Author: Rhys Gregory

A woman from Pontypridd will be running the Brecon Carreg CDF 10K, in the Welsh capital, to raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms after she was diagnosed with the disease at just 33. Rachel Reed had been experiencing pains in her stomach for several months but never thought this could be a symptom of something more sinister. The 39-year-old, who works for the NHS, said: “For 18 months I was having pains in my stomach, an urgency to go to the toilet and always needed to sleep. It was getting progressively worse but I put it down to being tired…

Orchard Media and Events Group has appointed two new members to its board.  Orchard Media and Events Group is a trusted full-service independent marketing agency based in Cardiff. The agency provides a seamless, integrated offer across a combination of services delivering strategic thinking, creative solutions, and commercial impact.    Orchard has provided a range of creative communications services to clients, including Admiral Group plc, Netflix, Brothers Cider, Savage x Fenty, BBC, Aston Martin, and Qatar Airways, for the last 14 years. They also create corporate and public events for NATO, UEFA, and Johnson & Johnson, as well as programmes for BBC,…

Remarkable individuals who have excelled in sport, science, the arts, business, and the third sector will be honoured at this summer’s graduation ceremonies at Aberystwyth University. The University will confer seven Honorary Fellowships to individuals with a connection to Aberystwyth or Wales, who have made an outstanding contribution in their field. The 2024 Honorary Fellows are: Professor Sir Stewart Cole KCMG FRS, internationally renowned microbiologist working in global health Jess Fishlock MBE, professional footballer and coach, who has won 150 international caps for Wales Clare Hieatt, co-founder of globally acclaimed ideas festival The Do Lectures and Hiut Denim Co David…

Swansea University students claimed the honours at a unique challenge designed to celebrate the talents of aerospace engineers of the future. This year’s IT FLIES competition was hosted for a fourth year by Swansea University and the two home teams ended up as joint winners after a gruelling day in front of industry experts. IT FLIES is a student aircraft design and handling competition run each year in the USA and the UK and organised by Merlin Flight Simulation Group. The Swansea teams, from the Faculty of Science and Engineering  designed an aerial firefighting aircraft capable of carrying and dropping…

Estyn, the Inspectorate for education and training in Wales, has found Whitchurch Primary School to be a thriving learning community where pupils feel safe and valued. Following a recent visit, the report highlights the compassionate leadership of the headteacher, supported by two highly effective deputy headteachers, dedicated governors, and an extensive leadership team, has fostered an inclusive ethos that encourages pupils to develop as creative and independent thinkers. Inspectors noted the school has made significant strides in refining its curriculum, offering a rich array of stimulating learning experiences tailored to individual pupil needs. This has resulted in nearly all pupils,…

Working together, Brecon Town Council and Powys County Council are making sure that the small electric road sweeper in Brecon is kept busy keeping the town clean and tidy. When not being used by Powys, the zero-emissions sweeper is made available to the town council, whereby their caretaker, Alex Jones, uses it to do extra cleaning within the town. “We are really grateful to be working collaboratively with Powys County Council in this way.” Says Fiona Williams, clerk of Brecon Town Council. “By allowing us to use the small electric road sweeper, our councillors have noted an immediate improvement to…

The Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill, which was first introduced to the Senedd in October 2023, has this week been passed by the Welsh Parliament. The Bill will remove barriers to democratic engagement and create a system of electoral administration fit for the 21st century, by: introducing new pilots leading to the automatic registration of voters for Senedd and local government elections in Wales  – with 400,000 people potentially set to be added to the register; establishing a new all-Wales body responsible for co-ordinating the effective administration of Welsh elections; creating a new online voter information platform; introducing measures…

The First Minister, Vaughan Gething, has this week set out his legislative priorities saying he wants to ensure the Welsh Government is building “an ambitious future for a fairer, stronger, greener Wales.” Legislation to be introduced in the remainder of this Senedd term includes measures to improve transport links across the country, protect people and communities, and tackle the climate emergency. The programme includes: A Bus Bill, which will enable all levels of government in Wales to work together to design one joined up bus network that puts passengers before profit and helps people move away from using cars for…

The Welsh Government has teamed up with three universities to launch new degree apprenticeships in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying, and Real Estate. With the construction sector alone needing an extra 11,000 workers by 2028, the new degree apprenticeships come at a crucial time. Starting in September 2024, these four-year programmes, fully funded by the Welsh Government, will offer students the chance to earn a degree while gaining hands-on experience in employment. The courses will be offered at Wrexham University, the University of South Wales, and the University of Wales Trinity St David. The Cabinet Secretary for…

A terraced cottage in the south Wales valleys village of less than 1000 people is crying out for some TLC. The stone built end terrace house in the village of Blaenllechau, nestling in the Rhondda Fach valley, is surrounded by breathtaking views in Rhondda Cynon Taff. And with a guide price of just £19,000-plus, 20 Aberdare Road, is being sold by Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions. Angie Davey, of Paul Fosh Auctions,  said: “Although the three bedroom house does require full renovation once complete the new owner will be rewarded with a really lovely home in a gorgeous location. Once renovated…