Author: Rhys Gregory

A Mid Wales steam locomotive begins its centenary year celebrations by returning to its original railway on August 28 to head a passenger train from Corris station for the first time since 1930. Marking another landmark in the revival of Corris Railway, steam locomotive number 4, ‘Edward Thomas’, will set off from the station at 11am followed by further trips at 1pm and 3pm. Tickets must be pre-booked. By 1921, the railway’s original trio of steam locomotives had been working for four decades in the Dulas Valley, north of Machynlleth and were becoming time expired. To deal with the problem,…

A fireman, a retired couple and a mum-of-three were among eight neighbours in St Brides Major to net a £30,000 cash prize each, all thanks to their postcode. The neighbours’ windfall came after their postcode of CF32 0SW, in St Brides Major near Bridgend,was announced as a winner with People’s Postcode Lottery on Saturday 7th August. Andy Shaw (45), a local fireman, was one of the lucky winners and found out much he had won during a video call with lottery ambassador Danyl Johnson. On seeing a prize cheque for £30,000, Andy said: “Oh wow, that’s amazing! Andy is hoping…

Half way through the school summer holidays, the Snowdonia National Park Authority and its partners’ efforts to encourage and facilitate a sustainable visit to the area continues. Since the end of the first Covid-19 lockdown, Snowdonia has seen unprecedented numbers of visitors to the National Park. While foreign travel rules and restrictions remain in force for some popular summer destinations, the Park Authority expects to see a continuation of the current trend to holiday at home in the National Parks. In anticipation of another busy visitor season, the Park Authority and its partners spent the winter working in collaboration on…

To celebrate the launch his new book Weatherman Walking – The Welsh Coast Derek Brockway will be joining the Ramblers on one of his walks from Merthyr Mawr to Southerndown in the Vale of Glamorgan on Saturday the 14 August. The walk is one of 15 walks featured in his latest publication from Y Lolfa and takes in the stunning scenery of the Wales Coast Path in the Vale of Glamorgan. Starting from the car park in Merthyr Mawr, Derek Brockway will be joining the Vale Ramblers group for a 5-mile linear walk. Derek Brockway said: “I couldn’t think of…

Poundland is coming back to Oxford Street in Swansea and while it can’t offer shoppers a Mound like its namesake in London, it can guarantee mountains of savings. London’s Marble Arch Mound, at the end of Oxford Street, the capital’s new £2 million attraction, has come under a barrage of ridicule from disgruntled visitors. Next month [September 2021] sees the opening of Poundland at 18, Oxford Street, Swansea, and it won’t need a big pile of mud to attract customers. A spokesperson for Poundland said: “If there was a man-made hill in front of it, we’d rename it Moundland, but…

Aldi has announced it is looking to hire 463 colleagues in Wales between now and Christmas. The UK’s fifth-largest supermarket is looking for people of all levels of experience to fill roles at its stores and distribution centres across the region, with salaries of up to £47,080. This includes apprenticeships and part-time positions such as Store Management Apprentice and HGV Driver, all the way up to Store Manager. Stores in Wales where Aldi is looking to hire include Cardiff, Swansea and, Newport. The recruitment push forms part of Aldi’s nationwide expansion drive in recent years, with the supermarket currently looking…

South Wales Police can confirm that a 54-year-man who was assaulted in Bute Park, Cardiff, last month has died. Gary Jenkins, from Cardiff Bay, had been in a life-threatening condition since the incident during the early hours of Tuesday, July 20. Described by his family as a loving father, husband and brother, he died at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, on Thursday, August 5. His family, who continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers, have released the following statement. “We are distraught to announce the untimely death of Dr Gary Jenkins, who was a loving father of…

Stunning new drone imagery shows how one of Swansea city centre’s key areas has gone green – and is a signpost to a greener future. Where there were once four lanes of Tarmac, The Kingsway and Orchard Street now have broad pedestrian walkways alive with trees and other greenery. As the trees mature the area will become even more green. It’s a result of a £12m Swansea Council scheme to improve the Kingsway and neighbouring streets. Council leader Rob Stewart said: “We aim to transform Swansea into the one of the UK’s greenest cities. The Kingsway reflects our plans to…

Multi award-winning LIMB-Art, which makes ‘the world’s coolest prosthetic leg covers’, has won a contract to supply the whole of NHS Wales with its products. Every adult amputee in Wales will now have access to a free LIMB-art cover through the country’s prosthetic centres in Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham. Each cutting edge, Welsh made, leg cover is made from Hi Tech Nylon Composite and various finishes are available including colours, Carbon Fibre or even the Welsh flag. With its simple elegant design, the leg covers give a perfect leg shape under trousers, leggings or long boots as well as offering…

A new world-class rail testing facility on a former opencast mining site at the head of the Dulais and Swansea valleys has been given the seal of approval by local councillors. The Global Centre of Rail Excellence – a train, rail infrastructure and technology testing facility – will be located on the site of Nant Helen opencast mine in Onllwyn, which is currently operated by Celtic Energy. The centre will provide a unique capability in the UK and Europe. It will support innovation in the UK and international rail industry by serving as a testbed for cutting-edge, green technologies, which…