Author: Rhys Gregory

Swansea University paramedic students have received their coronavirus vaccine as they continue to work on the NHS frontline. The students say they are delighted they have now been protected as they go about their duties helping support vital services. Sarah Board, a second year Dip HE Paramedic Science student, said: “Having transported a very unwell Covid patient into Bronglais Hospital this week, I felt far happier spending an hour in the ambulance treating her and being in such close proximity knowing I had had my vaccine. “It felt like having an added layer of PPE!” Josephine McCarthy, who is in her…

The owner of a horse sanctuary has been banned from keeping equines for a decade after she admitted causing suffering to horses in her care. Sandra Jane Kaverneng-Stolp (commonly known as Sandra Stolp), of Derwen Road, Pontardawe in Swansea, pleaded guilty to four Animal Welfare Act offences relating to 22 horses at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Monday (15 February). A total of 137 horses from the Whispering Willows sanctuary – run by Stolp – were signed over to horse charities in November 2019 after concerns were raised about the condition of some of the horses. They were found at sites…

A Rhondda Cynon Taf student is following his dream and is heading to Harvard University in America to continue his studies. Steffan Dylan Jones, aged 19, is a former pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun, and all the staff and his friends at school are delighted he has been accepted to study at one of the most prestigious sports colleges and university complexes in the world. Steffan, a Welsh athletics champion and former Nos Galan support runner, was one of just 2,015 students worldwide to gain a place at Harvard University out of 40,248 applicants. As well as studying four A…

Parents and carers in Rhondda Cynon Taf have received a letter outlining the school arrangements after half term – with Foundation Phase pupils returning to face-to-face learning in a phased approach from February 22. The letter, sent by the Council’s Director of Education and Inclusion Services, highlights Welsh Government’s latest position on the return to school. On January 29, the First Minister announced that if the number of Coronavirus cases continued to fall, plans would be in place for the youngest learners in primary schools to return to the classroom in phases. The latest published medical evidence supports this position,…

More people will now be eligible to apply for the £500 Self-Isolation Support Payment the Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James has announced. The scheme, which has been extended until June 2021, will now be open to applications from people with a personal income of less than £500 per week and those on Basic Statutory Sick Pay who have been asked to self-isolate by Test, Trace, Protect (TTP) service, the NHS Covid-19 App or by their child’s education setting. These changes, will make approximately 170,000 additional people now eligible for the payment, if they are asked to self-isolate…

Major investment proposals totalling £231 million have been unveiled by Caerphilly county borough council, signalling an exciting and ambitious blueprint for the whole area in future. The council has developed a comprehensive ‘Place Shaping’ framework that will set the direction of investment across the area over the next few years. Residents across the county borough will be encouraged to have their say and help shape the proposals, as they are instrumental in helping to complete the jigsaw to ensure that the council is targeting its investment where it is needed most. In addition to future investment proposals, the Place Shaping…

Families, children and adults alike came to the BBC in huge numbers for the return of iconic character Tracy Beaker. On BBC iPlayer, My Mum Tracy Beaker was streamed 2.1m times in its first three days of availability (12-14 February). On the CBBC channel, the premiere of My Mum Tracy Beaker (5pm, Friday 12 February) drew an average audience of 492k (age 4+). Patricia Hidalgo, Director, Children’s & Education, says: “These viewing figures are extraordinary. We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to My Mum Tracy Beaker from viewers of all ages, proving how much love there continues to be for…

A woman has appeared in court after a South Wales Police investigation into allegations that she forged nomination papers for a local election candidate. Amanda Wycherley, aged 41, from Neath, was investigated by the force’s Economic Crime Unit following a by-election in May 2019. Jonathan Liam Jones was due to stand as a candidate in an election for the Resolven ward of Neath Port Talbot Council. As part of his nomination process, he needed to secure 10 names and signatories from the electorate, comprising of the name and signature of a proposer, seconder and the names and signatures of eight…

Patients are to be recruited for a research study which aims to improve the way people with potentially life-threatening chest injuries are treated. It’s the latest phase of an ongoing project led by Morriston Hospital consultant physiotherapist Dr Ceri Battle, and focuses on people who have been sent home from emergency departments after injuring their ribs. While the chest injuries themselves can be relatively minor, they can lead to serious and potentially fatal complications. Often these complications do not emerge for several days, leading to people returning to hospital as emergency cases. Dr Battle has been working on the project…

The 34 year-old man who died following a road traffic collision on the M4 in the early hours of Saturday 13th February has been named as Richard Pring from Llanharry. Richard’s family has paid the following tribute to him:  “As a close family we are truly devastated at the massive loss we have experienced in losing Richard.  Our lives will never be the same, and nor would we want them to. Richard was a son, a father, a fiance, a brother and a friend. “He was a massive presence that never failed to get you laughing. He would help anyone.…