Author: Rhys Gregory

A music festival has pulled off a major coup and signed up the “world’s greatest living tenor” to perform at this year’s event. Joseph Calleja, whose voice has been compared to opera legend Luciano Pavarotti, says he’s looking forward to singing at the opening concert of the North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral on Thursday, September 11. The Maltese maestro has been centre stage at all the greatest opera venues in the world, including the New York Met, La Scala in Milan and Covent Garden in London. Back in 2016 he starred at Llangollen International Eisteddfod alongside…

This year is set to be the biggest ever Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10K with more than 6,200 runners signed up to take part in the main event and supporting junior races. The popular event will be returning to the seaside town this Sunday 6 July and thousands of spectators are also expected to come out and show their support. The event takes in all the beauty spots in the area including Rest Bay, Trecco Bay, Coney Beach, the picturesque town centre, historic Grand Pavilion and iconic Lighthouse. With course entertainment, buzzing event village and friendly race day atmosphere, the 2025…

Mallows Bottling, the multi-award winning contract bottler of alcoholic and soft drinks, has been named Manufacturer of the Year (under £25 million) at the Made in the UK Awards 2025. The ceremony took place at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool, celebrating the UK’s most innovative and successful manufacturers. Founded in 2021 by father and son team Andy and Rhys Mallows, the Llantrisant-based company has rapidly grown to become Wales’ largest spirits and soft drink contract bottler. Mallows Bottling partners with leading brands such as Papa Salt Gin (Founded by Margot Robbie), Lidl and Millennium Group, with services spanning from product…

A passionate entrepreneur from Carmarthenshire has turned a love of wool into a thriving high street business, thanks to a £25,000 Start Up Loan from the British Business Bank. A former market researcher originally from St Albans, Sascha Docwra and her husband moved to Wales eight years ago in search of a different way of life. Her journey into wool began with a small flock of sheep on her farm in West Wales, which sparked a fascination with wool production and traditional crafting techniques. And after attending craft markets and wool festivals, what started as a personal hobby soon turned…

Chocolate fans are in for a cocoa-powered treat as Hotel Chocolat, the luxury cacao grower and chocolatier, announces the opening of its latest concept store at Llandudno Retail Park. Opening on 12th July, this new location will be home to the beloved Velvetiser Café, serving the iconic Velvetised™ drinking chocolate alongside a range of hot drinks. Guests can explore a wide selection of customisable combinations, choosing from 18 different Velvetised flavours served hot, over ice, or as a Choc Shake. Drinks can be tailored with dairy milk or plant-based alternatives, and topped with an array of delicious extras for that…

CHARITIES and community organisations in a seaside resort will unite to share ideas, best practice and explore ways to overcome challenges facing the third sector. Organised by Rhyl Neighbourhood Board – the collective behind the growing Ein Rhyl/Our Rhyl campaign – a free workshop is to be held at the town’s rugby club on Thursday (July 3). The session runs from 2pm-4pm and will be delivered by Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC), a key stakeholder and part of the team tasked with engaging the private and public sectors and educators and helping to shape a £20m masterplan that will improve…

Aberystwyth University researchers have launched new resources to help teachers implement the new curriculum for Wales. The Welsh Government started introducing the new Curriculum for Wales in 2022 and academics from Aberystwyth University have been helping support teachers to develop and fully implement it. As part of the National Professional Enquiry Project, Dr Siân Lloyd-Williams and Gwilym ap Gruffudd have published a new booklet about professional enquiry. Its aim is to support and guide educational practitioners who are interested in developing their practice through looking at changes they can make in the classroom. The launch came during a conference held…

South Caernarfon Creameries launches fundraising initiative aimed at providing life-saving defibrillators to rural communities. Last week, South Caernarfon Creameries installed its first on-site defibrillator, accessible to all, marking the official launch of its new campaign. The Creamery is now inviting local groups to help identify rural areas in need of life-saving defibrillators. The campaign will continue with a fundraising sponsored walk along the Llŷn Peninsula coastal path, on Saturday 30th August, approximately 18 miles, with all proceeds going towards the purchase and installation of defibrillators. Alan Wyn Jones, Managing Director of SCC said, “Being Wales’s oldest and largest dairy co-operative,…

The prestigious Welsh Law Awards are officially open for applications, inviting legal professionals across Wales to submit their achievements for consideration in the 2025 ceremony. Now in its seventh year, the Welsh Law Awards continues to be the highlight of the Welsh legal calendar, celebrating excellence and innovation within the sector. The 2025 Welsh Law Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 9th, 2025, at the iconic Hilton Hotel in Cardiff. The evening will be hosted by one of Wales’s most beloved radio and television personalities, Sara Edwards. “Since 2019, the Welsh Law Awards has shone a spotlight on…

A man from Merthyr Tydfil has been jailed for killing Catherine Bradford when he lost control of a car he was driving through Dowlais on September 19, 2022. Alex Rickwood, 32, of Wern Isaf, Dowlais, appeared to be sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday, June 30. Just before he was due to stand trial, in May (2025), more than two and half years after the incident, he changed his not guilty pleas to causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving an uninsured vehicle, and fraudulently using a trade plate, to guilty pleas. At the time of…