Author: Rhys Gregory

The world’s first preserved railway in Mid Wales was delighted to welcome back visitors this week (Monday) as its café opened for the first time since the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in March. Talyllyn Railway’s general manager Stuart Williams said visitors were able to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and snack or meal in a picnic train that doesn’t move off the platform. He arranged for three open carriages to be brought to the Wharf Station in Tywyn where visitors can sit and enjoy their refreshments. The station also has an outdoor seating area under a platform canopy. “We’ve had a…

A special flower display is helping Swansea to mark 10 years as a City of Sanctuary. The new feature has been planted outside the Civic Centre using a design by Swansea City of Sanctuary committee member Thanuja Hettiarachchi. Thousands of road users and pedestrians will see it over the coming months. It was officially unveiled by Swansea’s Lord Mayor Cllr Mark Child. Swansea became the UK’s second official City of Sanctuary – and Wales’ first – in May 2010, highlighting the area as having a culture of hospitality and welcome, especially for refugees seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. Alyson…

Gareth Wyn Jones presents the fascinating story of the Royal Welsh Show: from its establishment in 1904 through to its status today as the pinnacle of the Welsh rural calendar. Presenting from his farm in Snowdonia, Gareth takes a look at some of his own archive photos and other show memorabilia. The Show’s story is one of triumph over adversity. Its founders fought to establish it in an era when Welsh institutions of any kind were sorely lacking. Since then, it has survived two World Wars, petrol rationing and the crisis of Foot and Mouth disease in 2001. The transition…

Ten new members have joined an independent organisation that represents more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Mid Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. MWT Cymru, which has member businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and the Meirionnydd region of Gwynedd, has been busy supporting members throughout the lockdown. In addition to keeping businesses informed and helping them to access financial support, MWT Cymru has been working closely with Visit Wales, Mid Wales Regional Tourism Forum, Wales Tourism Alliance and local authorities to ensure that tourism remains high on the political agenda. The 10 new members are Cambrian Coast Caravan Park,…

THE Welsh Ambulance Service has extended thanks to the Armed Forces for its support through the Coronavirus pandemic. More than 100 British Army soldiers have been assisting the Trust’s Covid-19 effort since April by driving and decontaminating ambulance vehicles as part of Operation Rescript. Among them are soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Rifles, 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh and 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment. Yesterday the Trust presented commemorative plaques to 1st Battalion The Rifles at Chepstow’s Beachley Barracks as a thank you gesture. Lee Brooks, Director of Operations, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with the military and were very fortunate to…

An artists’ impression shows how memorial gardens at three crematoria in Wales to remember people who have died during the COVID-19 pandemic will look. Westerleigh Group, the UK’s largest independent owner-operator of crematoria and cemeteries, announced last month its intention to create a memorial garden at each of its 34 sites across the country. They include: Aberystwyth Crematorium; Llanelli Crematorium; and Langstone Vale Crematorium, near Newport. Regional Manager Kevin Davies said: “These gardens will be tranquil places for people to visit and remember loved ones who died during the pandemic, and to pay tribute to those who sacrificed so much…

Rhys Watkins, 33 and Rachael Heywood, 39, were stopped by officers carrying out a routine stop and check when they were travelling along Port Road in Barry shortly after 11.00pm on Sunday May 31st and following a search both were arrested and charged with being concerned in supply of heroin and crack cocaine. At Cardiff Crown Court on Friday (July 10th) both Watkins and Heywood entered guilty pleas to their offences. Watkins, from Barry was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison and Heywood, also from Barry, received a sentence of five years and seven months. Detective Inspector…

MULTIMEDIA and marketing companies have joined forces during lockdown to give clients a business boost. Award-winning North Wales firms Ginger Pixie Photography, Welsh Photo Guy and ie instinct will be offering firms a series of packages to support them in the weeks ahead, as they begin to reopen and revitalise trade. Melissa Cross, director of Buckley-based Ginger Pixie Photography – celebrating five years – said the spirit of collaboration shown across the region in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has been heartening and was a driver behind their back2business partnership. “My business has continued to grow in the last…

Insole Court, a Victorian mansion and gardens, in Llandaff, Cardiff has secured over £170,000 of grant funding from the National Lottery’s Coronavirus support schemes. The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund have both agreed to support the Insole Court Trust as it responds to the Covid-19 crisis. The Arts Council of Wales has also awarded a grant from its ‘Stabilisation fund for organisations.’ Since reopening to the public in 2016, Insole Court has become a popular venue for events such as weddings, concerts and food festivals but closed in March at the beginning of the lockdown.…

Support for families in Wales facing emergency financial crisis due to Covid- 19 must be continued beyond the deadline, according to The Children’s Society. Ahead of a debate, set to take place in the Senedd on Wednesday, the charity is calling for the Welsh government to continue the flexible approach in distributing the discretionary assistance fund (DAF) beyond 31st July. The DAF provides Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP) to help those hit by a financial emergency. The grants are designed to cover immediate essentials such as bills, food, clothing and transport in the wake of an unexpected disaster or family emergency.…