogham and bardic alphabets.    Mary says her work draws on the influence of ancient cultures and languages and holds a particular preoccupation…

The world-famous Brecon Jazz Festival celebrates its 40th birthday this year, with three weekends of non-stop fun and music in August. The festivities kick off with the ‘Family Jazz Day’ (children come free and can get their faces painted) in the marquee and gardens at The Castle of Brecon Hotel on Sunday August 4th between 12pm and 8pm. Activity workshops for both children and adults will take place, including an ‘Art of Jazz’ workshop (painting album covers), a craft-making workshop (in preparation for the festival’s Frazz Parade) and an uptempo ‘singing together’ session, a special Jazz & Vocals group at…

The Baglan Bombshells will be hosting a tournament to remember at Baglan RFC next month with more than 120 players from 12 teams from across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot expected to take part. The over 30s team is the first women’s rugby team to play under the Baglan RFC badge – and one of the first teams established in the area. The team formed back in August 2023, making the tournament a fitting birthday celebration. It comes as women’s touch rugby sees rapid growth across the region with scores of new teams starting up under their local rugby clubs.…

UKRI Natural Environment Research Council is pleased to announce plans for a free public event ‘Archwiliwch ein planed – Explore our planet’ in partnership with the National Oceanography Centre and Techniquest, Cardiff. The event, will be from 18-20 October, based at Techniquest, additionally with a research ship available for the public to visit in Cardiff Bay. The event and activities aim to bring the world of environmental science to the public. The weekend promises to be full of fun, facts and interactive environmental science with hands-on attractions and in-person talks by the UK’s leading environmental scientists. ‘Archwiliwch ein planed – Explore our planet’…

A moat-ally unique and exciting art trail has landed in the city of Swansea and you’re invited to join the fun. Castles in the Sky, hosted by Wales Air Ambulance, is a fun, family-friendly, and free public art trail to enjoy this summer. Over 30 large giant castle sculptures and 20 miniature castles have landed in the city and the Charity is encouraging visitors and local people to take on the challenge of finding them all. The interactive initiative, which encourages people to download the app and collect as many turrets as they can, starts on Saturday 6 July and…