Author: Rhys Gregory

Construction has officially begun on Pembrokeshire County Council’s latest school building project. A ‘Turf-Cutting’ ceremony was held on Monday 29th July, at the site of Portfield School in Haverfordwest. Held to mark the formal start of construction works, the traditional ceremony is thought to bring luck to the £28.8m project which is being funded by the Welsh Government through its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, and Pembrokeshire County Council. The redevelopment of the school, which will include the replacement of the current “lower school” building, and the refurbishment of the school’s sixth form centre, is due for completion in the…

A huge mural featuring the history and heritage of Rhondda Cynon Taf has been created and will be on display at Pentref Rhondda Cynon Taf (the Rhondda Cynon Taf Village) at this year’s National Eisteddfod in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd. And there’s an opportunity for Eisteddfod attendees to get involved in bringing this mural to life by colouring it in over the course of the event. The 15ft x 5ft mural has been created by Sion Tomos Owen, a Treorchy based artist, author and TV and Radio presenter. The mural features the beautiful scenery of Rhondda Cynon Taf and…

Fochriw Primary School is proud to announce that it has received the approved title of “Best School in Wales for Teaching Welsh History” by the Welsh Heritage School Association. This award, sponsored by the renowned Moondance Foundation, is accompanied by a prize of £500. The award recognises Fochriw Primary School’s exceptional dedication to teaching Welsh heritage, particularly through an innovative enquiry-based approach to humanities. By integrating the rich history of coal mining into its curriculum, the school fosters a profound appreciation and understanding of Welsh heritage among its students. Headteacher, Sharon Pascoe shared her excitement: “Receiving the Welsh Heritage award…

UK timber specialist Premier Forest Products has further expanded its product offering with the launch of a new range of acoustic fence panels. Manufactured in the UK, the fence panels, which have been tested and rated to achieve a noise reduction of 26 decibels (dB), are suitable for residential, commercial and public sector properties. The panels have been designed and engineered to reflect sound from motorways, roads, railways and other noisy environments, significantly reducing the impact of noise pollution. Measuring from 1.8m high, the panels are anti-climb to deter intruders and provide an extra level of privacy for properties. The…

Business confidence in Wales was the joint-highest of any UK nation or region in July, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.  Companies in Wales reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 24 points at 62%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up 14 points to 62%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 62% (vs. 43% in June) – the joint-highest reading in July, alongside the East Midlands (62%).   A net balance of 45% of businesses in the region also expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up…

A 28-year-old man who intentionally strangled and stalked his ex-partner her has been jailed. Dylan Parry Jones, of Crystal House, Barmouth, made threats to “terrorise” her, stood outside her friend’s home and told him he would kill himself if she did not get back together with him. He would also call her continuously and made threats of violence towards her and her family. Jones appeared at Llandudno Magistrates Court for sentencing on Friday, July 26th, during repairs at Caernarfon Crown Court. He was jailed for a total of 22 months and given a three-year restraining order covering the victim. Following…

As the country finally basks in some summer sunshine, Dogs Trust, with centres in Cardiff and Bridgend, has issued a reminder to dog owners that there is no safe amount of time to leave dogs alone in a car during the hot weather – even a few minutes could prove to be fatal. The nation’s largest dog welfare charity is warning owners that the temperature inside a car could rise to dangerously high levels in just a few minutes, leading to any dogs inside the car suffering with heatstroke. In some cases, heatstroke can lead to the death of the…

Running enthusiast Paul Thomas is warming-up for a second successful year in business with the help of two separate micro loans from the Development Bank of Wales. Based on Pontmorlais high street in Merthyr Tydfil, award-winning Sole Mate is a specialist independent running store that was set-up in March 2023. An initial loan of £50,000 from the Development Bank helped fund the fit-out and purchase of initial stock. A second investment of £25,000 is now being used to expand the floor space with a wider range of stock, including Adidas. Sole Mate was named as the winning independent sports retailer…

Fonmon Castle near Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan has launched a new snail race game for visitors. The game commemorates the incredible story of how one of the castle’s previous owners, Robert Jones III, lost Barry Island in a snail race. Robert Jones was responsible for some major redevelopments of Fonmon Castle in the 18th Century, including the addition of render and battlements. At the time, the family owned a significant amount of land in the Vale of Glamorgan. However, their estate reduced in size after Robert bet on the wrong snail in a snail race, losing Barry Island…

A “heroic” footballer is aiming to compete in the first ever Transplant Football World Cup after his sister gave him one of her kidneys. Rhys Owen is a member of the Wales Transplant Team, which is raising money so it can compete in the international competition that will be held in Italy in September. The 37-year-old investment analyst for wealth management firm Quilter, who lives in Bangor, and is originally from Connah’s Quay, was able to have a kidney transplant four years ago thanks to an organ donation by his loving younger sister Hannah Kennedy, 29. The father of 3 has described…