Author: Rhys Gregory

The success of a fast-growing bakery is attracting worldwide interest as it heads for record sales of £100 million. The Jones Village Bakery in Wrexham is now getting enquiries from potential customers as far afield as Australia, several Asian countries and the United States of America. Managing director Robin Jones will be sharing the secrets of the rise and rise of the bakery at a meeting of Wrexham Business Professionals on Thursday, September 14. The group is made up of successful businesses and skilled professionals working together to promote regional prosperity and shine a light on the enterprise and expertise…

A North Wales port has unveiled multi-million pound plans to construct a new generation of floating windfarms. The Port of Mostyn is embarking on a consultation programme before submitting a planning application to Flintshire County Council for a change of use to set up a manufacturing plant on site. The port’s managing director, Jim O’Toole, said the scheme to make concrete gravity bases and steel structures for offshore wind turbines will create a “significant number of jobs”. The development would also involve building new modular offices and workshops. In the meantime, the port has also applied to Natural Resources Wales…

Iconic folk singer Dafydd Iwan was touched when care home residents burst into song to wish him a happy 80thbirthday. The rousing rendition of Penblwydd Hapus (Happy Birthday) took place during a fun day at Pendine Park’s Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon where Dafydd was the star attraction. Two songs into his set the gig was interrupted for an “announcement”  by Pendine’s creative practitioner, Emyr Gibson, and musician in residence Nia Davies Williams, whose husband Pwyll ap Sion was accompanying Dafydd on the keyboards. Staff and relatives then joined the residents with musical congratulations for Dafydd on reaching…

An equestrian sport international from the Vale of Clwyd is riding high after gaining eight A-star grades at GCSE. Isabella Stone, from Efenechtyd, near Ruthin, a student at Myddelton College, Denbigh, represented Wales at Under-16 level last month at polocrosse – a combination of polo and lacrosse – to relax after the stress of exam time. The 16-year-old is returning to the school’s sixth form next month to study Chemistry, Biology, Geography and Business but is keeping her options open for the future. She said: “I’m quite happy with the results but I’ve not really made my mind up for…

It might be back to school soon but that doesn’t mean that summer fun is over.  Postponed from its original date in July due to unseasonally high winds and driving rain, Tŷ Hafan’s annual Family Fun Day will now take place on Saturday 9th September and promises to be a great day out.  Activities will run between 12 noon and 5pm in the beautiful grounds of Tŷ Hafan’s  hospice on Hayes Road, CF64 5XX with the day kindly sponsored by Cabot.  Admission is just £2 per person with under-twos free of charge making Tŷ Hafan’s Family Fun Day a very affordable day out.  Attractions will include:  Vintage cars and supercars   Live music  Hog…

12-year-old tennis ace from Cardiff, Niall Pickerd-Barua, took home the boys under-14 cup at the Lexus Junior National Championships last week (16 August). The win marks a second year of victory for Niall, following the under-12 Championship title he earned at last year’s tournament — demonstrating his potential as a future star of British tennis. The 2023 Championships, delivered by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), saw 32 players take part in the boy’s under-14’s tournament, with Niall facing five matches to win his first GB title against Eric Lorimer from Devon in the final. Having played tennis since age three…

SIX colleagues from Specsavers in Haverfordwest have completed a five kilometre mud run and obstacle course to raise money for a local hospice charity. The team from the Bridge Street store took on the Tough Mudder challenge to raise some much-needed funds for Paul Sartori Foundation, a charity that provides free, specialised, supportive care and advice to those in the later stages of any life-limiting illness. They completed the 17 obstacle Tough Mudder course in two hours. Chris Rosser, optical assistant at Specsavers Haverfordwest, says: “The amazing team at Paul Sartori were a tremendous help when my mum was diagnosed…

Thousands of runners are expected to pound the streets of the capital on Sunday, September 3, with the revival of the popular Cardiff 10k. The race, which has been added to Run 4 Wales’ portfolio of world-class mass participation events, attracts top athletes, as well as park runners and charity joggers, and takes the field on a route past some of Cardiff’s most popular sights. Highlights include Cardiff Castle, the Principality Stadium, the River Taff, Sophia Gardens, the grand Civic Centre and the wonderful parkland of Llandaff and Pontcanna Fields. To help the race run smoothly, there is a programme…

One of Wales’ premier country estates is preparing to welcome visitors to its first Forest Fairy Trail on August Bank Holiday Weekend. Gregynog Hall’s 750 acres of grounds at Tregynon, near Newtown are filled with undiscovered treasures and the fairy trail is an ideal way to explore the woodland walks around the Grade 1 listed gardens and historic landscape. The trail opens on Friday, August 25 and runs until Monday, August 28 from 10am to 4pm. Trail sheets cost £6 which includes a strawberry milkshake and a fairy cake in the Courtyard Café. Lydia Bassett, Gregynog Hall’s head of business…

Dog owners are being urged to think ahead when it comes to making sure their faithful four-legged friend is loved and looked after if something happens to them.       Dogs Trust runs the free Canine Care Card service which means a dog is automatically cared for by them if their owner passes away, moves into a care home, or receives a life-changing diagnosis which means they can no longer look after their much-loved canine companion.     Angela Wetherall, Rehoming Centre Manager at Dogs Trust Wales says:   “The Canine Care Card gives dog owners peace of mind that their dog will be loved for a…