#penclawdd — Public Fediverse posts

GOWER: Penclawdd gelato brand GG’s takes over iconic Caswell Bay kiosk in first step of expansion

A popular Gower gelato brand is expanding beyond its Penclawdd home – taking over an iconic beachside kiosk at Caswell Bay as the first step in a wider growth strategy.

GG’s Gelato, which has operated its ice cream parlour in Penclawdd since 2019 and supplies multiple trade customers across the region, has acquired the food and beverage kiosk at Caswell Bay through chartered surveyors RJ.

The kiosk – known as The Beach Shack – was run for 54 years by Robert, who retired earlier this year having served generations of beachgoers at Caswell Bay. Robert said at the time that he had already offered to help the new owner settle in.

Toby Link-Jones, Operations Manager at GG’s, said Caswell had been on their radar for some time. “When this Caswell property became available it was a no brainer,” he said. “It’s such an iconic spot, and for what we’re building with GG’s, it just felt like the right fit.”

As well as its full gelato range, the kiosk will offer grab-and-go coffee, cold drinks, and a selection of hot food and snacks – including pizza served from a bespoke pizza oven.

Link-Jones said the location held a special significance. He described Caswell as a place with a real sense of nostalgia for many people – somewhere they had grown up visiting. Taking over from another family-owned business that had operated there for many years made it feel, he said, like “a genuine full-circle moment.”

The goal, he added, was to become part of the same memories for the next generation.

The Caswell acquisition marks the first step in what GG’s describes as a planned portfolio of owned sites across South Wales. The brand said it would continue looking at opportunities – but only where the location felt right and could be operated to the standard they want.

Link-Jones was clear that growth would be managed carefully. He said the focus over the next few months was getting Caswell operating to the standard the brand wanted, before looking at further sites.

RJ Chartered Surveyors has been working closely with GG’s to identify suitable premises across South Wales.

James Smale-Davies, Associate Director at RJ Chartered Surveyors, added: “It has been a pleasure working alongside GG’s as they take this exciting first step into expanding their physical presence. Caswell is a prime coastal location, and the kiosk presented a unique opportunity for a high-quality, locally rooted brand to establish itself in a setting that aligns perfectly with its offering.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with GG’s as they explore further opportunities across South Wales and build on what is already a strong and much-loved brand.”

GG’s was founded in Penclawdd and has built a reputation for high-quality artisan gelato, supplying a growing number of trade customers alongside its original parlour. The Caswell kiosk represents its first permanent second site.

Caswell Bay is one of Gower’s most visited beaches, sitting within the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and drawing visitors from across south Wales and beyond throughout the summer season.

Related coverage

Gower beachside cafe owner retires after 54 years
The story of Robert and The Beach Shack – the business GG’s has now taken over at Caswell Bay.

Gower: The UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty turns 70
Why Caswell Bay and the Gower Peninsula remain among Britain’s most special places.

PENCLAWDD: Swansea-born Sir Karl Jenkins makes history as The Armed Man tops world’s biggest classical music chart

A composer born and raised in Penclawdd has made history by topping the world’s largest annual classical music survey — becoming the first living composer ever to reach number one in the Classic FM Hall of Fame.

Sir Karl Jenkins’ choral work The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace was voted Britain’s favourite piece of classical music in the Classic FM Hall of Fame 2026, displacing Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2, which had held the top spot in 2025. Nearly 90,000 public votes were cast in this year’s chart, with the result revealed live by presenter Dan Walker on Monday evening.

Sir Karl, who is 82 and grew up in Penclawdd on the Gower Peninsula, said the news had left him “gone all goose-pimply.” Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, he reflected on what the achievement meant to him. “It feels good to be alive and get the prize, rather than to be dead and pick it up,” he said. “It is strange that that is the case.”

In a statement, Sir Karl said he was “deeply honoured” by the result. “To become the first living composer to reach the number one position is profoundly humbling and gratifying, and to some degree, I am taken aback, when I reflect on the great masters, past and present, that sit below me on this list. As the cliché says, we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before.”

The Armed Man was originally commissioned in 1998 and premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in April 2000, performed by the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. It is dedicated to the victims of the Kosovo War and has since been performed more than 4,000 times globally. Sir Karl reflected on the enduring relevance of the work’s message.

“While it is with regret that I acknowledge that there has been no let-up in war and conflict since I dedicated the piece to the victims of Kosovo, we continue to make music in remembrance of those who have fallen and in the hope that humanity can find a way to heal,” he said.

The Armed Man is also the first choral work to claim the top spot in the chart’s 31-year history. For most of those years, Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending and Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 have dominated the top position, sharing the number one spot across 23 years between them.

Sir Karl said he was mindful of the company he was in. “The poll is a popularity poll and I’m not even contemplating the fact that there are all these geniuses behind me in the list, from Mozart to Beethoven and John Williams even. In that sense, it is gratifying.”

Over the years the composer has been told by many people how The Armed Man has carried them through difficult times. “I get a lot of messages from people who are ill and who are dying, people with some trauma in their life, who have told me about the support the music has given them,” he said. “It’s still as relevant today, the message, as it was 25 years ago.”

Sir Karl had four other pieces in this year’s Top 300, with Adiemus at 66, Palladio at 82, Gloria at 191 and Requiem at 300. This year’s Hall of Fame also featured a record 40 film scores, with Howard Shore’s Lord of the Rings soundtrack reaching number eight — the highest-ranked film score in the chart’s history. John Williams retained his title as the most popular living composer with seven pieces in the Top 300.

Dan Walker, who presented the result live on Classic FM, paid tribute to Sir Karl and reflected on the wider trends in this year’s chart. He described The Armed Man as “one of those pieces which grabs your soul and won’t let go,” and said this year’s results showed “just how much that world continues to grow and change.” He added that the record number of film scores in the chart was helping “open the door for new audiences and helping even more people fall in love with classical music.”

The Classic FM Hall of Fame 2026 full chart is available online.

The Top 10 in full:

1. The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace — Sir Karl Jenkins
2. Piano Concerto No.2 — Rachmaninov
3. The Lark Ascending — Vaughan Williams
4. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis — Vaughan Williams
5. Enigma Variations — Elgar
6. Miserere — Allegri
7. Piano Concerto No.5 ‘Emperor’ — Beethoven
8. The Lord of the Rings — Howard Shore
9. Piano Concerto No.2 — Shostakovich
10. Symphony No.9 ‘Choral’ — Beethoven

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The Swansea photographer chasing the last VW Beetles across Mexico

Paul O’Connor has spent years photographing protests, human‑rights abuses and environmental scandals. But it’s the humble Beetle — or Vocho, as it’s known in Mexico — that has pulled him into his first ever photography exhibition.

And now, the Gower‑based filmmaker is touring that exhibition across Mexico, documenting what may be the final chapter of one of the world’s most iconic cars.

‘I grabbed my camera — they were everywhere’

Paul first noticed the Vochos during his annual visits to San Cristóbal de las Casas, a highland city where the Beetle never really went out of fashion.

“It’s nearly 60 years since the first VW Beetle rolled off the production line in Mexico,” he said. “The vintage car has been an integral part of Mexican life for generations. But on the streets of Wales the classic car is now a rarity.”

What struck him wasn’t nostalgia — it was survival.

“The streamlined, symmetrical look of the car has made it timeless and instantly recognisable, even in silhouette,” he said. “I was intrigued that so many versions are still on the roads of San Cristóbal, so I grabbed my camera.”

Some are family cars held together with love and luck. Others are customised, lowered, painted, stickered and worshipped by younger drivers. All of them are at least 20 years old. The last Mexican‑built Beetle rolled off the line in 2003.

“How long before we see the vehicle completely disappear from the roads?” Paul asks. His exhibition is, in part, an attempt to answer that question before the answer arrives on its own.

A Welsh photographer in the middle of a Mexican car cult

The exhibition — EL ÚLTIMO DE LOS VOCHOS (Last of the Beetles) — has already shown at the Nauyaca Gallery, complete with live piano, snacks and a packed opening night. It now moves to El Paliacate Espacio Cultura, with a launch event on 14 February, followed by a Vocho club gathering at Las Grutas de Rancho Nuevo on 21 February.

Paul will be exhibiting his work at both events, surrounded by the very cars he’s been chasing with his camera.

One shoot even went wrong enough to earn its own write‑up — a reminder that photographing moving Beetles on busy Mexican streets is not without its hazards.

From Dublin to Penclawdd to the mountains of Chiapas

Paul was born in Dublin and began his career as a sports photographer before moving into documentary filmmaking in London, producing award‑winning investigations into environmental and human‑rights abuses.

But it’s the Vochos that have given him his first standalone photography exhibition — a project that blends nostalgia, social history and the quiet dignity of everyday objects that outlive the world that built them.

His images show a city where the Beetle is still king: bright colours, rounded silhouettes, and a sense that time moves differently when you’re behind the wheel of a car that refuses to die.

‘A place with only one type of vehicle’

“My exhibition shows the city as a place with only one type of vehicle — the colourful curves of the Vocho,” Paul said. “It’s adored by all generations.”

And while the Beetle has all but vanished from Welsh roads, Paul’s work captures a world where it remains part of the landscape — a rolling piece of history still doing the school run, still carrying groceries, still rattling through the mountains.

A Welsh eye on a Mexican icon

For Paul, the project is part love letter, part time capsule.

“The last Vocho was produced in Mexico more than 20 years ago,” he said. “So just how long before we see the vehicle disappear from the roads?”

His exhibition doesn’t answer the question. It simply records what’s left — before what’s left is gone.

Full details of the exhibition are available at: https://www.undercurrents.org/vocho.html

New health monitors installed in local GP surgeries

Patients across parts of Swansea can now monitor their blood pressure, weight and body mass index (BMI) in their GP practice waiting rooms, thanks to new health pod machines designed to encourage healthier lifestyles.

Available in local surgeries

The monitors have been installed at Gowerton Medical Centre, Penclawdd Health Centre, Penybryn Surgery, Princess Street Surgery in Gorseinon, Talybont Surgery and Ty’r Felin Surgery in Loughor. Patients can use them without booking an appointment, simply by dropping in during practice opening hours.

How the machines work

The pods guide patients through a short process: entering their date of birth and gender, answering lifestyle questions, and then measuring height, weight and blood pressure. Results are stored directly on the patient’s clinical record, and a printout can also be taken home.

‘Convenient and accessible’

Dr Sowndarya Shivaraj, who leads the project locally, said:

“The introduction of the health pod monitors in our GP surgeries offers patients a convenient and accessible way to check their blood pressure and BMI without needing to wait for a nurse appointment. By flagging risks early, we are better able to offer timely health advice and support.”

Supporting healthier lifestyles

Lorraine Thomas, practice manager at Princess Street Surgery in Gorseinon, said the machines were already proving popular.

“Everything appears on a screen and there’s a questionnaire where patients are asked if they smoke and want help to quit, and it will ask about alcohol intake too. The information then gets stored on their clinical records so GP practices can monitor them.”

She added:

“Most people aren’t aware of their blood pressure and other readings, such as their BMI, so it is helpful for them to be able to come in and check and then they can monitor it.”

Early detection of health risks

Staff will review the results and contact patients if readings are higher than recommended.

Dr Shivaraj said:

“High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke, so regular monitoring is vital for early detection and management. If the health pod detects high blood pressure, our teams will be alerted and the patient will be offered a follow‑up appointment for further assessment.”

The initiative is part of wider work to encourage people to take an active role in monitoring and maintaining their health, with additional support available for smoking cessation and reducing alcohol use.

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#bloodPressureMonitor #BMICheck #GorseinonGP #Gowerton #GowertonMedicalCentre #Loughor #Penclawdd #PenclawddHealthCentre #PenybrynSurgery #PrincessStreetSurgery #selfServiceHealthPod #Swansea #SwanseaBayNHS #TalybontSurgery #TyRFelinSurgery

Rugby pays tribute to Roy ‘Shunto’ Thomas, Llanelli and Swansea stalwart, who has died aged 82

Scarlets confirm passing

In a statement, the Scarlets said they were “deeply saddened” to hear of Thomas’ passing. Between 1970 and 1977 he played 184 games for Llanelli, including that unforgettable 9–3 victory over New Zealand at Stradey Park.

“The thoughts of us all at the Scarlets are with Roy’s family and friends at this time,” the club said.

Swansea RFC: “A great club man”

Swansea RFC paid tribute to Thomas’ toughness on the field and humour off it. He made 169 appearances for the All Whites between 1966 and 1970, featuring in the 1966 win over Australia at St Helen’s and the 1969 clash with the touring Springboks.

The club noted his unenviable record of being named as Wales’ reserve hooker 25 times without winning a full cap, sitting behind internationals Jeff Young and Bobby Windsor.

“He will be remembered in Swansea not for that unwanted statistic, but for his tough uncompromising play and his great sense of humour off the field,” the club said.

Loughor RFC: “A true legend of the game”

Thomas’ home club, Loughor RFC, described him as a “true legend” and highlighted his family ties, with his daughter Karen now coaching at the club.

“Our minis paid their respects to not only a great figure in Welsh rugby, but also to a much‑loved father of their coach, Karen,” the club said.

The ‘nearly man’ of Wales

Despite never winning a full cap, Thomas was a near‑permanent fixture in the Wales squad throughout the 1970s. In an era when substitutions were only permitted for injuries, he was repeatedly named on the bench but never took the field.

He was later awarded a Welsh Rugby Union President’s cap for appearing in an uncapped match against Tonga in 1974 — a prized possession he kept on display at his Loughor home.

Memories of 1972

Thomas’ career highlight came on 31 October 1972, when Llanelli stunned the All Blacks 9–3 at Stradey Park. He recalled the pitch invasion and wild celebrations that followed:

“The All Blacks players couldn’t believe it. After the game, when we were sitting together and drinking, they were telling us you were much better than us on the day.”

It was, famously, the day the pubs ran dry in Llanelli.

“I had a load. I had a lift home to Penclawdd. They took me back to the club at about 8pm. I was well‑oiled!” he laughed in a later interview.

Life beyond rugby

After finishing with Llanelli in the late 1970s, Thomas returned to Penclawdd RFC for a spell as coach and remained a regular supporter of “The Donkeys”. Away from rugby, he worked delivering coal around Gower, transporting cockles across the UK, and later for British Steel.

Reflecting on his career, Thomas once said he would never have swapped the All Blacks victory for a full Welsh cap:

“No, I wouldn’t give that up. No‑one can ever take that day away from me.”

Legacy

Known for his fierce scrummaging, quick left foot, and lineout accuracy, Thomas was admired by teammates and opponents alike. He will be remembered as a determined player, a loyal club man, and a gentleman of the game.

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#AllBlacks #AllWhites #Loughor #LoughorRFC #Penclawdd #RoyShuntoThomas #Rugby #Scarlets #Swansea #SwanseaRFC

@KMTaylor

Right time of year before school breaks up and the hordes arrive. Staying where? Nice eating places in #mumbles and lovely country pub in #reynoldston called The Kings Head. South Gower is very busy, North Gower not so busy. If kiddies in tow head for GiGi's Icecream Parlour at #penclawdd north gower.

@KMTaylor

Right time of year before school breaks up and the hordes arrive. Staying where? Nice eating places in #mumbles and lovely country pub in #reynoldston called The Kings Head. South Gower is very busy, North Gower not so busy. If kiddies in tow head for GiGi's Icecream Parlour at #penclawdd north gower.

#Photograph, not an #oldpostcard this time, with on the back written "Penclawdd Belles sort cockle shells, c1944". Size - 3.5 inches x 4.75 inches. #Cocklepickers #Wales #Penclawdd #Gowerpeninsula #Glamorgan #Swansea