Author: Rhys Gregory

A leading North Wales law firm has recruited a solicitor who specialises in supporting families who have to make decisions regarding vulnerable relatives. Claire Thomas has joined the Wills, Trusts, and Estates department at Gamlins Law where she will act for clients involved in Court of Protection matters. The Court of Protection makes decisions for people who lack the mental capacity to manage their own affairs for any reason, such as an injury, dementia, a disability or learning difficulty. The decisions the Court of Protection can make include who should manage the person’s finances. Claire, who previously worked for one…

An elderly cat who was found abandoned in a cat carrier in a rural part of Newport is now in RSPCA care. The tabby and white female cat was handed into a vet practice by a member of the public after being found near the junction between Henton Road and Goldcliff Road, in Goldcliff – Newport at about 9pm on Tuesday 10 May. RSPCA deputy chief inspector Gemma Black said: “The cat is microchipped however sadly the chip details are not up to date. “We have attended the chip address but the people there don’t know anything about the cat…

Retired Welsh international and British & Irish Lions player James Hook is set to lace up his boots once more for a star-studded game to mark his testimonial year on June 10th at the Gnoll in Neath. James announced his retirement in 2020 following a 16-year long career which began in Neath, and saw him take to the pitch for Wales, Ospreys, Perpignan, Gloucester, and the British & Irish Lions. During his career he won 81 caps for Wales, 6 caps for British & Irish Lions, and has the title of Wales’ fourth highest all-time points scorer. As he enters…

The iconic Cardiff Bay Run returns this Sunday 22nd May, with 5,000 people expected to participate. Runners supporting the British Heart Foundation (BHF)’s race to the next life-saving breakthrough in heart and circulatory research will be able to take in all of Cardiff Bay’s most iconic landmarks, starting and finishing in Roald Dahl Plass and passing the Wales Millennium Centre, Mermaid Quay, the Pierhead Building, Senedd, Porth Teigr and the Cardiff Bay Barrage. Among the participants fundraising for BHF Cymru is 9-year-old Ollie Banks from Pontypool. Ollie will be running in the Children’s Future Challenger 1 mile race, supported by…

The Bridgend Indoor Market is celebrating its milestone 50th anniversary on Sunday and an exciting PopUp Wales initiative means the stall holders of the future might just be around the corner. The market first opened on Monday 15 May 1972 and it was then made official the following week by the then chairman of Bridgend Urban Council. “I first remember it as a very bright big hall with pop-up stalls,” said historian, Natalie Murphy. “It’s great to see that some of the stalls are still in the same place today. For example, Peter Wood from the butchers is now retired…

Young singers from Neath Port Talbot schools are starring in a video of their inspirational cover of You’re the Voice, the song made famous by John Farnham. The moving cover version by The Cerdd NPT Music Service and pupils from Neath Port Talbot schools was recorded at Cwmtawe Community School to raise money for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Kirstie Roberts, a singer and singing teacher who works with the Cerdd NPT Music Service, along with colleagues, drove the project forward. She said: “Just a few weeks after hearing Ukraine had been invaded by Russia, feeling frustrated and helpless that more…

Nearly 14,000 visited Caerphilly Town Centre last weekend for the town’s first Food Festival since 2019. The town’s annual Food Festival has been cancelled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however was a huge success on its first year back. Saturday 7th May saw Caerphilly Town Centre transformed into a marketplace bursting with an array of culinary delights including 70 food and craft stalls and cookery demonstrations. Street entertainers also roamed the festival throughout the day to keep everyone amused and there were also a small selection of children’s funfair rides to keep the little ones…

Ysgol Bro Sannan in Aberbargoed has been removed from the list of schools in Wales “requiring significant improvement”. A recent inspection judged the school to have made sufficient progress in relation to the recommendations following the most recent core inspection. As a result, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales has removed Ysgol Bro Sannan from the list of schools that are in need of significant improvement. The inspection report highlighted efforts made by the school and Caerphilly County Borough Council in developing a robust leadership structure, which has helped Ysgol Bro Sannan make good progress against…

Eligible unpaid carers in Caerphilly County Borough can now apply for the Welsh Government funded £500 support payment. A one-off £500 payment is available to all eligible unpaid carers in Wales who were in receipt of Carers Allowance on 31 March 2022. The payment is being made in recognition of the increased financial pressures many unpaid carers have experienced during the pandemic, and to help with some of the additional costs they have incurred.  The payment is targeted towards those individuals who care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and have low incomes. Individuals are not eligible for…

Stagecoach has informed the Merthyr Council that some of its services to and from the Merthyr Tydfil Bus Interchange will undergo significant changes from 29 May because of staff shortages. A number of buses have been cancelled, with other services covering their routes – but there will be an overall reduction.  Stagecoach says the changes are unavoidable due to driver shortages, especially in the Merthyr Tydfil area. The company is actively trying to recruit new drivers and will look to reintroduce some or increase frequency in some areas should the situation improve. Service changes across Merthyr Tydfil and Bargoed include:…