Author: Rhys Gregory

The “Rolling Stones” of early music are returning to North Wales to perform at an international music festival. Red Priest, named after flame-haired priest Antonio Vivaldi, wowed the audience at St Asaph Cathedral four years ago and the quartet are looking forward to returning to the North Wales International Music Festival in the autumn. The concert on Friday, September 23, is part of an exciting and varied programme at this year’s festival which is celebrating its 50th anniversary and runs from September 17 to October 1. Among the other highlights are performances by Welsh folk favourites Calan, the spectacular Mugenkyo…

Law firm Blake Morgan has rewarded the work of its lawyers in Wales with a raft of promotions. Eight individuals have been promoted in recognition of their efforts to support the continued success of the firm over the last year and the excellent legal counsel they provide to clients. Four lawyers in the firm’s Cardiff team have been promoted to Legal Director, with one lawyer promoted to Senior Associate, two promoted to Associate level and one to Senior Solicitor. Following a successful year, Commercial Litigation specialists Joanna Corbett-Simmons and Sarah Whittle have been promoted to Legal Director, along with Corporate…

A team of talented Welsh butchers is stepping up training and honing skills in preparation for the World Butchers’ Challenge in the United States this autumn. Craft Butchery Team Wales will make its debut at the global competition, which will be contested by 14 countries in Sacramento, California on September 2 and 3. Defending champions are Celtic cousins Ireland. The team, formed in 2020 and managed by retired butcher and experienced competition judge Steve Vaughan from Penyffordd, is a division of the Culinary Association of Wales. Team captain Peter Rushforth from Innovative Food Ingredients, Lytham St Annes, is joined by…

As the pinnacle event in the agricultural calendar, the Royal Welsh Show, returns next week (18-21 July), the Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales will be hosting a Business Trade Lounge in the Food Hall, giving food and drink companies across Wales the opportunity to meet buyers from all sectors, including foodservice, retail, wholesale, public procurement and hospitality. The Business Lounge will provide a showcase of the 60 producers exhibiting in the Food Hall at this year’s Show alongside very many quality Welsh food and drink products. It is a crucial place for the industry when it comes to meeting…

The events arena welcomed thousands of people over the weekend from all over the country to enjoy live music in the sun on the North Wales sea front. The coast was buzzing with excitement as Legendary Manchester band James kicked off the three-day music festival on Friday with support from The K’s and crowd favourite The Lightning Seeds, followed on Saturday by powerhouse Beverley Knight and headlining act Jack Savoretti. Tom Grennan finished the star-studded weekend on the Sunday with back up performer XFactor star Ella Genderson, as well as performing together. No seats were spared at Rhyl Pavilion as…

Aberystwyth Storytelling Festival returns in 2022 (Friday 2 September – Sunday 4 September) with a weekend of folk tales, myths, folklore, fairytale films, workshops, story walks, talks, book events, discussions, and special events on the subject of borders, migration and a sense of the otherworld, centred in Wales but travelling round the world. Aberystwyth Storytelling Festival is the vision of Peter Stevenson, Storyteller, folklorist, illustrator, artist – a unique festival which merges his eclectic career and interests delivering a festival which merges exhibition, performance, literature and film. The programme will include Daniel Morden & Hugh Lupton, Cath Little & Chandrika…

With the Met Office issuing weather warnings for extreme heat across much of Wales this weekend and into next week, Diabetes UK Cymru is putting out its own advice for how people living with diabetes can cope in the hot weather. Enjoying the sun is one of the things many of us look forward to at this time of year. But for people living with diabetes, high temperatures can make it harder to manage blood sugar levels so it’s important to take extra care. If you have any type of diabetes, or know someone with the condition, it’s good to…

Simon Constantinou at O.Constantinou & Sons have received the Golden Standard Status from The Little Princess Trust. The highest status for their trusted Wig Fitters. The Little Princess Trust provides free, real-hair wigs for young cancer sufferers or for children and young people experiencing the devastating effects of hair loss. They also fund pioneering, life-saving research into childhood cancers. For over a decade O.Constantinou & Sons have worked with The Little Princess Trust as trusted Wig Fitters. Part of a network of accredited wig fitters, made up of skilled and experienced people with a positive attitude and a sensitive manner.…

Careers Wales has teamed up with Age at Work to help proactively support its over 50 workforce. Careers Wales has joined 29 other organisations working with Age at Work, a partnership between Business in the Community Cymru (BITC) and Age Cymru, to put practices in place that create age-inclusive, multigenerational workplaces that pro-actively support people over 50 to remain in or return to work. Denise Currell, head of people development at Careers Wales, said: “One in three of our employees is over 50, so recruiting, retaining and retraining people of this age and older is essential for our business as…

Cool Blue Group, a leading online retail group consisting of a range of home improvement and DIY brands, has acquired SPS Brassware in a deal advised on by the GS Verde Group. Consisting of ecommerce businesses Socket Store and Cool Blue Interiors, and manufacturer G&H Brassware, Cool Blue Group has custom from consumers, trade professionals, wholesalers and internet retailers. In addition to strengthening and securing the supply chain for G&H Brassware, this acquisition will also further enhance Cool Blue Group’s product offering, which already includes flat pack bedrooms, kitchens, electrical fixtures and accessories, and lighting. Phil Stephens, Director of Cool…