Author: Rhys Gregory

TWO Welsh primary schools are helping to build powerful links with war-affected Ukraine through a new international education initiative.  YGG Pontybrenin in Swansea and Tir-y-berth Primary School in Caerphilly, are among four schools from Wales selected to take part in the UK–Ukraine School Partnerships Programme, a British Council initiative funded by the UK Government. The programme has connected 100 schools – 50 in the UK and 50 in Ukraine – using a shared love of reading to foster cultural understanding, build resilience and support emotional wellbeing. And the Welsh schools haven’t just joined the programme – they’re leading it. Last…

A FORMER student has swapped college life for Championship glory. Harry Ashfield, who this year completed a Level 3 Sports qualification at Coleg Cambria Yale, is celebrating promotion from League 1 with Wrexham AFC. Having signed a new contract earlier this year, taking him to the end of the 2026/27 season, the marauding midfielder can’t wait for life in the Championship, where they will face the likes of Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City. A former Darland High School pupil, he said: “I am still in shock that we have managed to be promoted three times in a row, from…

Acclaimed chef, Larkin Cen, is returning to Wales’ iconic Celtic Manor Resort, bringing his signature style of modern Asian cuisine back to where his culinary journey first took flight. Cardiff-born and originally trained as a lawyer, Larkin swapped the courtroom for the kitchen after making his mark in the finals of MasterChef in 2013. He went on to open Cen at Celtic Manor Resort in 2016 – a bold Asian dining concept that quickly earned recognition for its fusion of traditional Chinese flavours and contemporary flair. Following a successful three years at the five-star resort, Larkin expanded his culinary vision…

Big Splash, Wales’ largest free outdoor arts festival, returns to Newport this summer – and organisers are calling on local performers to take to the stage. Whether you’re a choir, dance group, band, poetry collective or a solo act, this is an open invitation to perform at this year’s event and be part of the celebrations. Presented by The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, Big Splash is a much-loved annual festival, drawing thousands of visitors to the city with live music, street theatre, dance, crafts, workshops and activities for all the family. At the heart of it all are the…

Cardiff will become the meeting place for two cultures next weekend, as the city plays host to Welsh-Hungarian Day – a community-led event marking the growing friendship between Hungary and Wales. Taking place on Sunday 18 May at Lisvane Memorial Hall, the event promises a lively afternoon of cultural exchange through live entertainment, craft stalls, food workshops, and family-friendly activities. The celebration falls around Welsh-Hungarian Friendship Day (14 May), an initiative founded by not-for-profit group Magyar Cymru in 2022 to honour the deepening ties between the two nations. Organisers say this year’s celebration will be the most diverse yet –…

A former West Wales shop for sale at auction could prove to be a sweet investment as a spacious residential property. Currently the substantial character property is like stepping back in time with vintage shop fittings and even an ancient cash register almost the same as when it served its last customer many years ago. There’s a period weighing scales, pine cladding and even the shop’s sturdy counter and display cabinet, all as it were the day it closed. Where sweet jars once stood now lined on the pine shelves are old Penguin paperbacks and other old hardback books adorning…

A man from Swansea has been jailed for his involvement in the supply of a range of different drugs. 36-year-old Lee Paul, from Brynmill, was seen jumping out of the window of his address while officers were investigating an unrelated matter. Officers then entered his address to find large amounts of cannabis and bags containing other white substances, as well as weighing scales with further white power on a weighing plate. It was later established that Paul was concerned in the supply of cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, cannabis and alazopram. He has been sentenced to three years and four months in…

Rhyl pupils have helped create a new woodland to support and protect county nature. Christ the Word pupils recently travelled to the new Green Gates Nature Reserve at St Asaph to help out with tree planting at the site. The tree planting is part of continuing work at the site to create a a 70-acre nature reserve supporting local biodiversity. All of the trees planted come from the local provenance tree nursery on the Green Gates site and include species such as Oak, Alder, Willow, Silver Birch, along with some of the rarer Wild Service and Spindle Fresh from working…

Boundary-pushing music and performance will fill venues, clubs and pop-up locations in Cardiff for two weeks this autumn as Cardiff Music City Festival soundtracks the city for a second year. The innovative festival will run from Friday 3 October – Saturday 18 October 2025, bringing together musicians, promoters, and immersive tech specialists from far and wide to create unique collaborations and unmissable one-off events. Established artists, underground heroes and breakout Wales-based stars will fill a genre-bending programme designed to thrill audiences alongside specially commissioned urban soundscapes, inspiring talks, and industry sessions. Supported by Cardiff Council, the festival will feature a…

Swansea primary school pupils now have the unique opportunity to explore the historic Oystermouth Castle free of charge during select sessions over the coming weeks. Children dressed in their local school uniforms can enjoy complimentary entry, when visiting the ticket office after 3pm on term-time weekdays. The castle remains open daily until 5pm, with the last admission at 4:30pm. Additionally, children under the age of five continue to enjoy free entry during all opening hours. This initiative is proudly managed by the Friends of Oystermouth Castle and aims to provide an enriching, low-cost experience for young learners. The offer runs…