Author: Rhys Gregory

The highly anticipated finale of His Dark Materials launched to global acclaim on 18th December. The production was created by Bad Wolf and received support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales, working in tandem to bring the epic fantasy to life. Key actors in the series have praised the Welsh craftsmanship that went into the production, from the full-scale sets built in Wolf Studios by Executive Producer Joel Collins and his design team, to the costumes designed and made at the studio by award-winning designer Caroline McCall. Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winning actor and songwriter Lin Manuel Miranda, who…

TV star and ITV Racing presenter, Chris Hughes, recently visited Welsh Grand National winning trainer, Christian Williams, to see how racehorses are trained on Traeth yr Avon beach, near Bridgend. In a video filmed by Great British Racing, Hughes learns about Williams’ unique training style and approach to training his yard of 30 racehorses. From cold-water therapy in the Welsh sea, to canter work through the sand dunes, Williams gives Hughes insight into training racehorses, his philosophy and how his horses perform so well as a result of these methods. Hughes’ riding skills were put to the test aboard racehorse,…

As the war in Ukraine continues, Aberystwyth University has been building on the link established with Odesa National Economic University (ONEU) as part of a UK wide twinning initiative to support students and academic staff in the country. A group of undergraduate and postgraduate students from Odesa joined the University’s Business School in October and in early November, the University hosted a week-long study school for students and staff from ONEU. The Autumn School programme was developed and delivered by staff at the Business School and the International English Centre and covered the fundamentals of project management and English language…

A new Welsh support booklet to benefit non-Welsh speaking parents and guardians in the county was launched recently. The Welsh Language Support Team in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion have worked together to create a booklet that will help non-Welsh parents and guardians as their child begins their education in the county’s primary schools. The booklet is available to all primary schools in the county, to be shared with non-Welsh speaking parents and guardians whose children start school or moves to the county during the early years of their education. Seren a Sbarc are the heroes of the Welsh Language Charter who encourage the use…

Work has been completed to upgrade the traffic lights and provide additional footway improvements at Llantrisant Road in Llantwit Fardre (near Hill Drive), as part of a Safe Routes in Communities scheme supported by Welsh Government. Contractor Centregreat Ltd has recently completed the final resurfacing for the work, which has introduced a Puffin crossing at this location – a more efficient crossing system than was previously in place. The crossing area has also been widened to four metres, creating a safer environment for pedestrians, particularly in consideration of the busy morning and afternoon periods. The crossing upgrades are part of…

A possible 200-plus vacancies could be on offer from a range of Merthyr Tydfil employers at a jobs fair in January. More than 20 businesses and other recruiters are interested in attending the event, organised by the County Borough Council’s Employability Team in partnership with Merthyr Tydfil Job Centre Plus. Taking place at Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre on Thursday, 26 January, a wide range of sectors will be represented at the ‘Spring into a New Job’ fair. The Council will be showcasing the diversity of local authority work, alongside advanced manufacturing and engineering companies, construction businesses, retail and customer services,…

Consultation on plans to introduce a Welsh-medium stream at a south Powys primary school have begun, the county council has said. Powys County Council is proposing to move Ysgol y Cribarth in Abercraf along the language continuum by establishing a Welsh-medium stream at the school. The school is currently an English-medium school providing education for pupils aged 4 to 11. The proposed change would see a Welsh-medium stream introduced at Ysgol y Cribarth from September 2023, operating alongside the school’s English-medium stream. Last week (December 13), Cabinet gave the go-ahead to start formal consultation on the plans. Cllr Pete Roberts,…

Leading South Wales taxi and private hire firm Dragon Taxis has donated £1000 to Welsh Women’s Aid to support their participation in the global ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ campaign. Welsh Women’s Aid is the national charity in Wales working to end violence against women and girls in all its forms. This Christmas, they are joining the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign under the theme UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls. Dragon Taxis has made their donation via the Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest digital match funding campaign. Donations…

Lucy Reynolds has been appointed as Chief Executive of Chwarae Teg and will take up her role on 27th February, succeeding Cerys Furlong who recently stepped down from the position after six years. Lucy joins Chwarae Teg from Thrive Women’s Aid, where she has spent the last eight years leading the domestic abuse organisation. She has overseen significant organisational growth and is noted for her commercial skills having developed a successful trading arm, Thrive Group Wales, during her time there. Chwarae Teg is Wales’s leading gender equality charity which aims to identify and tackle the barriers facing women in the…

Following a period of significant growth and new project wins, Pontypool-based Pro Steel Engineering has made six new appointments to the business, including a mother and daughter partnership. Clare Hogan (Compliance Manager), Gracie Gibbs (Administrator), Louise Gibbs (Administrator), Joanne Roberts (Operations Support), Danielle Haddigan (Project Manager), and Shermayne Young (Trainee Welder / Fabricator),  have been recruited to help lead the Welsh steel specialist company forward into 2023.  Shermayne Young said: “I am absolutely loving my time with Pro Steel Engineering already. I get to do so many new things, and my daughter gets to look up to a strong role model, even…