Author: Rhys Gregory

Tywyn-based Talyllyn Railway has enjoyed what general manager Stuart Williams described as the busiest weekend for five years, following the easing of Covid restrictions in Wales. The railway continues to be careful in minimising risks in the continuing pandemic with trains divided into separated compartments. Tickets for each whole compartment are sold in advance to families or to those in a social bubble. Billed as the ‘Awdry Extravaganza’, the weekend programme for August 14 and 15  was based around a celebration of the ‘Railway Series’ of books by the Reverend Wilbert Awry, creator of the famous Thomas the Tank Engine.…

Macmillan Cancer Support has welcomed a continued recovery in cancer services from the impacts of the pandemic but warns a third of people still face anxious cancer treatment delays. Data released for June shows that 1,647 people newly diagnosed with cancer started their first definitive treatment in the month, the second highest on record since the new suspected cancer pathway data collection began. While the charity welcomes this improvement after the number of people entering the system reduced drastically over the course of the pandemic, it warns that over 530 people still experienced delays in their treatment during June alone.…

Robert Page has announced that Alan Knill will join his coaching staff for the remainder of Cymru’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Former Cymru international Knill was recently an assistant coach at Sheffield United, working at the club during their journey from League One to the Premier League in the English domestic system. During his time at Sheffield United Knill has worked with Cymru internationals David Brooks, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Ethan Ampadu. On the appointment, Robert Page said: “I am delighted that Alan is joining us for the remainder of the World Cup qualifying campaign. I have known Alan…

Cardiff Bus, the leading operator of bus services in Cardiff and its surrounding area, has worked with UK public transport website and app provider Passenger to launch a rebrand across its entire portfolio. The rebrand comes as Cardiff Bus is due to celebrate its 120th anniversary next year, with the new design intended to give the operator a refreshed, modern look. A key element to the rebrand is its orange colour scheme, which pays homage to a much-loved campaign led by the operator in the 1970s and 1990s, when its buses featured the vibrant colour and donned the slogan ‘Pick…

A science park in north Wales is helping a record number of Bangor University students get their foot in the door and take the first steps in their careers.  Anglesey’s Menai Science Park (M-SParc) by Bangor University has helped more than 70 per cent of students interning with businesses at the site secure full-time employment within the centre and help kick-start their careers, with the average salary within M-SParc £5,000 higher than the Welsh average.   The science park, the first of its type in Wales, offers space for technological and science-based businesses of all sizes and provides students with a…

Rosa Davies may be in her 80s but she doesn’t let that stand in the way of learning new skills and having a good chat. She is celebrating today after hearing about Borth Community Hub’s successful application for a grant of nearly £10,000. The £9,976 grant will fund the ‘Get Together Group’ providing activity sessions for older people, especially those dealing with memory loss. Rosa (pictured), was born in Ceredigion and has lived there her whole life, making her a fount of local knowledge, she tells me:  “Well, I’m no Picasso, I can just about draw a tree, but it’s so lovely sitting under the canopy to chat with everyone about everything that’s happening in the world. My grandad…

Tesco customers in Wales taking part in a new campaign to provide meals to children living in food insecurity have helped enable thousands of meals to be donated to groups offering them support. Over three weeks in July and August, Tesco gave a donation for every piece of fruit and veg purchased across all its Welsh stores, to provide food for its partner FareShare to redistribute to children’s charities. Welsh stores sold over 8 million pieces of fresh fruit and veg over the campaign period, which means they’ve been able to help FareShare support 207 community groups across the nation…

Cardiff Metropolitan University has offered sanctuary to academics from Afghanistan who have been forced to flee as a result of the current political crisis. President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cara Aitchison, has written to Zeid Al-Bayaty from the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) University to offer assistance to academics from Afghanistan seeking sanctuary in the UK. Professor Aitchison said: “Whilst we recognise the need for academic and scientific talent to remain in Afghanistan to offer the best prospects for the country’s future, we also appreciate that this might not be possible for all academics, at least in the short-term. As such, we…

The arrival of Porthcawl’s all-new road train attraction has been celebrated with an official launch in Rest Bay. The seasonal service which runs between Sandy Bay and Rest Bay takes in key stops such as Coney Pleasure Beach, Porthcawl harbour, the town centre, the Grand Pavilion and the Rest Bay Watersports Centre. At the official launch on Tuesday 17 August, Emmaus South Wales, the charity and social enterprise behind the new road train, named the land train Lucie in honour of the co-founder of Emmaus. Jemma Wray, Chief Executive of Emmaus South Wales, said: “We’re delighted to be providing this…

RCT Council has provided a progress update on the construction of 20 modern commercial units in Robertstown – and can confirm it has already received significant enquiries from a number of potential future tenants. The business units, being built on previously unused land off Wellington Street, are being delivered after the Council secured £3.36m funding from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. Site clearance took place in early 2020, to enable contractor R&M Williams to start the main construction phase later that year. The construction phase continues to make visible progress – with residents and visitors able…