Author: Rhys Gregory

The Caerphilly Big Cheese is back this month (27th-29th July) promising to be BIGGER than EVER. Set in the shadows of Caerphilly Castle, the second largest Castle in Britain, this annual FREE festival brings together local and regional Welsh food & drink producers in one of the largest travelling food halls in the country. With a dedicated cheese market featuring quality cheese producers from all over the country. A popular event with families, there are designated picnic areas on the event site for you to relax with your blankets and hampers, and take in the event’s atmosphere. [aoa id=”1″] [accordions]…

National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW), under the leadership of recently appointed Chief Executive, Gillian Mitchell, is presenting eight concerts around Wales between 27 July and 5 August – all of which are showcasing Wales’ young music talent. Formed just twelve months ago, NYAW manages all six national youth ensembles including the National Youth Brass Band of Wales, National Youth Choir of Wales, National Youth Dance Wales, National Youth Orchestra of Wales, National Youth Theatre of Wales and National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales. The eight concerts involve the Brass Band, Choir and Orchestra and members, who are all aged 13…

Two popular Mid Wales attractions are proving the ‘coolest’ places for visitors in the current heatwave. With temperatures topping 30 degrees outside, the underground King Arthur’s Labyrinth and the Corris Mine Explorers at Corris, near Machynlleth, where it’s a consistent eight degrees, provide a welcome break from the baking sun. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] The attractions, which tend to be busiest when the weather conditions are wet and overcast, have found a sunshine bonus so far this summer. “Interestingly, many people when buying their tickets are asked if they have a warm coat because it’s eight degrees underground,” said Shirley Owen, marketing…

A sports scholar and weightlifting star made a lasting impression on his Team GB debut before suffering injury heartbreak at an international competition. [aoa id=”1″] Josh Lynch, a Year 9 pupil at Rydal Penrhos, represented Great Britain for the first time at the European Youth Weightlifting Championships, which took place in Milan, Italy on Wednesday, July 25. The 14-year-old was competing in the U15 category and held his nerve in the opening stages of the competition, seeing him move into fifth spot in the standings after a 93kg snatch, which was ten kilograms more than his previous personal best. [/aoa]…

NatWest is calling on Wales’ brightest entrepreneurs to apply to be a part of the next intake at its Entrepreneur Accelerator in Cardiff. [aoa id=”1″] From fin-tech to food and fashion designers to apps, the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator has supported over 350 entrepreneurs since it opened its doors at Cardiff’s One Central Square in 2016. In that time those businesses have created over 570 jobs, raised £8.2m in investment and generated a combined turnover of nearly £40m supported by the bank. They include Cardiff-based digital innovation pioneers Amplyfi who have grown to become an internationally recognised brand within their sector.…

Cardiff nurse Liam Dando has had his fair share of being on the other side of a hospital bed. As a child he was a regular patient at the Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff but these days he works alongside some of the nurses who took care of him. And as the NHS celebrates its 70th birthday this year, he is grateful for the care he’s received throughout his life. At the age of five, Liam (now 26), was diagnosed with Hyper I.G.E syndrome STAT 3, a rare immunodeficiency disease which causes eczema, skin abscesses, recurrent lung infections and high serum…

Budding Spielbergs from three Denbighshire primary schools are working with a pop video producer to make a film to promote engineering as a career. [aoa id=”1″]The 35 pupils from Ysgol Carreg Emlyn in Clocaenog, Ysgol Bro Elwern in Gwyddelwern and Ysgol Betws Gwerful Goch have teamed up with digital artist and game developer Rob Spaull, whose credits include making a string of videos with rock star Mike Peters. The project is a partnership between locally-based civil engineering company Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK and the arts service of Denbighshire County Council.[/aoa] It was facilitated by Arts & Business (A&B) Cymru…

In the true tradition of its original motto, the Coliseum, Aberystwyth, now home to Ceredigion Museum, will host an evening of spectacular ‘entertainment without vulgarity’ on Saturday, August 4 in celebration of the Welsh Year of Sea. Taking the sea as its main thrust, the evening’s host is the ever-popular Jez Danks who takes the helm and embroiders the evening with tales and adventures of the high seas. Not only will we meet the singing pirates and salty dogs of Borth, but Jez will also introduce Phil and Martin Hugill who hail from across the waters of the Dovey. The…

Leading bottled water brand Brecon Carreg has been named the Welsh Government Responsible SME of the Year at The Wales Responsible Business Awards. [aoa id=”1″] The awards, organised by Business in The Community (BITC) and sponsored by Swansea University School of Management, recognise companies that are making a positive difference, with a clear social purpose at their heart. Selected from a shortlist of four companies, Brecon Carreg was recognised for its commitment to making a positive difference to the economic, social and environmental challenges facing Wales. [/aoa] The company, founded in 1978, is still based in the same location in…

A VITAL support service that’s come to the aid of thousands of domestic abuse victims as well as helping perpetrators to change their ways has been honoured by North Wales’s policing czar. Gorwel, which is part of Grwp Cynefin and provides a wide range of services for women, men and children who are affected by domestic violence, won the Domestic Abuse Support Award in the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Awards. The organisation helps victims in Gwynedd, Anglesey, Conwy and Denbighshire and has been run for the past 11 years by support manager Gwyneth Williams, who was presented…