Author: Rhys Gregory

Tim Thompson has joined Hodge’s Executive team as its chief information officer. Tim takes up the role from his previous post as head of technology with Cumberland Building Society, and was also formerly head of change with Hitachi Consumer Finance. With more than two decades of technology and transformation experience in tow, Tim will be leading the executive, technology and wider teams at Hodge in applying the best use of technology for the enhanced support of colleagues and customers UK-wide. He will also spearhead the continued use of digital to ensure the delivery of Hodge’s aims and objectives for the…

Following an eight-month consultation process considering the sustainable future of Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire, National Trust Cymru are now sharing the findings and proposals with the public. Nearly 5,000 people contributed to two online surveys, with more attending drop in events, workshops and discussions, that formed detailed research for the consultation facilitated by Planning Solutions Consulting. Through engaging with people that visit the beach on a wide range of proposals including car parking, traffic, toilets and signage, key priorities have now been identified for Freshwater West. The main proposals with the highest level of public support focus on improving car…

YSGOL EIRIAS is leading the campaign to educate future generations of teachers following a surge in demand for pupil places. The Colwyn Bay school is one of a select group working alongside The School of Educational Sciences at Bangor University as part of its innovative CaBan Teacher Education programme, in partnership with the Regional Consortium GwE and inspired by a review into ITE (Initial Teacher Education) by Professor John Furlong. In his report, Professor Furlong sets out an ambitious plan for world-leading teacher education in Wales, which forms the basis of the Caban teacher education model. Wales is undergoing an…

A new app is being developed to help Swansea residents save money while supporting city centre traders and local businesses. Linking initially to shops and other businesses like pubs and restaurants, the residents’ rewards app would include discounts and a loyalty scheme available exclusively for Swansea residents. Swansea Council is helping fund the app in partnership with the Swansea Business Improvement District (BID), who will manage and run the app on behalf of partners and businesses. Due for launch in the spring, the app will be available for download on smartphones and tablets. It could include competitions and giveaways as…

Get ready to party All Night Long as international pop legend Lionel Richie is heading to Chepstow Racecourse next summer. The music superstar will perform hits from his extensive and much-loved repertoire as he brings his sensational live show to the venue on Friday, June 30, as part of a weekend of special gigs. Hello and Dancing On The Ceiling singer and multi-award winner Lionel Richie is the second headline act revealed for the weekend of music at the prestigious Welsh course. It follows the announcement on Friday that Gold Rush Kid George Ezra will close the weekend on Sunday,…

The launch of the Cymru Football Foundation is the start of another exciting chapter in Welsh football. The new charity will support the development of football facilities through investment, assistance and guidance. The Cymru Football Foundation will deliver the Football Association of Wales’ (FAW) commitment to develop inspirational fit-for-future football facilities that will improve and grow Welsh football on and off the pitch and is preparing to undertake the largest programme of funding in the history of Welsh football. The standard of football facilities across Wales, particularly at grassroots level, requires coordinated long-term investment to deliver the most accessible and…

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama has announced a new annual Shakespeare prize, judged by Sir Ian McKellen. This new award celebrates the actors’ technical ability with verse, and connection with character and situation.   Multi-award-winning actor Ian McKellen has spent the last two days auditioning and working with RWCMD second year acting students. The five finalists have each had an individual masterclass with the acclaimed actor as part of their award. The final, in front of a special panel of judges, will take place in January at a London theatre. The finalists are Nathan Kirby, Alyson Handley, Mya…

Kerry Vale Vineyard is celebrating a bumper harvest of quality of grapes thanks to the help of a band of volunteer pickers. The local volunteers worked with owners Russell and Janet Cooke, their family and workforce over three days to harvest a whopping 12 tonnes of grapes from the four acre site on the Shropshire-Powys border near Montgomery. “The last month has been incredibly busy, but also very exciting,” said Russell. “Harvest time is the culmination of a year’s worth of work on the vineyard and determines our future wine production capabilities. “This year’s harvest has been very successful and…

One of the UK’s leading independent insurance brokers is sponsoring one of Pembrokeshire’s most popular charity events for the fifth year running. Towergate Insurance Brokers is sponsoring the Tenby Beer Festival, organised by Tenby Round Table. Taking place 4-5 November, the festival will celebrate all things beer, cider and prosecco. The second round of the Autumn Nations rugby tournament will also be shown on big screens throughout the weekend along with live music performances. Tenby Round Table organises various events throughout the year with all profits going to good causes in the community. All proceeds from the festival will go…

A WOMAN who survived a cardiac arrest has been reunited with some of the people who saved her life. When Sian Andrews, 73, collapsed at her home in Cardiff, her sister Ceri Andrews phoned 999 which triggered the Cardiac Responder app GoodSAM. While Teagan Landeg, a call handler for the Welsh Ambulance Service coached Ceri through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), GoodSAM sent a notification to Richard Jones, an off-duty Volunteer Community First Responder (CFR). The GoodSAM app alerts people trained in basic life support to cardiac arrests in their immediate vicinity, allowing CPR to start in the vital minutes before an ambulance…