Author: Rhys Gregory

Following the easing of lockdown restrictions,  tennis clubs across Wales have seen a surge in their membership as well as large increases in court bookings by members of the public looking for somewhere to play. Tennis venues have been reporting a larger number of families joining, and the number of people now booking a pay & play court has increased significantly from last year.   The latest insight from Tennis Wales and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) showed that over 131,000 adults had played tennis at least once in the last 12 months, an increase of 8% on 2019. The number…

Yesterday evening, key landmarks and hospital sites across Cardiff and the Vale were illuminated in orange to celebrate World Patient Safety Day, standing as a reminder to the public of their role in keeping people safe. By following coronavirus guidance – maintaining physical distancing and practicing good hygiene measures, the public have a vital role to play in protecting healthcare workers that will in turn protect vital services. The global pandemic has presented health services with major challenges and put healthcare workers at significant risk. The pace of change has been fast and services have had to adapt to maintain…

More thrilling drama is set to hit our screens after BBC Cymru Wales has announced that it has commissioned a brand new crime drama. With a strong cast and gripping storyline, The Pact is set to become BBC Wales’ next highly anticipated hit. With filming starting this week, the drama will follow the story of five friends, a sudden death and a web of lies. The Pact brings together a stellar team that has worked on some of the TV’s best-loved dramas. Breaking Bad star Laura Fraser takes centre stage alongside Julie Hesmondhalgh (Broadchurch, Coronation Street) and Eddie Marsan (Ray…

Serial killer Peter Moore who brutally stabbed four men to death is threatening legal action in an attempt to block the publication of a book that reveals the full extent of his depravity. Moore has written letters to author Dylan Rhys Jones, a former solicitor who represented him at his trial, and publishers Y Lolfa, who say they stand by ever word in the book. Mr Jones revealed that Moore had previously said he wanted to help him with his research for the book and had even sent him a Christmas card last year. Although he stopped short of admitting…

The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway is recruiting a new general manager after Charles Spencer announced his retirement. Mr Spencer will step down on March 31 2021, after six years in post. His impending departure has been greeted with sadness by many railway members and supporters, but W&LLR chairman Steve Clews admitted that the news was not a complete surprise. “Charles said right from the start that he would be in position for only four to five years dependent upon his personal situation and commitments, so I am actually thinking of this as us having had an extra year,” he…

While the circumstances of the past months have been challenging for everyone, they have given us all a greater appreciation of the local environment close to home. Many have enjoyed following long forgotten nature trails or visiting local landmarks and a new fund launched today is aiming to ensure these experiences are recorded for the future. The historic environment body, Cadw, has teamed up with the National Lottery Heritage Fund to launch a small grants programme that will help people strengthen the connections they have made with their surrounding environment. Grants of between £3,000 – £10,000 are available with a…

A WELSH Ambulance Service manager has described the moment he thought he was going to die after contracting coronavirus. Nigel Heal, the Trust’s Quality Improvement Manager based in Cwmbran, Torfaen, developed symptoms in April, days after his partner was admitted to hospital with the virus. The 62-year-old took a deterioration of his own and became so breathless that he made a late-night call to 999, and was also hospitalised. Nigel, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, recalls: “In the days after Rob was admitted to hospital, I also became unwell with a fever and…

Flexible support is urgent and we must consider a shorter working week if we’re to save jobs and rebuild the economy better, says the Future Generations Commissioner.  Sophie Howe and Shavanah Taj, General Secretary of the Wales TUC, have written a joint letter to the UK Treasury this week, urging the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to consider approaches such as a reduced working week to protect jobs before the furlough wage support scheme ends in October.  Calling for ‘targeted and flexible support’ in the next stage of recovery, to benefit areas of the economy which continue to be heavily impacted by…

UK Government in Wales Minister and MP for Monmouth, David TC Davies, visited the Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales in Newport this week to show support and highlight the contribution independent cancer centres can make in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales was the first cancer facility to bring proton beam therapy to the UK in 2018 and now offers the pioneering treatment to adult NHS Wales patients, making Welsh patients the first to be offered proton beam therapy on the NHS in the UK. The centre also remained open throughout the pandemic and assisted…

Kerry Vale Vineyard near Montgomery has been recognised as a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2020 Award winner for attractions. Based on a full year of Tripadvisor reviews, award winners are known for consistently receiving great traveller and diner feedback, placing them in the top 10% of hospitality businesses around the globe. This recognition comes after the vineyard was awarded Tripadvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for the last five years. A unique tourist attraction and favourite amongst local people, the vineyard provides customers with the opportunity to discover the secrets of English wine within a relaxed and contemporary space. It also offers a…