Author: Rhys Gregory

A husband and wife have been handed a further ban on keeping animals and given suspended jail terms – after admitting a series of animal welfare offences, including causing a pony to suffer and breaching a previous disqualification order. Stanley Strelley and his wife Heather Strelley of Bron Gwendraeth, Kidwelly, pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences and breaching a five-year disqualification order on keeping equines when they appeared before Llanelli magistrates last month. On Thursday (10 February), Llanelli Magistrates Court imposed a further five-year ban on the couple after an investigation by the RSPCA found that they had caused…

Award-winning Welsh distillery In the Welsh Wind has recently appointed a dedicated sales and export manager to its team. Dan Jones joins the company, based at Tanygroes, near Cardigan, from Daioni Organic where he has spent the last 10 years successfully growing retail and wholesale accounts in the UK and expanding their business into export markets in the Middle East and Asia. “I’m delighted to be joining the In the Welsh Wind team and being part of their exciting journey as we look to launch the brand into the UK and global markets,” he said. “2022 will be a defining year for…

A training programme designed to support the Welsh food and drink processing and manufacturing industry has had its funding extended until the end of November 2022, allowing the programme to work with businesses across all sectors of the industry. This will also help this crucial sector adapt to future economic and environmental challenges and capitalise on opportunities for business development and growth. The Food Skills Cymru programme is delivered by Lantra and supports businesses of all sizes within the Welsh food and drink sector, ensuring employees have the right skills and training for their business and the wider industry as…

The headline NatWest Wales Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – registered 55.0 in January, up from 53.4 in December, to signal a strong upturn in business activity. Although the rate of growth was quicker than the UK average, the rise in output was the second-slowest in the current 11-month sequence of expansion. Companies noted that greater activity was linked to an uptick in client demand. Welsh private sector businesses signalled a solid rise in new orders at the start of the…

Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth has announced its programme of half term activities, which are free for children and young people interested in theatre and comedy. The programme is supported by the Welsh Government’s Winter of Wellbeing initiative. On Wednesday, February 23, between 10am and 4pm, Lucy Gough and Stephanie Tillotson will facilitate a free, daylong session in two halves at the museum called ‘Patching the Whole’ for 14-18 year olds. In Workshop 1, the participants will work on the text of Lucy’s play, Human Threads. In Workshop 2, the participants will create and perform a 10-minute performance. Lucy, who has…

TV weather presenter Ruth Dodsworth has spoken out about her harrowing experience of domestic abuse to urge North Wales victims to take part in a new survey. The broadcaster who works for ITV Wales suffered a campaign of harassment and stalking during her 18-year marriage to Jonathan Wignall which saw her controlled financially, isolated from friends and family and “living in constant fear”. Her ex-husband was jailed for three years at Cardiff Crown Court in April last year and handed a restraining order against contacting Ruth after pleading guilty to one count of coercive and controlling behaviour and stalking. The…

Active Learning Group (ALG), a specialist experiential education company that gives young people immersive shared experiences through activity-based learning, is delighted to announce its third acquisition, the Towers, and its new range of mountain-based activities and experiences for young people to enjoy. The Towers will provide mountain trekking days, kayaking and climbing in the internationally recognised adventure sports playground of Snowdonia. To ensure the site is in keeping with the company’s highest of standards, a full, yet sympathetic, refurbishment is now underway with the aim of opening early next year. This joins Sealyham (ALG’s stunning coastal site, acquired last year)…

Plans which could potentially penalise cattle keepers who ‘fail to take notice’ of TB information when purchasing stock have been strongly opposed by the FUW in its response to the latest Welsh Government Refreshed TB Eradication Programme consultation. Risk Based Trading proposals contained within the consultation could mean that there are ‘implications’ for cattle keepers that make cattle purchases regardless of ‘highlighted risks’ in the TB information provided at point of sale. Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer said: “Although the consultation contains proposals for mandatory TB information at point of sale, it remains unclear what criteria would be…

The stage is set for the return of one of North Wales’ leading food and drink events. With the COVID pandemic putting the brakes on public gatherings, the plug was pulled on the 2020 and 2021 Mold Food & Drink festivals. Typically held in the market town every September, the extravaganza is a highlight in Flintshire’s events’ calendar. After a gloomy couple of years, organisers of the much-missed festival have revealed they have spent the last few months finding a way to bring the family-favourite back. Gwenan Roberts, co-chair of the Mold Food & Drink Festival organising committee, said: “Like…

A man who discovered he had terminal brain cancer after watching Channel 4’s 24 Hours in A&E, is the inspiration behind his family’s 10,000 Steps a Day in February Challenge. Glenn Farley, from Newport in South Wales, was just 51 when he died in November 2019, 19 months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, which turned out to be an aggressive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Affectionately known as ‘Granchie Glenn’ by his grandchildren, Maise, seven and Lilly, three, he never go to meet youngest granddaughter, Ella, who is one. The keen Newport County A.F.C fan and steelworker at Orb Steelworks…