Author: Rhys Gregory

A group of fathers of children supported by Tŷ Hafan children’s hospice have completed an extreme challenge which involved three days of almost non-stop physical exertion in a bid to raise funds for the charity. The team of eight managed to successfully scale Wales’ 10 highest peaks in just two days, then cycle 53 miles from Brecon to St David’s Hotel in Cardiff Bay on Saturday, completing the whole challenge from start to finish in just over 55 hours. The challenge was the brain-child of a group of dads led by commercial photographer Paul Fears, 56, whose son Greg, now 30, was looked after…

South Wales-based Hensol Castle Distillery has announced a record-breaking May as it increases staff numbers and production to keep up with demand for its award-winning spirits. Production reached an all-time monthly high for the distillery – the only one of its kind in the UK to be located in the cellars of a Grade I listed castle, peaking at £465,000 excluding duty & VAT, 20% above the previous highest monthly revenue, which was in November 2021. The announcement comes as the distillery introduces a second daily shift and creates 12 new full-time roles in production, administration and accounting, taking the…

The staff of Sunderland Ward, South Pembrokeshire Hospital are taking part in a bed push to raise funds for wellbeing activities.  The bed push, which is planned for the 16th July 2022, had previously been a regular challenge but was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As restrictions have now been eased, staff are keen to reinstate the event. The staff will be pushing an old bed with a mock patient inside while dressed as superheroes and villains! The planned route begins at South Pembrokeshire Hospital, Pembroke Dock at 1:00pm on 16th July, heads out toPembroke and then returns to…

Flint headquartered sustainable wet-wipe manufacturer Nice-Pak, has received the highest Platinum rating for its sustainability achievements. EcoVadis, the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, has placed Nice-Pak in the top one percent of over 90,000 companies across over 200 industries in over 175 countries.   The company’s sustainability policies, initiatives and results were analysed according to 21 criteria across four categories including environment, labour & human rights, sustainable procurement and ethics. Robert Woodall, Managing Director at Nice-Pak International, said: “Nice-Pak have extended our leadership position by putting our bold environmental and ethical commitments into action at a global level.…

Employers working in the property and construction sector had a unique opportunity to meet some of the most talented built environment undergraduates in the region, and hear from Sophie Howe, the future generations commissioner for Wales, at the Women in Property South Wales Student Awards held recently in Cardiff.  Seven students took part in the regional Awards this year, representing disciplines including engineering, architecture, surveying and planning. Georgia Thomson, Chair of Women in Property South Wales branch, said: “With the industry suffering a skills shortage and with increasing demand for sustainable new housing, commercial development and infrastructure, there is stiff…

A 26-year-old man has been sent to prison today for eight years after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. Steven Rowe, from Swansea Road, Merthyr Tydfil was sentenced at Newport Crown Court today (Wednesday July 6). He was convicted of causing the death of Robbie Lee Selway, 21, and three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Rowe must also serve an extended three year probation period and was given a 13 years and four months driving disqualification. On Thursday May 13, last year Rowe was driving a stolen Ford Fiesta on the A465 Heads of Valleys…

The National Cycle Museum charity in Llandrindod Wells is holding its fundraising annual Grand Mid Wales Cycle Jumble on Saturday, July 16 at Cefnllys School. Stalls open at 8.30am with £4 for admission before 9.30am and £1 afterwards. Inside tables, which must by booked in advance, cost £10 and outside tables cost £7. To book a table or to donate unwanted cycle parts in good condition to the museum charity, contact Steve Griffith at [email protected] . The museum, which is open on Monday and Tuesday from 10am to 4pm and on Saturday from 10am to 2pm, is appealing for extra…

For the first time in the long history of the UK’s greatest adventure sailing race, two school teams are entered and will start with the race fleet from Barmouth on July 9th. Teams of staff and pupils from Sedbergh and Shrewsbury Schools are entered into the Challenge Class, which was introduced to encourage wider participation in the demanding race. The class allows more teams of sailors and runners to experience the unique course, which challenges sailors to race non- stop through the tidal gates and stunning scenery of West coast from the mid-Wales resort town of Barmouth to Fort William…

A team of rocket enthusiasts from USW travelled to Scotland last month to take part in the Mach-22 Launch Competition and Conference. The six undergraduates competed against teams from across the UK in the event, which was designed to give university students an opportunity to develop practical, hands-on aerodynamics, mechanical, electronics and communication skills, with industrial technical support provided remotely to the teams. The event was held at Machrihanish Airbase, in Argyll, and saw USW’s Team Enillydd, which was made up of members of the University’s Rocketry Society, up against teams from University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, Open University,…

AN INSPIRATIONAL young woman refused to let multiple disabilities stop her from caring for both humans and animals in two important new placements. Despite being both partially blind and deaf since birth, dyslexic and suffering with Labyrinthitis and chronic migraines throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Jess Watson continues to put others ahead of herself. The 26 year-old travels weekly by bus with assistance dog Jingle to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, where she spends time with patients on the stroke ward, playing games, listening and talking to them in her role as a support worker. Jess, who grew up in Stoke,…