Author: Rhys Gregory

One of this country’s best known rock bands, the Wildhearts, are opening their UK tour this September with a concert in aid of Huggard, Wales’ leading centre for people who are sleeping rough. The gig at the Tramshed in Cardiff on Friday 3 September, is the start of an 18-date schedule taking the band from Wales to venues in England and Scotland. It‘s also the launch date of their new album “21st Century Love Songs”. The concert comes a year after the Wildhearts released their album, “30 Year Itch”, which was recorded during The Renaissance Men and Diagnosis tours in 2019 –…

New members of a key body say they aim to help Swansea’s rural areas become better places in which to live and work. They represent a cross-section of rural communities – and they include a businessman, a standard-bearer for Gower, a youth worker and a priest. They have recently become members of the Local Action Group (LAG) that helps support social enterprises, the countryside and communities in rural areas such as Mawr, Llangyfelach, Pontarddulais, Penclawdd, Three Crosses, Bishopston, Pennard and Gower. The group plays a key role in the Swansea Council-managed Rural Development Partnership (RDP). Andrew Stevens, the council’s cabinet…

FFP SOLUTIONS has more than doubled its workforce and secured £35m for clients during the Coronavirus pandemic. In just 12 months the North Wales firm unlocked millions of pounds for SMEs nationwide via the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). And now the St Asaph-based finance brokerage is aiming to support more people through the UK Government’s new Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS), the replacement for CBILS. Having grown from four to 11 staff in the last year, FFP Solutions is even better placed to help those affected by the pandemic to access relevant funding. Director Richard Lloyd-Jones said: “To have…

AN INSPIRING employment and education project has supported hundreds of Conwy youngsters over the last three years. Launched in 2018, ADTRAC in Conwy has successfully helped 16-24 year olds across the county find or move towards jobs via bespoke mentoring, counselling, work experience, training and volunteering opportunities. Over 350 referrals were made to the project and 200 young people supported, with a significant number of them gaining a qualification, moving into education and training, or starting a new career. Others were signposted to partner organisations for help with a range of issues, from anxiety to homelessness, drug use and the…

HE blossoming botanical career of a ground-breaking gardener featured on a national television programme. Martin Duncan, Head Gardener and Landscape Designer at medieval Arundel Castle in West Sussex, featured on the latest series of Channel 5’s Great British Gardens. A former student at the Welsh College of Horticulture in Northop – now Coleg Cambria – Martin has travelled all over the world creating, managing, and developing gardens for more than three decades. He was Head Gardener to the late King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan at their private palace, Senior Superintendent for Bermuda Botanical Gardens and national parks, and…

A successful local marketing company, which has seen a huge 800% increase in turnover during the past year, has moved into stylish new offices at High Street’s Urban Village to accommodate new hires and planned future growth. Ouma is a growing, Swansea-based marketing team that specialises in social media, web and graphic design, brand and PR. Founded in 2017 by Directors Ross Jones and Rachel Lyndon-Jones, Ouma is now firmly established as one of Swansea’s most innovative marketing agencies, with local and national clients including The Oldwalls Collection & Fairyhill, Athlete Career Transition and Samaritans Cymru to name just a few. Within the…

A tourism chief says the decision of TV bosses to return to North Wales for the next series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here will give the area a massive economic boost. Jim Jones, the chief executive of North Wales Tourism, said the hit show that attracts millions of viewers would once again raise the area’s profile and help attract visitors. The announcement came hot on the heels of the awarding of UNESCO World Heritage Status to the slate landscape of North Wales West. Last year’s series – won by Giovanna Fletcher  – was a roaring success despite…

The Welsh Street Food Awards return to Cardiff over the weekend of 7-8 August, hosted by Street Food Circus at Roath Yard. Seven of Wales’ finest food trucks will be battling it out to be the champions of Welsh street food, with two winners going on to compete against the best in the UK at the British Street Food Awards later this year. Judging takes place at the Sunday afternoon session with Sam and Shauna from HangFire Southern Kitchen picking the 2021 Welsh winner. Diners also get to vote for the People’s Choice Award across the weekend and both winners…

A group of well—wishers from Pembrokeshire formed a guard of honour at The Druidstone Hotel, Haverfordwest, to welcome-in ten cyclists on a 300-mile challenge, riding from Welwyn to Wales which was organised memory of a much-loved father who had passed away in the county ten years ago. Members of the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven branch and Narberth volunteers representing the British Heart Foundation were joined by family and friends of Angus Archer, 35, whose father Jeff died from a heart attack in 2011. Jeff, who was 58 when he died, had been on holiday at the hotel with his wife.…

Sounds of good cheer, laughter, and applause, will fill the grounds of Oystermouth Castle once more in August when Quantum Theatre’s band of brilliant actors take to the outdoor stage. London-based Quantum Theatre are touring the UK this summer and Swansea Council present their productions of Treasure Island on Thursday 12th August at 3pm, and A Midsummer’s Night Dream on Friday 13thAugust at 7.30pm, with support from Home From Home Original Cottages. Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “These promise to be wonderfully funny and lively productions of theatre classics – and they…