Author: Rhys Gregory

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in Wales, BAFTA Cymru, has announced today the nominations for the British Academy Cymru Awards, honouring excellence in broadcasting and production within film and television in Wales. This year Awards will be presented across 21 craft, performance and production categories in film and television as well as a special award for outstanding contribution to the international film and TV industry. Details of this year’s special award recipient will be announced on 8 October. Angharad Mair, Chair of BAFTA Cymru, said: “We are proposing a very different ceremony in terms of format…

A Glynneath has been ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work after dash-cam footage caught him punching and beating his cocker spaniel in public. Gregory Phillips, 40, was filmed violently handling and striking the dog on Pentre Street on 31 March. Passers-by can be heard hooting the car horn and shouting at Phillips to stop as he attacked the dog outside a local convenience store. The cocker spaniel exits the man’s car as he goes to load a crate of beer onto the back seat. He responds by picking up the dog, punching him several times, then throwing him…

An RAF veteran from Swansea is hosting an online computer games and guitar playing marathon this weekend, to raise funds and awareness for the charity which he says has changed his life. Matt Neve, 35, is living with PTSD, the result of his role in Iraq which began in 2003. He was introduced to archery through Help for Heroes, which he found helped him deal with his mental health struggles. During lockdown he has benefited from the camaraderie of sharing his experiences with other veterans through the charity’s fellowship network through online forums. Matt became part of an online gaming…

TRANSFORMING their business models ensured local food and drink producers and hospitality venues survived the Coronavirus lockdown. The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most challenging periods in the country’s history, but it has also led to a sea change in attitudes and innovation. Driven by community concern and health and safety requirements, firms across rural towns and villages adapted their normal working hours and processes to meet demand and support customers when they needed it most. From home deliveries to takeaway services and e-commerce, there have been myriad approaches to supplying the public with fresh, artisan and homegrown…

OWNERS of an exclusive luxury holiday park have made huge strides with the development in lockdown. The first phase of Maes Mynan Park, in Afonwen near Caerwys, was launched by Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Dafydd-Elis Thomas last autumn, but, as with many businesses, the Coronavirus outbreak prevented prospective holiday homeowners from visiting the picturesque site. While restrictions have lifted in past weeks interest has started to grow and Acorn Leisure directors Peter and Louise Barlow have been working hard behind the scenes to lay 23 luxury lodge bases and the foundation for new access roads. The…

THIS September – Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – a schoolgirl from Amlwch who survived a rare form of cancer is urging people across Wales to clear out their wardrobes to help save lives like hers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBXcFBt_Oxo Maisy Fitzmaurice, 11 was diagnosed with germ cell cancer, back in April 2019, just weeks after her 10th birthday. Now thanks to lifesaving treatment she is cancer free and looking forward to starting her first year of senior school at Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones. The kind-hearted schoolgirl who enjoys shopping, football and tik tok now wants to help other children going through cancer by…

Children and young people across the UK will be supported with £1000 grants from Tesco as part of a new scheme launched this week. Thousands of groups and charities across Wales who support younger people will be able to apply for funding provided by the Bags of Help scheme throughout October, November and December. Potential organisations who can apply include those supporting mental health, outdoor activities, educational activities, young carers, bereavement counselling, child poverty and vulnerable at risk children. Since COVID19, the Bags of Help COVID19 Communities Fund has given £4m of support to more than 8,000 charities and groups…

Building work is progressing well at a housing development in Newport, with the first images of the new homes now available to view online. Bellway is building a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes at Heron’s Mead, off Queensway in Llanwern. To help buyers gain an insight into what life could be like at the development, the five-star builder has released a selection of computer-generated images of the properties, some of which are now available to reserve off plan. Sales Manager at Bellway Wales, Carly Maidment, said: “We have worked really hard to design a brilliant variety of new…

Nursing homes are the best possible solution for anyone who can’t properly take care of themselves, as it provides the right care, surveillance, and help anyone can ever ask for. But to some, it’s still a mystery as to what and how nursing homes operate – and to simply put it everything is planned and oriented towards the person and their well-being. Here is a representation of how a typical day at a nursing home looks, to have a better understanding of how important and helpful these nursing homes are. Start of the day Day in the nursing homes starts…

Residents in the Caerphilly county borough are being asked to give their views on a new proposed active travel route from Penpedairheol and Cefn Hengoed to Ystrad Mynach. Caerphilly County Borough Council is asking local residents, including school staff and pupils, for feedback on a proposed scheme that will enhance crossing facilities and improve walking and cycling provision, linking to the National Cycling Network. The proposed scheme, which is funded by Welsh Government, will provide the following improvements: New crossing facilities on the B4254 and modifications to existing junction to prohibit vehicular access, Improved traffic calming measures along B4254 using…