Cardiff Life - Issue 216

Cardiff Life Awards 2020 finalists revealed ISSUE 216 / MARCH 2020 / £3

@CardiffLifeMag

ISSUE 216 / MARCH 2020 / JOLLY GOOD SPORTS

WE ARE THE

CHAMPIONS

MEET STEVE WILLIAMS THE CARDIFF LEGEND BEHIND WALES’ SPORTING HEROES TUNE IN THE TALENT OF RADIO PLATFFORM / MOTHER SUPERIOR GIFT EXPERIENCES FOR THE MAIN WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE / BLUE IS THE COLOUR HOW TO WEAR PANTONE’S CLASSIC BLUE / RAISE YOUR GAME THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORT IN SCHOOLS / TASTES FFRESH SMALL PLATES, BIG TASTE AT WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE / THE COMPANY SHE KEEPS CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH CARDIFF’S BUSINESS LEADERS ALSO LOUISE REDKNAPP / LIZ BONNIN / ANDREA BYRNE

© PHIL LEWIS / PHILIP.LEWIS10 0@LIVE.COM

EDITOR’S LETTER

I

n the early years of secondary school, I loved netball and rounders with a joyous carefree abandon. But then the stroppy, self-conscious teenager emerged and PE lessons were endured, not enjoyed. It wasn’t cool, it wasn’t fun, and it was just not happening. When I went along to meet Steve Williams of Whitchurch High, the teacher credited with helping inspire the success of our three cover stars – Gareth Bale, Sam Warburton, and Geraint Thomas – I was worried he’d see into my lazy soul and be appalled. Or he’d be blowing his whistle and making me do laps around the field while I interviewed him. Instead I found him to be inspiring in his passion for education, and not just for sport – but for everything relating to schools (page 60). It made me wish every school could have their own Steve Williams.

We’re fortunate enough to have Steve as a judge for the Cardiff Life Awards, making up an illustrious and respected panel of Cardiff talent, who have the unenviable task of choosing winners from our finalists listed on page 49.

Enjoy this champion issue and see you in three weeks’ time for more fun and games!

Y

n ystod fy mlynyddoedd cyntaf yn yr ysgol uwchradd, roeddwn i’n dwlu ar bêl-rwyd a rownderi ac yn mwynhau eu chwarae heb boeni dim am neb. Ond yna, ar ôl cyrraedd fy arddegau a throi’n berson ifanc hunanymwybodol a blin, trodd y gwersi Addysg Gorfforol yn bethau i’w goddef yn hytrach na’u mwynhau. Doedd Addysg Gorfforol ddim yn cŵl nac yn hwyl, a doedd y gwersi’n apelio dim ata i. Wrth fynd draw i gwrdd â Steve Williams o Ysgol Uwchradd yr Eglwys Newydd, sef yr athro sy’n cael y clod am helpu i ysgogi llwyddiant y triawd enwog sydd ar ein clawr – Gareth Bale, Sam Warburton a Geraint Thomas – roeddwn i’n poeni y byddai’r diogi ynof yn ei daro ac yn ei arswydo neu y byddai’n chwythu ei chwiban ac yn gwneud i mi redeg o amgylch y cae yn ystod y cyfweliad.

Yn hytrach, roedd ei frwdfrydedd ynghylch addysg – nid ynghylch chwaraeon yn unig ond ynghylch popeth sy’n ymwneud ag ysgolion – yn ysbrydoledig (trowch i dudalen 64). Gwnaeth i mi obeithio’n wir y gallai pob ysgol gael rhywun tebyg i Steve Williams ynddi.

Yn ffodus iawn, mae Steve yn un o feirniaid Gwobrau Cardiff Life eleni ac yn aelod o banel o bobl dalentog sy’n fawr eu bri a’u parch yng Nghaerdydd. Nhw fydd â’r dasg anodd iawn o ddewis enillwyr o blith y sawl sydd wedi cyrraedd y rhestr fer, sydd i’w gweld ar dudalen 49.

Mwynhewch y rhifyn penigamp hwn, ac edrychwn ymlaen at eich gweld ymhen tair wythnos i gael rhagor o sbort a sbri!

SARAH MOOLLA Follow us on Twitter @CardiffLifeMag Instagram @cardifflifemag

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 3

Issue 216/March 2020 COVER Former pupils of Whitchurch High School, Gareth Bale, Sam Warburton and Geraint Thomas, page 60

THE ARTS

13 INTRO Ani Glass performs at Clwb Ifor Bach 14 WHAT’S ON Arts, gigs, shows and comedy, it’s all going

on in Cardiff

22 RADIO PLATTFORM Meet the young talent ruling

the airwaves

FOOD & DRINK

26 RESTAURANT Getting funky at Ffresh 28 RECIPES Two spring dishes with Angela Grey 30 FOOD & DRINK NEWS Sam Bowser joins Llangoed

Hall Hotel, The Botanist Cardiff, and the ramen pop-up

34 EDITOR’S CHOICE Shop the Cardiff experience for

Mother’s Day

40 FASHION Feeling blue and looking good

AWARDS

49 CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS All the latest news on the

Cardiff Life Awards 2020, including our panel of judges

EDUCATION

60 ONE TO ONE Steve Williams on teaching PE at

26 © ANI SAUNDERS

SHOPPING

13

Whitchurch High School

64 PE LESSONS The value of sport in education

BUSINESS

69 CARDIFFWORKS News, views, and inspiring interviews

with the region’s professionals

74 WOMEN IN BUSINESS Talking equality for

International Women’s Day

PROPERTY

78 SHOWCASE Take a tour of a Scandi-influenced home

in Cyncoed

REGULARS

8 SPOTLIGHT Gareth Thomas on Sport Relief, and

The Mirror Crack’d goes to Mumbai

19 WYBURN & WAYNE The boys are back and out

on the town

36 ANDREA BYRNE Andrea talks frankly about infertility 42 SCENE Party on people!

82 JUST VISITING The wonderful and wild life of

Liz Bonnin

Editor Sarah Moolla sarah.moolla@mediaclash.co.uk Ed’s photo by Louis Smith/www.studiowhisk.co.uk Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Jessica Curtis-Jouxson, Nathan Wyburn, Wayne Courtney, Elsie Chadwick, and John Mather Advertising manager Mark George mark.george@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Samantha James samantha.james@mediaclash. co.uk Production/Distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager/production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@ mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Cardiff Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag). Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

4 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT

Arts

left: Susie Blake played Miss Marple in UK’s production of The Mirror Crack’d

below:

The Mirror Crack’d as seen in India; right: In the Indian version Miss Marple becomes Miss Mistry and is played by Shernaz Patel

© NEVILLE SUKHIA

A Wales Millennium Centre and Wiltshire Creative joint production of The Mirror Crack’d has just premièred in India. Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff from the Agatha Christie play, the UK production starred Susie Blake as Miss Marple, and Simon Shepherd as Scotland Yard inspector Dermot Craddock. The Indian version adapted by Ayeesha Menon recently performed at India’s National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai. This version saw super sleuth Miss Mistry played by Shernaz Patel and Superintendent of Police Daniel D’Mello played by Denzil Smith, and the story, set in 1976, revolves around fading Bollywood film star Mamta who is murdered in a sleepy Goan town.

When the Indian production was announced, Mathew Milsom, managing director of Wales Millennium Centre, said, “We aim to make innovative and entertaining work that showcases Wales to the world, and which fires the imagination of the audience. Our productions have already toured to Africa, America and Australia and I’m thrilled that our next stop is Asia, working in collaboration with the NCPA to give this classic British thriller an exciting and original Indian twist.”

For more: www.wmc.org.uk

© NEVILLE SUKHIA

MISS MARPLE MUMBAI STYLE

Gareth worked wheely hard to raise funds for Sport Relief

Sport Relief

GAME ON

The biennial Sport Relief returns on 13 March and among the big names presenting the BBC TV show which include Jessica EnnisHill, Ellie Simmonds, and Rio Ferdinand, is Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas.

Gareth recently completed a gruelling 500-mile bike ride from Cardiff to Aberdeen, using both a solo bike and a four-person pedal bike, to raise money for Sport Relief, stopping off en route on 15 December to deliver the Sports Personality of the Year trophy live on stage. The Tour De Trophy took Gareth 12 hours a day, for seven days where he was joined by friends and family along the way.

He says, “I am calling on Wales to join me and get behind this year’s Sport Relief campaign. I have seen first-hand the life changing work donations make possible around the whole country and believe me, it’s fantastic There’s so much more we can all do to keep raising funds. Here in Wales all sorts of projects are helped by Sport Relief – from mental health stigma to homelessness. Come on Wales, it’s game on!”

For more: www.sportrelief.com

8 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Fun run

TROOPING THE COLOUR

The Color Run is heading to Wales for the first time bringing with it a rainbow of fun. The 5K fun run, called The Color Run Make Magic 2020 and which explodes with colour at every one kilometre point, comes to Bute Park on 5 September, and is now open for registration. The run ends with a huge colour throwing party at the finish line, to a soundtrack of dance music.

Alan Brown, race director for The Color Run UK, says, “The Color Run has enormous appeal – more than seven million people across 50 countries have experienced this incredible event. There is a real party atmosphere from start to finish and you can see it in what people wear as well as they really go to town.

“We see all kinds of crazy outfits and The Color Run has branded wigs, hair dyes, tutus, headbands and socks for those that want to be dressed for the most colourful event of the year. We can’t wait to bring The Color Run to Cardiff’s Bute Park.”

For more: www.thecolorrun.co.uk

‘Hues that girl running around with you?’

Education

WALK THIS WAY

Cardiff Council officially launched the School Active Travel Plan programme on 28 January with an event at Howardian Primary School in Penylan. The scheme is to help encourage parents out of their cars and to walk, cycle, and scoot as a way of travelling to and from school.

Headteacher at Howardian Primary School, Helen Hoyle, says, “Active transport has been shown to have positive effects all round.

The children’s physical and mental wellbeing has improved and they have become more confident and aware of road safety issues.

“By developing our own Active Travel Plan we hope that traffic congestion around the school will decrease and the roads will become safer and less polluted for everyone.”

For more: www.keepingcardiffmoving.co.uk

Ditching the car on the school run gets a big thumbs up from Howardian Primary School

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Works like a dream!

VALE VETERINARY CENTRE introduces Lily who talks about joining the team and pursuing her dream

I

am Lily, one of the vets at Vale Veterinary Centre. After graduating from the University of Nottingham in July 2019, I moved to Cardiff to start my job at Vale Veterinary Centre.

I have dreamed of becoming a vet since I was a child, and I am thankful that I am living my dream after years of hard work. I have learnt so much since joining the practice, and I am incredibly lucky to be working with such a fantastic team that have guided me through my first steps in the veterinary world. I have greatly enjoyed meeting the clients and patients of both the Barry, and the Pontcanna, practices, especially the puppies and kittens that I have watched grow over the months. I am looking forward to developing my skills in all fields of veterinary medicine. In particular I have a special interest in surgery, dermatology and neurology, which I hope to pursue with further training.

Originally being from Worcestershire, I am no stranger to Wales having been on many holidays

along the west coast. I have greatly enjoyed my time in Cardiff so far, and I am looking forward to exploring more of Wales over the coming months.

Outside of the veterinary world, I have many hobbies to help maintain a good work-life balance. I started bouldering a type of rock climbing, when I moved to Cardiff, which is a great way of exercising whilst having a lot of fun. I also love travelling and I’m always thinking about the next adventure. Sadly, I do not have any pets myself in Cardiff, but I have many at home, including more exotics species such as snakes. n

For further info contact us on 01446 739 739 (Barry) or 029 2000 4007 (Pontcanna) or visit our website www.valevetcentre.co.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT US ONLINE AT:WWW.VALEVETCENTRE.CO.UK Cardiff: 233 Cathedral Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff, CF11 9PP. E-mail: cardiff@valevetcentre.co.uk | Phone: 02920 004007

Barry: 7/8 Ty Verlon Ind Est, Cardiff Rd, Vale of Glamorgan, CF63 2BE. E-mail: info@valevetcentre.co.uk | Phone: 01446 739739

THE ARTS

© ANI SAUNDERS

S N A P S H O T S O F C A R D I F F ’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E

ART OF GLASS Ani Glass is Cardiff-based electronic pop musician, producer, artist, who also sings in Welsh and Cornish. Her work has been described by the esteemed music website Pitchfork as, ‘Music for the end of the world, and the start of a new one.’ Catch her at Clwb Ifor Bach on 6 March where she is performing to launch her self-produced debut album Mirores.

For more: www.clwb.net

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WHAT’S ON

© SCARLET PAGE

29 February - 27 March

Wales’ rock pop masters Stereophonics play Cardiff 14 & 15 March

PLAYS / FILM / PERFORMANCES 29 February

CARMEN Jo Davies’ new production, set in 1970s Central America, delivers all the passion of Bizet’s enduring opera from the famous Toreador Song to Carmen’s provocative Habanera. Donald Gordon Theatre, WNO; www.wmc.org.uk

5 – 14 March

THE BEAUTY PARADE The tale of three ordinary women who were plucked from obscurity and parachuted behind enemy lines.

These falling women, spiralling through the dark became saboteurs and silent killers. The project’s code

name? The Beauty Parade. Weston Studio, WMC; www.wmc.org.uk

9 – 14 March

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Beautiful tells the musical story of Carole King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit song-writing team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. Donald Gordon Theatre, WMC; www.wmc.org.uk

10 – 13 March

TYLWYTH Aneurin has been running away from his past, but – thanks to Grindr – he unexpectedly finds love.

When he and Dan decide to adopt,

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it seems their world is complete.

But as he adjusts to being a dad and tries to move on from his reckless past, Aneurin is forced to confront his demons. Performed in Welsh. Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

10 – 14 March

AN INSPECTOR CALLS After a sell-out London season and American tour, Stephen Daldry’s multi award-winning production for the National Theatre returns. When Inspector Goole arrives unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home, their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman. New Theatre Cardiff; www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

17 – 21 March BLUE STOCKINGS Tess, Carolyn, Maeve and Celia arrive to study at Girton College, Cambridge in 1896. Though just as smart as their male counterparts, they have not had formal education and are labelled as ‘unladylike and unnatural’ for choosing education over a ‘normal’ woman’s life. These pioneering women were given the derisive nickname the ‘Blue Stockings’. Chapter; www.chapter.org 25 March

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR 2020 Witness and be amazed by epic human-powered feats, life affirming challenges and mind-blowing cinematography. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.ukx

WHAT’S ON left: An exhibition of paintings by Peter Prendergast begins at Martin Tinney Gallery on 11 March below: See saxophonist Xhosa Cole perform at The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama on 13 March

Having returned from touring Japan and the USA as a featured instrumentalist with the Eric Clapton Band, Paul has been making high-quality, accessible pop-soul with unmissable hooks and lyrics for decades, earning him acclaim, awards and a huge fan base. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

13 March

XHOSA COLE As part of a special AmserJazzTime for BBC Young Musician week the 2018 BBC Young Jazz Musician competition winner, saxophonist Xhosa Cole from Birmingham performs. The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

14 & 15 March

MUSIC / BANDS 3 March

MICHAEL BALL & ALFIE BOE This 2020 ‘Back Together’ UK tour follows the phenomenal success of the duo’s previous two duet albums, Together their debut, which became the UK’s best-selling album of 2016 and the follow-up Together Again which brought the pair a no.1 album in 2017. Motorpoint Arena Cardiff; www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

6 March

ANI GLASS Cardiff-based producer and artist Ani Glass brings her electronic pop sounds sung in Welsh to Clwb Ifor Bach to launch her new album Mirores. Turn to page 13 for more.

Clwb Ifor Bach; www.clwb.net

6 March

JONAS BLUE The multi-platinum artist and producer, with more than 8 billion global streams and over 45 million singles sales, is a pop powerhouse with hits including Fast Car, Perfect Strangers and Polaroid. Cardiff Tramshed; www.tramshedcardiff.com

7 March

PAUL CARRACK

STEREOPHONICS With unparalleled longevity and continued success, Wales’ rock pop masters Stereophonics are a band woven into the fabric of popular music. With their latest album Kind, Kelly Jones continues to cement his place amongst the great British songwriters with an ability to sketch and capture truth and beauty from everyday observations as well as delving into his own life experiences. Motorpoint Arena Cardiff; www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

16 March

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS The tour entitled Just Trust is in answer to the musical question, ‘Can we expect the hits of yesteryear and those of tomorrow?’ The response is, ‘Just Trust Elvis Costello and The Imposters.’ Donald Gordon Theatre, WMC; www.wmc.org.uk

COMEDY 4 March

PAUL MCCAFFREY: LEMON Paul tells of how he struggles to get to grips with being spied on by the Chinese through his new phone, talks about married life and how he ruined his honeymoon, shares his thoughts on idiotic self-help books that keep getting recommended to him, and reveals how he set fire to his oven gloves.

Glee Club Cardiff; www.glee.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON 13 March

SUZI RUFFELL: DANCE LIKE EVERYONE’S WATCHING This show has everything. – there’s a mix of storytelling, observations, a dash of social politics, and a lovely routine about a smear test. Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

ART, PHOTOGRAPHY & EXHIBITIONS Until 7 March

LITTLE TREASURES This is a group exhibition themed around ‘small-in-size’ paintings. The beautiful collection will feature a variety of mediums from contemporary artists who include Pamela Kay, Ann Oram, Gwyn Roberts, Rosa Sepple, and the still-life and landscape painter Simon Laurie. Albany Gallery; www.albanygallery.com

Until 8 March

FABULOUS ANIMAL This is an event that’s part of an ongoing process, presenting dance through multiple and surprising mediums and dealing with radical concepts about power and gender. Situated within a diverse community and drawing on work spanning continents. Fabulous Animal deconstructs notions of body conformity subtly and respectfully, inviting audiences to create their own physical identity. Cardiff MADE; www.cardiffmade.com

Until 4 May

above: Jo Davies’ new WNO production of Carmen is set in 1970s America; right: Tylwyth, a play about the past and parenthood, performs at the Sherman Theatre; below: It’s the final round of the Six Nations on 14 March when Wales meets Scotland

Until 2021

MISSION: PLANET EARTH Embarking on a mission through time and space, this virtual reality journey shows what Wales was like millions of years ago, including prehistoric giant bugs, and dinosaurs.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Cardiff; www.museum.wales

MARTIN PARR IN WALES This exhibition brings together, for the first time, Parr’s works that explore different aspects of Welsh life and culture, including male voice choirs, coal mining, and the seaside.

On 27 March actor Michael Sheen will be interviewing Martin Parr about his work in the Reardon Smith Lecture Theatre. National Museum Cardiff; www.museum.wales

11 March – 2 April

Until 10 May

CARDIFF DEVILS V SHEFFIELD STEELERS Challenge Cup Final, face off 4pm.

Viola Arena, Cardiff International Sports Village; www.cardiffdevils.com

IMAGINE A CASTLE This touring exhibition, which is supported by Art Fund, of five paintings from the National Gallery, London, will complement and highlight the rich and diverse representations of castles in the museum’s existing collections.

Amgueddfa Cymru– National Museum Wales; www.museum.wales

PETER PRENDERGAST Fiercely proud of his Welsh heritage, much of the artist’s work was committed to Wales and its spectacular scenery. Martin Tinney Gallery; www.artwales.com

SPORT 8 March

14 March

WALES V SCOTLAND Final round of the Six Nations, kick off 2.15pm. Principality Stadium; www.principalitystadium.wales

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Daisy Wood Davis plays songwriter Carole King in the musical Beautiful coming to Cardiff on 9 March

15 March

CARDIFF CITY V LEEDS Sky Bet Championship, kick off 3pm.

Cardiff City; www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk

21 March

CARDIFF CITY V CHARLTON Sky Bet Championship, kick off 3pm.

Cardiff City; www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk

22 March

CARDIFF DEVILS V MANCHESTER STORM League, face off 6pm.

Viola Arena, Cardiff International Sports Village; www.cardiffdevils.com

OTHER 17 March

WILLIAM SHATNER Following the screening of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, William Shatner will take to the stage to share fascinating and humorous behind-the-scenes stories from portraying the original Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek television series and movies, as well as his career spanning over 50 years as an award-winning actor, producer, director and writer. Donald Gordon Theatre, WMC; www.wmc.org.uk

26 March

PLANET EARTH II: LIVE IN CONCERT 2020 Hosted by TV presenter Liz Bonnin, this brings sensational footage from the award winning BBC series and guarantees to make audiences feel closer than ever to the planet’s spellbinding animals, the stunning landscapes and wildlife dramas.

Turn to page 82 for our Just Visiting talk with Liz. Motorpoint Arena Cardiff; www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk n

A QUICK CHAT WITH...

LOUISE REDKNAPP Louise is bringing her Heavy Love tour to Cardiff Tramshed on 14 March, in support of her just released, new album Heavy Love.

Louise rose to fame as a member of Eternal, the first girl band ever to sell over one million copies of an album with their 1993 debut Always & Forever, and as a solo artist Louise has had 18 consecutive top 20 singles. She has two sons with her former husband, the footballer Jamie Redknapp, who she was married to for 19 years.

We look forward to welcoming you in Cardiff in March. Do you know much about Wales?

After touring with Amber Davis in the musical 9 to 5, she grew up in Wales and spoke about it a lot. So I feel like I’ve got to know the country a lot more over the past year!

When have you visited?

I think it would have been with the Strictly tour in 2017, and then with the last record promo before that. The last time where I would have performed my own songs, would have been touring the last studio album, so that was a long time ago. I’m really looking forward to coming back.

Your appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 seemed to be a rejuvenation of yourself and your goals. What was it that kickstarted such an energy?

I don’t really think it was the programme, I think it was more getting into having a real purpose everyday and getting back into the studio. It gave me the fire in my belly to get back out there and start working again.

Have you kept that high going?

I think it’s impossible to keep that high going, I just keep my head down and work hard and really try and conquer all the ambitions I’ve got.

Are you nervous about delivering this new material after a gap to raise your family?

I’m actually really excited. When you make an album, one of the main things you look forward to is taking that album on tour and this album was made very much with touring and playing it live in mind. I just can’t wait to get on stage and bring it all to life.

What will be in your Cardiff rider?

Tequila. And more tequila, ha ha! Oh and maybe some fruit…

Do you think sons Charley and Beau will follow a musical or sporting path?

At the moment they both love their sport, but they are also into their music. The little one’s really into rapping and the big one’s interested in getting into DJing.

Have they come to see you perform at all?

Yes they have. For me, it’s always such a huge comfort having them there. It’s so lovely having your kids watching and you want to do a great job for them and make them proud. I think it’s nice for them to see the job I do.

Any St David’s Day messages for our readers?

Diwrnod hapus St David – have a tequila and enjoy!

For more: www.tramshedcardiff.com

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T H E A L B A N Y G A L L E RY PETER KETTLE RCA Everest Basecamp

YOUNG AT ART Selected works from emerging Welsh artists

12th March -­4th April 2020 Both exhibitions can be viewed on our website from 8th March www.albanygallery.com

74b Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3RS | T: 029 2048 7158 | E: info@albanygallery.com Gallery open: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays 11am-4pm

WYBURN & WAYNE Move over Ant & Dec. Make way Edina & Patsy. Stand aside Batman & Robin. Our dynamic duo are in town and they’re here to give us the low down on the Cardiff high life

A spring in our step

C

ardiff seems to be more exciting than ever of late, more stunning venues opening, more huge shows announced... we nearly can’t keep up, but we’ll always do our best to bring you the latest and hottest entertainment news.

As spring arrives, along with the flower buds, there’s a whole host of new and amazing shows headed to Cardiff. We’ve been to see a lot of them in the past few weeks, starting with a live Q&A with global superstar Caitlyn Jenner, hosted by Roman Kemp at the new ICC Newport. The event was fascinating and a real insight into her life where she discussed everything from her family and her transition, to her time in the jungle for the show I’m A Celebrity.

We were lucky enough to get to meet up with her before and after the show. and she’s very down to earth and warm.

The New Theatre welcomed With Pzazz Productions at The Eros Ball

the Agatha Christie classic, A Murder is Announced, which was thrilling. It had all the pieces of a ‘whodunit’ puzzle you could wish for, twists, turns, a dose of comedy and even cake. Neither of us guessed the culprit, so I guess we’ll never find a second career as a crime solving Cardiff duo.

But we have tracked down a few drag shows recently, and they are never a drag! First off we attended The Glee Club to watch the latest show from KlubKidz featuring the stars of Rupaul’s Drag Race UK. Nathan gave a work of his art to Blu Hydrangea and she loved it. The show was a wonderful reflection of British drag and we urge anyone to always check out The Glee Club’s upcoming events as these are becoming quite a regular fixture.

La Voix, a drag superstar, was in town. She opened her brand new show The UK’s Funniest Redhead. (Nathan actually tried to argue that claim being of the

Catching up with the funniest redhead ever La Voix

Chatting to The Beauty Parade’s Kaite O’Reilly

same hair colour persuasion himself !) at The Sherman Theatre and it was outstanding.

We got the chance to catch up with her beforehand whilst we were in London for an interview – she’s always a hoot!

Speaking of London, we attended Madonna’s London Palladium show twice in a week, and had the time of our lives. To see an icon as close as we did like that is always incredible – the show is like no other, art, theatre, politics and pop all mashed in one. Nathan was also filming something secret, which he can hopefully share with everyone very soon. Can we make a plea here – it’s very hard for Wayne to keep his mouth shut, so if you see him on a night out, please do not ask him!

A brand new show is coming to the Wales Millennium Centre this March – The Beauty Parade, the story of the unsung female spy heroes of the war. We caught up with the writer/director Kaite O’Reilly for an interview about what to expect. And what you can expect is truly wonderful.

Food wise recently, we revisited

The Ivy, Nicki at CPS Homes kindly gifted Wayne a voucher for his birthday – it really is a stunning restaurant and was as busy as ever.

Also we were treated to a three-course meal at Pitch on Mill Lane, who served up delicious food from Porc Wales, which showcases Welsh pig farmers and producers. There was even bacon in the chocolate brownie, which sounds weird but tasted gorgeous.

Think salted caramel but with a big porky kick!

We recently hosted The Eros Ball in aid of City Hospice at Sophia Gardens and put together

by VIP Hire. It was a wonderful fundraising event and featured music from James Williams, as well as dance from Pzazz Productions and Men Of Desire. We’re off for a nap before we resume our Cardiff adventures and report back to you in three weeks’ time.

To keep up to date with the Radio Cardiff DJs Wyburn & Wayne follow them on Facebook, Twitter @WyburnWayne and Instagram @wyburnandwayne

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 19

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Haus style Jak Bjornstrom from HAUS tell us how they go the extra mile to help owners sell and let their properties

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his month, we caught up with Jak Bjornstrom, the head interior designer at Haus in Cardiff. We all know that they’ve been sourcing homes for film production companies for several years, but we thought it’d be good to find out what else Haus do for their clients.

Jak, let’s start with the basics. How did Haus birth into existence?

Well, Chris and I [co-owner] were running other successful businesses including a housekeeping company based in Cardiff and found we were being asked for recommendations on who was best to help sell their home, or the best way to design a home for its sale. We were passing a lot of the work to other companies but they were letting us down, so we thought, let’s just help these people directly. Then Haus was born!

Tell us about your background Jak. I graduated from Cardiff Met University after completing my degree in Contemporary Textiles and Design and at that point, we already had a company that I could join on a full time basis but really wanted to create something new and something that would let me work in the area I’d trained in. I used the company as a springboard to create an interior design company that would eventually become a part of Haus. We’ve staged for large retailers, banks and restaurants across the UK, as well as for some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

What sets Haus apart from everyone else out there? There must be some fierce competition in your arena.

Surprisingly, most estate agents don’t have a home staging team on staff. Some outsource the work but because there’s little vested interest, it’s mostly a little half-hearted. My team don’t think like traditional estate agents. They do what it takes to maximise the potential of every property we’re looking after. This is whether it’s being sold or being put on Airbnb.

Airbnb is big in Cardiff at the moment. What can Haus offer an Airbnb owner?

We developed a service that’s truly unique.

I’m usually the first in the door and assessing if anything needs to be done before the property can be photographed. Sometimes it’s straightening a photo frame, sometimes it’s buying everything from the TV to the cutlery. Once my design team are done, it’s professionally photographed, uploaded to our booking platform and dispersed to Airbnb, booking.com, Expedia, Agora, and a lot more.

Our guest team take over from there and deal with each guest who books, to help create a fantastic experience.

A traditional landlord looking to dip their toe into Airbnb may not realise the logistics of running a mini hotel and end up thinking twice. With us, they have another option.

Tell us about the design aspect of your service All of our Airbnb properties, and the properties being sold, get our design team’s input, whether there’s a budget in place or not. We make the property the best it can be to get the biggest return for our clients.

Get in touch to learn more about what Jak and the Haus team do and how they help property owners get more for their money. ■

Haus,16 Crwys Road, Cardiff CF24 4NJ; 029 2010 0742; begin@ThisIs.Haus; www.agency.haus

20 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Sarah’s having a laugh, whilst doing her best to destroy the patriarchy

RADIO ACTIVE How young people are ruling the airwaves at Wales Millennium Centre’s Radio Platfform

By Sarah Moolla 22 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

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adio Platfform is Wales Millennium Centre’s youth-led radio station and training programme which has trained more than 100 young people aged 14 – 25 since its launch in 2016. The first Radio Platform studio is at the Centre, but in summer last year the team opened a second studio in Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taff, in a newly redesigned space, allowing more young people from across Wales to create their own unique sound, use their voice and broadcast live with daily shows.

Through an accredited six-week media training scheme in partnership with Promo Cymru, the young people are trained in everything they need to know about presenting and producing a radio programme, as well as other important life and career skills.

The original Radio Platfform studio in Wales Millennium Centre is still used for accredited training, taster sessions and workshops, too. It also functions as a mobile

ARTS unit, enabling the Radio Platfform team to deliver outreach sessions in both Welsh and English at schools, community groups and festivals. Between them, the two Radio Platform stations, who currently have around 40 volunteers delivering radio shows to 2,000 listeners worldwide including Poland, the US and Australia. Here we meet just a few of who have worked with Radio Platfform, including the founder Jason Camilleri.

JASON CAMILLERI

“I always had a passion for radio and used to present my own show on BBC Radio Wales.

When Hannah, a colleague of mine, first floated the idea of a radio station it sparked a lot of ideas for me around voice and expression for young people. It was an exciting prospect, and given my background it was a natural project for me to lead on.

“It is massively rewarding to see the passion, drive, and intelligence that the young people have brought to Radio Plattform. They steer the direction of the station, and have ownership of the project. The breadth of radio shows on offer really showcases the interests of our young people and makes for fascinating and insightful listening.

“Launching the new station last October and starting the young people in their job roles – it was a great moment to see how far the station had come – from the original 10

Molly is now station co-ordinator

Jason helped create Radio Platfform

“2,000 listeners worldwide including Poland, the US, and Australia” day project to now where we have two brand new studios, and a group of dedicated young people employed to run the station.

“My hope for the future is that Radio Platfform can fulfil its potential and become an entity within itself, and a landmark in youth engagement and expression.

SARAH MCCREADIE

“I’ve made some lovely friends from being at Radio Platfform. I’ve had so much fun making the radio shows. It’s also given me some brilliant opportunities professionally as a creative. In creating just one radio show you can learn so much – about timing, argument structure, how to interview someone...all sorts.

“I went to the wonderful Homeless World Cup and interviewed Michael Sheen who helped organise it, which was pretty sick. My stand-out moments though come from just doing our show Girls Girls Girls with one of my best friends Heather – just having a laugh, playing class music, and doing our best to destroy the patriarchy.”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 23

ARTS

“It was about helping me improve my confidence”

EZRA

“As a result of Radio Platfform I have been to cities and towns around the UK I had never visited before, and I have learned all sorts of skills from using the tech to teaching other young people. I have earned employment and won a Creative and Cultural Skills Award. My stand out moment is winning national ‘Intern of the Year’. I hope to continue to progress in radio and hopefully earn further employment in the future.”

Ezra’s work with the radio station has taken him all around the UK

IOAN MORRIS

“The main reason I first got involved with Radio Platfform was because it was something new that could help me learn new skills, how to multi-task and also problem solve. But also it was about helping me improve my confidence.

I want to improve myself for everyday life and also for career choices I make.

“I think it’s important to have something like this because there are many young people that are hanging around with the wrong group of people, and this radio station can help show that there are so many other opportunities. It also gives young people the chance to have a voice – to say what they think.”

MOLLY PALMER

Iaon’s confidence and skill set has improved since joining Radio Platfform

24 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

“Radio Platfform has changed my life completely. I fully immersed myself into the experience and took every opportunity I got offered. I have hosted, DJ’d, started my own shows, been to festivals including Boomtown, travelled the UK running radio workshops, and through these experiences, I have met my best friends.

“I also gained an unconditional place in university to study something I would never have considered had it not been for radio. As of December, I was lucky enough to get a job here and I am now the station co-ordinator which I am loving. It’s very rewarding to offer young people the same opportunities that I was offered. It’s all a bit mad but I love it.”

For more: www.wmc.org.uk

RESTAURANT

FFRESH BAR AND KITCHEN

Sarah Moolla finds out fflavour and ffun can co-star when she visits the Wales Millennium Centre

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ntertainment is great. And dining out is great. But often, not to be found in the same place at the same time. It’s like the fun police have decided you can’t have both. Think flaccid, watery hotdogs at the cinema, theatre fruit pastels and tub of vanilla ice-cream, or smooth, cold, petrol-oil chips at all sporting events. Even more dispiriting is the ‘we’ve got you where we want you’ nasty multiplex chain offerings.

However in these gastronomically evolving times, our expectations have been elevated, and we know we deserve more than a few interval boiled sweets. But how good can the meal in a huge theatre venue like Wales Millennium Centre really be when its primary aim is to stage shows?

We’re seeing SIX, the upbeat musical about the six wives of Henry VIII, in the Donald Gordon Theatre, which

26 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

seats nearly 2,000 people. To give you an idea of just what a vast hive of drama, musicals, comedies, and talks the WMC really is, there is also the BBC Hoddinott Hall that seats 350 and the Weston Studio Theatre with a 250 capacity. There is also the huge central space often used for exhibitions, plus two cafés – Caffi and Coffe Mania – and the multiple bars on various levels. There’s the Awen Bar, Horizons Bar, the Stones Bar, and Ffresh bar and kitchen, which also acts as a cabaret lounge and restaurant, and is where we’re dining tonight.

I’ll be honest, there are a few other things that are making me nervous – the website proclaiming things like ‘small plates‚ large plates, big smiles’ makes it sound like we’re headed for the land of happy meals, and more blurb that reads, ‘No matter how hungry you are, our winter menu is guaranteed to make your taste buds sing, just like our performers on stage.’ ‘Oh hi, I’ll have a large helping of cheesy, with a side of corny please.’

Queasy uneasiness about wording aside, the actual winter menu choices read great – appealing, varied and made with Welsh ingredients. We go for a selection of small plates of which there are five to choose from: lemon and lime salmon fishcake with tomato salsa; battered brie wedges with an apricot compote; Asian salad with charred tofu or chicken; and calamari and cheese coated with rice noodles; and the only one we don’t order is the parsnip and mushroom nut bombe with fire roasted tomato. On the waiter’s very smart recommendation, we add a side of sweet potato fries, which are amazing. A beautiful blaze orange in colour, they arrive piping hot in that straight from the deep-fat-fryer way, and thin with roughed up, crispy seasoned edges that are ideal for dredging through the garlic mayo they came with. Yes, I can hear you heckle ‘But it’s just a chip!’ – but honestly these Ffresh chips really are scene stealers. However, everything served is more than just a supporting act – stand out dishes are the calamari and soft cheese coated with crispy rice noodles, which sounds all kinds of wrong but is actually all kinds of deliciousness, and the brie wedges, which are lightly fried in panko-breadcrumbs to create comforting, oozing, gooey, pungent parcels. They come with an apricot dipping compote sidekick which delivers a lovely touch of tang.

Having experienced the credible and high standard of the small plates, we both agree we would go back to go large, without even seeing a show. Big plate choices tonight include baked salmon fillet with parsley sauce; giant pig in blanket with creamy mashed potato and peas; and a nut roast of chestnuts, brown rice, mushrooms and cranberries.

This time though it’s a pre-performance big glass of deeply delicious red wine, to accompany our puddings – a hefty unctuous slab of fudgy, chocolate brownie; and a creamy, mousse-like, caramelised cheesecake with a crunchy honeyed biscuit base.

Adding to the feel-good factor, is the atmosphere. The foyer is filling up with women of all ages here for SIX, and there’s a real party vibe going on. Whether you’re here for a show, to dine, to meet friends, or to simply have a drink, the friendly and ritzy Ffresh bar and kitchen ensures they all get equal billing. n

“The brie wedges are lightly fried in pankobreadcrumbs to create comforting, oozing, gooey, pungent parcels” DINING DETAILS Ffresh, Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff, CF10 5AL; tel: 029 2063 6465; www.wmc.org.uk Opening hours Mon-Thurs 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-12am, Sun 12pm-4pm; open from 12pm on matinée show days Chef Cindy Challoner Type of food served Contemporary small and large plates made with the finest Welsh ingredients Covers 80-100 Outdoor space Teras at Ffresh is the new outdoor seating area Prices Small plates start £6.50-£7.50, large plates are £14, desserts £5-£5.50 Vegetarian and vegan Yes Disability access Yes Atmosphere A buzzy and welcoming cabaret vibe

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 27

SPRING SPECIALS Photographs by Huw Jones

A

ngela opened the doors to her cookery school at Llanerch Vineyard in April 2010. She is now in her tenth successful year and has been voted into the Top 10 UK Cookery Schools

by The Independent and The Telegraph. The cookery school has also been shortlisted for the Best Cookery School in the Great British Food Awards and chosen to join an elite selection of 50 top schools in The National Cookery School Guide. Angela has created a wide variety of cookery classes and events, where she loves to share her knowledge, skills and anecdotes.

LAVERBREAD, COCKLE AND BACON CAKES WITH PARSLEY SALAD Serves 4

Ingredients For the lavercakes 150g laverbread Approximately 75g of toasted oats (dry-roasted in a pan for 5 minutes) 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped 50g fresh cockles ½ teaspoon lemon zest 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice 1 small garlic clove, grated 2 crisply cooked slices of bacon, finely chopped ¼ teaspoon of black pepper Butter for frying

28 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

For the salad and dressing 12 stems of parsley, torn 4 crisply-cooked slices of streaky bacon 50g fresh cockles 2 tablespoons lemon juice 4 tablespoons rapeseed or sunflower oil A couple of twists of black pepper Method 1. Place all the ingredients for the laver cakes in a mixing bowl and combine. Set aside for 5 minutes to allow the oats to absorb the moisture. If after this time the mixture is a little

wet, add some more oats to firm it up so you can shape it into little cakes for frying.

2. Divide the mixture into 8 portions and shape into little cakes.

3. Heat a large frying pan, add a good walnutsized piece of butter, wait until it starts to foam, then add the laver and cockle cakes.

Cook in batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan. Make sure the heat is not too high, as the butter will burn.

4. Allow the cakes to form a crispy crust underneath before turning over. Remove and drain on kitchen paper.

5. Make the salad by tearing the parsley leaves into a bowl. Break up the bacon into pieces and add to the parsley. Spoon in the cockles and add the lemon juice, oil and black pepper.

Mix briefly and serve a mound with 2 warm laver cakes per person.

RECIPE WELSH CAKES Makes 24

Ingredients 225g self-raising flour, sieved 110g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing 1 large free-range egg, beaten 1 tablespoon of currants or raisins A little milk, if needed 85g golden caster sugar, extra for sprinkling Additional yummy things to add to the dough. Try: • 1 teaspoon lemon or orange zest, finely grated • 1 teaspoon vanilla salt (Anglesey Sea Salt Co) • 1 tablespoon chocolate chips with orange or lemon zest • 1 tablespoon dried sour cherries or cranberries

Method 1. Rub the butter into the flour until it looks like fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and dried fruit and then the egg. Mix to combine and then push together to form a dough. If the mixture feels a little dry, add a little milk.

2. Lightly flour your work surface. Roll out the dough until it is about 5mm thick. Cut into rounds with a 10cm inch fluted cutter.

3. Rub a bakestone or a heavy-based pan with a little unsalted butter. Place over a low-medium heat and cook the Welsh cakes slowly until golden underneath and slightly puffed. Turn them over and cook the other side until golden.

They will need about 2-3 minutes each side.

4. Remove from the pan and dust with caster sugar while still warm.

For more: Spring Recipes by Angela Gray, £9.99, available from independent local bookshops and from Graffeg Limited; www.graffeg.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 29

FOOD & DRINK SNAPSHOTS OF CARDIFF’S FOOD SCENE

NEWS FEED Ffresh bar and kitchen in Wales Millennium Centre are launching Final Cut on 5 March, which they describe as an interactive dining experience. Part supper club and part murder mystery, diners play movie extras who help solve the murder of one of the stars…Taco Bell, pioneer of Mexican-inspired cuisine, is opening its Cardiff St Mary Street branch on 2 March. The 49-seat restaurant, which is the first Taco Bell in Wales, will be serving tacos, burritos, quesadillas and wraps…A disused rangers’ hut in Thompson Park has been transformed by Lufkin Coffee, the Cardiff independent café chain into a trendy coffee house named The Ol’ Rangers Hut… Knife & Fork Food, has announced plans to open its sixth location. The independent pub group have acquired their sixth local refurbished pub, The Boat House, in the coastal village of Sully in the Vale of Glamorgan. It’s due to launch on 28 February as The Sully Inn. Final Cut serves up a whodunit with your dinner

If you can stand the heat, get into Sam Bowser’s kitchen

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL A unique new dining experience designed to put guests at the very heart of the action has launched at Wales’ three AA rosette Llangoed Hall Hotel, with new head chef, Sam Bowser.

Up to six guests will be invited into the kitchen during lunch service to engage with the team and watch them prepare – and then enjoy an exclusive seven-course tasting menu.

Sam, who joined the team in December and has previously worked at the t Michelinstarred Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saison’s in Oxford and most recently, Dormy House, says, “A big part of what we’re doing is about the guest journey; for people to come in and see what we’re doing, offering them a really unique experience.

“Llangoed Hall Hotel is a country house, not too large, so it’s making it feel like a home away from home. People are getting more and more knowledgeable about food and people are really mesmerised by it. Things that we think are quite simple to do, people love seeing it.

There’s a real interest in it.”

For more: www.llangoedhall.co.uk

Comfort food is on The Botanist’s menu

GARDENER’S WORLD

The Botanist opened its doors in Cardiff earlier this month, complete with its botanical garden decor, plant-adorned walls and outdoor terrace.

Alex Budge, general manager of The Botanist Cardiff, says, “Our beautiful new venue, located on Church Street, has blossomed into a wondrous world of botanical. The space brings together the best elements of the traditional pub, reinvented for Cardiff with its botanical twist and breathtaking interiors.”

The restaurant is famous for its botanically-inspired cocktails and mocktails such as Rhubarb and Sage Spritz and Pink Gin Punch, and its seasonal menu is influenced by the comforts of home and includes its signature Hanging Kebabs.

For more: www.thebotanist.uk.com

30 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Flowers and leaves are not just mere garnish at the new Botanist Cardiff

FOOD & DRINK Musician James has opened a ramen pop-up

Minister Lesley Griffiths pictured with Culinary Association of Wales president Arwyn Watkins, OBE, vice president Colin Gray and senior and junior members of Culinary Team Wales at the Senedd reception

EINS ZWEI COOK! Senior and junior chefs who represented Wales at the prestigious IKA Culinary Olympics in Germany were given a send off by Assembly Members at the Senedd on 29 January.

The teams then went to Stuttgart where they joined around 2,000 chefs and pastry chefs from more than 60 nations, for the biggest and oldest international culinary art exhibition.

The cooking event, which saw the Welsh teams win medals, also provided an important platform for Wales to lobby support as it bids to host the

Worldchefs Congress and Expo at ICC Wales, Newport in 2024.

Minister Lesley Griffiths says, “We are really gaining a reputation as a food and drink nation – as proven by the recent figures which show last year, we smashed our ambitious industry target of achieving £7 billion turnover.

“Winning the bid to host such a high-profile event in Wales would provide a further boost for our thriving food and drink industry.”

For more: www.welshculinaryassociation.com

How Par 59 will look on completion

A WATERING HOLE IN ONE After laying empty for years, the basement level of the Capitol Shopping Centre in Cardiff city centre is to be turned into a brandnew bar, restaurant and crazy golf venue called Par 59.

The 18,000 sq ft site, due to open in April, will boast two permanent independent kitchens, two adults-only, crazy golf courses, two large bar and dining rooms, and a separate area for private bookings. The venue is being developed by the team behind successful Cardiff brand The DEPOT (turn to page 69 for more DEPOT news), in partnership with a private investor.

Edward Richards, asset manager at NewRiver who manage the Capitol Centre, says, “We are delighted to announce that Par 59 will be coming to the Capitol.

They will be occupying the basement unit located on the corner of Queen Street and Station Terrace. They will revitalise space in the Centre that has been void for several years.

“This letting marks the first of a number of exciting new operators to come to the Capitol, as part of our wider development plans. NewRiver look forward to announcing further developments for the Capitol this coming year.”

For more: www.par59.com

USING HIS NOODLE

The ramen pop-up Matsudai has just started a sevenweek kitchen takeover at Blue Honey Local in Roath, showcasing different ramen dishes including super-rich tonkotsu and tori paitan broths, and the more delicately balanced shio and shoyu.

James Chant, the founder of Matsudai, is also a musician and composer, an artist manager and an event manager having produced Welsh Music Prize and co-founded the silent disco gatherings, Hush Collective. He first started experimenting with ramen recipes as a way to get back in touch with his creative side, after reaching a point where his work no longer made him happy. “I found myself in a really, really dark place last year, and after some serious talks with my wife, she convinced me that the only way to get out of that place was to start being creative again,” says James.

“I had been to Japan before when touring and loved it, and had been pottering with obscure ramen recipes at home, so having to put an end to a lot of the work I was doing (for the benefit of my mental health) gave me a chance to really develop my obsession, making ramen from scratch – researching, sourcing ingredients, and digging around for information online.

“I suppose Matsudai is my take on Wales’ version of proper ramen, and the response to it has been amazing so far. Cardiff was so ready for ramen, and I just hope people end up loving it as much as I do.”

For more: www.matsudai.co.uk The tori paitan broth

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 31

Eating @La Cuina doesn’t cost the Earth.

We choose the wines, the food and the economies these come from. Call in for a glass of our wine of the week or a celebration meal.

Catalan restaurant La Cuina, 11 Kings Road, Cardiff, CF11 9BZ 029 20190265 – info@lacuina.co.uk

WWW.LACUINA.CO.UK

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Visit us: Brook House, Tynant Rd, Creigiau, Cardiff, CF72 8FG www.brooksaestheticclinic.co.uk | Call us today: 02920 892996

MIDWEEK HENDRICK'S GIN AFTERNOON TEA FOR TWO, £43.90 FOR 2 PEOPLE Park Plaza Cardiff has teamed up with Hendrick’s Gin to offer a unique combination of two classics: the afternoon served with gin and tonic From Park Plaza Cardiff, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff; www.parkplazacardiff.com

PRECIOUS MOM-ENTS

Forget garage flowers and cheap chocs on 22 March – make it all about the experience this Mothering Sunday

MIDWEEK TWILIGHT SPA ESCAPE, £49 PER PERSON Arrive any time from 5pm for a refreshing glass of prosecco, a spa treatment and full use of the leisure facilities From The Spa at Holm House Hotel, Marine Parade, Penarth; www.holmhousehotel.com

TASTE OF WALES FOOD & DRINK EXPERIENCE, FROM £20 – £160 DEPENDING ON NUMBERS A six-course tasting menu containing Wales’ best dishes and locally-sourced drinks, with Welshcakes to finish From Welsh Gin Club, Cardiff Bay; www. discoverdelicious.wales

SENSUOUS SPA, PRICES START FROM £73 PER PERSON Using rose infused products, this package includes a back, neck and shoulder massage followed by a facial cleanse, full use of the facilities, and a spring afternoon tea From Celtic Manor, Coldra Wood, The Usk Valley, Chepstow Road, Newport; www.celtic-manor.com

34 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER GIN MAKING EXPERIENCE, £150 FOR 2 PEOPLE As well as a tour of the distillery and a couple of G&T’s along the way, you distil, bottle and label your own bottle of bespoke gin From Hensol Castle Cellars, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan; www.hensolcastledistillery.com

ED’S CHOICE INTRODUCTION TO FLORISTRY, £250 Learn various techniques over six weeks in a small intimate environment to help make the most out of flower arrangements From Flower Lodge, 4 Beulah Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff; www.flowerlodge.co.uk

COMPLETE BOAT HIRE, FROM £235 PER HOUR Fancy pushing the boat out? Customise a trip for up to 12 people with a Bay Island Voyages full boat charter From Bay Island Voyages, near Celtic Ring, Roald Dahl Place, Cardiff Bay; www.bayislandvoyages.co.uk

FFRIND MEMBERSHIP AT THE WMC, FROM £45 A YEAR Mum loves theatre? This helps secure the best seats in the house, exclusive tickets, and 20 per cent off food and drink From Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff; www.wmc.org.uk

CRAFT WORKSHOPS, MINIMUM FEE IS £240 FOR A GROUP OF EIGHT Organise a tailor-made crafty party and choose between dozens of activities including enamelling and pottery From Makers Guild Wales, Craft in the Bay, The Flourish, Lloyd George Avenue; www.makersguildinwales.org.uk

BUBBLE AND BRUNCH, £26 PER PERSON A two-course brunch with the added sparkle of freeflowing prosecco at your sitting, along with panoramic views of the city From Clayton Hotel Cardiff St Mary Street, Cardiff; www.claytonhotelcardiff.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 35

IN HER WORDS ANDREA BYRNE

THE INFERTILITY TABOO As Mother’s Day approaches ANDREA BYRNE writes about the isolation of trying for a baby

“Infertility... is often about death and grief”

I

wanted to write a slightly different column for this issue. My hope is that it might help people to seek support on their fertility journey and realise that it’s important to reach out when you are experiencing the challenging emotions which are common to so many couples trying to start a family. You are not alone.

Our daughter, Jemima, has just turned one. It’s a milestone for any family. But for me and Lee, it means so much more than it will ever be possible to put into words.

Most of our marriage has been spent navigating the emotional and physical challenges of trying to have a baby. And failing.

We were told by several doctors, on numerous occasions, that due to complications with a defective womb lining, it was unlikely I would ever be able to carry a pregnancy. So, to have Jemima’s beautiful smile light up our days is nothing short of incredible. And proof that fertility science still has so much to learn because, in the end, she defied the odds and was conceived naturally.

As we went through repeated treatments, operations and investigations month after month,

36 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

and year after year, we only felt able to disclose it to a trusted and small circle of family, friends and colleagues. The physical strain of endless pills, injections and procedures is one thing.

The mental and emotional anguish within your relationship, is quite another.

With each cycle, came another stinging loss or disappointment to cope with and it became harder to raise our hopes, to follow our dream. The last thing we needed was the added pressure of everyone politely asking at the office watercooler how it was all going.

As anyone living with infertility will understand, the emotions were raw and it was easier, instead, to shut down and try to stop it defining us. During those years, hard as it was, it was important that I still went to work, read the news, filmed documentaries and tried to maintain a different version of me, away from our private heartbreak. Lee would say the same about playing rugby.

As I write this, Jemima is napping in her nursery. Her little coat is hanging in the hallway. I’m looking at a photograph of the three of us on the mantelpiece.

Our dream, realised. Yet we still both find what we went through to get here, really difficult to talk about. Why? Because infertility is awkward. It’s often about death and grief – two more big taboos; it’s about mental health – which

society is only just starting to talk about; it’s about sex and intimacy – which we’ve never been good at talking about; and it involves a complicated science which is individual to each and every couple – which nobody wants to talk about because it’s, well, complicated.

So it’s not surprising that we’d all rather talk about almost anything else. When it’s discussed in the press, infertility headlines are often about the number of cycles couples endure or the amount of money they’ve spent. This is relevant, of course, because it does touch every part of life and the longer it goes on, the more it affects finances, relationships, careers and mental and physical well-being. Everything is put on hold as a consequence of repeated treatments.

However, it’s important to remember that every couple who experiences any kind of infertility has a unique journey, which is much more complex and personal to them than these basic numbers.

Polycystic ovaries is infertility.

Low sperm count is infertility.

Miscarriage is infertility. Cancer could be infertility. It comes in so many different guises and affects men and women alike.

My message to everyone is this.

Yes, infertility is awkward. Yes, it is complicated. There are still many parts of our journey that remain very private to us. But, trust me, couples going through this will feel isolated, intensely

IN HER WORDS

opposite page:

Andrea tried for years to have a baby; this page, clockwise from above: Andrea and Lee celebrate Jemima’s first birthday; Andrea holding the baby she and Lee had tried so hard to have; Lee with Jemima on her first holiday abroad

frustrated, deeply sad and probably exhausted and they will be unspeakably grateful for every bit of support they are shown.

When they are ready to, they will want to talk. They will want people to understand their specific medical experience, however complicated it is. They will want people to know how much it hurts emotionally; that it makes them feel a failure as a man or a woman; that they feel a sense of guilt for not being able to give their partner a child. They will want to tell you that they can’t see an end to the process, but don’t feel able to give up, because the next time might be their time, and their ‘miracle’.

So, if you think someone might be going through a fertility struggle, simply ask them if they are okay. And if they do decide they can open up to you, keep the conversation going. That might

mean over months and sometimes over years. Keep asking how they are. Keep talking.

Thank you to everyone who reached out to us and for the unwavering support behind the scenes from ITV, which was invaluable on so many levels.

Since our experience, I try to reach out to as many people as I can, who I think might be affected by fertility issues and I try to keep the lines of communication open, on their terms. I also pioneered the introduction of Mental Health First Aiders in our ITV newsrooms, which I hope might give people another avenue to talk about their fertility problems through the workplace.

Follow Andrea on Twitter at @byrney15 and on Instagram @andreabyrnetv for all the latest Baby Byrne updates www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 37

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Baby on board?

Sarah Alford of BERRY SMITH LAWYERS answers questions regarding rights around maternity leave

I

regularly receive questions from employers that are worried about falling foul of the laws relating to maternity leave, and also from disgruntled employees who do not feel they have been treated fairly throughout their maternity leave or upon their return. In this article I answer some of those frequently asked questions in an effort to help navigate both employers and employees through this heavily legislated area.

Does an employee have the right to return to the same job after her maternity leave?

The answer to this will depend on the length of the employee’s maternity leave. Where it lasts 26 weeks or less (Ordinary Maternity Leave), she will have the right to return to exactly the same job, with the same terms and conditions.

Alternatively, where an employee takes more than 26 weeks maternity leave (Additional Maternity Leave) or has taken a period of at least four weeks' parental leave on top of her Ordinary Maternity Leave and it is not reasonably practicable for her to return to the same job,

(for example, if there has been a reorganisation) she can be offered a similar job. In this scenario, the new role must be offered on terms no less favourable than the terms which applied to her previous role. This means that, for example, it would be unlawful to reduce her salary or remove a contractual benefit such as a company car.

What happens if a redundancy situation arises during an employee’s maternity leave?

The main difference in the redundancy process when a business is dealing with an employee on maternity leave relates to the stage in the process when alternative employment must be considered.

If there is a suitable alternative role, it must be offered to an employee on maternity leave before any other employee, without the need for an application process.

If no suitable alternative role is available within the business, a woman on maternity leave can lawfully be made redundant provided that the reason for the redundancy is not connected to her pregnancy or maternity leave.

Sarah Alford

Does an employer have to consider an employee for promotion if she is on maternity leave?

Yes. A failure to do so could potentially amount to maternity discrimination. â–

If you would like more information about any of the issues raised in this article or any other aspect of employment law, please do not hesitate to contact at 029 2034 5511 or employment@berrysmith.com.

Reach the best in the west Affluent, active and influential and just a call away...

Cardiff Life team 01225 475800

THE STORY OF THE BLUES

Tailor and designer NATHAN PALMER does some blue sky thinking on Pantone’s Colour of the Year, Classic Blue

P

antone recently released their prediction for the design world’s go-to colour of 2020 – Classic Blue.

According to the colour merchants the effect of this colour will be“Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.”

BLUE COLLAR

It certainly sounds like the perfect colour for these turbulent times, and there’s a psychology behind bringing more blue into our lives – consultants recommend wearing blue to job interviews because it symbolises loyalty; people are more productive in blue rooms; and studies show weightlifters are able to handle heavier weights in blue gyms.

Pantone’s Classic Blue falls somewhere between a deep sea blue and the falling ink of a dusky sky. It’s the sort of blue found in a child’s paintbox and associated with brand-new denim. Simple, tranquil, very wearable, and if you dig around your wardrobe, you probably already own a few items in this striking colour. This is actually another reason for Pantone choosing this colour as Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Colour told Vogue. “This new tone is born out of the ‘buy less, buy better’ mindset, in that stands for timelessness and longevity,” Laurie explained.

“As our collective environmental conscience shifts, we are gravitating towards colours that won’t be out of fashion any time soon.”

TRUE BLUE Faux fur coat, £495. From Michael Kors, 19 Grand Arcade, St. David’s Centre; www.michaelkors.co.uk

40 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Her assertion of the values of Classic Blue is being reflected by the fashion industry’s powerhouses, including

Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Bethany Williams, Givenchy and Gucci, who have already incorporated Classic Blue into their spring/summer 2020 collections. At Balenciaga, Demna Gvasalia used it to reinforce a political message of unity, colouring both his show space and one of his most gigantic dresses in the shade, and Gucci coloured a maxi-dress with a navel-baring neckline in the Classic Blue hue.

It’s the sort of shade that can be paired easily with other colours and even other types of blues but don’t create optical illusions with sophisticated prints – stick with block colours. A pair of dark denim jeans can look great with a classic blue blouse or a pale blue t-shirt with classic blue denim jeans. Play around with different fabrics making sure that each of the pieces have different textures will create more of a distinction between the two shades – for example, an inky denim skirt with a pastel blue silk blouse or a dark navy blazer with a pale blue check shirt complemented with off-white, widelegged trousers.

INTO THE BLUE

Accessorising is the easiest option of them all. A huge carry-all tote, or block heels in Classic Blue will look amazing, and demonstrate your awareness of the trend without drowning in. Using a backdrop of nudes, blacks and whites will really complement and highlight your blues.

For more: Nathan Palmer, Nathan Palmer Bespoke Tailors, 12 Royal Buildings, Stanwell Road, Penarth; www. nathanpalmer.co.uk

FASHION 2

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SHOPPING LIST 1. Dungarees, £40 From Sobeys Vintage Clothing, 31 Royal Arcade, Cardiff 2. Rolex submariner, £30,750.

From Laings, St David’s, 27 The Hayes, Cardiff; www.laingsuk.com 3. Silk dress in indigo by Privatsachen, £247 Stockists Morgan, 20 Morgan Arcade Cardiff; www.morgan-shops.co.uk 4. Ted Baker knitted hat, £39 From Bridgend Designer Outlet, The Derwen, Bridgend; www.mcarthurglen.com 5. Eva Luna boots, £293 From Jon Ian, 7 Morgan Arcade; www.jonian.shop 6. Lisa top blue £285 From Vivienne Westwood, 55-57 The Hayes, Cardiff; www.viviennewestwood.com 7. Check pleated trousers, £129 From Whistles, 14-18 St Mary St, Cardiff; www.whistles.com 8. Dior nail polish & couture sticker set in Sailor, £17.60 From Escentual, 63-67 Wellfield Road, Cardiff; www.escentual.com 9. Veja V-10 B-Mesh shoes, £105 Stockists Kiti, Pontcanna Mews, 200 Kings Road, Pontcanna; www.kiticymru.com 10. Crossgrain leather briefcase, £380 From Michael Kors, 19 Grand Arcade, St. David’s Centre; www.michaelkors.co.uk

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www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 41

SCENE

AC ROSS C A R D I FF, O N E SH I N D I G AT A T I M E

Cocktails mixed

by Ollies’ Bar

Claire Turner and Anna Kuzniar

Leah Mullin, Andrew Gibson, Miles Davies, James Sanders and Owen Cahill

Andrew Woods, Nicola Crocker, Peter Reilly, and Scott Caldwell Joshua Wing, Jessie Blain and Kirsty Dacey

WELCOME TO MY YARD

Ruth McKribbonia, Abbey Bennett, Lauren Widness and Chloe Beard

Portabella, Cardiff’s independent property company celebrated the opening of its new office in Nickel Yard, Bakers Row, with a party on 31 January. Around 130 guests enjoyed an evening of cocktails, gourmet food and live music. “We wanted an opportunity to say thanks to our consultants, advisers and suppliers with a fun evening of celebration that was just a little bit different,” says David Loosemore, MD of Portabella.

Photos by Owen Mathias www.owenmathias.com

Stephen Terry and David Loosemore

42 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

The Hardwick provided the catering

Tom Young, Jimmy Davies, Natalie Davies, Miles Davies,and Tom Davies

Lisa Whittaker and Meryl Davies

Claire Rees (far left) and the team at Ty Hafan

Christy Llewellyn

SECOND HAND ROSE

Cardiff sustainable stylist Claire Rees, of Upstyle Club, recently hosted a slow fashion sale with Tŷ Hafan charity shops. Guests picked up pre-loved outfits and tips on shopping for second-hand pieces and making conscious fashion choices. Claire created a stylist rail made up of quality items including vintage gowns, hand-picked from Tŷ Hafan stores across South Wales, especially for the event at its Whitchurch boutique.

Photos by Paul Fears

Kelly and Zoey Allen, Dani Harries and Charlotte Rhodes

www.paulfearsphoto.co.uk

Lorna Prichard

TRÉS BON

Around 70 guests attended the press night at the World Millennium Centre on 29 November for one of the world’s best loved musicals, Les Misérables. Drinks and canapés were served, and there were speeches from Cardiff Life columnists Wyburn and Wayne, and Nation Radio’s Jay Curtins.

Photos by Michael Hall

Jay Curtis Beth Taylor, Rachel Crowle, Catherine Burns, and Becky Johnson

Ceri Gibbon, Robin Burfield, Rachel Letmam and Mike Smith

www.michaelhallphotography.co.uk

Edna Martins

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 43

START YOUR DAY WITH A SMILE

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CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS PREVIEW

NOTHING BEATS BEING THERE

The überglam Cardiff Life Awards take place on 19 March at Cardiff City Hall, celebrating the best of Cardiff. In this special preview, we give you a taste of what to expect…

OUR SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSOR Marsh Commercial Expert consultants in insurance, risk management and employee benefits for businesses and individuals. Its strength is the expertise and relationships it builds, helping its clients to thrive.

LEAD SPONSORS Cardiff Blues, Cardiff Life, FOR Cardiff, Genero Group, HawkinsThomas Wealth Management, Park Plaza, Regus, Savills

A

s deeply, wildly glamorous celebrations go, the Cardiff Life Awards go a pretty long way. Each year, unprecedented number of companies nominate; each year tickets sell out yet faster; and each year the drumbeat of expectation crescendos to Awards night itself.

Truth is, you never know quite what to expect at any stage. And that’s a good thing. The nominations reveal a profusion of clever companies and organisations – sometimes all-new and often barely-

known; many well-known but telling of great new achievements. The judging session has clever insights as the wisdom-of-the-crowds effect means that the collective decision arrives at sound outcomes. Awards night has everything from laughter to tears to boisterous celebration, idiosyncratic-to-triumphant music, glitz, jubilation, attendees posing as cover stars, drama and just the most outré definition of überglam imaginable.

Our host Nigel Owens will be very Nigel Owens, cheerfully yomping off piste as the whim takes him. Oh, and there’ll be an after-show party through to implausible o’clock, for

the socially doughty, convivially hardy and, well, to be honest, the absolutely drunk. Maybe don’t schedule too many meetings on Friday 20 March (we won’t)…

Cardiff City Hall will be filled with hundreds of the city’s finest businesses again, with several dozen on the waiting list. If you can’t make it this time, do tune into social media on the night. Follow all the action @CardiffLifeAwds– we’ll be live tweeting the results.

Thank you to all who have entered, sponsored and judged; and to those who will attend. It’ll be a blast. If you love Cardiff, nothing, but nothing, beats being there…

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 49

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS PREVIEW

THE JUDGES WILL DECIDE…

CLAUDIA LE GROS Founder and managing partner, Le Gros Solicitors Claudia is a leading figure in the Welsh legal sector having founded Le Gros Solicitors, a niche property law firm in Cardiff, nearly nine years ago.

A panel of completely independent judges will decide the Cardiff Life Awards winners. As ever, they’re drawn from all over the city, and from all walks of life.

GIOVANNI MALACARINO Owner, Giovanni’s Giovanni is a Welsh Italian entrepreneur, restaurateur, local celebrity, life coach and author. He has been a major influence on shaping Cardiff’s restaurant and night time economy.

RAKIE AYOLA Actor Cardiff actor Rakie grew up in Ely and is a graduate and fellow of The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

In 2019, she received an Honarary Doctorate from Warwick University.

GUY CHRISTIAN Owner, Guy Christian Salons With over 25 years’ experience in the hair and beauty industry, Guy is a skilled hairdresser, photographer and business consultant, developing a strong formula for success in his salons.

RICHARD DAVIES General manager, Chapel 1877 Having first moved to Cardiff in 1996 for university, Richard went on to run several of Cardiff’s most prominent businesses over the last 22 years, and for the last seven years, has been managing the stunning Chapel 1877.

JO EVANS Project development officer, Cardiff Capital Region City Deal Jo has almost 15 years’ experience of working in local government in a variety of roles.

She joined Caerphilly County Borough Council in 2005, in Economic Development and moved to Newport City Council in 2008.

RORY FLEMING Centre manager, Morgan Quarter Rory has been managing the Morgan Quarter since April 2012 and before this, has managed a variety of shopping centres throughout the UK. Rory has a passion for property management.

DEAN EUDEN Business development, WSET Dean has worked in the wine and spirits trade for over 10 years, starting at Majestic and then working at Averys in Bristol and Fine Wines Direct before joining the WSET in 2014.

KAREN JONES Director, TSR Legal Recruitment Karen started her career in recruitment, working in Watford for Blue Arrow.

She moved to Cardiff before setting up Tailored Solutions Recruitment with her current business partner in 2004, which later became known as TSR.

STEVE WILLIAMS Former PE teacher Now an estate director at Whitchurch High School, Steve was a PE teacher at the school from 1975 until his retirement in 2011. During that time he taught footballer Gareth Bale, rugby player Sam Warburton and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 53

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS PREVIEW

54 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

A SNAPSHOT OF THE WINNERS FROM 2019 For more: www.cardifflifeawards.co.uk

PHOTOS BY STUDIO 87 AND HANNAH TIMM

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BEST IN HIS FIELD

Sarah Moolla meets the legendary PE teacher Steve Williams from Whitchurch High, the state school covered in sporting glory 60 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

T

urns out I’m late to meet Steve Williams, the former Whitchurch High School PE teacher, now their estates director, (and also a Cardiff Life Award judge – turn to page 55 for more.) I’m not minutes late though, not even an hour or two behind schedule, but a whole 24 hours. I had the wrong date. “You were supposed to be here yesterday” is his gruff greeting. And for a moment, as I fluster and bluster my lame excuses, I see a glimpse of ‘Grumpy’, Steve’s nickname earned due to his matter-offact, dour, manner. He is also renowned for being a tough disciplinarian when needed but, tardiness misdemeanour forgiven, turns out he’s also good company.

However it’s Steve’s skill as an extraordinary PE teacher in a Cardiff state school that have garnered results for his pupils and we’re talking world class, in another league, gold medal, kind of results. Under his tutorage there’s famously been footballer Gareth Bale who plays for Wales, former Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton, and 2018’s Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas. But a walk down the school’s sporting corridor of fame uncovers a phenomenal gallery of other sporting heroes dating back decades and includes sport shooter David Phelps who won gold at the Commonwealth Gold 2018 and international lawn and Indoor bowler Daniel Salmon who won the 2017 World Youth Championships bowls pairs in Australia. There’s also nationally and internationally achievers in gymnastics, athletics, ice skating, swimming, badminton and hockey.

“You just need to try a bit harder, that’s always been the attitude here”

ONE TO ONE

above: The mural of former pupils grace the sports hall, designed to inspire; below: Steve, second left, still coaches the school’s rugby teams

Crediting Steve who’s been at the school nearly 50 years, is inevitable of course, but he simply won’t allow that to be the only narrative. He cites the school’s chair of 20 years who is as ‘hot as pie’, he praises the various heads over the years, plus he talks about the school’s can-do attitude.

“People here are going to go the extra mile,” says Steve. “I’m not really interested in ‘We can’t do that because of this.’ Instead I see the challenge.

If someone says, ‘We can’t play football because we haven’t got a pitch.

Then get a pitch. You just need to try a bit harder, that’s always been the attitude here.”

Steve himself is a former Whitchurch School pupil, “I came here in 1960, went it was a grammar school and left in 67. And I came back here to teach in 1975.” When you ask Steve about his own behaviour at

school, there’s a hint of a smile as he replies cautiously, “I was okay.” Like good okay, or just okay? “Well, I did get caught sticking up for myself a couple of times. But it didn’t matter whether you were the instigator or the retaliation, you got the cane anyway.” His own PE teacher was an ex-army major and “in those days you weren’t asked to do anything – you were told.

But from the first day I came to this school, I felt a huge sense of pride.”

Steve went on to study PE at Loughborough University, taught rugby in France for five years, and then back to the UK, London first and then Cardiff, marrying his Cambridge University-educated wife along the way. He retired as a teacher in 2018, but he still coaches the school’s rugby teams, and as Whitchurch High’s estates director, he works daily and tirelessly to enhance the school facilities. He proudly shows me around the two sites which cater for some 2,400 pupils and includes impressive grounds, well equipped classrooms, a professional-standard theatre, a decent-sized swimming pool, and of course a glorious sports hall complete with a huge mural of the sporting trinity of Bale, Thomas and Warburton.

There’s even a gym studio bigger than a lot of fee-paying gyms, furnished with the equipment from a hotel gym that was being refurbished and that the students resprayed themselves so it all matched. (for more on sports at Whitchurch High, turn to page 64).

But don’t make the mistake of thinking Whitchurch High is some sort of sporting elite academy, or that the sportingly talented could just come here and make games their life – Steve is having none of it. “Sam Warburton got two As and one B at ‘A’ level. School will always come first here.”

He is also keen to highlight the school’s inclusive nature. “While we might have at least six pupils who do go to Oxbridge every year, we also have the children who might before have gone to a special school, but we built a SRB [Specialist Resource Base] unit, to help these students be integrated in mainstream school.”

On our tour it’s clear Steve is still very much a part of day-to-day school life. His name is constantly called out ‘Hello Mr Williams!’ in happy greeting and he even gets high-fived by a few delighted students – so much so, I feel like I’m with a celebrity. Actually, celebrity is probably too lame a word, Steve Williams is a legend in his own right – I’m not the only interview he’s doing this week, a Spanish TV company are heading over to interview him the very next day. I just hope their time-keeping is better than mine.

For more: Whitchurch High School, Penlline Road Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 2XJ. tel: 029 2062 9700; www.whitchurchhs.com

SPORTS REPORT

Steve Williams on GERAINT THOMAS

“In his book he [Geraint Thomas] says, ‘I’d like to thank Mr Williams for not making me play for the senior rugby team.’ But I never had any intention of picking him and he had no intention of playing!”

SAM WARBURTON on Steve Williams

“Steve, as a former player, passed on plenty of wisdom. You could sense his competitiveness. He had a positive effect on all the players – especially me, because he was a former openside flanker, the position I now play in.”

GARETH BALE presenting Steve with the 2019 Cardiff Life Award Special Achievement Award

“Inspirational work is rare in itself but giving inspiration across decades is extraordinary.

I’m delighted to be able to honour someone who has touched thousands of people’s lives throughout the years.”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 61

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RAISE YOUR

GAME

From football and netball to cheerleading and raving yoga, Sarah Moolla discovers school sports in Cardi are scoring at every level Playing rugby and aiming high at the Cathedral School

64 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

EDUCATION

W

ere you the warrior, charging out into the field, hockey stick aloft, ruddy-faced and ready for battle? Or a worrier, who shivered nervously on the peripheries, just wishing the 90-minute PE ordeal to be over? Fortunately for the younger generations, sport in local schools have a more blended, imaginative and inclusive approach, while still teaming it with the core values of what physical education can offer.

WHAT’S THE SCORE?

OLD SCHOOL

For centuries, games such as cricket, football, rugby and netball have defined the physical education curriculum with huge success and popularity, but coming up on the inside are a lot more unusual sports options. Howell’s School, an independent school for girls in Llandaff, which excels at national level in many sports including tennis, hockey and gymnastics, also offers raving yoga. Ceri Crawford, the school’s director of sport, explains, “Raving yoga is done in the dark, with glowstick headbands to a dance music soundtrack. We also have glowstick games where we black out the sports hall, put some music on, get a glow-in-the-dark ball and play football, handball or netball. You really would think there was some sort of festival going on, there’s such a din!”

While over at Whitchurch High School cheerleading and weightlifting are part of their ‘sport for all’ ethos.

“Sport provides transferable lessons in determination and goal-setting which can be used in the classroom”

Let’s kick off with why should physical education be part of the school curriculum?

“Sport aims not only at physical development but is also concerned with the whole person through appropriately challenged activities,” says Rachel Thomas, head of girls PE at Whitchurch High School, a state school and the largest school in Wales (turn to page 60 for our interview with its former PE Steve Williams). “It is the predominant subject for promotion of team work, character, work ethic and resilience – all necessary skills for the pressures of working life.”

Colin Laity, deputy head (pastoral) and head of physical education at Westbourne, the independent school in Penarth, agrees, “Sport is so important as it gives qualities that cannot always be learned in a classroom. The benefits include a healthy lifestyle, encouraging good physical health, and understanding the advantages of regular exercise and eating well. Also for mental wellbeing, PE can help cope with stress, it is good for self-confidence and developing resilience, and it encourages interaction with others, to work with them, and be part of a team.”

EVERYONE’S A WINNER

But what about those who think they aren’t so keen to get active? “Our sessions are structured to ensure pupils of all abilities make progress with a focus on performance, rather than results,” says Mark Barrington, director of sport at Cathedral School, the coeducational independent day school located in Llandaff. “Early on every child is given the opportunity to play for the school to boost a sense of achievement and team spirit.”

Howell’s Ceri Crawford believes it all comes down to options.

“We have several pathways that students can follow, depending on where their interests and talents lie,” she explains. “For example, the fitness for life pathway encourages girls to choose sessions in the fitness suite or play games like softball, volleyball and tennis with the emphasis firmly on having fun. From Year 9 onwards, timetabled PE lessons run on a carousel which has a change of focus every six weeks, so the girls know there always something new around the corner.”

Westbourne encourages good physical health for their students

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 65

EDUCATION

“Raving yoga is done in the dark with glowstick headbands”

above: Netball is just one of the many sports on offer at Whitchurch High School; right: Getting fit through dance is just one option at Howell’s

GAME CHANGERS

Evidently our local outstanding schools are committed to offering first class sports both within the curriculum and as extracurricular activities but is there proof what happens on the playing fields and in the sports halls, can make a difference inside the classroom? “In order to develop in sport and reach an elite level, it requires repetitive learning of skills, memorising actions and organisation,” says Rachel Thomas of Whitchurch High. “The production of such skill sets can carry over into academic work. Sport provides transferable lessons in determination and goal-setting which can be used in the classroom.”

Westbourne’s Colin Laity sees the benefits also being that of “a healthy mind in a healthy body. Whilst we pride ourselves on academic success it is important that the pupils take some time out from the classroom to be active and recharge their batteries.”

OWN GOALS

And what about the child as a person – what are the winning factors relating to personal development when it comes to sport in school?

Cathedral School’s Mark Barrington says, “The attraction of teamship is not the preserve of high performance: it is a universal benefit.

Sport feeds fundamental needs, provides transferable skills such as competitiveness, perseverance and team work and offers balance in our busy world.”

Howell’s Ceri Crawford echoes these sentiments saying, “Active children who engage in sport are driven, goal focused and good at time management. In my experience, the children who take part in sports are the ones who never hand in their homework late, who are able to organise themselves with the right equipment and turn up on time for lessons.” n For more: www.cathedral-school.co.uk; www.howells-cardiff.gdst.net www.westbourneschool.com; www.whitchurchhs.com

66 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

It’s the city’s business

CARDIFFWORKS Eyes down for a full house at The DEPOT’s new site

Full house!

The DEPOT finds a new Cardiff home for its entertainment hub Five years after it first opened as a temporary, eight-week pop-up, Cardiff’s biggest independent warehouse events venue has invested £300,000 into relocating to a new city-centre premise.

The DEPOT, who have established themselves as one of the biggest entertainment brands in the city, is now housed in the former Lyndons Scaffolding unit on Williams Way, Curran Embankment. The new site, which

opened on 31 January, includes two permanent street food kitchens based inside 20ft shipping containers; as well as an outdoor garden, and three huge screens for cinema pop-ups, sports screenings and corporate events.

Nick Saunders, founder of The DEPOT, says, “Despite starting life as a temporary pop-up, The DEPOT has grown to include a packed portfolio of annual events, established itself as a key part of Cardiff’s alternative

Nick founded The DEPOT in 2015

night-time economy, and attracted a tight-knit team of core staff.”

The move to the bigger site will create 10 new jobs, increasing the DEPOT’s team of permanent staff to 40, and will allow the venue to put on more live music and entertainment events, like their famous Bingo Lingo nights.

For more: www.depotcardiff.com

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Laura Eastwood Chapter’s fundraising officer and Daniel Griffiths of Lloyds Bank with the new Chapter donation point

EASY MONEY The arts centre Chapter has installed a contactless donations device at their gallery entrance, with the help of Lloyds bank. It now means visitors can tap their card to give £2, £5 or £10 to help support Chapter’s varied artistic programme including their all year round free exhibitions.

Elaina Johnson, director of external relations at Chapter, says, “Lloyds Bank has a long-standing relationship with Chapter and has provided much support over the years via direct sponsorship of the film programme, to funding which has benefited the Community Garden.

“We’re delighted that Lloyds is helping us once again, as we aim to raise the profile of Chapter as a charity and the need for us to raise income to support the exciting artistic programme that visitors see when they come into the building.”

For more: www.chapter.org

TOP SCORE

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is developing a new state-of-the art training centre at the four-star Vale Resort in Hensol Park.

FAW will take over the 1,800 sq metre Vale Pavilion, which used to be home to the Cardiff Blues regional rugby franchise, to create a new centre of excellence which will include a fitness zone, medical rooms, changing facilities, player lounges, in addition to meeting rooms, by summer of this year.

Stephen Leeke, managing director of the Vale Resort, says, “Ever since we opened, we have worked hard at creating a sporting centre of excellence with cutting-edge facilities that would suit professionals at the top of their game.

“Our hard work has paid off and we are now home to both Wales’ national football and rugby teams, as well as Cardiff City Football Club, while we are also first choice to many highprofile visiting teams.”

For more: www.faw.cymru

70 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Jonathan Ford, chief executive of the FAW and Stephen Leeke, managing director of the Vale Resort

CARDIFFWORKS

Yvette Vaughan Jones

Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch has a new specialist resource base

A CLASS ABOVE Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch, the primary school in Leckwith, Cardiff, has recently opened a new specialist resource base. The new facility Yr Hafan offers an inclusive learning environment for up to ten children with complex needs from across the city.

Based in the heart of the school, the classroom includes a host of specialist facilities such as outdoor learning, kitchen area, changing room and a quiet learning space.

Headteacher Chris Newcombe says, “I am very proud to see that our pupils are thriving due to our outstanding pupil focussed provision which focusses on wellbeing, life skills, learning experiences and opportunities.”

For more: www.ysgolpwllcoch.co.uk

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC TOP NOTE

Welsh National Opera has announced that Yvette Vaughan Jones has been appointed as Chair of the board of directors. Yvette, who has extensive experience of working in the arts both in the UK and internationally, is the first woman in the company’s history to hold the role of Chair of WNO. www.wno.org.uk

2020 VISION

A sight loss charity, which marks its 155th anniversary this year and has changed its name from Cardiff Institute for the Blind to Sight Life, has appointed a new Chair, former journalist John Sanders.

John, who has experienced sight loss himself, says, “I intend to make sure that even more people benefit from the life changing support Sight Life offers, as developing sight loss can be a scary and lonely place.” www.sightlife.wales

Velindre University NHS Trust has signed up to the TUC charter to help reassure employees

MORE PLEASE

Oliver Morris has recently joined the Cardiff-based law firm Loosemores as a solicitor in the commercial property department.

He says, “The firm has an excellent long-standing reputation in Cardiff for its wealth of expertise and for the high-quality service that it provides to its clients making it an attractive move for me at this stage in my career.” www.loosemores.co.uk

Senior partner Mark Loosemore (left) with Oliver Morris

PEACE OF MIND Velindre University NHS Trust in Nantgarw has signed up to TUC Dying to Work charter.

The Charter is part of the TUC’s wider Dying to Work campaign, which aims to give employees with terminal illnesses more choice in how to spend their final months and offers peace of mind around job security.

Steve Ham, chief executive of the Velindre University NHS Trust, says, “Here

at Velindre we understand the importance of respecting and enabling a dignified end of life. Caring is one of our organisations core values and we take pride in our compassionate approach to supporting patients and managing our people. We are grateful to the TUC for their work in this area and are proud signatories of the Charter.”

For more: www.velindre-tr.wales.nhs.uk

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CARDIFFWORKS

of us have probably walked past thousands of time without noticing it was there. Another one was a fire damaged property in North Cornelly, Bridgend, which had a guide price of just £1. It eventually sold for £65,000.

Ever made a mistake during an auction?

I started an auction last year without my gavel which is a pretty important piece of equipment for an auctioneer. I managed to scramble around in my bag and find it but not an ideal start.

How do you keep your own nerve during an auction?

Huw Edwards

Head of auctions, and auctioneer at the property agency Seel & Co, explains the importance of the gavel and tells the story of the £1 property Tell us your Cardiffian credentials…

I am Cardiff born and bred. I grew up in Lisvane but have lived in Pontcanna for nearly 20 years.

What jobs were you doing before becoming a head auctioneer at Seel & Co?

I originally started my career in hospitality, I have worked in and around property for the last 20 years or so, mostly for myself. And before Seel & Co, I worked for Jeffrey Ross estate agents as a senior valuer.

Tell us a little about Seel & Co – when was it established and what is its background?

The company was established in 1898 by the former managing director Tony Seel’s great grandfather. Ross Hooper-Nash bought the company last year but many of the Seel family are still involved.

How might you describe your key clientele?

Our clientele is hugely varied from experienced auction buyers, sellers and agents, to first time buyers and

investors looking for a quick and easy purchase or sale.

Who else is on the Seel & Co auction team?

Paul White is the other valuer out on the road, as well as myself, often specialising in land and local authority disposals. In the office Eleanor Byrne is the auctions operations manager and has recently celebrated 20 years at Seel & Co. She is supported by Leanna Lock who is the auctions administrator. We are a small and close-knit team who certainly thrive on the busiest periods around the auction days.

What sort of reaction do you get when you tell people what you do?

One funny perception is that I talk very quickly while running through the bids at auction. This does happen at the livestock auctions, particularly in the US, but not in property auctions. Generally though people are starting to understand this a little more and TV programmes like Homes Under The Hammer have helped.

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Are there other misconceptions about property auctions?

The common ones are that you only sell houses that need work, are investments, or that they are forced sales. While we do sell this type of property, we do also sell homes which are ready to move in to for families and first-time buyers. Any type of property can be sold at auction, often achieving higher prices than would have been achieved through a more traditional agent as there is often completion in the room.

Can you share examples of recently auctioned properties?

To demonstrate the range we get, there was a development site in Pontcanna, which we sold for a Welsh auction house record of £1.6 million, a detached family home in the Vale of Glamorgan, and for a few thousand pounds, some plots of land in the Valleys.

What’s the most memorable property you’ve auctioned?

For me personally, probably the vacant plot of land on Caroline Street in Cardiff, which most

By selling the first lot! The first sale going through tends to settle my nerves and the whole thing tends to go quick quickly then and I settle in to enjoying the evening.

Have you ever had anyone change their mind after an auction?

I am sure this happens to some people in their own minds, but once the gavel has gone down they have fully committed to the purchase.

This is the beauty of auctions – you achieve a sale immediately and usually complete the sale within 28 days of the auction.

What advice would you give to someone considering selling their property at auction?

The only question they need to ask themselves is whether they want to sell their property quickly.

Is modern technology altering the auctioning process at all?

We are already starting to modernise the auction experience at Seel & co with a move to the Ricoh suite at Cardiff City stadium.

This has allowed us to bring in more technology already using the screens to show our available lots and also our VR tours. This is just the start though and we would like to incorporate more of this in the future, we are currently looking into online bidding as an option for example.

For more: Seel & Co, The Crown House, Wyndham Crescent, Canton, Cardiff CF11 9UH; www.seelandco.com

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

THESE WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, some of Cardiff’s leading female entrepreneurs and company founders reveal how they strive to achieve equality in their life, and in their organisations

By Elsie Chadwick 74 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

CHARLOTTE MORGAN AND AMY HOLLAND founders of Warrior Women events, which feature inspiring female speakers and showcase female run businesses “From the women who attend our events, to those who follow us on social media, our aim is to support and empower all women.

Through our events we give women a platform for their stories to be heard, their experiences to be shared, and for other women to learn from them. We tackle relevant and important topics to educate and open up discussions including the challenges that women face on a daily basis.

“We aim to support all women – whether that’s a move up the career ladder, support a female run business, or help with the wellbeing of a single mother. We are creating a community of women who are there to support and celebrate one another, setting up networks that they can call on and a tribe around them that want to see them succeed and grow.”

For more: www.warriorwomenevents.co.uk

“We try to celebrate the women, and men, who are making a real difference across our organisation, and recognise their achievements as often as possible. As a mum, it’s vital to me that my daughter understands that she can do anything she puts her mind to, and I feel that the work we are doing at Oil 4 Wales will hopefully demonstrate that to her.”

For more: www.oil4wales.co.uk

JO FOXALL managing director of Traveline Cymru, a public transport information service funded by the Welsh Government “Having the opportunity to influence work culture in my role is something I do not take lightly. It is so important that, at any stage, our staff feel able to improve their prospects with our support and commitment to training and mentoring. We have a varied workforce, and through offering flexibility, we have an open approach which makes it easier to retain good people.

“I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by many strong and inspiring women in my life. My mum has instilled in me a strong work ethic, which I am so grateful for. Through my own decisions and actions, I am trying to pass on that wisdom to my daughter and son. I am also lucky to be on the board of trustees for 2 Wish Upon a Star and work so closely with their founder Rhian Mannings. The work she does is invaluable, and I support and empower Rhian in any way I can.”

For more: www.traveline.cymru SALLY WILLIAMS director at Oil 4 Wales, Wales’ leading family run independent oil and fuel supplier “The industry that I work in can often be perceived as male dominated, so it’s important for me in my daily role to highlight that there are great opportunities for equality in this sector.

I work with a number of talented and dedicated women across all areas of the business, and we don’t believe that women should be confined to traditional roles.

We actively support equality across all aspects of Oil 4 Wales and would love to recruit more female drivers and engineers.

“Our aim is to support and empower all women”

ROWENA O’SULLIVAN, programme manager at Graduate Programme Wales, which are industry-led talent programmes in financial services

and data science skills “Often in a financial and data-driven industry, we find that women may feel dissuaded from entering these roles due to a misunderstanding of what is available to them, and what careers they can pursue.

“We are here to inform and support them when it comes to reaching their potential and finding enriching roles to suit their interests.

We work with incredibly talented students who are highly achieving across our schemes to demonstrate the benefits that working across data and finance can bring.

“We often profile these students in our promotions to challenge any gender stereotypes and encourage greater equality.

Ultimately in doing so, our goal is to strive to create equal gender representation across both industries to promote an innovative future workforce.”

For more: www.buzzwales.com LINDA DACK associate solicitor and head of private client at Watkins & Gunn Solicitors “I have signed up the firm to both the Law Society Gender charter pilot, and the Law Society’s Women in Law pledge.

This has provided the firm with a foundation to review their policies and procedures, and ensure commitment to gender equality is embedded in the culture of the firm.

“Over the past year Watkins & Gunn has also created the sub brand called Watkins and One to champion diversity throughout the practice.

It has also celebrated successful women in the workplace through a number of events, using its equality and diversity planner, including celebrating International Women’s Day.” For more: www.watkinsandgunn.co.uk

LYNDSEY JENKINS, Managing director of jamjar, a bilingual creative communications agency “I am fortunate to work with a team of passionate and driven women who, not only strive to create innovative work for our clients, but also support each other to ensure they reach their potential. Our working environment is inclusive, flexible and I make sure I prioritise a positive work-life balance.

“Through work, I have had the opportunity to work alongside some of Wales’ most prominent and inspiring businesswomen, many of whom juggle a busy home and work life. It has shown me that there are no boundaries to success.

“As an agency we constantly aim to celebrate women’s equality and achievements by providing them with a platform to celebrate and promote their work, and ensuring their success and growth receives the recognition it deserves. Most recently, we’ve joined forces with Warrior Women Events to promote this fantastic movement of local businesswomen, something that I’m incredibly passionate about. These events are the essence of women empowering women, and that’s amazing.”

For more: www.jamjar.agency

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www.pablack.co.uk Prestige homes from Peter Alan

Brandreth Road, Ladymary, Cyncoed ÂŁ575,000 EPC = C pa black Albany 02920 462246

Individual detached double fronted four bedroom family house, large corner position with extensive gardens and dual access in and out driveway. 17ft open plan fitted kitchen and breakfast room, downstairs cloak room, utility room, formal dining room and 15ft lounge with bi folding doors that open onto raised sun terrace. Two stunning modern stylish bathrooms, pvc windows with elevated outlooks across the city. Lovely location within walking distance to Roath park flower gardens and the scenic Roath park lake. Must be seen, great family living space.

Gas heating. No chain.

www.pablack.co.uk Prestige homes from Peter Alan

Bevan Lodge, Wordsworth Avenue OFFERS OVER ÂŁ459,999 EPC = E pa black Albany 02920 462246

Unique detached double fronted four bedroom residence of character, with many extensive improvements. Select position in a quiet tree lined close, with a flagstone gated private front entrance drive leading to secluded walled gardens. Fabulous living space including a 16ft dining room, a 27ft bespoke kitchen & breakfast room and a 29ft sitting room. Four double bedrooms, three luxury bathrooms and charming original period features. Bevan Lodge holds considerable appeal being one of the few detached houses you can locate this close to Cardiff city centre, with many amenities within walking distance. Must be seen! No chain.

PROPERTY

CYNCOED ROAD Elsie Chadwick enjoys the gorgeous geometry of a truly unique Scandi-influenced home

78 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

A

s house shapes go, this Cyncoed Road four-bedroomed detached resembles that game we played when young – building a house from a pack of cards. It’s all angles, levels and unexpected shapes. But its unconventional external structure translates into a striking and beautiful interior.

There’s also a gorgeous and gentle topsy-turviness to this Scandi-influenced Cyncoed home. On entering the property through the large porch – it opens into a spacious, high-ceiling, light-flooded corridor hallway, but instead of leading to a reception room as you might expect, this ground floor has the kitchen diner with utility room, and three bedrooms, one of which has a patio garden leading off it. In this instance, the owners have turned this bedroom into a snug-style study which

lends itself perfectly to a place to chill both inside and out depending on weather. Two of the bedrooms have balconies overlooking Cyncoed Gardens, with the large bedroom at the rear having the added bonus of an en suite shower room.

The huge first floor reception room is accessed by the stylish modern staircase with a glass panelled bannister that adds to the feeling of airiness and space.

The flooring throughout, including the stairs, is a glossy Brazilian rosewood with underfloor heating. While every room has its merits and charm in this home, the double ceiling height living room is the ace in the pack.

First there’s those breathtaking views over the park thanks to the full surround windows, which seamlessly draws the outside in, the bi-fold doors open onto a large balcony creating an instant indoor/outdoor connection and an ideal additional area for al fresco entertaining living. And as a south-west facing spot, good light is guaranteed for much of the day, and in the summer,

hopefully a glorious amount of sunshine. But if the sun isn’t shining and you need to feel warm and cosy, there’s the suspended contemporary stove in the centre of the room, adding a wow-factor, focal point.

There’s also an adjoining second reception space with a large Velux window and more triple glazed windows overlooking the patio garden. The main family bathroom can also be found on this level along with another good-sized bedroom.

Enhancing the home’s appeal is its location in the highly sought-after borough of Cyncoed, which lies within the catchment area of Cardiff High School.

There’s also a host of amenities on the doorstep including eclectic indie shops, upmarket coffee shops, and plentiful green spaces, including the nearby Roath Park Lake and Cardiff Golf Club.

Quirky, quaint and yet modern, and in a great location, this house of cards trumps so many other properties, on every level. n

HOUSE NUMBERS Bedrooms 5 Guide price £900k Square feet 2,583 Reception rooms 3 Balconies 2 For more: Savills Cardiff, 5th floor, 2 Kingsway, Cardiff. tel: 029 2036 8900; www.savills.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 79

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Creigiau 23 celebrate 50 years The community group CREIGIAU 23 celebrates its 50th anniversary with a spectacular Winter Ball at the Cardiff Hilton Hotel

Celebrating 50 years at the Hilton Hotel

I

n 1969, young, mobile families were moving to the area of Creigiau as new housing estates were rapidly being built at that time. These were young people with young families, often just moved into the area and working in education, business and local government.

Having been rejected from forming a local group by large national charities of the time, the people of Creigiau decided to go it alone.

That year 23 souls met at the local pub in the embryonic village of Creigiau on the outskirts of Cardiff. The name they chose for their group was Creigiau 23. It’s a name that has not only endured, but gone from strength to strength over the years.

It is estimated that over £150,000 has been raised for the good of village life so far.

Beneficiaries include Creigiau Primary School, Pentyrch Mini and Junior Rugby, Creigiau Cricket Club, Cantorian Creigiau Choir, Cylch Meithrin, Creigiau Pétanque Club, to name just a few.

Donations are limited to organisations that benefit the local area. The major fundraiser is the annual Creigiau Carnival held on the local sports field. This event is attended by many hundreds of people from many miles around 80 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Right to left: member and guest speaker Gabe Treharne with after dinner speaker Kevan Eveleigh

“CONGRATULATIONS CREIGIAU 23, LONG MAY IT CONTINUE!” and is organised on an almost military basis! The carnival has it all – swings, slides, coconuts, fun stalls, egg and spoon races, clowns, a beer tent, a burger stall and, better than all of that, a huge crowd of smiling faces.

On Christmas Eve, there’s Santa’s legendary sleigh tour of the village and his grotto in the village hall. This is followed by a Boxing Day walk of approximately five miles, which includes free sausage rolls and mulled wine, and begins and ends at the Creigiau Inn, whatever the weather.

These events are attended by hundreds of people and some people actually come and stay with relatives annually so they can take part.

Creigiau 23 is a unique, standalone organisation that has no membership or affiliation to any other, with its own structure and rules that have evolved over 50 years.

In the last couple of years, the organisation has moved with the times and effectively split into two parts: on one side its long established

A real sense of community and focus

dinner club and, on the other, its new registered charity. The dinner club meets ten times a year for dinner at the golf club, always with a guest speaker. For a list of previous speakers, visit our website and you’ll see a staggering Who’s Who of sportsmen, politicians, business men and women and other interesting folks – good people who charged no fee for their service, but receive a donation of £150 to the charity of their choice.

We at Creigau 23 believe Cardiff could learn a lesson from the good folk of our organisation, thanks to our outstanding achievements. ■

GET IN TOUCH

www.creigiau23.org.uk

*photos courtesy of Martin Woodcock Photography

JUST VISITING

“I have a job that I’m so grateful for every day” unexpected opportunities and giving them my all, and now I have a job that I’m so grateful for every day.

I am constantly amazed at what Sir David and the team conjure up in their imaginations

LIZ BONNIN The BBC presenter talks David Attenborough’s shoes, karate-kicking wasps, and her passion for wildlife Planet Earth II Live In Concert 2020, coming to Cardiff on 26 March, is a spectacular fusion of footage from the BBC1 natural history show accompanied by music from Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and Jasha Klebe, performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted

by Matthew Freeman. The host is Liz Bonnin, who has presented over 40 primetime programmes including Blue Planet Live, Drowning in Plastic, Galapagos and Horizon. Liz says, “I have no doubt that it will create an incredible energy in the arena, connecting us all to the majesty of nature, to art and music, but also connecting us to each other.”

Ever since I was very young I was lucky to be surrounded by nature. My sister and I used

to have lots of adventures in the countryside where I grew up in the South of France, amongst spiders, snakes and hedgehogs.

You only have to be immersed in nature for it to work its magic. My parents’ families

lived in the Caribbean and we visited them often so I also developed a love for the ocean from an early age. I didn’t realise it at the time but it instilled in me a deep passion and respect for wildlife that influences my life to this day.

I combined my passion for science with a new-found

passion for story telling after taking some time out, trying out

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about how else they can deliver wildlife stories and spectacles to their audience, and how inevitably they succeed in the seemingly impossible, thanks to improving technology and lots of hard work. And with Planet Earth II they certainly didn’t disappoint! Just when you think they’ve done it all they manage to bring the natural world even closer to us.

I think the role of programmes like Planet Earth cannot be overestimated in helping people understand the world around us. I personally know so

many people who were inspired to follow careers in science and conservation because of these programmes, and they played a big part in my own journey too.

I don’t think I, or any of my peers, ever think about stepping into Sir David Attenborough’s shoes – they

are far too big to fill! But it’s a very lovely feeling to be part of something so special and to be able to continue to spread the awareness and joy that comes from his world class programmes.

It’s a real privilege to be able to do that.

There’s also something incredibly powerful about discovering the capabilities all these species have evolved to survive – extraordinary

adaptations we could hardly have imagined. It can be very humbling, challenging us to reassess our relationship with the wildlife we share the planet with.

My favourite Planet Earth II moments have been screaming

at the television when that marine iguana was running for its life; and being completely awestruck at the tiny glass frog protecting its clutch of eggs from wasps using karate kicks – it is all stunning cinematography and natural history programming at its best!

My advice to anyone wanting a career in this field would be

first and foremost do what you love, not what anyone else thinks you should do or what can make you the most money. Working at something you’re passionate about is far more rewarding than anything else. I believe that if you put your heart and soul into what you love doing, you can achieve anything.

Science offers up so many varied opportunities, some

that you may not even know exist, so don’t put yourself under too much pressure to have it all figured out. It’s also never too late to try something new or choose a different path. n

With the current zeitgeist young people are hungrier than ever for programmes that can reconnect them to the natural world and can

offer up a better understanding of the vital role every species on earth plays in keeping the planet healthy.

For more: www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk