Author: Rhys Gregory

Since its debut in 1977, Star Wars has transcended its role as a blockbuster movie series to become a cultural phenomenon that captivates audiences across multiple generations. From the original trilogy to the recent sequels and spin-offs, Star Wars has not only pioneered advancements in film and special effects but also fostered communal experiences that bond families and create unforgettable memories. Galactic Appeal: A Universe That Captivates All Ages One of the most remarkable aspects of Star Wars is its universal appeal. The stories told within the Star Wars universe resonate with themes of heroism, adventure, and the classic battle…

A brand-new celebration of Wales’ connection with Hungary is set to take place in Newport this month, featuring Welsh language music and traditional Hungarian folk dances. Held on Saturday 18 May at the Pill Millennium Centre, the event will kick off with a rousing performance by acclaimed Welsh folk singer and songwriter Gwilym Bowen Rhys, followed by an interactive Hungarian ‘dance house’ with Bristol’s DunAvon Folk Dance Ensemble. The first-of-its-kind celebration – organised by Magyar Cymru and the Hungarian Cultural Society of Newport – marks the third annual Welsh-Hungarian Friendship Day (14 May), an initiative launched in 2022 to commemorate…

A Carmarthenshire couple are experimenting with growing nuts on their land. Martyn Williams and Alison Harwood have planted walnut and sweet chestnut trees on a one-hectare south facing slope overlooking the River Towy. They have chosen varieties that are a good match for conditions at Old Castle Farm, Llangain. Nuts are being grown commercially more than ever in the UK as the climate heats, making products more economically viable, but what is less understood is how well suited this enterprise is to weather conditions in west Wales, or the free-draining and slightly acidic loam soils at Old Castle Farm. To…

A Ceredigion couple who sold counterfeit clothing, footwear, and fragrances on local online marketplaces on social media have been fined by Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court after an investigation by Ceredigion County Council’s Trading Standards Officers. Peter Hinchen, 54, and Sharon Hopkins, 38, of Rhydlewis, appeared before Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 30 April 2024, where the pair pleaded guilty to four offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994. The bench of Magistrates heard how officers from the Public Protection service observed allegedly counterfeit tracksuits, trainers, watches, jackets, and perfumes on local online marketplaces being advertised for sale by the pair. Following…

Home sales continued to increase in number in Wales during April according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey as a higher number of listings and good buyer demand led to more transactions taking place. A net balance of 35% of surveyors in Wales reported that house sales rose through the month of April, the fifth consecutive month that this balance has been on an upward trajectory. Surveyors in Wales also appear optimistic on the short-term outlook for sales, with a net balance of 14% of surveyors anticipating a rise over the next three months.…

Ancala, the leading independent infrastructure manager, has agreed to sell its 50% interest in Dragon LNG Group (Dragon) to VTTI, a global leader in energy storage and developer of energy infrastructure. The news comes after an active ownership period in which LNG volumes through the terminal increased by approximately three times1. Dragon is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal located in Milford Haven, Wales. It is one of three LNG terminals in the UK. The terminal has a gas send out rate of up to 9bn cubic meters per annum, enough to supply 10% of the UK’s gas needs.…

A former aircraft engineer and banker who switched careers to become a teacher has been appointed as the new headmaster of Wales’s newest and fastest growing independent school. Ian Lloyd, 51, originally from Wallasey where he attended The Mosslands School, will take over the reins at Myddelton College, in Denbigh, in September. After leaving school aged 16, he joined British Aerospace at Broughton and worked on the BAe 125 executive jet and completed his apprenticeship but later worked for the NatWest bank before moving into the world of education. He worked with Conwy Local Education Authority on data services for…

Building on the success of its GreenTech and Convergent Content programmes, Tramshed Tech is unveiling two new initiatives to support student spinouts and creative tech projects throughout Wales in 2024. Run as part of Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme, funded by Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, these programmes aim to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship across the nation. The first offering, the Convergent Content Scaler, is a 12-week programme designed to help companies scale up their creative tech projects in areas such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), interactive media production, and game design. Participants will benefit from…

2,500 community volunteers braved one of the wettest winters on record to help plant 30,000 trees in just 6 months, as part of a project to create an urban forest in Cardiff. “The wet conditions are great for the new trees,” explained Project Manager, Chris Engel, “they just soak it all up, but it did mean we had some pretty muddy days. It never dampens the spirits though. Planting trees isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for the soul as well and even if they went home caked in mud, I don’t remember a day when our volunteers…

There promises to be a carnival atmosphere as Swansea Pride returns for another year on Saturday, May 18, with a colourful parade through the city centre followed by an afternoon of live entertainment in front of the Guildhall. Once again, the festival is free and an open invitation is extended to all. The annual parade is set to depart from Wind Street at 11am and will make its way along Oxford Street and St. Helen’s Road to the Guildhall. A stage will be set up in the car park at the front of the building hosting live entertainment between noon…