Author: Rhys Gregory

ACCOMPLISHED charity fundraiser Lisa Buckley is the new Head of Income Generation for the Welsh cancer research charity – Cancer Research Wales. Lisa has a long career in charity sector and in her last role was Head of Philanthropy at leading Welsh fundraising consultancy Richard Newton Consulting. During this time, Lisa worked with various clients including the Welsh Government, Event Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru, Clwb Ifor Bach, the WCVA and Third Sector Support Wales. Before that, she was Head of Supporter Engagement at the Royal Osteoporosis Society where Lisa was responsible for public fundraising and maximising supporter engagement, including a membership…

Mimosa Rwm, the award-winning Welsh rum brand co-founded by rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones, is delighted to unveil its festive Christmas advert, starring opera singer and recent Strictly Come Dancing star, Wynne Evans. In a playful homage to the iconic scene from Love Actually, the advert opens with Alun Wyn Jones arriving at Wynne Evans’ doorstep, holding a series of cardboard signs. These signs reveal the exciting news: Mimosa Rwm and its brand-new ready-to-drink Rwmtini are now available in Tesco stores across Wales. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcvfjpQ-ZEc Wynne, basking in his Strictly success, humorously responds, “I’m at the peak of my powers—I’m not doing an advert for just a bottle…

Hay Festival has announced 44 earlybird events for next spring’s Hay-on-Wye edition, taking place 22 May–1 June 2025, ahead of the full programme release next March. This is the Festival’s biggest ever earlybird event drop, hinting at the dynamic programme of 600+ events to come blending household names and new talent. Launching the best new fiction and non-fiction, the 2025 Festival will offer insights and conversation around big global issues along with a diverse programme of entertainment. More than 600 writers, activists, pioneers and performers will take part. Hay Festival Global CEO Julie Finch said: “Hay Festival next spring has…

New research from Age Cymru reveals that an estimated 74, 000 people aged 65 and over, equivalent to one in ten older people in Wales, will be spending this Christmas Day on their own watching TV.   The research, which helped launch the charity’s winter fundraising campaign, also found that more than one in four, equivalent to 177,000 older people, won’t be putting up Christmas decorations this year.   The equivalent of nearly 50,000 older people said they won’t see, or speak to, anyone on Christmas Day while an estimated 40,000 older people in Wales said they have no-one to exchange presents…

THOUGHTFUL financial planners have stepped into Christmas with a kind-hearted campaign. The team at award-winning Celtic Financial Planning – based in Mold, St Asaph, and London – will be generously supporting three families by donating hundreds of pounds worth of vouchers to pay for a selection of products and gifts this holiday season. In partnership with NEWCIS (North East Wales Carers Information Service) – the largest provider of carer services in Wales – director Rob Lewis and the team hope businesses in the region will join their appeal. “For many people Christmas is a very difficult time of year when,…

On Sunday December 8th DEPOT will host Christmas in Cardiff, a free, festive carol service welcoming everyone to share in the joy and hope of the season. This magical evening (5 – 8pm) will feature performances by the Pendyrus Male Voice Choir and the Hope Cymru Kids Choir as well as an inspiring message from renowned international speaker J. John. The Archbishop of Wales and the Bishop of Llandaff will also be in attendance, leading traditional Christmas carols and joining in the celebration of this unforgettable event. This family friendly event promises an evening filled with festive food, beautiful music,…

North Wales Police have growing concerns for 33-year-old Rowan, who has been missing from the Bangor area since Sunday evening, December 1st. Multi-agency searches were launched earlier this week on Monday December 2nd, which subsequently led to his car being found near to South Stack lighthouse. Searches by the coastguard and police to locate him are continuing today. Sergeant Maggie Marshall said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the South Stack area on Sunday evening or on Monday, and may have seen Rowan or a turquoise Vauxhaull Astra, to contact us. “Searches to locate him are ongoing today,…

Passengers can now experience First Class for less on selected Transport for Wales (TfW) services thanks to a new partnership with Seatfrog. Seatfrog enables customers to buy or bid for First Class upgrades, meaning they could secure the best in comfort, hospitality and customer service at a fraction of the normal cost. It’s now available on some of TfW’s most popular journeys between Cardiff and Holyhead and Cardiff and Manchester. Johnathan Jones, Head of Network Growth at TfW, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Seatfrog to offer our customers the chance to experience First Class travel at a great…

After six years as Chief Executive of Bridgend County Borough Council, Mark Shephard has confirmed that he intends to step down from the role and retire in 2025. Prior to accepting the position back in May 2019, Mark served as the council’s interim chief executive. Before that, he spent 30 years undertaking increasingly senior local government roles, the most recent of which was acting as a Corporate Director for Communities. By May 2025, I will have spent more than six years at the helm of the authority, and almost four decades working within local government, including both Bridgend County Borough…

Rhiwbina Primary School in North Cardiff are among 49 recipients across the UK to receive a sapling from the felled Sycamore Gap Tree, which stood at Hadrian’s Wall until it was unexpectedly cut down in September 2023. The National Trust made the announcement during National Tree Week after individuals, groups, and organisations across the UK were invited to apply for a sapling, marking the anniversary of the of the felling of the much-loved tree last year. Nearly 500 applications were received for the 49 saplings – one to represent each foot in height that the tree was at the time…