Author: Rhys Gregory

Golfers from across South Wales came together at Clyne Golf Club to compete and raise funds for Swansea-based kidney charity, Popham Kidney Support, at its annual Golf Day last month. The competition, organised by Kim Loosmore, raised an impressive £10,020.72, which will contribute to the effort the charity is making to raise £130,000 for the refurbishment of the Children’s Kidney Centre Outpatient Department in Cardiff. The total raised at the event has meant that Popham Kidney Support has surpassed a significant milestone of £50,000. Since 2016, Popham Kidney Support has been the sole beneficiary of the annual golf competition, with…

A new addition has been added to a pilot taxi scheme in Denbighshire. Following feedback gained through the hosting of the only North Wales pilot of the zero emission green taxi scheme, the Council has introduced a new longer range electronic vehicle. The Welsh Government, who are funding the scheme, recently set the goal of de-carbonising the taxi fleet entirely by 2028. Denbighshire County Council is one of a select few Welsh authorities taking part. Since it began in the County during autumn 2021, 59 taxi drivers have got behind the wheel of four wheelchair-accessible Nissan Dynamo E-NV200 taxis to…

Cardiff workers are being offered free workspace as part of International Coworking Day. Cwrt Cowork in Llanishen is offering free workspace for the day to anyone who wants to explore a closer to – but not at – home working option. Coworking is the term given to a way of working where people from different companies, backgrounds and perspectives choose to work from a shared space. As well as helping save costs in office rent and utility bills, coworking spaces act as community builders, where people naturally form friendships and working relationships by sharing challenges and successes together. There is…

The comedy musical Friendsical, written and directed by Miranda Larson [Christmasaurus, The Night Pirates, Cartoon Network Live], has been revamped and will have its run at Cardiff’s New Theatre from 8 – 10 September 2022 and then will embark on the rest of its UK-wide tour. Friendsical is an original, unique parody musical inspired by the hugely popular and beloved US TV show Friends. Ross, Rachel, Joey, Monica, Chandler and Phoebe have been with us for nearly 30 years. They are still there for us, and this time a stage show musical parody crams all 10 seasons and 236 episodes into…

Dogs bark for many reasons and this can cause problems for neighbours. Dogs communicate by barking; they bark for many reasons and aren’t always in distress. The RSPCA receives a lot of calls every year from neighbours who are concerned about barking dogs. The charity, which focuses on rescuing animals who are sick, injured or being badly treated, is asking people who are worried about barking dogs to follow simple steps to help them. RSPCA dog welfare expert and dog behaviourist Esme Wheeler said: “Dogs bark for lots of reasons – and their owners may not be aware that they’re…

Businesses in Wrexham can make use of a free translation and advice service to help use more day to day Welsh, as the newly-awarded city prepares to welcome the National Eisteddfod in 2025. Any business looking to incorporate more Welsh into its website content, product signage, social media posts or advertising can make use of Helo Blod – a free Welsh translation and advice service set up by the Welsh Government. Launched in March 2020 to support the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 strategy, Helo Blod offers businesses and charities up to 500 words a month translated, free of charge. The…

The daughter of the late Rev Wilbert Awdry, author of the famous ‘Railway Series’ which included Thomas the Tank engine, has spoken of her pride after attending the second ‘Awdry Extravaganza’ at Talyllyn Railway last month. Veronica Chambers attended the weekend event, organised to celebrate her father’s work, with her grandson and great grandchildren. The Rev. Awdry was an Anglican priest and railway enthusiast who became an enthusiastic member and volunteer guard on the Talyllyn Railway in 1952. His  experiences inspired him to create a fictitious Skarloey Railway, which became the subject of an additional series of books within his…

Some of the world’s finest musicians will appear at this year’s Gŵyl Machynlleth Festival from August 21-28. Star performers include soprano Natalya Romaniw, renowned Welsh tenor Dennis O’Neill, who leads an opera masterclass and acclaimed pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja. The festival will serve up a mix of genres and styles, including chamber music, solo artists, quartets and ensembles playing classical, traditional and international music. All concerts take place in the historic Tabernacle Auditorium and there’s a special ‘free festival’ fringe programme with a children’s concert, outdoor market day concert and workshops. Three days of Welsh music precede the classical programme with…

Those who attend this Friday’s show will be able to escape into the open-air with fairytale Rapunzel, the story of a girl’s longing to break free from her imposed lockdown and explore the world outside. With wicked witches, lovable trolls, a fairytale prince and miles of golden hair, the show will feature slapstick humour, puppetry and much more. It’s being presented at the Swansea Council-run venue by theatre company IKP. Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “This should be a lovely, fun and exciting event for everybody. “We’d encourage all those attending the event to bring a camping chair, blanket and picnic…

Double-Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee will be among the elite athletes taking to the water and the roads across the city and Gower this Sunday in the first IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea event. Welsh paratriathlete Rhys Jones will be taking part in the Volvo 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea the day before – fresh from his fifth place at the Commonwealth Games at the weekend. Around 2,000 athletes will be participating in the IRONMAN 70.3 event, 700 from the Swansea area alone, with around 10,000 spectators expected to line the route. Top IRONMAN professionals will include Britain’s Kat Matthews. She…