Author: Rhys Gregory

A jewellery designer who has created custom-made pieces for HRH The Prince of Wales, as well as celebrities such as Catherine Zeta Jones, Sting and Andrew Lloyd Webber, has opened a new gallery in Llandeilo to showcase her latest bespoke designs. Mari Thomas, founder of MT Jewellery, has utilised £362,000 worth of funding from NatWest to purchase and refurbish the gallery space in The Old Castle Hotel on Rhosmaen Street, a far cry from her early days when she operated out of her parents’ garden shed. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] The gallery will house Mari’s jewellery collections alongside a rotating showcase of…

Two students and a recent graduate from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David are counting down to compete in the prestigious national finals of the WorldSkills UK Competitionsthat take place in Birmingham later this week. [aoa id=”1″] As the only University in Wales to compete in the UK finals, UWTSD is delighted that current students George Searle and Paul Lawrence along with graduate, Lawrence Edwards – will be given the opportunity to compete against learners from all over the UK in front of over 70,000 visitors at WorldSkills UK LIVE. George Searle and Paul Lawrence – students on the…

Peter Morris launched the mobile eatery in his converted VW van three years ago, and now has a strong following for his tasty woodfired pizzas. [aoa id=”1″] And the Kickstart programme – run jointly by Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise and Blaenau Gwent Council – helped Peter with a timely grant of £800 to purchase a BBQ smoker for new and exiting toppings. As well as his regular spot on the Moor, The Little Dragon Pizza Van can be seen at events around North Gwent, Monmouthshire and beyond. Peter is one of the organisers of Brynmawr Street Food Festival, and also…

The organisers of Swansea’s annual gardening competition are recruiting volunteers to serve on its management committee and to join the team of judges in time for the 2019 event. [aoa id=”1″] Specifically, they are looking for a new chairman, vice chairman, secretary and minute secretary, as well as new judges. Anybody interested in helping in any capacity is invited to complete the volunteer application form on the group’s website at www.swanseainbloom.co.uk. Alternatively they can call committee representative Bob Mapp on 01792 299 543, or send an email to [email protected]. All applicants are also invited to attend the group’s annual general…

Heritage Angels – people who have played a special part in caring for Wales’s heritage – have been honoured at a special awards ceremony, sponsored by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, at Caerphilly Castle on 8 November 2018. Chaired by Baroness Kay Andrews, a panel of distinguished judges gave awards to five projects, recognising the achievements of young people, apprentices, volunteers and historic building restoration work. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] Thornhill Primary School won the Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by Young People award for their Armistice Cantata, a musical play based on popular tunes from the First World War. Women’s Archive…

Welsh transport information company Traveline Cymru is celebrating “outstanding” results after delivering over 5m pieces of travel information to people across the country. [aoa id=”1″] According to a recent report, the Welsh Government’s public transport information service delivered 5,660,366 pieces of information to the public in 2017, whilst also achieving an impressive 99% customer satisfaction rate. With a suite of bilingual services including a freephone number, mobile app and website, the company provided the Welsh public with essential information such as delays, disruptions and timetables, keeping people on the move across the country. The news follows the recent announcement of…

The Silver Mountain Experience, one of Mid Wales’ top visitor attractions, is opening for the winter for the first time. [aoa id=”1″] Based in Ponterwyd, on the mountain road between Llanidloes and Aberystwyth, the attraction is open throughout the winter, seven days a week from 10am to 4pm, except for a short spell between December 24 and January 18, 2019. The attraction is normally closed for the winter, except for its special Christmas activities. A selection of surface attractions and the Mining Museum will be open for visitors to explore, but guided tours are not operating through the winter period…

Chefs from Wales, Belgium and Austria will put their culinary skills to the test when they compete in the Battle for the Dragon contest at the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) in February, 2019. [aoa id=”1″] Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) president Arwyn Watkins has confirmed that Wales will be represented by a team from the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport led by executive head chef Michael Bates. Belgium will be sending its national junior team, which competes in the Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg in November, while Austria will be represented by a regional team. The winners will receive the…

Sainte Adresse – the brand new apartment development currently being constructed in Penarth – will be launching its website tomorrow (14th) to coincide with Monet’s birthday – who the building was named after.

Following mild temperatures this week, the Met Office has warned of a sharp drop next week.