Author: Rhys Gregory

A swimming instructor who abused his position to sexually abuse five young girls, was sentenced to 25 years in prison at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday 11 November. Robert Rixon, aged 75, from Porthcawl, was found guilty of 28 charges of sexual assault including one of rape. At the time of the first offences, which took place at Porthcawl Comprehensive between 2000 and 2005, Rixon was a swimming instructor. The offences were committed against three girls when they were between 11 and 13 years old. Rixon later hired a pool at a Heronsbridge School in Bridgend where he ran a…

Roxy Leisure are set to be bringing their competitive gaming concept to the Welsh capital next year. The latest Roxy Lanes site will be located on Queen Street in Cardiff’s city centre, and will feature an exciting range of activities including ten-pin bowling, ice-free curling, American pool, air hockey, karaoke, arcade games, basketball, beer pong, bank shot shuffleboard, and shuffleboard. Founded by Matthew Jones and Ben Jones, Roxy Leisure opened their first Roxy Ball Room site on Leed’s Boar Lane back in 2013. Following this, they opened their second site and first bowling lane concept, Roxy Lanes, on Leed’s Bond…

Leading law firm Blake Morgan has announced the appointment of Trish D’Souza as a Legal Director within its Education Sector team. Trish joins the team from Capital Law, where she has worked since 2018 and headed up the education team. Trish is a public and judicial review law specialist and has been recommended by the prestigious Legal 500 index as a ‘rising star’ in the public law arena. Trish is also the chair of the Cardiff and District Law Society’s B.A,M,E & Friends Committee. With a track record of advising clients, including well-known regulatory bodies, central and local government and…

A four-faced clock which kept the time and chimed each hour in Cardiff city centre for more than 100 years has been restored to its former glory after falling into disrepair in recent years. The £380,000 refurbishment of the historic clock tower at Hodge House in St Mary Street has restored the  clock and its bell to full working order. It is the latest stage in a £17 million refurbishment by owner Legal & General to bring the 110,000 sq ft, eight-storey Hodge House office building into the 21st century. Stride Treglown are architects, interiors designers, building surveyors and planning…

Azets, the UK’s largest regional accountancy firm and business advisor to SMEs, has demonstrated its commitment to growing its network with seven appointments joining the Swansea and Cardiff offices. Rebecca Read joins as Partner, whilst Hayley Jones and Thomas Williams are appointed as Senior Accountants. Ben Gates, Sahil Kanda, Tom Howes-Ward and Charlotte John join as Associates across the accounts and business advisory services, audit and tax teams. As Partner specialising in medical accountancy, Rebecca provides expert tax and accountancy advice to a client base of over 70 GP practices and 200 hospital consultants. Dual-qualified as a chartered accountant and…

Thrive Group Wales, the social enterprise that supports Neath Port Talbot’s Thrive Women’s Aid, has been awarded the contract to run the restaurant in Swansea Central Police station by South Wales Police. The contract will run for two years, with an option to extend, and is to provide staff and visitors to Swansea Central Police station hot and cold food and beverages during the working hours, as well as hosting events and themed menus. The restaurant currently employs two people, who have now been transferred into the employ of the Thrive Group. Thrive Group Wales is also now in discussions…

Street Food Cinema, the drive-in movie and street food event is coming to Carmarthen Show Ground from 15-18 December. After two years of sell-out screenings in Cardiff, the drive-in is heading west for the first time, for a Street Food Cinema Festive Spectacular with some of Wales’ finest street food traders, two classic Christmas favourites – Elf and Home Alone – and entertainment for all the family. Screened under cover at Carmarthen Show Ground, the drive-in shows films on a huge screen with sound broadcast through the car radio. There’s contactless, online ordering from the street food traders and food…

Thirteen members of one of Wales’ leading law firms, JCP Solicitors, have been appointed to the role of Senior Associate as it continues to strengthen its career opportunities to support its ongoing growth. The legal firm, which has offices across south and west Wales, made the appointments as it introduced a new career structure aimed at recognising the dedication and expertise of its solicitors and supporting their future development. Solicitors from Medical Negligence, Lifetime Planning, Family, Corporate Commercial, Commercial Property, Property Litigation, Employment and Court of Protection were among those who were promoted as part of the announcement. Hayley Davies,…

Sting is bringing his My Songs World Tour to South Wales for a sensational outdoor show. The rock icon will play Cardiff Castle on Sunday July 2nd.  Sting’s ‘My Songs’ concerts are an exuberant and dynamic show featuring his most beloved songs, written throughout the 17-time Grammy Award winner’s illustrious career both with The Police and as a solo artist. Following a sold out six-night residency at the London Palladium, My Songs was hailed “a masterclass” by The Times who said “Sting remains an undeniably skilled performer with a gold-plated back catalogue.” A musical journey taking in hits like Fields of Gold, Shape…

THE owner of an award-winning 15,000-acre organic farm issued a stark warning as the crisis in the poultry industry deepens. As avian flu continues to impact available stocks of birds UK-wide, Lord Newborough – owner of Rhug Estate in North Wales – urged people to secure their Christmas orders well ahead to avoid disappointment. The UK has lost more than 40% of its free-range turkey flock to bird flu and resulting culls, putting the industry under huge pressure at its most crucial time of the year. It is the country’s worst-ever outbreak and has left butchers nationwide without supplies as…