Author: Rhys Gregory

Thousands of runners and spectators took to the streets of the Welsh capital for the 21st edition of the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon. It was the event’s biggest yet with more than 29,000 people signed up to take part across the junior races on Saturday and Sunday’s main event – including elites, fancy dress runners and those running to raise money for charity. The event attracted a strong elite field with both Patrick Mosin and Miriam Chebet completing a Kenyan clean-sweep in the Men and Women’s races. The 24-year-old Mosin surged away from 2023 champion Vincent Mutai to take his…

Penderyn Distillery, the pioneer that revived Welsh whisky after a century-long hiatus, is proud to announce its leading role in the first-ever Wales Whisky Festival. Set to take place from November 1-3, 2024, at the St George’s Hotel in Llandudno, North Wales, this groundbreaking event marks a significant milestone in the resurgence of Welsh whisky. Stephen Davies, CEO of Penderyn Distillery, says, “We are thrilled to spearhead this historic festival, which not only showcases the exceptional quality of Welsh whisky but also celebrates our nation’s rich distilling heritage. The Wales Whisky Fest 2024 is a testament to how far we’ve…

A Gwynedd-based fruit and veg wholesaler is set to go even greener following the installation of new solar panels at its warehouse, thanks to a £60,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales. Bwydydd Oren Foods provides fresh produce to businesses, local authorities and retail customers throughout north and mid Wales, from its warehouse on the Griffin Industrial Estate near Penrhyndeudraeth. Started in Criccieth by couple Dei and Cheryl Jones in the early 1980s, and originally called DJ Fruit, the business has since grown through acquisitions and reputation. Now run by their son Gethin, Bwydydd Oren Foods operates across north…

On 26th September, Creative Swansea proudly launched a newly established network for creative professionals working across Swansea ¾ welcoming established businesses and freelancers alongside start-ups and aspiring creative professionals. The network brings together creative industry leaders: the launch event included a panel discussion, sharing advice and seeking feedback on how to sustain and grow the creative sector across Swansea’s ‘travel to work’ area. Creative Swansea is being funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by the Cultural Services team within Swansea Council. With speakers from UWTSD and Swansea University, The Bunkhouse, Elysium Gallery, Zygo Media, Tramshed Tech, Grand Ambition,…

Aberglasney is set to host the Dragon Bonsai Autumn Show later this month. The two-day event will include everything from advice to equipment for Bonsai tree enthusiasts and admirers. The event will be held on Saturday and Sunday, 12 and 13 October 2024. The organisers, Dragon Bonsai Club, hope those with an interest in Bonsai trees, as well as those looking to have a Bonsai tree, will attend the free event. New for this autumn’s event is the introduction of super-mini bonsai trees. There will be a Bonsai Tree Show and indoor and outdoor Bonsai trees for sale, as well…

Thomas Gwyn Griffiths, 78, from Duffryn Rhondda, was found guilty of two accounts of sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13, and an additional count of sexual touching over a child under 13. His offences took place across a period of two years. Griffiths’ offences were discovered when his victim made disclosures of his actions whilst in school. This week he has been sentenced to 15 years in prison plus one year on license in the community. He is to serve a minimum of two thirds of his custodial sentence before he will be eligible for parole. Detective…

Contactless tap in, tap out ‘Pay As You Go’ rail payment option has now been extended to the Maesteg line from this week. Making it faster, easier and cheaper to travel, Transport for Wales launched the scheme in January on journeys between Cardiff Central, Newport and Pontyclun. It was then extended to the Ebbw Vale line in March and following its success it will now be expanded to an additional nine stations on the Maesteg line (including Llanharan, Pencoed, and Bridgend). By the end of 2024 TfW aim to expand the scheme to all 95 stations across the South-East Wales…

A Ruthin nature space has been recognised for its contribution to supporting local nature. Llanrhydd Street Nature Space was honoured at the recent Wales in Bloom 2024 awards ceremony held at Abergavenny. Denbighshire Countryside Services alongside Denbighshire County Council’s Climate Change Team and volunteers originally breathed life into the old school field next to Ruthin Hospital in 2022, both for nature and for the enjoyment of the local community. Local school children rolled up their sleeves to help plant nearly 800 trees on the site as part of the part of the Council’s continuing effort to reduce carbon emissions and…

A striking new sculpture has been unveiled in Swansea along a section of its historic canal. More than 800 horseshoes have been used to create a life-size sculpture of a horse, which now stands proudly along a section of the Swansea Canal in the community of Clydach. Horses were used to tow barges along canals throughout the UK for hundreds of years and as late as the 1960s. The incredible piece of art is the work of sculpture Ollie Holman, who was commissioned by Swansea Council to create the piece. The latest artwork to be unveiled in Swansea is part…

NEATH PORT TALBOT Council’s Cabinet has agreed a five-year extension of Celtic Leisure’s contract to run leisure services in the county borough. The council decided in 2022 to bring leisure services back in-house but the move has been ruled out as the extra costs could have led to cuts across other parts of the council and might even have led to the closure of some leisure services venues. Trade unions have also now recognised that insourcing is unaffordable. At their meeting on October 2nd, 2024, Cabinet members were asked to consider these three options: •    Proceed with the insourcing of…