Author: Rhys Gregory

A larger-than-life cricketer who helped his club to three Welsh Cups and a host of other titles has been commemorated at the ground where he scored so many runs. John Shone, who died suddenly last year aged 61, was a run-scoring batsman for the Brymbo in its glory days 30 years ago when, along with local rivals Marchwiel, it dominated North Wales cricket. Now Brymbo’s splendid Tan y Fron ground has a set of spectators’ benches commemorating John and some of the quotes that regularly used to have his team-mates in stitches. Among the hilarious pearls of wisdom are “The…

120-year-old Welsh family business Brace’s Bakery has invested £4m in a new production line thanks to a £2.5m finance package from HSBC UK and HSBC Equipment Finance. The new line will enable the business to expand its range and enter new markets. Brace’s Bakery, a fourth-generation business now run by Mark and Jonathan Brace, is based in the Eastern Valleys of South Wales and supplies to all major supermarkets in South Wales and the West of England with its own brand of bakery products. The business has used the finance package to install a line to manufacture bread rolls, tea…

Nine Newport residents have started the weekend with an amazing surprise after learning they have won £330,000 all thanks to their postcode. The windfall comes after NP20 6PL was announced as a winner with People’s Postcode Lottery on Saturday 11 June. Eight of the winners netted £30,000 each while the ninth scooped £90,000 thanks to playing with three tickets. Among the winners was Dianna Waggett (41) who planned to use her winnings to pay for an overdue honeymoon. She said: “We’ve never been on a honeymoon so I’m going to take my husband on one. Somewhere warm with a beach. “Thirteen…

A newlywed couple have thanked nurses in Morriston Hospital for helping them tie the knot on the groom’s ward. When Robert Pritchard, who has cancer, was delivered an uncertain prognosis he and his partner, Rose, decided to exchange wedding vows without further ado. The ceremony, which was held on Ward T on the last Sunday of May, took less than a weekend to conceive, plan and carry out, but had been in the making for more than 20 years. The new Mrs Rose Pritchard, who is from Llanelli, explained: “We’ve been together for nearly 21 years and although Rob proposed…

The RSPCA has published a collection of essays from global thought leaders to kick off a mission to reposition animal welfare from a niche to a more mainstream policy position. The collection, What Have Animals Ever Done for Us?, sees 19 essayists explore a diverse array of topics – including animals in religion, the economic value of the natural world, what technology can teach us about our feelings towards animals, and how animals have shaped the legal system over the last 200 years. Essays are penned by leading commentators – including journalist Henry Mance, environmentalist Tony Juniper CBE, author Melanie…

From London to Cardiff, the award winning cocktail bar, The Cocktail Club, is coming to 75 St Mary Street this July, bringing you cracking cocktails, crazy bartenders and tunes to dance the night away. The cocktail bar will also feature boozy brunches and unmissable happy hours – it’s time to let loose. The Cocktail Club will be taking bookings from the 1st July, but the main launch party will take place on the 7th July, which is set to be a night to remember. In the lead up to the launch of the cocktail bar, the team will be hosting…

1891 Restaurant and Bar is reopening its doors for Pre-theatre dining and Sunday roasts, with Father’s Day kicking off the long-awaiting dining experience. Following the devastating flooding at the Rhyl Pavilion last year, an extensive refurbishment has given 1891 restaurant and bar a brand new look and is now ready to open to the public. With the seaside sunset views stretching from Llandudno all the way up the North Wales coast, stunning restaurant redesign, taste-bud tingling delights of the pre-theatre menu and their famous Sunday roasts, it would be hard to find another restaurant experience in the country like 1891…

The city welcomed visitors from all over the world as Wales’ favourite road race of the summer returned with a bang at the 8th edition of the JCP Swansea Half Marathon. The sun was shining, and conditions were near perfect for the 4,000 runners who took to the streets to #RunSwansea. Participants were able to enjoy the closed road event that took them over a 13.1 mile route that boasts one of the flattest and most scenic coastal half marathon events in the UK. Headline sponsors and CEO of JCP Solicitors, Hayley Davies set the runners on their way from…

Eli Walker was a professional rugby player for the Ospreys and Wales national side before a life-changing spinal injury forced him to retire at just 25 years of age.  Like many other people who are made redundant from work, Eli had to rethink his career and build his confidence back up. He has since gone on to work as a strength and conditioning coach, as well as gaining new qualifications and starting his own business. Eli said: “My first memories of enjoying rugby are playing at my local club in Gorseinon and from then on, I knew that it was…

Whether she’s at her desk or on the pitch, working well as part of a team is a skill that’s very important in Kerin Lake’s life. After making her debut for the Wales women’s national rugby union team more than a decade ago, Kerin has managed to juggle her sporting career alongside her day job at Swansea Bay. When she’s not working as an administrator at Tonna Hospital, in Neath, she can often be found training with or representing the national squad. Kerin, who plays centre, has tallied up a total of 38 caps for her country, and has so…