Author: Rhys Gregory

In December 2018, Ceredigion Youth Service and the County Council’s Economy and Regeneration team called on young people, aged between 8-25, to help spruce up an area along Aberystwyth Promenade by sharing their creative ideas. An area which regularly attracts vandalism, on the upper level of the shelter has now been replaced with a large, colourful mural reflecting the heritage of Aberystwyth, and what Aberystwyth means to young people. The response to the design competition was fantastic and the Youth Service received a whole host of imaginative designs, with a panel of judges choosing four winners. The panel enjoyed elements…

Acclaimed arts authority Karen MacKinnon is the new curator of Swansea’s prestigious Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. She joins Swansea Council’s city centre venue from her role as Director and Curator of internationally recognised contemporary arts body Artes Mundi. Karen, whose career includes a previous role at the Glynn Vivian, replaces Jenni Spencer-Davies who has retired. Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “We are thrilled to have a curator of Karen’s calibre leading the Glynn Vivian. “The gallery is a major arts venue for our city and Wales; both are brimming with creative opportunity and…

Detectives investigating an attempted murder are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Officers would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed an assault which took place in North Walk, Barry, shortly after 12.20am on January 23. Anyone with any information, who has not yet spoken with officers, are asked to call 101 quoting reference number 1900026978 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Two people have been charged with attempted murder in connection with this incident and will appear at Cardiff Crown Court later this month. Ian Huggins, aged 18, of Barry, and a 17-year-old, have both…

A police chief is urging company bosses in North Wales to follow the example of the Timpson shoe and watch repair chain by giving offenders a second chance. According to North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Arfon Jones, recruiting people with convictions can have a positive impact on their businesses by giving them access to a new talent pool. Mr Jones’s comments came during an address to the North Wales Business Club at the Quay Hotel and Spa in Deganwy. The commissioner pointed to the success of companies like Timpsons who employ ex-offenders and he urged bosses not to adopt…

Nile Rodgers has celebrated decades of success both as an artist and producer; has been inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and in recent years, has collaborated with Daft Punk, Avicci and Sigala. CHIC and Rodgers have a string of top 10 pop hits to their name, including Everybody Dance, Le Freak, I Want Your Love, Dance, Dance, Dance and Good Times. Their one-off gig at Cardiff Castle is being organised by the same team behind the DEPOT venue on Dumball’s Road. It will take place on Friday 12th July, the night before DEPOT in the Castle – Cardiff’s…

Nominated by local mum Emma Rees, Emma Thomas has been honoured as Emma’s Diary Mums’ Midwife of the Year 2019 for the Wales region. The prestigious award is one of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Annual Midwifery Awards, recognising the incredible work done by exceptional midwives across the country. Midwives play such a critical role in so many mums’ lives and the Emma’s Diary Mums’ Midwife of the Year Award enables them to pay a heartfelt tribute to their own special midwife who truly surpassed what was expected of them. After nine years of infertility, seven rounds of IVF…

The importance of vocational qualifications to the Welsh economy was emphasised at the launch of this year’s VQ Awards in Wales at the Senedd in Cardiff. [aoa id=”1″] Speakers called for vocational qualifications to have parity of esteem with academic qualifications and for the Welsh Government to continue prioritising investment in the sector. Iestyn Davies, chief executive of ColegauCymru/CollegesWales, said Wales was one of the remaining parts of the world where there had been a reluctance to recognise the value of vocational qualifications. Academic qualifications had hogged the limelight when young people were considering a career path. However, he believed…

Far-reaching and significant changes to the Football Association of Wales’ (FAW) Rules have been ratified by the Members of the Association. The Rule changes, brought about by recommendations made by the FAW Council to reform its Governance structures, will modernise and streamline the way in which decisions are made on important matters across Welsh football. On Thursday, 29thof January, at the ‘Special General Meeting for the Consideration of the Rules of the FAW’ there was an overwhelming support by FAW Members in favour of the proposed FAW Rule changes. These historic changes relate to the FAW governance structure as well…

The first NHS Wales cancer patient to receive proton beam therapy in Wales has started treatment at the Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales in Newport. The Newport centre is approved by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) to provide high energy proton beam therapy to adult patients referred from the NHS in south Wales. Professor Roger Taylor, Senior Clinical Advisor and Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales, said: “The availability of proton beam therapy at a local clinic is an important step forward in cancer care in the UK and we are pleased to be…

The team at Llechwedd Slate Caverns is rebranding their iconic multi-adventure visitor attraction – one of the pioneers of North Wales’s reinvention as the adventure capital of Europe – to Slate Mountain / Mynydd Llechi. The new brand follows a recent £1.65m investment into luxury glamping lodges and a new hotel at the site, making Slate Mountain the first adventure attraction in North Wales to combine adventure, heritage and accommodation all in one place. Managing director Michael Bewick said: “Our new name more accurately reflects the epic scale of our new offer. From the soaring tops of our 1400ft quarry…