Author: Rhys Gregory

Some of Wales’ biggest landmarks made time to shine during International Day of Persons With Disabilities to bathe their premises in purple light for disabled people everywhere. Supporters worldwide joined forces for Purple Light Up 2018 to celebrate the economic power of disabled people on Monday, December 3rd. Cardiff Castle, The Senedd, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff City Hall and more turned the night sky purple in the Welsh capital – with the DVLA, Swansea Council, University of South Wales, Go Compare and others following suit across South Wales. Alex Currie, HR director at Newport-headquartered GoCompare Group plc, said: “We’re going…

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will kick off a summer of live music in the Welsh capital in the gorgeous grounds of Cardiff Castle on Friday 24 May 2019, bringing his international hits to the iconic location in the heart of the Welsh capital. [aoa id=”1″] Support comes from special guest Gaz Coombes and Boy Azooga. Tickets will go on sale from 10am Friday 7 December 2018, and are available from Ticketmaster.co.uk, Alttickets.com, Gigantic.com and Seetickets.com. 2018 has been a hugely successful year for Noel, who landed a Mercury Prize nomination with his most recent High Flying Birds LP Who…

City Hospice, Cardiff’s local hospice, held its Christmas Fair and Lighting Ceremony at the weekend and raised £7,000. The event, sponsored by Pidgeons & Sons, was held at City Hospice (in the grounds of Whitchurch Hospital) and saw supporters and members of the public dropping in to get their festive fix. There were plenty of Christmas stalls selling homemade cards, crafts, cakes and more. One of the stalls was run by super charity supporters, The KnitWhits, who have raised an incredible £7,732 (since they started four years ago) by making and selling knitted items to raise money for the hospice.…

A fast-growing law firm is continuing its expansion by announcing the opening of its first branch on Anglesey. Swayne Johnson, which is also one of Wales’s oldest legal firms, will open its Menai Bridge office in the Old Bank Building, in Uxbridge Square, in January. Swayne Johnson Solicitors, founded in 1853, has offices employing over 50 staff reaching across North Wales to Cheshire. The opening of Menai Bridge office gives the firm a high street presence in North West Wales and will be overseen by one of Swayne Johnson’s directors, Head of Residential Conveyancing Michael Tree.  Welsh-speakers Sara Lloyd Evans,…

ECL (Environmental Compliance Limited) is planning to expand its workforce and operations with the help of a further£150,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales. This latest round of funding, marks a long-standing relationship with the development bank, following previous loans to assist the business start-up in 2002 and fund an equity buy out in 2010. Set up in 2001, ECL provides a range of specialist environmental and occupational hygiene testing as well as advisory environmental consultancy services. Initially, the company focussed on monitoring process emissions to the atmosphere and environmental permit applications for industrial installations. However, the company has…

Sustrans, the all-Wales charity that makes it easier for people to walk and cycle, will today (Tuesday 4th December) say that Welsh transport stands at a crucial crossroads and will encourage the next first minister to lead a new approach fit for future generations. Speaking ahead of the event, Sustrans Cymru Director Steve Brooks said: “Decisions taken by politicians in Cardiff Bay over the next few months will have a huge baring on the lives of everyone in Wales for the next decade.  We could reach the end of the road if Assembly Members reject the damaging M4 proposals, and there…

A Newport-based lawyer is calling for crucial divorce law reform, after figures released last week revealed the “harrowing impact” of family conflict on children. [aoa id=”1″] Sophie Hughes, Partner at award-winning firm Watkins & Gunn made the calls as part of national Good Divorce Week, led by Resolution. Ms Hughes, who is South Wales Chair for the organisation, is calling for a fairer family justice system that will reduce the emotional and academic consequences of divorce on children. The organisation’s new YouGov poll revealed that 79% of the population agreed conflict from divorce or separation can affect negatively children’s mental…

Competition queen Lynne Rielly is tasting even more success – after winning a  year’s supply of mouth-watering crumpets. [aoa id=”1″] Lynne, 56, from Flint, came out on top in a Leader competition that was run in conjunction with the award-winning Wrexham-based Village Bakery. She and husband, Nigel, also 56, are big fans of the company’s signature crumpets and their other products which are sold at a host of independent stores and supermarkets across the UK. Between them the couple have four children and four grandchildren and they promised to share them out with the family. [/aoa] A poem extolling the…

Two Swansea University students are in the running for top awards at a ceremony honouring healthcare leaders of the future. [aoa id=”1″] Student midwife Angharad Colinese and Sam Richards, who is studying nursing, have both been shortlisted in the Student Leadership Programme Awards run by the Council of Deans of Health and the Burdett Trust for Nursing. Angharad was nominated alongside her mentor Linda Burke, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the Top #150 Leaders Mentoring Partnership category. [/aoa] The Student Leadership Programme aims to promote and develop leadership skills among the future nursing, midwifery and allied…

Winter ready tips from local British Gas engineer, Hannah