Author: Rhys Gregory

An actor and impresario who made history with British TV’s first gay kiss revealed he grows flowers to unwind from the hectic world of showbiz. Stifyn Parri, who hails from Rhos, near Wrexham, and now lives in St Fagan’s near Cardiff, loves nothing better than pottering in his garden to switch off and relax. He shared his passion for gardening with television presenter Meinir Gwilym when he was filmed for an item on S4C’s flagship gardening series, Garddio a Mwy. The episode featuring Stifyn is being shown at 8.25pm on Monday, June 2, and will then be available on demand…

Business confidence in Wales rose fell 21 points during May to 36%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds. Companies in Wales reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 28 points at 52%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up 14 points to 21%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 36% (vs 15% in April). A net balance of 23% of businesses in the country also expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 28 points on last month. Looking ahead to the next six months, Welsh businesses identified their top…

Too many businesses in Wales run the risk of financial ruin because they are not improving efficiency and removing process waste from their business to counteract increasing input and wage costs. Profit erosion caused by inflation – branded the invisible tax – has repeatedly been identified by the UK top 10 accountancy and advisory firm Azets as a red-flag issue. There is also concern that the budget increase in employer national insurance contributions (NICs) to 15% and the minimum wage rise of 6.7% will erode profitability even further. According to the UK Parliament, the rise in NICs alone will impact around 940,000 employers and…

A man from Maesteg, Bridgend has been jailed for 3 years after a multi-agency investigation into his manufacture and supply of DNP diet pills. DNP, which stands for 2,4-Dinitrophenol, is an industrial chemical that has been illegally sold as a diet pill for weight loss. DNP is poisonous to humans and has been banned for human consumption in the United Kingdom. It can cause death, as well as other serious physical side effects. Kyle Enos, 33, was arrested by officers from Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) for southern Wales, in July 2024 after information was received from the…

THE fifth annual Bersham Wheels event roars into Wrexham this summer. A celebration of motoring and music, the free festival looks set to be bigger and better than ever. Taking place on Saturday June 21, there will be live bands, entertainment and games, trade stands, food and drink stalls and guided tours of the Bersham Road site for families and prospective students. There will also be sports and classic cars – including a Ferrari Modena and Porsches – a pack of pristine motorcycles, epic vehicles and even military machines. Karl Jackson, Site Lead and Assistant Principal for the £10m Institute…

The 2025 Cowbridge Music Festival will present an eclectic and vibrant line-up across ten days this September, blending chamber music tradition with innovation, Welsh cultural heritage, and global musical influences. This year’s programme showcases a wealth of Welsh talent, from Sinfonia Cymru’sSeascapes and a new festival commission by John Metcalf to appearances by Dafydd Jones, Kat Rees, and folk trio Vrï. An emphasis on diverse musical voices includes works by underrepresented composers such as Fanny Hensel, Rebecca Clarke, Dora Pejačevič and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Chamber music remains at the heart of the festival, with performances from the Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, Carducci…

Two men from Swansea have been jailed after carrying out a robbery and then using the victim’s bank card. 24-year-old Keiron Gordon, from Townhill, and 36-year-old Scott Simmonds, of no fixed abode, approached the victim, who was unknown to them, on Swansea’s Oxford Street on March 15. One of the men then, unprovoked, punched the victim in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. They then told him not to move while one held him down and the other emptied his pockets, removing his wallet and mobile phone. The pair then used the victim’s bank card to purchase…

Fitness fans in Trallwn can head to their local park rather than go indoors to enjoy their favourite keep-fit routines for free. The redundant play area next to the local community centre has been transformed with an outdoor gym that’s got equipment suitable for all ages and adds to similar kit located at three other parks in the city. Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet member for Investment, Regeneration, Events and Tourism, said: “The old play area at Trallwn was out of use, so it just made sense to turn it into an outdoor gym that people can use whenever they like completely…

A 20-year-old has been convicted of the Cardiff murder of a “generous, caring and thoughtful” man. A jury at Newport Crown Court yesterday (May 29) found Georgie Tannetta, 20, guilty of murdering James Brogan. Tannetta will be sentenced on June 27. James Brogan died after being stabbed by Tannetta on November 12. He was found with serious injuries near the ‘Train’ park off Coleford Road, St Mellons, and died in hospital shortly after. At the time of his death, James Brogan’s family described James as “generous, caring and thoughtful – a comedian who loved making people smile and laugh”. Detective…

The Welsh Government is helping to deliver more much-needed social housing after agreeing the sale of plots of land in Swansea. The plots, known as D5B and D9B, have been sold to housing associations who will develop them to bring forward 69 new social homes. Plot D5B has been purchased by Pobl, who will build 35 apartments and eight houses on the site. Plot D9B has been purchased by Beacon Cymru, who plan to develop the land to provide 26 social homes. The Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, said: “This land sale represents our commitment to…