Entertainment

Paralympic legend Aled reveals the hurt of being “the only disabled kid” in school

Published

1 year ago

February 3, 2025

PARALYMPIC legend and world record holder Aled Davies has spoken movingly about how he didn’t want to be seen as disabled during his schooldays.

According to Aled, he felt different because he was “the only disabled kid” at his school in Bridgend, south Wales and admits he didn’t wear a pair of shorts until he was 16, hiding his leg “at every opportunity”.

His open and candid conversation over a tasty curry dinner helped inspire a group taking part in a pioneering reality television programme, Tŷ Ffit, on S4C.

The group of five participants or clients meet up over a period of seven weekends in an idyllic house on the Anglesey coast.

They focus on improving their physical, mental and emotional well-being with the help of mentors – including Aled and Wales rugby legend Shane Williams – and experienced experts guiding them every step of the way.

During the show that’s presented by Lisa Gwilym and broadcast at 9pm on Tuesday evenings they focus on improving the physical, mental and emotional well-being of the five clients.

Aled travelled to Anglesey to meet the group and brought his extensive collection of medals he has won at various competitions, one of them was the silver medal he won at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

He said: “It’s not the colour I wanted to bring home unfortunately.

“I wanted to give the best possible performance on the world’s biggest stage, but I’ve been injured and it was hard. I show the medal to anyone but the people close to me know how difficult the journey has been since the Commonwealth Games The day will come when I look back with pride on the (2024) Games but not yet.”

Asked by participant Gwawr Job-Davies, from Old Colwyn, how he’ll get through the disappointment Aled said he remembers the 2012 London Paralympics.

“Those Games changed disability sport for ever. Walking out before 80,000 people was realising every dream I had had since a young child. It was a chance to show everyone what you could do despite a disability and hope children out there could see and say ‘I can do that’.”

Gwawr said later she had really enjoyed listening to Aled.

“He has so much confidence in himself it is just so inspiring,” she said.

But Aled said the confidence has not always been evident.

“I didn’t wear shorts until I was 16 years old, I always hid my legs. I didn’t do PE or sports because I knew I was different.

“When I was 14 or 15 my mother saw something in a newspaper a disability sports club where they did swimming. I’d never heard of anything like that.

“I remember walking into the swimming pool and saw so many people with disabilities and I thought all right, there are people like me and I’m lucky because there are people with worse disabilities than me.

“I won the Welsh Schools Championship and others were saying ‘I can’t believe I’ve been beaten by someone with just one leg’. Something changed then,” he said.

Aled was born with hemimelia, a condition where a limb is missing or partially formed, affecting the bones and soft tissue in his right leg.

He developed a passion for sport and in 2005 he dedicated himself to shot put and discus.

In 2012, Aled set a World Record in the F42 shot put, and at that year’s Paralympic Games, he claimed bronze in the shot put and gold in the discus.

The following year Aled took the World Championship gold in both the shot put and discus in Lyon. He won double gold in his home country at the 2014 IPC Athletics European Championships in the shot put and discus. This followed his silver medal in the F42-44 discus from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where he represented Wales.

At the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games Aled not only took gold in the F42 shot but also broke the Paralympic record. His success continued in 2020 Games when he won another gold in the men’s F63 shot. Most recently, at the 2024 Paris Paralympics he added a silver medal in the T63 shot to his impressive collection.

Passing some of the medals he has won around the dining table Aled said there was a story behind each one.

“And so much hard work had gone into winning each one,” he said.

Aled is currently struggling with a nagging injury and faces further surgery in a determined attempt to resolve the issue.

“Three weeks before the (2023) Commonwealth Games I was driving home and I felt a burning pain in my groin.

“It was diagnosed as Osteitis Pubis which comes from over training and is the most common career-ending injury in football and rugby. It was not something I wanted to hear,” he said.

Aled gritted his teeth at the Games in Birmingham and won gold. But following an extended period off the pain remained.

“The treatment before the Paralympics were injections into a joint between the pelvic bones but after Paris I had surgery which unfortunately wasn’t successful and hopefully further surgery will sort it for good,” he said.

Aled added he has targeted next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and is determined to do well and win Gold for Wales.

“Many people are asking me about my future but I haven’t finished yet. There’s still a lot of energy and I’ve got a fire in my belly to come back and achieve one hundred per cent fitness and compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. I’ve unfinished business in the city. I competed in the same games in 2014 and didn’t win gold,” he said.

Aled is Dylan Edwards’ mentor in the series. Originally from Bontnewydd near Caernarfon but now living in Cardiff the 38-year-old Video Games Analyst was impressed by the way Aled had overcome the challenges in his life.

“I thought to myself if he can do this then so can I.

“One of the things that came across clearly was the way Aled turned the negatives into a positive,” he said.

Series producer Siwan Haf said Aled was an inspiration for all the group.

She said: “He spoke candidly about his disappointment winning only a silver medal at the Paris Paralympics and spoke openly about his condition and how he has battled to overcome life’s difficulties and make the best of his life. He is a true inspiration.”

Siwan believes a programme like Tŷ Ffit has not been shown before.

“Tŷ Ffit is more than a television programme but is about changing people’s lives for the better.

“During the programme they are extremely open about their own mental health and we are very grateful to them for that. It has been transformational for all five of them and we hope viewers will continue to watch the programme and follow their journey.

“We’re also hopeful that the viewers will pick up some hints and tips about diet and exercise which they can adopt into their own lives.”

Tŷ Ffit is broadcast on S4C every Tuesday at 9pm. It is also available for streaming on S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and other platforms. English subtitles are available. You can also follow the exclusive Tŷ Ffit plan on the website: www.s4c.cymru/tyffit

Entertainment

Saundersfoot film to premiere where it was made

Published

3 days ago

June 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A PEMBROKESHIRE-made feature film is to receive its big-screen premiere next month in the very harbour where much of it was shot.

Near and Distant Things, written and directed by Saundersfoot filmmaker Emily Batty, will be shown outdoors at Saundersfoot Harbour on Saturday, July 18, as part of the Torch Theatre’s Sunset Cinema series.

The drama, filmed in summer 2025, tells the story of a grieving fisherman trying to support his daughter after she returns home, while experiencing dreamlike visions of his late wife.

The film makes strong use of the Saundersfoot landscape, with scenes filmed at the harbour, The Royal Oak pub, Monkstone Point and other familiar local locations.

Emily, 22, who grew up in Saundersfoot and recently graduated from the University of Oxford with a geography degree, has described the project as “a love letter to home”.

She said: “Watching a film set in Saundersfoot, with recognisable faces and locations on screen, in the heart of the harbour itself where we filmed many scenes, feels incredibly full-circle.

***The crew pause for a team-photo (Pic: Rachell Lambert Photography)***

“I can’t wait to share that experience with people.”

The film was made with the support of a small team and a largely local cast and crew.

Emily said the production had only been possible because of the “incredible amount of local support” received during filming.

She also praised composer and sound designer Zach Worthington, whose work helped shape the atmosphere of the film.

She said: “The score and soundtrack feel so entangled with the landscape of home.

“It’s a little bit folk, a little bit Celtic, and rather emotional.”

Emily, who has written and directed the film under the name Emily Florence, said some of the ideas behind the film had been with her for several years.

***Saundersfoot Harbour was used as a filming location and will now host the premiere (Pic: Rachell Lambert Photography)***

She said: “Some of the images within the film have been in my head since I was 18.”

She added that Pembrokeshire remains a major source of inspiration for her future work.

“I have a couple of screenplays in the works – I never stop writing – and I’m looking to get agented,” she said.

“I’m excited to continue to tell stories, in whatever capacity that may be.

“I can say that Pembrokeshire is still my muse, and I don’t think I’m done telling stories about home.”

The outdoor screening will take place on the harbour decking, with gates opening at 6:00pm and the film beginning at 7:00pm.

The film is rated PG, but includes themes of bereavement, mental health, domestic abuse and references to suicide which some viewers may find upsetting.

Emily said she hoped the premiere would be a moment of shared pride for the village.

She said: “So many people helped bring this film to life.

“There’s something very special about sharing a story set in Saundersfoot, surrounded by the landscape that inspired it.”

Tickets are available through the Torch Theatre website, with advance booking recommended.

Entertainment

Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir to perform at Royal Welsh Show

Published

4 days ago

June 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE HAWKSTONE FARMERS’ CHOIR, winners of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, will perform at the 2026 Royal Welsh Show.

The choir will sing in the main ring on the afternoon of Monday, July 20, the opening day of the show at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells.

Formed by Jeremy Clarkson as part of an advertising campaign for his Cotswolds-based brewing business, the choir has since grown into a national success story, using its platform to raise awareness of mental health within the farming community.

Aled Rhys Jones, chief executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir to the Royal Welsh Show.

“Their performance on the Monday in the main ring, in front of thousands of visitors, will be a truly special occasion.”

He added that it would be the choir’s first official performance in Wales since winning Britain’s Got Talent, and said many choir members had strong links with the Royal Welsh.

Lead soloist Rosie Jones, a beef and sheep farmer from Mid Wales, said: “What an honour to be invited to sing at the Royal Welsh Show 2026.

“This fairytale journey just keeps growing, but the greatest thing to come from it is the community we’ve built within the choir and beyond.”

The Royal Welsh Show is one of Europe’s leading agricultural events, celebrating Welsh farming, food and rural life.

Picture caption:

The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir (Pic: Britain’s Got Talent / ITV).

Entertainment

Safe Online Gambling: Tips for Staying in Control

Published

5 days ago

June 16, 2026

Staff Writer

In many cases, online gambling is a harmless hobby. However, for others, gambling can become problematic without the right considerations. Thankfully, there are many ways to keep gambling habits restrained to prevent addiction. With that in mind, here are some safe online gambling tips to help you stay in control and keep gambling fun.

Set Financial Limits

Licensed operators must offer tools that allow people to set personal budgets. And from 30 June, they must also provide customers with an opportunity to set deposit limits, which refers to the amount a customer pays into their account over a set duration. These kinds of tools can be invaluable for people who struggle knowing when to stop or have a habit of chasing losses.

Similarly, most reputable casinos also have time limits, to ensure you aren’t spending too much time gambling. Additionally, if you feel you’ve lost control entirely, you can also self-exclude yourself from all sites by registering for an account with Gamstop Online.

Avoid Gambling Under the Influence

Gambling under the influence, after consuming alcohol for instance, can impair your judgement and lead to impulsive decisions. It’s essential that you only gamble while sober and when you’re not experiencing any particularly strong emotions, so you can make more informed, level-headed decisions.

This is especially true when using the fastest payout casinos or high intensity games, as it can be easy to get caught up in the fun, lose money fast, or make more impulsive decisions.

Know the Signs of Problem Gambling

When you gamble, you are taking a risk. Not just financially, but emotionally too. It’s important that you recognise the signs of problem gambling, so you can address any problems early to prevent further harm.

Some of the common signs of problem gambling include:

Frequently chasing losses
Using money intended for savings or essential expenses for gambling
Borrowing money from friends or relatives to gamble
Feeling agitated, angry, or anxious when not gambling
Having a preoccupation with gambling
Feeling out of control or impulsive when gambling
Not engaging in other hobbies or withdrawing from social activities
Concealing or lying to loved ones about gambling habits

Maintain Gambling Best Practices

To prevent your gambling habits from becoming a problem. Be sure to set yourself financial and time limits, avoid gambling when under the influence or when experiencing strong emotions, and get to know the early warning signs of problematic behaviour so you can address any issues quickly.