All articles tagged with #wales
Sir Anthony Hopkins, Port Talbot-born and Hollywood legendary, says he still returns to Wales in his mind almost daily, often revisiting his old streets via Google Maps; as he releases his first album inspired by childhood memories, he recalls Bracken Road lemon curd sandwiches and credits his Welsh upbringing—dreams that began at Port Talbot's Plaza Cinema—with shaping his identity and artistry.
A 19-year-old from Caernarfon, Enlli Thompson, was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer after years of misattributed symptoms; she had a hysterectomy that caused immediate menopause and ended her fertility, but she froze seven eggs before chemotherapy and is now navigating menopause while campaigning for awareness and pursuing a career in cancer care.
Thousands of Bonnie Tyler fans lined Welsh streets to welcome the late singer’s coffin home from Spain, with the coffin draped in a Welsh flag and flowers thrown as it passed, following her death at 75 after an illness and hospitalization in Portugal.
Hundreds of fans lined the seaside streets of Mumbles and Swansea, Wales, to bid farewell to Bonnie Tyler as her coffin was carried home in a hearse draped with a Welsh flag, following her death at age 75 after emergency surgery; a church service in Swansea will precede a final journey through her hometown of Skewen.
Thousands of Bonnie Tyler fans lined the streets of Mumbles, Swansea, to pay their respects as her coffin, draped in a Welsh flag, was brought back to her home. The crowd applauded, flowers were laid, and fans sang Total Eclipse of the Heart; a memorial service is planned at Swansea Minster with a final procession through Skewen.
Wales will have a prime view of a dramatic partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, with more than 90% of the Sun obscured across much of the country. The event runs from about 18:10 BST to 20:06 BST, peaking around 19:13 in Cardiff, and Pembrokeshire and other spots offer excellent views with clear western horizons. Observers are urged to wear eclipse glasses or use indirect viewing methods, as looking directly at the Sun can cause eye damage. The next full UK eclipse isn't due for another 66 years.
Harry Potter fans forced the diversion of a £430m Greenlink energy cable to avoid Freshwater West beach and Dobby’s grave, prompting planners to reroute the 190km link between Wales and Ireland to land in Wexford; the project can now power about 380,000 homes after the outcry sparked by a BBC Wales interview.
Ynyshir Restaurant near Machynlleth, Wales, recovered from a low hygiene score in 2025 (1/5) after the FSA ordered a halt to serving raw lobster. In February 2026 it earned a five-star food hygiene rating on reinspection, with the updated score published in March 2026. The restaurant has held two Michelin stars since 2022, and chef-owner Gareth Ward defended his specialized approach during the controversy.
A 26-year-old man from Deganwy, Wales, climbed onto the roof of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in a Grim Reaper-style outfit, staring down at patients and staff for about 50 minutes before being arrested. He pleaded guilty to causing a nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises and also admitted to two thefts: cat food/cat litter worth 30–40 pounds from a Pets at Home and food and drink from a Sainsbury’s in Llandudno. The court ordered compensation of £50, fines of £100, and costs of £100, totaling £200 for the hospital disturbance; the hospital board reiterated a zero-tolerance policy for disruptive behavior.
A 26-year-old Welsh man, Leon Gillespie, scaled the roof of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in a hooded costume he said looked like a crow, then stared at doctors and patients for about 50 minutes before being fined and charged with causing a nuisance on NHS grounds; he later admitted to two shoplifting offences and paid restitution.
David Braddon, already serving a life term for killing 18-year-old Conner Marshall in 2015, admitted this year to using a prison phone to orchestrate more than £50,000 in transfers between bank accounts, directing his mother and a former prison officer (with others) to move funds across accounts for 59 people, including relatives of prisoners. The scheme was uncovered after a prison officer received a message and authorities seized a suspect’s phone; Braddon’s accomplices were jailed (his mother Karen Graham and Claire Jones received multi-year sentences, with Nadine Marshall delivering a victim-impact statement). Braddon was given a further three years and seven months for possessing a phone in prison and for handling criminal property, to be added to his life sentence.
A Wrexham woman, Melys Edwards, goes public about her genital herpes diagnosis to fight stigma and empower others, explaining she refused to be ashamed and now raises awareness via social media. The report notes genital herpes is treatable but not curable, with England seeing rising diagnoses and Wales facing under-diagnosis and delays in accessing sexual health testing and services.
BBC Sport’s Commonwealth Games 2026 live blog from Glasgow reports day seven actions: Northern Ireland suffer a heavy 88-27 defeat to Australia in netball, Wales win bronze in the women’s 4000m team pursuit, New Zealand take track cycling gold in the women’s tandem B sprint with Australia also earning gold in the same event, and Scotland’s Neil Fachie announces his retirement after the tandem sprint. The updates set up potential semi-finals and a busy medals slate later on.
Josh Smith, 34, from Wrexham was diagnosed with terminal glioblastoma after months of headaches; surgeons removed 95% of a 4.5 cm tumor and he’s undergone radiotherapy and ongoing chemotherapy. Despite a prognosis of 12–18 months, he and wife Kelly are making every day count—climbing Snowdon, parkruns and other activities—while lobbying for more brain tumour research funding in Wales as the government plans a cancer strategy focused on research and trials.
Machynlleth-based Criw Compostio collects food waste and other waste streams from cafes and local sources, processes it locally into peat-free compost using specialized hot composters, and distributes it back to local growers on a pay-what-you-feel basis within a roughly 20-mile radius. The project supports a circular local food system, reduces transport, runs a composting school to help others start similar schemes, and highlights the social benefits of keeping waste as a valuable resource within the community.