Author: Rhys Gregory

A family run business from Corwen, Denbighshire, is on track to reach record sales of over £4 million thanks to recent export success across North America and Europe, supported by the Welsh Government. Ruth Lee is a world-leading supplier of manikins and training aids utilised by rescue training experts across the world. Designed and manufactured in Corwen, the manikins are primarily used by the military, fire and rescue services, healthcare sector and those operating in water rescue services, from swimming pools to flood zones. The firm works with companies and organisations across the world, including the US military, US Homeland…

A new academy for the green energy engineers of the future aims to train 400 people a year as demand in the sector soars. Energy Renewable Solutions (ERS) of Barry sells and installs solar panels, batteries, air source heat pumps and air conditioning for homes, offices and commercial premises across South Wales, and now the firm is helping to train the next generation of technicians. ERS has invested in state-of-the-art training facilities to help tackle what it describes as a ‘desperate’ shortage of the skills to install the renewable energy products. The firm has received the backing of Tata Steel…

Earlier this year South Wales Police posted a CCTV image of a man wanted in connection with a robbery in Canton, Cardiff. Thanks to information from the public, James Crook, known as Jay, was identified, and arrested for robbery. On the afternoon of February 9, 2024, 41-year-old Crook watched a woman withdraw a substantial amount of money from a cash machine on Delta Street. He then followed her into Albert Street where he grabbed her bag, causing her to fall, and he ran off into a nearby housing estate. The woman’s bag was found, but her £500 was missing. Crook…

North Wales Police continue to meticulously search for 85-year-old George, who remains missing from home. Following further enquiries to locate George this wee, Detective Inspector Chris Owen is now making a direct appeal to the public to ask for their assistance. “I am specifically asking for any houses or businesses with CCTV cameras in the mapped area to please check your footage,” DI Owen said. “Whilst my dedicated team are following the trail of known sightings, the assistance from the public in proactively checking cameras will greatly assist us. “This community effort will hopefully bring us closer to our goal…

A fleet of 50 individual electric vehicles are this week competing in the A-Z EV Rally 2024, travelling more than 1,400 miles throughout England and Wales and checking-in at strategic locations in alphabetical order. Y Gelli (Hay on Wye), will be the penultimate stop on the five-day rally with the electric vehicles (EV) making their final charge on Friday 5 July, before heading up to the ‘Zero Carbon’ Rhug Estate. The network of EV charging points across Powys is growing each year. Matt Perry, Powys County Council’s Chief Officer – Place explains: “Alongside a growing network of private EV charging…

Plans to increase the capacity of a proposed new school building in Newtown so pupils from another school can also be included could be given the go-ahead if a recommendation to Cabinet is approved, the county council has said. Powys County Council is proposing to increase the capacity of the proposed new school building at Ysgol Calon y Dderwen so that pupils from Treowen C.P. School can also be included. It is the intention that, from September 2025, Ysgol Calon y Dderwen would be extended to include the current building Treowen C.P. School building. Pupils currently attending Treowen C.P. School…

Launching in libraries across Wales on Saturday 6 July, the Summer Reading Challenge is a free activity enabling young children to read for pleasure during the summer holidays. All children aged 4-11 can visit their local library, register for the challenge, select 6 books of their choice and once the challenge is completed will receive a certificate, with rewards along the way. An online version of the challenge is also available. The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle said: “I know what a great pleasure it is to be truly absorbed in a book. The Summer Reading Challenge is a…

A talented young cornet player will be taking centre stage at a gala concert just seven months after she started playing the instrument. Akusua Asubonteng,12, hasn’t looked back since she joined the Bellevue Community Youth Band in Wrexham along with her 10 year old brother, Paapa, in January. They will be taking part with more than 200 other children in the concert being organised by Wrexham Music Cooperative at the Stiwt theatre in Rhos at 7pm on Monday, July 15 It will be the first ever public performance for  Akusua, Paapa and around 10 other new members of the multi-national…

A volunteering opportunity has helped inspire a gardener to brighten up her neighbourhood. Corinne Barber, of Llangollen has been taking part in volunteer gardening sessions led by staff at Plas Newydd and backed by Nature for Health. Nature for Health is a collaborative project that works together with individuals and communities to highlight the role access to nature can have in improving health and wellbeing. Plas Newydd has launched volunteering opportunities for keen gardeners who are also interested in preserving a piece of the town’s history. The home of Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby contains around ten acres…

Residents in Beddau and Tynant are advised that two-way traffic lights will be used on sections of the B4595 from next week, to enable the installation of a new zebra crossing and to deliver other highway improvements. The scheme will take place at two locations along the B4595 – at Parish Road (between Mildred Street and Fairview) and Tynant Road (between Garth View and Brynhyfryd). The new crossing will be installed at Tynant Road, while the existing Parish Road crossing will be raised. Road markings will be improved in the car park at Garth View, while a nearby bus stop…