Author: Rhys Gregory

Architecture and engineering practice BDP, which has a studio in Cardiff, is helping to convert the Principality Stadium into the Dragon’s Heart Hospital (Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig) as part of the UK’s effort to tackle the coronavirus emergency. The hospital was officially opened this week (Monday 20th April) by Prince Charles via video link. Working under project managers Mott MacDonald, BDP has provided the design and engineering expertise and skills to convert the Principality Stadium into a temporary, up to 2,000-bed emergency hospital for COVID-19 patients in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. BDP has been collaborating with clinicians, consultants,…

 A £500 donation by Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE means the efforts of Wales young entrepreneurs will be recognised again this year. Seven Welsh schools are competing for the Young Enterprise Awards 2020, despite the huge challenges posed by coronavirus. But even before the killer virus reared its head, the annual competition was under threat from lack of funding. Now the financial gap has been plugged by UKSE and other supporters, and the young people can showcase their impressive spirit of enterprise again this year. Antony Bolter, Chair of the South Wales Board of Young Enterprise said: “The young people are…

Prospective students interested in studying at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) are having the opportunity to attend Open Days – from the comfort of their own homes. Because of the Coronavirus outbreak, the University has postponed its usual Open Days.  Not wanting prospective students to miss out on the chance to attend an event, UWTSD has organised a series of Open Days and Open Evenings that will allow attendees to learn more about the University and the courses it offers. All events are drop-in sessions and will be held online on Microsoft Teams.  All registered guests will…

Chefs across the UK have been praised for their “brilliant” response to an appeal by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) for surplus chef’s jackets which can be made into masks and other items for care workers to use on the front-line fight against Coronavirus. Arwyn Watkins, CAW president, launched the appeal on social media to co-ordinate chefs’ practical response to the pandemic. He says demand for the jackets is far outstripping supply. “Chefs jackets are the perfect material to be made into masks, scrubs bags, headbands and caps for front line staff in care homes and working in the…

Swansea University’s English Language Training Services is continuing to run its prestigious Cambridge CELTA programme despite the lockdown.  Nine new trainees (and their dogs and cats) have just started their course and will be studying online instead via a dedicated portal, with full support from ELTS’ experienced trainers. Course leaders say they are able to deliver every element of the course digitally including the embedded teaching practice which will now will be conducted online, with classes composed of asylum seekers, refugees and other non-native speakers largely based in the Swansea Bay region. The trainees learning how to teach English as a…

Sharon Bamford, who was a warm, caring and dedicated healthcare assistant on the haematology/oncology ward at Singleton Hospital, passed away last night after contracting COVID-19. What makes her death particularly poignant is that it follows the recent death of her much-loved husband, Malcolm, who also succumbed to COVID-19. Both were cared for at the intensive care unit in Morriston Hospital. Their son, Christian, was also in hospital with COVID-19 but thankfully has since been discharged. Sharon had worked in Singleton for many years, and since 2005 worked within the haematology/oncology ward as a much valued team member. Staff at Morriston…

Two of Wales’ flagship cultural events have been provided financial support by the Welsh Government to help with the impact of COVID-19. Both the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol and Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod have announced that the 2020 summer events will not take place as planned, with the Eisteddfod postponed to take place in Ceredigion in 2021. Funding of more than £800,000 will be shared by the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol and Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod – to help with business continuity through 2020, including planning and preparation for the 2021 events. Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language, Eluned Morgan, said: “The Llangollen…

CR Clarke & Co has now received approval for it’s Rapidly Manufactured CPAP (RMCPAP) unit and will be working with businesses in Wales including Panasonic on an initial run of 80 devices for further testing. The device, which has now received approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, aims to avoid the need for admitting patients into Intensive Care Unit. It has been designed by Dr Rhys Thomas, a senior consultant at Glangwili Hospital, and Maurice Clarke of Ammanford engineering firm CR Clarke & Co. The first multiple production of the CPAP unit is being supported by the…

Bilingual road markings, with the clear message – ‘Thank you NHS’ – have been painted on three roads as you drive into the University Hospital of Wales in the Heath. The road markings which have been paid for by council contractors, Roman Road Lining and Amberon Traffic Management, were installed this morning (April 22). The 12 metre by four meter markings have been painted in yellow are a further tribute to our front line NHS staff, as they continue in their vital work to combat the COVID-19 virus. Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, Cllr Caro Wild said: “These are challenging…

A new charity has been established to fundraise and provide additional support for the dogs being looked after at Cardiff Dogs Home and promote responsible dog ownership and humane behaviour towards dogs. The newly registered charity, officially known as ‘Cardiff Dogs Home, The Rescue Hotel’ came into being after a group of volunteer dog walkers at Cardiff Dogs Home got together to organise some small fundraising events – the success of these events sparked the idea of forming a charity to help the city’s dogs. Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Michael Michael, said: “The team at Cardiff Dogs Home do…