Author: Rhys Gregory

A young mum born with an incurable disease is looking forward to a brighter future after becoming one of the first people in Wales to be given a life-changing new drug. Holly Bevan, from Swansea has a rare genetic condition known as spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA. Determined never to let it hold her back, Holly, now aged 32, is a happily married mother of two, a home-owner with a full-time job. But she has always known her condition would eventually leave her relying on a wheelchair, that she would probably have to move to a bungalow, and that her…

Serah and Jamie Barnes, from Tumble, have raised £4,284 for Hywel Dda Health Charities in loving memory of their daughter, Molly. In January 2019, Serah and Jamie’s daughter Molly was sadly stillborn. Serah and Jamie received incredible care by the Bereavement Midwifery team at Glangwilli Hospital during this difficult time. The team provided constant, around-the-clock care, even after their shifts ended. Over the past three years, Serah and Jamie have been raising funds for the Bereavement Midwifery team through a range of activities such as a 24-hour darts marathon. Serah said: “I’ve set up a Molly’s Memory charity fund to…

Pride Cymru is back for 2022 and is delighted to announce that Boney M will be Sunday’s headline act for the first live Pride event since 2019. Boney M will lead an exciting Sunday line-up at the City Hall Event that includes Victoria Stone, and Britain’s Got Talent stars Welsh of the Westend who will follow an incredible Saturday line-up including Melanie C, Bimini and Mary Mac to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first pride march in the UK. Gates will open on the City Hall event site from 11:30 on Saturday 27 August, and midday on Sunday 28…

Seven brand new portraits have been created especially for the National Eisteddfod of Wales week which is held in Ceredigion this year. The Ceredigion Eisteddfod Literature Committee (y Pwyllgor Llên) decided to ask the artist Malcolm Gwyon from Blaenporth to create original portraits of seven writers from Ceredigion, which are Caryl Lewis, Dic Jones, Hywel Teifi Edwards, Lyn Ebenezer, Lleucu Roberts, Menna Elfyn and T Llew Jones. The artist Malcolm Gwyon specialises in painting portraits, landscapes and Welsh icons and is proud to contribute to this exciting project. The portraits were sponsored by Ceredigion County Council’s Education Department and they…

Bangor University’s School of Natural Sciences has partnered with Kepak Merthyr to offer an MRes Scholarship. The Masters-level research degree will provide a comprehensive insight into one of the most pressing issues and research questions of our time: how to improve the sustainability of food production systems. Working alongside Kepak, ‘Evaluating the potential for greenhouse gas reduction from a commercial beef supply chain’ will enable the student to make a tangible contribution in helping to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with beef production in Wales. Dr Prysor Williams, project supervisor at Bangor University says: “The UK has pledged…

The Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) has published its Annual Report and Accounts 2021 to 2022, reporting a total of more than £400 million raised from Land Transaction Tax (LTT) and Landfill Disposals Tax (LDT) transactions. During the year, the WRA managed record levels of tax and processed its highest number of tax returns to date, totalling more than 68,800. A total of 98.4% of tax returns were filed on time, with almost 99% of transactions filed digitally. Other performance highlights: Surpassed the £1 billion tax revenue mark (since starting to manage tax in April 2018) Recovered an additional £1.6 million…

A cat who had trapped his back leg in a gate in Wrexham has been rescued by RSPCA Cymru. The eldery tabby and white cat was found in a lethargic state on Oxford Street, with a member of the public contacting the RSPCA after they were unable to release his leg – which was caught between the hinge and the gate. RSPCA animal rescue officer Melanie Froude attended and was able to safely wriggle his leg out and took him to a vet for a check up. “He was very lethargic and was laying down when I first saw him,”…

Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid has welcomed Wealthify as a Corporate Partner. Wealthify is an award-winning, simple and affordable investment service based in Penarth, South Wales. The growing Fintech is owned and backed by Aviva – one of the UK’s largest financial services institutions with a 300-year heritage. As a Corporate Partner, Wealthify will work closely with the Chamber and its members to both strengthen and stimulate Welsh business. Wealthify is also offering educational resources and investment services for employees at member companies who want to improve their financial wellbeing. Andy Russell, CEO at Wealthify, said: “We’re…

How can we encourage people to speak Welsh when out and about? People who speak both Welsh and English have to choose which language to speak in any given situation, and many things can influence this decision. For example, Welsh speakers might habitually start conversations in English instead of Welsh due to a lack of confidence, or because they worry that others may not understand them. Understanding how people can be encouraged to use their Welsh could support the Welsh Government in its aim to double the daily use of Welsh by 2050. A lecturer at Bangor University conducted research…

Bangor University, and NNL, the UK’s national laboratory for nuclear fission, have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see them work together to advance education and research in the field of nuclear energy, including skills and training for the nuclear industry. They will also work on joint research projects and share access to infrastructure, facilities and equipment that will advance nuclear technologies. In recent years NNL’s investment in Wales has grown substantially with a series of partnerships with Welsh businesses and educational institutions, including Bangor University. This partnership demonstrates NNL’s commitment to driving up innovation, investment and…