Author: Rhys Gregory

The birthplace of Wales’s greatest ever footballer, the home of its last prince and its most famous shrine are three of North East Wales’s most iconic locations being brought to life in a world first project. A network of Digital Trails accessible to mobile phones and tablets has been set up across the rural areas of the three counties of Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham and they link goalscoring winger Billy Meredith, Welsh revolutionary hero Owain Glyndwr and healing saint Winefride. The project is the brainchild of rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd and at present there are 12 Digital Trails, all…

A police boss has hit out over the number of inmates from North Wales being sent across the border to prison in England when there’s one right on their doorstep. [aoa id=”1″]North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones says it’s a nonsense that Altcourse Prison in Liverpool houses twice the number of North Walians than the UK’s biggest jail, HMP Berwyn in Wrexham. Mr Jones was speaking after a new study showed that 37 per cent of prisoners from Wales were being held in 104 different prisons across England. All of the 261 female prisoners from Wales were incarcerated…

An award-winning builder is nearing completion on three state of the art extra-care housing schemes across North Wales which have boosted the regional economy by over £40 million and created more than 150 jobs. Flintshire-based Anwyl Construction have been engaged on two major projects for the Pennaf Group, in Flint and Llangefni, worth over £17 million in total and one for Grwp Cynefin, at Porthmadog, costing another £8 million. The company estimates that the three projects have created more than 30 apprenticeships in various construction trades across North Wales and strengthened locally-based building supplies companies. Anwyl Construction Director Tom Anwyl,…

THE time is now to put aside political differences and drive a North Wales Growth Bid that will benefit future generations. [aoa id=”1″] A cross-party approach to economic development has been welcomed by MPs and Assembly members in the region, who are fully behind the Bid aiming to secure more than £1billion of investment for programmes that will improve infrastructure in areas including digital connectivity, transport, skills, adventure tourism, and land and property for commercial use and housing. Representatives of Labour, the Conservative Party and Plaid Cymru came together with members of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board in June…

A Swansea City Centre bridal shop, which has helped to create thousands of fairytale weddings, has been recognised with a Swansea BID (Business Improvement District) Extra Mile Award for outstanding customer care. [aoa id=”1″] Chic and Elegant, based in Mansel Street, has been giving stellar service to brides, grooms and their families before the big day for more than 20 years and going over and above to help create an enjoyable experience. Swansea BID’s Extra Mile Awards were launched this year to recognise businesses of all kinds throughout the Swansea BID area whose staff go the extra mile to keep…

Residents of a Gwynedd care home are showcasing their artistic talents with a display of their work for visitors – and it has even uncovered a rare Welsh nursery rhyme. [aoa id=”1″]The exhibition at Plasgwyn Care Home, near Criccieth, run by the award-winning Cariad Care Homes, displays a huge array of work done there from multimedia images to paintings, cards and decorations. It has even unearthed a rare Welsh nursery rhyme recalled by 92-year-old Will Hughes from his childhood in Penrhyndeudraeth which was even unknown to other residents.[/aoa] Will, from Blaenau Ffestiniog, who worked for over 40 years in the…

Pride Cymru Big Weekend will be taking place this bank holiday weekend, with events taking place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. [aoa id=”1″] On Saturday August 25th, the PRIDE Parade will start at 11am and is expected to finish at 12.30pm. To facilitate this event, road closures will have to be put in place. The parade will start on North Road at the junction with Boulevard de Nantes, and they will make their way down North Road and Kingsway towards Cardiff Castle, turning left into High Street, the parade will move along St Mary’s Street right onto Wood Street,…

Festival of the Dead returns to Cardiff at The Great Hall, Cardiff SU on 9th November as part of a 2018 UK tour, with a spectacular show unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Mixing a carnival atmosphere with circus, theatre, clubbing and mind-blowing production, Festival of the Dead follows a hugely successful debut tour in 2017 with a brand new immersive and unmissable experience. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] Not to be mistaken with the Dia de los Muertos public holiday, which has significant religious meaning and many traditions that will not be happening at these shows. New for 2018, follow one man’s journey into the underworld; a story featuring…

Tennis Wales has appointed two exceptionally strong independent board members as part of their good governance strategy. [aoa id=”1″]Mike Jones has a leading role in Strategic Partnerships and Global Marketing for BP, including leading on BP’s current sponsorship of Formula 1 Motor Racing. Based in Cardiff, Mike has been around the tennis scene for a number of years supporting his daughter who is a talented tennis player and an international footballer. Jones said he is delighted to take on the role and said “I have a passion for sport and I would like to use the experience and contacts that I have built…

From 24-27 August, the Extreme Sailing Series™ super-speed, hydro-foiling GC32 and double-handed Flying Phantom fleets will foil into Cardiff Bay as the headline act of Cardiff Harbour Festival. [aoa id=”1″] Making the most of Cardiff’s perfect Stadium Racing setting, the teams will fly around the tricky and tactical course over the August bank holiday weekend, giving their all in front of the crowds of supporters lining the shore. Racing on an amphitheatre style, inland course with fickle and fluctuating winds, the crews are sure to be challenged. “Cardiff is the smallest and most intense racecourse of all the venues…