Author: Rhys Gregory

A “music legend” from North Wales thought she’d been copped for speeding when she opened an official looking letter – but the news was far better than she feared. Ann Atkinson, the former artistic director of the North Wales International Music Festival, discovered that she had been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours. According to Ann, she was deeply touched to learn that she’d been nominated for the honour after serving the festival with distinction for two decades before stepping down two years ago. In her new honorary role as a vice-president, she’s looking forward to this year’s…

Swansea Building Society has officially launched its new mobile app, providing customers with a more convenient way to manage their savings and mortgage accounts at any time and from anywhere. The new digital service marks a significant step forward for the Society, enabling customers to transfer funds between existing Society accounts, withdraw funds to nominated accounts (subject to account terms), and set and monitor personal savings goals. The platform also gives users access to mortgage information, secure messaging with the Society’s team, and the ability to manage marketing preferences and voting options for the Society’s AGM. In doing so, Swansea…

Nomad is set to open its doors in Cardiff city centre on Friday 27 June, taking over the former Terra Mare site at 28 High Street in the Castle Quarter. Whether you’re dropping in for a cocktail and a snack, sharing hand-rolled pasta and flatbreads with friends, the space is designed to flow with the rhythm of the guest. The monthly-changing menu brings together seasonal small plates, hand-rolled pasta and signature flatbreads all led by flavour, not formality. Dishes include white and brown crab Caesar with anchovy and bottarga, dino beef short ribs with hazelnut and horseradish, and a 650g…

A couple have been jailed after their dog attacked a toddler. Thomas Moir, 38, and Kayleigh Godbert, 39, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Friday June 13th after admitting to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. On August 12th 2023, Moir and Godbert were in charge of their dog, an Akita, when it became dangerously out of control. The dog attacked the toddler, biting them to the head and face and leaving them with life changing injuries. Moir and Godbert were both jailed for 18 months. Detective Constable James Grimwood said: “This was a…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has been working closely with Barry, Penarth, Llantwit Major and Cowbridge Town Councils, along with a range of other stakeholders on new plans for the County’s four towns. These plans are the result of an extensive programme of engagement and consultation with residents, local businesses, and community representatives, which has helped shape proposals aimed at transforming their communities into vibrant, welcoming and resilient places to live, work, and visit. While the Vale of Glamorgan Council has supported and facilitated the development of these plans, the initiatives are led by each respective town council to…

Leading independent national cinema operator, Merlin Cinemas have announced they will take over the 5-screen cinema in Rhyl town centre, subject to completing lease arrangements with Denbighshire County Council. The Cornwall-based independent operator has 21 other cinemas across the UK, including the Scala at Prestatyn. The company has a reputation for operating historic cinemas, as well as repurposed and modern buildings as cinemas, in communities often overlooked or underserved by larger cinema companies. Earlier this year, Merlin’s Founder and Managing Director, Geoff Greaves, was awarded an MBE for his outstanding contribution to the cinema industry – recognition 35 years spent…

Seven potential operators have expressed an interest in running Caerphilly’s container-style market in the heart of the town centre. Caerphilly county borough council began inviting expressions of interest to run the popular Ffos Caerffili site in May. The current market operators have successfully managed Ffos Caerffili for its first year and the council is now seeking to retender for a longer-term arrangement to ensure the market can continue to go from strength to strength. Cllr Jamie Pritchard, Deputy Leader of the Council said, “It’s encouraging to see that we have received seven strong expressions of interest to run the site…

Wales will become a Marmot Nation as part of the Welsh Government’s ongoing work to tackle health inequalities. This involves adopting public health expert Sir Michael Marmot’s eight principles, which aim to eliminate unfair and avoidable differences in health which can be caused by where people live, what kind of job they do and how they are treated in society. The move follows the success in Torfaen, which was an early adopter of the Marmot principles when the wider Gwent area became a Marmot region. Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles has agreed the Welsh Government will…

A man has been jailed after going on a shoplifting spree that cost Cardiff businesses over £1,000 in losses. Karl Legg, aged 39, of Cardiff, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to two years and eight months in prison on June 11, 2025, after pleading guilty to four counts of burglary and one count of theft. The court heard how on May 5, 2025, just before 7pm, Legg cycled to a Cooperative on Pontcanna Street in Cardiff. Upon arrival, he walked straight behind the front desk and stole eight bottles of spirits, worth £198.50, before leaving the shop and cycling…

CO-FOUNDER and Chair of Specsavers Doug Perkins, has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by His Majesty King Charles in this year’s Kings Birthday Honours List, for his services to business and trade. Specsavers was formed by Doug and his wife Dame Mary in 1984 and is now the largest private eye and hearing care provider in the world, winning global recognition for its famous ‘Should’ve Gone to Specsavers’ strapline and humorous approach to marketing. As well as an innovative approach to pricing and advertising, Doug applied a pioneering joint-venture partnership model to the optical…