Author: Rhys Gregory

A wheelchair sports club founded by a former paralympic world record holder is going from strength to strength and attracting members from across North Wales. Now they have been helped in a drive for more young sportspeople by a £2,000 grant for a junior sport wheelchair and a set of kit from the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT). Rhyl Raptors was set up in 2010 by Mike Hayes, born with spina bifida and who competed in the pentathlon at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics and briefly held the 1500 metres paralympic world record. He said: “I was a pentathlete…

Monmouthshire-based Silver Circle Distillery has launched a new premixed cocktail inspired by the Welsh coast and created by Matthew ‘Welly’ Jones from Lab 22 in Cardiff (winner of Best Cocktail Bar in the UK at the Top 50 Cocktail Bars Awards). Earlier this year, the Lan Y Môr Cocktail won Silver Circle’s Aquavit Cocktail Competition – coming first place in a collection of incredible drinks made by bartenders representing some of the best bars in the country. It’s creator, Welly, said he was ultimately inspired to create an ‘ode to the Welsh coastline’, by combining kelp, samphire, elderflower and dill with Silver Circle’s award-winning Welsh Aquavit (a spirit…

Over the years, many Graphic Design graduates from University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) have secured successful design careers in the field of Sport. However, one achieved his dream job whilst studying… Jac Elsey, currently studying BA (Hons) Graphic Design at Swansea College of Art UWTSD, recently got a job with the Scarlets, a Llanelli-based, nationally renown rugby team. Jac landed a job as Graphic Designer for the Scarlets late last winter, in the middle of his second year at university, and has been able to utilise and apply what he is learning to a business close to his…

Rugby legend Sir Gareth Edwards has joined forces with boutique distillery, The Gower Gin Company, to launch a bespoke gin in celebration of him scoring ‘The Greatest Try’ ever in rugby against the All Blacks 50 years ago. Sir Gareth and his wife Lady Maureen Edwards were already fans of Gower Gin, so when the idea that a special gin could be created as part of the anniversary of ‘The Greatest Try’, they couldn’t wait to get their glasses filled. The Greatest Try London Dry Gin is made with 15 botanicals to represent each member of a rugby team and…

A record number of Welsh women entrepreneurs make up the latest cohort of NatWest’s entrepreneur accelerator in Wales. Sixty-six percent of the cohort, who took-up their places on the programmes last month are women business founders aiming to scale-up their businesses. They include Caerphilly-based motivational speaker and life coach Zoila Garman who is the founder and director of Zyger Fit. Zoila, who was previously a software developer and is based in Caerphilly, joined the Accelerator programme to help her work towards her goal of scaling her business further. She said: “I believe in my business, I’m passionate about helping people…

Every autumn, an experienced National Trust Cymru gardener takes to the skies to trim the historic, 30-foot-high yew hedges at Powis Castle and Garden. The famous yews are almost 300 years old and are well-known for their unique cloud-like shape and dramatic display cascading over the Italianate terraces. Originally planted in the 18th century, they’ve survived changes in style, fashion, and design over hundreds of years. Still standing proud below the medieval castle today, it takes one committed gardener approximately two months to ensure the topiary is in tip top condition, ready for another year of impressing visitors to this…

Wales Coast Path has announced that 3,452 miles were walked along the Path this summer — as part of its 10thanniversary walking challenge, The Big 870. That’s the equivalent of walking the Path four times over — or from Wales to the FA World Cup’s host city, Qatar. The challenge encouraged the people of Wales and beyond to collectively walk the length of the 870-mile Path during the summer months — including everyone from leisurely strollers, hikers and dog-walkers, to cyclists, wheelchair users and community groups. The Swansea Bay Sausage Stroll — a dog walking group of over 50 Dachshunds…

Last night, the World Cheese Awards saw a Le Gruyère AOP surchoix, entered by Swiss cheesemaker Vorderfultigen and affineur Gourmino, scoop the highest accolade, World Champion Cheese, at the International Convention Centre Wales in Newport. The World Champion Cheese rose to the top of the record-breaking 4,434 entries in this year’s World Cheese Awards, where the best cheeses from around the globe went head-to-head at the world’s largest cheese-only event. The cheeses were scored on aspects such as the appearance of the rind and paste, as well as the cheese’s aroma, body, and texture, with the majority of points awarded…

Bad weather forecast for Swansea on November 5 has forced Swansea Council to cancel its annual fireworks display. Rain and in particular heavy winds are now forecast for the night the fireworks were due be set off from a barge in the bay – and this has forced the council to take the decision on safety grounds. Alternative locations and dates were explored but, unfortunately, have had to be ruled out.  Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “We’re hugely disappointed to have to cancel the fireworks display due to the forecast of severe weather as, like thousands of residents, we were looking forward to an…

Residents, landowners, developers and community councils have the opportunity to identify suitable land that can meet the needs of their local community. Powys County Council has started a three-and-a-half-year process to prepare its new Replacement Local Development Plan which will cover all of Powys, excluding the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Replacement Local Development Plan will set out the council’s proposals and land-use policies for the future development of land in its area. It will cover 15-year period from 2022 -2037 with implementation due from 2026, when it will be used to guide decisions on planning applications. The council is…