Author: Rhys Gregory

Over 20 thrill-seekers joined Bridgend-based Bushcraft Adventures last weekend for the launch of its unique axe throwing activity. [aoa id=”1″] Based near Laleston, the adventure company which already offers archery and bushcraft activities, is giving the people of South Wales the opportunity to get back to their Celtic roots and immerse themselves in one of the hottest growing trends in group activities.  From children’s parties (11+), hen/stag activities, social get-togethers and taster events, to team away days, axe throwing is certainly a ‘different’ way to have some fun and try something new by taking a step back in time and…

The current Brexit deadlock continues to have repercussions for the Welsh housing market, affecting surveyor, buyer and vendor confidence according to the latest RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Residential Market Survey. [aoa id=”1″] While the latest survey results do indicate that an increase in prices has been experienced in the last three months in Wales, the other survey indicators are all either flat or in negative territory. New instructions to sell and newly agreed sales both fell back sharply last month, according to respondents, and surveyors expect prices and sales to be broadly flat over the next three months.…

FRANK Holmes, Chair of the Cardiff Capital Region’s Economic Growth Partnership, has been honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Finance in Wales award at the Finance Awards Wales 2019, hosted by Recruit 121 Finance & Accounting. [aoa id=”1″] Frank Holmes’ leadership skills, financial expertise and his focus on the wider community made him stand out to this year’s judges’ panel. He was particularly celebrated for his contribution to South East Wales, taking on a key role as Chair of the CCR’s Economic Growth Partnership in November 2017. Frank oversees the £1.2bn City Deal investment programme, looking for investment opportunities from…

A REVOLUTIONARY pet store and park complex is helping an international detection dog company in the war against drugs and terrorism. [aoa id=”1″] Award-winning Flintshire firm Wagtail UK Ltd has joined forces with PetPlace, the leading chain of pet outlets in North Wales. Specialist instructor David Scott and his team use the company’s new-look Abergele facility – including the popular park, coffee bar and cinema – to train the canines and provide them with myriad distractions during the search process. [/aoa] A former member of the RAF police, David has worked in Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, Kuwait and other war-torn…

A window cleaner from Ferndale has been jailed for stealing money from an 86 year-old woman who suffers from Dementia. Mathew Benjamin Lewis, 33, was sentenced to five years at Merthyr Crown Court on Wednesday, 10th April, 2019, after he pleading guilty to two counts of burglary. He was caught red handed by family members who had installed CCTV in their elderly mother’s house after becoming suspicious of Lewis’ visits. The victim who is 86 years-old, was a Dementia sufferer who had no concept of money or time. A year before his arrest, Lewis was told by the family not…

A brie-lliant line-up of chefs is on the way to North Wales with Coronation Street actor and award-winning cheese-maker Sean Wilson headlining a top food festival. [aoa id=”1″] Now running the Artisan Farm cheese company and with dozens of awards to his name, Sean, who played Martin Platt in the long-running soap, will be cooking up a storm for visitors at Mold Food & Drink Festival. Sean, whose range of six kinds of cheese includes Lancashire Mouth Almighty and How’s Ya Father, is also an avid chef and will take to the main cookery stage on September 22. He said:…

Three iconic World War II aircraft will bring history to life at this summer’s Wales Airshow. [aoa id=”1″] As part of the celebrations marking Swansea’s 50 years as a city, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will showcase three of just a handful of planes still in the air more than 70 years after their finest hours. The Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and Avro Lancaster will make their mark at the Wales Airshow on July 6 and 7 in front of huge crowds. [/aoa] The free event run by Swansea Council has already announced that the RAF Red Arrows will…

The Coleg Cambria student beat eight others in the Automotive Technology category at Skills Competition Wales in Cardiff. [aoa id=”1″] Kaisha, from Wrexham, had earlier won the North Wales regional title and now hopes to compete for a place at Worldskills UK LIVE in Birmingham later this year. The 18 year-old grew up wanting to become an automotive technician and is now realising her dream with the support of lecturers on the Diploma Level 3 Motor Vehicle course at the college’s new £10m engineering complex on Bersham Road. “The regional skills contest was held at Cambria, so I wasn’t too…

Budding aircraft engineers from schools based across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan have been put through their paces at a special Aero Challenge held by Cardiff and Vale College. [aoa id=”1″] The Year 10 pupils travelled to the College’s renowned International Centre for Aerospace Training (ICAT) for the annual Aero Challenge. The competition has been designed to give school pupils a taste of the various tasks involved in the aerospace engineering industry and to show the value of vocational education, with CAVC learners helping out and acting as ambassadors. A team from Pencoedtre High Schools won the contest, retaining…

Penrhyn Choir is set to perform on the site where it all began, over 130 years after the choir was founded. [aoa id=”1″] The choir will take to the stage at ZipRoc 2019 on June 15th, which takes place at Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda. The choir joins the likes of, Cast, Miles Hunt of The Wonder Stuff, Mike Peters, frontman for The Alarm, Elin Fflur and Bryn Fon in a jam-packed line-up with something for the whole family. Cor Y Penrhyn was founded in the very same spot in the 1880s, in what was then the world’s largest slate quarry. The…