Author: Rhys Gregory

A remarkable agricultural antique – a mechanical sheep-shearing machine over 100 years old – has completed a 30,000-mile round the world trip to Australia and back to an honoured place in Corwen. The 1909 machine which needed two men to operate it was developed by the Gloucestershire firm of R A Lister and Co but discovered Down Under by Corwen man Trefor Jones who has loaned it to the town’s museum on London Road. The museum plans to re-open when lockdown ends but in the meantime visitors can get a flavour of its attractions thanks to a set of illustrated…

Tributes have been paid to Julian Burrell, OBE, a leading tourism figure in Wales who championed the industry for more than 40 years, who died at the weekend. Julian, who was 76 and lived with his wife Anita near Tregaron, was a founder member and former chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA), which represents the nation’s tourism industry. In 2006, he was awarded an OBE for his services to tourism and received a National Tourism Award in 2010 for his outstanding contribution to the tourism industry. Julian was senior partner in Wales Holidays, a letting agency for more than…

COLEG CAMBRIA and Wrexham Glyndwr University have united to further strengthen opportunities for young people in north east Wales. Cambria’s Chief Executive Yana Williams and Professor Maria Hinfelaar, Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham Glyndwr University, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on collaboration and community. They plan to create an “effective and active” educational partnership in areas including health and social care and engineering. A focus on maximising the shared potential of Northop – the site jointly owned and operated by the institutions – is also a key priority. Ms Williams said: “We already work closely with our colleagues at…

Jack Grey, a Junior Journalist on an apprenticeship scheme run by Cardiff and Vale College in partnership with BBC Cymru Wales and ITV Wales, has been shortlisted for a Top Scoop Award by the National Council for the Training of Journalists. “It’s very, very good to be nominated as these awards run throughout the UK so it’s great to see my name up there,” Jack said. “And also to see a name from Wales is good because there’s not many of us on the list.” Jack is one of the first cohort of the Digital Journalism apprentices in a programme…

Residents and road users are advised that significant drainage improvements will take place on the A4058 at Tonypandy, on the section of road south of the Asda store – requiring overnight traffic lights over the coming weeks. The Council has secured funding from Welsh Government’s Resilient Roads grant for a scheme to replace 230-metres of the existing kerbline with a new combined kerb drainage system. A new manhole will also be constructed in the verge, along with a new filter drain connecting into the drainage system. These measures will improve the road’s drainage in periods of heavy rainfall. Horan Construction…

RCT Council has confirmed that the Ynysangharad Park (M&S) Bridge in Pontypridd will reopen later this week, as the significant scheme to repair the structure following Storm Dennis is nearing completion. The bridge, which provides one of three main accesses to Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, was closed with immediate effect in February 2020 to ensure safety. The Council was committed to rectifying the damage, and last summer announced plans to carry out the works on-site utilising an area in the park. Preparatory work subsequently got underway in October and the bridge was lifted from its position over the River Taff…

A new five year plan set to revolutionise hospital pharmacy services in Wales has been agreed by the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething. The plan will transform how some of the most innovative and life-saving medicines including cancer therapies, intravenous antibiotics and parenteral nutrition, are prepared. The Transforming Access to Medicines programme is a five year plan, which the Minister has asked NHS Wales Shares Services Partnership (NWSSP) to develop business case for with an indicative funding requirement of £67m. The sterile preparation of medicines also known as aseptic services is a speciality area within hospital pharmacy…

Plans by Toyota to reduce energy consumption and cut carbon emissions at its Deeside plant are being supported by the Welsh Government, with an award of £375,000 from its Economic Futures Fund. The £1.6m investment in more efficient high-temperature aluminium casting furnaces, used in the production of hybrid engines at the site, will reduce metal losses in the manufacturing process and deliver significant energy savings and reduced carbon emissions. The project will further lower the environmental impact of the site and will help Toyota meet its ambition of being net zero in carbon emissions by 2050 Minister for Economy and…

One of Wales’ leading environmental charities has launched its biggest ever initiative to eradicate litter and waste. Caru Cymru, led by Keep Wales Tidy in partnership with all Local Authorities in Wales, aims to inspire everyone to take action and care for the environment. The charity is calling on people to take responsibility for the litter and waste they produce in a drive to create a cleaner, safer Wales. While Keep Wales Tidy is renowned for working with an army of volunteers to pick up litter, the charity’s new movement will not just focus on cleaning up, but stopping litter…

A digital project funded solely through charitable donations is providing a lifeline to hospital patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. Virtual contact has been a saviour for many of us throughout the pandemic, and nowhere has this been felt more than in healthcare settings across Wales where visiting has been restricted. Funded through the Awyr Las Covid-19 Response Fund and Macmillan, over 250 devices have been deployed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) since last March. These are now enabling older and vulnerable people to keep in touch with their loved ones whilst in hospital. Brian Laing, who’s leading the…