Author: Rhys Gregory

Staff and volunteers at the UK’s leading end of life charity raised more than £2,000 when they took part in a 40-hour bikeathon to celebrate the charity’s flagship fundraiser. Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal, which takes place annually from February to March, marked its 40th anniversary this year, and the charity’s team in Wales celebrated the end of the milestone last week. A total of 66 staff, volunteers and supporters took part in a 40 hour Bikeathon from 7pm on April 22 to 11am on April 24, taking on 30 minute stints across the time on  static bikes at the…

A luxury, self-catering sanctuary designed for writers who need space and quiet to work on a book, PhD thesis, blog article or other creative project has opened in a beautiful Mid Wales valley. Writer and author coach Julia Forster began welcoming guests to her Writers’ Cabin, just three miles from the village of Penegoes, near Machynlleth, in the summer of 2024. She and her family settled in the area 16 years ago, having been hunting a dream home in the countryside somewhere in Scotland, Devon or Wales. When a neighbouring larch wood was felled, Julia and her husband, Tom, acquired…

Art, design and creative students across part of Wales are being challenged to design the official poster for the historic 2027 Grand Départ of the Tour de France in which will be visiting their home country. Stage three of the famous Tour de France men’s race is from Welshpool to Cardiff on Sunday, July 4 next year. The other race stages are from Edinburgh to Carlisle and Keswick to Liverpool. Further and higher education art, design, graphics, creative and photography students living in the local authority areas hosting each of the stages can enter the poster competition. In Wales, the…

Harding Evans have announced the appointment of Scott Keddle as their new Head of Commercial Property, marking a new chapter for the practice. A Commercial Property solicitor for over a decade, Scott joins the firm from Knights, bringing with him extensive experience of advising on wide-ranging and complex transactions across the UK. Head of Commercial, Ben Jenkins, commented on the appointment “as a firm, we have very successfully handled commercial property matters for some time, but it is a practice area that we have identified as an opportunity for strategic growth. Scott’s appointment to head the commercial property team marks…

Award-winning ingredients specialists Beacon Foods has appointed a new managing director who has worked for the company for 19 years. Financial director Jeff Davies has been promoted to lead the Brecon-based company, allowing co-founder and chairman Edward Gough to focus on the next phase business development and expansion. Mr Davies, 57, joined the successful business in 2007 as company accountant, having started his career at chartered accountants W. J. James in Brecon. During his Beacon Foods career, the company has grown its workforce from 100 to 180, boosted turnover from £8m to £25m and increased factory space, supported by a…

Following an extensive and thorough procurement exercise Swansea University and Swansea Council have entered into an agreement with Freedom Leisure to operate the sport and leisure facilities at Swansea Bay Sports Park (SBSP). The partnership is a key element of a new long term operating model for SBSP which has been developed to enhance customer experience, improve performance and create a foundation for future investment and development of the facilities, maintaining SBSP’s status as a regional hub for performance, student and community sport. The agreement will be overseen by SBSP Ltd, a not-for-profit joint venture company, wholly owned by the…

Raj Kitchen has secured a landmark double award win, being crowned Fine Dining of the Year at the 10th Asian Food & Restaurant Awards (AFRA) 2025 and Asian Restaurant of the Year at the Welsh Restaurant Awards 2026. The back-to-back accolades place the Swansea restaurant firmly among the very best in Wales and the wider UK, recognising both its refined dining experience and its commitment to authentic Indian cuisine. “To win both Fine Dining of the Year and Asian Restaurant of the Year is something I’m incredibly proud of,” said Raj Chowdhury. “We’re just focused on doing what we love…

The world class countryside on our doorstep is celebrating its 70th birthday on May 9 as the UK”s very first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Back in 1956, the Gower Peninsula was officially recognised for its stunning natural landscapes, and it’s easy to see why. From award-winning beaches and dramatic limestone cliffs to rolling green commons, saltmarshes, hidden coves and charming villages, Gower has been stopping people in their tracks for generations. More recently it was also designated as one of 46 National Landscapes across the UK. Gower’s legal status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty remains unchanged…

Road users in Newport are being warned of disruption next month as resurfacing works are carried out on key sections of Malpas Road. Newport City Council has confirmed it will begin improvements in May, with works taking place across multiple dates and locations along the busy route. Overnight closures will be in place on the southbound carriageway between Pillmawr Road north junction and Llanover Close on May 5, 6, 7 and 11. The road will be closed from 8pm each evening until 5am the following morning. Residents in the area will receive letters outlining access arrangements, and motorists are being…

More than 7,000 people flocked to Caerphilly town centre for this year’s Caerphilly Food and Drink Festival, marking the busiest footfall of 2026 so far. The popular event, held on Saturday April 18, transformed the town into a lively hub of food, entertainment and family-friendly activities, attracting visitors from across the region. Organised by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Events Team, the festival was the fourth major event of the year and drew in families, couples and groups, creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the town. Visitors were able to explore a wide range of stalls offering high-quality food and drink, alongside…