Author: Rhys Gregory

The Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cllr Elliot Penn, recently opened a new exhibition by local artist and photographer Malcolm Downes at Art Central Gallery. Cllr Penn welcomed the artist and guests to the Council’s art gallery as the exhibition was unveiled. A keen photographer for many years, Malcolm is an active member of Barry Camera Club. He began working with 35mm film camera equipment to produce monochromatic prints in black and white. The artist’s new collection draws upon his creative photographic draws upon his creative photographic styles. Using Macro photography, he has produced detailed refraction droplet images…

Money seized from criminals is helping to develop the next batch of young rugby union stars in North Wales. Summer training camps run by Caernarfon Rugby Club  for youngsters across the region have been supported financially by the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT). More than 300 players aged between five and 16 years have attended the sessions at the clubs Morfa ground, honing their rugby skills and enjoying refreshments supplied by PACT while the town’s Tesco store chipped in with water, crisps and fruit. Police officers visited regularly and the youngsters were able to clamber into their vehicles,…

TB experts will gather in Aberystwyth this month to discuss how local, regional and national collaboration can help to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis. At a conference held by the Sêr Cymru Centre of Excellence for Bovine TB at Aberystwyth University groups representing vets, farmers, government, conservationists and academia will gather to discuss the social dimensions of managing bovine tuberculosis in cattle. Among the speakers at the conference on 18 September will be Dr Damien Barrett from the Irish Government’s Department of Agriculture, Dr Ruth Little from the UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Prof Gareth…

A new South Wales homecare business emphasising the personal touch is planning to take on 23 staff in the near future. Cardiff Care, run by highly experienced Carly Davies and Juan Goncalves has been supported by a £40,000 Fast Track loan from Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE giving the firm a platform for growth. The company is offering high quality homecare packages through Cardiff City and Vale of Glamorgan Councils, as well as private arrangements for individuals. Carly, Manager of the new business, has 17 years’ experience in the sector and was for ten years in charge of a 51-bed care…

A COLWYN Bay development has been named the best high volume new housing development in the whole of Wales. Anwyl’s Glyn Farm scooped the prestigious title at the annual LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Building Excellence Awards after impressing judges. The development will now go on to compete against 10 other regional winners for the title of ‘best in England and Wales’ in the same category at the national grand finals, held in London on January 24, 2025. Now complete, the Glyn Farm venture proved popular with buyers thanks to its combination of high quality homes and scenic coastal views.…

The New Saints FC can confirm the permanent transfer of striker Brad Young to Saudi Pro League side Al-Orobah in a record-breaking transfer deal.  Last year’s JD Cymru Premier Player of the Season and golden boot winner departs Park Hall for a fee of $250,000 with potential future add-ons, the deal is a record for the largest transfer fee received by a club in Welsh domestic football. Young played an instrumental role in The Saints’ invincible campaign last season taking the league’s golden boot, he also scored crucial goals in this years European campaign which saw the club become the…

Hay Festival Global Chair of Trustees Caroline Michel has today announced the appointment of Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens to the charity’s Board. Dame Elan is an experienced non-executive director who has spent a career in broadcasting, the creative industries and academia. She has been a member of the BBC’s governing body since 2010 and was the BBC’s Acting Chair 2023/24. She also served two terms as Chair of S4C. She was a Professor and Head of Department at Aberystwyth University’s Department of Theatre Film and Television Studies and is the University’s Pro Chancellor. She is currently the Electoral Commissioner…

Two railway colleagues who realised they were the first all female and all Black traincrew to operate a Transport for Wales train have urged people of all backgrounds to join the railway. Train driver Jamilla Fletcher and Train Manager Danielle Adams have said the found the company very welcoming and full of “fantastic opportunities”. “I’ve felt really proud working here and what I’ve achieved,” said Danielle, from Cardiff. “When I joined it was on the catering team but I worked hard and became a train manager. “I was used to working in the transport industry so I did have an…

One of Wales’ most picturesque spots is set to showcase its talents in food and drink in the Gower Food and Drink Festival on Saturday, September 7. Local charities are also set to benefit from the event that will boast a huge selection of locally-produced edible and drinkable goodies. There will also be mouth-watering music on show as well at Pennard Community Fields in the heart of Gower’s golden countryside. The event is being supported with a grant from the UK Government via Swansea Council’s Rural Anchor initiative to help kick it off for its first year and it is intended to…

Hundreds of pupils in Hawthorn, Cilfynydd and Rhydyfelin will return after the summer holiday to brand new, first-class education facilities fit for the 21st Century – as the Council and Welsh Government delivers a major £79.9m investment that will serve our communities for generations to come. The start of the 2024/25 academic year represents an exciting new beginning for Ysgol Afon Wen, Ysgol Bro Taf, and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Awel Taf. The newly forming schools have benefitted from multi-million pound investments in brand new school and community facilities, delivered in partnership with the Council and Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for…