Author: Rhys Gregory

Almost one in five Welsh festive dinners are likely to include a nut roast (18 per cent) – more than any other region in the UK. [aoa id=”1″] Breakfast at 8.54am, opening presents at 10.06am, dinner by 1.36pm and settling down for a 3.48pm nap makes up the perfect typical Christmas Day, according to new research by specialist lender Together. The study, part of Together’s “New Normal Christmas” campaign, found many Brits still enjoy a very traditional day, with the first alcoholic drink coming at 12.18pm before finally sitting down in front of the television at 2.42pm. However, an increasing…

The Winner of a national Entrepreneurial Award attributes her success to a Bangor University School of Education Masters course. Ms Ayan Aliyeva, of Baku, Azerbaijan, has been awarded the British Council Entrepreneurial Alumni Award for Azerbaijan. In addition to being the founder and CEO of a highly successful and growing education centre, with several branches providing education in Baku, Ms Aliyeva has introduced modernising initiatives, such as professional development opportunities and mainstreaming pupils with special educational needs, both of which have had transformed Azerbaijani education. She says: “Studying at Bangor University had a paramount impact on the development and expansion…

The Cardiff-based Thermal Compaction Group (TCG) has been Highly Commended for its work with a health trust in England after pioneering the recycling of medical waste wrap material to generate income for the NHS. [aoa id=”1″] TCG’s collaboration with the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust was Highly Commended for both the Estates & Facilities and Environmental Practice trophies at last week’s Health Business Awards in London, just weeks after the partnership won the Healthcare Estates Sustainable Achievement accolade. TCG has developed a unique innovative sustainable recycling process addressing single use disposable plastics. Single-use sterilisation wraps, used for surgical…

You may remember an ambitious group of Cardiff students who recently took centre stage, and won, at the annual First Give awards held at the Senedd representing St Illtyd’s Catholic High School.  The group were inspired by ‘Keep Wales Tidy’ and campaigned to cut plastic waste. Student Ffion Morris recently won First Give’s Soap Box Challenge, in aid of Teenage Cancer Care, which involved Ffion speaking in front of a camera in front of a large audience at the Senedd, highlighting a local issue that she feels passionate about. Ffion’s choice was ‘litter’. Shewon the competition and was awarded £200…

Learna Ltd, a healthcare education company based at Cardiff Medicentre, has won a Silver Award in the flagship competition for the educational sector. The Learning Technology Awards, which took place in London, saw Learna fight off stiff competition in its sector to come second to the multi-national online language training company, Speexx, in the Best Online Distance Learning Programme category. Learna delivers postgraduate services to a global community, enabling continuing medical education through its Study PRN website and Diploma-Msc.com programmes, in conjunction with the University of South Wales. More than 2,000 medical professionals from over 100 countries have  so far graduated with…

Patients at the Marie Curie Cardiff and the Vale Hospice on Bridgeman Road, Penarth, met cast from the New Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast – including The Beast/Prince Sebastian, played by Hollyoaks and West End actor Ben Richards. The New Theatre’s spectacular family pantomime also stars comedian Mike Doyle and Stephanie Webber who visited the hospice last year, as well as Naomi Slights as Beauty. Lisa Riley, Gareth Thomas and Danny Bayne also star in the show, which promises a production packed full of sensational special effects, beautiful costumes, music, comedy, dancing, and audience participation. Between performances on…

Cardiff Bus is taking over from Santa’s sleigh this month when it makes a special festive delivery to dementia patients at a local hospital. [aoa id=”1″] Cardiff Bus staff are transporting an abundance of donated gifts to Llandough hospital on December 21st. Gifts including chocolates, perfume, socks, books, and nail varnish, which have been collected by Cardiff Bus staff throughout December, will be delivered to patients during the day. They will be gifted to those being treated on Ward East 18, which provides specialist support to people living with dementia and other progressive brain diseases. The donations are part of…

Two people from Cardiff have appeared at the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey today (Friday 21stDecember) after pleading guilty to explosives offences. Edward Harris, 27, from Ely in Cardiff was sentenced to five years in prison for two counts of possession of explosives, two counts of manufacture and four counts of possession of  a document containing information useful to terrorism contrary to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. A second person, 51 year-old Natalie Parsons was sentenced to two years in prison for two counts of possession of explosives. They were arrested following a joint operation by…

Kindle House, the independent boutique store in Ystradgynlais has beaten off stiff competition from across the UK to be crowned the People’s Winner of Save The High Street’s Britain’s Best Shop Window Competition. [aoa id=”1″] The inspiration for their winning design came during a trip to one of their suppliers back in January. Owner, Emma Purvis said “Our supplier had built a full-size house front in their show-room to display their products, we took one look at it and thought, that’s our Christmas Window!” Their current Christmas display is the first one where they’ve enlisted the help of retired D&T…

Nearly 800 people voted in Cardiff Cycle City’s first ever Cardiff Cycling Awards. The award ceremony took place last night in a packed Ride My Bike Cafe. The winners of the five categories were: Award 1. Biggest Contribution to improving Cycling in Cardiff NextBike Award 2. Cardiff School doing most to encourage cycling to school Radnor Primary Award 3. Worst street/path for potholes in Cardiff Newport Road Award 4. Worst junction for cyclists in Cardiff Newport Road generally! Award 5. The I Loves the ‘Diff Award for the Most Cycle Friendly Business Cardiff Metropolitan University The awards party also heard…