Author: Rhys Gregory

BAFTA Award-winning television star and writer Ruth Jones is making her highly anticipated return to the stage in The Nightingales at Cardiff’s New Theatre next week from 19 – 24 November. The production, directed by RSC Associate Artist Christopher Luscombe and written by William Gaminara is a thought-provoking, bittersweet play which follows the lives of a small community acapella group in their weekly singing practice, and the impact of new arrival, Maggie. Ruth Jones (Maggie) is best known for playing Nessa in the BBC’s multi award winning Gavin and Stacey which she co-wrote and created with James Corden. She also…

New figures released today by TV Licensing show that after more than 50 years of colour transmissions, more than 300 black and white TV Licences are still in force across Wales, although numbers are steadily declining.   [aoa id=”1″] Despite an increase in the use of smart televisions, as well as tablets and smart-phones to access TV content, a surprising number of Welsh households are spurning 21st Century technology in favour of nostalgic monochrome TV sets.   According to this year’s figures, Cardiff leads the way with 43 black and white licences, followed by Carmarthenshire with 28 monochrome licences and Monmouthshire…

In response to today’s statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education, UCAC education union has said that professional learning for the education workforce is critical to the success of the reforms to the curriculum and the Additional Learning Needs system. Dilwyn Roberts-Young, UCAC General Secretary said: “The scale of change to our education system over the next few years is mind-boggling. To imagine that such change can be achieved without a very substantial investment in professional learning would be foolish in the extreme. “UCAC is pleased therefore that the Cabinet Secretary has announced specific funding to support the scale of…

Flu can kill or leave you seriously ill and you are particularly at risk if you have a long-term health condition. That is the stark warning from a pharmacist as those with diabetes, asthma, heart disease and other chronic illnesses are urged to get the vaccine. Pharmacist Alwyn Fortune of Sheppards in Kenfig Hill, near Bridgend, said: “Flu can kill. Flu can lead to chest infections and pneumonia. “So if patients have been vaccinated against the flu, when they are exposed to the virus the antibodies are already there to be able to fight it off so they either won’t…

A NEW time-lapse video has been released showing how Transport for Wales Rail Services is transforming the appearance of trains in its current fleet using a pioneering process focused on sustainability. The sustainable wraps have already started covering trains after Transport for Wales Rail Services partnered with science-based technology firms 3M and Aura Graphics. The fully bilingual wraps are digitally printed in Transport for Wales’ silver and red colours with additional anti-graffiti laminate and are already generating excitement with rail passengers. Having taken over the Wales and Borders rail service in October, Transport for Wales Rail Services is embarking on…

A pension specialist, which has its headquarters in Cardiff, has presented two Bristol University students with the Quantum Advisory Prize 2018.

Public Health Wales is reminding people with long term health conditions to protect themselves from flu this year. [aoa id=”1″] Having some health conditions puts people at more risk of complications if they catch flu, including pneumonia. Conditions that put people more at risk include diabetes, heart, liver and kidney disease, stroke, mini stroke, and respiratory problems. People with chronic chest conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and moderate to severe asthma, for example, are around seven times more likely to die from flu than people without a health condition. People whose spleen doesn’t work properly, adults who are…

The latest NatWest PMI® data signalled a slower expansion of Welsh private sector business activity in October. As well as a fall in the headline Index, there were softer increases in new business and employment. Despite the slowdown, optimism towards the one-year outlook improved to a three-month high and was above the UK average. Meanwhile, cost burdens increased at the weakest rate since July 2016. The headline Wales Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the combined output of the manufacturing and service sectors – registered 53.6 in October, down from 55.6 in September, pointing to a…

Over half (57%) of the UK population lives within a mile of the National Cycle Network, but major improvements for access and safety are needed to open it up to everyone, including children, wheelchair users, those riding non-standard cycles and the less physically active. [aoa id=”1″] The call is made by Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity, as it today launches the first review of the 16,575-mile Network In its “Paths for Everyone” report, the charity unveils the current state of the 23-year-old Network and a long term plan to make it traffic-free and tackle physical problems. These include poor…

CHILDREN in Wales are eating their recommended daily sugar intake – in sweet treats alone. [aoa id=”1″] Research to mark Sugar Awareness Week shows kids in Wales are eating the equivalent of two 1kg bags of sugar a year just by going to friends’ birthday parties. Easter weekend sees Welsh children consume an average of 419g of sugar, 211g at Halloween – and over the Christmas period a huge 1,423g. The government recommends that children aged 16 should eat an average of no more than 30g per day (27g for girls and 33g for boys), with 24g for 7-10-year-olds and…