Author: Rhys Gregory

An Aberystwyth graduate whose work was recognised by NASA has bequeathed over £720,000 to his former university to support research and the Old College project. Originally from Trefin in Pembrokeshire, Dr Rhidian Lawrence graduated with first class honours in Physics in 1962 and studied for a PhD as a member of the shockwave research group before moving to the University of Toronto. In a professional career that spanned nearly forty years, Dr Lawrence worked for aerospace companies in Alabama and Seattle, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Colorado. An expert in laser technology, he retained his love for…

A Welsh landlord is paying the price for flouting Rent Smart Wales requirements, after being found guilty of managing rented properties without a licence. Gareth Davies, 44, of Caswell, Swansea was convicted under Section 7(5) of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 of failing to be licensed to carry out property management activities in relation to three properties in Swansea,at Cardiff Magistrates Court yesterday. In addition to being fined £2,383, the consequences of his conviction goes beyond financial reprimand, with an ongoing impact on his ability to manage properties in the private rented sector in Wales. Cabinet Member for Housing and…

An initiative to encourage older people to get out and about, socialise and reduce loneliness and isolation keeps growing in popularity. Swansea Council’s Ageing Well activities are now supporting around 500 residents every week, with low cost or no cost activities. They include weekly walks, boules, movie afternoons, bowling, a choir, quiz and social get-togethers for a cuppa and chat. There have also been day trips and people have taken part in various projects with youth clubs in Swansea, including afternoon teas, breaking down generational barriers. Now the service, run by the Community Engagement Team, is laying on even more…

Swansea Council manages the castle, with the help of volunteers, and is looking forward to greeting Tinkerbell and the lost boys as Peter Pan takes centre stage this Wednesday (Aug 7) at 2pm. The following day, at 7pm, the tale of Romeo and Juliet will be romantically staged for Shakespeare lovers. The events are being organised by the council. Everyone who buys an Outdoor Theatre ticket will get half-price castle entry from August 8-16. Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “Outdoor Theatre is always extremely popular at Oystermouth Castle. I thank event sponsors holidaycottages.co.uk.” Serena Pearce, regional communities manager of…

Pembrokeshire County Council and community partner Haverfordwest Castle CIO have received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a project called Haverfordwest Castle: Pembrokeshire’s Heritage Gateway, it was announced this week. Made possible by National Lottery players, the project aims to transform the disused Grade II Listed County Gaol building at the heart of the site into a state-of-the-art interactive discovery centre, telling the story of Pembrokeshire’s past, and its potential future in a fun and engaging way. Development funding of £368,525 has been awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help the partnership progress their plans…

For the past two years, this Caerphilly staple has been known as The Little Cheese Festival, but it’s proved to be anything but ‘little!’ And while the Big Cheese is unable to take place in its original capacity, we are making this year’s event bigger and better by reintroducing elements of Caerphilly’s most famous event – and so, we have the Caerphilly Cheese Festival! This year’s event will encompass the entirety of Caerphilly town centre, including the rear of Caerphilly Castle, where there will be a larger funfair and the return of the much-loved food halls, including several cheese stalls.…

Early Years Minister Sarah Murphy learnt more about the expansion of early years Welsh medium childcare and playwork during meetings with Mudiad Meithrin and Clybiau Plant Cymru at the Eisteddfod The Minister hailed the provision of Welsh-medium early years care and education to around 22,000 children in Wales every week. Welsh Government has invested more than £500k this year and committed £1.1m next year to train the workforce to deliver Welsh-language childcare. This funding enables Mudiad Meithrin, the national organisation for Welsh-medium playgroups in Wales, to provide Welsh-medium childcare qualifications, on an ongoing basis, for 100 Level 3 and 50 Level 5…

With the National Eisteddfod underway, the Welsh Government is encouraging people to provide their views on its vision for the culture sector, with just under a month to go until the consultation closes. The draft Priorities for Culture focus on three main priorities: Bringing people together through culture Promoting Wales as a nation of culture Ensuring the culture sector is resilient and sustainable These three priorities are supported by twenty draft ambitions which include culture being accessible to everyone in Wales, building relationships at home and abroad through culture and helping the sector to prosper now and in the future.…

Nestled at the top of St Mary Street in Cardiff, Wales, Viva Brazil is a vibrant Brazilian steakhouse, also known as a churrascaria.  If you’re a meat enthusiast, you’re in for a treat! Even if you’re not, Viva Brazil has you covered with delicious vegan and vegetarian options. We’ve heard rave reviews from friends and family, and now we’ve finally had the chance to experience it ourselves. Let us guide you through how it all works, so you can make the most of your visit and enjoy every moment of this culinary adventure. The restaurant offers a distinctive dining experience…

There’s no real way to deny it at this point: technology is going to be the future of the world. For most of us, tech is woven into everything we do, and this will certainly continue to become more prominent in the future. As a city with plenty of space to grow, Cardiff has been investing heavily in tech development, and here are just a few great examples. Software Development Software development is an incredibly broad field, covering everything from finance to entertainment. This means there has been plenty of opportunity for Welsh companies to get involved over the years, resulting in several…