Author: Rhys Gregory

A pioneering music service that teaches children in Wrexham and Denbighshire has bounced back after a devasting flood. The award-winning North Wales Music Co-operative – which has branches in both counties – was up and running again just 28 days after a frozen pipe burst, inundating the building and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to instruments and equipment. According to Head of Service Heather Powell, the disaster was heartbreaking because it happened not long after they had completed a major makeover to upgrade the building. She said: “The water from the burst pipe cascaded through the ceiling and…

Top Welsh comedians have been galvanised to spread the word about how humour can boost mental well-being. Some of the nation’s favourite laughter makers including stand-up star presenter Tudur Owen, who’s also a popular TV and radio presenter, has volunteered to put himself  in the spotlight for an inspired Q&A at Denbigh Town Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday, April 6. Other comedians taking part in the Welsh language event called Cryfder Mewn Comedi  (Strength in Comedy) include Dilwyn Pierce, Sian Parry and Eryl Davies and the MC for the evening will be Nic Parry, a well-known Welsh language sports commentor…

BBC Sport anchor Jason Mohammad has revealed his secret ambition to present televised international football matches from Wrexham’s Racecourse. The stadium was the scene of one of Wales’s most famous goals when Mark Hughes scored a scissors kick screamer in a memorable 3-0 victory against Spain in 1985 – but there haven’t been any full internationals there for many years. The Racecourse will take its place in a new TV series alongside Mexico’s mighty Azteca, Beijing’s incredible Bird’s Nest and closer to home, Welsh rugby’s cathedral, the Principality Stadium, the football fortress of Anfield, Spurs’ palatial White Hart Lane and…

Cymru’s amazing fans who make up the infamous “Y Wal Goch”, “The Red Wall” have so far raised an incredible £22,500 for Tenovus Cancer Care through the Football Association of Wales’ (FAW’s) “Red Wall Membership”. The unique partnership between Tenovus Cancer Care and “The Red Wall/ Y Wal Goch” ensures that with each membership sold this year, £1 will go directly to Wales’ leading cancer charity. The Red Wall Membership club pack, access to Cymru Home and Away tickets, product discounts, in addition to an exclusive “The Red Wall x Tenovus Cancer Care” supporters’ wristband. Chief Executive of Tenovus Cancer Care, Judi…

Coffee shop business opens seventh outlet at Cardiff’s tallest office building Coffee shop chain Kin & Ilk has opened its seventh outlet in Cardiff at Capital Tower, the city’s tallest office building. Local business Kin & Ilk has taken a lease at the 270 feet tall multi-let Capital Tower, in Greyfriars Road in Cardiff city centre.  It is serving speciality coffee and fresh, locally-sourced food to the building’s occupiers and passing shoppers and office workers. The coffee shop facility is the latest addition to facilities by owners Trinova, which acquired the building for £25 million in 2018 and which has…

Cardiff-based SCS Engineering Limited, a UK-based leader in smoke control solutions for residential and commercial buildings, has been acquired by Systemair AB. SCS provides smoke control solutions, building management systems and post-installation services for its customers. SCS has its head office in Cardiff, an assembly plant in Dorset and offices in London and Portsmouth. SCS, which was advised by Lexington Corporate Finance, employs 57 full time employees and had revenues of approximately £12m in 2022. Systemair is a leading ventilation company in Europe that manufactures and supplies HVAC products, as well as fire safety products. Operating across 52 countries, it…

Hay Festival has today revealed the free Programme for Schools for this spring’s edition, bringing writers and young readers together in-person and online for a series of inspiring interactive activities and conversations, 25-26 May, kicking-off the full Festival running 25 May-4 June 2023. Parents and teachers can explore the programme online now at hayfestival.org/schools with priority booking open now to all state schools in Wales. KS2 events on Thursday 25 May include writers Matt Goodfellow, Dr Ranj, Pamela Butchart, Chae Strathie, Abi Elphinstone, Emma Carroll, Jeffrey Boakye and SF Said; poet Mererid Hopwood; Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho; adventurer Bear Grylls; and space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock. KS3/4 events on Friday…

Ceredigion Council want to hear from the public on their ideas on how to spend the money made from selling the Old County School in Tregaron. £100,645 is held following the sale of the property in February 2022. The money is currently held by the charity Cardiganshire Intermediate and Technical Education Fund, where Ceredigion County Council is a trustee. A sub-group has been set up to look at the how to use this money, with members from Ceredigion County Council, Tregaron Town Council, Ysgol Henry Richard and Cylch Meithrin Tregaron. A public consultation will be held for 8 weeks and…

A 22-year-old Cardiff Metropolitan University Textiles graduate has high hopes for a career in pattern design after one of her floral prints has been featured on a dress by national fashion retailer, TU Clothing. Imogen Lee, originally from Narberth in Pembrokeshire, displayed her prints at the annual New Designers graduate show in London – one of the showcase events available to her through the BA Textile Design course – and was spotted by Sainsbury’s TU. Imogen’s original print, designed while studying at Cardiff Met, features on a dress within TU Clothing’s spring/summer 2023 collection available now and she jumped at…

THE future of a major clock tower redevelopment is in good health thanks to the generosity of a global manufacturing company. A significant community grant from Convatec – the FTSE 100 medical products and solutions business which employee hundreds of people in Deeside – helped the team at the Grade II-listed John Summers Clock Tower make steady progress over past months as part of their ‘Forever Caring’ month initiative. Enbarr Foundation Director Vicki Roskams and fellow ‘Guardians’ of the beloved landmark have been working on the £5.2m project and she says the cash injection has been pivotal since the new…