Author: Rhys Gregory

A new mother from Caerphilly has launched a paranormal investigation events company during her maternity leave with the help of a Start Up Loan from the British Business Bank. That’s The Spirit hosts events in which small groups visit historical buildings in South Wales with a reputation for being haunted and are guided through a paranormal investigation by experienced investigators and mediums. The company was founded by Chloe Davies, 31, who herself held no beliefs in the paranormal until she experienced a ghost sighting in her own home three years ago. As a sceptic, she became determined to find answers…

It’s 40 years since Lynne Kettles opened Solo, a women’s clothing shop on the seafront in Mumbles. Now the multi-award retailer and choreographer of countless Swansea fashion shows is retiring – but Solo will live on, which is great news for its many loyal customers. Lynne’s career in fashion goes back many years prior to Solo. Originally from London, Lynne had a brief career in PR before becoming Womenswear Marketing Executive for the International Wool Secretariat aged just 21. The role gave her a deep understanding of the fashion world, from the manufacture and sale of clothing to how to…

SUMMER is a time for growth and development at a leading law firm. Mackenzie Jones Solicitors is recruiting staff after a busy start to the year, with vacancies for a litigation secretary, private client solicitor and secretary, having recently welcomed a new conveyancer, legal assistant, and graduate paralegal. Several members of the team are also progressing with legal qualifications and working towards promotion at the firm – based in St Asaph, Menai Bridge and Chester – which again secured the Law Society’s Lexcel Accreditation for Excellence in Legal Practice Management and Client Care. Among them is Wendy Tinkler, from Rhyl,…

An internal survey to understand the experiences of match officials in Welsh football has revealed that 1 in 4 Referees have experienced physical abuse. The survey conducted by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), which received responses from 282 match officials, detailed that 88% of respondents have also received verbal abuse whilst officiating at some point in their refereeing career, with more than 50 percent of match officials feeling that the behaviour of football participants towards Referees was getting worse. Many match officials in Wales are therefore making the unfortunate decision to not continue refereeing due to the negative behaviour…

Wales’s leading alternative telecoms company – Ogi – has announced new plans to support charities through its award-winning ‘Cefnogi’ programme. The community-focused ‘Cefnogi’ programme (cefnogi, meaning ‘support’ in Welsh) has, to date, offered more than £35,000 to local groups and community projects with staff taking part in well over 2,000 volunteering hours since the programme began in 2022. The business is now extending the scheme to charities, with staff being encouraged to fundraise for their chosen organisations – instead of a single fixed corporately nominated charity. As part of the new Cefnogi: giving programme, staff can apply for support to…

After feeling lost when she left school last September, a 20-year-old apprentice from Carmarthen credits her Early Years Apprenticeship with giving her a purpose and a clear path in life. It comes as Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) statistics show there are almost 40,000 job vacancies in nursery, primary and secondary schools across the UK, with staff demand in Wales expected to rise in line with Welsh Government plans to extends its free childcare policy to include all two-year-olds. Caitlin Morgan, a Nursery Nurse at Willow Daycare, is now supporting the ‘Genius Decision’ campaign and encouraging young people  to consider…

Cardiff’s iconic City Hall is to close temporarily this winter to enable essential infrastructure work to be carried out on the Grade I-listed building and preserve it for future generations. Built of Portland Stone and opened in 1906, the building was the first council headquarters to be known as City Hall – following Cardiff’s elevation to city status in 1905 – and in recent years has been used as a register office and for wedding celebrations and other private functions. Much of the infrastructure in the historic building is now due for an upgrade, and the work over the winter…

Visitors to Oystermouth Castle are set to receive a royal welcome in a special Princes and Princesses Day on Monday 28 August. The event, which is part of the castle’s summer programme, will feature a range of activities for children and families, such as storytelling, crafts, games and a costume competition. Visitors are encouraged to dress up as their favourite royal characters and join in the fun. Oystermouth Castle, which dates to the 12th century, has been conserved in recent years with improved access to the chapel and added visitor facilities. Swansea Council is presenting Princes and Princess Day at…

The final arrangements are being put in place for Neath’s iconic Great September Fair which has been running for more than 700 years – making it one of the oldest chartered fairs in Europe. The historic fair is made up of two main events, the fun fair (at Milland Road Car Park) and the street fair (in the town centre streets). The 2023 Street Fair, which this year will feature approximately 80 stalls, will run from Wednesday, 13th September to Saturday 16th September. The Fun Fair, run as usual by the Showman’s Guild of Great Britain, will be open from…

Residents are advised that there will be increased works activity at the Ynys/Sobell Leisure Centre car park in Aberdare for six days, starting from Saturday, August 26. Transport for Wales and Amey continue works to construct a new platform to serve Aberdare Railway Station, using a site compound at the Ynys car park. The Council has been informed that, to make necessary progress with the works, a large crane will be situated on site and will occupy much of the contractor’s compound. This will result some of the heavy machinery that usually operates within the site compound will need to…