Author: Rhys Gregory

The eisteddfod chair awarded to a soldier who died in the First World War, together with other historical objects, will be central to Aberystwyth University’s activities at this year’s National Eisteddfod as it marks the start of its 150th anniversary celebrations. The University was founded in 1872 following efforts to raise money locally and nationally to establish the first university in Wales, and this August marks the beginning of its 150th academic year. On the Tuesday (2 August) of the Eisteddfod the University will launch a year of special anniversary celebrations. During the event on the University stand, there will…

New Zealand’s World Rally Championship driver Hayden Paddon has entered the Get Connected Rali Ceredigion on September 3 and 4. The Rally Argentina winner, former Production WRC Champion and five-times New Zealand rally champion will drive a Hyundai i20 N, similar to the car he is currently using to contest selected events in this year’s WRC Rally 2 Championship, when he lines up in Aberystwyth to start Wales’ only International status rally. With Paddon a competitor and ambassador with the Tour European Rally (TER) series – and this year’s Get Connected Rali Ceredigion a round of its prestigious six-round calendar…

Staff at EE’s Merthyr Tydfil call centre have been inspired to support the British Heart Foundation in a series of epic challenges, following the loss of a much-loved friend and colleague who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest at work last year. Despite the team’s best efforts, performing CPR and using a defibrillator on 42-year-old David Vaughan, who had previously shown no signs of a heart condition, he passed away suddenly after collapsing on 3rd June 2020. Known as Dave to his friends and family, he was a Team Leader and had worked in the well-known EE office for 8 years.…

Since opening its doors in 2019, the historical Grade II listed hub Y Shed in Meliden, near Prestatyn, has been a hit with locals and visitors from further afield. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Y Shed continued to buck the trend and last year welcomed an average of 70,000 visitors through its doors. At the heart of the building – an old railway goods shed, funeral parlour and warehouse – is a cafe which has become a go-to-venue for visitors. But after three years and a pandemic, current cafe operator, Rachel Roberts, wishes to have some more family time,…

Peter Lynn and Partners are proud to help the homeless in Swansea this summer by continuing their support of The Rucksack Appeal Swansea. Coordinated by Paula Stockley (who founded the appeal), the initiative aims to provide Rucksacks filled with essential items to hand out to anyone who finds themselves homeless or rough sleeping in the City. The bags contain essential items to help in the hot weather such as sun cream, deodorant, shower gel and wet wipes and will be distributed from Matt’s Café and Zac’s Place. “We started putting together rucksacks to help the homeless over the Christmas period…

White Cat Theatre will be performing “Art” by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton, at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre in Cardiff Bay this September. Art examines the reactions of Marc and Yvan to an expensive large white painting bought by their friend Serge. The unexpected purchase causes the three friends to explore what brought them together in the first place, and what keeps them together after fifteen years of friendship. French author Yasmina’s award-winning comedy will be performed over three nights by Cardiff’s newest amateur theatre group on Thursday 8th, Friday 9th and Saturday 10th September with doors opening at…

THE redevelopment of a beloved North Wales landmark received towering support from leading names in construction, safety, and engineering. Travis Perkins builders’ merchants, global fire alarms business Aico, City Electrical Factors (CEF Ltd) and Clwyd Alyn Housing are among the organisations on site this week at the Grade II-listed John Summers Clock Tower in Deeside, which is undergoing a major £5.2m revamp. Their workers have been busy painting and renovating the basement, which will open later this year and include a traditional skills centre, community meeting spaces, Virtual Reality (VR) and escape rooms, training facilities, hot desks, and flexible business…

The latest investment into local leisure facilities to be delivered as a result of the partnership between Bridgend County Borough Council and Halo Leisure Ltd has seen the opening of an all-new ‘JumpINGym’ indoor soft play area at Maesteg Sports Centre. Specially designed to provide local children with a secure environment where they can explore and have fun safely, the new facility includes a seating area where parents, carers and guardians can relax, unwind and watch the fun. Spread across two levels which have been designed to offer adventure-themed play opportunities, the new JumpINGym includes a twin lane slide and a rope…

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Employability Bridgend team have officially opened a new support hub for job seekers in Maesteg town centre. The Employability programme which is funded by Welsh Government and the European Social Fund is designed to overcome the employment challenges faced by people in local communities. Since 2016, Employability Bridgend has supported over five thousand individuals, including 740 young people. 1,800 received training, 360 were supported into volunteering and 1,740 into employment. Also, 160 people who were already in work were supported to get a better employment position. The hub, which is located at Tŷ Llynfi, Llynfi Road, Maesteg,…

Cardiff’s multi-award-winning Food and Fun programme will reach more children than ever this summer, helping to ease the financial pressures on many families across the city during the school holiday period. The school holiday enrichment programme which provides healthy nutritious meals alongside opportunities to socialise, engage in physical activity and learn new skills, will this year be delivered to 29 of Cardiff’s schools, meaning that more than 1500 children and young people will access the provision. The exciting programme of educational, skills and sports provision will be delivered by a number of city-wide partners with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board supporting…