Author: Rhys Gregory

British Cycling’s Geraint Thomas has topped off a fantastic 2018 by being crowned as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. [aoa id=”1″] The 32-year-old professional cyclist saw off the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Harry Kane to win the prestigious award in front of a packed audience in Birmingham on Sunday evening. As a two-time Olympic champion on the track, Thomas consolidated his impressive accomplishments in July this year by becoming the first Welshman to win the Tour de France. Thomas becomes the fifth cyclist in history to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, with Tommy…

The ever-popular Santa’s Toy Mine has returned to Rhondda Heritage Park for 2018. The sold-out experience has been one of my favourite places to visit at this time of year since I was a child. I have fond memories of my parents bringing me, and now that I have a daughter of my own, it’s time to carry on the family tradition. Even now that I’m older, there is something about visiting a mine that fills you with mystery, and in particular Rhondda Heritage Park, as it’s full of history and only a short drive from where I live in…

County lines gang members caught with drugs worth thousands in a south Wales street were jailed last week (Thursday, 13th December, 2018) Saed Saeed, from Cardiff, and Fouad Cilmi, from Bristol, were arrested on 8th August, 2018, after being stopped by armed officers. They were driving along Llantrisant Road, Beddau, in a black Vauxhall Astra when officers spotted them and began to follow. As the vehicle turned into Cwrt Castellau officers made their approach and signalled for them for them to stop. Saed Saeed tried to run away but was caught nearby, as was Cilmi, and both were taken into…

Set in the heart of Swansea, the Grand Theatre is one of the foremost theatres in Wales with its 121 years of history. It hasn’t always been plain sailing for the theatre, and was once turned into a cinema for 14 years back in the day. Since 1969 to this very day, Swansea Council has played a major part in its survival. More recently, the theatre opened a new arts wing. When looking at the theatre’s background, it’s easy to see why the Swansea Grand Theatre is embedded into the city’s culture. Families have been coming here for years and…

Principality Building Society has given £50,000 to seven schools in Carmarthenshire to help provide more than 1,400 students with financial education. [aoa id=”1″] The project will see money allocated evenly between Ysgol Y Strade, Bro Myrrdin, Coedcae, Bryngwyn, Glan Y Mor, St John Lloyds and Maes Yr Gwendraeth secondary schools in the region. All of these schools form the Business Class Partnership programme cluster in Carmarthenshire and students will be able to achieve the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) L2 Certificate in Financial Capability and/or the LIBF LiFE qualification. [/aoa] Lessons will include household budgeting workshops, financial planning,…

A festive fun day to celebrate the wide range of community services being delivered at St Mellons Hub will be held next week. The free community fun day, including a fair, food stalls, live music, community stalls, Christmas grotto and mad science workshop will be held to mark the official launch of the hub on Wednesday, December 19 from 10am – 5pm. Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: “Community fun days at our hubs are always successful events with plenty to see and do.  They are also fantastic opportunities for us to showcase the wide range…

Staff at Neath Port Talbot Hospital are once again giving up their time to organise a Christmas Day lunch for those in the community who are most vulnerable. It is the 16th year they have come together to combat loneliness. Community psychiatric nurses Jane Briggs and Sue Shannon Jones, who has retired, began the tradition along with social worker Sian Davies. They were visiting patients in their homes after the festive period who told them that they had not seen anyone over Christmas. Jane said: “They told us they were desperate for company. “It really got us thinking. The truth…

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co has completed on the sale of The Nag’s Head Inn, a well established riverside pub situated in North Pembrokeshire, close to the Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion borders. [aoa id=”1″]Situated on the banks of the Afon Cych, The Nag’s Head occupies a substantial stone-built property, which was sympathetically extended in the 1980s and recently refurbished by the previous owners in 2017 to provide a spacious and welcoming interior, with flagstone floors, wood burning stoves and beamed ceilings. The pub comprises four trading areas across the ground floor, including a main bar, a cosy snug and…

Hundreds of gifts, donated by generous St David’s Cardiff shoppers, were provided to Y Bont in Bridgend this week as part of the centre’s annual Toy Appeal. Over 100 gifts, including toys from stores such as Hamleys, Lego and Disney, were delivered by a team of Christmas helpers to spread festive cheer to children and families across South Wales. Running until 23 December, the Toy Appeal is supporting more than 20 incredible charities across South Wales, and thousands of gifts have been donated so far. Y Bont is a purpose-built centre that provides care to young disabled children, and advice…

In recognition of outstanding craftsmanship showcased in the construction of a private chapel on an exclusive estate in the Cotswolds, Architectural Stone, part of the Welsh based MS-Group originating from the famous Mossfords company formed in 1821, have received the prestigious industry award for Craftsmanship for the interior of a building by the Stone Federation of Great Britain. [aoa id=”1″] Held at the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel in London on the 7thof December, The Natural Stone Awards 2018 celebrates the best of natural stone construction projects from across the industry. Each year there are hundreds of projects entered from across…