Author: Rhys Gregory

Pembrokeshire has once again underlined its status as home to some of the best beaches in Wales following another successful year of awards. Seventeen Pembrokeshire beaches have picked up either Blue Flag or Green Coast Awards in the Wales Coast Awards 2024. Proudly flying the Blue Flag in 2024 are: Tenby North, Tenby South, Tenby Castle, Newgale, Saundersfoot, Dale, Whitesands, Coppet Hall, Poppit Sands and Broad Haven (north). The Blue Flag Award is recognised around the world as a symbol of quality. A further seven county beaches also achieved Green Coast Awards. The Green Coast Awards recognise the ‘hidden gems’…

Newtown’s new cycle and pedestrian active travel bridge was successfully lifted into place on Saturday 29 June. Following a short delay due to unfavourable weather conditions, the new 53-metre-long bridge was hoisted into position over the River Severn on Saturday afternoon. The large crane dominated the skyline of the town for most of the week, but unusually gusty wind conditions meant that the lift was delayed for a couple of days. Thankfully the weather turned calmer at the weekend allowing the crews on site to carry out all the necessary safety checks and finally manoeuvre the large superstructure carefully into…

The roll out of the Curriculum for Wales will be boosted by further support for teachers and schools to ensure consistent delivery across Wales. Following visits to educational settings and hearing first hand from teachers about their experiences, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle has announced Welsh Government will introduce simplified, easy to access support to help schools plan their curriculum, deliver for learners and provide consistency across Wales. The support announced today will include; national collaboration to develop common approaches across the profession, simplifying the process of curriculum design and evaluation, tools and templates to plan learning, clearer…

Wales will need an additional 11,000 construction workers to support its growing economy, the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Energy, and Welsh Language, tells a Construction Summit in Llandudno Junction. Speaking to delegates from the North Wales construction sector, Jeremy Miles emphasised the importance of the private and public sectors working together to meet this demand. He set out his vision to ensure rapid growth and improvement, including: working with the new Commission for Tertiary Education & Research to ensure that the education system meets employer needs, offering courses that address specific gaps in construction skills; creating more employment spaces…

The New Saints are delighted to announce the signing of both Yasmin and Mia Evans, with the twin sisters joining the club on a permanent basis ahead of the 2024/25 season. Both hailing from Shrewsbury, Yasmin and Mia, aged 22, make the move to Park Hall having most recently played their football in the United States on football scholarships at West Virginia State University.  The pair may be familiar names to supporters of The New Saints, as they both represented the club previously during its time in the FA Women’s National League. Yasmin is a central defensive midfielder, while sister…

Illustration students at the University of South Wales (USW) have been brightening up electrical boxes around Cardiff city centre as part of a collaboration with Cardiff Council. The group of students, who are all in their final year of the BA (Hons) Illustration course, teamed up with the council’s Caretaking Services team to produce street art for the boxes, which often tend to be a target for vandalism, as a way of encouraging communities to take pride in their local areas. After choosing to theme their designs around colourful animals, Blake McGauley, Chloe Crimmins, Elia Zamora, Samantha Kimber and Faith…

A large bay fronted three bed semi detached period home in the heart of the South Wales valleys created a surge of interest when it was put for auction. A dozen bidders competed to land the property at the online Newport, South Wales-based Paul Fosh Auctions sale. Currently in need of a complete overhaul  2, Alexandra Road, Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan, CF47 9AA, sold for double its guide price of £68,000. Sean Roper, of Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “Bidders on the house, in the town of Merthyr a place which is currently enjoying a prolonged period of renewed investment…

Step inside the world of the ‘Penrhyn Quarry Painting’ at Penrhyn Castle as National Trust Cymru launches a new exhibition exploring the castle’s connection to the local slate quarry and its community. Working alongside prominent local artists, ‘Ailfframio’, the new exhibition arriving at Penrhyn Castle and Garden, has been created by local community groups in response to the Henry Hawkins’ 19th Century painting of the Penrhyn Slate Quarry. The painting, completed in 1832 when the quarry was in its boom period, is one of the most important in the castle’s collection as it is a visible reminder of the slate…

ADAM FLETCHER is the new Chief Executive Officer of the Welsh cancer research charity – Cancer Research Wales. He will be heading up the operations of the independent Cardiff-based organisation which is the only charity wholly dedicated to funding cancer research in Wales. Since it was established in 1966, Cancer Research Wales has invested over £30 million in cancer research projects here in Wales. Adam is the former Head of British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru and starts in his new role on Monday 1 July. “It is a huge privilege to take on the role of Cancer Research Wales CEO.…

Schools across south Wales are gearing up for the Ogi Porthcawl 10K and family fun run by hosting their own Ogi Jogi fundraising races. Headline sponsor for the annual event for a second year running, Ogi and race organisers Run 4 Wales are building excitement for the July 10K and junior races by supporting school fun runs across Ogi’s rollout areas. The ‘Ogi Jogi’ fun runs kick off a summer fundraising drive for schools, with ten taking part in events leading up to the Ogi Porthcawl 10K [07 July]. Schools taking part are hosting a variety of distance runs, from…