Author: Rhys Gregory

Over 350 students graduated from the Open University in Wales this week, in what is one of the university’s annual highlights. Most have studied part-time, often balancing this with work, family or caring for a loved one. The OU was founded over 50 years ago. In that time, more than 200,000 students have studied in Wales alone. It now has over 10,000 students across Wales, 42% of whom come from the country’s most disadvantaged areas. 2/3 of students are either in part time or full time work during their studies. The OU in Wales presented honorary degrees to Dr Donald…

The return of the Christmas gift with a conscience, One Knit Wonder, has launched a brand-new scarf edition. On sale now at John Lewis & Partners Cardiff, shoppers can pick up a starter kit to knit a hat or scarf. All profits will go to leading Welsh homelessness and rough sleeping charity, The Wallich, to help them keep the lights of their vital emergency accommodation on. This year, in addition to a woolly hat, One Knit Wonder is available as a special edition scarf. Selling for £13.50 and £15.50 respectively, at John Lewis & Partners Cardiff for a limited time only, all profits from every One Knit Wonder will go to The Wallich and will help people sleeping rough across Wales. Once…

People traveling on Remembrance Sunday are getting travel advice from Cardiff Bus. The operator is alerting travellers to road closures and route diversions as a result of Remembrance Sunday services this weekend. At 11am Cardiff Bus will also see its services pull over where safe to do so, in a bid to observe the traditional two-minute silence honouring the fallen. Road closures for the Radyr Remembrance Sunday service will affect service 63.  Service 63 will not serve Radyr, Pentyrch or Creigiau in either direction and will start and end its journeys at Danescourt Way.  The first bus to serve the…

Inspiring Welsh SME businesses gathered to celebrate their successes over the last year, at a glittering awards ceremony held on Wednesday 30th October at the Exchange Hotel in Cardiff. The Welsh SME Business Awards were a celebration of the SME entrepreneurs and thriving businesses that service all industries across Wales. It celebrated the tenacity of individuals with enough grit and business acumen to drive their businesses to success in often challenging sectors. Accolades included Unique Business of the Year, Growth Business of the Year and SME Business of the Year. Bengo Media was delighted to be awarded the South East…

When Belinda Gardiner saw a derelict blacksmith’s forge in the Swansea Valley, she thought that it would make an ideal home for a local branch of the growing Men’s Shed movement and so she bought it. Men’s Sheds are places for the community to enjoy craftwork and social interaction, whilst helping to improve the health and wellbeing of its members. Situated between the Mond corner and the canal lock in Clydach, the group has been meeting on Wednesday mornings since June and is going from strength to strength with growing support from the community. Mrs Gardiner said: “It’s taken off…

The alarm was raised after the horse – thought to have been spooked by fireworks – was found on Saturday 2 November, impaled on a fence post in a hedge at Bryn Celyn, Holywell.  The owner and a vet, among others, were at the location, with the RSPCA being called for assistance. RSPCA inspector Jenny Anderton said: “After some time and great difficulty the owner and the vet eventually managed to rescue the horse – named Harry – and myself and RSPCA animal collection officer Ann Lloyd Williams were there as an extra pair of hands. “The horse must have…

Santa Claus will be landing at St Tydfil Shopping Centre on Saturday 16th November to open his grotto and settle in to listen to children’s Christmas wishes throughout the festive season. Arriving at 11am, Father Christmas will be getting the whole town ready for Merthyr’s Christmas lights switch-on extravaganza which will take place later in the day. The free grotto will be open until 4pm, then from 11am to 4pm every Friday and Saturday between 22nd November and 21st December. Every child who visits will receive a goody bag. A balloon modeler will also be entertaining young visitors on the…

UWTSD Master’s student John Hughes is demonstrating that innovation is the future of the engineering industry. John, is combining his studies for an MSc in Motorsport Engineering by working in collaboration with SBD Motorsport Ltd, making aerodynamic upgrades on a Formula 3 car as part of a major live project. SBD race the car in the British Sprint Championship and have recently secured top 3 positions overall. It’s this pursuit of fresh ideas that makes participants in student projects highly attractive to engineering companies, naturally eager to employ the most innovative minds universities can offer to ensure their future competitiveness.…

South Wales Police is appealing for witnesses following a collision involving a car and a cyclist, which occurred at approximately 1.55pm on Sunday, October 20 on Tremains Road at its junction with Minerva Street, Bridgend. The 85-year-old cyclist was taken to Princess of Wales Hospital following the collision with a grey Citroen C2 for treatment, but has since died. Anyone who witnessed the incident, or the manner in which either vehicle was travelling in the moments prior to the collision, is asked to contact Roads Policing Unit  via 101, quoting occurrence 1900387960. Anyone with any dash-cam, CCTV or mobile phone…

Pupils from a range of schools across south Wales are on the steps of the Senedd this afternoon (6 November) to highlight the opportunities available to us if we all take positive action to tackle the climate emergency facing the planet. This is part of the Into Film Cymru Festival launch, taking place across Wales and the UK between 6 and 22 November, and follows a pupil premiere of award winning, climate change documentary 2040. Politicians greeting the children are Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn; Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas;  Welsh Conservative Nick Ramsay AM; Chair of the Climate Change,…