Author: Rhys Gregory

The son of one of the 266 miners killed in a major disaster at the colliery where they both worked has celebrated his 100th birthday with a socially distanced party at the care home where he now lives. Albert Rowlands was a 14-year-old lamp boy at Gresford Colliery when his father was among those who perished in the explosion at the pit on Saturday, September 22, in 1934. He is believed to be the last living survivor of the tragic day that shocked the whole country. Only six of the colliers climbed out through the choking smoke and dust, away…

Ryan Giggs has named a squad of 26 players to face Finland and Bulgaria in the opening matches of the UEFA Nations League. Both Neco Williams of Liverpool and Ben Cabango of Swansea City are called up to the senior squad for the first time, having previously been involved with the U19 and U21 squads respectively. Hal Robson-Kanu is also called up for the first time since 2017 after previously announcing his retirement from international football. The West Bromwich Albion forward made himself available for international selection earlier this year. Cymru return to play following a 10 month break due…

With the Eat Out to Help Out scheme in its final full week, FSB Wales is calling on the UK Government to continue and extend the initiative to further help thousands of small food and drink businesses right across the country. FSB Wales Policy Chair, Ben Francis, said: “The Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been a huge success in getting people back into our Welsh high streets and town centres. We now need to see it extended to continue the critical support that it is providing for small firms as we enter a period of economic make or…

Young people interested in becoming film makers are in for a treat during September thanks to Shakespeare Link who run the unique Willow Globe theatre in Mid Wales. Every Sunday during September, the company will host a free workshop for young people in the Stables at the Willow Globe, which is located at Llanwrthwl, near Rhayader. The workshops run from 11am to 5pm on September 6, 13, 20 and 27. Led by young film makers Erin Draper and Jim Elliot, this project will introduce young people to the skills of documentary film making and give them a chance to film…

Swansea city centre has seen one of the UK’s biggest boosts in visitor and worker numbers in recent weeks. The location makes the top 10 in several league tables of city centres attracting footfall back as coronavirus restrictions are gradually eased. Statistics show it being Wales’ most successful city centre in luring people back. The first week in August saw the city centre enjoy a: 26% week-on-week increase in footfall (UK average 11%) 19% increase in visitors from Monday-Wednesday (UK average 8%) 5% increase in workers returning to city centre offices (UK average 0%) The data – from think tank…

Time is running out for communities to apply for free garden packages as part of Keep Wales Tidy’s Local Places for Nature scheme. A choice of pre-paid ‘starter’ packages are being offered to community groups and organisations to create help reverse nature’s decline. They include all the plants, tools and materials needed to create small gardens. There are also ‘development’ packages available that will enable communities to create larger-scale projects, including food growing areas, sustainable drainage systems and wild gardens. A panel of experts are assessing the applications each month and have already awarded 444 packages. Practical work to install…

Detectives are appealing for information after a man suffered a stab wound at an address in Ely in the early hours of yesterday morning (Tuesday, August 25). South Wales Police was called to a property on Plymouth Wood Close, shortly before 12.30am. A 36-year-old man suffered serious injuries and was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, where he currently remains in a critical condition. A 52-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man were arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. Both currently remain in police custody in Cardiff Bay. Enquiries in to the circumstances of the…

There has been a rise in recent days in the average number of positive COVID-19 cases within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, with a marked increase within Cardiff itself. The current infection rate for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan stands at 10.9 per 100,000, the highest it’s been since early June. Although daily fluctuations in the figures are to be expected, the number of new cases in Cardiff has, over the past 7 days, risen to 14.0 per 100,000 of the population.  This increase has seen local case numbers shift from being significantly below the average in England to…

The Welsh Government’s bespoke Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) is providing crucial support to the UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of professional bakery equipment, Minister Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, has announced. Mono Equipment, based in Swansea, received £108,000 from the fund to help sustain jobs at the company and to protect it from the severe impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The ERF, which is part of the Welsh Government’s £1.7bn support package for businesses, is providing thousands of companies across Wales with significant financial support and complements the help provided by the UK Government. To date, more than…

Findings of the Wales Tourism Business COVID-19 Barometer published this week shows that although Wales has had a busy few weeks in welcoming guests, an extended period of staycations through the autumn is needed to boost business. The Barometer results indicate that 78% of businesses are open with 51% of those open operating at full capacity.  Whilst 80% of open self-catering businesses are fully open 43% of serviced accommodation is fully open and that is lower for attractions, hostels and activity providers. 11% of open businesses have had more customers since reopening than they would normally have at this time of…