Young signs for Wasps

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 30, 2011

One of the worst kept secrets in rugby was confirmed today when London Wasps announced the appointment of Dai Young as the club’s Director of Rugby.

Young joins on a four-year deal from the Cardiff Blues where he has been at the helm since 2002, first as head coach and then as Director of Rugby. He takes the reigns at the beginning of July of a new-look London Wasps side which will welcome more than 10 new senior squad players next season.

Bringing with him a strong pedigree of top level club experience from the Welsh based Blues, whom he has guided to Heineken Cup quarter and semi-finals, Young also brings wealth of knowledge of the demands needed to become a top player. The ex-international prop, won 51 caps for his country as well as travelling on three British and Irish Lions tours.

Young also has experience coaching in international rugby as he has led the Barbarians as head coach for the past four years on their European touring schedule.

London Wasps Chief Executive Chris Thomas said: “We are delighted to welcome Dai to London Wasps and we believe he is exactly the right person to take the club forward. Dai brings a wealth of experience to the club and this is an appointment for the long-term. We remain an ambitious club and want to be competing at the highest level. Dai is the person to help us achieve these ambitions. Dai has done a sterling job in Cardiff, developing a host of young talent into international quality players as well as building an excellent team with strong spirit. We were hugely impressed with his vision for London Wasps which is in keeping with our key objective of developing sustained long-term success.”

With the club having added a number of new faces to the squad for next season including England hooker Steve Thompson, fly-half Nicky Robinson and former All Black Ross Filipo, Thomas added that Young would have a strong group of players to worth with.

“We have worked very hard in recent months to put together a squad for next season which will give us far more balance and Dai will lead a squad which combines some hugely exciting young talent as well as some hard-nosed top level experience. “

Dai Young said “This is an enormous opportunity for me. I have loved my time with Cardiff but I am looking forward to a new experience in a new environment. There is a hugely talented group of players here to work with and the challenge to help get a great club into a position where they are once again challenging for success was too good to turn down.

Swiss adventure for school singers

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 30, 2011

A Cardiff primary school choir is gearing up to join the jet set as they prepare for a visit to Switzerland in style.

The choir of Creigiau Primary School has been invited on a three-day visit to the beautiful country in the heart of Europe and will be flying to Zurich next week on a special flight, exclusively reserved for the 50-strong party from the school.

The Creigiau school, which has been twinned with a school in Switzerland – Schulhaus Götzen – for the last four years, was part of the welcome party to greet the first Helvetic Airways flight from Zurich to Cardiff Airport when the route was launched in March this year. Now, co-owner of the airline, Rosmarie Ebner, has offered to fly the school choir and accompanying adults to the continent to visit their twin school.

The group will be staying at the Swiss Youth and Education Centre in the village of Einsiedeln   from Monday July 4 to Wednesday July 6 and have a packed itinerary to look forward to including a gondola and chair lift ride to the top of one of the local peaks, an alpine lunch at 1,856m above sea level and a visit to Schulhaus Götzen where they will enjoy a barbecue before performing songs for their hosts.

Creigiau Primary headteacher, Peter Evans, said: “We were delighted to sing at Cardiff Airport when the first Helvetic Air flight arrived from Zurich and now we are very grateful to the airline for this wonderful opportunity. All the members of the choir are looking forward to the trip and meeting children from our twin school.

“It’s going to be a real treat to fly with Helvetic Airways and we look forward to the fantastic itinerary that has been planned for us too.”

Chance of a “Good Life” in Ely Farm with new allotment announcement

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 29, 2011

Cardiff Council’s Park Services have announced new allotment plots are now available at Ely Farm, Cardiff.

A total of 32 additional plots have been marked out at the site and prospective tenants on the waiting list are currently being contacted.

Eight plots have already been allocated to new tenants keen to grown their own fruit and vegetables.

The plots have been provided on an area of the allotment site which has not previously been cultivated.

These new plots have been introduced as part of the Council’s allotment strategy which aims to reduce waiting lists and accommodate the growing interest in allotment gardening.

Further plots across five other allotment sites are due to be released by the end of the financial year. In the region of 300 extra plots will be made available for use.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said; “The Council recognises the importance of allotment gardening and the significant contribution it makes to health and social agenda.

“Due to the significant interest in allotment gardening the Council has made a commitment to reduce waiting lists by bringing previously redundant areas of allotment land into use.

“The allotment strategy has enabled further improvements to be identified and implemented and this has been cemented by the new plots being made available in sites such as Ely Farm.”

Cardiff Council has 26 allotment sites across the city covering approximately 190 acres.

Notes to Editor:

Photo from left to right: Chairwoman of Ely Farm Allotments Jan Moore, Cllr Nigel Howells, Secretary of Ely Farm Allotments, Terry Webb and Treasurer, Joe Moore

This is what happens when you black bag food

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 24, 2011

It’s a disgusting mess that attracts vermin and creates a health hazard, but a few Cardiff citizens are still putting food in black bags. This was never more graphically illustrated than when a the Cardiff Council Waste Management team came across this scene this week somewhere in Cathays or Plasnewydd.

The picture above shows the mess created when just one black bag filled with food waste is ripped open by gulls.  Factor in the wind and pedestrians finding it difficult to avoid, this unsightly mess can then spread a considerable distance up and down the street.

This is an area where food caddies have been issued; there is no need to put food waste in black bags.

Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Cllr Margaret Jones said, “This horrendous mess could easily have been avoided.  There is no excuse whatsoever for putting food waste in black bags, every household in the area has been issued with a food caddy.  The vast majority of residents work with us to help us keep the streets clean but as you can see, it can take one bag to create a terrible impression of a street.  We urge all residents to deal with their waste responsibly and have consideration for their neighbours.”

Cardiff Council increases recycling options city wide

Cardiff Council has further underlined its commitment to recycling with the opening of four new facilities this year.  Working closely with the Libraries and Leisure departments, the Council’s Waste Management service has opened up recycling bring-sites at Llanrumney Library, Maindy Pool, Grangetown Library and Western Leisure Centre.  These new facilities greatly enhance the opportunities for Cardiff citizens to easily and conveniently recycle their waste.

Additional Recycling opportunities are as follows:

Llanrumney Library

• Mixed paper and card
• Mixed glass and plastic

Maindy Pool

• Cardboard
• Paper and Magazines
• Plastic and glass bottles and jars
• Metal food and drink cans

Grangetown Library

• Mixed paper and card
• Mixed glass and plastic
• Western Leisure Centre
• Paper and card
• Mixed glass and plastic
• Food and drink cans

Cllr Margaret Jones, Executive Member for the Environment said, “It is more important than ever to recycle our waste and these new facilities will add to the already extensive recycling offered in the City.  The sites have been carefully chosen and spaced to allow the most convenient access possible for as many of our citizens as possible.  Recycling of waste is a top priority for Cardiff Council and these bring-sites will further help people to make recycling part of their everyday routine.”

Babies remembrance service at Thornhill Crematorium

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 23, 2011

Cardiff Council Bereavement Services have invited the citizens of Cardiff to a special annual Babies Remembrance Service on 26th June 2011 at 11:30am in the Wenallt Chapel at Thornhill Crematorium.

The memorial service, supported by the Stillbirth and Neonatal Deaths Society (Sands) allows those who have lost a baby as well as their families and friends to come together to remember them. Everybody is welcome.

The service will be led by members of the University Hospital of Wales Chaplaincy Team and during the service a memory card can be written.  Following the service, there will be an opportunity for those attending to place a memory pebble in the memory bowl in the Ilex Garden.

Councillor Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, said: “Cardiff Council is glad to be able to offer families the opportunity to acknowledge their babies in a simple remembrance service in the Wenallt Chapel and to meet with other bereaved parents.  This event has proved very comforting to families in the past and I’ve no doubt this year’s service will continue that good work in providing love and support to all those affected in this way. ”

Members of the Cardiff Branch of Sands will be available at the service.

Refreshments will be available at the end of the service.

For further information, please contact a member of Bereavement Services’ staff at Thornhill Crematorium on 029 2062 3294 .