Author: Rhys Gregory

Thousands returned to celebrate Wales’ biggest summer running festival at the 10th anniversary event of Swansea Half Marathon, sponsored by Swansea University.  Almost 5,500 people registered to participate the milestone event that takes you on an incredibly scenic route from the city to the sea! Others were keen to make history at the inaugural Front Runner Events city 5 miler and families enjoyed the Freedom Leisure 2K Family Fun Run. The annual event which is a firm favourite amongst the running community was a spectacle, with spectators and supporters cheering runners across the route and at the finish to welcome…

AN ENTERPRISING business manager celebrating his first year with a leading independent school reflected on a period of growth, redevelopment, and investment. St Gerard’s School has been a mainstay in Bangor since 1915, and the last 12 months has been among the most pivotal in its history. Business Manager Steve Griffiths, from Church Bay, Anglesey, revealed how more than 25 years’ experience in the commercial sector – including sales, transport, and recruitment – played its part in shaping progress at the beloved institution. A 10% rise in pupils, new sports facilities, a complete rebranding exercise and bringing all learners under…

An opportunity is available for interested gardeners to help out at an historic Llangollen home. Plas Newydd has launched volunteering opportunities for keen gardeners who are also interested in preserving a piece of the town’s history. The home of Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby captured the imagination of Regency society. Both received a stream of visitors to the unpretentious little cottage which, over the years, they transformed into a Gothic fantasy of projecting stained glass and elaborately carved oak. The Grade II listed gardens cover around ten acres of grounds from rose gardens to woodland and dell areas,…

Residents are advised that all car parks near Green Street in Aberdare town centre will remain open during an upcoming essential gas main replacement by Wales & West Utilities. The work will take place from Monday, June 10, and will last approximately three weeks in total. Wales & West Utilities will ensure that all accesses will be maintained to the three Council-owned car parks nearby – Green Street, Library and Crown Buildings. A small number of car park spaces may need to be brought out of use, but the work is not expected to cause any additional disruption.

Caerphilly County Borough Council has announced plans to amend its Residents’ Parking Policy, following a consultation with permit holders. The changes were unanimously endorsed at a meeting of the Council’s Cabinet held on 5th June.  During the meeting Cabinet members were presented with results from a recent consultation exercise carried out with all resident parking permit holders in the borough. Cabinet members agreed with proposals to change the times of operation of the Residents’ Parking Policy to Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm (formerly Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm).  The times of operation of all existing schemes in the…

More than 200,000 people accessed new NHS services developed through the Welsh Government’s pioneering Six Goals programme as an alternative to emergency department care or admission to hospital last year. Now starting its third year, the programme will focus on reducing ambulance handover delays and the longest waits in Wales’ emergency departments. Despite record demand on urgent and emergency care in Wales, the new services created across Wales as part of the Six Goals for Urgent and Emergency Care programme have helped to ensure more people are receiving the right care for their needs, from the right healthcare professional at…

A family based in West Wales is set to take on a 1000-mile cycling challenge in June inspired by seven-year-old Eliza, who was recently diagnosed with epilepsy. Led by Martin, Eliza’s grandfather, the family and close friends are undertaking the challenge to raise awareness of the condition and funds for the Epilepsy Research Institute. Martin, a retired company director, devised the fundraiser after conversations with friends who were unaware about the impact of the condition. “As a family we felt we had to do something to raise awareness of epilepsy,” said Martin. “We didn’t recognise the initial signs of epilepsy…

A leading civil engineering firm has been appointed to deliver crucial multi-million-pound coastal defence improvements in North Wales. Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK is utilising its expertise on the £13m Kinmel Bay development after being engaged by Conwy County Borough Council following a competitive tender process. The Ruthin-headquartered company will procure and import up to 80,000 tonnes of rock armour, sourced from North Wales quarries, to strengthen the current revetment between Towyn and Kinmel Bay. Jones Bros will also raise just under 2km of existing sea wall by 500-750mm and replace two floodgates aspart of plans to minimise the impact of…

An international conference, which will provide an opportunity to explore the real effects of legislating in favour of languages in Wales and beyond will be held in Cardiff this week (10 –11 June). The International Association of Language Commissioners (IALC) will this year be celebrating its 10th anniversary with Wales being one of the founding members. As well as practical sessions sharing the experience of Welsh institutions there will be contributions by international speakers such as Raymond Théberge, Commissioner of Official Languages, Canada, Dr Fernand de Varennes, Former UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues and Séamas Ó Concheanainn, Ireland’s newly appointed Language…

A sports loving computer whizz who has cerebral palsy is on a mission to become a horse and carriage driving UK champion. Matt Palamarczuk, 39, of Gresford, near Wrexham, is already on triumphant form after being selected to enter the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) National Championships in Hartpury, Gloucestershire, this summer. He is one of just three riders whose names were put forward to go through to National level following stunning performances at the regional heat qualifiers at the end of April. The heats were at the Shropshire-based Cavalier Centre where Matt regularly trains. Matt, who works as…