Author: Rhys Gregory

Wales’ premier festive lights trail, Christmas at Bute Park, is back and it’s bigger than ever – with an all-new layout and a longer trail of illuminations on offer in 2023. The award-winning event – which is currently the most popular light trail in the UK outside of London – is extending its route and completely revising its layout and range of light installations on offer, creating a never-before seen experience for all those visiting this year. Ahead of its third annual outing, Christmas at Bute Park is also introducing a new Christmas Village to its 2023 event, which can be…

A talented young conductor with an amazing 55 world premieres already under his belt has been honoured with a top award. Robert Guy, 35, from Wrexham, was  “surprised beyond belief and overjoyed” to have received the award named after one of his musical heroines, the late great Welsh-born composer Hilary Tann. The prestigious accolade from the Welsh Music Guild recognised his outstanding contribution to Welsh classical music. The award was presented by another of his heroes, royal composer Paul Mealor, a patron of the Welsh Music Guild. Prof Mealor, who was born in St Asaph and brought up in Connah’s…

A collaboration between Wrexham superstar strike  Paul Mullin and a fanzine has raised more than £3,500 for an autism charity. The popular Fearless in Devotion (FiD fanzine produced a set of A4 and A3 prints capturing the hotshot  celebrating Wrexham’s promotion from the National League in front of the adoring Racecourse masses following the 3-1 home win over Boreham Wood. Working alongside Jordan Birchall, the fan who took the original photo, the initial run of 300 unsigned prints saw the equivalent percentage of Paul Mullin’s league goals this season, 38%,  donated to Wrexham’s Your Space. Nearly £1,500 was raised for…

Members of the Senedd joined animal welfare campaigners from the League Against Cruel Sports yesterday evening to celebrate a historic vote to ban snares in Wales. It followed the unanimous passing of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill in the Senedd earlier today which contained measures to outlaw these cruel and indiscriminate wildlife traps. Will Morton, head of public affairs at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “The Welsh Government deserves huge credit for banning snares, inherently inhumane traps, which are completely incompatible with high animal welfare standards. “Wales is leading the way in protecting wildlife from cruelty and we’re calling on…

A company at the forefront of the British clean energy industry has secured almost £4 million in government funding to make its biomass and waste-to-hydrogen plants even greener by using carbon capture. Compact Syngas Solutions (CSS) has won £3,979,113 from the Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (H2BECCS) Innovation Programme, run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). CSS, based in Deeside, Wales, previously won a first round of funding of £246,568. CSS have developed an advanced gasification process that generates hydrogen gas from waste products, including biomass like waste wood and other selected non-recyclable materials. This…

A South Wales international car and vehicle shipping company has been put on the market by its founders, who wish to reduce their commitments and embark on semi-retirement. Alec and Nicola Laycy have appointed Blacks Business Brokers to find a new owner for Ship Cars Limited, with a guide price of £499,995. Mr and Mrs Laycy, both of whom have long pedigrees in the shipping and freight forwarding sector, established Ship Cars Limited in 2019. The business, which currently operates from the couple’s home in Llanhilleth in Blaenau Gwent, ships cars, vans, motorbikes, trucks, caravans, motorhomes and trailers worldwide, providing…

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society is immensely proud of the Welsh Shearing and Woolhandling Team for taking three out of the six world titles at the 2023 Golden Shears World Championships held at The Royal Highland Show in Scotland last weekend. The Golden Shears Sheep Shearing & Woolhandling World Championships showcases the art, skill and techniques it takes to be a world champion. This year The Royal Highland Show hosted the competition. Shearing teams from 30 nations flocked to Edinburgh to compete at the event, which is held in a different location around the globe every three years. In what…

Businesses across Bridgend County Borough have been invited to attend a Business Support Fair that will take place next month. The free event will be taking place on Thursday 20 July between 4pm and 6pm at the Indoor Bowls Hall, Angel Street, Bridgend, CF31 4AH. This will be a free drop in event aimed at new start-ups and existing businesses, offering guidance on the wide range of support available from the many business support organisations. Some of the business support organisations who will be in attendance at the fair include Employability Bridgend, Business Wales, Department for Work & Pensions, Development…

Super-hot embers from disposable BBQs and beach fires are putting visitors to our seaside destinations at risk, new videos have revealed. RNLI lifeguards are starting their morning shift at Swansea beaches by putting out the leftovers of the night before thoughtlessly left behind by revellers.Now the the RNLI and Swansea Council are joining forces to highlight the problem which can cause severe burns to the unwary. Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “It’s extremely irresponsible for people setting fires on beaches or using disposable BBQs to just leave them behind or bury them. “Sand doesn’t put them out,…

RCT Council has secured £3.43m funding for Active Travel from Welsh Government in 2023/24 – which includes investment in the Rhondda Fach Active Travel route, establishing a formal route in Cwmbach and Trallwn, and replacing Riverside bridge in Llwydcoed. The total funding of £3,433,700 has been awarded to Rhondda Cynon Taf from the Active Travel Fund, covering the current financial year. In a separate recent announcement, Welsh Government has also confirmed that £384,290 has been awarded to the Council in the Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) Transformation Fund. A summary of the funding allocations is included below: Active Travel Fund…