Every December, while most of Wales slows down for the festive break, St John Ambulance Cymru gears up for one of its busiest periods of the year. Over Christmas, the first aid charity’s volunteers and staff provide round-the-clock medical support for communities across the country.
St John Ambulance Cymru’s Head of Response Operations, Darren Murray, who has volunteered with the organisation for nearly 15 years, says the scale of the charity’s Christmas operation is significant – and often overlooked.
“Lots of people think the summer is really busy for our events, but we are busy all year round,” he said during an interview for the St John Ambulance Cymru podcast, Just in Case: Stories from St John.
“We go straight into the Christmas light switch-ons, the Christmas markets, the tractor runs, the Santa dashes. We’re really busy with those local community events.”
The schedule quickly intensifies. On Christmas Eve, teams support community events across Wales before the Christmas Morning Swim in Porthcawl
By Boxing Day morning, volunteers are already out at iconic Welsh fixtures, including the Walrus Dip in Pembrey, the boxing dip in Deganwy and Cardiff Rugby.
“On Christmas Day alone, we’ll have twelve Falls Response cars out across Wales,” Darren explained.
“We’ve got mental health crisis cars out supporting the NHS. It doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas Day.”
From an ambulance operations perspective, rotas are organised early to guarantee essential coverage.
Darren added:
“We need to make sure those vehicles and resources are available.”
For large events – including police-supported operations in North Wales – planning can start in late summer. Many Boxing Day events are booked a year in advance.
“Some of these events we’ve covered for ten, twenty, thirty years,” he added. “Customers are already sending in their booking forms the next day.”
Darren is quick to highlight the personal sacrifices behind this work.
“It’s all down to our volunteers giving up time with their family and friends over the festive period to support the charity and the community events,” he stressed.
“They cannot do their events without us.”
When asked what message he would give those volunteers, he didn’t hesitate:
“Just to say thank you. We really, really appreciate it.”
Darren, still a volunteer himself, will be out supporting a Boxing Day dip, as well as assisting police partners elsewhere in Wales – though he hopes to enjoy some family time too.
“I’m quite looking forward to having some downtime,” he added. “We need to be grateful for the time we do get with our families as well.”
Over his 15 years of volunteering, Darren has witnessed first-hand the difference St John Ambulance Cymru can make.
“I’ve seen where we’ve had cardiac arrests and due to the interventions of our team, people have been able to be discharged from the hospital and go home,” he said. “A father has got to see his daughter walk down the aisle… a mother has got to see a grandchild.”
He also stressed that much of the charity’s impact happens quietly, at small community events or in moments that never make headlines.
“Although it only seems like a little thing, doing lots of those little things has a massive impact on the NHS and the community across Wales,” he said.
For Darren, the sense of purpose – along with the friendships formed over many years – is what keeps him returning.
“I’m still really proud of what we do as an organisation,” he added. “We may only be a little piece in a little part of Wales, but when you build that up, St John has a massive impact on the health and communities right across the world.”
St John Ambulance Cymru provides lifesaving support at events across Wales and delivers first aid training to people of all ages. To get involved, book training, or support their work, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk.
Just in Case: Stories from St John is available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with new episodes set to release every month.
Calico Dress Cymru, a Welsh community textile project led by textile artist, Menna Buss, will be one of the star attractions at the 20thWonderwool Wales weekend show next year.
Commissioned by the Museum of Wales and celebrating Welsh identity, heritage and creativity through embroidery, the project will occupy a large exhibition space at the show, held at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd on April 25 and 26.
The Calico Dress is the first daughter dress of the internationally-renowned Red Dress, a 14-year collaborative embroidery project by artist Kirstie Macleod with contributions from almost 400 countries worldwide.
A collaborative, community project in Wales, people stitch personal stories and Welsh cultural symbols onto a large calico dress, creating a collective artwork representing Wales’ past, present and future through hand embroidery.
Workshops are delivered by Menna and people across Wales have contributed to the dress.
Now, eight more Welsh embroiderers on each day of Wonderwool Wales 2026, will have a chance to contribute under the guidance of Menna.
Wonderwool Wales – the UK’s largest Wool, yarn, natural fibre and textile festival -will be holding a competition through its website – wonderwoolwales.co.uk – in January, with a total of 16 places available to contribute a piece of embroidery to the dress.
Current designs on the dress range from castles and sciences to action on climate change and migration stories. Each motif tells a story, turning the dress into a vibrant communal work of art.
“Considering the collaboration with Amgueddfa Cymru, I wanted to create a newly imagined folk costume for Welsh communities to leave their embroidery mark,” explained Menna, who guides embroidery sessions for community groups. “It’s a kind of wearable time capsule that grows, decorated with people’s stories and ideas!”
Inspired by Kirstie Macloed’s ‘The Red Dress’, Calico Dress Cymru seeks under represented, marginalised voices and those with and without experience of embroidery.
The Red Dress project provided an artistic platform for individuals, particularly women and communities around the world, many of whom are vulnerable and live in poverty, to tell their stories through embroidery..
Chrissie Menzies, Wonderwool Wales director, said:
“We are delighted that Calico Dress Cymru will be coming to Wonderwool Wales 2026 to celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary next year.
“We are particularly pleased that we are able to offer places for eight people on each day of the show to attend a workshop with Menna and embroider a motif for the dress.”
Tickets for the show and for the popular Woolschools – craft workshops which this year include willow weaving – can be booked on Wonderwool Wales website wonderwoolwales.co.uk which has been updated by InSynch who also manage the events social media channels.
Entries for a competition to design a limited edition anniversary tote bag for the show close on December 15, with the winner receiving a pair of tickets to Wonderwool Wales and £100 worth of vouchers to be spent with exhibitors.
Chrissie is hopeful of attracting in excess of 200 exhibitors, including around 30 new ones and money raised by raffles will be donated to the show’s two charities – Wales Air Ambulance and NGO Molotok in Ukraine.
To cover rising costs, the organisers have been forced to increase show tickets to £16 a day or £30 for the weekend in 2026.
An award-winning two-day event celebrates all that’s great about Welsh wool and natural fibres, attracting around 6,000 visitors from across the UK and worldwide.
Sheep Walk fashion shows, demonstrations and have-a-go sessions hosted by some of the exhibitors are regular features of the popular event.
Wonderwool Wales covers everything from the start to the end of the creative process. Exhibits of sheep, raw and hand dyed fibres, yarn for knitting and crochet, embellishments, equipment, dyes and books can be found alongside superb examples of finished textile art, craft, clothing and home furnishings.
Feature image: Menna Buss (centre) with Kirstie Macloed and Fataya Bitar who is modelling the Calico Dress Cymru. Image credit: Viv Collis.
The National Library of Wales is pleased to announce that its Volunteering Scheme has been recognised with an Investing in Volunteers achiever award.
Volunteering plays a vital role in the Library’s work, and is highlighted in the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. Receiving the UK’s Investing in Volunteers quality standard for best practice in volunteer management recognizes the hard work of the Volunteering Team and volunteers in building an inclusive, inspiring and well-supported volunteering scheme.
Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, Chief Executive of the National Library of Wales said:
“We are extremely proud to have achieved the Investing in Volunteers accreditation. It is an acknowledgment of the Library’s outstanding work in this area. Volunteers are an important part of the Library’s life, and the assessors have seen that volunteering is an activity that is deeply embedded in the Library. We greatly benefit from the work done by volunteers, as they contribute to a variety of projects. In turn, volunteers benefit from their experiences, and being part of the Library community enriches their lives.”
Mike Powdrill, a volunteer at the National Library of Wales said:
“I started volunteering at The National Library of Wales after struggling with my mental health. The work is enjoyable – and has purpose – and the staff and volunteers are fantastic company. Very quickly I increased my volunteering hours. The Volunteering Scheme offers me all the essentials for a healthy mind and lifestyle – getting out of the house, an occupation, and social interaction. The staff are very supportive and they have supported me with any issues I may have.”
As well as meeting the overall criteria set by Investing in Volunteers, a number of strengths were identified during the assessment.
The Library attracts a diverse range of volunteers, in relation to age, nationality, neurodiversity, sexuality and gender, as well as mental and physical health. This diversity brings wider skills, experience and expertise to volunteering.
It was also noted that volunteers feel well and pro-actively supported, giving them confidence, and valued by staff members of the Volunteering Team.
This Body Scrub is for anyone struggling with for rough, dry skin. It exfoliates and softens your skin as it contains Salicylic, Glycolic Acid and Glycerin. So if your skin is rough, uneven skin, it never feels completely smooth no matter how much you exfoliate or moisturise. Those tiny bumps on your arms, thighs, or buttocks (keratosis pilaris) can make your skin feel rough and textured, even when it looks clean and healthy.
So this Salicylic Acid Keratosis Scrub was created for you if all you want is soft, even, touchable skin, you can get it with this scrub. This advanced body scrub combines chemical and physical exfoliation to smooth and soften your skin, but without drying it out. Salicylic Acid (BHA) works deep in the pores to dissolve excess oil and loosen blocked follicles, Glycolic Acid (AHA) removes dead skin cells from the surface, promoting a more even texture and tone, Apricot Kernel Powder provides gentle physical exfoliation that polishes the skin smooth and then Glycerin and Allantoin hydrate, soothe and help to strengthen your skin barrier. You will notice that your skin feels smoother, softer skin with reduced roughness and improved clarity and this is just perfect for tackling keratosis pilaris. This scrub is unique because it works both on the surface and deep within the skin. The combination of exfoliating acids and nourishing ingredients ensures it’s powerful enough to target bumps and roughness and yet is gentle enough for regular use.
It leaves your skin feeling refreshed and hydrated, never tight or dry. Ideal for those who want visibly smoother and a more even skin texture all over the body.
If you are struggling with body acne on your back, buttocks, chest, or shoulders, then you are far from alone and there is no reason you have to put up with it as this body wash is here to help you. Body breakouts can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Whether it’s painful pimples, clogged pores, or red, inflamed skin, it can affect your confidence and more so when you are wearing tight clothes, swimsuits, or low-cut tops. Most people find that using regular soap often isn’t enough as you really need to target these deep-rooted issues.
So that is why Australian Bodycare have created Salicylic Acid Body Wash which will become your daily solution for clearer, smoother skin all over. This lovely wash deeply cleanses, unclogs pores and helps reduce breakouts on the body, from your back to your bum. You have no need to harshly scrub, your skin, your skin will not feel dry after use either. This body wash is just a refreshing, gentle body cleanser powered by skin-friendly, results-driven ingredients.
How to use:
Use once daily in the shower – morning or evening.
Apply to damp skin and gently massage into areas prone to breakouts, such as the back, buttocks, chest, and shoulders. Leave on for 1–2 minutes to allow the active ingredients to work effectively. Then rinse thoroughly with warm water and gently pat the skin dry with a clean towel.
Extra Tip: If you’re experiencing persistent breakouts, you may use it twice a day – as long as your skin tolerates it.
Treat with Salicylic Acid Spray. Shake the bottle well before each use to ensure even distribution of ingredients. Hold the spray 10–15 cm from the skin and apply a light, even layer to the affected areas. Let the product dry completely before dressing. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a sticky feeling. Use 1–3 times daily depending on your skin’s needs. Start with once a day and gradually increase if needed (e.g., after workouts or during warm weather).
Extra Tip: Apply the spray right after exercising to remove sweat and bacteria that can clog pores.
After the spray has fully absorbed, apply a thin layer of Body Lotion with Salicylic Acid.
This step hydrates and nourishes the skin while supporting the cleansing and exfoliating effect of the previous steps. Use daily – even on days when you’re not using the spray.
Remember: Moisturising is essential when using active ingredients like salicylic acid. It helps maintain your skin’s natural barrier and improves both short-term results and long-term skin health.
Depending on your skin and the severity of your concerns, you can expect visible improvements within 3 to 14 days. Your skin will likely feel fresher, smoother, and more balanced after just a few uses. With consistent use, results will continue to improve and can be maintained over time.
One of the many reason I love Australian Bodycare, is that they don’t believe in miracle claims but believe in making the most of nature-inspired ingredients, carefully selected for their ability to cleanse, protect and care for your skin – honestly and effectively. That is really what we all need. It’s not magic. It’s thoughtful, caring skincare you can trust.
This is the Keratosis Pilaris Scrub for rough, dry skin. It exfoliates and softens with Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, and Glycerin and can smooth away rough, bumpy skin. If you struggle with rough, uneven skin that never feels completely smooth, no matter how much you exfoliate or moisturise, this scrub is for you. Those tiny bumps on your arms, thighs, or buttocks (keratosis pilaris) can make your skin feel rough and textured, even when it looks clean and healthy. So if you’re tired of persistent bumps and dryness that won’t go away and you just want soft, even, touchable skin, this scrub is for you.
To use just cleanse your skin first, perhaps using a gentle body wash, such as Keratosis Pilaris Body Wash in your shower to remove dirt and excess oils.
Tip: Rinse thoroughly and pat the skin dry — avoid rubbing.
Then apply Salicylic Acid Keratosis Body Scrub to your damp skin. Massage gently in circular motions for 1–2 minutes, focusing on rough or bumpy areas like arms, thighs, and buttocks. Then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
Apply a nourishing lotion or cream afterwards, for example, Body Lotion for Keratosis Pilaris which will soothe and hydrate your skin and lock in moisture. Use 2–3 times per week but do avoid over-exfoliating, as the skin needs time to renew naturally.
Bonus Tip:
On days you’re not using the scrub, apply Keratosis Pilaris Spray to dry skin. It keeps pores clear and maintains smoother texture. Do not use the spray on the same day as the scrub.
For best results, use consistently and visible improvements will typically appear within 7 to 21 days, as your skin becomes noticeably smoother, softer and more even.
At Australian Bodycare, they don’t believe that skincare is about miracles, but about mindful formulas inspired by nature and designed to care for your skin honestly and effectively.
This is a beautiful body lotion for anyone suffering from keratosis pilaris and basically rough, bumpy skin as it smooths your skin with salicylic acid, niacinamide, and zinc. So if you have rough, dry patches and small bumps on your arms, thighs or buttocks that just won’t go away – no matter how much you exfoliate or moisturize? You may be dealing with Keratosis Pilaris – also known as chicken skin, strawberry skin or simply have those stubborn red bumps that affect your skin’s texture and appearance. Keratosis Pilaris is a common and harmless skin condition caused by the build-up of keratin that clogs the hair follicles. But whilst it is medically harmless, it can still feel uncomfortable, look irritating and affect your confidence, especially in warmer months when more skin is on show.
To use:
Cleanse your skin with a gentle body wash by starting your routine in the shower using Keratosis Pilaris Body Wash. This gently removes dead skin cells and excess oil without drying out your skin, preparing it for the next steps.
After showering, gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Avoid rubbing, as this can irritate sensitive, bumpy skin.
Apply Keratosis Pilaris Spray and spray directly onto affected areas such as upper arms, thighs, or buttocks. Let the product fully absorb and dry before moving on. The active acids – especially salicylic acid work deep in the pores to dissolve keratin build-up.
Once the spray has dried, apply a generous layer of body lotion to the same areas. This will lock in moisture, soothe your skin, and strengthen your skin barrier.
Repeat this routine once daily, preferably after showering, to visibly improve rough, bumpy skin over time. Consistency is key!
Important: Always Use Sun Protection as both the Keratosis Pilaris Spray and Body Lotion contain salicylic acid, which can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Australian Bodycare strongly recommend applying a broad-spectrum SPF daily to protect your skin and prevent pigmentation or irritation – especially when exposing treated areas to the sun.
Pro tip: Stick with it. Most users start seeing results after 3–4 weeks of consistent use. Maximum improvement is typically achieved after 8–12 weeks. Continue even after your skin improves to maintain long-term results.
This body lotion is more than just hydration. It’s targeted skincare for real skin concerns and designed to exfoliate, soothe, balance, and moisturise at once, without clogging pores or irritating sensitive skin.
Here are the 5 key ingredients that fight Keratosis Pilaris effectively:
Salicylic Acid (BHA): This powerful beta hydroxy acid exfoliates deep within the pores, dissolving keratin plugs and smoothing out rough, bumpy skin.
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): Helps reduce inflammation, redness and uneven texture. It also strengthens the skin barrier and improves the appearance of post-KP discoloration and marks.
Allantoin: A soothing and skin-softening ingredient that supports skin regeneration and reduces the irritation and tightness often associated with KP.
Zinc PCA: Known for its antibacterial and sebum-regulating properties, it helps prevent clogged follicles and keeps your skin balanced and calm.
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables: Deeply moisturizing yet non-comedogenic, this ingredient nourishes the skin, supports elasticity and fights dryness – a common aggravator of KP.
For optimal results, the company recommend using this body lotion together with:
Keratosis Pilaris Body Wash – gently cleanses the skin and removes impurities without drying it out.
Keratosis Pilaris Spray – delivers a concentrated exfoliating action directly to problem areas with salicylic and glycolic acid.
Keratosis Pilaris Body Lotion – deeply hydrates, soothes, and supports long-term skin smoothness.
Together, these three steps work in synergy to cleanse, exfoliate, treat and hydrate – a full routine designed to target Keratosis Pilaris at every level.
Australian Bodycare don’t believe in miracle cures, but they do believe in problem-solving skincare, powered by nature and backed by science. This Keratosis Pilaris Body Lotion combines high-performance ingredients with skin-friendly, dermatologically tested formulas to give you real, visible results – without the irritation.
We attach great importance to customer satisfaction and guarantee you the highest quality. Therefore, if within 100 days of receiving your products you are not satisfied, you can make use of the satisfaction guarantee.
100% Money Back Guarantee
At Australian Bodycare, we’ve been delivering problem-solving skincare since 1992. With over 30 years of expertise, we ensure that every product is dermatologically tested, safe, and effective for all skin types.
We have tested our products and stand by their performance. That’s why we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all purchases made through our webshop.
Customer satisfaction is our top priority, and we guarantee the highest quality. So, if you’re not satisfied within 100 days of receiving your products, you can take advantage of our satisfaction guarantee.
Einstein’s theory comes wrapped up with a bow: astronomers spot star “wobbling” around black hole
Study confirms general relativity predictions as Einstein foretold more than 100 years ago
The cosmos has served up a gift for a group of scientists who have been searching for one of the most elusive phenomena in the night sky.
Their study, presented today in Science Advances, reports on the very first observations of a swirling vortex in spacetime caused by a rapidly rotating black hole.
The process, known as Lense-Thirring precession or frame-dragging, describes how black holes twist the spacetime that surrounds them, dragging nearby objects like stars and wobbling their orbits along the way.
The team, led by the National Astronomical Observatories at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and supported by Cardiff University, examined AT2020afhd, a tidal disruption event (TDE) where a star was torn apart by a supermassive black hole.
A swirling disk formed around the black hole made up of the star’s leftovers, from which powerful jets of matter shot out at nearly the speed of light.
Through rhythmic changes in both X-ray and radio signals coming from the event, the team observed the disk and the jet were wobbling in unison, repeating every 20 days.
First theorised by Einstein in 1913 and then mathematically defined by Lense and Thirring in 1918, the observation confirms a general relativity prediction, offering scientists new avenues for studying black hole spin, accretion physics, and jet formation.
Dr Cosimo Inserra, a Reader in the School of Physics and Astronomy at Cardiff University and one of the paper’s co-authors, said:
“Our study shows the most compelling evidence yet of Lense-Thirring precession – a black hole dragging space time along with it in much the same way that a spinning top might drag the water around it in a whirlpool.
“This is a real gift for physicists as we confirm predictions made more than a century ago. Not only that, but these observations also tell us more about the nature of TDEs – when a star is shredded by the immense gravitational forces exerted by a black hole.
“Unlike previous TDEs studied, which have steady radio signals, the signal for AT2020afhd showed short-term changes, which we were unable to attribute to the energy release from the black hole and its surrounding components. This is further confirmed the dragging effect in our minds and offers scientists a new method for probing black holes.”
The team modelled X-ray data from the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (Swift) and radio signal data from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) to identify the frame dragging effect.
Further analysis of the composition, structure and properties of the cosmic matter with electromagnetic spectroscopy enabled them to describe and identify the process.
“By showing that a black hole can drag space time and create this frame-dragging effect, we are also beginning to understand the mechanics of the process,” explains Dr Inserra.
“So, in the same way a charged object creates a magnetic field when it rotates, we’re seeing how a massive spinning object – in this case a black hole – generates a gravitomagnetic field that influences the motion of stars and other cosmic objects nearby.
“It’s a reminder to us, especially during the festive season as we gaze up at the night sky in wonder, that we have within our grasp the opportunity to identify ever more extraordinary objects in all the variations and flavours that nature has produced.”
The paper, ‘Detection of disk–jet coprecession in a tidal disruption event’, is published in Science Advances.
Feature image: An artist’s impression depicts the accretion disc surrounding a black hole, in which the inner region of the disc wobbles. In this context, the wobble refers to the orbit of material surrounding the black hole changing orientation around the central object. Credit: NASA.
Support St John Ambulance Cymru with every step with limited-edition socks made by iconic Welsh brand Corgi
St John Ambulance Cymru has teamed up with renowned Welsh knitwear manufacturer Corgi to release a limited-edition pair of luxury socks in time for Christmas, celebrating the charity’s lifesaving work.
The partnership brings together two proudly Welsh organisations committed to supporting communities across the country. The charcoal-grey socks feature a playful pattern of St John Ambulance Cymru’s transport vehicles, woven in Corgi’s signature fine detail.
Corgi was founded in 1892 in Ammanford and remains a family-run company that produces luxury socks and knitwear for customers around the world. Today, Corgi holds a Royal Warrant, with every pair of socks still designed, knitted and hand-finished in their Welsh factory.
The socks have been produced exclusively for St John Ambulance Cymru to help raise funds for its vital services, including community first aid training, emergency response work and volunteer-led patient transport.
The limited-edition socks will be available to purchase throughout the festive period, priced at £10 with a 10% discount for St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers, making them an ideal Christmas gift while helping to support lifesaving work across Wales.
Sam Cook, Partnership and Relationship Manager at St John Ambulance Cymru, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to be collaborating with Corgi, a historic Welsh brand that shares our commitment to community and craftsmanship. These socks are a fun and festive way for people to support the lifesaving work we do every day.”
The socks will be sold online, at select events, and by selected corporate partners, with proceeds directly supporting the charity.
To ensure your socks reach you in time for Christmas, please place your orders by Tuesday 16th December via the following link: bit.ly/StJohnSocks.
To find out more about other ways you can support St John Ambulance Cymru visit www.sjacymru.org.uk.
This is now a pleasant open site providing about 5 acres of public open space. It incorporates 2 secluded woodland paths, both leading from Chatsworth Close down to the sea – one in an attractive dell following the banks of a stream to the Promenade.
The original much larger site was occupied by Penrhos College for Girls for over a century, before being demolished in 2001 when the current housing estate was built. For those that want to visit the main site lies between Ebberston Road East and Chatsworth Close, extended by the 2 attractive footpaths leading from Chatsworth Close down to the Promenade.
But this site is much more and has a fascinating history including the Bacon & Ham division of the Ministry of Food during WWII
The overall site would have been open fields until 1882. In that year a “Hydropathic” Establishment was built on the westernmost part of the land owned by the Pwllycrochan Estate Company (formerly Lady Erskine’s estate, which covered most present day Colwyn Bay). Effectively this was an upmarket spa, boasting both Turkish Baths and also baths in hot and cold seawater!
Despite being housed in an extremely large and impressive building which commanded fine sea views, it was not commercially successful.
Penrhos College for Girls bought it in 1895 and moved the school there from its original site on the Promenade (in a Victorian villa called Gilbertville). The college gradually expanded their site westwards and in the early 1900’s bought considerable tracts of land from the Cayley Estate piecemeal, as the owner was in considerable financial difficulties at the time.
Women packing bottles of cod liver oil into crates stamped with the words “Min. of Food Charged 10 shillings” [1]
The college had a very successful history as a Methodist foundation for girls’ education. It expanded between the wars and thrived into the 1960’s. However changing times led to it merging with Rydal School for Boys in 1995 to form Rydal Penrhos and eventually all the pupils moved onto the Rydal site in Colwyn Bay.
The school had a very interesting history in the Second World War. The girls and staff were given 10 days to get out and the buildings were taken over by the Ministry of Food which had been evacuated from London and took over much of Colwyn Bay.
The school was evacuated to Chatsworth House, the stately home in Derbyshire and country seat of the Duke of Devonshire. Whilst this provided a very grand setting for the girl’s continuing education, it was also extremely cold for them in winter as the heating was very limited with war time rationing.
The school buildings now occupied by the Ministry of Food housed the Bacon and Ham Division, the Agricultural Planning Branch and also the Strategic Planning section. This latter was very important – it arranged and coordinated the immediate next day supplies of bread and milk to cities and towns after they had been bombed and lost their normal supply networks.
Today the site presents a much more peaceful appearance, with an attractive housing estate and impressive amount of linked open space for the community to enjoy and walk in.
The Penrhos College buildings were demolished in 2001 when the current housing estate was built. Several features from the former college have been retained, including the weather vane (overlooking the sea) and the top of the tower from the main school building (now located in the centre of the main site facing Ebberston Road East).
There is also a heritage display board on the main footpath through the site giving details of the history of the school.
As ever when looking at the history of any place there are anecdotes that relate to it and we could not resist adding this foot note about the local home guard.
The Home Guard
A benefit of the substantial recruitment into the Home Guard was the release of the army to perform its regular duty. Local men living in North Wales who for various reasons were unable to enlist in the services contributed by enrolling in the Home Guard.
There would be branches in every district, comprised of men perhaps too old for conscription. Originally named the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV), they were sometimes called ‘Look, Duck and Vanish’. Denbighshire was fortunate in having experienced men who had served in the First World War.
The Home Guard [2]
Lieutenant-Colonel John R.Williams was an example, and one of the first to join. He had joined the 4th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers when the First World War broke out. Commissioned as a second lieutenant, he had served in Rouen, Messines, Passchendaele and Ypres. Others had fought in Flanders and in the Boer War. Williams transferred to the RAF in 1918 and became education officer of the squadron. After the war, he qualified as a solicitor.
Other local solicitors also joined the LDV on the outbreak of the Second World War. Major A. I. Edwards-Evans was organiser at Colwyn Bay, Captain Arthur Hughes was responsible for the enrolment in Colwyn Bay, J. D. H. Osborn was in charge at Betws-yn-Rhos and John Williams was lieutenant-colonel in charge of Abergele. His Home Guard regiment’s motto was Wastad yn Barod (Always Ready) and they tried to live up to it.
The Ministry of Food had its own Home Guard company, which became affectionately known as ‘Bureaucrats in Battledress’. There were strategically important defence positions – at the headland and the main line railway between Holyhead and Euston. Companies A, B, C, D and E, were set up to cover local geographic areas and when the Ministry of Food came, F company was formed under the command of Major Lawrence, until Lachlan MacLean, OBE, a principal assistant secretary arrived from London in September. Many who arrived in July 1940 had been enrolled in the London guard in preceding months.
They were responsible for guarding a section of coastal defences A medical organisation within the Home Guard was authorised in April 1941, and a medical officer was appointed to each battalion with the rank of major. Dr Geoffrey Jones was with B Company and carried out the training.
A special feature of the procession to celebrate the third anniversary of the Ministry unit was a company of Women Home Guards from the Ministry of Food. They received a special ovation from the Colwyn Bay crowd. Miss A. E. French headed the company. It was highly unusual for women to be members of the Home Guard, as researched by Penny Summerville in her book Contesting Home Defence. But, there were career women in the workforce of the Ministry, who were also members of the Women’s Home Guard. They were not only employees but also the wives of the executive civil servants who had been evacuated to the town, and some local women had also volunteered. It is evident that Colwyn Bay was a progressive area in this field, clearly due to the influence of those evacuated civil servants.
Welsh Country would like to thank the Colwyn Bay Heritage Group for letting us publish excerpts from their fantastic collection of historic news of all aspects of Colwyn Bay. More details can be found on their website at colwynbayheritage.org.uk
Traditional countryside management skills were on show once again at an annual competition.
Denbighshire Countryside Service’s hedgelaying competition returned this year to take place on the Clwydian range above Clicain.
Forty participants including volunteers, took on the challenge of hedgelaying on land with permission of the landowner, just below the hill line.
As well as volunteers taking part there was also a staff category that included entries from Keep Wales Tidy, Flintshire Countryside Service, North Wales Wildlife Trust, Wirral Countryside Volunteers, Smithy Farm and Bodfari Environmental and teams from Denbighshire’s various countryside areas, together laying a total of 140 metres of hedgerow.
Denbighshire’s Countryside Service regularly lays hedges with the support of volunteers and to help them learn the skills, right throughout the county to support local nature.
They carry out the traditional skill to rejuvenate the hedgerows by partially cutting and laying the stems at an angle to encourage regrowth and fill gaps in the hedge.
This countryside management skill was widely used by farmers and landowners as part of their winter boundary managing efforts. Mechanical hedgerow maintenance then took over, but studies have shown how much more effective this older method is for the much-needed regeneration of hedgerows.
As the hedges become fresher and younger in appearance, this technique also allows the hedgerow base to thicken providing a denser habitat for biodiversity to thrive.
The results are included below and Cllr Barry Mellor, Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, and Biodiversity Champion presented the prizes.
Results
Volunteers category
1st Peter Martin & Ann Shaw
2nd Mal Edwards & Matt Jones
3rd Ed Howath & Huw
4th Fiona & Mary , joint with Terry Parry & Roger Jones
Staff category
1st Rich Masson
2nd Phil Lewis
3rd Sasha Taylor & Vitor Evora
4th Imogen Hammond & Saul Burton, joint with Geraint Hughes and Richard
Senior Ranger Jim Kilpatrick said:
“This was a fantastic location, and I want to thank everyone who helped make this day a great success. The event relay shows the strength of the service when we get together from each area with everyone contributing and making it such a positive experience for the volunteers as well.
“The end result thanks to everyone’s efforts looks amazing and will really help biodiversity in this part of the Clwydian Range.”
Cllr Barry Mellor added:
“The skills on show at this annual event are fantastic and really help keep this traditional land management skill alive for present and future generations.
“Hedgerows are essential habitats for our local wildlife and well done to all for getting stuck in at the competition to craft this fabulous example of skills from yesteryear that brings massive benefits to the land and biodiversity.”
An institute at Aberystwyth University is a founder member of a new alliance of 35 of the UK’s foremost research agencies and institutes launched today (10 December).
Dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of people, communities, the economy and national priorities, the group is designed to be a trusted partner for government, academia and industry to give an authoritative perspective on science, policy, and research investment.
It will also inform decisions to meet national priorities, such as growth, security and resilience, while driving progress toward net zero and UK environmental goals.
Professor Iain Donnison, Head of the IBERS research institute, which is part of Aberystwyth University and strategically funded by the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, said:
“We warmly welcome the launch of the National Research Organisations Group and are delighted that IBERS is one of the founding members. As a national capability in grassland and plant breeding science, we are well placed to support national food security as well as contributing to UK priorities for advancing scientific discovery to accelerate innovation and support clean economic growth.”
UK Government Science Minister Lord Vallance said:
“Research and Development is essential to building a better Britain. From new treatments for cancer, to breakthroughs in clean energy or developing the computers of the future, the path to a stronger economy and society will be dependent on science and innovation.”
“There has never been a better time for the UK’s research institutes and public research bodies to pull together. By aligning their capabilities to deliver maximum impact, the NRO Group will be a key part of our efforts to ensure that science and technology benefits everyone.”
The NRO group brings together many agencies and institutes that provide unique national and international capabilities.
Dr Stuart Wainwright, NRO Group Director and CEO of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, said:
“I’ve worked with many NROs over the last 25 years and have consistently been inspired by how their science improves lives, drives growth and ensures our national security. Through the new NRO Group we aim to do even more good for the nation and our people.”
The new alliance is underpinned by a formal partnership agreement and further information can be found at www.nrogroup.org.
I am a massive fan of the Craghoppers brand and would recommend their trousers without hesitation. I expected outstanding performance from these new Kiwi Pro Cargos and I got it! I love the stretch fabric on these cargos as they don’t restrict your movement and provide comfort all day long, no matter how active you are. But the fabric is also rather clever as it has inbuilt sun protection as well as a splash proof H2OShield finish, plus you’ll find this fabric is very easy care and quick drying too. The trousers are an active mid-rise fixed waist fit and the heel area has tape reinforcement, plus there are 4 pockets in total, including 2 that are zipped. The low-profile cargo pockets obviously offer you extra storage, but these pockets aren’t bulky, making these the ultimate in everyday trail wear. But being honest I am no active trail trekker but I did find these cargos perfect for my daily dog walks on the beach and the zip pockets meant I didn’t lose my car keys either!
The main fabric is 96% recycled nylon polyamide, 4% elastane / with the pocket bags: 65% recycled polyester, 35% cotton
This is my summary of plus points:
The trousers are water repellent, H2OShield PFAS compliant durable water repellent finish and at least 50% plant based, this keeps you drier for longer as the fabric ensures rain and water based stains simply run off.
Also the trousers are anti-insect as they have been made with specially constructed fibres which are too tough for insects, such as mosquitoes to penetrate.
There is also sun protection thanks to the fabric’s SolarShield, that is tried and tested to give you between UPF 30-50+ protection from harmful UV rays through a combination of 3 things, the density of the fabric construction, the type of yarns used and its colour.
Finally Nosi Defence provides a robust barrier of specially constructed fibres which are too tough for insects like mosquitoes to penetrate.
These trousers would be a perfect present for any lady who is looking for a trousers that have been created by a company with the expertise of knowing how to create a comfortable and practical trouser which also looks good when worn. That is all I need in a trouser so thanks Craghoppers!
Please do check out their website for many more Christmas gift ideas.
Wash at 30 – low spin. Wash with similar colours. Wash inside out. Do not use bleach or water softeners. Do not tumble dry. Cool iron if needed. Do not dry clean. Apply heat as per care instructions if DWR needs regenerating.
Guaranteed For Life
Price: Now £44.00 – original price is £55.00
Colour: black, khaki | Sizes: 8R – 24R
Visit: craghoppers.com
Taken from their website:
Craghoppers started like most epic adventures do – two competitive outdoor enthusiasts, a few ambitious ideas and a bit of ‘I bet you can’t’ banter. We’ve made it our life’s work to travel the world for inspiration, designing outdoor gear for every adventure and environment. It’s a winning formula that’s made us an authority in outdoor and adventure travel clothing.
Constant innovation is at the forefront of what we do. Creating technologies that allow you to go further battling against the harshest of environments.
“Muddy. The weather lately has been making up for the dry summer, but we finish the year with a flourish”, said Tom Fulda, restoration project manager.
The main activities for the December work party were towpath construction, channel profiling and hedge-laying. The first two required some adaptation to the ideal approach but thankfully this didn’t prove to be a hindrance. Plans are there to be changed!
Hedge laying – end result
Each day two to three teams of volunteers worked on towpath construction in Phase 3 with separate teams positioning and fixing towpath boards and others delivering and compacting aggregate over a geotextile membrane. Whereas last month we had worked from the far end back towards the compound delivering materials along the channel this was no longer an option due to heavy and prolonged rainfall in the meantime. With access only possible via the towpath itself work progressed from the compound end, aggregate being delivered along the newly constructed towpath. Progress was so exceptional – boards are now completed all the way to Malthouse Bridge – that we ran out of aggregate. The boards are currently filled and compacted to half height. The final fill and compacting will be done from the far end back to the compound to avoid excessive tracking by plant on the newly finished surface. Further space has been created in the compound for extra deliveries of aggregate before we resume work next month.
Profiling possible
On Friday we were joined once again by volunteers from Aico who did sterling clearance work in preparation for hedge laying until rain stopped play mid-afternoon. Over this month and last Aico volunteers have now cleared a 75-metre length of brash and undergrowth in front of the hedge line. An enormous help – thanks go to them all. With the site cleared, hedge laying could commence and by Sunday afternoon 25 metres had been completed. Two new volunteers, Neil and Craig, practiced their craft under the expert supervision of Margaret – the Society’s hedge laying guru – and the result looks impressive.
Unlike Phase 3, the site in Phase 2 was not under water although it was pretty muddy in places. However, some profiling could continue. 45 metres is now ready for lining and blocking when weather conditions permit.
Drone video – from Schoolhouse Bridge to Waen Wen
As can be seen from the three previous work party reports much clearance has been done at Waen Wen in preparation for Canal & River Trust tree work contractors to come on site. They now have! A full report will be sent out separately. A small area remains which the contractors will return to before long. The 8-tonne digger spent Friday of this work party creating the required access for the tree contractors.
The drone footage was taken on Sunday afternoon showing Phase 3 with towpath works underway and the cleared Waen Wen Basin beyond.
Thanks are due to all the volunteers for achieving such great progress over the last 12 months.
Schools across Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC) have charged ahead in the fight against waste, recycling nearly 800kg of used batteries.
This impressive total comes from schools participating in the annual School Battery Recycling Competition, saving 792.6kg of used batteries from the waste stream — that’s roughly the weight of a Highland bull!
The initiative, hosted by CCBC’s Waste and Recycling Team in partnership with the European Recycling Platform UK (ERP) encourages pupils, parents, and staff to collect and recycle domestic batteries throughout the school year.
The competition splits schools into small, medium, and large categories, with prizes awarded to the top recyclers in each group. This year’s overall winner and 1st place in the small school category was Llanfabon Infants, who alone recycled an incredible 330kg of batteries!
Other winning schools included:
Glyn Gaer Primary
Ystrad Mynach Primary
Cwmaber Junior
Pengam Primary
Ty Sign Primary School
The competition aims to help the county meet its recycling targets, reduce waste and carbon emissions, and most importantly, inspire the next generation to think green.
Cllr Chris Morgan, Cabinet Member responsible for waste and recycling said:
“Congratulations to all winners of this year’s battery recycling competition and well done to all pupils, parents and staff who have been involved in helping to collect and recycle a staggering number of batteries again this year!”
The competition will return for the 2025/2026 school year, with participating schools receiving a free battery collection box. Pupils will be encouraged to bring in batteries from home—including AA, AAA, button cells, tool power packs, and mobile/laptop batteries. Winners will be those who collect the most by weight, proportionate to school size, and will receive exciting prizes.
Young people from 1st Johnston Scout Group spent their Saturday morning making a positive difference in their community by planting around 1,000 purple crocus corms in Withybush Woods, Haverfordwest, as part of a global movement to help eradicate polio.
The planting session contributes towards the Group’s Community Impact work and for many of those taking part, it offered the chance to take local action linked to a global cause.
The purple crocuses carry an important message. They represent a worldwide effort to end polio, a virus that mainly affects children under the age of five. Polio can lead to paralysis, breathing difficulties and in some cases, death. Routine vaccinations mean young people in the UK are protected, but the virus remains present in parts of the world. Until polio is eliminated everywhere, children everywhere remain at risk.
The colour choice is deeply symbolic. During mass vaccination campaigns in some parts of the world, children’s fingers are marked with purple ink once they receive the vaccine. This is an easy visual way for health workers to track progress. When the crocuses bloom in spring, they will stand as a reminder of the children still waiting for the vaccine.
This planting was delivered in partnership with the Rotary Club of Haverfordwest who supplied the corms through a national initiative, where donations support vaccination programmes backed by the World Health Organisation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary International and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
Simon Preddy, Group Lead Volunteer said:
“As we head into Christmas, the Scouts wanted to do something that gives back. Planting these corms is a small act, but the message behind it is powerful. When the flowers appear, they’ll remind us that even local efforts can support children across the world.”
Now tucked safely beneath winter soil, the crocus corms will wait for spring, ready to bloom into a field of purple hope.
A simple gesture of care, community, and the belief that every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy and a meaningful way to mark the season of giving.
Are you struggling with rough, bumpy skin that never feels smooth, despite exfoliating and then lathering on lots of moisturiser? Do you have small, red or skin-coloured bumps on your arms, thighs or buttocks that won’t go away? If that is what you are struggling with then you’re likely dealing with keratosis pilaris which is also known as chicken skin, strawberry skin, or KP. So if that is you then this Keratosis Pilaris spray is what you need as it reduces any rough, dry bumps on arms and thighs. It has been formulated with salicylic acid to exfoliate and soften your skin. Keratosis Pilaris is a very common and harmless skin condition which is caused by a build-up of dead skin cells and keratin around the hair follicles and although it is medically harmless, it can be really annoying as your skin looks uneven, feels rough to the touch and despite using endless creams and scrubs, nothing works. So please do try this specially developed and problem-solving super spray that has been uniquely formulated to target the root cause of keratosis pilaris and give you visibly smoother skin. It contains 2% Salicylic Acid (BHA) that goes deep into the pores to break down the keratin plugs that cause rough, bumpy texture. The Glycolic Acid (AHA) removes any dead skin cells from the surface and speeds up your skin renewal for a more even, healthy look. Then to ensure your skin stays hydrated, calm and balanced while using exfoliating acids, the company have added natural moisturisers and skin-strengthening ingredients that protect your skin barrier. This spray has been inspired by nature and has been vegan and dermatologically tested.
How to Use:
Cleanse your skin. Start by washing the affected area – such as your upper arms, thighs, or buttocks – with a gentle body cleanser like our Body Wash to remove sweat, oil, and dead skin.
Pat your skin dry. Gently towel-dry the skin. Make sure it’s completely dry before applying the spray.
To apply the spray, shake the bottle and spray a thin, even layer directly onto the targeted area. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. Do not rinse off – let the product absorb naturally.
Use once daily. For best results, apply the spray once a day, preferably in the evening, to allow the active ingredients to work overnight.
Follow with moisture. Once the spray has absorbed, follow up with a hydrating body lotion, such as their Australian Bodycare’s Body Lotion which will seal in moisture and support your skin barrier.
To get the best results, use a complete routine. For optimal results, the company recommend using this spray alongside other body products from Australian Bodycare. Start with the Body Wash to gently cleanse your skin, then apply the Keratosis Pilaris Spray, and finish with the nourishing Body Lotion to lock in moisture.
Note: Always use sun protection when using exfoliating acids, as your skin may become more sensitive to UV exposure.
What our product developer says:
“This spray was specially created for those who struggle with stubborn bumps and rough skin on areas like the upper arms, thighs and buttocks. Our goal was to make something effective but gentle enough for daily use. By combining powerful exfoliating acids with deep hydration and calming ingredients, we’ve developed a product that works on all fronts. Nature inspired us, and our many years of experience helped us create a truly problem-solving skincare solution.”
100% Satisfaction Guarantee – See the results for yourself
At Australian Bodycare, we’ve been creating problem-solving skincare since 1992. Our in-house team of skincare experts formulates each product with natural, effective ingredients—always inspired by nature, vegan, and dermatologically tested.
Try the Keratosis Pilaris Spray today – and feel the difference of smoother, clearer, healthier-looking skin.
We stand behind every product with our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
Salicylic Acid Body Spray
This Salicylic acid spray is for breakouts, body blemishes and clogged pores and if this rings a bell for you, do try this spray. It contains 2% salicylic acid and glycolic acid to deeply cleanse and smooth the skin. So if you are struggling with stubborn breakouts on your back, buttocks, chest, or legs, then the news is you are not alone, but the better news is that this spray works! Body acne and blemishes are incredibly common and also incredibly frustrating. They can be painful, persistent and really take your confidence away. Even with a solid skincare routine, clogged pores, sweat, bacteria and friction from clothing can cause breakouts anywhere on the body and let’s be realistic regular soap just isn’t enough.
So here’s how to improve your skin:
Always shake the bottle thoroughly before each use to ensure the active ingredients are evenly mixed.
Start by cleansing your skin, preferably with a salicylic acid body wash so you are removing sweat, oil and bacteria.
Spray evenly on affected areas. Hold the bottle about 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) from your skin and spray a thin, even layer on areas prone to breakouts, such as your back, buttocks, chest and legs.
Allow the spray to dry completely before getting dressed. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a sticky or greasy residue.
Apply once to three times per day, depending on your skin type and needs. Start with once a day and gradually increase if needed.
Bonus Tip: For best results, apply after showering and before bedtime, when your skin is clean and most receptive. Combine with a salicylic acid body lotion or cream for added hydration and continued treatment. Use a salicylic acid body scrub 1–2 times per week to remove dead skin cells and boost the effect of the spray.
If you struggle with small, rough bumps on your arms, thighs, or buttocks that never go away, then you are probably suffering from a common skin concern, which is known as keratosis pilaris or ‘chicken skin’ and it can make your skin feel uneven, look red and often leaves you frustrated when regular body washes and creams don’t work. If this is you and you are searching for a unique, problem-solving body wash that is actually developed to target keratosis pilaris, then this is it. The Keratosis Pilaris Body Wash from Australian Bodycare that is inspired by nature, and powered by science.
This specialised body wash was developed to deeply cleanse the skin without drying it out, as it actively works on the root causes of keratosis pilaris, clogged follicles, rough texture and a lack of hydration. The wash contains Salicylic Acid (BHA), a key exfoliating ingredient that penetrates deep into your pores and gently dissolves keratin plugs and dead skin cells which are the main cause of those stubborn bumps. It will also help smooth rough patches and improve overall skin texture. Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) will soothe any redness, strengthen your skin barrier and even out your skin tone, so your skin is left feeling calmer and looking healthy. There’s also Zinc PCA which is known for its balancing and purifying properties, it helps to reduce any irritation and supports clear, comfortable skin. Plus there’s Glycerin & Saccharide Isomerate, highly effective moisturisers that bind water into your skin, ensuring long-lasting hydration and softness. Then there’s Tocopherol (Vitamin E) a powerful antioxidant that protects and nourishes your skin. All these ingredients are not only effective but they have been carefully chosen to complement each other, ensuring your skin is left clean, soft and noticeably smoother over time.
How to Use:
Apply in the shower, wet your skin and apply a suitable amount of Keratosis Pilaris Body Wash to the affected areas – usually arms, thighs, or buttocks.
Massage gently and work the product into a soft lather and massage it onto your skin in circular motions. This allows the active ingredients to work effectively while cleansing gently.
For best results, let the lather sit on your skin for 1–2 minutes before rinsing off.
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Always avoid rubbing too harshly to prevent irritation.
Incorporate the body wash into your daily shower routine for optimal results.
This is a beautiful body lotion anyone suffering from keratosis pilaris – known as chicken skin – as it contains salicylic acid that exfoliates, hydrates and helps reduce blemishes, uneven texture and dry skin. If you have small, rough bumps on your arms, thighs or buttocks, or your skin feels dry, irritated or feels tight or flaky, this is the body lotion for you to try. It is perfect for you to use every day. Keratosis Pilaris is a common and harmless skin condition caused by the build-up of keratin that clogs the hair follicles. But while it’s medically harmless, it can still feel uncomfortable, look irritating and just as importantly affect your confidence, especially in the summer months when more skin is on show.
This body lotion is way more than just hydration. It is targeted skincare for real skin concerns and has been designed to exfoliate, soothe, balance and moisturise at once, without clogging pores or irritating sensitive skin.
There are 5 key ingredients that fight Keratosis Pilaris effectively:
Salicylic Acid (BHA), this is a powerful beta hydroxy acid that exfoliates deep within the pores, dissolving keratin plugs and smoothing out rough, bumpy skin.
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), helps reduce inflammation, redness and uneven texture. It also strengthens the skin barrier and improves the appearance of post-KP discoloration and marks.
Allantoin, is a soothing and skin-softening ingredient that supports skin regeneration and reduces the irritation and tightness often associated with Keratosis Pilaris.
Zinc PCA is known for its antibacterial and sebum-regulating properties, it helps prevent clogged follicles and keeps your skin balanced and calm.
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, this is deeply moisturising, yet non-comedogenic, this ingredient nourishes the skin, supports elasticity and fights dryness.
I am so impressed with this range and what I love about the Australian Bodycare range is that they don’t believe in miracle cures but instead they believe in problem-solving skincare, powered by nature and backed by science. That makes so much sense to me and this Keratosis Pilaris Body Lotion that combines high-performance ingredients with skin-friendly, dermatologically tested formulas that will give you real, visible results, but without any irritation, so you can feel comfortable in your skin again. I am sure many teenagers who are struggling with their skin will really want to try this range.
How to use:
Start your routine in the shower using the Keratosis Pilaris Body Wash. You’ll find it gently removes dead skin cells and excess oil but without drying out your skin, preparing it for the next steps.
After showering, gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Avoid rubbing, as this can irritate sensitive, bumpy skin.
Apply Keratosis Pilaris Spray first and spray directly onto affected areas such as upper arms, thighs, or buttocks. Let the product fully absorb and dry before moving on. The active acids – especially salicylic acid – work deep in the pores to dissolve keratin build-up.
Once the spray has dried, apply a generous layer of body lotion to the same areas. This lovely lotion will lock in moisture, soothe your skin and strengthen your skin barrier.
5. Repeat this routine every daily, preferably after showering as this will visibly improve your rough, bumpy skin over time. Consistency is key!
The mid-day sun shimmered off the flat-calm surface of the sea, a heat haze rising in the distance, surrounding the panorama. The ocean was silent. The hull of their lightweight dive boat, a lonely vessel on an empty sea, slapped quietly against the few small ripples – lazily riding over them.
A weathervane chimed overhead in the gentle breeze, stopping the summer sun from baking them in their shorty wetsuits. Kelly Matheson perched on the side of the hull; her suit pulled up over her waist with only the top half of her turquoise swimsuit on show – it was too hot to gear up dressed until the last minute. A man sat opposite her on the central wooden bench, similarly dressed and snapping flippers into place. Dive gear surrounded him like a crowd of small children – cylinders and buoyancy jackets, cameras, fins, dive computers and spear guns (not for use this trip). His mask was propped on his head in familiar style – if it wasn’t reading glasses it was a pair of Oakley’s balanced on there. Darren Jacobs was putting his gear on with the smooth, confident expertise of someone who had been diving since a teenager and one who’d done it professionally for ten years in the Navy. It might’ve put some people off the sport for life but not Crackers, nor his mates. They’d spent their downtime researching and investigating, looking for the best dive-sites that there were. Places where there were no tourists with their shark cages in the search of great whites and a Jaws experience, no queue of boats to get an hour on a wreck in Egypt, no audience watching you take your turn to see Nemo on a reef before they did. They put together the ultimate dive bucket list.
They were ten miles off a tiny island in the Indonesian archipelago. Eddie, their boat captain, was fussing around Darren’s gear, securing that which he didn’t need for the dive. Wind-blown and grizzled, ‘Eddie’ wasn’t his real name, a local and the most knowledgeable dive boat operator around by all accounts, it was the only name that anyone called him – except perhaps his mum. Darren had heard about this unspoilt reef, teeming with life and corals, with energy, where schools of fish would buzz overhead, untroubled by anything other than the odd spear fisherman, where the sport fish could speed by off the beaten track of the wealthy holidaymakers. And where green sea turtles could stop over on their way to spawn. Kelly had seen a spreadsheet on his computer of over a hundred dive sites – some were only vague map references – a suggestion that the fabled reef or wreck of something was down there and had been the subject of dive folklore for decades. Who would be the first to dive on it and report back to the dive-web? There were details of map references, nearest travel hubs and local contacts if they were known (Eddie was on there), details of the dive, the depth, what was to be seen, issues for concern. The Titanic was on there, but with some laughter emojis next to it as if they’d researched a potential drive trip just as a bit of fun – but with Darren, you were never quite sure. This was the one that had really caught her eye – a site simply marked ‘turtle reef’. That was why they were here.
‘Pass me my stabbie would you, please love?’ She pointed to the purple trimmed stabilising jacket and cylinder by Darren’s left foot and finished strapping the knife scabbard to her leg. She’d been going out with Crackers for two years and they’d always talked about going on a big tropical island trip, but it had evolved into a diving holiday when she’d discovered a love for the sport in Zante the previous year.
When they’d first met, she’d been almost embarrassed to tell a muscular ex-navy diver about her phobia of the sea. She could recall being on a caravan holiday in Llangrannog age seven or eight, swimming in the shallows on the beach, not even out of her depth, but being fearful that something would come up and get her from beneath. Twenty-five years on she still remembered being wrapped in a beach towel, walking along the tarmac with sandy feet, crying inconsolably despite the offerings of ice cream, chips, and warm pubs with slot machines. The fear hadn’t changed over the years, she’d just never really been out on open water – swimming pools on holiday were enough for her. But Darren had decided to change all that – she’d become his project – and he’d taught her to snorkel, to dive and shown her the beauty of what lay beneath the surface. But despite that, as she was getting ready to get wet, she could feel the paranoia scratching away at the veneer of her more confident self, ready to expose her worst fears again.
‘Oh yeah,’ he said, discarding his fins and reaching down to pick up her gear. ‘Turn around.’ He zipped up her wetsuit and lifted the jacket up so she could slip her arms through the straps, clipping the fastening at her chest in front and tightening her weight belt. She clicked a button on the shoulder strap twice to add a couple of bursts of air to the jacket – wouldn’t do to fall over the side without her mask or demand-valve in her mouth and start to sink.
‘Sorted, thanks,’ she smiled at him, sitting back down on the side of the hull and spitting in her mask.
‘So, I can finish getting ready, can I?’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Sor-ry,’ she pouted back.
‘It’s just that, you know, you’re all ready and here’s me with one fin and one flipflop,’ he grumbled playfully pointing at his tanned feet.
‘You should try that.’ She nodded with the most serious expression she could muster. ‘And swim around in circles?’
‘Navigation your strong point now is it?’ She gave him a wry smile.
‘If you weren’t all ready to go, I’d push you in.’ She stuck her tongue out at him playfully and finished adjusting her mask. Darren bent forward to his cylinder, sliding his arms through the straps and stood up, lifting the jacket over his head so the rig slowly slid into place on his back.
In no time at all he was sat next to Kelly on the side of the boat, ready to go. He held up his hand in the ‘okay’ sign, which she repeated and he checked her pressure gauge. Satisfied, they exchanged okay signals again and, in unison, tipped backwards off the side. Her world filled with bright blue for a second and she noticed the vapour trails of aircraft cutting across the sky, before she hit the surface with a splash and was surrounded by bubbles. Bobbing to the surface like a cork thanks to the air in her jacket, Darren appeared at her side. He took his regulator out of his mouth. ‘Same as usual, nice and steady, clear your ears on the way down. Remember it’s thirty metres, so we’ll need a couple of decompression stops on the way up but I’ve got them in the computer.’ He tapped the dive computer strapped to his forearm. Replacing the valve in his mouth he gave her a final okay sign and put his face in the water.
Chapter 2
Monsters of the Deep
She deflated her jacket and slowly started her descent, Darren doing likewise next to her. The deep was a shimmering blue – sunbeams passing through the water like laser beams penetrating as far as they could reach before being swallowed up, they danced and rolled over each other like playful puppies as the surface ripples disrupted their course. Then they disappeared, a shadow passing above shutting out the light. It could only be one thing. Darren hadn’t said anything about bigger animals on this dive, hadn’t said anything about sharks as the shadow descended. Fear gripped her chest and her breathing rate increased, gulping air, becoming engulfed by bubbles. Rolling her body, she turned to look back to the surface above, expecting to see something coming – a monster that had been waiting for her, had always been waiting in the shadow of her fear – and saw the dive boat gently floating in the current, breaking up the sunlight, its shadow slowly moving away, and the light returning like a glitterball at an old school disco.
The brightness of the shallow water faded and took on a deeper blue as they descended. She didn’t check her depth gauge but it seemed that they’d been going down for some time with no sign of the reef they were diving off. But then, a school of Jacks appeared, turned as one, like a giant fish made up of hundreds of others, and shot away, startled by the strange intruders. The reef was there in front of them. Bright corals reached up in welcome, whilst also filtering microorganisms from the water column. Small crabs and feather dusters waved angrily at them as if they had upset the flow of food over their filters, or disappeared suddenly into themselves when they were spooked. Groups of Niger triggerfish patrolled the walls of the reef, darting back and forth at the drop off, and pairs of clownfish hosted anemones whose tentacles drifted lazily in the current.
And in the distance was a shadow. Beyond the corals and rock, beyond the school of pink and orange anthias, and the occasional solitary grouper, was a much bigger shape off in the distance. Kelly looked at Crackers and pointed, and he replied with a wave in that direction and an ‘ok’ sign. She swam out from the reef with confidence and excitement, scattering the immediate wildlife as she kicked hard with her flippers. Climbing up underneath the shape, she could now see the turtle up close for the first time. It crossed over the top of her – the shell almost a metre in diameter – with no fear or concern, and she ran her hand along its belly. In the distance, in the gloom, at the edge of her visibility was another shape – another turtle – and she turned away from it as it closed to follow this one. They swam side by side for a moment but the animal started to accelerate and head toward a rocky outcropping where Darren was filming. Losing her companion, she looked back at the shape behind her, which was gaining fast, and now it wasn’t an amorphous shape that could be a turtle. It was long and sleek, with a powerful tail that was speeding it toward her. With eyes only for the turtle, the shark brushed past Kelly, the shockwave from its tail tumbling her over in the water. She noticed the darker striations on the side of the fish – a tiger shark – and it was huge. As it swam past she estimated that it was nearly twenty feet long with a fearsome girth. Helpless to do anything but watch, she willed the turtle to safety, saw it bank ninety degrees at the rock wall, swimming up to the top and flipping over to disappear down the other side – right where Darren was. At attack speed and frenzied with its chase of the turtle, for a split second the shark had lost its prey. But then directly in front was another option. Not a turtle but something different and big enough to be of interest. With a slight change of course, it was speeding toward Darren, just ten feet away. With only a second to anticipate the danger he had very few options at that speed. He tried to fill his stab jacket with air, to make him rise in the water like a cork. It was dangerous and he’d have to stop his quick ascent in five or ten metres to prevent decompression sickness, but it would be enough to–
***
As its prey started to ascend, the shark only had to deviate course slightly, to raise its snout a few feet and hit Darren hard and fast in the middle, it’s massive jaws already agape, closed around him and bit down. The combination of the power and speed of the attack and the sheer size of the monster meant Darren’s body had no chance. The beast veered away from the rock wall, turning ninety degrees so it was side on to Kelly’s view, Darren desperately striking at its nose, a blood trail leaving a red cloud behind it, mixing with the bubbles from his airline. Then, with a shake of the head, the monstrous fish bit him clean in two.
St Mary’s RC Primary School in Wrexham is celebrating following its recent Estyn inspection.
Inspectors visited the school in September 2025. The report, published this week, notes that:
“At S. Mary’s RC Primary School, the headteacher, senior leaders and governors provide purposeful and effective leadership. This provides a clear, strategic direction and fosters a strong sense of community.
“Leaders set high expectations and model professional values that inspire collaboration and trust among staff. This results in a dedicated and cohesive team who work together to create a nurturing and safe environment where pupils feel valued and respected.”
The report also says:
“The school’s provision to promote pupils’ social, moral, spiritual, and cultural development is particularly strong. Adults and pupils from many cultures and backgrounds work and play together well.
“As a result, everyone feels known, cared for, and valued. Carefully planned experiences nurture pupils’ empathy and sense of responsibility, resulting in a caring and inclusive community.”
Inspectors praised teaching and learning:
“Lessons are lively, well planned, and engaging. Most pupils behave well, and nearly all show enthusiasm for their learning. There are warm and respectful relationships between pupils and staff.
“This creates a happy, motivated, diverse community where everyone is valued and able to succeed.”
A particular strength highlighted was language development:
“A majority of pupils speak English as an additional language and start at the school with a limited vocabulary. Through patient, systematic teaching and rich exposure to high-quality children’s literature, pupils become confident speakers, readers and writers by Year 6.”
There were two positive ‘spotlights’ highlighted from the visit –
Using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support pupils to develop creative writing, and;
Using professional enquiry to build a learning community through innovative professional development.
The reports concludes with the following:
“Overall, the school provides a vibrant, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment where pupils thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. High-quality teaching, a rich curriculum, and compassionate leadership enables the school to support nearly all pupils to make very strong progress, and develop the confidence, curiosity, and respect that prepares them well for the future.”
Headteacher Rachel Acton said:
“I am exceptionally proud of the children, staff, governors, and our wider school family who have all contributed to the continued development of our wonderful school.
“Everyone works tirelessly to provide the very best opportunities for all our learners and their families, and I am delighted that inspectors recognised the exemplary behaviour of our children, the high-quality teaching of our dedicated staff, and that ‘everyone feels known, cared for, and valued.’
“This reflects our shared commitment to providing an inclusive, nurturing learning environment where every child can thrive. I would like to thank all our children, staff, governors, and parents for their unwavering support and dedication to our school.”
Esther Bennington, Chair of Governors added:
“As Chair of Governors, I am immensely proud that our recent Estyn inspection recognised the outstanding teaching, compassionate leadership and caring community ethos of our school.
“This achievement reflects the dedication of our staff and the spirit of our whole school community.”
Inspectors made one recommendation following the visit:
“Ensure that teaching across the school encourages all pupils, particularly the more able, to achieve as well as they could.”
With lung conditions the third biggest killer in Wales, Asthma + Lung UK Cymru is calling for better diagnosis to help people with lung conditions get the care they need and help prevent hospital admissions.
As we head deeper into winter and emergency hospital admissions rise for people with lung conditions, the charity says many of these could be avoided with earlier diagnosis of hidden breathing conditions.
They are urgently calling for the establishment of easily accessible respiratory diagnostic hubs across Wales. These diagnostic hubs should be designed to serve the local population and offer testing to help diagnose a variety of respiratory conditions. They should use a “one-stop shop” approach, with people tested, diagnosed and referred, in a single, streamlined service.
As many as 50,000 people in Wales are misdiagnosed with asthma, costing an estimated £9 million every year.
The diagnostic hubs will not only save the NHS money but will also help someone get the correct diagnosis and treatment for their lung condition as quickly as possible, helping to prevent subsequent health issues.
For example, breathlessness brought on by lung conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or asthma, can mean people stop being as active, becoming more prone to other medical problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
There can be additional harm caused by inappropriate prescribing, which is costly for the NHS, providing medication that is not needed or worsening symptoms. Indeed, late diagnosis results in a 16% increase in direct costs per person over the two years following a COPD diagnosis.
Added to this, the Wales primary care clinical audit report 2021-23 found only 1 in 5 people with COPD (21.4%) had received spirometry (key test to diagnose and monitor COPD) in the last two years.
Analysis by PwC in Asthma + Lung UK Cymru’s ‘Saving Your Breath’ report found an uptake in spirometry testing in primary care to 40% of those eligible could save £3.2 million and lead to a reduction of 3,420 bed days occupied per year.
The report also found that if fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a test that measures the levels of nitric oxide in your breath, were made available to all GPs, its use could save
£6.6 million through optimising asthma treatment.
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung Cymru said:
“People in Wales simply aren’t getting vital diagnostic tests. This creates a barrier to accessing the care and support that is crucial to slowing down lung damage and reducing life-threatening exacerbations and hospital admissions.
“As Wales heads into further into winter, A+E departments are filling up with people struggling to breathe. Many of these emergency admissions could be avoided with earlier diagnosis of hidden breathing conditions.
“Our new report, Early Detection, Better Outcomes: Neighbourhood Respiratory Diagnostics, shows that the new breathlessness hub model offers a solution to rethink respiratory diagnostics. By offering testing to a wider population, neighbourhood ways of working can bring efficient and effective services closer to people with lung conditions when they need it.
“The most cost-effective location to deliver diagnostic tests is in the community, closer to people’s homes; something of particular value for people with lung conditions from rural communities, for those that have a disability or illness, or those without the ability to travel easily.”
To read Early Detection, Better Outcomes: Neighbourhood Respiratory Diagnostics report can be found here.
The Maelor School praised for inclusive ethos, effective teaching and strong leadership in latest Estyn Report
The Maelor School in Penley has received glowing feedback in its recent Estyn inspection report – highlighting its “welcoming and inclusive community” where pupils are supported effectively and “display positive attitudes to learning”.
Following the school’s Core Inspection in October 2025, inspectors highlighted that pupils “behave well in lessons and are eager to contribute to discussions.” Maelor Sixth students were also recognised for their active engagement and enthusiasm for learning.
The report praised teachers for their “secure subject knowledge”, effective use of language, and ability to adapt lessons to meet individual needs. Inspectors also praised the strong relationships between staff and pupils, saying “teachers foster strong working relationships with pupils and manage behaviour consistently well.”
Estyn also acknowledged the school’s commitment to digital competency and numeracy, describing digital skills as a “notable strength” with clear progression mapped across the curriculum. Estyn have invited the school to produce a case study on this work, which will be published on Estyn’s website.
Leaders were commended for their thoughtful approach to curriculum planning, effective collaboration with primary schools, and provision of enriching activities that broaden pupils’ experiences.
There was also praise for the school’s Resource Provisions, which provide “a calm and supportive environment where pupils feel safe and happy.” In addition, the school’s Additional Learning Needs (ALN) team was praised for its dedication to improving outcomes for all learners.
Leadership was praised throughout the report. New Headteacher Leanne Eyre provides “strategic, dynamic and thoughtful leadership”. Inspectors found that she has “managed change effectively” and “ensures pupils remain at the centre of the school’s work.” In addition, senior leaders were described as having “developed a culture of collaboration, reflection and accountability across the school” as well as prioritising national education goals effectively.
In addition, governors were praised for effective support and challenge and managing the school’s budget with diligence, even in demanding times.
The school has been given four recommendations to focus on:
Continue to work towards reducing the budget deficit.
Ensure that all leaders, particularly middle leaders, evaluate provision by its impact on pupils’ learning.
Improve rates of whole school attendance.
Strengthen the provision for the progressive development of pupils’ literacy skills, in particular their advanced reading skills.
Headteacher Leanne Eyre said:
“I am incredibly proud of our school community. This report reflects the dedication and teamwork of our staff, the enthusiasm of our pupils, and the unwavering support of families, primary partners, and governors. It is wonderful to see Estyn recognise the positive impact of recent developments and our commitment to continuous improvement.
“We are excited to build on this strong foundation and ensure The Maelor School continues to thrive and grow as an inclusive, ambitious, and supportive environment for every pupil.”
Chair of Governors, Cora Suckley, said:
“We are delighted with the findings of this Estyn report, which reflects the hard work and commitment of everyone involved with The Maelor School. Our governors are proud to support a school that places pupils at the heart of everything it does and continues to strive for excellence.
“This recognition is a testament to the collaborative effort of staff, students, families, and the wider community. We look forward to building on these successes and supporting the school’s ambitious plans for the future.”
The Re-Charge Black Pepper Range from Molton Brown:
The fragrance of Black Pepper is described by Molton Brown as – The off-road trek from rocky peaks to savannah grass canyons. A spice-spiked shot of heated black pepper kicks into the subtle woodiness of coriander. Robust and complex, earthy vetiver is grounded by deep, assured oakmoss. Re-charge your routine; conquer the adventure with our iconic fragrance.
Adventurous. Confident. Iconic
Re-Charge Black Pepper Bath & Shower Gel
I am a massive fan of Molton Brown and know I can always rely of them for treats for family and friends. I love Molton Brown fragrances and Black Pepper is a particular favourite with our family. The Re-Charge Black Pepper is such an easy way to invigorate your cleansing routine as it is Molton Brown’s iconic, award-winning woody–citrus shower gel; it is a long-lasting, confident fusion of piquant black pepper, spicy coriander and earthy vetiver gives it an energising lift.
It is such a glorious fragrance that leaves your bathroom/shower room smelling gorgeous. Your skin is left feeling soft and lightly fragranced, but not over powered.
This will make such a wonderful Christmas gift or stocking filler.
This is without a doubt Molton Brown’s iconic woody-citrus body wash but in a more sustainable, longer-lasting bottle, that has been crafted from 100% recycled aluminium. Invigorate your cleansing routine with Molton Brown’s iconic, award-winning woody-citrus shower gel; a long-lasting, confident fusion of piquant black pepper, spicy coriander and earthy vetiver gives an energising lift.
When the bottle is empty just top up with Molton Brown’s waste-reducing Refill pouch.
Yet another super Christmas gift idea. But do check out their website for lots more gifting ideas.
Re-charge Black Pepper Signature Candle (Limited Edition)
This is Molton Brown’s iconic woody fragrance in a lavish Limited Edition vessel, bestowed with an ornate, bronze frame design. Black pepper, herby coriander and earthy vetiver make the ideal grounding centrepiece or a warming, spiced atmosphere for cosy winter evenings at home. A beautiful candle that will fill your home with a wonderful fragrance. A lovely gift for Christmas that everyone will enjoy.
Re-charge Black Pepper Fragrance Bauble (Limited Edition)
This is Molton Brown’s iconic woody Eau de Parfum in a unique travel-size bauble. The spice-spiked smell of adventure awaits with a heated blend of hypnotic cardamom, enlivening black pepper, robust cedarwood and striking myrtle pepper. With a top note of hypnotic cardamom, a heart note, enlivening black pepper, a base note, robust cedarwood and a signature note of striking myrtle pepper.
This new bauble will make a lavish addition to any tree with the travel fragrance catching the twinkling light in all its glory.
Revitalise your traditional soap with this exfoliating scrub bar, infused with Madagascan black peppercorn oil and woody vetiver and oakmoss. This is much more than a bar of soap because after you have used it you’ll feel your skin is so much better, less rough, fewer rough patches. Just gently massage in your wet skin using a circular motion. This really is a joy to use and will make a super stocking filler.
Four New Tiny Forests — Bringing More Nature, Wildlife and Community Spaces to Wrexham County
We’re excited to announce that four new Tiny Forests have now been completed in Borras Park, Ysgol Bro Alun, Rhos Community Garden and Gwenfro Community Primary School.
What are Tiny Forests?
Tiny Forests are mini woodlands about the size of a tennis court. They’re planted with a mix of native trees and shrubs, using a method developed by Earthwatch Europe.
Cllr David A Bithell, lead member for housing and climate change, said:
“Despite their small size, Tiny Forests offer big benefits — helping capture carbon, reducing flood risk, supporting wildlife and creating new outdoor learning and wellbeing spaces.”
Working with Woodswork CIC
These small but powerful woodlands were created in partnership with Woodswork CIC, who played a key role in making the project a success. Their expertise in ecology, project management and community engagement helped ensure each Tiny Forest was carefully planned and planted, with strong involvement from schools, residents and volunteers.
Christina Walker, Chair of Woodswork CIC, said:
“As a Community Interest Company with a focus on climate change and biodiversity, and for the use of green spaces for mental and physical wellbeing, the Tiny Forest project is a great fit for our aims and objectives.
“It provided an opportunity to work with schools and community groups in Wrexham, and provide educational sessions and resources about the positive impact the Tiny Forests have on climate change and biodiversity in urban areas.”
What will the new Tiny Forests bring to Wrexham?
More wildlife
The rich, layered planting attracts birds, insects and other animals, helping nature thrive even in built-up areas.
Climate action
Fast-growing native trees help absorb carbon and support Wrexham’s efforts to reduce emissions.
Cooler neighbourhoods
The shade and moisture from the trees help lower local temperatures, especially during hot weather.
Better drainage
Tiny Forests improve the soil so rainwater can soak in more easily, helping reduce surface water and the risk of flooding.
Community and learning spaces
These areas give pupils, residents and volunteers new places to enjoy nature, learn outdoors and take part in community activities.
Information boards will soon be added at each site. These will explain how Tiny Forests work, what wildlife people can look out for, and how locals can get involved in citizen science and other activities.
Ongoing work
These four new Tiny Forests are now part of Wrexham’s growing network of green spaces. As they develop, they will continue to offer real environmental and social benefits.
One of the Tiny Forest sites, Rhos Community Garden, has also recently won the Wrexham Civic Society Award for Landscape or Environmental Improvement.
At Wrexham Council, we will keep working with schools, community groups and Woodswork CIC to monitor their progress and explore more nature-based projects across the county borough.
If you’re a school or community group interested in working with us on our low carbon communities project, get in touch by emailing decarbonisation@wrexham.gov.uk.
The National Garden Scheme have just announced the 2025 Impact Report, categorising the share of donations between all the major health & well-being charities who have benefitted from the amounts raised this year. An astonishing and record-breaking £3,875,596 has been donated from funds gathered at garden openings throughout the UK this year, helping thousands of people living with cancer, Parkinson’s, poor mental health, or the pressures of unpaid caring, by supporting the nurses, health professionals and case workers who care for them.
These donations also reached hundreds of gardens and health projects, with 114 new gardens receiving Community Garden Grants funded by The Julia Rausing Trust, as well as funding the training & welfare of gardeners whose skills underpin horticulture throughout the country. We are proud to report that here in the county of Powys nearly £59,000 of the UK total was raised here by our generous garden owners together with the many volunteers and visitors who support them. Thank you all so much for all you do. You can read the full Impact Report at ngs.org.uk/record-donations-show-the-power-of-gardens-and-garden-visits-for-good-causes.
The short dark days of winter are upon us, but much can be done to improve general health & well-being by spending time in the garden. With 175 gardens due to open for The National Garden Scheme between January and March 2026, there will be plenty of opportunities to seek that all important health boost. Next year’s gardens are now live on the NGS website at findagarden.ngs.org.uk or you can pre-order The National Garden Scheme Garden Visitor’s Handbook 2026 from our website.
Looking ahead, 2027 marks the centenary year of The National Garden Scheme so the head office team and all the countrywide volunteer teams will be making big plans to celebrate this milestone. Originally set up in 1927 to support district nurses, the NGS has since donated over £74 million to some of the UK’s best loved nursing, health and gardening charities. Here in Powys we would love to mark the occasion by opening one hundred gardens for 100 years, so would be happy to hear from you if you can help. Have you ever considered opening your garden, or perhaps have a friend or neighbour who is an avid gardener? Maybe you live in a small village with three or more pretty gardens who could join forces and offer a community opening. To find out more please contact North Powys County Organiser at susan.paynton@ngs.org.uk
A green hearted band of Denbighshire volunteers have been recognised for their enthusiasm and passion for supporting a project to breathe life back into nature.
Today marks International Volunteers Day, a day to celebrate and thank people all around the world who dedicate their precious time and efforts to voluntary service.
Over at the Council’s local provenance tree nursery at St Asaph, volunteers have created a community that has stepped forward to support with their own hands several tree and wildflower growing projects.
The Council’s Tree Nursery is funded by the Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project and Local Places for Nature grant.
Through their interest and passion for helping nature and learning skills from the team at the tree nursery, the volunteers have helped bring new life to the Wild Service Tree. Fruit from this tree was also traditionally made into a fermented beer like alcoholic drink and it is believed that this beverage influenced the naming of many ‘Chequers’ pubs and inns across the UK
This year they have also helped the tree nursery team produce over 1,000 elder trees from an actual elder growing on the site through cuttings and nurtured over 1,800 wych elm trees which have been grown from seed collected at Loggerheads Country Park last year to help the tree resurge in Denbighshire.
Sam Brown, Tree Nursery Assistant said:
“I really look forward to when the volunteers come over to the site. Its great to work with them, help them learn new skills as their passion for helping nature is amazing.
“They’ve created a lovely little community here at the tree nursery and have really helped us make a positive difference for our local nature through their enthusiasm whilst on site with us.”
Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, added:
“I’m always humbled to see the passion and dedication our tree nursery volunteers have and the way they just give their own time with a lot of smiles that has created a lovely community at the site
“All of our officers working on this project really value the dedication they give and the support they provide and ultimately enjoy the company the volunteers give while they are on. I hope they have enjoyed learning new skills with our team and continue to enjoy being a part of this very important project for local nature in Denbighshire.”
I am a huge fan of the Margaret Dabbs brand which has superb products for your feet, hands, nails & legs. So it will come as no surprise that Margaret has created yet another winner for me in her award-winning PURE Repairing Hand Cream which has an intensive repairing formulation, creating a water reservoir with its unique moisture delivery system. This cream is rich but it isn’t greasy as many hand creams can be and is a seriously effective cream that I loved, as my hands have been battered by too much gardening and doing the dishes!
This is a wonderful repairing hand cream, with the heavenly scent of Rose and Lemon, it is packed with powerful botanicals and is free from harmful chemicals and preservatives. Anyone who has fine, fragile skin or their hands are suffering from the signs of free radical damage and premature ageing, this is for you! It is deeply hydrating, intensive, yet lightweight and not sticky and has been clinically proven to minimise moisture loss from the skin of the hands for up to 72 hours. That is amazing, but also very true. The cream contains Pentavitin™ that is proven to address the 5 signs of dehydrated skin and gives a visible improvement to hydration levels, flakiness, skin discomfort, smoothness, and appearance. It also contains Vitamin F Forte fatty acid from Safflower Oil to condition sensitive, stressed skin and Sweet Almond Oil to smooth and soften the skin. It is so beautiful to use.
This scientifically proven moisture magnet has a unique skin binding action, making it highly effective at maintaining the skin’s natural healthy structure and providing an immediate hydration boost to excessively dry skin of the hands.
A Natural, Vegan-Friendly Formulation That Really Works
In a recent instrumental test* of the effectiveness of Pentavitin™ in the PURE Repairing Hand Cream:
The product was proven to maintain skin hydration for up to 72 hours
*Controlled instrumental test performed by accredited lab including 22 women using the product over 1 week, twice daily. Instrumental test of skin moisturising level conducted by using Corneometer® CM 825 within 72 hours.
If you suffer from chronically dry, dehydrated, chapped, irritated or cracked skin of the hands, this fast-absorbing formula penetrates your skin for instant nourishment, leaving your hands feeling light, soothed and silky smooth. Just apply a small amount of cream to the back of your hands and then gently massage into your skin and enjoy. Repeat as needed to reap the benefits of the deeply hydrating formulation.
It would also make a super gift for Christmas for all ages, but for me I have in mind some elderly relatives that will find this clever cream perfect for their hands and give them such a treat.
This cream is suitable for Vegans and for all skin types. You’ll love this cream so get it on your Christmas list – it is certainly on mine and I want a jumbo size!
Margaret Dabbs® London is the globally recognised brand that fuses together the best of medical science and podiatry, with the best of beauty to produce a unique and unrivalled range of effective, results-driven, credible yet luxurious clinic treatments and retail products for Feet, Hands, Nails & Legs.
Leading British Beauty Brand
Committed to Excellence for Feet, Hands, Nails & Legs
Margaret Dabbs® London is a leading luxury British beauty brand, founded in 2008 by Margaret herself. The brand is committed to the innovation of medical science and beauty and receives global recognition for its effective, results-driven, and luxurious clinic treatments and retail products for Feet, Hands, Nails and Legs.
The combination of podiatry-based medical excellence and beauty-based luxury ingredients delivers a collection of exquisite and beloved products and formulations – designed and produced in the UK – embodying the very essence of luxury and well-being.
Today, we operate twelve clinics across the UK and four internationally in Spain and the UAE. Our products are available at prestigious retailers such as John Lewis and Liberty London, in some of the most exclusive hotel and spa outlets in the world, throughout travel retail, and as well as on our official website. Bringing the luxury and effectiveness of Margaret Dabbs® London to a global audience. Our signature Medical Pedicure, in particular, has become a must-try experience, adored by loyal clients and celebrities.
Margaret continues to lead the brand, infusing her personal philosophy and passion into every product and treatment. She has redefined the beauty industry by elevating the care of feet and hands to the forefront of luxury wellness. In recognition of her contributions to business and podiatry, Margaret was honoured with an OBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List, celebrating her entrepreneurial spirit and the creation of a targeted wellness category within beauty.
In The Press:
Featured in The Guardian’s Top Ten Hand Creams – December 2021
Winner of the CEW award for Best New Hand or Foot Product in 2022
Peatland restoration and growing biomass crops to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere can help achieve net zero targets, according to a new scientific report.
The report says that on top of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, measures are needed to take them out of the atmosphere.
There are a wide range of options to do this, from planting trees to more novel methods, like enhanced rock weathering, when silicate rocks are spread on farmland and react with CO₂ in the atmosphere to form bicarbonate ions.
The team of scientists, including experts from Aberystwyth University, also say that the methods have wider benefits, such as providing income for farmers from less productive land and reducing flood risks by re-wetting peat.
According to the report’s recommendations, technical trials have shown ‘promising results’ from using more than one technique in the same spot, for example incorporating biochar when restoring peat.
Among the report’s other calls is to establish a clear regulatory framework so that farmers and industry can make the most of the techniques. The experts also advise that public-private joint ventures would drive investment and the scaling up of the techniques.
Dr Judith Thornton from the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University said:
“Greenhouse gas removal has become an essential part of global and national strategies to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals. This includes the UK’s strategy to meet medium-term carbon budgets and the net-zero target by 2050.
“While there are remaining uncertainties and knowledge gaps, this report demonstrates that employing methods of greenhouse gas removal in the UK can successfully contribute to achieving net zero goals, and the potential for scaling up sustainable removal methods in the future.
“Although these measures are not a substitute for emissions reductions, they are very likely to be needed to balance emissions that are hard to reduce to zero – from sectors such as agriculture and aviation.”
The research is funded by UK Research and Innovation. The report was written by academics from the institutions involved in five demonstrator projects and the coordinating hub.
A greener mode of flexible transport has bussed Denbighshire residents on a number of around the world trips.
Fflecsi Electric powered transport vehicles operating around Ruthin and Denbigh have surpassed a major milestone this month.
Ruthin’s Fflecsi service was launched by Transport for Wales and the Council in 2022 and at the time started operations with the country’s first-ever zero emission 100 per cent battery-operated 16-seat minibus through support from the Welsh Government Energy Service.
The demand responsive transport service allows passengers to book their journey up to one hour ahead by either downloading and using the Fflecsi app, on the fflecsi.wales website or by phoning a dedicated call centre. The app can then keep the customer informed of any changes in pick-up times.
In 2023 Denbigh’s fflecsi service was expanded, through work by Transport for Wales (TfW) and Denbighshire County Council. The vehicle allocated to this expansion was a fully accessible, electric four passenger seat vehicle.
Since operating the Ruthin EV minibus has clocked up nearly 74,000 greener miles supporting local residents with their daily lives. That’s around 88 trips from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
The Denbigh electric vehicle has also amassed around 52,000 miles of greener transport provision, the equivalent of about 610 road trips from Holyhead over the border to Chester.
Together these two electric vehicles operating in rural areas surrounding neighbouring towns have racked up enough greener miles for almost five round the world trips.
Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said:
“Our fleet has worked hard to reduce reliance on fossil fuel powered vehicles to help lower our carbon emissions across the county.
“These two elective transport vehicles are not only providing less emissions whilst on the road, but they have really given Ruthin and Denbigh residents of all ages a helping flexible hand when it comes to getting on with their daily lives around each of the towns and surrounding area.
“Its great to see people embracing these two services and taking advantage of the electric powered transport and I would encourage anyone who maybe struggling to get out and about to give Flecsi a go.”
The organisation was recognised for its work on Tŷ Gwenllian, Wales’s first and only supported housing project dedicated to helping women transition safely from prison into the community.
The project won the Excellence in Preventing Homelessness Award, highlighting its impact in ensuring that no individual released from custody – while under Probation Service supervision – faces homelessness.
Delivered in partnership with Conwy County Borough Council and funded through CAS3, HM Prison and Probation Service, and the Housing Support Grant (HSG), the project ensures that no individual released from custody – while under Probation Service supervision – has to face homelessness.
Osian Elis, Head of Supported Housing at North Wales Housing, said:
“We are delighted to have received recognition for our innovative provision, which delivers vital support to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. At the heart of the scheme is strong collaboration with external agencies and Conwy Council – a partnership that is fundamental to the success of this work. We are equally proud of our dedicated team, who provide truly person-centred services, underpinned by trauma-informed approaches.”
North Wales Housing also received the Excellence in Customer Service Award, based on outstanding results in its 2024 STAR Survey (Survey of Tenants and Residents).
The organisation recorded sector-leading satisfaction levels, including 97% for its Repairs service, 96% for scheme managers in Older Persons accommodation, and 97% for support workers in Supported Housing projects.
Claire Shiland, Operations Director at North Wales Housing, said:
“This award reflects the dedication and consistency shown by teams right across North Wales Housing. We made a commitment to focus on improving resident satisfaction and responding to feedback, and achieving such high scores in our STAR survey is a direct result of colleagues going above and beyond every day to deliver services our residents can rely on. This recognition belongs to everyone who plays a part in making that happen.”
Feature image: North Wales Housing receives the Excellence in Preventing Homelessness Award.
The ExoMars team at Aberystwyth University has welcomed the UK Space Agency’s renewed backing for the Rosalind Franklin rover mission, a flagship project that will see Europe’s first Mars rover launch in 2028.
Scheduled to land on the Red Planet in 2030, the rover will drill up to two metres beneath the Martian surface to search for signs of past or present life, a capability unmatched by any previous rover.
The UK Space Agency confirmed a £1.7 billion investment package in European Space Agency programmes at the recent Ministerial Council in Bremen, securing continued support for high-profile missions including the Rosalind Franklin rover.
Built in the UK by Airbus, the rover will carry cutting-edge instruments developed by British universities and research teams, including Aberystwyth University’s Enfys infrared spectrometer.
Enfys will work alongside the rover’s PanCam imaging system to identify mineral targets and pinpoint optimal drilling sites. Samples collected will be analysed by an onboard laboratory designed to detect organic compounds and biomarkers – potential indicators of past or present life.
Dr Helen Miles, Operations Software Lead for Enfys at Aberystwyth University, said:
“Aberystwyth University’s role in the Rosalind Franklin Mars rover mission builds on decades of pioneering research in space science and robotics. The UK Space Agency’s renewed commitment to this project is fantastic news – not just for the mission, but for the future of planetary exploration.
“While several rovers have reached Mars, this mission will allow us to explore the planet in ways never done before. For the first time, we will drill deep beneath the Martian surface to search for signs of life, unlocking clues that could transform our understanding of the planet’s history and its potential to support life.
“Being part of the team developing these vital instruments is a privilege, and we’re excited to see Welsh science contributing to one of the most ambitious planetary missions of our time.”
The development and testing of the Enfys instrument is led by Aberystwyth University, in collaboration with partners including Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) at UCL, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and Qioptiq Ltd.
Aberystwyth University was given greater responsibility for the mission after the cancellation of collaboration with Russia’s Roscosmos following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Coleg Sir Gâr’s A-level Sir Gâr 6 team has been awarded the Alps Gold Award which puts the college in the top 25% performing schools and colleges for A-levels in England and Wales.
This award recognises student achievement within the college’s 2025 A-level results which saw students progress to Cambridge, Oxford and Princeton to respectively read law, history and psychology.
It’s not just about grades at Coleg Sir Gâr, it’s about each student’s journey and this award demonstrates the effort that staff commit in helping them reach their very best potential.
In 2025, 88% of students progressed to undergraduate study with over a quarter attending Russell group universities.
Within the college’s 2025 results, 14% of students achieved A* grades, 32% received A* to A grades, 56% achieved A* to B, 83% achieved A*-C and 99% of students achieved A* to E.
Angharad Mansfield, head of A-levels at Coleg Sir Gâr said:
“We are thrilled to be awarded the Alps Gold Award.
“I’m particularly pleased as it recognises the quality of teaching within our team which has allowed students to reach their highest possible grades.
“It is also testament to the commitment our staff put in, their dedication to learning and the passion they have for their subject area as well as their involvement with initiatives such as the Seren Academy.
“Students have access to specialist knowledge and bespoke support and this isn’t just in the classroom, our staff encourage interest within students beyond college and encourage further study far beyond the standard curriculum.
“Added to that is our partnerships with higher education such as New College Oxford and Swansea University, that allow our students to explore undergraduate options and higher apprenticeships.”
The Alps system is a nationally recognised measurement tool that tracks learner progress from GCSE to A-level including target and predicted grades. It recognises the quality of teaching within an organisation when students vastly exceed this.
Publican Rhiannon Metters from The Halfway in Tal-y-Coed, Wales, visited 10 Downing Street this week talking with Prime Minister Kier Starmer to highlight the vital role that pubs play in supporting local communities.
The Halfway joined five other artisan food producers and creative retailers for a Christmas market-style showcase hosted by the Prime Minister ahead of Small Business Saturday. The event was celebrating small firms, frontline workers and community champions and included the annual Christmas lights switch-on.
Rhiannon, along with her son Ben, hosted a Christmas stall inside the Prime Minister’s residence showcasing the activities that the pub hosts to bring people together in this isolated rural community.
She chatted with him highlighting the important impact the pub has on community cohesion and helping local people to overcome loneliness and social isolation.
As the hub of this rural area, where many residents, including farmers, live and work alone, The Halfway provides essential opportunities for social interaction. With support from Pub is The Hub, the pub has opened a village store and a community marquee.
The village store has proved so popular that its range of products have been expanded to support more than 15 other local businesses that supply items such as flowers, butter and local chocolate – all from within 10 miles of the pub.
The marquee has become a vibrant space for social connection, hosting creative workshops such as chunky knitting, lino printing, wreath-making, and even CPR and defibrillator training to ensure locals can use the pub’s life-saving equipment.
Rhiannon Metters said:
“It has been a fantastic experience to attend this Small Business Showcase and highlight the important role that pubs have in bringing people together and creating human connections.
“From a pint by the fire to wreath-making in the marquee, from the village shop to live music and shared skills, everything we do is about bringing people together, tackling loneliness and social isolation, supporting local makers and giving our little corner of Monmouthshire a place to gather, laugh, learn and belong.”
Feature image: Publican Rhiannon Metters presents Prime Minister Kier Starmer with a Pub is The Hub apron at Downing Street. (Left to right: Rhiannon Metters, PM Kier Starmer and Victoria Starmer)
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The Ffestiniog C Welsh Highland Railways are delighted to be named winners of the National Rail Heritage Awards ‘Network Rail Award for best overall entry’.
This is for the long-term redevelopment of Boston Lodge Works near Porthmadog in North Wales.
The historic works was reconstructed and redeveloped to support the railways needs for the coming decades. With a history stretching back almost 200 years the redevelopment represented a major challenge. The most recent £5m phase of works was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Ffestiniog Railway Society and the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway Trust. This support has made it possible to conserve and recreate many of the historic buildings on site in addition to creating new facilities.
Paul Lewin, Director and General Manager notes that one of the great wins from the project was finding current day uses for the historic buildings whilst maintaining their historic fabric in addition to opening the workshop to visitors through an innovative hosted tour program.
Nigel Burbidge, recently appointed FRCo Chair, paid tribute to the outgoing FRCo Chair, Dr John Prideaux for his vision and leadership of the Boston Lodge Project over the last decade. Attention to detail, persistence and the selection of strong partners to form the project teams has resulted in a very positive outcome for the project.
During 2026 it will be possible for members of the public to visit the historic workshops and see the results for themselves as part of the Boston Lodge Tour program, tickets for which are available from the Ffestiniog C Welsh Highland Railways website.
Churchill’s Fish Bar in Risca have really got into the festive spirit this year and have put the design of their shop window into the hands of talented local children.
Young members of the community were invited to get creative and design a Christmas window display for this popular fish and chip shop, which opened under new management earlier this year. The quality of imaginative entries did not disappoint and business owner, Laura Ellis, and CCBC Town Centre Support Officer, Rhiannon Taylor, were thrilled with the number of entries they needed to judge. After much consideration, 11 year old Ariya’s colourful and inspired drawing was selected as the winning entry.
As well as winning a meal for 4 people and an art kit to encourage her creative skills, Ariya’s design has been transformed into a stunning window mural by Uncle Matts Face Painting. Be sure to see the design for yourself at Churchill’s Fish Bar (109 Commercial Street) and perhaps grab yourself a festive special offer whilst you’re there.
From all of us at Caerphilly County Borough Council, a huge thanks and well done to everyone who took part in the competition and to Churchill’s Fish Bar for such an engaging, festive activity.
I can unashamedly claim that over the last 30 years I have seen the Drovers in action more than any other journalist – dead or alive!
But, when challenged to select the top 15 players to have put on the Llandovery shirt 1996-2025, I do so with trepidation, knowing that such a task has untold pitfalls.
Many supporters will take issue with my choices and their opinions and views are respected and it is testimony to the continually improving quality of rugby at Church Bank, that there is the crucial difficulty of comparing the worth of players over a long period of 30 years.
That said, I claim no superiority whatsoever over the views and opinions of both Llandovery men and women who have seen the Drovers in action, home and away over the last 30 years. It is at away games that the true worth of a player’s character and class comes through.
It is on a wet, cold Wednesday evening at Ebbw Vale, Pontypool or Aberavon, in the face of a pumped up home side, hostile crowd and easily swayed officials that a man’s value to the team can be gauged.
From Phil Davies, Handel Davies, Carwyn Williams and John Davies to Tony Williams, Derek Jones, Nigel Clarke and Dai Thomas, from Margaret Davies and Helen Thomas to Sandra Clarke, Menna Davies and Helen Williams, through to Justin’s travelling storm troopers, and – apologies to anyone forgotten – these were the ever loyal supporters who consistently travelled to brave wind, rain, sleet and snow to shout on the Drovers at venues all over Wales and beyond.
Former committee men, coaches, captains, players and supporters will, too, have their own say on a select XV and their views and votes will make interesting reading.
When I retired from being a College master in 1996, and went into full time rugby journalism, I had already reported, albeit intermittently, on Llandovery games, home and away.
In a report of a 1993 game at Dunvant, I tentatively coined the nickname Drovers in Wales on Sunday and the Western Mail – and now 32 years later, the Drovers is a name used far and wide in reference to Llandovery rugby.
In choosing my team of all stars, I have restricted it to those players who have played at least 30 games for the club – an arbitrary figure, I agree – but one important to distinguish between those who were little more than “guests”, rather than “residents.”
There are, of course, some great players to have worn the Llandovery shirt – perhaps the greatest a certain Tadgh Beirne, the British Lion – but he does not make my team as two appearances for the Drovers does not – in my mind anyway – make him one of those players who had a huge influence on the fortunes of the club.
Similarly with other Lions in George North (four appearances) and Andy Powell (21 appearances) who were never long enough at Church Bank to make any difference to the cause.
Rhodri Gomer Davies and Macs Page would have been others to be considered but they came below the 30 appearances criterion.
Many Welsh internationals have turned out randomly for the club 1996-2025 – Barry Davies, Dan Evans, Garan Evans, Rob McCusker, Vernon Cooper, Josh Turnbull, Lou Reed, Rhodri Jones, Richie Pugh, Ben Broster, Nathan Thomas, Dom Day to name just a few.
Scottish international lock Scott Macleod and All Black lock Simon Malling played once but their in-fluence pales into total insignificance in comparing them to the contribution of some of the outstand-ing second rows that have graced the Church Bank pitch.
Jamie Cudmore, John Westgarth, Lyndon Bateman, Bryn Griffiths and Jack Jones are just five whose commitment, power and rugby intelligence played a huge part in the success of the club in their time at the club.
Former Wales fly half Arwel Thomas even played once as did Scotland scrum half half Sam Hildago-Clyne but how can I dare leave out of the side Lee Rees – surely the greatest scrum half servant of the club in its entire history?
I rate him more highly than Rhodri Williams who played 44 times for Llandovery before gaining his Welsh cap and the talented Rhodri Davies, now at Carmarthen Quins. Quick, nimble, alert and brave, he was the first name to be penned into the team of greats to have donned the Llandovery shirt over the last 30 years. With Rees in the side, supporters expected victory. Without him, they feared defeat – such was the expectation on his broad shoulders.
What an honour it would be for the little man to end his career in a Barbarian shirt to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Aled, Barry and Dorian Williams, Cerith Rees and Andrew Jones.
The words that kept coming back to me as I trawled through the list of players who have played for the club was influence and impact.
The players to have achieved the greater honours in the game did not necessarily have the greatest influence or impact on the club’s success.
Cudmore, Bateman and Westgarth were brilliant locks but did they have the same impact on the team as Bryn Griffiths and Jack Jones?
Griffiths and then Jones – grandson of the late Wales lock Brian Thomas – brought a consistent ruggedness, combativity and muscular presence into a pack that needed to be more aggressive, one that would not be bullied on a soaking wet night down in muddy Ebbw Vale.
As individuals, they may not have reached the heights of Cudmore, Westgarth and Bateman but as pack leaders, influencers and men to follow in the trenches of war, they were special to the club at key moments.
Would Llandovery have swept the board in their 2023-024 annus mirabilis without the presence of their inspirational captain Jack Jones?
This is why BrynGriffiths and JackJones get my vote as locks.
No one will agree with my select team as a whole, but there should be little argument, for example, that the finest props would be Wyn Jones and Andrew “Cantona” Jones.
Here we have a Lions prop and a club legend and Barbarian in “Cantona, both of whom came through the club youth and Junior Drovers pathway.
They serve as a beacon of the wonderful work started off by Dai and Helen Thomas whose inspiration to start off a Junior Drovers section has been of such huge and everlasting benefit to the club.
Wyn stands out as the best example ever of the value of the semi-pro game to the development of talent in Wales. Years of fighting tight head props, hardened campaigners who were not terribly mobile but who had the strength of Samson, prepared Wyn for a wonderful Wales and Lions career.
Andrew Jones has a place – second to none – in the history of the club. He played 577 games from 1992 to 2015 as arguably the best scrummaging prop ever to play for Llandovery in a long one club man career that was rewarded with selection for the Barbarians in 2014.
Wyn Jones added his own tribute when he credited much of his development to the advice, guidance and counsel of the mentoring Cantona.
I had no hesitation in pencilling in Adam Warren at centre. His awareness of time and space, his knack of popping up at the right place at the right time, his balanced running and wonderful ability to put people into gaps that only he could visualise mark him out as special. Warren ‘s influence on back play – offensive and defensive – has been spectacular whilst Rees has been, without parallel, the most exciting scrum half in the history of the semi-professional game in Wales.
With Lee Rees at scrum half, it left nine positions still to be filled. After sleepless hours of weighing up who might make the All Stars XV, I offer the following line up.
No one will – I am sure – agree with all my picks but it will ensure many hours of debate, discussion and good natured argument amongst all those who have lovingly and faithfully watched the club over many years.
DROVERS XV
The continued brilliance of Jac Davies’s running over the last two years and in particular the Cup semi-final win over Ebbw Vale in 2024 swung the decision as whom to select as full back, ahead of the long striding Emyr Lewis (son of Allan Lewis) and the dodging, darting Will Thomas.
There were many good wings to consider in Ifan Evans, Tomi Lewis, Harri Doel, Tal Selley and Aaron Warren, but the vote went to the exciting Nigerian Joe Ajuwa and Builth product Mark Jones. Ajuwa lit up the game – home and away – scoring some scintillating solo tries, and one memorable effort at Ebbw Vale, whilst Mark
Jones scored a record 26 tries in a season 1998-1999 with some of the deadliest try-scoring finishes in Church Bank history.
Jones went on to play 47 times for Wales in an illustrious career and is now Head Coach at the Ospreys.
To partner Adam Warren in the centre the choice was between the long striding, galloping powerhouse that was Tracy Lewis and the indestructible Rhodri Jones.
Former Llandovery coach Geri Davies thought the world of Lewis but the continuous high level of performance of Jones – running , passing, tackling in the midfield over 13 years service to the club – swung my vote his way.
The fly half position gave me the biggest headache of all – how to favour one talent over another?
Aled Williams and Cerith Rees played significant parts in Llandovery success and there is no doubt that, in his prime, the little pocket dynamo that was Williams was the most talented fly half ever to play for the club.
But Williams and Cerith Rees were only at Church Bank in the autumn of their careers after fine showings in the top flight of the game.
Neil Clapham was at times a scintillating loose play runner and so exciting to watch whilst Ioan Hughes, the current first choice, has done nothing but improve since his arrival from Llanelli.
He is a vital cog in the present Llandovery machine – see his vital contribution to the win over Newport on September12 and then the touchline conversion to win the game against RGC on October 4th.
He narrowly – very narrowly – gets the vote over Jack Maynard. What swung it in Hughes’s favour was the quality of his touch finding, a quality that was of nigh international class.
How many tries were a result of some remarkable touch finders deep into the opposition 22, from where the line out rolling maul ended with Taylor Davies or another forward crashing over?
The quality of Maynard’s goal-kicking in the tighter games was a major factor in swinging many a result the Drovers way – without it, many a game might have slipped away in disappointing defeat.
A canny play maker, good handler and distributor with the deftness to sell many a dummy to his marker, Maynard’s 1.763 points in 209 games – 303 points alone in 2016-2017 – leave an indelible mark on his time at Church Bank.
Emyr Phillips who gained three caps for Wales after leaving Church Bank was the first to come to mind at hooker as a huge part of Llandovery success. But how could I leave out Taylor Davies who in the annus mirabilis of 2023-2024 scored 21 tries in as many games, including four at the Gnoll to end up the leading try scorer in the Premiership?
The composition of the back row was another head scratcher. I eventually ended up with Dafydd Jones, Jonathan Mills and Chris Davies, leaving out the likes of Nathan Thomas and Andy Powell who did not play enough games to qualify for selection.
Such was the eye catching form of Aberaeron product Jones in his full season at Llandovery – 1999-2000 – that the Scarlets soon had him in their squad. His rugged, no nonsense power game continued at the highest level as he went on to gain 42 caps for Wales in an outstanding career before a shoulder injury forced him into retirement.
The key forward to Llandovery success in Cup winning season 2006-2007 was No 8 Jonathan Mills – a terrific reader of the game, intelligent and fluent in all he did, a leader from the front whose qualities were not appreciated by the Scarlets. After playing for Llandovery in the Welsh Cup final in 2007, he went on to play for Sale, signed by coach Steve Diamond, who recognised his whole hearted unstinting commitment to the game would rub off on many of the Sale forwards. He gets my vote ahead of Paul Jones who made a habit of picking up at No 8 and crashing through everyone for try after try – 18 in 1996-1997 and 15 more the next season.
And so to the final selection at open side. Stuart Worrall has been the best contact area flanker at semi-pro level for 10 years but who can leave out the inspirational local legend that was Chris “Cwmcawddu” Davies? A Llandovery man in every bone of his body, he was indefatigable in open play, swift to the breakdown, uncanny in his positioning and support play, hard as nails but the gentlest of characters off the field.
He captained the club in three season – scoring 63 tries in 245 games – before tasting pro rugby with Dunvant where he became as popular and as appreciated a player as he had been at his home club. He leads my All Stars of 30 years.
A final word – the XV chosen may not have been the “best” in their position but have been – in my opinion – the players who contributed the most to the success of the club at key times and key seasons.
Aled Williams and Jamie Cudmore would be the first on the team sheet if they were to be selected on intrinsic class but my XV relies on the impact that the chosen players made on the team during their stay at the club. My selections were simply “influencers” par excellence.
ALL STARS XV
Club appearances at time of writing are in brackets – players also considered, not necessarily in order of preference:
Full Back: Jac Davies (37) (Emyr Lewis, Will Thomas) Wing: Joe Ajuwa (31) (Tomi Lewis, Tal Selley, Harri Doel) Centre: Rhodri Jones (294 ) (Tracy Lewis, Matthew Jacobs) Centre: Adam Warren (131) (Jack Roberts, Rhys Williams) Wing: Mark Jones (43) ( Aaron Warren, Ifan Evans)
Fly Half: Ioan Hughes (79) (Jack Maynard, Neil Clapham, Aled Williams, Cerith Rees)
ScrumHalf: Lee Rees (379) (Rhodri Davies, Rhodri Williams)
Hooker: Taylor Davies (59) (Emyr Phillips, Dafydd Hughes)
Tight Head: Andrew Jones (577) (Berian Watkins, Peter Edwards) Lock: Bryn Griffiths (160) (Jamie Cudmore, Lyndon Bateman) Lock: Jack Jones (134) (John Westgarth, Tom Walker)
Flanker: Dafydd Jones (31) (Richard Brooks, Phil Day, Osian Davies) No 8: Jonathan Mills (41) (Paul Jones, Nigel Clarke, Joe Powell) Flanker: Chris Davies (245) (Stuart Worrall, Gareth Williams)
PICK YOUR OWN ALLSTARS XV 1996-2025
Download the PDF below and hand your selections in to the club by December 20th. A XV by popular opinion will then be revealed on Boxing Day.
Many congratulations to Tanya Thomas, Team Leader for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Powys, who won in the category of Mental Health Nurse at last week’s RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Awards.
Tanya’s work in helping to set up and lead the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Crisis Hwb in Powys has seen significant improvements in the care of young people experiencing mental health crises.
She has shown excellent leadership skills, creating a shared vision to support young people to feel heard and to access appropriate services in a timely manner.
Tanya has been instrumental from the start, recruiting staff and working alongside estates to ensure the new Hwb would provide a setting that was as inviting as possible to offer assessments, support, and treatment to young people up to the age of 18.
The data so far speaks for itself, with a 25% reduction in hospital attendances for mental health concerns among Powys young people, and excellent feedback from young people and their families.
Tanya leads by example and is always on hand to offer support and advice. She continues to work with young people and never shies away from getting involved to support those who need help most.
Tanya always has the patients’ best interests at heart and will go above and beyond to ensure that not only their mental health needs are met, but that all aspects of their lives are being supported.
Everyone at PTHB is extremely proud of the work that Tanya and her colleagues carry out and this award is well deserved.
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Landmark regulations that secure Wales’ climate commitments and enable the roll-out of the Sustainable Farming Scheme have been passed in the Senedd.
Members today approved bold new regulations that reinforce climate action and transform agricultural support.
Collectively, they mark a major step forward in Wales’ response to tackling the climate and nature emergencies and promoting sustainable land management and food production.
The Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, described the moment as “historic for the Welsh environment”.
Wales has already cut its emissions by more than a third since 1990. The new climate regulations set Wales’ fourth carbon budget at a 73% reduction in emissions and require the third carbon budget to be met entirely through domestic action.
After seven years of development, the agriculture regulations are the final step in ensuring the Welsh Government can launch the Sustainable Farming Scheme in January. This provides the stability and support farmers need to be more resilient, productive and sustainable.
The Deputy First Minister said:
“While others retreat from climate commitments, Wales is staying the course.
“We are doubling down on climate action and forging a new partnership with Welsh farmers that will secure their businesses and our environment for generations to come.
“The impacts of climate change are a real and present danger. Recent floods in Monmouth and across Wales remind us that inaction means higher energy bills, more extreme weather, and an uncertain future for our children.
“These regulations deliver the opposite: cheaper bills, cleaner air, new green jobs, and a safer, more secure Wales.
“The Sustainable Farming Scheme supports sustainable food production and responds to the climate and nature emergencies.
“Our ambition is a thriving, confident agriculture industry built around innovation and growth.
“We’ve recently finished a run of roadshows, speaking to farmers about the Sustainable Farming Scheme, and the feedback has been very positive, with lots of them preparing for the start of the Scheme.
“I would encourage those yet to look into the scheme to do so as soon as possible.
“The result of today’s votes protects our communities, supports our farmers, and delivers hope for current and future generations.”
An electric vehicle remake of an iconic van sold in the 1950s is set to be made in Wales, thanks to Welsh Government support.
Morris Commercial Ltd will establish a production facility at Bro Tathan for its modern-day reimagining of the Morris J-Type – the Morris JE.
The classic van was once a popular sight on British roads and the all-electric version will retain a number of its original features. With its distinctive design and lightweight recycled carbon fibre monocoque body the new Morris JE has a 250-mile range.
The project will also establish Wales’s first manufacturing facility for electric vehicles.
Morris Commercial will receive some financial support from the Welsh Government’s Economy Futures Funding to establish the production facility. It will create around 150 highly skilled jobs.
The zero emission, carbon neutral Morris JE is expected to rival vehicles such as Ford Transit Custom, Vauxhall Vivaro and VW ID Buzz. It is due for full launch in late 2026.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said:
“With our innovative landscape and support for low carbon concepts, Wales is a natural home for the Morris JE.
“This exciting project will benefit from the robust automotive sector and supply chain cluster we are developing here in Wales.
“Well-paid jobs will also be created for skilled workers as the company delivers this historic retro van into the electric vehicle era.”
CEO of Morris Commercial, Dr Qu Li said:
“We are excited to have our Morris JE volume production facility in Bro Tathan soon. This will enable us to start to deliver vehicles to long waited customers. We thank the Welsh Government for its support.”
The Age Cymru Network has released heart-breaking new statistics[i] revealing the true extent of loneliness and social isolation amongst the older generation this Christmas. The Charity is urging everyone who can to donate to its Christmas campaign so that it can continue supporting older people when they need it most.
Loneliness and social isolation are issues all year, but winter, and Christmas especially, can be particularly tough. With routine services winding down, shops closing early or shutting completely, colder weather, shorter days and changes in people’s health, it becomes harder for many to sustain social connections, whether they celebrate Christmas or not.
The Age Cymru Network, which consists of Age Cymru, Age Cymru Dyfed, Age Cymru Gwent, Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn, Age Cymru Powys, and Age Cymru West Glamorgan, believes that no older person should ever feel alone and isolated, and wants to change this for as many older people as possible.
They are calling on the Welsh public to support older people, by donating to support their vital services. Every donation, no matter the size, can help Age Cymru Network partners provide the human connection that too many older people live without.
Often painted as a season of joy, togetherness, and non-stop celebrations, Christmas is known for family feasts, childhood magic, and friendly reunions. Yet Age Cymru’s new research highlights the stark reality of just how lonely this time of year is for older people:
two in five say they don’t feel the joy they once felt at Christmas time
more than one in five say they are no longer surrounded by family and friends at Christmas
a sixth of respondents say they miss the sound of laughter at Christmas time
The outlook for those over the age of 65 doesn’t get much brighter on Christmas Day either:
almost 36,000 older people won’t see or speak to anyone on Christmas Day
in excess of 97,000 older people will be eating dinner alone on Christmas Day
more than 17,000 older people won’t have anyone to exchange presents or cards with this Christmas.
Age Cymru’s chief executive, Victoria Lloyd said:
“We know that the feeling of joy, companionship and belonging that services provided through the Age Cymru Network give to so many older people at this time of year.
“Loneliness becomes a daily battle when the TV or radio is their only companion. No older person should ever feel alone and isolated. Your support has the power to change this situation.
“For thousands of older people who are feeling lonely, forgotten, or who have no one else to turn to for help, the Age Cymru Network is a lifeline.
“Through our advice services, we offer information and support to help tackle feelings of loneliness. And through our friendship services, we offer lonely older people connection, a listening ear, and a friendly voice.
“This is why it’s never been more important to donate to Age Cymru – funds raised help us continue our vital work tackling loneliness and being there for those who have no one else to turn to.
“Your donation could bring comfort, friendship, and care to an older person facing loneliness this winter. From friendly weekly calls to local lunch clubs, we’re here. But we can’t do it without you. Help us tackle the loneliness you don’t see. Donate today.”
[i] Age UK calculation based on data (weighted to be representative of the UK population) from Yonder online and telephone polling for Age UK (weighted sample of 2659 people aged 65+ in the UK, between the 31st October and 10th November 2025) and ONS mid-year 2024 population estimates. All statistics are drawn from this polling.
Nichola Chegwin has returned from an extraordinary five-day trek across the Sahara Desert, raising more than £4,300 for St David’s Hospice.
The hospice, which supports adults and their families across Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy, needs £6 million a year to operate. With only 24% of that coming from the Welsh Government, fundraising efforts like Nichola’s play a vital role in keeping its services running.
The challenge involved covering 100km over four days, often trekking for six to ten hours at a time. Temperatures climbed to 35°C, and the route alternated between soft sand dunes, stony plateaus, volcanic rock, sandy stretches and long, exposed plains.
One of the moments that stayed with Nichola came on the third night, when the group camped at L’erg Zaher, home to some of the tallest dunes in the region. She climbed the highest dune to watch the sunset and returned again at dawn.
“The tranquillity and beauty of the dunes and the desert setting were, by far, my favourite moments,” she said.
Nichola completes her trek of the Sahara Desert
The trek was far from easy. The heat, long days, and complete lack of shade were challenging enough, but by the third day the rocky terrain had begun to take a toll on her feet.
“I could feel every single stone,” she said. “The thought of putting my boots back on for the final day filled me with dread, but knowing it was the last push kept me going.”
Before signing up, Nichola hadn’t realised how heavily the hospice depends on fundraising.
“It’s given me perspective,” she said. “I’m proud to have helped raise awareness and funds, but it also shows how much more support our hospices need.”
Her original fundraising target was £1,600. She has now raised £4,353, a figure she describes as overwhelming and a testament to how widely valued the hospice is.
Nichola works as a Development Project Manager at North Wales Housing and held a cake sale at the office to raise money. She said:
“A big thanks to our local supermarkets for hosting bucket collections, Henllan Bakery and North Wales Housing colleagues for the amazing cakes, and Fron Goch Garden Centre for donating plants for the hospice summer sale. Every donation, big or small, kept me motivated!”.
Completing the trek has encouraged Nichola to take on more challenges. In 2026, she plans to complete the Three Peaks Challenge within 24 hours, and in 2028 she hopes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
“Pushing past what I thought were my limits has given me a new sense of confidence,” she said. “I’d recommend anyone step outside their comfort zone and take on something that scares them a little.”
Anyone wishing to support Nichola and St David’s Hospice can do so via the link below.
Charles Worthington is known for creating his Plex-Repair™ system that helps strengthen the core of your hair and envelops each strand to help reduce breakage and deliver stronger, healthier looking hair and let’s face it, this is what we are all looking for. This shampoo offers your hair the ultimate hydration along with long lasting nourishment for dry, damaged and thirsty hair. It is a powerful encapsulated blend of argan, Abyssinian, coconut, tsubaki and macadamia oils that penetrate deep into your hair shaft and will leave your hair feeling 5x softer, 3x smoother and silkier than ever before when use in conjunction with the Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Conditioner and Hair Healer Leave In Conditioner.
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This would make a great stocking filler.
Hazards and Cautions: Avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, rinse well with warm, clean water.
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Charles Worthington’s Plex-Repair™ system helps strengthen the core of the hair and envelops each strand to help reduce breakage and deliver stronger, healthier looking hair.
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Another super stocking filler.
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St John Ambulance Cymru recently welcomed representatives from the West Wales Freemasons to learn more about the Community Support Unit their donation has helped purchase as part of a visit to the charity’s Divisional building in Carmarthen.
The West Wales Freemasons kindly donated £20,000 towards the purchase of the vehicle, which is being used to support the charity’s work to provide first aid support across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, as well as further afield for events of national significance.
In addition to being equipped with a range of first aid equipment, as well as a gazebo, tables and chairs to support visibility at events, the specially adapted vehicle also has space for six St John People and is equipped with facilities to support volunteer welfare.
As well as being shown the various features of the Community Support Unit, the West Wales Masons were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation and were thanked by Trustee Prof. Jean White CBE as well as local St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers, staff and members of the St John Council for Dyfed.
The first aid charity for Wales has purchased over 15 of the vehicles to support its work to provide first aid cover at a range of events large and small across the country.
James Ross, Head of West Wales Freemasons is pictured inside the Community Support Unit with St John Ambulance Cymru Trustee, Prof. Jean White CBE MStJ and Acting Deputy Divisional Manager of St John Ambulance Cymru’s Carmarthen Division, Sion Betts.
Head of Fundraising and Communications for St John Ambulance Cymru, Owen Thomas said:
“This event was a valuable opportunity to show our generous donors from the West Wales Freemasons the real difference we are making in local communities thanks to their continued support.
“As well as providing our St John People with everything they need to provide first aid at an event, these vehicles also provide the facilities that enable them to have a hot drink and warm food, as well as shelter from the temperamental Welsh weather.”
The latest support from the West Wales Masons follows the donation made in 2024 to support the purchase of an ambulance vehicle.
James Ross, Head of West Wales Freemasons said:
“We are delighted to have been able to see the tangible impact our support is having on the ground, supporting St John volunteers as they care for others.
“We are proud to support St John Ambulance Cymru’s work in West Wales to provide first aid for those in need and to help more people learn the skills that could save a life.”
To find our more about St John Ambulance Cymru’s work across Wales and how you can donate or get involved, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk.
Feature image: Representatives from the West Wales Freemasons with St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers, Dyfed Council Members and Trustee Prof. Jean White CBE MStJ are pictured with the Community Support Unit outside the charity’s Divisional building in Carmarthen.
The Open Spaces Society, the leading pressure group for commons and greens in England and Wales, is celebrating the generosity of brothers Malcolm, Andrew and Stuart Gray, who voluntarily registered some of their land as a village green. This is at Ty Glasfryn (known locally as Maes Glasfryn) in the heart of the city of St Davids, Pembrokeshire, and it is thereby protected for ever for local people to enjoy.
The land comprises about 1.57 hectares of open grassland which the local community has started planting. Schoolchildren from Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA came out to plant trees with one of the landowners to celebrate this wonderful gift to the people of St Davids. The land contains a main field with hedgerows, new copses, meadow areas and paths, and a community orchard area with 52 fruit and nut trees. The intention is for this to become a nature haven with plenty of community access.
Jeremy Wadia from EcoDewi, a local environmental social enterprise, who helped with agreeing on the future of the new green says:
“We are delighted to have secured this land as a registered village green for future generations to enjoy. We should like to put on record our huge gratitude to the Gray brothers in providing this legacy where we hope to encourage nature, adding suitable features.”
“This is a fine example of what we want to achieve throughout Wales and England, landowners voluntarily dedicating town or village greens, so that the land is protected and local people have rights of recreation there. This is especially important to give people easy access to open spaces close to their homes, such as here at Maes Glasfryn. We congratulate and thank the Gray brothers for their generosity and foresight.”
Heart filled with tug boats.
Eyes filled with sea.
My journey begins
With you.
And ends with you and me.
I’ll take you on my journey
Across the wilder sky
And we’ll share my sights
And pleasures.
Across the wider sea.
Let’s journey across the ocean.
As far as our eye can see.
To a place of new adventure;
A place we’ve never been.
A silhouetted skyline.
Like camels standing tall.
A caravan of buildings.
A crumbling city wall.
A cobbled busy alleyway.
A busy shopfront stall.
A peasant- knee fold down.
A sudden wake up call.
Soft music meanders.
Around the city street.
And violins play pleasant.
A pretty place to meet.
I’ll take you on my journey………
————
Words & illustration: Jane Griffiths-Jones, October 2025
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On Saturday 25 October 2025, the annual St John Ambulance Cymru Visitation and Investiture service took place at St Asaph Cathedral in North Wales, acknowledging those who have selflessly given their time to support the charity and their local communities.
The Priory for Wales is the Welsh branch of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, which traces its origins back to the Knights Hospitaller in the Middle Ages.
The occasion saw new admissions and promotions within the Order of St John, including Craig Jones, Commissioner for North Wales, who was promoted to Commander for 36 years of voluntary service and leadership.
Several volunteers were formally admitted as Members, among them Eric Goulden, honoured for raising more than £71,000 by walking over 1,000 miles around Wales, Ceri Hibbert, North Wales Deputy County Training Manager, Hannah Jones of Wrexham Division, and Collette Stanford of Holywell Division.
Long-service awards were also presented, recognising between 10 and 40 years of dedicated contribution. Marion Thomson of Aberystwyth received a 10-year award. Isobel Brandon, Stephen More and Collette Stanford were honoured for 15 years. Alyn Carroll received a 20-year award, Peter Carroll marked 25 years, and David White, Chair of the North Wales St John Council, was recognised for 40 years’ service.
Some of the Cadets and Badgers who received recognition at St John Ambulance Cymru’s 2025 Visitation and Investiture Service at St Asaph Cathedral
Youth achievements were also highlighted as part of the ceremony. Four Cadets were presented with the Grand Prior Award, the organisation’s highest youth honour, while three members of the charity’s Badger groups received the Super Badger Award for completing over three years of development and community work.
The Prior for Wales also issued a Priory Vote of Thanks to the North Wales Freemasons in recognition of their support for upgrading the charity’s fleet of Community Support Units.
Reflecting on the weekend, Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ JP DL, Prior for Wales, said:
“Our annual service in St Asaph was a reminder of the compassion and dedication our volunteers show every day.
“Their unwavering commitment strengthens communities across Wales and reflects the very best of the Order of St John. I left the cathedral incredibly proud of every person who gives their time so selflessly to our charity.”
St John Ambulance Cymru leaders said the Visitation offered a visible moment of thanks, providing formal recognition while renewing volunteers’ commitment to delivering lifesaving first aid, community training and event support across Wales. Following the service, attendees mingled to share stories and connect across divisions, reinforcing the charity’s strong local presence.
Feature image: Some of those who attended and were recognised at St John Ambulance Cymru’s 2025 Visitation and Investiture Service at St Asaph Cathedral
Pembrokeshire artist Sarah Jane Brown, renowned for her powerful, emotive paintings of the Welsh coast, will exhibit her work at a new gallery opening at 52 Broad Street, Ross-on-Wye, this weekend.
Founded by Kathryn Roberts and her daughter Rochelle, Beecher’s Gallery opens its doors this Saturday, 29th November, with a curated selection of works called The First Collection. Paintings by Sarah Jane will join those of other notable artists, including Patrick Cox, Kelvin Okafor, Tina Mammosa and Rodney Beecher Roberts.
A lover of wild open spaces, big skies and shifting seas, Sarah Jane is a passionate artist on a journey of creative expression and personal growth. Her intuitive, loose and layered style rests somewhere between abstraction and representation, and draws inspiration from the coastal landscapes just beyond the studio door. There is something reassuringly familiar about her expressive landscapes of colour, light, and atmosphere that hint at inner depths and encourage gentle reflection.
Sarah Jane studied Fine Art Painting at Carmarthen School of Art, graduating with a first-class honours degree, and is a full member of the Guild Society of Artists, part of the Fine Art Trade Guild. She has exhibited in many solo and group shows. Highlights include prestigious exhibitions with the Royal Cambrian Academy in North Wales, the Royal Society of Marine Artists and the ING Discerning Eye at Mall Galleries in London. Recently, she featured in Channel 4’s TV series, The UK’s National Parks with Caroline Quentin, The Shipping Postcards broadcast for BBC Radio 4, and in Artists and Illustrators magazine.
Represented by Beechers Gallery in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, Etcetera Gallery in St Davids, Pembrokeshire, and online gallery britishcontemporary.art, her work can also be seen at her studio on the Pembrokeshire coast. Her work is collected internationally. Visit sjbfineart.com for further information.
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Always start at the end of your hair and gently work your way up to the root to eliminate knots without causing damage to your hair. From detangling and smoothing to reducing tugging, pulling and breakage, each brush in their range is meticulously crafted with the perfect bristle material, pin structure, and ergonomic design. But guess what? Ziggy is hair dryer safe as its vented head design goes beyond style as it helps circulate airflow, which in turn helps to speed up your blow drying time and avoid heat build-up & damage. When styling, use the outer fingers on the Ziggy to easily section and part your hair. The long smooth handle has been designed to give you the ultimate control when grooming and styling your hair.
Ziggy is also a champion of eco-conscious innovation; proudly made using 100% recycled materials, including the pins and cap. Opting for a high-grade post-consumer material, Ziggy unleashes the power of style safely with hair dryers. There is so much to love about this brush and I would really recommend you using your Ziggy when blow drying to help reduce drying time and heat damage.
Ziggy delivers a high-performance and it is an eco-friendly brush that has been engineered to deliver healthier happier hair, without costing the earth. The Ziggy would make a super Christmas gift or a stocking filler. Anyone that struggles doing their hair at home will find this beautiful brush a bonus. Check out their website to discover 3 other brushes in the Ziggy range if you wish to style, smooth or detangle.
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Living on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park is amazing and I feel very lucky to be able to visit many of the beautiful locations whenever I want. Based on the western edge of the park, I centre most of my work on the central and western Beacons, although I try to photograph as much of the park as I can. The park offers a vast range of terrain from high iconic hill tops to breathtaking cascading waterfalls. With so much to see and discover, I fear that I may never capture it all with my camera.
In 2014 I started two new projects, the first was ‘People in the Landscape’. In this project I hope to capture how the human form interacts with the landscape within the park. Normally, as a landscape photographer, I try my hardest to make sure there are no signs of human life or its form in my pictures. However, I noticed that when including the human form within my images it changed the feel of and relationship to the image. It helps add a sense of scale to the surroundings and at times shows just how small and insignificant we are compared to the hills and mountains.
My second project is a short film I am putting together about the central Beacons. This film will hopefully showcase some of the amazing sights and weather conditions I witness on a regular basis. Most people don’t witness the golden hour, cloud inversions and winter storms, so hopefully I can bring this to your screens. I hope to convey how the Brecon Beacons make me feel and my relation to them, why I am out before most wake and often descend after the sun has set.
If there is one product from Nails.INC that I cannot and will not do without it is their brilliant Nail Pots. There is no mess, no fuss and that is the reason that the Nails.INC nail polish remover pot is a bestseller for them. It is without a doubt a manicure must-have to easily remove your nail polish in seconds without the need for cotton wool. This pink pot version has a vegan collagen-rich formula that is gentle on your nails, removing polish whilst also helping to promote nail strength, growth and cell renewal in your nails. Simply dip and twist your fingers inside which is a pot lined with pre-saturated remover sponges, leaving behind the subtle scent of coconut. Insert and twist one finger at a time into the pot, until all of your nail polish is removed and your nails feel clean and healthy. It dries in seconds and I love that it is also cruelty free.
This lovely pot will make a great stocking filler, secret Santa gift, teacher present and a lovely table gift on Christmas Day. This product is a winner for me and is just one reason why I am such a huge fan on the Nails.INC brand.
Hospitality apprentice Aaron Jones delivered an inspiring speech at the National Training Federation of Wales (NTFW) members networking event at Cardiff Bay.
Aaron, who is close to completing his City & Guilds Apprenticeship in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership, was invited to represent Cambrian Training Company apprentices at the Pierhead event.
Diagnosed with autism as a child, he has embraced his neurodiversity and proactively sought work experience placements and job opportunities that have developed his skills and knowledge along the way.
Through his unwavering determination, resilience and passion for personal growth, he continues to break boundaries and achieve great things, both in his professional career and personal life.
Encouraged by his employer Anthony Christopher, landlord of Pen-y-Cae Inn, Swansea, Aaron began his apprenticeship in July 2024 and works as a popular waiter, excelling at front of house duties.
With support from training officer, Leah Williams and essential skills Wales tutor, Julie Lovell, he has excelled, completing significant observations, such as running a service and conducting a cellar risk assessment, while mastering challenging written and knowledge-based tasks.
Aaron aims to complete his apprenticeship by Christmas, with ambitions for future promotion opportunities. He will celebrate his achievement at Cambrian Training Company’s summer apprenticeship graduation and awards ceremony at the Royal Welsh Showground next June.
His apprenticeship journey has already been marked by notable successes. He won Cambrian Training Company’s Apprentice Special Recognition Award this summer, was a finalist for the Outstanding Individual Award and participated in the company’s 30th anniversary corporate video and social media campaigns.
Apprentice Aaron Jones speaking at the Cardiff Bay networking event.
He also promotes Pen-y-Cae Inn, a Best Gastro Pub of the Year finalist, on his social media accounts which received the Outstanding Achievement award in the Best Gastro Pub of the Year category at this year’s Food Awards Wales.
Aaron’s speech reflected on the skills he has gained, the support he has received and the opportunities apprenticeships have opened for him.
“Being autistic has never been a barrier to my success – it’s part of who I am,” he said. “My apprenticeship has given me the confidence to embrace my strengths, break boundaries and prove that neurodiversity is a powerful asset in the workplace.”
He was introduced by Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien, who also spoke about the company’s 30th anniversary this year.
“Aaron’s journey is a shining example of how apprenticeships can change lives,” said Faith. “His resilience and determination inspire us all and we are incredibly proud of his achievements.
“His inspirational story is a testament to the transformative power of apprenticeships in building confidence, developing skills and creating future leaders in the workplace.”
Cambrian Training Company is one of Wales’ leading work-based learning providers, delivering high-quality apprenticeship programmes across a wide range of sectors. The company is committed to supporting learners, employers and communities by championing skills development and career progression.
Feature image: Apprentice Aaron Jones (right) with his employer Anthony Christopher, Cambrian Training Company managing director Faith O’Brien, NTFW strategic director Lisa Mytton and Luke Fletcher, MS
NFU Cymru display sends clear family farm tax message to UK Government ahead of Autumn Budget
An impactful NFU Cymru display at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair has encapsulated rural Wales’ opposition to UK Government’s inheritance tax reforms ahead of the Autumn Budget.
More than 400 Winter Fair-goers each played their part in the visual spectacle on the second day of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Llanelwedd on Tuesday 25th November. The timely mosaic message – spelling out ‘NO IHT’ – was delivered just a day before the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget announcement and signalled the strength of feeling amongst rural communities against the UK Government’s planned changes to inheritance tax reliefs.
The Winter Fair display is the latest activity in a long line of campaigning activity conducted by the union since the shock changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) announced last year. On the eve of the 2025 Autumn Budget statement, NFU Cymru is calling on the UK Government to follow the recommendations of the cross-party House of Commons’ Welsh Affairs Committee1, which is seeking a pause in the implementation of the policy to enable a full impact assessment of the effect on Welsh farming.
Speaking after the display, NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said:
“Today’s campaign activity is an unequivocal statement from rural Wales – ‘The UK Government’s reforms to inheritance tax reliefs are going to be devastating for Welsh family farming businesses and the prosperity of our rural areas’. It is over a year since the Chancellor’s original announcement and we are still hearing of families whose lives will be turned upside down by these changes. At a time when families will be mourning the loss of a loved one, they will also be weighing up how to dismantle their farming business in order to pay a tax bill they were told they’d never have to pay.
“The biggest frustration for so many farmers is that the UK Treasury has been served a raft of evidence – from tax experts, the wider supply chain and cross-party MP committees – that the consequences of these changes will be catastrophic. The idea that UK Government can continue with these changes despite such a resounding volume of concern and worry is extremely troubling. We must see a pause to the family farm tax until those impacts are properly accounted for.”
Feature image: NFU Cymru’s ‘NO IHT’ mosaic display at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.
Ysgol yr Hafod in Johnstown is celebrating following its recent Estyn inspection.
Inspectors visited the school in September 2025. The report, published this week, notes that:
“At Ysgol yr Hafod Primary School, pupils feel safe, happy and ready to learn. The school nurtures curiosity and supports independence effectively, which creates a positive climate for learning.
“Well-designed environments and purposeful independent learning opportunities, encourage pupils to explore, think creatively and work cooperatively. These experiences help pupils to become confident, resilient learners who behave well and show respect for others.
“Staff work effectively with pupils and parents to create a culture of ambition and high expectations and provision for pupils with additional learning needs is a notable strength of the school.”
The report also says:
“The headteacher provides strong and effective leadership that promotes high expectations and positive partnerships among staff, parents and pupils.
“The school’s inclusive ethos, clear communication and well-managed processes help to remove barriers to learning and promote pupils’ well-being and pupil leadership groups promote pride in their school.
“Teachers and teaching assistants build warm and supportive relationships with pupils. These features create a positive and purposeful atmosphere across the school.”
There were two positive ‘spotlights’ highlighted from the visit – purposeful learning opportunities that foster independence and creativity, and the effective and innovative professional development procedures.
Headteacher Alison Heale said:
“I’m exceptionally proud of the pupils, staff and governors here at Ysgol yr Hafod and what we’ve achieved.
“We have a great team of staff and a supportive community who work incredibly hard to provide the very best for our pupils on a daily basis.
“Thank you to our parents for their continued support and also to the staff, and to governors of the school for striving to provide the best possible learning environment for all our children.”
Chair of governors, Victoria Williams, said:
“The governing body and I are delighted with the outcome of the report. The inspection took place during the first few weeks of the new term and we applaud the efforts and dedication from our exceptional staff, that the school was so well prepared and received such a glowing report.
“We are incredibly proud of our school and the place it has within our supportive community. We look forward to continuing to provide our pupils with an outstanding learning experience in a nurturing setting that inspires positivity, confidence and respect.”
Inspectors made two recommendations following the visit:
Ensure that learning experiences provide the right level of challenge to meet the differing needs of pupils
Improve the quality and consistency of feedback to pupils so that they understand the next steps to move their learning forward.
Oral-B, the world’s No1 dentist-recommended toothbrush brand, now expands its beloved children’s oral care range as it unveils its new innovative iO Kids toothbrush with the goal of inspiring a generation free of cavities, so we’ll have ‘Generation Clean’.
In an exciting continuation of its collaboration with Disney, Oral-B is thrilled to welcome the charming character design Disney Stitch on the iO Kids range. The Disney Stitch will make daily brushing a fun, not a chore as it engages children to get into the tooth brushing routine. With the added advantage that kids using a round power toothbrush have 40% better odds of being cavity-free, as the new iO Kids and PRO Kids ranges are both designed to make brushing more enjoyable and effective with features and characters designs that kids love and parents’ trust.
It makes sense to me that Dentist-Inspired, Kid-Friendly Advanced Technology Meets Playful Design, must surely help parents get children into the habit of regular brushing whilst making this fun.
The Disney Stitch is for children aged 6 and over and is a power toothbrush that is equipped with pioneering iO technology and delivers a gentler, more effective clean thanks to its micro-vibrations. This advanced toothbrush not only transforms oral care with its vibrant Disney designs but also keeps children motivated with exciting features.
The reasons I love the kid’s toothbrush range from Oral-B are many. So let me explain starting that the toothbrushes give powerful cavity protection allowing your kids to clean better in those hard-to-reach places which is where cavities start. It has been designed with a dentist-inspired round brush head that hugs each child’s unique tooth – whether it’s wobbly, overlapping, with gaps, or just coming in – giving a deeper clean than regular manual brushes and superior cavity protection. Add to this the 2-min music timer, offering engaging music that motivates brushing and celebrates a job well done after two minutes. Then it is gentle on gums and automatically reduces speed if kids over-brush, so their gums are protected. With its kid-friendly design and printed decoration of on the Disney Stitch, plus a long-lasting battery, all kids will begin to enjoy caring for their teeth. The brush isn’t noisy to use and has 3 adjustable speeds: ultra-gentle, gentle & daily clean and you can get up to 4 weeks use from a single charge.
Importantly this range is endorsed by the European Association of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD).
It is vital that parents do their utmost to encourage their children to get into good dental habits as soon as possible. So I am impressed that Oral-B are so clever in using interactive music, character-driven excitement and smart brushing features, which takes away the chore of kids brushing their teeth, as it is now fun and something children will genuinely look forward to. As parents and grandparents we have a duty of care to this new generation and must do our best to guide them to a cavity-free future.
This would make such a lovely Christmas gift for children or for parents who are struggling with getting their kids to clean their teeth! Oral-B have a superb range of beautiful brushes for all kids. So give your children the best start with their teeth and treat them to the Oral-B iO Kids Brush.
Price: £40.00. RRP £100.00 so a saving of £60.00 | Visit: boots.com
Taken from their website:
Approved by the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry.
Both the iO Kids and PRO Kids ranges are fully compatible with theDisney Magic Timer App. This exciting digital tool brings brushing to life with animated rewards and engaging content –90% of children using the app brush for longer durations, solidifying a fun link between play and oral hygiene.
Turning Brushing into a Celebration of Healthy Habits
With brushing made fun by character-driven excitement, interactive melodies, and smart features, it’s no wonder that research shows:
Over 90% of kids love brushing with the iO Kids brush and find it easy to use!
More than 80% of children who switched from a manual brush now want to brush more frequently.
Parents report more than 80% feel their child is more motivated to brush twice daily, with more than 80% noticing increased independent brushing.
Last week saw the official opening of the Richardson Centre for Mental health and Wellbeing in Llandrindod Wells. Named after a much-loved colleague who sadly passed away, the centre replaces the former ‘Hazels’ building in a modern, accessible setting.
The Richardson Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing is the home for the mid-Powys Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). The CMHT provides a range of community based mental health treatments and therapies for people who need support for their mental health issues.
Drew Richardson was a Mental Health nurse who dedicated over 30 years to supporting and looking after people in and around Llandrindod Wells and the wider Powys community. His partner, Austin Allen spoke beautifully at the opening ceremony of their love for the area and Drew’s dedication to his colleagues and clients.
Austin explained:
“Drew achieved greatness. His greatness came from the love and respect in which his colleagues held him. And I can assure you, their love and respect was deeply returned. I had the best loving days of my life with Drew. But he had the best working days of his life with those colleagues here today.”
Drew’s manager, Sharan Sharman went on to say:
“We named this facility after Drew and that just shows how much everybody here thought about him and how much he touched their lives. Because he did. He touched everybody’s lives that he came into contact with.
“Many of us knew him for a long time, some longer than others. But however short or long, he touched our lives completely. And what a wonderful person he was.”
Austin went on to unveil a plaque dedicating the building to Drew and a wonderful portrait of him, painted by local artist Sorell Matei. Sorell was unable to attend the event but her husband, Stefan, explained:
“She would have liked to say that it was a great honour for her to be asked to paint Drew’s portrait. And it was a very emotional experience to get to try to get him to understand him as a person without having been able to meet him before he died.”
The Community Mental Health Team takes referrals from GPs, Acute Inpatient Mental Health Wards and from other Mental Health Teams such as LPMHSS, Crisis Teams and CAMHS for transitioning patients. In addition, people who have previously been under the care of the CMHT and have been discharged from the service within the last 3 years, can re-refer themselves to the team.
Additionally NHS ‘111 press 2’ for mental health is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for people of any age who have an urgent mental health concern themselves or about someone they know.
The Old Railway Line Garden Centre is proud to announce that this year’s Spooky Halloween Walkway raised an incredible £1,543.87 for Tiny’s Fundraising for Prostate Cancer Research. This fantastic total takes the garden centre’s fundraising for its 2025 Charity of the Year to an impressive £6,500.
The Spooky Walkway has become a much-loved tradition at the Old Railway Line, drawing families from across the community to enjoy some Halloween fun while supporting an important cause. Each year, part of the garden centre’s plant area is transformed into a family-friendly, spine-tingling trail filled with eerie decorations, sound effects, and spooky surprises for visitors of all ages.
Huw Lewis, Finance Director at The Old Railway Line Garden Centre, said:
“We’ve been blown away by the generosity of everyone who supported this year’s Spooky Walkway. It’s amazing to see families coming together, having fun, and helping raise money for such a worthwhile cause. Reaching £6,500 for Tiny’s Fundraising for Prostate Cancer Research is something we’re all proud of.”
All funds raised through the Halloween Walkway and other events throughout the year go towards Tiny’s Fundraising for Prostate Cancer Research, a local fundraising effort dedicated to supporting vital research and raising awareness of prostate cancer.
The Old Railway Line Garden Centre would like to thank everyone who visited, donated, and helped make this year’s event such a success. The continued community support plays a huge part in helping raise money for causes that make a real difference.
For more information about upcoming fundraising events and activities, visit www.oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk or call 01497 847055.
The fortunes of Cardigan Harbour are turning full circle. Its downfall dating back to the end of the 18th century, with the arrival of steam on both land and water, has been put in reverse. Today pleasure boats of all shapes and sizes are re-creating Cardigan as a maritime centre. Tourists are replacing fish and agricultural produce giving a new lease of life to the elegant former commercial buildings lining the banks of the River Teifi.
It has always been a resilient spot. Cardigan had been a busy port since the Middle Ages, with the wide river below the castle forming a commercial and strategic gateway to the fertile Teifi Valley further inland.
The vast expanse of water below the old bridge was perfect for maritime development. Thus in mediaeval times Cardigan’s became a pre-eminent trading centre. The long standing export of fish was soon augmented by local farm produce, oak bark, salted herrings and Cilgerran slates to both Ireland and the western shores of England.
In Tudor times, ships from France and Spain regularly tied up alongside those from England and Ireland. On arrival their holds were always full of imports such as pottery, coal, building materials and fruit.
These international trade links brought unprecedented prosperity to the area. In the early 1800s over 300 ships were registered at Cardigan, employing 1000 men. Surpassing Bristol in importance for a time at one time, ships regularly sailed as far afield as Argentina, the Canary Islands and Canada. A customs house had to be built in St Mary’s Street opposite Chancery Lane to cope with the increased trade.
River Teifi, Cardigan [1]
It also became the centre of a flourishing ship building industry concentrated both at Netpool (where a beautiful park now stands) and further downstream at St Dogmaels. In the early years local timber was used, in particular wood from the Coedmor estate, near Cilgerran. But by the start of the 19th Century, the demand was so great the builders had to import wood from the Baltic and Nova Scotia. In all over 200 ships were built on the banks of the Teifi. Three shipyards were active in 1850, and the final Cardigan ship was launched in 1877.
Some of the vessels were large, up to 400 tonnes, and were passenger ships making Cardigan one of the country’s largest ports for transatlantic emigration, sending ships like the Active and Albion to New Brunswick in Canada and the Triton to New York.
However, by the end of the 18th century, dark clouds were appearing on the Cardigan horizon. The replacement of the sailing ship by steam ship, together with the silting up of the river and the arrival of the railway in 1885, all contributed to its eventual downfall as an international port. Despite efforts at reviving its prosperity after the First World War, its decline continued, until by 1942 commercial vessels, no longer visited the town.
Although the large cargo ships may have gone forever, pleasure ships are now replacing them bound for an ever increasing number of destinations in nearby Cardigan Bay. In 1996 the tourists were being magnificently catered for by the new Cardigan Heritage Centre housed in an 18th century Grade 2 listed warehouse at Teifi Wharf. Managed by Cardigan’s historic society, Hanes Aberteifi, it traces the history of Cardigan from pre-Norman times to the present day. Hanes Aberteifi is a charitable organisation registered with the Civic Trust and the Civic Trust for Wales It also organised a range of changing exhibitions on local themes.
Books on local history, souvenirs, postcards and other heritage related items were on sale in the small gift shop. There is also a cafe with a river terrace and picnic area. Entrance was free but there was a small charge for access to the exhibitions. There was full disabled access and toilets at the rear of the building.
The building itself is redolent with history. It was erected in 1745 and subsequently bought by the Davies brothers in 1785. They were heavily involved in the export of slate and the import of limestone. Seven lime kilns were built at the rear of the building.
Later one of the warehouse’s main uses was as a sail making loft which was established upstairs. As the town and port of Cardigan prospered so did the brothers, their magnificent home overlooked the Heritage Centre, and is now the Grosvenor hotel.
In addition the Heritage Centre is now The Albion a 12 bedroom maritime hotel. The name Albion celebrates a historic ship. It was on April 11th 1819 the brig Albion set out from Cardigan, a ship carrying 27 families from the local area to a new life in New Brunswick, Canada. Approximately 150 persons proceeded to Fredericton, where they took up tickets-of-location for forest land between Madam Keswick and Nashwaak, founding almost certainly the first Welsh settlement in Canada.
On the opposite bank to the Albion is to be found a life sized bronze otter beautifully sculpted on a rock base now stand on the quay, a striking monument to the Teifi – one of the last strongholds of the river otter in Great Britain. This was unveiled by Dr. David Bellamy on Prince Charles Quay in 1988.
A family-run cheese crafting business, which has been maturing for two years, has taken on a new production premises, ripe for scaling production, with support from a Start Up Loan.
Thirty-four-year-old Ethan Parry, and his parents Bann and Steven, are co-owners of award-winning artisan cheesemaker Usk Valley Cheese Company which started life two years ago at food technology start-up hub Food Centre Wales in Ceredigion.
The popularity of their range of three semi-hard cheeses – which are sold online, at markets, and in delis across Wales and the South West, and which celebrate the local landscape, flavours, and culture of the Usk Valley – meant that rented space at Food Centre Wales was no longer suitable for increasing production capacity.
“We were really keen to upscale production,” says Ethan, from Newport. “Quite simply, we were ready to take the next step by creating our own micro dairy. We travelled to Ceredigion, because the start-up support available there was invaluable – the team at Food Centre Wales offered real hands-on support, from recipe development to testing and packaging. It was an incredible resource. But this new space in Cwmbran is ideal for where we are now.
“Our business was born from a hobby. We are a family of cheese lovers who enjoy travelling to different provinces of France and Italy, expanding our understanding of homegrown cheeses.
“There can be some snobbery and assumption that French cheese is the best, but we have some outstanding British producers here, especially in Wales, and we have now become truly artisan producers ourselves – from milk to wheel”.
Currently, the family run the business as a side venture alongside their day jobs in various professional services roles – often working late nights and weekends to keep production on track.
However, with their new production premises, they hope to soon turn Usk Valley Cheese Company into a full-time enterprise, making large batches of Chartists’ Heritage, a tribute to the area’s infamous Chartists rebellion; Roman Gold, a nod to Caerleon, a local area steeped in Roman history; and Six Peaks, named after the nearby Brecon Beacons and also a Gold winner in the New Cheese Category at the British Cheese Awards 2025.
The £25,000 Start Up Loan, alongside substantial personal investment, has been used to source premises and provide upfront costs to secure local milk suppliers and equipment essentials.
Greg Tipper, Start Up Loans delivery manager, British Business Bank commented:
“It was a pleasure to work with Ethan and the team it’s fantastic to see such a great family business manage to take from concept managing their own production based in Wales. This success is a real partnership of support organisations in Wales I’m delighted that our funding can help them scale up with their own facility to take things to the next level and I’m excited to watch them develop further.”
The British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme provides government-backed loans of up to £25,000 per individual, alongside free mentoring and support for new business owners across the UK.
I am a huge fan of Kuhn Rikon as they are such a clever company making products for the kitchen, including cookware, pans, knives, tools & gadgets. All the range has been well thought through to make our life easier and that is something we all need. This Ratchet Grinder, or mill, has a high performance ratchet mechanism and efficient ceramic grinding stone. It’s a spice mill that’s easy to use, very effective and clearly shows the 90 Years of Swiss Precision.
Grinding can be such hard work and often too much effort needed for many, but not with this super rachet grinder because to grind, or mill your spices, you simply take the ratchet handle back and forth. It really couldn’t be easier for you to use and there is no strain whatsoever on your wrist. If you have dexterity issues and struggle with a traditional mill, then you will find this a total blessing and a real must-have purchase.
It is quick and easy to fill as there is a pull out door/spout at the front. You can also see how much you are filling it because there is a clear window at the front too. Now another plus point is that you are able to adjust the grind from fine through to coarse to suit your needs. For me this is a genius rachet grinder as it not only looks smart, it works brilliantly so you have the best of both worlds. You will, I am sure, also want to take this spice mill from your kitchen to the table as it has such a lovely design to it.
To fill your grinder just open the small door/spout on the front of the grinder and then add your salt, pepper or spices. To adjust the grinder, just turn the bottom knob clockwise for a finer grind and counter-clockwise for a coarser grind, it really is that easy. Then to grind simply hold the mill over your food and move the ratchet handle back and forth – and that’s it, job done!
Do avoid getting your mill and the contents damp, so it is best not to grind over a steaming pot. Also do not use cloves or star anise as they can damage your mill. Some spices are oilier than others and can clot your mill, so to clean just grind coarse salt through it which will remove any residue, or spice flavours. Hand wash and air dry thoroughly before using again.
I loved this mill and used it for salt crystals, peppercorns and spices and really appreciated what a high performance the ceramic grinding stone offered. However, being greedy, one mill is certainly not enough as I really do want to leave a pair on my dining table with coarse salt and black pepper in them. So Kuhn Rikon rachet grinders in grey are now on my Christmas ‘Wish List’.
Actually this rachet grinder will be a wonderful and welcomed Christmas gift and the perfect stocking filler. Please don’t forget that anyone with wrist problems or just stiff joints will love it. Don’t forget to check out the Kuhn Rikon website for more great gifts ideas, you’ll be spoilt for choice!
Price: from £19.95/normal price is £26.95
Colours: green, grey, red
Visit: kuhnrikon.co.uk
Free Delivery Over £45.00 and Free Returns | Exclusive UK Limited Lifetime Guarantee
Pembrokeshire has won a prestigious Sustainable Food Places award. The award recognises Pembrokeshire Local Food Partnership’s work to promote healthy, sustainable and local food and to tackle some of today’s greatest social challenges; from food poverty and diet-related ill-health, to the disappearance of family farms and the loss of independent food retailers.
The Sustainable Food Places Award is a national, evidence-based recognition and celebration of places taking a joined-up, holistic approach to sustainable and healthy food. Awardees have demonstrated activity and impact across their food system by the food partnership and their stakeholders to create a local ‘Good Food Movement’. This is recognition of the excellent work of the food partnership and of stakeholders across the area.
Sue Latham , Coordinator of Pembrokeshire Local Food Partnership, said:
“We’re absolutely delighted that Pembrokeshire has been recognised with the Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award. This is a testament to the hard work and collaboration of so many local people, organisations, and food producers who believe in the power of good food to strengthen our communities, support our farmers, and protect our environment. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together, from tackling food insecurity and supporting local growers, to making healthy, sustainable food accessible to everyone. We encourage you to visit our new website to find out more about the work happening across Pembrokeshire to build a thriving local food system.” www.plfp.co.uk
Leon Ballin, the Sustainable Food Places Programme Manager, said:
“The Pembrokeshire Local Food Partnership has shown just what can be achieved when creative and committed people work together to make healthy and sustainable food a defining characteristic of where they live. While there is still much to do and many challenges to overcome, Pembrokeshire has helped to set a benchmark for the other 120+ members of the UK Sustainable Food Places Network to follow. They should be very proud of the work that they have been doing to transform our collective food culture and food system for the better.”
Karen Morgan Awarded British Empire Medal for Outstanding Service to Lymphoedema Care
Lymphoedema Wales Clinical Network hosted by the Swansea Bay University Health Board proudly announces that Karen Mogan, Clinical and Education Lead of Lymphoedema Wales, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her exceptional contributions to lymphoedema care in Wales and internationally.
The medal was presented at a special ceremony held at Singleton Hospital Chapel, where dignitaries, colleagues, family, friends, and well wishers gathered to celebrate Karen’s achievements.
Mrs Louise Fleet, Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, presented the award on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III, commending Karen’s global impact and unwavering dedication to improving lives.
“The public honour system is unique and very special way to recognise exceptional people who do extraordinary things to enrich the lives of others, our communities, and our country”, said Mrs Fleet.
Tributes poured in from across the healthcare community. Mrs Jan Willilams CBE, Chair of Swansea Bay UHB expressed gratitude for Karen’s leadership, while Paul Davies, Acting Executive Nurse, described her as the ‘leader of P’s – Passionate, Persistent, Persuasive and always Patient-focused.
Tonia Antoniazzi MP for Gower called Karen’s work ‘Inspirational and truly deserving’ of national recognition.
Dr Melanie Thomas, Clinical Director of the Lymphoedema Network Wales, added
“Karen is a tireless advocate for people living with lymphoedema. She is a legacy maker, role model, and beacon of excellence in healthcare.”
In her acceptance speech, Karen reflected:
“This award isn’t just a personal milestone, it reflects the collective effort, passion, and dedication of so many people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside. I gladly accept this medal of behalf of the Lymphoedema Wales Clinical Network.”
The National Library of Wales is pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative, Film Skills for the Future, a project designed to strengthen the technical expertise of its Screen and Sound Archive team and advance the preservation of Wales’s audio-visual heritage.
Thanks to vital support from BFI National Lottery: Screen Heritage Organisational Skills Fund, this project will provide targeted training in film handling, inspection, digitisation, and post-production. The aim is to cultivate an agile, skilled, and adaptable workforce capable of meeting the growing challenges of audio-visual preservation.
Delivered through structured internal workshops and hands-on mentoring, Film Skills for the Future will promote effective knowledge transfer and practical skills development. This will ensure that the Screen and Sound Archive technical team is equipped to deliver a range of high-quality services to protect the nations audiovisual heritage.
A key output of the project will be the creation of publicly accessible documentation detailing best practice for the digitisation of historic film collections. This resource will be shared widely, supporting other heritage and archival organisations in adopting effective preservation strategies.
Scott Waby, Head of Collections Care at the National Library of Wales said:
“We’re very pleased to receive this support from the BFI and National Lottery to undertake this new and exciting initiative. Not only will enable it us to safeguard and develop essential specialist skills at the Library, but also allow us to share skills and knowledge with other organisations and the public, so that Wales’ audiovisual heritage is preserved for future generations.”
To broaden its impact, the project will also host three seminars for staff from heritage organisations across Wales, members of the public with an interest in film preservation and students specialising in archives, libraries, and related disciplines.
These outreach activities will foster knowledge-sharing, extend specialist expertise across the sector, and promote wider public engagement with audio-visual heritage.
The first event will take place on 2 December, with a full day of activities that include introducing treasures in the film collection, showing how archive footage is cared for and digitised, and an opportunity to see first-hand the equipment and techniques used to preserve Wales’ moving image heritage.
This important initiative has been made possible thanks to the support of the BFI and the National Lottery, whose investment is ensuring the sustainable development of film preservation skills in Wales and beyond.
Russell Watson – one of the world’s most captivating performers – is going on his most intimate tour ever.
The performer known as ‘The Voice’ will embark on an intimate 45-date tour across England, Wales and Scotland next autumn, kicking off at Thornden Hall, Chandlers Ford, on September 11, 2026.
Russell – the original crossover superstar – exploded on to the music scene with The Voice, a debut album that shattered records and won hearts across the globe.
Since then, he’s sold millions of albums, performed for popes, King Charles, the late Queen, presidents, and shared the stage with musical legends.
Now, in his most intimate tour to date, Russell will take audiences on a journey through the highs and lows of an extraordinary life – from chart-topping success to surviving not one, but two life-threatening illnesses. With warmth, humour, and a voice that soars, he’ll share the personal stories behind the spotlight.
Expect powerful renditions of beloved classics, spine-tingling vocals, and behind-the-scenes tales from a man who’s truly lived it all.
This is more than a concert – it’s a rare chance to spend an evening up close with The Voice himself.
Russell said:
“It’s hard to believe I have been in the business for 25 years – and what an incredible time I’ve had. I can’t wait to share the songs and stories that that shaped my career in the most intimate of settings!”
Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner Duo from Hair Gain
Hair Gain is a new company to me and I am delighted to have been introduced to them as they have cleverly created a refillable revolution in haircare that offers you 72 hours of hydration in seconds. Their Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner Starter Kit is Hair Gain’s latest innovation and is a luxurious and clinically tested duo that has been created to transform your hair wash days. The products have been developed with leading Trichologists and formulated with advanced peptides, vitamins, and marshmallow root to deliver deep hydration, visible strength as well as giving your hair enduring shine from the very first use. Plus this is delivered to you in an eco-friendly refillable bottle system, what is not to love?
This scientifically proven duo helps reduce hair fall and breakage by up to 64% after just one use*, whilst soothing your scalp and restoring your hair’s natural vitality. Infused with Marshmallow Root Extract for deep hydration, Pea Peptides for strength and resilience along with Phytantriol and Panthenol for lasting moisture and protection, B vitamins including Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) & Niacinamide (vitamin B3) for lasting moisture and protection. With 94% of testers agreeing their hair felt nourished after one use** the Hair Gain Hydrating range promotes
thicker, fuller and healthier-looking hair that radiates with vitality.
The Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner range is available now at
* Independently tested (Brushing Test) September 2025. Results achieved when using the shampoo & conditioner together as a regime.
** Data from an Independent Consumer Perception Survey of 67 women using the shampoo & conditioner for 2 weeks. (72 hours post use)
After shampooing, then follow with Hair Gain’s hydrating conditioner that has been infused with a powerful blend of Pea Peptides, Marshmallow Root Extract, Phytantriol, and a B Vitamin Complex that includes Panthenol & Niacinamide. You’ll find it strengthens each strand of your hair as it also boosts your hair volume, shine and manageability. Pea Peptides reinforce your hair’s structure to prevent breakage and add instant body, whilst Marshmallow Root Extract locks in moisture and soothes your scalp for ultimate hydration. Phytantriol supports colour protection and Niacinamide improves elasticity for long-term hair health.
The range is crafted from 100% recycled materials and these sleek, reusable bottles are designed to hold the shampoo and conditioner refills. Hair Gain are offering a stylish, sustainable alternative to single-use plastic and for me this is so important, I only wish other companies would follow Hair Gain’s example and make more refills.
Let me summarise the key benefits:
Up to 64% less hair fall and breakage after one use*
Deeply hydrates and nourishes both hair and scalp
Strengthens strands for thicker, fuller-looking hair
Dermatologically tested and Trichologist approved
Vegan, Halal certified, and safe for coloured or treated hair
This is a clever foam to give you thicker hair as it reduces hair shed to help you get fuller and thicker hair. The foam deeply penetrates your scalp and absorbs quickly. It is easy to apply with minimum wastage. It is 100% Vegan friendly, cruelty free, Halal Certified. It has been formulated without Alcohol, Sulphates, Silicon and Parabens.
As you apply the Scalp Foam directly to your scalp, it is quickly absorbed without leaving any kind of residue. The foam provides long lasting moisture whilst it revitalises your scalp. As with all Hair Gain products, their AnaGain technology, technology – derived from organic pea shoots – along with science backed vitamins and actives to reinforce scalp health and help stimulate hair follicles, along with other key vitamins and ingredients, that help to stimulate your hair and prevent hair damage. You’ll find you scalp feels much more refreshed and your hair looks fuller after every application.
Just use this fast-absorbing, water-based formula scalp foam on dry or towel-dried hair. You apply it directly onto your scalp and hair line. Massage evenly into sectioned hair. There’s no need to rinse. Use daily and style your hair as normal, knowing that there will be zero sticky residue. Use 5 -10 pumps of foam each day or sufficient to cover your scalp.
Inspired by her own struggle with post-partum hair loss, Lucy Palmer drew on her experience in the field of nutrition to create Hair Gain – a range of award-winning supplements and topicals that help to reduce hair shed, support healthy hair and promote thicker and fuller locks.
Plans are progressing to create a bright new future for a popular visitor destination located in the heart of South Wales Valleys.
Earlier this year, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Caerphilly County Borough Council invited interested parties to submit proposals to enhance the recreational offer at Cwmcarn Forest Drive and visitor centre.
The popular visitor attraction boasts a breathtaking scenic drive as well as a visitor centre, coffee shop, camping facilities, play areas and lodges.
A number of ambitious bids have been submitted and the council and NRW are now in the process of assessing and shortlisting the proposals, before a successful bidder is selected.
This process will cumulate in the site being offered to a commercial developer. They will be given the opportunity to operate the current facility and to build on it, by funding, designing and constructing additional recreational facilities at the site, helping to add value to the current offer.
Cllr Jamie Pritchard, Deputy Leader of Caerphilly council said,
“We are pleased with the level of interest that has been expressed in this exciting commercial opportunity to breathe new life into the attraction. Cwmcarn offers a unique and exciting opportunity to create a landmark visitor destination for South Wales that will also attract people from across the UK.”
“We now look forward to progressing to the next stage of the selection process as we determine who will be best placed to secure and enhance the long-term future of this much-loved visitor attraction.”
“We will keep the community updated in due course,” he added.
NFU Cymru has called on Welsh Government to find a solution to the serious impact that the 182-day threshold for self-catering accommodation is having on diversified farm businesses.
Members across Wales have repeatedly expressed frustration that, while they have been encouraged by government to diversify, the increase from 70 to 182 bookable days has pushed many farm based self-catering units into unaffordable council tax liabilities when they fall short of the new threshold. For many diversified businesses, the shift implemented in April 2023 has turned what was intended as a supplementary and stabilising income stream into a source of financial stress.
The union shared its members’ concerns in its response to Welsh Government’s consultation on proposed changes to the classification of self-catering properties for local tax purposes. While the consultation proposes an ‘averaging rule’ to account for variations in booking patterns, NFU Cymru believes this change does not go far enough for genuine Welsh self-catering businesses that cannot realistically reach 182 days. Tourism patterns, weather, farming workload and school holiday changes all influence booking levels in a way that is largely outside farmers’ control.
NFU Cymru Rural Affairs Board Chairman Hedd Pugh said:
“Members have diversified often in good faith with Welsh Government support, yet around 40% of self-catering businesses are now failing to meet the 182-day rule. This indicates that the target is simply too high and is stifling confidence, investment and job creation in rural communities. NFU Cymru is calling for a more realistic figure based on robust data.
“Concerns were raised prior to implementation of the 182-day threshold, and these concerns have now materialised. Members report stress and uncertainty at a time when they are already under pressure due to changes in inheritance tax.
“The wider impacts on rural Wales must also be recognised. A shortage of visitors reduces spending in pubs, shops and local services, while ongoing running costs for rural businesses continue to rise. The reduction in summer holiday weeks will only compound booking challenges for many operators who rely on seasonal demand.
“NFU Cymru is urging Welsh Government to adopt a clear, data-driven solution that reflects the realities of genuine self-catering businesses in rural Wales. We believe a more flexible approach – supported by accurate local data and recognition of external factors – will help protect vital diversified income streams that support farming families and rural economies.
“NFU Cymru will continue to represent the concerns of members and push for workable policies that sustain both diversification and the long-term resilience of Welsh farming.”
Elidyr Communities Trust are looking for festive donations to help grow an exciting new programme of music therapy for young adults with additional learning needs and/or disabilities that live and learn with the charity located near Llandovery.
Elidyr’s onsite therapy team already includes occupational, speech & language, and positive behaviour support. Having a qualified team available means that every person who attends the charity’s specialist further education college – Coleg Elidyr – or their community residency programme – Inclusive Lives – gets the benefit of tailored individual therapeutic support.
The music therapy programme started in September following the recruitment of Sally Greenaway, who said,
“Music therapy gives young people with learning disabilities a voice beyond words. It can provide a way to express, connect and belong that reaches where language cannot.
“Music is not just sound; it can function as a bridge to communication and joy. By having music therapy provision, we can give a space for people to be heard and understood without judgement. Music therapy helps people grow emotionally, socially and creatively by expanding horizons gently and powerfully.”
Rhythm, melody and structured activities that incorporate music help to improve focus, reduce anxiety, and support emotional regulation. It often encourages participation and connection in ways that feel safe and enjoyable, especially for those who struggle with traditional forms of communication or who may be non-verbal.
Paul Lawless, Head of Development said,
“Since we introduced music therapy, we’ve seen how much joy it has brought to people here. Each young person has a place with us funded by their local authority. This funding is not enough to give every learner and resident all the full range of incredible experiences we want to offer. So, this festive season we are reaching out to friends, family, local businesses and music-lovers to ask if they can help us fill our hallways with the sound of music. Every penny makes a difference.”
Martyn is a long-standing resident on the Inclusive Lives provision, and he has become the poster man for the charity’s festive appeal as he has always had a deep connection to music.
Martyn was one of the first people to get stuck in when we had a taster session with a music therapist earlier in the year. He’s been a keen performer and attender of gigs and musical events his whole life.
Martyn’s dad, Steve explains,
“Martyn feels about live music the way some people feel about football – he goes from his usual passive, laisse-faire default to alert, engaged and smiling so much the top of his head might fall off! Martyn likes all music, but live music – listening or playing – is most definitely his happy place.”
If you’d like to help Elidyr Communities Trust fill hearts and hallways with the sound of music, please consider donating to the appeal.
There is broad support for regulated lethal control of wild deer to reduce their numbers and impacts among subscribers of nature organisations in England and Wales, a new study has found.
According to research led by Bangor University and published in People and Nature, it was the most supported and widely used deer management practice.
The authors of the study believe that the findings might help nature organisations and decision makers feel more confident about recommending its use.
Researchers at Bangor University and the universities of Reading and Southampton co-designed a questionnaire with nature organisations Forest Research, Woodland Trust, Sylva Foundation and Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust to investigate perceptions toward wild deer and their management.
Of the 3,936 people surveyed, 85% either supported or strongly supported lethal control, followed by tree guards (82%), and deer fencing (69%).
The questionnaire was distributed to subscribers of five national nature organisations. Two of these organisations (Sylva Foundation; The Woodland Trust) focus on woodland management, while three (British Association for Shooting and Conservation; British Deer Society; Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust) focus on wildlife management.
The research team, which also included academics from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and University of Leeds, collected data from farmers, land managers, deer stalkers, foresters, conservationists, and people not involved in land management.
Wild deer populations are increasing across the northern hemisphere, posing challenges to the environment and people. As well as damaging food crops and trees, increased deer numbers are causing significant damage to the ecology of our woodlands reducing the diversity of plants, insects and birds that use these habitats. There are also concerns about more deer-vehicle collisions and disease transmission to livestock and humans.
In addition, increasing deer numbers present a challenge to UK government policies aiming to expand woodland cover and transition to net zero by 2050.
The work was funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) project iDeer, which is led by Dr Becks Spake, Associate Professor in Climate and Environmental Change at the University of Southampton. The purpose of the project is to enhance strategic woodland creation and management that minimises deer impacts.
Postdoctoral Research Officer at Bangor University Dr Elena Cini said,
“Increased densities and distributions of wild deer can threaten woodland creation and resilience and impact biodiversity through intensive grazing and browsing. This presents a challenge to government policies aiming to expand woodland cover and transition to net zero by 2050. Since wild deer are highly mobile, strategies to manage their populations, such as lethal control should be implemented across large areas to be effective. This requires cooperation between landowners and widespread public support.”
Dr Freya St. John, Reader in Conservation Science at Bangor University said,
“Most respondents reported having wild deer on their property, and experiencing deer impacts, such as damage to trees and hedges. Lethal control received strong support across our sample. However, differing opinions on deer and land management make it challenging for neighbours to collaborate on managing deer. Broad support for lethal control could help nature organisations and decision makers feel more confident about recommending its use, since they often depend on public backing.”
Dr Becks Spake, Associate Professor in Climate and Environmental Change at the University of Southampton said,
“Deer hold multiple values across society; ecological, cultural, aesthetic, and economic, yet they can also pose real challenges to tree planting. As we expand woodland creation to meet net zero targets, understanding how different groups navigate this tension is crucial. Our research shows that while there’s broad support for management interventions, including lethal control, differing perspectives between neighbours can make collaboration challenging. Understanding diverse views is essential for developing landscape-scale strategies that work for diverse stakeholders and achieve woodland creation targets.”
Moelfre is a beautiful village, in a sheltered bay. It has a long history, yet one event still lives in the memory of Moelfre: the wreck of The Royal Charter.
October 2025 marked the 166 anniversary of the disaster. It has had a proud lifeboat station for many years. 100 years to the day after the loss of The Royal Charter they put to sea to rescue the crew of The Hindlea. It hit the same rocks – now called “The Royal Charter Rocks” – but this time all were saved.
They could do nothing in 1859. It was impossible to launch lifeboats in the “Royal Charter Storm.” The fiercest in living memory, a hurricane. 133 ships were wrecked, 90 were badly damaged. In conditions of such ferocity all ships were entirely alone.
The Royal Charter [1]
When Charles Dickens arrived to view the scene at the end of December 1859 everything was calm. He watched divers continuing to recover gold from the wreck, divers who had spent Christmas on the rocky beach, with roast beef and rum. In the days after the disaster sovereigns had been scattered over the beach like seashells but they had long since been collected.
It was quiet when we were there too. Just ourselves and a couple playing with their dog on the pebble beach below the holiday caravans positioned carefully for the splendid view.
It wasn’t what Dickens saw. He saw “masses of iron, twisted by the fury of the sea into the strangest forms.” He comments that no more bodies had come ashore since last night.
Although the wreck was only 25 yards from the shore it took months for the bodies to come ashore. There were so many of them. Perhaps 450. He expected that the spring tides would dislodge others still trapped in the wreckage. A grim harvest from an angry sea.
The Royal Charter broke up on these rocks near Moelfre [2]
Dickens had come to see the Rector of St Gallgo’s church in Llanallgo, at the top of the hill above Moelfre. This was Stephen Roose Hughes, another prodigious writer, a man who opened his house and his heart to distressed strangers. He was a true and unaffected Christian, “delightfully genuine”, with “noble modesty.” What he had done, with the help of his wife and of his brother, another clergyman, Hugh Robert Hughes, was worthy of recognition. Dickens travelled from London to offer his respect.
Stephen Roose Hughes became one of the heroes of the Royal Charter. His church, St. Gallgo’s is one of the oldest Christian sites in Anglesey. He turned it into a mortuary where he worked “surrounded by eyes that could not see him,” amongst dead strangers who someone else had loved.
And in the end he also became one of its victims.
You can read Charles Dickens’ admiration for Hughes in “The Uncommercial Traveller.” He tells us how Hughes examined ripped clothes and buttons, how he looked for distinguishing scars, crooked toes, tattoos. And all the time he was wrapped in the suffering and pain of others, seeking those they had lost so suddenly.
Their graves are scattered all over the north side of Anglesey, wherever the bodies washed ashore. They make the story of the shipwreck so horribly real. In Llanallgo there is the small stone for William Thompson from Cardross in Dumbartonshire who was an engineer in Hobart Tasmania. There is also a large chest tomb containing a family – James Davies and Louisa Francis and four of their children – twin daughters Sophie and Florence and their sons Walter and Derwent. The tragedy is still alive. The descendants of Marius Boyle, a miner who was lost, laid a memorial outside the door to the church for him in 2004.
St Gallgo's Church, Llanallgo [3]
At least they are named. In St Mary’s Church in Pentraeth there are stones paid for by Lady Vivien from Plas Gwyn. There are six small graves planted in a square. In the middle there is a larger stone erected in 1876. “Near this stone lie buried six bodies which were washed ashore in this parish.They shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my jewels.”
The Royal Charter, built to bring Australia that bit closer, now lies beneath the sea. Much of the gold was recovered by those salvage divers in the months after the wreck. But it is still visited by divers, who still believe in treasure.
It didn’t get off to a good start. It was built in the Sandycroft shipbuilding yard near Chester for the Australian Steam Navigation Company. The launch in July 1855 inspired great interest, “on account of its vast proportions and the novelty of the construction of such a ship on the banks of the Dee.” It was a steam clipper, a hybrid ship, built of steel. It was a sailing vessel but with the addition of a steam driven propeller installed to keep the ship moving in calm conditions.
On 26 August 1859 she left Melbourne for the last time. There were about 371 passengers and a crew of 112. There was plenty of official gold on board. There was a consignment in the cargo – Captain Taylor signed a receipt for £322,440 of gold. But the passengers had plenty of their own, their personal fortunes carefully accumulated in the gold mines. Thus the true wealth on board can never be accurately calculated.
It was a tough voyage with bad weather throughout but the ship made excellent time. The Northern Times tells us that “the greatest happiness prevailed amongst the passengers,” and, in an act of some irony, “off Ireland a collection was made for a testimonial to Captain Taylor and a purse made by the lady passengers for Rev Mr Hodge of New Zealand, who had discharged the religious duties during the voyage.” In spite of the difficulties this was a record breaking run. Only 55 days to Ireland.
St Mary’s Church in Pentraeth [4]
Then on 25 October the barometer started to fall dramatically. The Captain did not put into Holyhead as Brunel’s SS Great Eastern had already done. He wanted to outrun the approaching storm and maintain the ship’s reputation for speed and service. It was 1.30 pm.
Off Bardsey Island the steam tug United Kingdom came alongside and asked if they would give a lift to eleven riggers on their way back to Liverpool. They boarded a ship heading for disaster.
Taylor signalled for a pilot to guide him into Liverpool from Point Lynas near Amlwch but it was impossible to reach the ship. The winds reached hurricane force and swung around from east to north east, driving the ship inexorably towards Anglesey. They tried to fight the sea with their steam engines but they were powerless. At 11.00 pm Taylor dropped anchor but within 2 hours their chains snapped. The crew frantically chopped down the masts to reduce the drag of the wind but it made little difference. Then the propellers stopped, possibly fouled by the abandoned rigging. She drifted powerless on to a sandbank. They fired rockets and distress flares but the storm was so fierce that those on the shore could do nothing other than watch. Boats were lowered but were instantly smashed.
On the ship things were grim indeed. The Captain tried to reassure passengers that they were secure now they were on a sandbank. They were so close to the shore that they were sure of rescue. But however he tried to re-assure the passengers, he knew things were desperate. He quietly sent one of the crew to smash all the bottles of drink in the stateroom to stop the crew drinking them. One of the few survivors described the scene. “Families were all clinging to each other; children were crying out piteously.” Reverend Hodge held a prayer meeting.
At this moment a crew member offered to swim to the shore in the boiling sea with a line. This was Joseph Rogers, although his real name was Giuseppi Ruggier, a Maltese seaman. His act of heroism was recorded by the artist Henry O’Neil in 1860 in a painting called “A Volunteer.” Although badly injured by the waves that crashed him into the rocks, he managed to take a line to the shore. As a result 39 men were saved. Women were reluctant to trust their lives to the bosun’s chair they rigged up. Crew members used it and joined in the rescue from the shore but no women or children were saved, though two boys aged 11 and 9 may have been washed ashore at Conwy, strapped to a plank and launched by their father.
Survivor of the Royal Charter shipwreck Guzeppi Ruggier anglicised to Joseph Rogers [5]
Just before 7.00 am on 26 October 1859 the rising tide picked up the ship and drove her onto the rocks just to the north of Moelfre. Winds of over 100 mph broke the ship in half. Passengers were “closed up in the jaws of death.” They fell into the sea with machinery and ironwork. In these conditions they had no hope at all. At the bow the crew were still desperately operating the bosun’s chair. At the stern the remaining passengers could only watch, separated from this fragile line to safety. Soon both sections were destroyed by the power of the waves. Iron work recovered from the wreck had sovereigns, and in one case a gold bar, driven into them as if it were clay.
No one really knows how many died or what the ship was carrying, for the Purser and his records were lost. It is believed that at least 450 died so close to the shore. It is said that many were dragged to the bottom by their money belts stuffed with gold before being beaten to death on the rocks.
Captain Taylor “succumbed to a sailor’s fate.” He was seen struggling in the water until a boat fell, hitting him on the head. He wasn’t seen again.
The men of Moelfre formed a human chain and reached out into the waves to rescue who they could. They became known as “The 28”, but in truth there was little they could do. The storm was sudden and it was shocking and then it was over. Their shoreline was covered in gold – and in bodies.
It was reported by the steamer Druid which arrived in Liverpool from Anglesey, having seen out the storm, that the wreck was being plundered and that the military had been dispatched to protect property. But there were also conflicting reports that everything found had been handed in to the Customs House agents who kept a record of it all. The truth probably lies somewhere between. One reporter says “I saw men picking sovereigns out of the holes of the rocks as if they were shellfish.” You can’t really blame them. There is a long tradition of gathering what you can from the sea. The militia from Beaumaris and an Army detachment from Chester arrived to protect the gold. Certainly the greatest part was recovered. But local knowledge is always crucial. Some was sure to have got away. And some scraps are sure to be there still.
There is a memorial Stone erected in 1935 above the rocks where The Royal Charter was smashed. It is on the beautiful Anglesey coastal path. You can stand by it and look down at the quiet sea as we did, beneath which the wreck still lies. Still visited by divers, who talk like fishermen of the big one that got away, of gold that appears and then slips away again in the tide. It is a skeleton of bulkheads and ribs that never changes.
It surrendered its dead slowly. Bodies were washed up on the beaches of Anglesey for weeks afterwards. Dealing with them was a mammoth task.
Memorial Stone [6]
Roose Hughes realised that something needed to be done, and something that preserved dignity and humanity in the aftermath of this shocking tragedy. He took the lead. The people were paid ten shillings for each body they brought up the steep track to the church of St Gallgo. It was not a great deal for such awful work. They were laid out in the church which became a mortuary. The furniture was removed and services held in the Church school which later also held the inquest.
Many turned up to find bodies of their loved ones. The visitors would speak to the Rector and offer some details. Then Roose Hughes and his wife would search the long rows of bodies. If they felt they had a positive identification, they would take the relatives in to the church blindfolded to save them from the horror of the scene. They would allow them only to see one particular body.
Many more wrote letters. Roose Hughes replied to every one of them. Yet sometimes there was little to say. Bodies were often battered beyond possible identification. Many had dressed in haste and were not wearing their own clothes. Sailors could sometimes be identified by their tattoos but it was harder with passengers. The presence of a receipt for the purchase of a parrot about which the family had heard in a letter was not always sufficient. Many parrots went down with the ship. But he did what he could, checking and listing possessions, and noting distinguishing features.
Obelisk, St Gallgo's Church, Llanallgo [7]
Roose Hughes realised that something needed to be done, and something that preserved dignity and humanity in the aftermath of this shocking tragedy. He took the lead. The people were paid ten shillings for each body they brought up the steep track to the church of St Gallgo. It was not a great deal for such awful work. They were laid out in the church which became a mortuary. The furniture was removed and services held in the Church school which later also held the inquest.
Many turned up to find bodies of their loved ones. The visitors would speak to the Rector and offer some details. Then Roose Hughes and his wife would search the long rows of bodies. If they felt they had a positive identification, they would take the relatives in to the church blindfolded to save them from the horror of the scene. They would allow them only to see one particular body.
Many more wrote letters. Roose Hughes replied to every one of them. Yet sometimes there was little to say. Bodies were often battered beyond possible identification. Many had dressed in haste and were not wearing their own clothes. Sailors could sometimes be identified by their tattoos but it was harder with passengers. The presence of a receipt for the purchase of a parrot about which the family had heard in a letter was not always sufficient. Many parrots went down with the ship. But he did what he could, checking and listing possessions, and noting distinguishing features.
145 bodies were buried in the small churchyard in graves of four and then exhumed and reburied when identification was possible. Sometimes Roose Hughes performed a funeral service twice over the same body. He saw all this as his duty.
He replied to every letter he received, offering comfort and understanding. He wrote 1075 replies. The effects on him were considerable. Dickens noted that he was “unable for a time to eat or drink more than a little coffee now and then, and a piece of bread.” He absorbed grief and pain and yearning and in so doing exhausted himself. It says as much on his grave.
His noble and disinterested exertions on the memorable occasion of the terrible wreck of The Royal Charter are well known throughout the world. The subsequent effects of those exertions proved too much for his constitution and suddenly brought him to an early grave.
The grave of Stephen Roose Hughes [8]
Today his church is neat and comfortable, recently restored after a serious fire, but the memorial is collapsing. The obelisk was raised by public subscription and was placed in the church but was moved outside in the early 20th century. The ground on which it stands is unstable and the obelisk leans and sags.
His grave, erected by his widow Jane Anne, was also neglected for many years but now restored, it rests behind its railings. A proper memorial to a hero.
Powys Teaching Health Board is inviting Powys residents to a series of 13 community drop-in events as part of its Better Together programme.
The “Your Health Services” drop-in events are taking place between November and February, beginning in Brecon on Wednesday 26 November and concluding in Crickhowell on Thursday 12 February.
“Better Together is our big conversation with the people of Powys to shape the future of the county’s health services. We know that health services are facing challenges right now. So, it is vital that we work with local communities to develop a plan that meets the health needs of Powys communities over the next 10 to 25 years and beyond.
“In recent years the county has experienced lots of changes. Communities are getting older – and, as we age, more people are living with multiple health conditions. The legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic still affects services, with rising demand for treatments and growing waiting lists. Increases in living costs affect the way we manage our own health and wellbeing. And changes in society mean that the proportion of people of working age is reducing. By working together we can develop solutions that work for Powys.”
Residents will be able to speak with members of the health board’s Engagement Team, find out more about the Better Together programme, and share their views on health services.
“During 2025 the Better Together programme has focused on physical and mental health community services for adults, as well as the temporary changes to wards and Minor Injury Units. Looking ahead we will also focus on services for women and children, planned care, and diagnostic services. Our community events between November and February are your chance to find out more and have your say on the work so far, and on the future.”
Alongside Better Together and temporary service changes, information will also be available on a range of services including the free online SilverCloud mental health support service, Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys, Help Us Help You and more.
The 13 drop-in events are taking 3pm to 6pm at a series of venues across the county:
Wednesday 26 November at the Guildhall in Brecon
Friday 28 November at the Strand in Builth Wells
Tuesday 2 December at Hafan Yr Afon in Newtown
Thursday 4 December at the Miners Welfare in Ystradgynlais
Tuesday 9 December at the Corn Exchange in Welshpool
Wednesday 10 December at The Comm in Knighton
Tuesday 6 January at the Institute in Llanfair Caereinion
Thursday 8 January at Y Plas in Machynlleth
Thursday 15 January at the Youth & Community Centre in Llanfyllin
Wednesday 22 January at the Swan in Hay & Talgarth
Tuesday 27 January at the Community Centre in Llanidloes
Tuesday 3 February at the Pavillion in Llandrindod Wells
Thursday 12 February at Clarence Hall in Crickhowell
The Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, has confirmed that the Welsh Government is on track to deliver £2 million funding for Local Food Partnerships in 2025-26.
The announcement was made at the Wales Real Food and Farming conference taking place in Bridgend – an independent conference on sustainable food and farming
Communities across Wales will benefit from stronger local food networks as every local authority in Wales now has an active partnership supporting local producers, tackling food poverty and promoting healthier food choices.
Local Food Partnerships bring together farmers, community organisations, public bodies and businesses to build resilient food systems. The funding, enables partnerships to develop infrastructure, create new local supply opportunities and support growers entering horticulture.
Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said:
“Our Community Food Strategy set out how there are opportunities to encourage local food supply by building relationships between local producers, food and drink businesses and the network of community food initiatives.
“Better connections within communities around food can be used to encourage healthier food choices, tackle food poverty and support social inclusion. Importantly, encouraging environmentally responsible production methods, through community-based growing and horticulture, can provide benefits for our natural environment.
“All of this aligns with our ambition to connect communities, drive progress for a healthier Wales, create green jobs and growth, and provide opportunity for every family.
“I’m delighted to see the exciting opportunities that are being created through the Local Food Partnerships Funding – which brings people together to consider ways to drive forwards sustainable food and farming in Wales.”
To date, 22 small-scale projects have been awarded grants of up to £22,500 to deliver innovative practices in local authority areas across Wales. Examples include:
Bwyd Powys Food piloting a scheme for subsidised veg boxes, cooking classes and shared meals in Flying Start settings, working with the Council, Health Board and local growers
Bwyd Ceredigion mapping current and potential edible horticulture provision, co-producing a horticultural diversification action plan with farmers
Conwy Food Partnership developing a targeted engagement campaign to embed community voices into the food partnership
Food Sense Wales, the delivery arm of Sustainable Food Places for Wales, has been overseeing this process through a central supporting role for the Local Food Coordinators, which includes one to one and peer support; encouraging the development.
Pearl Costello, Sustainable Food Places Manager at Food Sense Wales, said:
“It’s great to see Wales’ network of Local Food Partnerships flourishing and creating a real, positive impact in their communities. It’s also really encouraging to see a diverse range of projects being supported.
“These grants will help communities across Wales respond to their areas’ needs as they work to create healthier, more resilient and sustainable local food systems.”
A list of all grants awarded can also be found on the Food Sense Wales Resources page Food Sense Wales
AROUND 80 pupils aged 16–18 from nine schools across south Wales stepped into the shoes of politicians, journalists and lobbyists today (Tuesday, 18 November) to debate the future of the planet.
Taking part in a COP30 Climate Simulation Negotiation at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff, the students experienced what it’s really like to negotiate a global climate deal.
The event, which was delivered by British Council Wales and the Welsh Centre for International Affairs, washeld in parallel with COP30 in Belém, Brazil – used cutting-edge simulation software developed by MIT to recreate the pressures, compromises, and diplomacy that shape real-world climate negotiations. The pupils took on roles as delegates from major nations, corporate lobbyists, and international media representatives, all working to tackle the critical goal of keeping global warming below 1.5°C.
Guided by facilitators Dan Boyden and Professor Matthew Davies from Swansea University, participants spent the day negotiating how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support developing nations and adapt to the impacts of climate change to protect people and cities worldwide, before concluding with remarks from Huw Davies, Managing Director of the Centre for Multilateral Negotiations.
Although the group ultimately agreed on a final outcome of 1.9°C, the process highlighted the difficult decisions and trade-offs faced in real global negotiations.
Leading the negotiations were Jamie Rey and Rosanna Koo, pupils from Cardiff & Vale College and Cardiff Sixth Form, who took on the role of the United Nations Secretariat.
Speaking at the event, Jamie said:
“As Secretary-General, I focused on whether each group’s pledges were actually realistic. In the first round, even countries like the USA were being unusually cooperative, so I challenged them on their trade relationships and financial interests. I also spoke with developing countries about what they could reasonably commit to, and how they might use resources like ecotourism to strengthen their negotiating position.
“We fell short of the 1.5°C goal because the simulation reflected the same political pressures we see in real life. With the current global climate, many world leaders are distracted by other crises, and climate action risks being pushed aside – even though it affects every future generation. That’s why activism and accurate communication are so important.
“I study Government and Politics and hope to go into political journalism. I want young people to understand what’s really happening in the world and to be able to trust the information they receive. Taking part in this event has strengthened my ambition to help make that happen.”
Pupils from across south Wales got down to negotiations at the COP30 Simulation event
Hayley Morgan, Chief Executive WCIA, commented:
“We were delighted to welcome so many young people to the Temple of Peace today. It’s a building with a long history of bringing people together from across Wales and the world to address the challenges of our time. At the WCIA, we work with communities to understand how we are globally interconnected and how our actions impact on one another.
“Today’s event gave young people in Wales the opportunity to think about and act on the issue of global climate change, as they looked to play their part in making positive changes for us all. The event showed that we must work together to share knowledge, listen to each other and ensure all voices are heard in finding the solutions we need.”
This Cardiff event follows successful simulations held in Edinburgh, London, Brazil and Belfast, with COP30 in Belém, Brazil running until this Friday, 21 November 2025.
Ruth Cocks, Director, British Council Wales, added:
“This UN debate simulation puts young people in Wales at the heart of the global climate conversation. As COP30 unfolds in Belém, these pupils are stepping into the shoes of world leaders, grappling with complex issues, questioning assumptions, and learning how to build consensus across cultures. This blend of critical thinking, empathy and global awareness will define the next generation of changemakers. The British Council is committed to nurturing these skills here in Wales, empowering our young people to take their place confidently on the global stage and help build the outward-looking, globally connected Wales we want to be.”
The simulation forms part of the British Council’s Schools Connect programme, which links schools in the UK with others around the world. Through this programme, the British Council helps educators bring international perspectives into the classroom and supports young people to build the knowledge, skills, and global outlook needed to respond to shared challenges such as climate change.
Through its Climate Connection programme, the British Council is also supporting people worldwide to find creative and practical solutions to the climate crisis — working with educators, students, artists, researchers, civil society, and policymakers in the lead-up to and beyond COP30.
This event continues the British Council’s work, building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and overseas through arts, education and English language teaching. To find out more about their work in Wales visit wales.britishcouncil.org/en or follow on X Facebook, and Instagram.
Feature image: Pupils from Llanishen High School, who represented the USA, Ireland, Nigeria and fossil fuel lobbyists at today’s event at the Temple of Peace.
Ahead of World COPD Day (November 19th), Asthma + Lung UK Cymru is urging people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other respiratory illnesses to follow the charity’s health advice to help keep well this winter.
Winter COPD hospital admissions in Wales are 50% higher compared to summer COPD hospital admissions.
COPD is an umbrella term for a group of lung conditions, which cause breathing difficulties, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and symptoms of the disease include breathlessness, wheezing, a cough, coughing up phlegm and repeated chest infections.
In Wales 185,000 people are estimated to have been diagnosed with COPD and it is reported that many thousands are left undiagnosed.
People with lung conditions like COPD can end up seriously unwell over winter – as seasonal triggers like cold and flu, cold air, damp and mould make it harder to breathe.
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Cymru, said:
“If you have a lung condition like COPD, winter can be difficult. The best thing you can do to stay out of hospital this winter is to get your flu vaccine.
“Vaccinations save lives, reducing the spread of flu and helping your body fight the virus if you do get it so that you are less ill and less likely to need emergency treatment.
“Across Wales hospitals will be under strain with flu cases expected to peak between early January and mid-February with potential for the number of cases to grow further in the coming weeks.”
Dr Anthony Gibson, Clinical Lead for the National Strategic Clinical Network for Respiratory Conditions said:
“We are urging people to also sign up to our tailored health advice emails, to help keep people with lung conditions well this winter.
“People living with COPD face a higher risk of serious illness from flu, especially during the colder months. The winter flu jab is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself.
“The flu vaccine cannot give you flu. The jab doesn’t weaken your lungs, and it doesn’t interact badly with inhalers or COPD medicines. What it does do is help your body build protection so that, if you do come into contact with the flu virus, you’re far less likely to become severely unwell.
“Getting vaccinated reduces flare-ups, helps keep you out of hospital, and supports your breathing through the toughest part of the year. It’s quick, safe, and free for people with COPD.
“Protect your lungs. Please get your flu jab as soon as possible.”
Liz Moore 63 was diagnosed with COPD 5 years ago. She lives in Cardiff. She said:
“In winter, I try to keep as normal a life as possible.
“Luckily, the cold weather isn’t a trigger, but if it’s damp too, that can be tricky. I get all my vaccines, and I try to keep active. If friends have coughs or colds, they let me know so I can keep clear.
“If I’m on the bus, I do carry a mask with me, and I try to sit on my own and open a window, so I have some fresh air. I am always aware of my surroundings and if someone does start coughing on the bus, if I can, I try and move away.”
If you have COPD, stay warm and try to heat the rooms you spend a lot of time in to at least 18°C. Keeping your home warm and well-ventilated can also help prevent condensation, which can lead to mould and damp.
When you’re outside, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth to warm up the air you’re breathing in. Stay inside if it is too cold and windy for you. Protect yourself from colds, flu and viruses by getting your flu jab and other vaccinations you are eligible for, including RSV, COVID-19 and pneumonia, and avoiding people you know are unwell.
Take your medicine as prescribed even if you feel well. If your symptoms get worse, follow your self-management plan if you have one, and make an urgent appointment to see your GP. Do not wait for your symptoms to get better on their own.
To lessen the treat of becoming seriously unwell, the charity has a free Winter Wellness Guide to help people stay well this winter, which can be found here: www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/withyouthiswinter
The charity found that 96% of people who signed up last year found their winter health guide useful for managing their lung condition, and 71% of people who downloaded it last year said they felt better able to manage their lung condition through the winter season.
The crowds, the busyness of stalls,
with purse, with shop intent,
conventional the street of stores
to every city sent,
built close to calm of Swansea Bay.
Yet walk the main road, find the green
of centre’s open space,
near where the old stone castle walls
of stern historic face,
mere youth to age of Swansea Bay.
How drab the car parks’ grey cement
with concrete stairs to street,
the constant city storm of cars
cause noise and dust to meet
while glistens sun on Swansea Bay.
Take time to rest at Wind Street bars,
there sip a glass of wine:
or stroll beside the former docks,
where old and new combine,
and moored the boats from Swansea Bay.
That bay of graceful curve and sand
from Mumbles to the Gower,
sees ships and ferries cross its mouth
as waves bring rippling power
to city’s wealth of Swansea Bay.
————
Written by Martin Perry | Illustration by Jason O’Brien
St Davids, Pembrokeshire – Twr y Felin Hotel, Wales’ first contemporary art hotel, is delighted to announce the opening of its brand-new couple’s spa – a sanctuary of serenity designed to restore balance, renew the senses, and relax body and mind.
The exclusive new addition invites guests to unwind with hydrotherapy in a private setting, blending modern wellness design with calming natural elements. The spa is centred on the restorative power of water and offers a tranquil space for couples or small groups to indulge in moments of deep relaxation.
Guests can immerse themselves in the soothing, deep-seated whirlpool bath, induce improved circulation in our infrared sauna and cleanse in our steam shower. With heated loungers and a private terrace, accented by soft lighting and gentle music, it’s the perfect backdrop for an hour – or more – of rejuvenation.
One Hour Spa
For those seeking a shorter yet equally indulgent experience, the spa offers one-hour sessions, ideal for slipping away into serenity.
Monday – Thursday | £50 per person
Friday – Sunday | £60 per person
One-hour slots are bookable online. Should you wish to stay longer, additional hours must be arranged directly with the hotel and are subject to availability.
In addition to spa access, guests can enhance their wellness journey with an extensive menu of treatments, including aromatherapy massage, therapeutic body massage, Indian head massage, body exfoliation rituals, and Twr y Felin’s signature Encapsulate treatment.
“Our vision was to create a space where guests can slow down, breathe, and indulge in a restorative experience that leaves them feeling renewed,” said Emma Bowen, General Manager. “The spa complements our philosophy of creating exceptional experiences inspired by art, culture, and the surrounding Pembrokeshire landscape.”
Booking Information
The spa is open daily, with one-hour slots available to book online. Packages and extended visits must be reserved directly with the hotel’s reception team. Please note the spa is an adult-only environment and not suitable for pregnant guests.
Oral-B iO2 Night Black Electric Toothbrush + Travel Case Limited Edition (Boxed)
My first question dear reader, is when did you last change your toothbrush head? I wonder if you are like me and can honestly say – I’ve no idea! So to combat that issue why not get the iO2 as it comes with a new brush head that has Smart Bristles? Now these bristles are actually ‘smart’ as they now fully fade their colour to white as their cleaning capacity fades. So now you have no excuse to ignore when a new brush head is needed so you can then get back to 100% cleaning power.
If you are still using a manual toothbrush please put this new Oral-B iO2 on your Christmas wish list as you seriously need to make that switch to electric. It has been cleverly crafted to effortlessly transition manual toothbrush users to electric toothbrushes by bringing Oral-B’s iO technology to life with one simple touch. I need the one simple touch as I find it less confusing, less fiddly and it is so easy to use. With 3 quiet cleaning modes, it is best to start off with the super-sensitive mode which will give you a gentle cleaning experience and then you can move onto the sensitive mode and the third mode, is my favourite, a daily clean mode. You just have to choose which mode you prefer and then it is saved for your next clean.
You’ll also appreciate the 2 minute timer as 2 minutes is the dentist recommended time for you to brush so you that you can give your teeth a proper clean. The Automatic Gum Pressure Sensor slows down brush speed and flashes red when too much pressure is applied to ensure your gums are protected The Oral-B iO gives you a simpler, more intuitive cleaning experience and what also impressed me is that it is tough on plaque removal yet gentle on your gums. Inspired by dentists the round brush head surrounds your teeth, skilfully adapting to their unique shape and it really does remove 100% more bacterial plaque than regular manual brushes, even getting into those hard-to-reach areas of the mouth as the head has thousands of inner & outer bristles angled at 16° that give you superior plaque removal. The spiralled bristle pattern adapts to your unique tooth surfaces for an all-round clean with dual-length bristles for cleaning. Both you and your hygienist will appreciate that with this brush you can really get to those awkward back teeth!
So let me give you a recap on why I loved this brush so much. It’s iO Technology gives you an All-in-1 Power Button to activate it and then it is tough on any plaque but kind and gentle on your gums. This iO2 has a Clinical Performance that has been so cleverly designed to offer you and your teeth superior cleaning as it has precisely angled bristles that are able to lift and remove plaque even in hard-to-reach places, It offers you more bacterial plaque removal in hard-to-reach areas versus a regular manual toothbrush and guarantees gum protection with 100% healthier gums, again versus a regular manual toothbrush.
I have never heard of Smart Bristle Technology before but I am certainly impressed with it. I know that dental professionals recommend changing brush heads every 3-4 months, but we are not all the same so our individual needs are often different. So having Smart Bristles let you know when you need a new brush head is such a clever idea and replacements heads are available at Oral-B website.
Your Oral-B iO comes charged and ready to go and it has a long lasting battery which I really appreciated. Start off by putting toothpaste onto the head and then place in your mouth before you turn the brush on. Let the toothbrush do all the work and do resist trying to scrub your teeth, there’s no need tom this clever machine has your teeth covered! Using the one touch button, press to start in the Super Sensitive mode but then later try the Sensitive and then the Daily Clean Mode. I appreciated that this iO came with its own travel case which makes it perfect to take with you whilst you are travelling or on holiday. Every electric toothbrush in the Oral-B iO series is waterproof, but please don’t submerge it in water for lengthy periods.
To take care of your Oral B iO toothbrush clean both the brush head and outside of the handle regularly. Decouple the brush head from the handle, apply a small amount of mild sanitising cleanser and rinse both under running water. Dry the handle thoroughly before charging.
This is such a great Christmas gift idea and such will be much appreciated by all age groups.
Price: £35.00. A saving of £65.00 as Retail Price is £100.00 | Visit: boots.com
The Community Garden in Presteigne were recently presented with a plaque by new National Garden Scheme County Organiser for South Powys, Dr Alison Kemp, in recognition of their hard work by completing further development of the site. Founded in 2022 by a small group of volunteers led by Angie Sutton, Presteigne Community Garden is located at the former kitchen gardens at The Sydney Nolan Trust.
Over the past three years the volunteers enjoyed growing and distributing food for the local community, gradually cultivating the area with the aim of improving resilience in food production, eating healthily and being economically viable. The Community Garden Grant from the National Garden Scheme has enabled further development of the site by providing a shed for storage, scaffolding planks & soil for raised beds as well as materials to build protective cages for winter crops. Since the NGS Community Garden Grants inception, over £1.2 million has been donated to over five hundred community projects. Find out more at ngs.org.uk/who-we-are/community-gardens-grants
A reminder to check out the beautiful range of National Garden Scheme Christmas cards, with every purchase helping to support the vital nursing and health beneficiaries supported by the NGS. We also have calendars and gifts for every occasion including our gorgeous Emma Bridgewater Honeysuckle collection. You can also pre-order the 2026 Garden Visitor’s Handbook, inspiring a year of garden visiting – the essential guide to over 3,000 gardens opening for the NGS next year. Find out more on ngs.org.uk/shop.
There is a new funding scheme currently available which is specifically for properties with solid walls to have Internal Wall Insulation installed. (Properties that were built before 1920 usually have solid walls).
This is the criteria for the property to qualify for a 100% grant:
The property must be solid wall construction (either solid brick or solid stone)
The EPC rating must be D, E, F or G. However, if the property is privately rented, the EPC rating must be E, F or G. (If the property does not have an EPC then we can arrange this).
The property must be a mid-terrace house or a Flat (semi-detached, end terrace, or detached properties do not qualify for the grant unfortunately).
The tenant must be in receipt of one of the following benefits: Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit (please note that Child Benefit does not qualify for this grant).
There will be no cost if the occupant and property meet the criteria above.
The funding is allocated on a first come, first served basis. A free, no-obligation survey will need to be carried out to determine if the property is suitable for the walls to be insulated. On a mid-terrace property the front and rear walls will be insulated. The grant includes the removal and re-fitting of all plumbing and electrics. If ventilation is required in the property this will also be installed. The work typically takes 3-4 days to complete (dependent on the size of the property). The grant does not have to be re-paid.
Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice has launched its new “Every Precious Life Appeal” which aims to raise £400,000 in just 60 hours.
Donations made within the 60 hour appeal window, which will start at 10am on Sunday November 23 and finish at 10pm on Tuesday November 25, will be doubled thanks to a match-fund pot the charity has put together.
Tŷ Hafan’s “Every Precious Life Appeal” focuses on stories of families who have experienced baby loss and who are being supported by Tŷ Hafan.
Emrys Arthur was just 8 days old when he passed away on 14 March 2024 after he was born prematurely at 25 weeks on 6 March 2024.
His parents Gwenno George and Luke Nicholas, who live in Cardiff, were supported by Tŷ Hafan to be able to drive their beloved baby son’s body back to Gwenno’s home town, Criccieth, in North Wales, themselves where he was buried alongside other members of Gwenno’s family.
“We had eight days with Emrys,” said Gwenno. “It’ll never be enough, but were lucky to have eight precious days.”
Gwenno, Finance Director for Acuity Law, and Luke, who works for the Welsh Local Government Association, have also received counselling via Tŷ Hafan and benefit from ongoing bereavement support.
“I feel really lucky that we have this additional support, this additional family, in Tŷ Hafan. I find it difficult to think about families or couples who are having to go through what we’ve gone through without the support of Tŷ Hafan,” says Gwenno.
Also sharing her story to support Tŷ Hafan’s “Every Precious Life Appeal” is Kath Keeble, from Merthyr Tydfil, mum of Tommy Keeble.
Tommy was also just eight days old when he died on 30 October 2022, after having been born prematurely at 31 weeks on 22 October 2022.
Kath, a community mental health worker, says:
“I never really thought Tommy would be gone. I always thought: ‘No, this is going to be OK. This is just something that we have to go through. It’s horrific. But he’ll be OK.’
“After Tommy died my life did fall apart a bit and I became very poorly with suicidal thoughts. I just wanted to be with him. Ultimately I was admitted to a mental health ward and slowly, very slowly, they helped me to realise that I wasn’t a bad mum because I didn’t want Tommy to go.
“Without Tŷ Hafan, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Dan Bamsey, Head of Fundraising for Tŷ Hafan, said:
“We’d like to thank Gwenno, Luke and Kath for their incredible bravery in sharing Emrys’ and Tommy’s stories with us to support our Every Precious Life Appeal.
“We’ve chosen to focus on our work with very young babies as this as an area where demand for our services has almost doubled.
“The number of babies aged 28 days old and under referred to us in 2023/2024 was 21, and in 2024/2025 it was 39. And in the first six months of this year we’ve already had 22 referrals.
“So this Christmas we’re aiming to raise £400,000 in just 60 hours to support more families of children with life-shortening conditions.”
“All we ask is that people go to www.tyhafan.org/everypreciouslife any time between 10am on Sunday 23 November and 10pm on Tuesday 25 November and donate whatever they can.
“Because no family should have to live their child’s short life alone.”
Works to March next year are supported by a grant from the Shared Prosperity Fund which covers channel restoration, towpath restoration and the winter environmental programme. This month saw the start of towpath restoration between Schoolhouse Bridge (Br 86) and Malthouse Bridge (Br 87) and the environmental programme.
“The distance between Schoolhouse Bridge and Malthouse Bridge is 340 metres. In the absence of a haul road alongside the canal, the channel will be used for plant access to deliver materials. 250 metres of the channel had been previously cleared last winter, and time was spent this time clearing the remainder of overhanging branches, saplings and small trees to permit dumper and digger access. Passage through to Waen Wen was also enabled by the removal of a redundant (but very solid!) headwall at Malthouse Bridge”, said restoration project manager, Tom Fulda.
As elsewhere, the unrestored towpath becomes muddy and slippery in wet weather and has plenty of trip hazards from tree roots. Before towpath construction could start stumps and tree roots growing in the channel bank and under the towpath had to be removed. Also, in preparation the hedge alongside the towpath which had become heavily overgrown was cut back to its previous line. Thanks to young volunteer Josh, newly qualified for safe working with hedge trimmer, for taking care of this.
The standard specification is for a 1.2-metre-wide towpath comprising compacted aggregate between boards. Starting from Malthouse Bridge back towards the compound 60 metres of towpath was constructed and surfaced with stone. The rate of progress will accelerate considerably now the preparation works have been completed and as we get closer to the compound at Schoolhouse Bridge where the materials are stored.
This winter’s environmental programme comprises hedge laying and hedge planting, starting by the compound and working back towards last year’s area nearer Crickheath. This got a massive boost on Friday with 5 corporate volunteers from Aico in Oswestry clearing and preparing this length ready for pleaching. So a big thank you to them – they certainly put in a shift and apparently enjoyed it so much that more colleagues are expected for next month’s work party.
In Waen Wen final preparations were made for tree work by contractors over winter. This will entail felling of trees at or below the future water level which have grown up since the channel eventually emptied of water several decades ago. At one end of the basin the remaining brash created last time was burned on Friday and Saturday. At the other end redundant drainpipes (which used to convey surface water to Crickheath after the canal fell into disuse and a mains water supply was available) were removed from the channel along with a brick inspection chamber. An access ramp into the basin was built and a further ramp over the culvert running beneath the basin was constructed. This enables plant access over the culvert whilst felling, clearance and site investigation activities are underway.
Finally, a word of thanks from Shropshire Council leader Cllr Heather Kidd. She and other senior councillors visited the canal on Friday viewing previously restored sections as well as the current work site. Cllr Kidd thanked the organisers and volunteers for the morning’s experience, which she said had really helped her and colleagues understand the scope of restoration efforts in Shropshire and how the canal could fit with the council’s connectivity, health and wellbeing, and economic priorities.
A volunteer who has dedicated 60 years to volunteering with St John Ambulance Cymru was among those recognised at the charity’s Mid and West Wales Regional Awards for 2025.
The ceremony, which was recently held in Swansea, saw a range of volunteers and staff receive awards and commendations for their work in a range of fields from responding to emergencies to securing funds from trusts and foundations to support the charity’s work.
St John Ambulance Cymru’s Assistant Chief Commissioner (Mid and West Wales), Beth Francis OStJ said:
“This ceremony gave us a valuable opportunity to come together to celebrate the great work of St John People from across our Mid and West Wales counties of Dyfed, West Glamorgan and Powys and all they have contributed to their communities.
“The number and quality of the nominations we received was a reminder of the positive impact the charity has on a daily basis, and I know the panel had a difficult task in choosing the winners from the strong list of contenders.”
Eunice O’Hara received an Ultra Long Service Medal and 2 Gilt Bars for her 60 years of dedicated service as part of St John Ambulance Cymru’s Fishguard and Haverfordwest Divisions.
Her long and distinguished career as a volunteer and fundraiser saw her become an Officer of the Order of St John, as well as a member of the Gorsedd of the Bards with the title Eunice Urdd Sant Ioan (Eunice of St John) to signify her synonymity with the charity she has dedicated so much effort to supporting.
Another significant award presented during the ceremony was the Gerallt Davies MBE CStJ Memorial Award, presented in memory of the former paramedic and National Paramedic Officer for St John Ambulance Cymru, who sadly died in 2020.
The cup is awarded to a St John Person who is active, dedicated, professional and aims to maintain and develop the highest standards whilst engaging and leading their colleagues. It is judged by an independent panel made up of external partners and members of Gerallt’s family.
The runner up, who received commendation for their impact was Gwion Morgan of Dyfed County, while the winner was Sam Davies, Operations Manager for Dyfed County, who also scooped the Volunteer of the Year Award.
There was also a Lifetime Achievement Award for Will Wall of the Abertawe Division in West Glamorgan, who has been a devoted member since 1988. In this time he supported events at Swansea’s Vetch Field for other three decades and has subsequently been on duty to support 200 games at the Swansea.com Stadium, as well as other events across the county.
Julie Carrod was the other recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, having dedicated almost 30 years of service to St John Ambulance Cymru in a range of roles including first responder, County Training Manager and Deputy Commissioner in Powys.
To find out more about St John Ambulance Cymru and to sign-up to volunteer with the charity, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk.
Feature image: St John People from across Dyfed, Powys and West Glamorgan came together to celebrate the achievements of their fellow volunteers and staff at the St John Ambulance Cymru’s Mid and West Wales Regional Awards for 2025. They were joined by colleagues from across the charity as well as the Lord Mayor of the City and County of Swansea and Consort, H.M. Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan.
Full list of award winners
Commendation Certificates
Samantha Benson, Brecon Division, Powys
Huw Howells, Brecon Division, Powys
Compassion Award
Michelle Dennis, Response Operations
Quality Award
Shelagh Astley, Trusts and Foundations Manager
Jamie Line, Logistics Co-ordinator, Dyfed
Inclusion Award
Eleri Sargeant, Divisional Manager of Llanidloes Division, Powys
I have a great affection for this company for creating this clever Laundry Detergent Egg, which is not only gives your clothes a powerful clean, it is gentle on the skin and just as importantly, it is kind to our Planet. It will work for you even if you have sensitive or hypoallergenic skin as this reusable Laundry Detergent Egg cleans effectively without having to resort to harsh chemicals and it is the harsh chemicals that many of us find upset and irritate our skin. In the UK alone an estimated 27 million people suffer from sensitive skin but only 1 in 10 treat it. So it is important that ecoegg took this challenge on board and created this eco alternative that is a refillable laundry solution that is kind to our skin, kind to our planet and kind to your pocket too! This Laundry Detergent Egg lasts up to 70 washes and as already said it is refillable, which makes perfect sense to me. I am sure you’ll find as I did, that my laundry was left feeling fresh, soft and residue-free and it was so easy to use.
The Eco Egg Laundry Detergent Egg is a revolutionary replacement for traditional laundry detergent, it is unique and innovative and I have never seen anything like it before to use for laundry and as it offers an eco-friendly way to wash your clothes, it is a winner for me. I was amazed and delighted by how effectively this egg cleans. It cleverly uses two types of pellets that are housed in a recyclable, refillable laundry egg case. The white pellets do the cleaning and the black pellets increase the efficiency of the white pellets by reducing the water surface tension and drawing out the dirt. The Laundry Detergent Eggs are Allergy UK endorsed and dermatologically rated as ‘Excellent’ for delicate, allergy prone and young skin.
Reusable and refillable, saving the Planet, one less plastic bottle at a time and the ecoeggs do not contain plastic, PVA or PVOH. I cannot think of anything else I need and I am positive you will agree with me after you try this ecoegg.
Eco Egg offers a Subscribe & Save which I will find a huge help to ensure I don’t run out of any of their products, plus they also do detergent refills, which again is a sensible idea. But I then had another thought that this clever egg would make a great Christmas gift or stocking filler and also, if you have to join in a Secret Santa, how about giving some lucky person an ecoegg? I think this is a brilliant and useful idea instead of some of the silly, tacky gifts people often resort to because of the usual restriction of a £10.00 limit.
Let me summarise the many reasons that I love this Laundry Detergent Egg:
Eco Eggs are hypoallergenic & dermatologically tested, rated as ‘excellent’ for delicate, allergy prone and young skin.
They are reusable and refillable and will help save our Planet one less plastic bottle at a time.
These Eco Eggs last up to 70 washes before they will need a refill, which is just 14p per wash. Plus you can refill them too!
Eco Egg offer a 10-year warranty on your egg case, all you have to do is register on their website.
The scents are specially developed to be low irritant and low allergen, gentle on sensitive skin.
So easy to use, just pop in your washing machine with your laundry and you’re good to go – yes that’s it.
Price: £9.99 | Delivery: Free UK delivery on orders over £20.00+
Scents: fresh linen, spring blossom, fragrance free
Refills: £6.49 contains 3 bags of detergent and 1 bag of tourmaline
Scents: spring blossom, British blooms, fragrance free
Visit: ecoegg.com
Taken from the Eco Egg website:
Before your first wash, if you’re using the ecoegg Laundry Egg for the very first time, there’s a couple of things Eco Egg recommend you do beforehand.
We recommend starting with our Detox Tablets. They’ll remove any detergent residue and lingering odours, ensuring your machine is fresh and ready to deliver the best results with your Laundry Detergent Egg.
If your fabrics are heavily soiled or stained, we recommend adding a little pre-treatment before washing.
Hand wash
Add your Egg in a bucket of cold or warm water. Let it sit for 15 minutes, add clothing and wash.
PRO TIP: Use the Egg Case to gently rub at stains to lift.
Machine wash
Pop your clothes in your machine. Take care to not to overfill, add your ecoegg and choose the right setting (the hottest temperature advised for ecoegg is 60C) and wash. It’s that simple!
The detergent pellets are designed with a gentle on skin formula, containingno chlorine bleaches, phosphates, parabens, SLS/SLES or palm oiland leave significantly less detergent itchy residue on your clothes versus traditional detergents and fabric softeners.
Our founder, Dawn, personally battled with eczema whilst growing up. Her own struggles made her realise the sensitivity of skin to normal detergents which inspired her to invent a new type of detergent that is much gentler on skin.
Our formula is lightly fragranced to be gentle on delicate skin AND has been dermatologically tested and rated “excellent” by Dermatest for sensitive skin.
We encourage the use of our Fragrance Free Laundry Egg for babies and those with particularly sensitive skin as this egg is entirely removed from any perfume and has held the Allergy UK endorsement since 2011.
Rated ‘excellent’ for sensitive skin by Dermatest, the independent dermatology institute, the ecoegg Laundry Egg comes with a 10-year guarantee and does not contain any of the following “nasties”: chlorine bleaches, PEGs, phosphates, parabens, SLS/SLES or palm oil.
While a lot of us are familiar with strong, chemically fragranced detergents, strong fragrance doesn’t always mean clean.We get the job done whilst being gentle on skin.
Laundry Scent Booster
As I have seriously fallen for the Eco Egg the only thing I was a little concerned about was that I felt I needed a fabric type conditioner, as I like a stronger fragrance to my laundry but without any of the nasties. Thankfully ecoegg have sorted that for me too in that they have created this lovely laundry scent booster, which was just launched on 7th November. This is yet another ecoegg great idea and of course, it is so easy to use. Depending on the level of fragrance you require, just place between 12g and 20g of the beads into your machine drawer or drum, then pop onto your usual cycle and that is it! Simple and effective. For best results, pair with the Laundry Detergent Egg.
This is how to discover a smarter, safer and more sustainable way to add fragrance to your clothes whilst embracing an Eco Egg greener approach. Eco Egg’s Laundry Scent Boosters align with the brand’s dedication to sustainability and sensitive skin, making them the perfect choice for your clothes, your skin and the planet. It is a perfect and gentle way to add fragrance to your laundry and bedding without harsh chemicals.
Follows are the reasons I love the Eco Egg Laundry Scent Boosters:
PVA, PVOH and PEG free.
Entirely biodegradable and not harmful to aquatic life.
No petroleum-derived ingredients.
Vegan and cruelty-free.
100% plastic free.
Fully recyclable packaging.
Specially developed low irritant, low allergen scents that are gentle on sensitive skin.
Size & Price: 250g/£5.99 | Delivery:Free UK delivery on orders over £20.00+
Scents: fresh linen, spring blossom
Visit: ecoegg.com
Detox Tablets (Boxed)
I am sure that I am not the only person who fails to give extra attention to my washing machine and that means actually cleaning the inside of it! Washing machines and dishwashers are such an expensive purchase and so it does make sense to take greater care of our machines, as we all know the massive panic we all get when our washing machine ‘dies’ on us.
With that in my mind I was eager to try these detox tablets to give both my washing machine and my dishwasher a deep-down clean, as these tablets clean every nook and cranny inside your machines and that is something you would never been able to do with a bottle of cleaner and a cloth! These tablets ensure that with regular detoxing, your machine will operate at its very best and should hopefully last much longer. The detox tablets are designed to tackle lime scale and soap scum that collect inside your machine which we really cannot see. But because we can’t see it, doesn’t mean it is not there, which is why I think these tablets are such a brilliant idea. You will no longer have musty smells coming out of your machines or even worse staying inside them!
Each pack of tablets contains 8 applications so you have a clever, convenient and very effective way to maintain the performance and longevity of your washing machine and dish washer.
But if you’re using an Eco Egg Laundry Detergent Egg for the first time, please be sure to kick-start your eco journey by using an Eco Egg Detox Tablet first. I am horrified how much I take my machines for granted and I have now decided, thanks to Eco Egg, that my machines deserve some TLC so that they can provide me with the best cleaning results possible and extend the life of my machines.
These Detox Tablets are a 2-in-1 product as you can also use them on your dishwasher as well as your washing machine too! Now you can refresh and detox your machines in an Eco-friendly way. The company recommend that you do this monthly and to make sure I adhere to that I have decided to start off on the 1st of each month by cleaning my machine. The tablets are so simple to use and they help to remove lime scale, residue and neutralise odours. I cannot think of a sensible reason not to use Detox tablets, so hope you appreciate my suggestion. I’d also use these tablets as a stocking filler too!
Size & Price: £5.29 | Delivery: Free UK delivery on orders over £20.00+
Visit: ecoegg.com
Dryer Balls (Boxed)
This is the final stage of my ecoegg laundry journey by trying their energy saving Dryer Balls. These balls are designed to help you speed up the drying process and save you money in the process which is what we all need! The Dryer Balls have been scientifically proven to reduce drying time by 28% and that will certainly help with your electricity bills. They also reduce creasing which also reduces ironing time – another bonus for me! You can also boost the fragrance on your clothes if you choose to fill the Dryer Balls with Eco Eggs Dryer Ball Scent Booster Sticks.
The Dryer Balls are hypoallergenic & dermatologically tested and rated as ‘Excellent’ on sensitive skin. These are patented and are a natural and sustainable way to soften your laundry. But not only that, these Dryer Eggs come with a 10-year guarantee, meaning you can refill your ball with Fragrance Booster sticks for years to come. You can choose from a range of wonderful scents for even fresher smelling clothes all whilst your clothing remains gentle on your delicate skin.
To use, just pop 2 Dryer Balls into your tumble dryer so you can soften your clothes, reduce creasing, speed up drying and add a gentle fragrance. The Dryer Balls help to separate your laundry so that more air can circulate, drying each item more quickly. The nodules on the eggs are designed to help soften your clothes naturally so there is no need to use fabric softener, so that is another money saver.
Remember that these dryer balls are hypoallergenic, vegan and eco-friendly and totally perfect for sensitive skin and sustainable living.
Size & Price: 2 dryer balls/£9.99
Scent: fresh linen, spring blossom, fragrance free
Refills: £4.99 | Delivery: Free UK delivery on orders over £20.00+
Visit: ecoegg.com
Bamboo Towels
I cannot be the only person who is tired of constantly reaching for disposable paper kitchen roll and being unhappy with how costly these rolls are to buy, if that rings a bell with you then you need to transform your cleaning routine with Eco Egg Bamboo Towels. These towels are an eco-conscious and a reusable alternative that have been designed to reduce waste and save you money. For me these are a must-have in your kitchen, bathroom and even in the car. I find endless uses for these brilliant bamboo towels, because they just work!
The bamboo towels are soft, sustainable and just as importantly endlessly reusable. Made from 90% bamboo fibres and 10% PLA, these eco-friendly towels are gentle on sensitive skin, super absorbent and versatile enough for everything from spills and dusting, to car care or your skincare routine. Washable up to 85 times, so you can imagine how much money you’re saving, plus you are reducing waste and these clever cloths get softer with every use.
These Bamboo Towels I think are also a great idea as a Secret Santa gift and a clever stocking filler. Surely it is better to give useful practical gifts rather than resorting to a ‘silly’ gift that might well end up in the charity shop!
Follows are my thoughts of why I have switched and will certainly stay with Bamboo Towels:
They are crafted from sustainably sourced bamboo, Ecoegg Bamboo Towels are built to replace single-use paper towels forever + they’re much more absorbent!
One sheet of Ecoegg Bamboo Towels can withstand up to a whopping 85 uses, giving you up to 1700 uses per roll!
Whether it’s spills, stains, dusting or simply wiping down surfaces, the soft Ecoegg Bamboo Towels have you covered. They’re super absorbent and ready for any cleaning challenge.
I use my bamboo towel until it is dirty and then when it’s time for a refresh, simply pop it in with my laundry up to 400 Do not use fabric conditioner, instead use your laundry scent boosters, don’t tumble dry, line dry and of course there is no need to iron!!! So then your clean bamboo cloths are good to go again and ready for another round of eco-friendly cleaning.
Save money and reduce your environmental footprint by making the switch to reusable Bamboo Towels.
Size & Price: 20 towels/£7.99 | Delivery: Free UK delivery on orders over £20.00+
Visit: ecoegg.com
Taken from the Eco Egg website:
Eco-friendly reusable bamboo kitchen towels
How do Bamboo Towels work?
Unlike normal kitchen roll, which you use once and then throw away, these, are reusable; just pop them in your washing machine and wash at or below 40 degrees. They can be washed up to 85 times per sheet and they get softer every time you do!
Bamboo is one of the strongest and most absorbent natural substances. Use them wet or dry for spills, messes, cleaning, wiping, dusting and drying. They never scratch and never leave any lint or residue.
Our ecoegg Bamboo Towels are made from a viscose bamboo mix – 90% bamboo fibres and 10% PLA from corn starch.
What are the benefits of Bamboo Towels?
Our ecoegg Bamboo Towels are made from sustainable sources. By swapping to ecoegg Bamboo Towels, you will not only reduce single use plastic packaging, but they will also save you money, making them kinder to the environment and your pocket.
🌿 Crafted from sustainably sourced bamboo, ecoegg Bamboo Towels are built to replace single-use paper towels forever. Join the movement toward a greener future with every sheet you use.
💪 One sheet of ecoegg Bamboo Towels can withstand up to a whopping 85 uses, giving you up to 1700 uses per roll! Talk about bang for your buck.
🍽️Whether it’s spills, stains, dusting or simply wiping down surfaces, the soft ecoegg Bamboo Towels have you covered. They’re super absorbent and ready for any cleaning challenge.
🧼 When it’s time for a refresh, simply pop your used Bamboo Towel in with the laundry and they’re good to go, ready for another round of eco-friendly cleaning.
💡 Save money and reduce your environmental footprint by making the switch to reusable Bamboo Towels. It’s a win-win for your wallet and the planet.
British Wool has celebrated a year of positive progress at its Annual General Meeting and Conference, reflecting renewed confidence across the UK wool sector, with rising wool prices, stronger consumer engagement and continued improvements in services for its farmer members.
Stronger returns
The cooperative confirmed that its latest auction, held on 4 November, achieved the highest average prices for nine years, with the British Wool index up 27% in the past two months. The average auction price reached £1.21 per kg, compared to £1.00 per kg last season, marking a significant boost for producers across the UK.
“All core types of British wool are now trading at significantly higher levels than last season,” said Andrew Hogley, Chief Executive of British Wool. “If current trends continue, our members can expect stronger returns in the year ahead.”
Supporting farmers and strengthening services
The AGM also showcased a series of service improvements designed to make it easier for farmers to deliver and market their wool, including more convenient collection centres and enhanced support at regional depots.
British Wool paid tribute to its team and community, with long-serving Head of Shearing, Richard Scholfield, honoured for his outstanding contribution to the industry upon his retirement.
Driving demand through marketing and partnerships
In its 75th anniversary year, the co-operative’s focus on consumer engagement has also delivered impressive results. Its nationwide open days attracted widespread attention, with coverage on BBC, ITV, GB News and numerous radio outlets.
A visit from HRH The Princess Royal to the South Molton depot in October further underscored the organisation’s heritage and importance to the UK’s rural economy.
“Our 75th anniversary celebrations have been an excellent platform to tell the story of British wool – sustainable, traceable and proudly homegrown,” added Andrew.
Speaking at the conference, Chris Tattersall from The Woolroom reinforced the commercial importance of British Wool’s traceability and sustainability from a customer perspective.
“British wool plays a key role in our products, and we’ve seen strong growth in both domestic and export markets thanks to its provenance and quality,” he said.
Highlighting the efforts that British Wool is taking to engage consumers of all ages about the benefits of wool, Andrew pointed to a successful initiative to engage primary school children and their parents.
He said: “Our creative partnership with Aardman and Save the Children saw more than 800 primary school pupils submit designs for a Christmas jumper for Shaun the Sheep made from British wool. The competition was judged by Gyles Brandreth, with the winning design now being made into 100 limited-edition jumpers to raise funds for charity.”
Overall, the AGM reflected a positive outlook for the sector, with optimism for continued growth into 2026.
Four employees of a leading Welsh work-based learning provider have practiced what the company preaches by enhancing their skills and professional development.
The achievements of Alex Hogg, head of information technology, Sharon Roberts and Iestyn Evans, training officers and Manon Rosser, Welsh language support and communication officer, were celebrated at Cambrian Training Company’s autumn apprenticeship graduation ceremony last week.
Alex, 43, has achieved a First Class Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree Apprenticeship in Applied Software Engineering with the Open University, recognising his commitment to lifelong learning
Having worked for Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company for 17 years, he balanced his role managing IT and data analysis with four years of weekly academic study time.
“I didn’t think I was that academic and was surprised to get first-class honours,” said Alex. “The degree benchmarks my skills and gives me a real confidence boost.”
Throughout his studies, Alex applied his learning directly to the business, developing several bespoke software applications that have streamlined internal processes -from expenses to travel – saving staff time and improving efficiency.
His role is central to the company’s operational success, ensuring accurate data analysis and reporting to meet an £8 million apprenticeship contract with the Welsh Government.
Completing an apprenticeship in Welsh Language Translation has opened doors for graduate Manon who has become an Apprenticeship Ambassador with Coleg Cymraeg.
A Politics and Modern History graduate, she completed her apprenticeship with Gower College Swansea together with a Level 3 Digital Literacy qualification.
“My goal now is to use my skills to help Cambrian Training contribute to the Welsh Government’s aim of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050,” she said.
“Apprenticeships are inclusive, flexible and tailored to real-world learning styles, especially for those who may not thrive in traditional academic settings. They offer a personal, adaptable approach that empowers learners to thrive.”
Sharon, who lives near Abergavenny, has completed an Apprenticeship in Management which she adds to a string of other qualifications, including a Higher Apprenticeship in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment.
A training officer and internal quality assurer in food and drink manufacturing, she signed up for the apprenticeship to improve understanding of management functions and to help manage her caseload.
“This experience has given me an insight into the management structures within the company,” said Sharon. “My aim is to utilise the qualification effectively.”
She has worked for Cambrian Training Company for 10 years, delivering food and drink related frameworks and assuring the quality standards.
Iestyn, 56, who lives in Caerphilly, graduated with a Higher Apprenticeship in Leaning and Development which is supporting his work as a food and drink manufacture training officer.
Having graduated from King’s College, London with a Degree in Pharmacy, Iestyn ran his own pharmacy shop in Carmarthen until his late 30s when he decided to take on a new challenge as a Cardiff Youth Offending Team mentor.
He then trained as a butcher with Chris Hayman Butchers, Maesycwmmer before joining Cambrian Training Company five years ago to share his skills and knowledge with apprentices.
“I love the variety of my daily work,” explained Iestyn. “Young people sometimes get a bad press but I find them pretty amazing, on the whole. I enjoy engaging with apprentices and their employers in the workplace.
“Achieving the higher apprenticeship has enhanced my role from being an assessor to a teacher and it has given me the theory to back my practical skills. It has made me self-reflect and analyse what I can do to make my apprentices better at their jobs.”
Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company managing director, congratulated the four graduates and said: “We are committed to ensuring that every member of our team maintains up-to-date sector knowledge.
“Continuous investment in professional development is not a one-off event – it’s a core part of our culture and a promise we uphold throughout each colleague’s journey with us.
“Their journeys show just how powerful apprenticeships can be: unlocking potential, building confidence and delivering real, lasting impact across the business.”
Feature image: Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien (centre) with graduates (from left) Alex Hogg, Sharon Roberts, Manon Rosser and Iestyn Evans.
Herefordshire’s Hergest Croft Gardens and Maples Tearoom honoured with VisitEngland Quality Food & Drink Accolade
Prestigious national award celebrates exceptional visitor experience and local hospitality excellence in Kington.
Hergest Croft Gardens and Maples Tearoom in Kington, Herefordshire, have been awarded a 2025 VisitEngland Quality Food and Drink Accolade, recognising the outstanding standards achieved across both the gardens and the tearoom.
Accolades were awarded to 78 English attractions covering all aspects of what makes an outstanding visitor experience. Presented annually to participants in the VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme, the accolade is based on a combination of factors, including VisitEngland’s annual quality assessment, assessor observations, direct visitor feedback and online reviews. Hergest Croft Gardens and Maples Tearoom were commended for their exceptional food, service and visitor experience, described by the assessor as “truly deserving of recognition.”
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said:
“These accolades put England’s outstanding attractions in the spotlight as they recognise the amazing visitor experiences available across the country. They acknowledge the people who give the warmest welcomes, provide the most mouth-watering food and tell the stories that delight visitors, making them jewels of our tourism offer.”
Mell Lloyd, the franchisee for Maples Tearoom, added:
“We are absolutely thrilled and delighted to be the recipient of this prestigious award. The hospitality industry is facing huge challenges at present and therefore this accolade is a real ray of sunshine for us! We have a wonderful team at Maples and this award is a true reflection of their hard work and dedication in serving the very best local produce and providing genuine service with a smile. Well done, Team Maples!”
Austyn Hallworth, Head of Marketing and PR at Hergest Croft Gardens, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to receive this national accolade from VisitEngland. It’s a real testament to the dedication of our team and the warm welcome that visitors experience throughout the gardens and tearoom. Last year, we were awarded “Hidden Gem “status by VisitEngland and so to win yet another prestigious accolade is exceptional. We take great pride in offering outstanding food and hospitality within such a beautiful, historic setting.”
Owned by five generations of the Banks family, Hergest Croft Gardens span over 70 acres and feature more than 5,000 rare and unusual trees, plants and shrubs, including 130 champion trees. The gardens are home to one of the finest plant collections in the British Isles and form the second largest privately owned arboretum in the UK. Its six distinct gardens and parkland include the National Collections of Zelkovas and Maples. Internationally renowned among horticultural enthusiasts, the award-winning gardens are a highlight of the Herefordshire countryside and a much-loved destination for visitors throughout the region.
These for me were a new take on underwear as they are super mid-rise Seamless Midi Shorts and are made in a waffle texture from seamless 360° stretch giving you amazing comfort. I’m such a huge fan of BAM, but I’ve never thought to try their underwear, which really doesn’t make sense does it? This gifting pack offers 4 pairs in a lovely assortment of colours, but the fact that will always work for me is that the fabric is so supersoft, it’s seamless and stretchy too so you get the feeling of pure comfort against your skin and let’s face it, if your underwear is uncomfortable then the day will not be good! The midi shorts are made from bamboo viscose that has been blended with an innovative synthetic, Amni Sol Eco®. I am pleased to learn that where conventional synthetics that take hundreds of years to degrade, Amni Sol Eco takes five (in landfill)! The fabric mix is: 80% Viscose Bamboo, 12% Polyamide Amni Soul Eco® and 8% Elastane. With a seamless 360° stretch it really does bring a new level of comfort! The midi short is also easy to care, all you need to do is just wash at 30°.
So if comfort is your initial concern for underwear then these midi shorts are really one for you to try. They would make a great gift or a super stocking filler. These lovely midi shorts are knickers from nature and I do hope you don’t miss out on trying these as they are brilliant.
Size & Price: small, medium, large/ £39.20 but were £49.00
Colour: black, damson, orchid, storm
Visit: bambooclothing.co.uk
Taken from BAM’s website:
about us
On a man haul expedition across Greenland with a team of elite Gurkhas and looking out over one of the great untouched wildernesses of our planet, David realised that he wanted to create a viable and environmentally sustainable business.
A viable and environmentally sustainable business.
When he discovered soft and sustainable bamboo, he knew he’d found that business.
That was 2006. From the early days when David ran the business from his garage, to today when we have a team of 70, BAM has David’s core values running through it. We offer an excellent product with excellent service. We have fun doing it. And sustainability is at our core.
David’s personal goal is to find the best that the human spirit has to offer. It’s at the heart of BAM.
Making a difference to the planet
Everyone who works here believes in the difference bamboo clothing makes to our planet. Bamboo absorbs five times more carbon than hardwood trees. It needs half the land cotton needs to produce the same amount of fibre and it doesn’t need irrigation or pesticides. Add to that how well it works as a performance fabric and you can see why we love bamboo.
But whilst we’ve had the environment at our heart for well over a decade, the clothing industry is one of the worst for pollution.
Have we mentioned that David is a medal-winning pole-vaulter? In 2017 he became the World Masters Games Champion – in his words, the Olympics for older people. David likes to set the bar high.
So when it came to addressing our impact on the environment, we not only had to do more, we have to do all we are capable of with a goal to be Impact Positive.
Setting the bar high: Impact Positive
We’re challenging ourselves to reduce our carbon footprint to zero by 2030. But more than that, we’ll address every impact we have on the planet. We’ll ensure every person in our supply chain – right the way back to the growers – is paid fairly and treated with dignity. We’ve set goals for zero waste to landfill, zero pollution and zero wasted water – all by 2030. This applies to every single process from the growing of the bamboo, to the manufacture of our clothes, to the way they are recycled.
This is what we got into business for in the first place
We want to prove it’s possible for a clothing company to be Impact Positive. We are a company founded on the passion to find the best the human spirit has to offer and we’re devoting ourselves to making this happen. The environment is our highest priority. It’s what we got into business for in the first place.
An organic dairy farmer and Vice Chair of NFU Cymru Carmarthenshire, Mr Evans has been acknowledged for his long-standing commitment to the agricultural sector, both locally and nationally.
He started his farming business from scratch 20 years ago, purchasing his own farm and a small herd of cows after a successful career in the banking sector. He farms a 97 hectare organic dairy farm split into two units, with one farm housing the milking herd, while the other is utilised as a youngstock rearing unit
In addition to running his own farm, Mr Evans plays an active role in industry representation through his involvement with NFU Cymru as well as chair of the Welsh Organic Forum. His professional background in finance brings a valuable perspective to these roles, especially in discussions around business resilience and policy.
As a mentor with the Farming Connect Mentoring Scheme, he offers practical guidance to farmers across Wales, helping those looking to diversify, strengthen their business operations.
Mr Evans is also a passionate advocate for agricultural education and public engagement. He regularly contributes to Carmarthenshire YFC’s “My Food Plate” event, an annual initiative that introduces schoolchildren to the principles of sustainable food production and environmental stewardship.
Further enhancing his technical expertise, Mr Evans recently completed the Fertiliser Advisers Certification and Training Scheme (FACTS). He now teaches at Gelli Aur Agricultural College, where he supports the development of the next generation of agricultural professionals.
The FUW – United Counties Agriculture and Hunters Society Award was presented to Mr Evans at the FUW’s Eve of the Welsh Dairy Show Dinner at the Carmarthen Market on Tuesday 28 October 2025, sponsored this year by NatWest Cymru.
Sian Thomas, Chair of the United Counties and Hunters society, said:
“This award is a fitting and well-deserved recognition of Haydn Evans’ long-standing dedication and outstanding contribution to farming in Carmarthenshire and across Wales.
“He has shown unwavering commitment to supporting the next generation of Welsh farmers, ensuring they are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive in an ever-evolving industry.”
Commenting, FUW President, Ian Rickman said:
“Haydn Evans is a deserving winner of this award. Not only does this award recognise his success as a farmer, but also his tireless efforts to educate and inspire others within the agricultural community in Carmarthenshire and beyond.”
Feature image: From left, FUW President Ian Rickman, Haydn Evans and Chair of the United Counties and Hunters society Siân Thomas.
Historians search for memories of the North Wales Jewish community, including the origins of the jeweller who made the royal wedding rings
The jeweller who made the King and Queen’s wedding rings had roots in Llandudno.
Now Historians unearthing the hidden Jewish history of the town want to hear from people who remember well-known businesses from its thriving heyday including landmarks like Wartski’s jewellers, Lazar’s department store on Madoc Street, the Oriental Stores on Mostyn Street, or Blairman auctioneers. They are keen to fill the gaps in what is known about the companies and people which made Llandudno such a flourishing centre of Jewish life in the early twentieth century.
‘The commercial life of Llandudno had a massive boost from the influx of Jewish families starting in Victorian times,’ said Laura Henley Harrison of the Jewish History Association of Wales (JHAW). ‘Due to the popularity of Llandudno as a holiday destination for people from large cities, the town became a starting point for high-end businesses that are still thriving today like Wartskis the royal jeweller and Blairman fine art auctioneers which has a worldwide reputation.’
The man who helped to make North Wales a magnet for visitors from Manchester and Liverpool was royal jeweller Morris Wartski originally from Poland. Today in London’s St James the company still holds ‘by appointment’ royal warrants from both the King and Queen and made the couple’s wedding rings, though they have dropped the ‘of Llandudno’ from the shop front.
First premises at 21 High St, Bangor. Family lived over the shop.
After moving along from Bangor in 1907, Wartski prospered with the patronage of King Edward VII and other aristocratic customers, as well as celebrities like Hollywood star Bing Crosby. A trailblazer, he helped build the town’s Jewish community, attracting other businesses to follow his lead and seize the commercial opportunities of the seaside resort. Morris’s son Isidore became the first Jewish mayor of Bangor in 1939.
Also standing proud in the town’s main shopping street was Lazar’s a landmark department store and the ‘Oriental Stores’ run by Iraqi-born Joseph Gubay whose grandson started the Kwiksave discount supermarket chain. Blairman fine art and antiques established in the town now operates in Mayfair, a world leading auctioneer of fine art and furniture. As well as their department store, the Lazar family also ran an exclusive ‘private’ hotel.
Exhibitions and talks regarding the Jewish history and heritage of the area are being planned with Llandudno Museum and Conwy Archives for Summer 2026 and 2027. Though high-quality documentation is already held, curators say they lack the kind of first-person memories that would bring the story of the town’s Jewish community to life.
Laura Henley-Harrison of the Jewish History Association of Wales said,
‘We are looking for anybody who was a member of the Jewish community in Llandudno or Colwyn Bay, also Jewish families who took their holidays in the area. We also want to hear from anyone who still remembers the businesses or individuals – whether you worked with them or were customers back in the day, a neighbour, a friend, an associate.
‘There was a synagogue that opened in Upper Mostyn Street in 1909, it must have had caretakers, suppliers and neighbours as well as congregants. There were other businesses too. We would be excited to hear of any memories that you have or have been passed down by your families, and of course any artifacts you have in the attic would be real treasure to us.’
The Jewish History Association of Wales recently dropped ‘South’ from the title to extend its work to Llandudno and the rest of the principality. Professor Nathan Abrams of Bangor University said:
‘As we’ve expanded our operations, we have realised just how far Jewish life in Wales reached, and it felt appropriate to change the name as we extended our remit. There is a wealth of history here to be discovered.’
Feature image: Morris Wartski’s family, Bangor 1892. Michael’s maternal grandmother, Sara is sitting on her mothers knee.
I have seen much of Wales, but the one bit eluding me until recently was the Isle of Anglesey or ‘Ynys Mon’
With an area of 276 square-miles, it is the largest Welsh island, often referred to as ‘Mam Cymru’ (Mother of Wales), for its sacred past and its fertile land’s ability to feed Welsh mouths. I was in awe, a reverence dating to childhood and tales of Welsh druids in magical groves wiped out by Romans in AD 60. It is a place apart, separate from the rest of Wales. ‘Ynys Mon’ possesses some of Wales’s most remote and ancient countryside, with its highest concentration of prehistoric sites.
We toured ‘Ynys Mon’ on a sunny day. We crossed the Menai Strait on the longer of two bridges, the Brittania. Built by Robert Stephenson in 1850, it was replaced, following a fire in 1970, the result the modern two-tier affair, carrying road and rail. Once over, we turned for Beaumaris, stopping at a viewpoint to admire the handiwork of 19th and 20th Century engineers.
The Britannia peeped over a wooded slope and the Menai, the first modern suspension bridge, completed by Telford in 1826, stood out handsomely one mile north east.
Beaumaris’s Castle was taken by Owain Glyndwr, also seeing action during the English Civil War. The castle was built by Edward I towards the end of the 13th Century, his response to the Welsh taking Caernarfon a few years before. Today Beaumaris is peaceful, acting as a yachting centre, with boats moored in the bay or off Gallows Point; the town gallows were here.
Beaumaris Castle
When I visit a seaside town I head for the pier. Beaumaris’s was modest, but worthy, with its ‘Pier Kiosk’, mackerel fishing trips and a lifeboat station. The skies hadn’t cleared and the hills across the water were lost in morning mist.
Beaumaris is sweet, with picturesque, narrow streets. The castle is its most imposing building, but there is more to admire, including manifold views of the water, for Beaumaris sits on a small point.
Next we sought out the place with the longest railway station name in Britain, ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch’. This translates as, ‘St Mary’s Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St Tysilio near the Red Cave.’ A place of such repute attracts people hence the shopping complex across from the station, which seemed almost forgotten. We were the only people there, but that suited us. The story goes that locals, spotting a way of bringing in tourists, invented the longwinded name in the 19th Century. Judging by the coach parties, they were spot-on, although most people use the manageable ‘Llanfair PG’ today.
The longest station name in the UK
As National Trust members we like to visit a property whilst away and there was one handily placed. ‘Plas Newydd’ had the advantage of overlooking the Strait. It was built for Henry William Paget, first marquis of Anglesey and principal commander of allied cavalry at Waterloo, who lost a leg in the battle. His wooden version is displayed here in a small museum.
The house was a gem, grey, gothic windows, and creepers taking away any harshness with a colour splash. The path alongside the Strait afforded views of the bridge we’d driven over and on a clear day you see Snowdonia. The grounds are eclectic with Australasian arboretum and Italianate summer terrace. I liked the harbour and slipway; it gave it more of a lived-in feel, especially with a party of youngsters enjoying afternoon sun and water.
Plas Newydd
Finally, we took the A55 to Holyhead, ‘Ynys Mon’s’ largest town. Here is the contrast, a European-class motorway cutting across the island, towards Holyhead, location of an international ferry port. This sits incongruously with remoteness and prehistory, but we had to get to South Stack. This was on my list of ’50 things to do before I expire’.
We were feeling thirsty and hungry, so were overjoyed to find a café serving tea and cake. There is an RSPB seabird centre here, from where you can see choughs, fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills, gulls and even puffins. We walked over to the view of South Stack and its lighthouse dating from 1809, balanced on an offshore rock, reached down 400 steps. We sat on a seat for a while, contemplating.
Fishing trips from the pier at Beaumaris
The water was swimming pool colour and rock faces majestic; the kind of scene persuading one to take up art on the spot. There was the lighthouse perched on the end of the ‘Stack’. It was a perfect symbiosis of nature and man’s creation, all harmonised, as if planned.
As coastlines go, ‘Ynys Mon’ had been splendid. Bridges over the Menai, Beaumaris’s Castle, stately home with harbour; we had seen much to admire. The best was last though; majestic South Stack.
View of the Menai Strait from Beaumaris
Anglesey appears remote and that is true, but it also has good road and rail links. A train from ‘Llanfair PG’ has you in Chester in less than an hour and a quarter. The best of everything then; remote, yet accessible. It’s no wonder the Welsh called it ‘Mam Cymru’, Mother of Wales.
I have a huge fondness for Olverum products and do hope you are aware of this wonderful brand as their range certainly works for me but also for Christmas gifting. So a new product for me was their Procellular Defence Day Cream which works to protect your skin, fortify your skin and allow your skin to glow – well that is all my boxes ticked from this one day cream. I worry about my skin ageing and am aware that daily stressors, pollution and UV exposure really do accelerate skin ageing so if you use this Olverum Procellular Defence Day Cream it will offer your skin more than just hydration and it should be your skin’s first line of defence.
Powered by an advanced Hyper-Antioxidant Complex, it harnesses the extraordinary potency of Astaxanthin—an algae-derived antioxidant, 6000 times more powerful than Ascorbic Acid, the basic form of Vitamin C, which prevents the formation of free radicals and oxidative damage. Reishi Mushroom and Cica (Centella Asiatica) strengthen your skin barrier, calm any irritation and provides lasting hydration. Add to this the aromatherapeutic notes of Cardamom, Bergamot, and Lavender to uplift your senses and bringing clarity and calm to your morning ritual. This lovely cream is lightweight, yet deeply nourishing, I loved that is has a fast-absorbing formula that primed my skin leaving it smooth, radiant and resilient.
Olverum Procellular™ Defence Day Cream is vegan and cruelty-free, free from artificial preservatives, fragrance and colourants, Silicone, Mineral Oil, Sulphates, Parabens, and animal derived ingredients.
Apply every morning to cleansed skin and massage in an upward motion. Follow with sunscreen for enhanced protection.
This will be a wonderful gift for someone special this Christmas or simply treat yourself!
Size & Price: 50ml/£70.00 | Visit: olverum.com | Free Delivery to UK mainland on all orders above £25.00
Procellular Renewal Night Cream (Boxed)
What a super way to get a deeper sleep and then awake and be able to enjoy your radiant looking skin. Night-time is when your skin undergoes its most intensive repair – regenerating, rebalancing and restoring, so it is important that you find a night cream that helps you achieve that. Olverum Procellular Renewal Night Cream enhances this natural process with cutting-edge actives that visibly renew your skin overnight. Surely this is what we are all looking for, a clever cream that works and improves the look of our skin whilst we sleep.
Infused with Xanthophyll, a bio-retinoid derived from Chlorella, this night cream boosts collagen production, enhances elasticity, smoothes the appearance of fine lines and evens your skin tone and also delivers all the benefits of traditional retinol but without any irritation. Niacinamide from Spirulina strengthens your skin barrier by improving hydration, whilst Rose of Jericho Extract – a botanical known as the ‘resurrection plant’ – deeply locks in moisture and reduces overnight water loss.
With a luxurious aromatherapeutic blend of Lavender, Roman Chamomile and Ylang-Ylang promotes relaxation, encouraging a deeper and a more restorative sleep whilst supporting your skin’s nocturnal renewal cycle. I am sure you’ll love waking up to smoother, firmer and a more luminous skin.
Olverum Procellular™ Renewal Night Cream is vegan and cruelty-free, free from artificial preservatives, fragrance and colourants, Silicone, Mineral Oil, Sulphates, Parabens, and animal derived ingredients.
Summary of how this night cream works:
Next-Gen Bio-Retinoid – Xanthophyll stimulates collagen production and visibly smoothes fine lines without sensitivity.
Barrier Reinforcement – Niacinamide and Spirulina fortify your skin’s resilience and moisture retention.
Deep Hydration – Rose of Jericho minimises water loss and replenishes skin overnight.
Aromatherapeutic Sleep Support – a calming blend of Lavender, Roman Chamomile and Ylang-Ylang promotes deep relaxation to give you a restorative night’s sleep.
Apply as the final step in your evening skincare routine. Massage into your face and neck, allowing the calming aroma to enhance your bedtime ritual.
Size & Price: 50ml/£80.00 | Visit: olverum.com | Free Delivery to UK mainland on all orders above £25.00
Bath Oil (Boxed)
This is one of my favourite bath oils and it is a crisis if I inadvertently run out of it! I love the wonderfully unique and luxurious aromatic blend of carefully selected essential oils which cleverly combine to ease stress and relax tension in both your mind and your body. Obviously it is a closely guarded formulation of natural plant extracts, each with their own traditional therapeutic properties but it promises you a truly meditative and uplifting experience to restore you back to your essential you. The 60ml is enough for you to have 12 baths, but it lessens my panic if I order one of their larger sizes.
Olverum Bath Oil is vegan and cruelty-free. Free from artificial preservatives, fragrance and colourants, Silicone, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Sulphates, Parabens, Triclosan and animal derived ingredients. It offers you a luxurious way to unwind, as it soothes your aching muscles, relieves stress and offers you a restorative sleep that can help revive a tired immune system. You’ll love how it envelopes you in its intoxicating fragrance, as Olverum Bath Oil is a sumptuous indulgence that leaves your skin silken, your mind calm and your body refreshed.
Run a warm bath to about 37˚C. Once at your preferred depth, add 5ml, about half a capful of Olverum Bath Oil. Before you immerse yourself into your bath, just agitate the water with your hand to disperse the oil. Then step in and enjoy.
As only a small amount of the concentrated formulation is needed, virtually all of the oil is absorbed by the skin, leaving no greasy residue in the bath after use.
Precautions: Consult a physician before use if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or suffering from a medical condition. Avoid contact with eyes. If irritation occurs, discontinue use immediately. Keep out of reach of children. Use only as directed.
Size & Price: 60ml/£29.50 | Visit: olverum.com | Free Delivery to UK mainland on all orders above £25.00
A cross-party House of Commons’ select committee report calling for a delay to the UK Government’s reforms to inheritance tax has been welcomed by NFU Cymru.
The House of Commons’ Welsh Affairs Committee has today (Wednesday 12th November) published a report following its inquiry into Farming in Wales in 2025: Challenges and Opportunities. NFU Cymru had submitted both oral1 and written evidence to the inquiry. Among the report’s conclusions is a recommendation that the UK Government must delay implementing its final reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and (Business Property Relief) until an impact assessment has been published and scrutinised by the committee.
NFU Cymru President, Mr Aled Jones said:
“I am heartened that so much of the detail presented by NFU Cymru in its evidence to the inquiry, highlighting the significant concerns of members across Wales, has been reflected in the committee’s report, its conclusions and recommendations.
“Over the last 12-months, some of the most difficult and heart-rending accounts which have been shared with me involve elderly farmers or those with terminal illness. Many of these farmers have arranged their affairs on the basis that their estates would not be subject to inheritance tax but now they stand to be disproportionately affected by this policy, as they simply do not have the time left to make alternative succession arrangements. I am pleased that the committee has also identified this as an area of concern.
“The committee’s report challenges the Treasury’s assessment of the number of farms likely to be affected by the inheritance tax policy changes on the basis that these general indications of farm values are produced in the absence of key information concerning individual business2, which could lead to a ‘misleading’ picture. This lack of precision in the Treasury data is further compounded by the lack of Wales level data. I remain firmly of the view that far more farms will fall into the scope of this new tax than the Treasury claims.
“NFU Cymru firmly supports the committee’s recommendation to UK Government calling for a delay to the APR and BPR reforms until a Wales specific impact assessment has been published and scrutinised by the committee. We also concur with the recommendation for a revisiting of all the available data relating to farm ownership in Wales to develop a more detailed understanding of the potential impact that changes to inheritance tax may have on farmers in Wales. I urge the UK Government to heed this advice rather than hurtling headlong into a policy which we know gives rise to a range of negative and unintended consequences.”
The release of the Welsh Affairs Committee’s report arrives just two weeks ahead of the UK Government’s autumn budget announcement on Wednesday 26th November. Many of the conclusions and recommendations contained within the report – including the request for a pause in the rollout of the inheritance tax changes – echo those of another House of Commons Cross-party committee, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee.
Mr Jones said:
“I commend the Welsh Affairs Committee for quickly getting to the nub of what is a complex issue. What makes this report particularly powerful is the fact that a committee with a diverse, cross-party membership, has been able to reach a unanimous view with regards to conclusions and recommendations about the truly damaging impact of the UK Government’s inheritance tax policies on Wales’ family farms – and the need for a delay.
“It is clear to me that when MPs, no matter what their political party, sit down and consider in detail the impact on ordinary farmers of the government’s inheritance tax policy proposals, they recognise and understand the inadvertent consequences of the proposed changes. They have reached the view that a pause and review of the policy is needed to better understand its impact on farming families and to look at alternatives.
“Ahead of the budget later this month – and in light of the Welsh Affairs Committee’s report – NFU Cymru is repeating its call to the Chancellor to recognise the uniqueness of Wales’ farming sector, its multi-generational nature and its importance to Wales’ culture and economy. There must be a pausing and reviewing of this policy to look at its unintended consequences and to consider some of the other proposals which have been put forward.”
Volunteers from the Caerphilly Miners Centre have once again been recognised for their incredible efforts in creating handmade blankets for people in need across the community.
Now in its eighth year, the blanket project has grown from a small group producing just 14 blankets to more than 100 each year, made up of around 2,500 knitted and crocheted rectangles. Over 50 volunteers work remotely to create, assemble and donate these blankets to a range of worthy causes and community groups.
The project began as a way to bring people together and has since become a lifeline for many who may not be able to get out regularly but still want to make a difference. It gained momentum during the Covid-19 pandemic and continues to provide both purpose and connection for those involved.
A special celebration event was held on Monday 10th November, with Cllr Carol Andrews, Cabinet Member for Education and Communities, attending on behalf of Caerphilly County Borough Council to personally thank the volunteers for their continued kindness and commitment.
This year, a number of the handmade blankets were also allocated to Caerphilly County Borough Council to distribute through local organisations supporting vulnerable residents, helping to share warmth and comfort across the community.
Cllr Carol Andrews, Cabinet Member for Education and Communities, praised the volunteers’ ongoing commitment, saying:
“The dedication of the Caerphilly Miners Centre volunteers is truly inspiring. Their compassion and creativity have made a real difference to people’s lives, providing not only warmth but also a sense of care and community that embodies the very best of Caerphilly.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council would like to thank all the volunteers at Caerphilly Miners Centre for their continued contribution and community spirit.
The School Health Research Network investigates health and well-being of children and young people in Wales
The most comprehensive study of primary school children in Wales reveals nearly a third of learners (30%) reported elevated or clinically significant emotional difficulties in 2024.
The School Health Research Network’s (SHRN) Student Health and Well-being Survey in Primary Schools of more than 50,000 children also found that nearly seven in ten learners reported problems sleeping. One in three learners reported using social media a few times a week or every day – rising to one in two among 10-11-year-olds. Most learners said they had positive connections with teachers, peers, and school life.
These and other insights are included in the inaugural primary school report from SHRN. Researchers, educators, policy-makers and health practitioners say the findings are informing effective interventions to help learners.
SHRN is a policy-practice-research partnership between Cardiff University, Welsh Government, and Public Health Wales. Established in all secondary schools in Wales since 2013, the network’s expansion into primary schools began with a pilot in 2022, culminating in the inaugural report in 2024.This latest phase aims to provide insights into the issues affecting children from the age of seven to 11.
Dr Kelly Morgan, director of SHRN at Cardiff University’s DECIPHer, said:
“Funded by Welsh Government, our first national SHRN primary school report sheds light on a range of issues affecting children in Wales – with the data on well-being likely to be a big focus for schools and health professionals. Although seven in ten (69%) learners rated their life satisfaction as eight or higher out of 10, mental health symptoms tended to be more common, and life satisfaction lower, among learners from less affluent families. Life satisfaction tended to dip slightly as learners got older, but emotional and behavioural difficulties didn’t show the same clear pattern by age.”
“Our recent expansion of SHRN into primary schools offers an opportunity for joined up working across childhood and adolescence, and an avenue to better understand and support events such as transition to secondary school. This phase is recognised as one of the five key transitional periods in the lives of children and young people.”
Other key findings reveal:
Half of learners have reported being bullied at school;
Fewer than half eat fruit or vegetables daily;
One in ten learners report clinically significant behavioural difficulties;
Around one in seven learners go to bed after 10 pm;
Half of learners own a smartphone;
Vaping is emerging among learners in year 5 and 6;
Half of learners report exercising at least five times a week.
Schools are already using SHRN data to inform their practice, with bespoke anonymous school reports issued to participating schools. These reports are increasingly being used to support school development planning, prepare for Estyn inspections, and strengthen whole-school approaches to mental health and well-being.
At Cogan Primary School in the Vale of Glamorgan, pilot data highlighted areas for development in children’s well-being and peer relationships by Year 6. With support from The Health and Well-being Promoting Schools team, the school introduced the Flourish programme – a targeted initiative designed to support self-esteem and emotional resilience, helping pupils thrive both socially and emotionally.
Tom Lewis, Health and well-being lead at Cogan Primary School, said:
“SHRN has allowed us to put support in place that quickly made a positive difference to the wellbeing of our year six cohort. We have continued to use this initiative with great results. It’s invaluable for teachers to be able to access robust evidence such as this to ensure all our learners thrive.”
Lorna Bennett, Consultant in Public Health, Public Health Wales, said:
“The new SHRN Primary Schools data gives us a vital opportunity to better understand children’s health and well-being in Wales. Through the Welsh Network of Health and Well-being Promoting Schools, Public Health Wales works closely with schools to help create positive, supportive environments where learners can thrive. These findings highlight our ongoing commitment to using the latest data and evidence to inform whole school approaches to health and well-being. We will continue to focus on supporting emotional and mental well-being, and to work together with schools, local authorities, and partners to put evidence into action to support positive health and well-being outcomes for every child.”
Report co-author Dr Shujun Liu, also based at Cardiff University’s DECIPHer, said: “
This report captures the voices of our primary school children and the issues affecting them. By sharing their thoughts and experiences, the children taking part in this research have made a vital contribution to shaping efforts aimed at improving not only their health and well-being, but the health and well-being outcomes for children across Wales.
“We are also deeply grateful to the teaching staff whose time, support, and encouragement were instrumental in enabling learner participation. Their commitment to fostering environments where children feel safe and empowered to express their views and opinions has been central to the success of this survey and the wider SHRN network.”
Overall, 510 primary schools took part in the study from across all twenty-two local authorities in Wales, representing 42% of all state maintained primary schools. One independent school participated. In total, 51,662 learners in Years 3 to 6 completed the SHRN questionnaire.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle said:
“The School Health Research Network (SHRN) plays an important role in amplifying children and young people’s voices, and I am pleased that this year we have been able to extend the survey to primary schools nationally.
“It is important that we hear directly from children and young people to better understand how they are feeling and what is impacting them for us to shape future work we do.
“Parts of this report made for sobering reading; it is a priority for me to support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. As a government we are investing over £13 million annually in our Whole School Approach to mental health, with over £3 million going directly into school-based counselling.
“Alongside this, we continue to support schools to work with families and the wider community to understand their learners’ needs and meet them.
“I want to thank the children who took part in the survey, with the information playing an important role in shaping government priorities, including the Curriculum for Wales, Well-being of Future Generations Act, Mental Health Strategy, and Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales. We will also use these results to inform our revised anti-bullying guidance for schools.”
Creative Cardiff reflects on successes and achievements as it marks decade of activity
A network for creative professionals, which is based within Cardiff University, has this week marked 10 years of championing collaboration in the creative industries.
In the decade since its inception, Creative Cardiff, of the Centre for the Creative Economy, has engaged with more than 6,000 creatives.
They have hosted 140 in-person and online events across the 10 years including regular networking meet-ups, skills development workshops, coworking opportunities and socials.
The network, launched by Professor Sara Pepper in 2015, also hosted podcasts Get A ‘Proper’ Job and Rhywbeth Creadigol? with, and for, the creative community. It regularly spotlights and celebrates Cardiff’s creatives through interviews, articles and its monthly newsletter as well as carrying out research about the creative economy in Wales.
Creative Cardiff has awarded £80,000 in commissions to over 60 creatives for a range of projects which have all further joined up and developed the creative industries ecosystem. Support with the recruitment of more than 5,000 local creative opportunities through its jobs board and listings of over 200 spaces and places in the city and region are also among the network’s achievements.
Co-founder Professor Justin Lewis from Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Culture, said:
“Creative Cardiff was designed with a focus on collaboration between industry, academia, policymakers and the public to effect change – known as the quadruple helix model. Our curated mix of founder members – BBC Cymru Wales, Wales Millennium Centre and Cardiff Council – spoke to this commitment and to our strong focus on co-creation and partnership working.
“We also knew that there was a real requirement to build an evidence base for the social, cultural and economic impact made by the creative industries in this part of the world. As Creative Cardiff operates from Cardiff University, this kind of research and knowledge sharing is embedded into our DNA. In 2016, we carried out first comprehensive mapping of creative industries in Cardiff, determining three biggest sectors to be: Film/TV, Music and Design. We’ve continued this work over the last decade, launching the interactive mapping tool – Creative Economy Atlas Cymru – in 2025.”
A key role for the network has been championing the innovation and growth potential of the creative industries. Due to its convening power, grassroots foundations and industry reach, Creative Cardiff was the engine room for the Creative Industries Clusters Programme bid, which resulted in the £10m innovation project, Clwstwr, that delivered 100+ creative research and development (R&D) projects. From Clwstwr, a successful Strength in Places bid was built – Media Cymru – which is a £54m programme to make the Cardiff Capital Region a global hub for media innovation.
Professor Wendy Larner, Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University, said:
“Creative Cardiff wanted to explore how we, as a university, as a city and as a community, could come together to nurture the creative economy. The aim was to shine a light on its talent, to support its growth, and to help it continue to thrive as a vital part of Cardiff’s identity and future.
“It has been a remarkable success. The team’s passion and persistence have made Creative Cardiff not just a network, but a true community and catalyst for collaboration and growth.
“What Creative Cardiff does is very important to Cardiff University – it is a bridge between academia, industry, and creative communities. It’s quite unusual for a creative network to be based within a university, but I’m so glad that Creative Cardiff has found its home here. It’s a partnership that reflects the best of what universities can be: open, connected, and deeply engaged with the communities around them.”
Creative Cardiff will be launching new initiatives in 2026. These include Creatives Mean Business, a series of workshops and mentoring with a focus on enterprise and sustainable growth and a community-wide survey on the needs of the creative community.
The network has also opened applications for their first Community Forum, which will form part of their strategy for 2026 and beyond.
Carys Bradley-Roberts, Manager of Creative Cardiff, said:
“Creative Cardiff advocates for the value of creativity and for creatives. We aim to make the city and region a connected, collaborative, creative capital.
“While we’re marking a decade of Creative Cardiff, it is important to say that we would not exist and certainly wouldn’t still be here 10 years on, if it wasn’t for the wealth of creative excellence, creative places, spaces and people who shape Cardiff and the region’s creative economy. That community is at the heart of all that we do, and we look forward to continuing the journey together to make Cardiff a capital of creativity.”
Arup delivers Flintshire’s first net zero carbon school in operation using IES Building Performance Tech
Global development consultancy, Arup, has designed a pioneering Net Zero Carbon in operation (NZCio) Welsh school campus using performance modelling technology from global climate tech firm, IES. IES’s Virtual Environment (VE) dynamic modelling software played a central role in the design of the Mynydd Isa Campus, helping to reduce carbon emissions by over 100 tonnes per year.
Designed in 2023 and completed in 2025, the two-storey, 10,500m² campus meets Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) ‘Excellent’ standards, reflecting strong performance across areas such as energy use, materials, water and occupant wellbeing.
The IESVE software was used to assess and refine energy performance, taking into account overheating risks under various climate scenarios, including typical years, warm summers and prolonged heatwaves.
The solutions included installing more than 1,000 solar panels, which are expected to generate over 500,000 kWh of electricity each year. This enables the building to produce as much energy as it consumes. To manage comfort, a complex cross-ventilation chimney concept and a ‘traffic light system’ in classrooms is used to alert teachers to open/close windows. The project also made a 25-year performance commitment to ensure the building remains efficient and resilient to future climate conditions.
Niall Gibson, Building Performance Specialist at IES, commented,
“This project exemplifies how performance modelling technology can deliver on multiple fronts – achieving Net Zero Carbon in operation, supporting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification, and closing the gap between design and real-world performance.
“Rising heat is putting huge pressure on infrastructure that was never designed for these conditions. This isn’t about futureproofing; it’s about catching up with a crisis that’s already here. If we’re serious about tackling climate change, making existing infrastructure more resilient, efficient, and climate-ready must be a national priority. We’re proud to support Arup in delivering a school that sets the standard for future-proof public buildings.”
Steven Burrows, associate building physics engineer at Arup, said,
“I feel honoured to have worked on this project from the very beginning and take it through to completion. IESVE modelling played a significant role in the design of the scheme – from developing the complex cross ventilation chimney concept to achieving Net Zero Carbon in operation (NZCio). It’s an incredible achievement that the building generates as much energy as it will consume over the course of a year.”
The campus provides nursery, primary, and secondary education for more than 1,300 pupils. As local authorities and design teams face increasing pressure to decarbonise public infrastructure, the Mynydd Isa project highlights the vital role of whole-life performance modelling and trusted simulation tools in designing and delivering buildings that truly meet net-zero commitments.
Poultry and captive bird keepers in Wales must house their birds from Thursday 13 November as measures are introduced to combat the heightened risk of avian influenza.
Wales is facing a significantly elevated threat due to a growing number of cases in both kept and wild birds across Great Britain.
Avian influenza is of serious concern, not only for animal health and welfare, but also to the sustainability of food production and public health.
From Thursday November 13 it will be a legal requirement for all keepers of 50 or more birds of any species to house them.
Mandatory housing will also apply to flocks of less than 50 birds of any species if eggs or poultry products are sold or given away, due to the increased risk of disease transmission associated with trading or giving away poultry products.
Additional biosecurity requirements will also be introduced for the gamebird sector, which experienced avian influenza outbreaks last season.
The new compulsory housing measures will be incorporated into the existing Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) introduced in January.
Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said:
“We keep measures under active review. Since the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone was introduced at the start of the year, the risk of disease has recently increased further, and Wales is now facing a very high level of avian influenza risk.
“The decision has not been taken lightly, but it is necessary to protect both our bird populations and the livelihoods of poultry keepers across Wales.
“I urge all bird keepers to comply with these requirements and maintain the highest standards of biosecurity. I recognise this will be challenging, but by acting now we can help prevent the spread of this disease and protect our flocks.”
Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr Richard Irvine, said:
“We are seeing a sharp increase in the number of avian influenza cases in kept and wild birds. In the face of the current very high risk levels, we are now introducing mandatory bird housing measures, which will apply across the whole of Wales.
“I appreciate the impact these measures have on keepers, and remain grateful for their continued cooperation to protect bird health and welfare.
“Housing measures can help protect birds from the threat of disease, but they are not a substitute for stringent hygiene and biosecurity.
“I strongly advise keepers to act now and familiarise themselves with the steps they need to take to protect their birds. This includes using the mandatory biosecurity checklists available online.
“Everybody should continue to remain vigilant, report any suspect cases of disease immediately, and ensure they are following the mandatory enhanced biosecurity requirements to protect your birds.”
The housing order and AIPZ will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of the Welsh Government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza, along with the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the other UK administrations.
On November 7 the Restore the Montgomery Canal appeal group hosted a team from Shropshire Council on an introductory tour of the Montgomery restoration. Although political control of the council changed hands at the local elections back in May this was the first diary opportunity for senior councillors to view the work of the SUCS volunteers during one of their work party weekends.
Led by John Dodwell, chair of the Montgomery Canal Partnership, representatives from Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, Friends of the Montgomery Canal and IWA Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch met the Shropshire Council team at Canal Central at Maesbury Marsh, before boarding the steam launch Ictus for a trip to showcase the recently-opened restored length from Gronwen Bridge to Crickheath Wharf, the current limit of navigation. A highlight, at least for some, was the chance to operate the council-owned Crofts Mill Lift Bridge to let Ictus pass through before rejoining the boat trip to Crickheath.
Disembarking at Crickheath, the party joined SUCS chair David Carter to walk the length from Crickheath Bridge, past Schoolhouse Bridge to Waen Wen basin, which will be the next possible turning point for boats as the restoration progresses towards the Welsh border at Llanymynech.
David Carter thanked Michael Haig (IWA) for arranging the visit and said,
“It was great to show off the wonderful work the volunteers have done – and are currently doing as we see the Shropshire Gap getting ever smaller as we head for the Welsh Border”.
An impressively large turnout of volunteers, including some corporate volunteers from Oswestry-based business Aico, were working at multiple locations along the approximately three-quarter mile stretch between Crickheath and Waen Wen, giving the visitors a first-hand view of the current restoration in its various phases – in water, lined and blocked, cleared and profiled, and still being cleared.
Half lined canal bed near Schoolhouse Bridge
By car from Schoolhouse Bridge, the party paused first at Pant Bridge to view some of the obstacles awaiting the restoration volunteers, before moving on to Llanymynech Wharf, home of the trip boat George Watson Buck.
During a debrief over a light lunch at the village’s Bradford Arms (still in Shropshire!), council leader Cllr Heather Kidd thanked the organisers and volunteers for the morning’s experience, which she said had really helped her and colleagues understand the scope of restoration efforts in Shropshire and how the canal could fit with the council’s connectivity, health and wellbeing, and economic priorities.
As well as Cllr Kidd, the council group included Cllr Alex Wagner, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Communities, Cllr Roger Evans, Portfolio Holder for Finance, and Cllr Andy Davis, Chair of People Overview & Scrutiny Committee. Also present was Andy Wigley, Policy and Environment Service Manager (and member of the council’s Canal Project Board).
Huge thanks are also due to Chris Bushnell and Maggie Ellis for the opportunity to use their boat, Ictus.
Feature image: David Carter (in hard hat) explaining the progress to the councillors.
Shropshire Union Canal Society Enhancement Team is Expanding
The team and the CRT maintenance boat
At a recent canal enhancement work party at Ellesmere, six candidates passed the hedge cutting training and can now play a full part in the project. David Carter has led the team for a few years now and said,
“We’re doing relatively basic jobs such as hedge cutting, towpath tidying and canal side furniture painting etc, but it seems to make a big difference, judging by the comments we get from visitors and passersby. We now have a trained team but there’s always room for more. If you fancy joining us, you’d be very welcome”.
Through lacquer sun and tree shade dusk,
there wound the seaward flowing Usk,
with bridges which its waters cross
on stone rock piles where currents toss
their glinting heads out wavelet roll
as river seeks its Newport goal.
How shall I cross?
By ancient bridge, four fifty years
as Brecon’s span where road careers
across each arch, now widened much
to cope with crawling traffic touch?
Or shall I cross?
The bridge with tower standing stark,
marks entrance into Glanusk Park,
a guard that might a stranger seize
who seeks to roam its slopes and trees?
Or dare I cross?
Another bridge my eyes have found,
a crossing that is water bound,
an aqueduct for barge and boat
that on canal to Monmouth float?
Here won’t I cross?
By Abercynrig’s minor stream,
to reach the river Usk its dream,
a road bridge stalled on bank, then lost,
meant here the brook would not be crossed!
Refuse to cross?
Like tree, be still from dawn to dusk,
to watch the silent, flowing Usk?
————
Written by Martin Perry | Illustration by Jason O’Brien
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New Rural Production Company “A New Road Productions” Begins Filming ambitious First Feature, The Lost Farm, in and around Llandovery
A New Road Productions, a Llandovery-based media start-up founded by dynamic actor/producers’ Luke Bailey and Ella Peel (the pair behind the sell out Heart of Wales Fringe Festival), has begun production on its first feature film, The Lost Farm, an elevated horror shooting throughout November across Carmarthenshire.
The film follows seven novices on a charity hike who, after one of their group is bitten by a rabid dog, seek refuge at an abandoned farm, only to discover the place is haunted by a vengeful, humanoid monster, who has a secret that could change the world. Beneath its chilling surface, The Lost Farm explores themes of exploitation and resilience within rural Welsh communities, riffing on real historical injustices such as Epynt, Capel Celyn’s ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’, and Groes.
“The film might be a thrilling horror,” says writer Luke Bailey, “but at its heart, it’s about how rural Welsh communities continue to be taken advantage of by legislation, by corporations, and by the myths we tell ourselves. We wanted to tackle that through a story that’s emotional, entertaining, and distinctly Welsh.”
The cast includes Suzanne Packer (Casualty, In My Skin); Tahj Miles (Death In Paradise, Mr Loverman); Ella Peel (The Light in the Hall, Gangs of London); James Baxter (Waterloo Road, Open All Hours); Lowri Palfrey (Sex Education, Keeping Faith); Tony Mooney (Clocking Off, Scott & Bailey) and Richard Mylan (Coupling, Waterloo Road). Impressively, the vast majority of the cast and crew are Wales-based, with A New Road Productions actively investing in training and paid opportunities for local talent.
Businesses and entrepreneurs in the area have come out in droves to support the innovative project. Jonathan Stanley who runs local establishments The King’s Head, The Blue Bell and Juno’s doughnuts, along with Anthony Wathan, co-owner of Towy Taxis and The White Hall pub have both invested money and services to help The Lost Farm leap to life. The film has also seen support from Penygawse Victorian Tea Rooms, The Dragon’s Garden Bookshop, No7 Hair and Beauty Salon, Llandovery Antiques, Castle Garage Motors, Ozzy’s Takeaway, Henllys Estate B&B and Mabinogion Fashion.
Llandovery born Ella beams as she tells how the film has “really brought the community together. We saw how important these relationships were during the fringe festival and of course we’re all about giving these businesses starring roles on screen”
A New Road productions is always looking to support and collaborate with innovative businesses. The company has even partnered with Coleg y Cymoedd, offering work experience and mentorship to third-year Make-Up and FX students as part of the production.
“For me, being born and raised in Llandovery, it’s vital to create opportunities locally,” says Ella Peel. “So many young people feel they have to leave rural Wales to build a career. By bringing productions home, we hope to give them the choice to stay and to thrive.”
Bailey adds, “Too often, outside production companies come here but fail to employ local creatives. We want to change that. By supporting and up-skilling local talent, we can grow a sustainable creative economy, one that’s fairer, greener, and rooted in our communities.”
With The Lost Farm, A New Road Productions aims to set a new standard for regional filmmaking, combining bold storytelling with real social impact.
![Women packing bottles of cod liver oil into crates stamped with the words "Min. of Food Charged 10 shillings" [1]](https://www.welshcountry.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MinistryOfFood.webp "Penrhos College Colwyn Bay")
![The Home Guard [2]](https://www.welshcountry.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/home-guard.webp "Penrhos College, Conwy Bay")
The players to have achieved the greater honours in the game did not necessarily have the greatest influence or impact on the club’s success.
This is why Bryn Griffiths and Jack Jones get my vote as locks.
Wyn Jones added his own tribute when he credited much of his development to the advice, guidance and counsel of the mentoring Cantona.
The continued brilliance of Jac Davies’s running over the last two years and in particular the Cup semi-final win over Ebbw Vale in 2024 swung the decision as whom to select as full back, ahead of the long striding Emyr Lewis (son of Allan Lewis) and the dodging, darting Will Thomas.
The fly half position gave me the biggest headache of all – how to favour one talent over another?
The quality of Maynard’s goal-kicking in the tighter games was a major factor in swinging many a result the Drovers way – without it, many a game might have slipped away in disappointing defeat.
![River Teifi, Cardigan [1]](https://www.welshcountry.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/6090-cardiganteifi_km004.webp "River Teifi, Cardigan [1]")
![The Teifi Otter [2]](https://www.welshcountry.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TeifiOtter.webp "The Teifi Otter [2]")
