Author: Rhys Gregory

Operatic icon Bryn Terfel will join talented young singers in a concert to celebrate 150 years of the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University next month. The world-renowned singer will be joined by Wales’s Archdruid, Professor Mererid Hopwood, and pianist Zoe Smith on 28 July at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. The concert will include songs by some of Wales’s most prominent composers and with lyrics by some of the country’s best-known poets. Over the years, Aberystwyth University Fellow Bryn Terfel and Mererid Hopwood have collaborated on various concerts. In November last year, together with the Welsh College of…

From breaking down barriers to employment to upgrading key facilities, the numbers highlighting the success of a government-funded programme across North Wales have been revealed. The region was allocated more than £123 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), with 169 projects delivering tailored schemes across three priorities: communities and place; supporting local businesses; and people and skills. With the six North Wales local authorities empowered to make funding decisions, more than 15,000 people, 4,135 businesses, and more than 1,830 local groups were supported from 2022 to 2025. Key takeaways from the programme’s achievements include more than 500 community…

RenewableUK Cymru has welcomed the publication of the Welsh Government’s Offshore Wind task and finish group action plan, calling it an “ambitious blueprint” for turning Wales’ renewable energy potential into a national economic success story. Following last week’s announcement of two successful bidders to develop 3GW of floating wind in the Celtic Sea — and a firm commitment from the Crown Estate to lease a third site, delivering the full 4.5GW — the action plan sets out clear steps to capture the wider value of over 15GW of offshore wind potential in and around Welsh waters. It outlines the investments,…

The 72-year-old cyclist who was hospitalised following a serious collision on Dunleavy Drive, Grangetown, on May 17 (2025), sadly died in hospital on Friday, June 20. The cyclist’s name is Brad Craven and his family have paid tribute to him: “Brad Craven was from Roath and he passed away on Friday, 20 June, five weeks after a catastrophic road traffic collision. “He was a confident and experienced cyclist and was with his brother on their usual morning cycle when he suffered fatal injuries and did not regain consciousness following a head-on collision. “Brad, a retired social worker at Llandough Hospital,…

 A series of concerts will be held at Principality Stadium this summer through to August 1st. To ensure that all those attending the concerts can get into and out of the stadium safely, roads around the Principality Stadium will close at the following times for the remaining concerts: Oasis – July 4th and July 5th – 12 noon until midnight Stereophonics – July 11th & 12th – 3pm until midnight Kendrick Lamar – July 19th – 3pm until midnight Catfish and the Bottlemen – August 1st – 3pm until midnight The gates to the stadium will open at 5pm for…

A money-saving public transport offer is set to be brought back for the summer in Swansea Swansea Council’s free bus initiative, which gives the public the chance to ride for free on all service buses operating within the city limits, will once again operate each weekend during the summer holidays. A total of 15 days free travel will be up for grabs between July 19 and August 31 and everyone can benefit as long as their journey starts and ends within Swansea. The council-led travel initiative is now in its fifth year of operating after it was launched in the…

Chepstow Museum played host to Welsh Government ministers and Monmouthshire County Council cabinet members last week as part of the opening of a new gallery. Changing Faces of Chepstow is a new gallery, which was funded by the Welsh Government as part of their Anti-Racist Wales programme for Culture, Heritage and Sport. The gallery looks at the people of Chepstow from a fresh perspective, recognising that it has always been home to people originally from other places – whether that be invaders – Romans and Normans, people looking for work – Irish Navvies and wire workers from Germany or our…

The Welsh Government Energy Service (WGES) provided a record £107.7 million in grant funding to help public sector organisations deliver energy efficient projects across Wales. WGES ensures that public sector organisations in Wales are leading the charge on the journey to net zero by providing grant funding through a number of schemes to help reduce the cost of energy efficiency projects. This record level of investment was announced in the Energy Service 2024-25 annual report, with WGES providing grant funding to support 233 projects across 45 organisations, including local authorities, health boards, universities, fire services and national cultural institutions. Projects…

Carpentry can be a lucrative trade. If you’re able to build structures using timber, then you’ll have a skill that’s in high demand – and that’s likely to be in demand in the future. Whether you have years of experience as someone else’s employee, or you’re a determined amateur looking to get a start in the trade, starting your own carpentry business might be an appealing prospect. But exactly what’s needed to make a success of such a venture? Conducting Market Research and Defining Your Niche If you’re able to specialise in a particular niche, then you might be able…

The delicate balance between ensuring aging parents’ safety and respecting their independence has become one of the most pressing challenges facing modern families. As the population ages and more seniors express their desire to “age in place,” adult children find themselves navigating complex emotional and practical terrain, seeking ways to provide support without overstepping boundaries or compromising their parents’ dignity and autonomy. Modern safety devices and monitoring systems are emerging as powerful solutions to this generational challenge, offering families innovative ways to stay connected while accommodating varying comfort levels with technology. Personal safety devices like the Sensorem personal alarm exemplify…