News

Local businesses win Amazon Rural Awards

Published

6 years ago

October 25, 2018

THREE LOCAL companies have been named among the best rural businesses in the country after winning a regional Amazon Rural Business Award.

Crwst and Croft Farm & Celtic Cottages, both from Cardigan, and Bluestone Brewing Company from Newport won at the Wales & Northern Ireland regional finals of the Amazon Rural Business Awards at The Kinmel in Abergele, Wales.

Following the impressive win at the regional awards, the local businesses will now go on to represent Wales at the national final in February 2019. Crwst won Best Rural Start Up; Croft Farm & Celtic Cottages won Best Rural Tourism Business and Bluestone Brewing Company won Best Rural Drink Business.

Speaking after picking up the top award, Crwst director Catrin Jones said: “We are unbelievably proud to receive the Rural Business Award for Best Rural Start-up. Having been highly commended in the 2017 awards, this win means even more to us. Contributing to the rural way of life is one of our top priorities. We are very lucky to have a vast range of amazing local producers in our area, and it’s important to us to support and promote them. Because of these values, we are so glad to be part of a programme like the Rural Business Awards, which does so much to help the rural economy thrive.”

Croft Farm & Celtic Cottages joint owner Andy Gow said: “Established in 1988, we have spent the last 30 years of Croft Farm & Celtic Cottages providing memorable, stress-free holidays. We are passionate about delivering high- quality, and increasingly environmentally friendly, family-orientated breaks. We are thrilled to receive the award for Best Rural Tourism Business. Participating in the Rural Business Awards has been a wonderful experience, which we would recommend to any other rural businesses out there, receiving such an accolade for our business is truly something to celebrate.”

Emily Hutchinson, of Bluestone Brewing, said: “We are thrilled to receive recognition in two categories at the prestigious Rural Business Awards. Just over five years ago, we realised that the scale of our farm was at a stage where it needed to either grow or diversify, and so Bluestone Brewing was born. We aim to produce great tasting, award winning beers and market them around the world, flying the flag for Welsh artisan producers. Events like this are crucial to boosting rural businesses, and winning the award just adds to our belief in our business and our determination to continue growing.”

Now in its fourth year, the Rural Business Awards is the only UK-wide programme dedicated to showcasing the success of rural businesses. It is run in partnership with Amazon.

Doug Gurr, UK Country Manager, Amazon, said: “Rural communities are home to some of the country’s most inventive and innovative entrepreneurs and we want to celebrate their achievements and contribution through the Rural Business Awards.

“I’d like to congratulate all the nominees and runners-up at this year’s regional awards and wish the winners the best of luck ahead of the national final of the Rural Business Awards in February.”

The Amazon Rural Business Awards is the brainchild of Leicestershire businesswomen Anna Price and Jemma Clifford, who wanted to showcase the wealth of entrepreneurial talent in rural areas of Britain – a sector of the economy they felt was all-too-often overlooked in favour of large, city-based firms.

The awards are organised by rural business for rural business, with winners in the 13 categories – ranging from Best Rural Start-up and Outstanding Rural Diversification Project; through to Best Rural Professional Services Business and Rural Education or Training Business – decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector, rural public sector agencies, and rural charitable organisations. For the first time since launching, this year the Rural Business Awards is hosting a series of regional finals in the North, East, Midlands, South East, South West, Wales and Northern Ireland, throughout October 2018, ahead of the Grand Final next February.

Awards co-founder Jemma Clifford said: “Anna and I are so proud to be hosting the fourth annual Rural Business Awards together with Amazon. When we started the awards we wanted to shine a much-needed light on successful rural firms but the success of the RBAs is beyond what we ever imagined.”

To find out more, visit www.ruralbusinessawards.co.uk

Crime

Musician pulled over in camper van tested positive for cannabis

Published

6 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A TRAVELLING musician has appeared before magistrates after being found driving his campervan through Haverfordwest when he was over three times the legal drug-drive limit.

Jacob Sparkes, 34, was stopped by officers as he drove his Renault Traffic campervan through Thomas Parry Way, Haverfordwest, on July 20. A roadside drugs wipe proved positive while further blood tests carried out at the police custody suite showed he had 6.9 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

Sparkes pleaded guilty to the offence and was legally represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“The defendant began taking cannabis as a form of self medication as a result of his epilepsy,” said Mr Kelleher. “At the time of the offence he was travelling in a campervan around Wales, playing music at various festivals.”

Sparkes, of Beech Road, Fairwater, Cardiff, was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £32 surcharge.

Crime

Emergency services dealing with ‘serious incident’ at multi-storey car park

Published

7 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Jason Cooper

POLICE, ambulance crews and the air ambulance are attending to what is being described as a ‘serious incident’ at Tenby’s multi-storey car park this evening (Jan 2).

Witnesses said they heard shouting and other commotion in the car park, and shortly afterwards emergency services were at the scene.

Another witness said: “I was in Tenby and saw the helicopter hovering, then heard loads of sirens and didn’t know what was going on, then when I drove past the multi-storey in Park Road I saw loads of blue lights and people gathered.

“It happened right near the motorcycle section of the car park, so the very front near Sainsbury’s.

“This looks to be a very serious incident judging by the large emergency vehicle response.”

Police have asked the public to avoid the area whilst the incident is being dealt with.

They said: “There are currently delays due to a road traffic collision.

“Please be patient and take an alternative route if possible or plan extra time into your journey.”

This is a developing story – you may need to refresh the page to get the latest version.

Crime

Woman who used stolen bank cards having new baby taken into care

Published

7 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE woman has been sentenced for stealing bank cards from a young mother attending to her three young children at Carmarthen Railway Station toilet.

Kelly Rees, 35, a new mother herself, discovered the bag belonging to Cheryl Lewis on August 20. When Rees looked inside, she discovered a purse containing three bank cards and £2 in cash.

This week, Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates that Rees, of Precelly Place, Milford Haven, removed the purse from the bag and travelled back to Pembrokeshire where she made multiple attempts to use the stolen cards to purchase items. These included a visit to Tesco, Milford Haven, where she purchased goods valued at £189 using one of the stolen cards.

Ms Vaughan said the offences were committed while Rees was serving a Community Order for previous convictions.

Rees pleaded guilty to theft and of fraud by false representation.

“She’s genuinely remorseful for her actions,” said her solicitor Michael Kelleher. “She’s recently given birth, but her child will now be going into foster care.”

After considering a comprehensive probation report, magistrates sentenced Rees to 18 weeks in custody suspended for 12 months. She must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and was ordered to pay £189 compensation to Cheryl Lewis, a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

“Multiple attempts to use those cards does not reflect well on your thinking process,” commented the presiding magistrate when sentencing Kelly Rees.