Author: Rhys Gregory

Tŷ Hafan is set to receive a ‘substantial donation’ from Patrick Jephson, former Private Secretary to Diana, Princess of Wales. The Princess was Tŷ Hafan’s first patron until her death in 1997 and instrumental in fundraising for the build of our hospice. Mr Jephson, who was private secretary to the Princess from 1988 to 1996, received an undisclosed sum from the BBC, the proceeds of a settlement. This follows the publication of the Dyson Report into the means by which disgraced former BBC journalist, Martin Bashir obtained his 1995 Panorama interview with the Princess.   A BBC statement said: ‘The BBC and Commander Patrick Jephson have reached a settlement following publication of the Dyson Report.   “Commander Jephson was the…

Academics from Aberystwyth University will lead a new European project to boost tourism in rural areas of Wales and Ireland. The new initiative, announced on St Patrick’s Day, sees researchers from Aberystwyth University Department of Geography and Earth Sciences lead the €3 million project in partnership with University College Dublin and the Dyfed Archaeological Trust. It is supported by €2.4m from the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Cooperation programme. The scheme will operate for a period of two years in the Cambrian Mountains, Preseli Hills, Wicklow Mountains and Blackstairs Mountains, using their cultural and natural heritage assets…

Aberystwyth University has introduced almost 1,000 pupils to animal skulls, robotic rovers and strange foods in its annual outreach event held as part of British Science Week. The event ran from 15-17 March and hosted Years 5, 6, 7 and 8 pupils from schools across Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd. At more than 20 stands, pupils were asked to guess which animal certain skulls belonged to, shown how important vaccines are, how mathematical models can help protect against pandemics and how the Ceredigion landscape has changed over centuries. Academics and University outreach staff were on hand to show pupils how science…

Bridgend County Borough Council has confirmed that Maesteg Park FC has formally taken over the self-management of the football pitch at Tudor Park Playing Fields. The Club, which is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, has been responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the pitch since June 2021. They have now finalised a 35-year lease for the fields under the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) programme and the local authority has provided funding of £22,205 for drainage and pitch improvements as well as £10,000 for pitch maintenance equipment. It is great to see a club like Maesteg Park FC, which has ambitions of…

A new project aimed at helping young people and adults into employment has been launched in Bridgend county borough to coincide with Saint David’s Day. CELT – which stands for Connect, Engage, Listen, Transform – is a new project created in partnership between Employability Bridgend and the Youth Development service, that helps local people find employment by engaging with participants who are furthest from the labour market and mentoring them to improve their prospects of employability. Funded by the UK Government Community Renewal Fund in partnership with Cardiff City Deal Region local authorities, the short project aims to work in…

Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board(RPB) hosted the official opening of the former Chapel at Cardiff Royal Infirmary, now named ‘Capel i Bawb’ this week. Thanks to capital funding from the Welsh Government Integrated Care Fund (ICF) and a partnership between Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Cardiff Council, the iconic, Grade II listed building, is now home to a health and wellbeing information and advice centre, a new library, meeting spaces, IT suite and the Aroma Café. Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services officially openedCapel i Bawb and said: “The beautifully refurbished Capel i Bawb…

Plans for a new Canal Quarter in the heart of Cardiff city centre are well underway with enabling works on site for the Churchill Way development now complete. Since work began in early February, the central reservation on Churchill Way has been removed, the tarmac dug up, with the service and utilities that were underneath the road now diverted. Site hoardings are now in place so work can begin to bring back the dock feeder canal. The scheme, which is part of a wider masterplan to create a new vibrant Canal Quarter in the east of the city, is scheduled…

The creation of a statue to Cardiff Bay’s legendary rugby ‘codebreakers’, who left a lasting legacy on the world of rugby league, has taken a major step forward in its fundraising campaign. The statue, which will honour three of the leading players who controversially moved from amateur rugby union careers to star in England’s professional rugby league teams, was the subject of a fundraising campaign led by South Wales businessman Sir Stanley Thomas OBE. Now, as it approaches its target, the fundraising committee has commissioned sculptor Steve Winterburn to create the monument to the sporting heroes, represented by Billy Boston,…

RCT Council has now received planning consent to replace existing buildings at Llanilltud Faerdref Primary, Pontyclun Primary and Penygawsi Primary with brand new, state-of-the-art school facilities for staff and pupils. The projects were considered across three separate officer reports to the Planning and Development Committee on Thursday, March 10. Members of the committee decided to grant full planning permission for each application, agreeing with officers’ recommendations which were included in the reports. The Committee also agreed upon an additional condition for each – for the Council to design, approve and implement local highway improvements, as informed by Safer Routes in…

An avenue of 80 trees has been planted at Tredegar Park as part of Newport City Council’s Queen’s Jubilee Green Canopy activities. Lining the new and improved active travel route within the park, a mixture of hornbeams and fastigiate lime trees will add to the aesthetic of the cycle and footpath, enhance the park and contribute to the council’s plans under the carbon reduction strategy. Additional hornbeams have also been planted at other locations in the park to improve the general tree cover. Councillor Jane Mudd, leader of the council was joined by other members of the council’s Cabinet as…