Archbishop of Wales commits to ‘reflecting’ on lessons to be learned THE decision by the Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd Andy John, to appoint the Bangor diocesan secretary as sub-dean of Bangor Cathedral has been implicitly criticised in the Visitation report he commissioned last year (News, 28 February) The report also identifies a number of areas of concern around the working culture at the cathedral including the personal conduct of certain individuals and management practices “that lacked transparency and rigour” The first recommendation of the Visitation report — a summary of which was published on Saturday evening — is that “any future appointment to the role of Dean or Sub-Dean should be exclusive of other responsibilities” Bangor Cathedral has been without a Dean since the Ven Canon Siôn Rhys-Evans was appointed Sub-Dean and Canon Treasurer by Archbishop John He had been ordained as deacon two years earlier in June 2019 and remained in post as diocesan secretary of Bangor a statement on the diocese of Bangor’s website said: “Canon Siôn Rhys-Evans is leaving his roles as Diocesan Secretary and Sub-Dean.” No further clarification was provided at the time and the four-and-a-half pages of the Visitation report now published — three pages of background information followed by a list of recommendations — provides limited elucidation Archbishop John said that participants had taken part on the condition of confidentiality But the Visitation had found “management practices that lacked transparency and rigour with some appointments made without proper paperwork inadequate oversight arrangements and concerns raised about exclusion due to favouritism,” he said The Visitation was commissioned in October 2024 by Archbishop John who informed the Bangor Cathedral Chapter that “very serious and urgent” safeguarding concerns had been raised The recommendation in the report that “urgent consideration” be given to appointing a senior cleric to “steady the ship until such time as the Sub Dean returns or a successor arrives” indicates that it was concluded some months ago given confirmation of Canon Rhys-Evans’ departure in December The Visitors emphasise in their report that they were not conducting an investigation and did not seek to verify what they were told Archbishop John commissioned a safeguarding audit carried out by the charity ThirtyOne:Eight in November in response to safeguarding concerns having been raised about the cathedral with the Provincial Safeguarding Team (PST) The charity emphasises that the audit — which considered the period during which Canon Rhys-Evans was in post — “did not include a fact-finding exercise where the strength of evidence was tested in relation to complaints made against specific individuals” It recommends that priority be given to establishing an alcohol policy at the cathedral following reports of “excessive consumption” and “inappropriate behaviours” to “avoid any pressure to conform to drinking unwanted alcohol” The charity heard reports of “inappropriate language” being used in front of younger members of the choir including “rude jokes and innuendoes in the choir that left some feeling unsafe and marginalised” Accounts indicated “a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred and to some in their view promiscuity was acceptable” The reviewers also heard of homophobic comments that “do not appear to have been responded or challenged rigorously enough” The reviewers write that they were “repeatedly informed of a lack of confidence in those with authority both in the Cathedral and in the wider senior Church in Wales leadership” The reviewers heard of an “unhappy working environment” and concluded that many of those working for the cathedral did so “in silos with little evidence of a common focus and shared vision/mission” There “didn’t to some appear to be any safeguards put in place when some individuals’ behaviours reportedly became unacceptable A lack of contracts for paid roles or tenancy agreements “caused a potentially unsafe environment for those not knowing what their employment status is and this in turn may make them vulnerable to coercion and control by those in authority.” The lack of a recognised or promoted formal complaints process had left individuals “feeling there is no protection for those raising concerns” There was a “fear of consequence and repercussions” PILGRIMS on a new route from north-west Wales will be taking inspiration from the sixth-century saint Cadfan and who established an abbot-led community at Tywyn (the start of the walk) and a monastery on Ynis Enlli (Bardsey Island) (the conclusion) the reviewers said that they had heard of “significant positive changes” within the Cathedral in the last two years including a commitment to the Welsh language There was “largely positive” feedback from parents and choristers many of whom “struggled to understand that there might be any safeguarding concerns” Those with mental health problems and autistic people spoke positively about the choir The culture was found to be “challenging but not broken with many working in the background for the greater good of others” who is due to address the cathedral congregation on Sunday said that he had asked for all recommendations to be implemented within three months with the work led by the Archdeacon of Bangor who has been chairing Chapter meetings in the absence of a dean This will be monitored by an Oversight Board who chairs the Representative Body of the Church in Wales Recruitment of a new Dean will begin on Sunday “I have begun reflecting on what I must learn from this process — not only as a leader but as a fellow pilgrim,” Archbishop John said “The call to lifelong formation is one we all share and I remain committed to walking that path with humility We shall commit ourselves to the work of repair of rebuilding trust and of creating a healthier culture — together.” Nicholas Reed Langen examines the Supreme Court ruling on gender We are a partnership of six diverse and welcoming congregations in the northern districts of Milton Keynes offering a rich tapestry of worshipping traditions – Anglican organised and welcoming individual who is a member of the Church of England Applications are invited from ordained ministers in the Church of England to lead the worship and spirituality of Tudor Hall School as school Chaplain Tudor Hall is a girls’ boarding school with a strong sense of community which was built on Christian principles along with our neighbours in Aston are looking for a new leader who will inspire us to grow in faith and make a lasting impact on our community run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times tickets available This online seminar, run jointly by Modern Church and The Church Times discusses the theology underpinning the drive for growth tickets available Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month in response to concerns which had been brought to his attention commissioned a visitation of Bangor Cathedral and a review by Thirtyone:eight an external body that specialises in safeguarding advice in church settings The reporting process is now complete and the following summary reports have now been released publicly We are grateful to all who contributed to this careful and prayerful process The reports give details of the next steps which will now be taken I commissioned two exercises in connection with Bangor Cathedral The first of these was a visitation and the second a safeguarding audit by the independent organisation thirtyone:eight I asked that those who conducted these exercises on my behalf undertake a thorough review of the quality of life Those who undertook these exercises did so on the condition that any sensitive and personal information which might be disclosed by participants (including safeguarding disclosures) would not be released into the public domain This was to give confidence to anyone who participated I am upholding their request for confidentiality and therefore releasing today summary reports prepared by the reviewers and their unabridged recommendations It is evident that in recent years great progress has been made at our cathedral We have seen the fruit of hard work: improved attendance a raised public profile and an enhanced musical life These are signs of vitality and growth that we rightly celebrate But we also know that growth is not just about what is visible—it’s about what is true The reviewers identified some concerns which needed to be addressed the reports described areas where we needed to do better to ensure that the cathedral is truly safe I acknowledge that these findings are hard to hear—but they must be faced if we are to move forward with integrity let me firstly pay tribute to those who participated in the two processes I have listened carefully to those who came forward and I want to honour their honesty and courage I also thank those who carried out the visitation and the audit for their conscientious and sensitive work The response will be primarily in the hands of two groups which will be responsible for implementing I have asked that this work be completed by 4th August The second group is an Oversight Board chaired by Prof Medwin Hughes Their role will be to oversee and scrutinise the work of the Implementation Group and to support a new Dean The recruitment of a new Dean will commence tomorrow Copies of the terms of reference of the two groups will be made available I have begun reflecting on what I must learn from this process—not only as a leader The call to lifelong formation is one we all share of rebuilding trust and of creating a healthier culture—together we know that we are people who need repentance and hope We know our human flaws—but we also know the grace of a God who shares our humanity understands our weaknesses and strengthens us to become the Church Copyright © 2007-2025 The Representative Body of the Church in Wales All Rights Reserved.Registered Charity Number: 1142813 Independent investigators have reported incidents of inappropriate sexual behaviour and other serious safeguarding concerns that left people feeling unsafe at the home cathedral in Bangor of Archbishop of Wales Andy John Two documents were published on the Church in Wales website on the evening of May 3 2025: one a visitation report written by senior clerics Mike Komor and Chris Potter to look at the Cathedral’s general culture and the other the summary of a safeguarding audit undertaken by a specialist body called Thirtyone:eight The Thirtyone:eight report contains a series of disturbing revelations: The lack of contracts for paid roles or tenancy agreements have caused a potentially unsafe environment for those not knowing what their employment status is and this in turn may make them vulnerable to coercion and control by those in authority Staff were not aware of behaviour guidelines including information sharing protocols and confidentiality statements and this leaves children and the reputation of the Cathedral potentially more vulnerable to allegations and abuse The lack of a recognised/promoted formal complaints process has left individuals feeling there is no protection for those raising concerns the lack of awareness that a Whistleblowing policy exists prevents people accessing this avenue to complain There is a need for a better awareness of the formal processes such as risk assessments … It is important for everyone to come together and recognise that without these structures they can be left worrying and feeling unsafe The Provincial Safeguarding Team (PST) became the receiver of safeguarding concerns rather than a local designated person within the Cathedral community The importance of an appropriate designated and local safeguarding lead and deputy is vitally important for receiving information in an open and measured way and in liaising with the PST to agree appropriate action and follow up affecting those who identified as victims of abuse The Reviewers heard of feelings of vulnerability but also the largely positive support they had received both from within the Cathedral and externally It would be beneficial for training to be given in relation to supporting survivors of abuse and consider how a safe church is promoted internally It is important to promote safeguarding externally on the Cathedral website so visitors will be aware of how to seek assistance or report concerns We are pleased to see that this recommendation has already been actioned The Reviewers were repeatedly informed of a lack of confidence in those with authority (both in the Cathedral and in the wider senior Church in Wales leadership) The Chapter is the trustee body of the Cathedral but it was reported that the oversight was at a distance and the meetings infrequent and therefore for some did not provide sufficient oversight Safer recruitment must be a greater priority in all areas of those working in the Cathedral whether this be for employed persons or volunteers This should involve applying through an open process for all roles which involve an interview contract (if appropriate) job description and relevant checks * Financial management should be put in place to ensure the fabric of the building The Reviewers were disappointed to note that safeguarding information was not present on the Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral website (this has now been corrected) which meant that anyone outside the Cathedral would not be aware of how to raise a concern or feel that they would be listened to Although generally people conducted themselves well the Reviewers were also informed of inappropriate behaviours such as inappropriate language lack of boundaries around communication (outside of work hours and away from office premises) Complaints were also made of others in the Cathedral that were actively involved in inappropriate language being used in front of younger members of the choir and that this was more than ‘banter’ and at times was reported to cause potentially humiliation to some Reports were also shared of individuals feeling ignored while other colleagues were favoured Accounts indicate a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred and to some in their view promiscuity was acceptable It was acknowledged that stress was a significant factor for many individuals in the Cathedral given the unsettled atmosphere appear to be any safeguards put in place when some individuals’ behaviours reportedly became unacceptable [The] Reviewers are concerned that if such behaviours were observed by children and adults at risk it might lead to subsequent mirroring of these unhealthy behaviours and create an environment in which the feelings of being unsafe extend from within the Cathedral staff This could have serious consequences to all concerned including the external reputation of the Cathedral The Reviewers were made aware of WhatsApp groups which individuals used to express their thoughts and frustrations These reported negative comments appear wholly inappropriate and then guidance should be provided to explore safe and appropriate use of social media The Reviewers understand that the consumption of alcohol is a factor within this environment therefore it’s recommended that a clear policy is adopted to ensure that when served after services in the Cathedral people are aware of the need to limit the access to some individuals and avoid any pressure to conform to drinking unwanted alcohol Many choir members and parents struggled to understand that there might be any safeguarding concerns expressing views that the choir was a safe space and had been beneficial to their children and themselves rude jokes and innuendoes in the choir that left some feeling unsafe and marginalised frustrated voices who felt change wouldn’t happen or they didn’t feel heard despite speaking out and some felt the environment had caused a significant decline in their mental health including considering leaving or taking time off work due to feeling the situation couldn’t be resolved and the culture couldn’t be changed The Reviewers also heard accounts of homophobic comments during that time at the Cathedral and in the wider diocese but these do not appear to have been responded to or challenged rigorously enough The Reviewers were told of an unhappy working environment There also appeared to be an individualistic and siloed culture which at times people stated created a lack of trust This was evident to the Reviewers through some individuals being concerned only about their own areas of ministry and some potentially operating in a way that indicated there had been an emotional impact from the inappropriate or destructive relationship they described One of the recommendations of the Visitation report was that any future appointment to the role of Dean or Sub Dean should be exclusive of other responsibilities It stated: “Bangor’s Cathedral may not have the size or complexity of some others but leading it is still a full-time task.” While his name is not mentioned in either of the published reports the Cathedral’s former Sub Dean Sion Rhys Evans simultaneously held the post of Diocesan Secretary He was on gardening leave for 10 months before his departure was announced just after Christmas 2024 Also on the Church in Wales website is a statement from the Archbishop in which he says: “Those who undertook these exercises did so on the condition that any sensitive and personal information which might be disclosed by participants (including safeguarding disclosures) would not be released into the public domain “The reviewers identified some concerns which needed to be addressed “A safeguarding approach that did not meet the standards expected across the Church in Wales “Management practices that lacked transparency and rigour inadequate oversight arrangements and concerns raised about exclusion due to favouritism and spending decisions that were insufficiently scrutinised “Conduct in some areas—relating to alcohol use and sexual behaviour—that did not reflect the professional standards expected in a Christian church “I acknowledge that these findings are hard to hear—but they must be faced if we are to move forward with integrity “ … I have begun reflecting on what I must learn from this process—not only as a leader “We shall commit ourselves to the work of repair of rebuilding trust and of creating a healthier culture – together.” Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" This is a truly ghastly catalogue of failings or poor management in many different ways Surely the person at the top carries the can – Andy John Is there scope for any money to be recovered So many questions left unanswered in these summaries How was Sion Rhys Evans appointed as Sub-Dean/de facto dean Has the Charity Commission been notified of possible failings So much left to explain by Andy John/Bangor… Read more » Connect with Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter If you would like to donate to help keep Nation.Cymru running then you just need to click on the box below it will open a pop up window that will allow you to pay using your credit / debit card or paypal Enter your email address to receive instant notifications of new articles All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018 In 2017 Nation.Cymru was launched after raising £5000 from a crowdfunding campaign Today it is one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK attracting over 1.5 million visitors a month We are not backed by billionaire owners or hidden behind a paywall but we depend on our readers' support to continue our work If everyone who visited the site over the course of a month donated at least £1 we would have enough funding for the next eight years To guarantee our future please consider making a donation today. Bangor is at the heart of a growing campaign to tackle the NHS dentistry crisis in north Wales – with calls intensifying for a new dental school to be established at Bangor University local Member of the Senedd Siân Gwenllian backed a motion by Mabon ap Gwynfor MS that pushed the Welsh Government to act urgently to address the critical shortage of NHS dentists With only 36% of residents in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area receiving NHS dental treatment – well below the already concerning Welsh average of 44% – the need for local solutions has become stark we need to train more dentists,” said Ms Gwenllian “There is evidence to demonstrate that a workforce plan must include a new school of dentistry in Wales – and it must be located in north Wales.” Ms Gwenllian highlighted the growing grassroots support for the initiative across Gwynedd noting: “There are 42 community councils in Gwynedd that have passed a motion supporting my campaign to ensure a new school of dentistry for Wales in north Wales Bangor City Council are one of the local councils who have backed the campaign officially Siân Gwenllian has welcomed a collaborative effort between Bangor University and Aberystwyth University to develop a joint business plan to establish the school “It’s wonderful to see this collaboration between universities in the west,” she said “It’s time for the Government to show its commitment to the project.” The MS has organised a seminar in the Senedd to present the report Filling the Gaps which explores the evidence and need for the dental school She extended a warm invitation to all Members of the Senedd – particularly the Cabinet Secretary – to attend the event on 13 May “The concern about a lack of access to NHS services is clear on the ground,” she concluded “and so is the desire to see future dentists being trained locally – in Bangor.” Photo: The launch of the report ‘Filling the Gaps: The case for training dentists in Bangor’ at Bangor University Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More BANGOR — A group of volunteers took to the streets of downtown Bangor Saturday morning for a bit of spring cleaning The annual cleanup is an effort to beautify the city and get the area ready for the flowers and plants that will soon be placed throughout the downtown area for the summer season “Public Works and our Downtown ambassadors do a really good job of keeping things clean,” said Betsy Lundy executive director of the Downtown Bangor Partnership “But there’s always little things hiding here and there that we like to get out of the way and make sure when we do our Big Dig Weekend for Adopt-A-Garden in two weeks that the gardens walk into a really nice The Adopt-A-Garden effort allows residents to take care of their own plot of plants in the city throughout the summer and the Big Dig Weekend is where people come together to plant gardens in the city.  Lundy said this is the 11th year that Downtown Bangor has held the cleanup and that it helps residents to feel more connected to the city of Bangor “It helps people feel a sense of ownership of downtown,” said Lundy “That’s one of the things that’s unique about a downtown is that it’s public space and literally everyone owns a little slice of this downtown and so when they come down here and do a little cleanup and do a little planting it helps them feel invested in it.” changing the dirt in flower boxes and removing several invasive shrubs Volunteers said it's a great way to give back to the community Bangor will join communities across the UK and beyond on Thursday in marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day a national day of remembrance honouring the millions who fought and sacrificed to secure peace and freedom during the Second World War the country will echo with the sound of church bells with flags flying high and symbolic lights illuminating the night sky Bangor’s own tribute will take place at 9 pm at the War Memorial in Glanrafon Car Park culminating in the lighting of a beacon at 9.30 pm part of a UK-wide network of more than a thousand Beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace The ceremony will be led by Bangor City Council in collaboration with the Right Reverend David Morris Bishop of Bardsey and Assistant Bishop of Bangor the names of all local individuals who lost their lives during World War II will be projected onto the walls of the Pontio building ensuring their legacy will continue to shine said: “It is both humbling and a great honour for Bangor to be part of this significant national tribute The lighting of the Beacon and Lamp Lights of Peace symbolises the enduring legacy of those who gave everything for our freedom “As we commemorate eighty years since VE Day we do so with deep gratitude and solemn reflection remembering not only those from our own communities but the brave souls from all nations who stood together in the face of darkness These lights are a reminder of the peace they forged and a promise that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.” The Bangor VE Day event will start at 9 pm at the War Memorial with the lighting of the beacon taking place at 9.30 pm Watch Big Films on the Big Screen at Pontio in Bangor Warfare embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs on a surveillance mission gone wrong in insurgent territory boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare and brotherhood told like never before: in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it Find out more about what’s on at Pontio this week https://tickets.pontio.co.uk/ this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history A father and daughter accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat where his billionaire boss seeks to exploit the creature’s miraculous curative properties Discover the Oscar-winning animated film Flow at Pontio this May It is a breathtaking journey that explores the depths of survival and the bonds of companionship tells the poignant story of a solitary black cat navigating a world devastated by a great flood forging unlikely connections with other animals along the way Pride & Prejudice 20th Anniversary (U) Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet meets single Darcy reluctantly falls in love with a woman beneath his class Can each overcome their pride and prejudice Pictiwrs a Pram – SIX the Musical Live ‘Pictwrs a Pram’ offers a unique experience for parents/carers with babies under 12 months old It’s a chance to see the latest films in a safe and non-judgmental environment with reduced volume and increased lighting You will not be able to select your seat when booking but there are limited number of tickets available (20) and plenty of room for you in the Cinema Don’t worry about your pram; you can keep it parked at the cinema you can feel comfortable doing so while watching the latest titles ‘Pictiwrs a Pram’ screenings are for parents/carers and their baby but if you have an older child with you and the certificate is U they can also attend (no ticket required for children under 2) After his life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack a brilliant but introverted CIA decoder takes matters into his own hands when his supervisors refuse to take action Warfare embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs in the home of an Iraqi family overwatching the movement of US forces through insurgent territory boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare The Makings of a Murderer 2 – The Real Manhunter the UK’s top true crime theatre tour is back with a brand-new lineup Featuring Senior Investigating officer Colin Sutton who caught serial killer Levi Bellfield and ‘Night Stalker’ Delroy Grant who was head of a Metropolitan Police murder squad tells us the stories of how he caught some of the UK’s most evil murderers Colin; who the ITV drama series ‘Manhunt,’ played by Martin Clunes will talk you through his remarkable career and what it is like to chase and catch a serial killer in a unique and one-off night at the theatre – for true crime fans and theatre goers alike The Makings of a Murderer 2 – A Crime Thriller night at the Theatre Every old soldier knows the dire consequences of being found drinking on duty … especially on high profile military parades But one bearded Lance Corporal parading in Bangor later this month has been excused from Regimental disciplines and the feared ‘King’s Regulations’ It’s been tradition beyond memory that the Regimental Goat of the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh is issued his daily pint which again when parading in Bangor as part of a massive military salute to the City L/Cpl Shenkin the Goat will enjoy before trotting off ahead of more than 200 uniformed army and RAF personnel on 29 May Until recently the Regimental Goat of the Royal Welsh was also issued with two cigarettes a day which it would briefly chew but the daily pint of Guinness remains on official Rations – as necessary as part of their intake of iron vitamins!’ said Goat Major ‘Jacko’ Jackson Not only does Shenkin enjoy his daily pint but his favourite off-duty ‘Rest and Recouperation’ chill area when visiting his regimental headquarters at Maindy Barracks Cardiff is in the beer-garden of the Heath pub opposite Given half a chance he’d cadge another free beer from one of the pub patrons!’ said Sgt Shenkin’s predecessor Regimental Goat Lance Corporal Gwillam ‘Taffy’ Jenkins had other chill-out routines after a day on parade He was a lover of BBC Radio Two which was played 24-hours a day in his luxury Regimental Goat-quarters And his other love was plotting ways of ambushing unsuspecting young officers ‘More than a few of them suffered badly bruised backsides’ laughed his former handler Shenkin will lead the spectacular Bangor city centre parade on Thursday May 29 as part of the city’s marking of its 1,500th year of foundation in 525AD   And it will be almost a home-from-home return for him as he was selected by the Regiment from a herd of feral goats which for centuries have thrived on the Great Orme local  North Wales folklore has it that Shenkin’s favourite tipple was discovered in North Wales rather than Ireland when brewery founder J Arthur Guinness en route to a brewing conference in England stopped in a stage-coach pull-up in Llanfairfechan and sampled the local black-stout ale being served   He cadged the recipe and headed straight back to Dublin where he named it ‘Guinness’ Regimental Goat ‘Shenkin’ will take pride and place ahead of the Army Band and others past Bangor High Street’s Town Clock where newly elected Mayor Medwyn Hughes and senior military officers will ‘salute’ him as he trots ahead   Bangor City councillor and former ‘red beret’ Para Mark Roberts explained: ‘They won’t be actually saluting the Goat but rather the coat it wears bearing the insignia and honours of the Regiment   The Goat represents the long and distinguished history of the Royal Welsh and all those regiments amalgamated into it’ And, there could be another welcome surprise for animal-loving visitors arriving in Bangor for the 29 May Military parade through the city’s streets.  On standby in his stables in Dereham, Norfolk is Cpl Emrys Forlorn Jones nicknamed ‘Longface’, the Regimental Mascot of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards, the Welsh Cavalry. Theirs is a Welsh Bay Cob pony and like Shenkin, a massive crowd-puller. ‘A request has been submitted for Emrys and his human military escort to travel to Bangor but the QDG, the Welsh Cavalry, was suddenly mobilised to Poland to bolster the European position in the border areas close to Ukraine’, said retired army Major Adrian Kent who is co-ordinating the Bangor parade.  ‘Everything remains up in the air, but I very much hope that Emrys will be released to us for the Bangor event.  Emrys and Shenkin are old friends!’ Councillor Roberts who inspired the parade and a veteran of many major military parades with The Parachute Regiment said: ‘Marching ranks and military bands with all their ceremony and precision are always a delight to watch, but so often the true show stoppers are the Regimental mascots. ‘Thankfully, Bangor has no military affiliation with the Norwegian army who have a King Penguin as a mascot or closer to home, the Yorkshire Regiment who have two Ferrets!’ After the Bangor parade, Shenkin and his Goat Major will be at the Storiel children’s play area to meet the children of Bangor but the army asks: please no food gifts or dogs off leads.  Shenkin has a very strict diet … and very sharp horns. Exclusive: ‘A lot of degrees in the UK are criticised for being theoretical,’ says Professor Parkinson of Bangor University who teaches students how to run 26.2 miles I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Tens of thousands of people have just completed the London Marathon in many cases raising money for noble causes while testing the limits of their own endurance While for many the feat feels an unattainable dream to add on to an already overly ambitious bucket list of life goals one university is aiming to turn fantasy into reality Bangor University’s “Born to Run” module teaches students the tenets of behavioural psychology and motivation through training them how to run a marathon. The class, taught by behavioural psychologist Professor John Parkinson, has been going for almost a decade and has proven both popular and challenging for participants. “Psychology can teach people about characteristics that are really required [in life],” Parkinson told The Independent. “Things like resilience, grit, mental toughness, setting challenging goals, and then making a plan – an achievable and realistic plan – to achieve those goals, and how to bounce back from setbacks and failure. “It’s about how to become resilient to overcome those challenges to ultimately achieve the goal that you've set out in life – all the learning that goes on in those challenging times. That was the genesis, that was the drive behind it.” Inspired by a university in Iowa that similarly taught students how to run a marathon, Professor Parkinson, Professor Fran Garrad-Cole and their colleagues at Bangor decided to embed the technique as part of an optional module for third year psychology students. “A lot of degrees in the UK are criticised for being just theoretical and not applied so that they don't really help students once they've graduated, gone into the real world and tried to get a job, tried to buy a house, tried to create a career and a life for themselves, where they're going to face failure,” Parkinson continued. “So, we just thought if we can make this real then it would actually give these students real-life skills that they could then apply to different aspects of their lives.” “I didn't need to be more motivated,” he said. “But it was more understanding how I dealt with feedback and being less self-critical and becoming more self-compassionate.” He adds: “I developed more of an understanding of what self-compassion was, because originally I think my understanding of self-compassion was just being easier on yourself. “I would judge myself to quite high standards but what I've discovered self-compassion to be is just doing the right thing for yourself in the moment, whatever that might be, so that's been a great thing to take forward.” With an increasingly insular world, and a generation of young people still affected by the Covid pandemic, Professor Parkinson says that the teachings of behavioural psychology are more relevant than ever. “Some Gen Zs are saying, ‘Well, I don't want to talk to people on the phone. I can't do it.’ Because of Covid, it's made people withdraw from the real world. Behavioural psychology says you've just got to get out there and do it. I think it’s actually even more important today than it's ever been.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies One UK university might have the answer","description":"Exclusive: ‘A lot of degrees in the UK are criticised for being theoretical,’ says Professor Parkinson of Bangor University The last eight game between the current NIFL Championship leaders and the Glens who are currently second in the NIFL Premiership is to be livestreamed by the BBC on Friday 28 February Glentoran nudged past current top flight leaders Linfield by two goals to one after extra time to book their place in the quarter-finals And Bangor eased past fellow Championship outfit Annagh United - it finished 3-0 - to maintain their run in this season’s competition Kick-off at Clandeboye Park in Bangor on Friday 28 February will be at 7.45pm with the game being shown live on BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport NI website The Glens have not lifted the Irish Cup since 2020 while Bangor won it for the first and only time in their history in 1993 following a marathon final which saw them eventually edge past near neighbours Ards after three matches The remaining three ties in this season’s Clearer Water Irish Cup will be played the following day (Saturday 1 March) They will feature holders Cliftonville away to north Belfast rivals Crusaders and another all-Premiership tie at Taylor’s Avenue between Carrick Rangers and Dungannon Swifts as well as Championship side Ards at home to Loughgall Image: The absorbing sixth round meeting between Glentoran and Linfield at the weekend was livestreamed by the BBC – and the Glens’ next game in the competition is also going to be livestreamed by the BBC Please click Accept and Close to accept the use of cookies on our website By continuing to browse our website you consent to the use of cookies on this website The countdown to one of the biggest events in North Wales has officially begun as Bangor Summer Festival unveils its first two headline acts for 2025 – and they’re not just good… they’re phenomenal full-day festival will welcome Fearlessly Taylor one of the UK’s most celebrated Taylor Swift tribute artists the UK’s longest-established Oasis tribute band These are arena-level acts – and Bangor’s getting them for absolutely no ticket cost FEARLESSLY TAYLOR – FOR THE SWIFTIES WHO NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE Fearlessly Taylor is bringing a spectacular arena-style tribute show to Bangor – and you’re invited to live it From “Cruel Summer” and “Style” to “You Belong With Me” and “Bejeweled” this is a full-throttle tribute to the global superstar that promises emotional highs Bangor Summer Festival is giving fans an experience many venues charge upwards of £30 a ticket for – and doing it in style Oasis are back in the headlines with their reunion tour and stadium prices to match – but in Bangor you can relive the glory days of Britpop with the band that’s been keeping the Oasis spirit alive since 1995 Oasish – est 1995 don’t just perform the songs – they embody the swagger and style of one of Britain’s biggest-ever rock bands They’re the real deal – long-time favourites on the tribute scene who’ve built a loyal following across the UK Expect every massive anthem – “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Live Forever,” “Roll With It,” and yes “Wonderwall” – all delivered with the high-energy And they’ll be closing the night with a full headline set as Bangor Summer Festival draws to an epic finale MAKE A DAY OF IT – AND BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY While the headliners bring big-stage vibes to the city the festival itself offers something for everyone: a full day of live music “We know how tough it can be for families to find a day out that doesn’t break the bank – and Bangor Summer Festival is here to change that We’re giving families and music fans of all ages the chance to make lasting memories together for free,” said Cllr Eirian Williams Roberts stay for the whole day – you won’t regret it.” The festival is also part of Bangor’s 1500th anniversary year celebrations bringing added pride and buzz to the occasion AND FOR THE SWIFTIES… SOMETHING EXTRA Fearlessly Taylor will be staying to meet fans and trade friendship bracelets – a heartfelt nod to Swiftie tradition And for those who want to get fully into the spirit a special warm-up event will take place in Bangor the week before the festival featuring a friendship bracelet-making workshop so young fans can create something extra special to give to “Taylor” in person More details on this warm-up event will be released very soon Fearlessly Taylor or Oasish – whichever fanbase you belong to (or both!) Follow Bangor Summer Festival on Facebook and Instagram for updates, sneak peeks, and more act announcements soon.  www.facebook.com/Bangor.Summer.Fest This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page ‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’) Bangor's historic Bible Gardens are undergoing a significant transformation as part of the city's 1500th anniversary celebrations Located next to Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral the Bible Garden is being reimagined in collaboration with Bangor City Council and the Cathedral then Professor of Botany at the University College of North Wales the green space was designed to feature plants and trees mentioned in the Bible Dr Whitehead's research identified 148 plants referenced in the scriptures with the garden attempting to cultivate as many of these species as possible The restoration project is based on the original design and planting scheme from the archives Substitutions of more climate-resilient species will be made where necessary Read the full news story on the Diocese of Bangor website: A special event featuring the screening of the documentary CARE – a new documentary film exploring life all filmed entirely by a team of care home staff will be held at Pontio in Bangor on Thursday 8th May at 5.30pm CARE tells the story of a residential care home as it emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic The film was created entirely by the staff at a care home in the North East It offers a glimpse into the dedication and compassion of the workers who care for some of the most vulnerable and often overlooked individuals in society As well as giving a unique and emotional insight into the lives of care home residents and workers CARE also raises important questions about how we as a society value older people and those who care for them and whether there is adequate support for those who bring such commitment and heart to residential care The film was produced by Newcastle University The release of CARE is supported by an ESRC IAA grant and Newcastle University commented: “CARE began as a response to the pandemic and out of frustration at the overwhelmingly negative representation in the media of residential care in the UK This was heightened at a time when care home staff residents and their families were at the coalface of the global crisis we wanted to bring together our backgrounds in gerontology to try and find a way to work with some of the remarkable staff and residents to help tell another side to this story “We knew as soon as the remote camera workshops started we were incredibly fortunate to have found such a brilliant and enthusiastic team to work with in the home it was clear they had a very important story to tell.” which comes five years after the start of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns aims to shine a light on not only the commitment of care staff but the realities of working in a sector that is often overlooked and underfunded The film also comes in the wake of the news of the UK Government’s planned care commission and reforms which are not due to begin until 2026 at the earliest The film screening (37min) will be followed by panel discussion and Q&A (40min). The event is free, but space is limited, so please register for your ticket multi-city impact screening tour comes to cinemas and universities this April and May kicking off in April as part of #CelebratingSocialCare Month The film and tour are call to action to improve working conditions for care staff through giving a voice to care workers to support change in care-related policy and public awareness Book Tickets Here bringing stroke prevention efforts directly to local communities Stroke, a preventable disease, is the fourth leading cause of death in Wales and the leading cause of complex disability. There are approximately 70,000 stroke survivors living in Wales, and an estimated 7,400 people experience a stroke each year, according to NHS Wales Executive Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was the first Health Board in Wales to establish a dedicated Stroke Prevention Team as part of its Improvement Plan Nicola said: “We hold public events to identify individuals with stroke risk factors that could increase their risk of stroke through blood pressure monitoring we can help address modifiable risk factors such as smoking and sedentary habits— to reduce the risk of stroke” The team focus on identifying conditions that increase stroke risk Nicola said: “Early detection and intervention are crucial as managing and modifying these risk factors can significantly reduce the likelihood of a stroke We can all help prevent the incidence of stroke through adopting a shared focus on identifying risk factors and preventing a potentially life changing event” As part of their outreach, the team will host free health stands at various locations across North Wales, offering blood pressure and pulse checks. Details of the events can be found on the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board website. Stroke Prevention Team in collaboration with Ysbyty Gwynedd Acute Stroke Nurses and the Stroke Association health stand with blood pressure and pulse checks By taking advantage of these free community events individuals can gain insights into their stroke risk and take proactive steps toward prevention Three first half goals effectively booked Bangor's place in the last four of the Clearer Water Irish Cup with victory over Glentoran at Clandeboye Park The Championship leaders moved in front with just under a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock through leading scorer Ben Arthurs after he pounced on the rebound after his initial effort had been blocked by Kodi Lyons-Foster The Seasiders doubled their advantage midway through the first half courtesy of Glens old boy Ben Cushnie Reece Neale had sent the original ball forward for Tiernan Mulvenna to lay off for Cushnie who connected with it to blast a great strike past keeper Daniel Gyollai from fully 25 yards Bangor skipper Lewis Harrison added a third when Neale's throw-in was nodded on by Arthurs into his path deliver into the bottom left corner Glentoran did pull one back on 70 minutes after Aaron Wightman got past the home defence to find Charlie Lindsay with his subsequent strike taking a deflection on it's way past Patrick Solis Grogan into the net But despite a number of close calls in the closing stages - including one superb reflex stop from the Bangor keeper - the visitors never really looked like clawing their way back into contention The quarter-final action continues on Saturday afternoon The pick of the games is the north Belfast derby between Crusaders and Cliftonville at Seaview while Ards host Loughgall and high flying Dungannon Swifts travel to take on Carrick Rangers Ards and North Down Borough Council's Labour Market Partnership (LMP) will hold a Disability Employment and Support Day in Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex on Tuesday 18 February which create targeted employment action plans for council areas are funded by the Department for Communities and allow for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work The Ards and North Down LMP initiative is designed to support employers as well as potential employees and is free to attend It will feature exhibitors who can offer programmes and support packages as well as provide advice to employers as well as those who have a disability or neurodiverse condition "This event follows on from the inaugural Disability Employment and Support Days that were held in Bangor and Comber last year The Council's Labour Market Partnership is now returning to Bangor for another Disability Employment and Support Day in February These events help to create new opportunities for more people in our Borough and address issues with jobs and training at a local level through locally focussed programmes providing further support to our local employment market." with employers encouraged to attend to find out what support packages are available when they employ someone with a disability or neurodiverse condition while all other attendees can get advice about employment options For more information, visit andbusiness.co.uk/andlmp Colwyn Bay were crowned JD Cymru North champions on the final day of the season as they triumphed 1-0 away at Penrhyncoch.  The Seagulls needed just a point to seal the title but claimed all three thanks to Dan Atkins’ strike in the 16thminute – his sixth goal in the last five matches The forward raced onto Ethan Roberts’ long ball and sent a low drive beyond Leigh Jenkins from a tight angle.  A red card for Penrhyncoch defender Rhys Jenkins in first half stoppage time hampered the hosts’ comeback hopes and a goalless second period ensured that Colwyn Bay lifted the league trophy and secured promotion back to the JD Cymru Premier at the first attempt Jamie Reed’s stunning bicycle kick earned a 1-0 win for Ruthin Town over Bangor 1876 which kept Ruthin up and relegated their opponents in dramatic fashion Ruthin started the day in the relegation zone two points behind Bangor and it was a tense afternoon at Maes Tegid with so much on the line.  But a key turning point arrived in the 61st minute when Bangor defender Jake Ellison was shown a straight red card for fouling Reed who was through on goal.  37-year-old Reed – who won the JD Cymru Premier title with Bangor City in 2011 – then produced a moment of magic in the 83rd minute as his acrobatic effort defeated Carl Jones It was enough to condemn Bangor to an eighth consecutive defeat and third tier football next season Airbus UK Broughton have battled for the title all season but must settle for a second-place finish despite a 3-2 final day win away at Caersws James Davies played a neat one-two with Danny Warren before slotting home at the near post to open the scoring for Airbus in the 18th minute then doubled the lead four minutes later with a dipping volley over Max Williams.  Warren made sure he claimed the division’s golden boot by heading home from Kaiden Cooke’s goal in the 34th minute for his 24th league goal of the campaign.  Caersws reduced the deficit through Rhys Hesden’s finish in first half stoppage time while Harry Cottam headed in late on to set up a nervy ending but Airbus held on to finish the season with a fifth consecutive away win.  Alfie Vaughan scored a stoppage-time equaliser to salvage a point for Denbigh Town in an entertaining 3-3 draw against Gresford Athletic at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.  Haci Ozlu met Charlie Mann’s cross to the back post with a header to give Gresford the lead in the 28thminute before Mann made it two by tapping home from close range early in the second half two goals in as many minutes for Denbigh levelled the scoreline by the hour mark Nathan Brown halved the deficit with a simple finish from close range before half-time substitute Owen Davies fired home into the bottom corner.  A curling finish from Ozlu saw Gresford edge back in front in the 68th minute before Denbigh won a penalty with four minutes left on the clock but Brown saw his spot-kick saved by Lewis Dutton All hope was not lost for the Reds though as Vaughan fired home in the box in the 92nd minute to ensure a share of the spoils.  Dropped points for Denbigh meant that Mold Alexandra leapfrogged them to secure a top half spot with a 3-1 home win over Buckley Town.  Mold scored twice in the final seven minutes of the first half to lead at the break with Craig Rogers scoring a superb free-kick before Owen Cordiner produced a composed finish past Ryan Goldston. Cordiner then turned provider for Fabrizio Murtas to make it 3-0 six minutes into the second half Nick Grogan’s sweetly struck free-kick gave Buckley a glimmer of hope just after the hour mark but there was to be no comeback from Asa Hamilton’s side.  The Bucks’ defeat allowed Llandudno to climb above them into fourth place with a 3-2 comeback victory over relegated Prestatyn Town at the Go Goodwins Stadium.  The contest was level at the break as Rob Parry’s opener for Prestatyn was cancelled out by a brilliant free-kick from Mark Cadwallader. Harvey Bennett gave Llandudno the lead early in the second half but Parry netted his second of the afternoon to bring Prestatyn on terms in the 77th minute Gareth Thomas’ side were searching for just their second point away from home all season but were beaten in the 87th minute as Callum Stephens popped up with a winner for Llandudno.  Alfie Banning was then sent off for the hosts for a second bookable offence but Jordan Hadaway’s side were able to hold on to claim all three points.  Flint Mountain ensured a top half finish in their first season in the JD Cymru North as they held third-place Holywell Town to a 1-1 draw at the Essity Stadium.  Jamie Breese rounded Mountain goalkeeper John Danby to slot Holywell ahead in the 33rd minute but the hosts responded immediately as Jack Parry made no mistake by converting the rebound after Ben Lawrence’s audacious effort which initially hit the crossbar.  Last season’s champions Holywell have now gone winless in four league matches for the first time since 2021.  Guilsfield achieved a top half finish for the fourth consecutive JD Cymru North season as Jamie Hyne’s quickfire double earned a 2-1 win away to bottom-of-the-table Llay Welfare Welfare top scorer Jonathan Collo put his side ahead four minutes into the second half but two goals in as many minutes from Hyne shortly after the hour completed the comeback for the Guils who finish the campaign with five consecutive victories.  Caersws 2-3 Airbus UK BroughtonFlint Mountain 1-1 Holywell TownGresford Athletic 3-3 Denbigh TownLlandudno 3-2 Prestatyn TownLlay Miners Welfare 1-2 GuilsfieldMold Alexandra 3-1 Buckley TownPenrhyncoch 0-1 Colwyn BayRuthin Town 1-0 Bangor 1876 JD Cymru Premier European Play-Off semi-final confirmed JD Cymru Leagues April Player and Manager of the Month shortlist JD Cymru Premier round-up | Caernarfon Town and Cardiff Met secure play-off semi-final spots Airbus win Welsh Blood Service League Cup with thrilling win over Trefelin The New Saints crowned JD Cymru Premier champions JD Cymru Premier format confirmed for 2026/27 Close ModalLearn more from FA WalesSign up to receive all things FAW We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data – view our privacy policy by clicking here © 2025 The Football Association of Wales * We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data – view our privacy policy by clicking here A Brutalist building once declared ‘Eyesore of the Year’ in Bangor The Brambell Laboratory at Bangor University has been Grade II-listed while the Grade I listing for the university’s 1911 Main Arts Building has been expanded to include its New Arts wing Completed in 1971, the Brambell Laboratory was dubbed ‘Eyesore of the Year’ by a local newspaper in 1970, according to The Twentieth Century Society (C20) The still-operational building in Deiniol Road was designed in the 1960s for Bangor University’s Zoology department by Welsh architecture practice Sir Percy Thomas and Son It formed part of a wider masterplan for Bangor University during a period of rapid expansion in higher education provision across the UK Sir Percy Thomas and Son’s masterplan for Bangor involved rebuilding the university’s science campus in modern orthogonal blocks between five and 10 storeys tall C20 describe the Brambell Laboratory building as possessing a ‘Brutalist sensibility […] based on a clear expression of structure and materials to create a memorable hugged by a colonnade of bush-hammered concrete columns beneath an ‘inverted ziggurat’ of upper levels The building was named after Francis WR Brambell Bangor University’s head of zoology from 1930 until his death in the 1960s whose scientific research and discoveries focused on how immunity is passed from mothers to their young as embryos Although Brambell was heavily involved in the design of the building he died during its construction and a decision was subsequently made to name the building after him It continues to be used by the university for zoology and biology teaching and research and has been the home of Northwest Cancer Research’s Bangor Institute since 2004 It was a 1960s addition to the university’s previously listed designed by Henry Hare in the Collegiate Tudor style with Arts and Crafts influences The two freshly listed Bangor buildings become the first two post-war buildings to be listed in 2025 across England and Wales The campus buildings of Welsh Universities are heavily reflective of the enormous expansion in tertiary education in the post-war decades with the practice of Sir Percy Thomas & Son (creators of masterplans for Cardiff and Bangor) hugely influential in shaping the Modernist and Brutalist complexes that developed Cadw’s valuable work in undertaking the first systematic assessment of these campuses is very welcome; the listing of the Brambell Building indicative of the practice’s ‘space-age’ concept for Bangor and the specific inclusion of the New Arts Wing to set it on a parr with the 1907 ‘late Renaissance’ design by Hare is an important step in promoting understanding and appreciation of perhaps the least appreciated of Thomas’s university work Tags Tokyo-based architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA chatted to the… Skyscraper expert SimpsonHaugh has submitted plans for a 50-storey and a 25-storey… MVRDV and Mecanoo are among five finalists vying to design… Squire & Partners has finally won planning Visitation announced after leaked letters suggest concerns ‘not progressed’ “VERY serious and urgent” safeguarding concerns at Bangor Cathedral have prompted the Archbishop of Wales but has come to wider attention only in the past week after letters sent by the Archbishop were leaked to the press states: “I am writing to you about safeguarding issues which have been brought to my attention in our Cathedral I believe these matters to be very serious and urgent designed to help and keep our churches safe have not been followed as they should have been It is possible that concerns which ought to have been raised or referred to the Provincial Safeguarding Team (PST) have not been progressed nor disclosed.” Recipients of the letter are encouraged to refer any incident of concern to this team refers to a meeting between the Archbishop and the Archdeacon of Bangor who had been chairing Chapter meetings in the absence of a dean It goes on to say that the Chapter must countersign a serious-incident referral to the Charity Commission made by the PST and that the Archbishop had invited “senior figures both from within the province and outside it” Terms of reference for the visitation appended to the letter refer to areas of concern including safeguarding and “the integrity of professional and personal boundaries between colleagues” a former Dean and Archdeacon of St Asaph; the Ven a former Archdeacon of Margam and former Acting Dean of Llandaff; Canon Trish Owens an associate priest in the diocese of St Asaph; and the charity Thirtyone:eight It was due to take place in the week beginning 11 November 2024 and a report was due to be sent to the Archbishop on 2 December This week, a Church in Wales spokesperson confirmed that a serious incident had been referred to the Charity Commission reported by the Welsh news service Nation.Cymru Neither process had been completed by 2 December The summaries were “still being worked on” Asked about the nature of the safeguarding issues and the current status of any investigation the spokesperson said that it was “hugely important that those engaged in the Visitation process are able to take part in conditions of confidentiality” and was serving a curacy as an NSM in the Llandudno Ministry Area in the archdeaconry of the Rt Revd Mary Stallard He remained in post as diocesan secretary of Bangor a statement on the diocese of Bangor’s website said: “Canon Siôn Rhys Evans is leaving his roles as Diocesan Secretary and Sub-Dean.” Asked for further information about the departure the diocesan spokesperson said: “The Revd Siôn Rhys Evans was away from work from February 2024.” He was listed as the chair of trustees at the cathedral in its annual report and as the company secretary in the annual report of the Bangor diocesan board of finance The Church Times understands that the safeguarding issues that prompted the visitation do not relate to the conduct of Canon Rhys-Evans Sources who spoke to the Church Times this week raised concerns about Canon Rhys-Evans’s holding the two posts the positions of Dean and Archdeacon are in the gift of the diocesan bishop Archbishop John has been Bishop of Bangor since 2008 The constitution states that no person shall be appointed Dean unless he or she has been at least six years in priest’s orders the diocesan spokesperson confirmed that a former Archdeacon of Meirionnydd in the diocese had resigned in 2023 after ten years in post He had also resigned as a Canon of Bangor Cathedral The spokesman declined to provide a reason for the resignation USPG is looking to appoint 3 Trustees (lay or ordained) committed to global mission within the Anglican Communion The Diocese of Gloucester is looking for a practical team member to join the Department of Mission and Ministry who brings a creative and flexible approach as we seek to develop and implement innovative approaches to collaborative ministry across the Diocese The Bishop of Lincoln seeks an ordained colleague to lead in vocational discernment within the Diocese The Diocese of London is delighted to welcome applications for the position of Area Director of Ministry (Willesden) and Diocesan Clergy Wellbeing Adviser Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has marked the start of construction on the new £5.6m Newtownards to Bangor Greenway This project is funded by the Department for Infrastructure in conjunction with the Department for Transport (DfT) through the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) and Ards and North Down Borough Council The 5.4km long greenway utilises much of the old railway track and will run between Floodgates It includes up to four-metre-wide paths for walking and cycling with accompanying railings Attending the commencement of construction Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said: "I am delighted that my Department could contribute £2.8m to deliver this greenway project between Bangor and Newtownards and it is great to be here today to see work on the ground underway "Active travel is a key element in addressing climate change and creating cleaner and greener spaces that are open to everyone By investing in greenways and other high quality active travel infrastructure we are giving people more options to think about how they travel and helping them embrace healthier lifestyles "This greenway will benefit both the local community and visitors to the area and will complement plans for further development opportunities in Ards and North Down including opportunities that will arise through my Department's Active Travel Delivery Plan Once completed this greenway will provide a safe alternative route for those who choose to leave the car at home and use it to travel to work or to study to visit family and friends or simply just for leisure "By making small changes such as choosing to walk wheel or cycle we can all make a big difference in beating congestion and improving our physical and mental wellbeing "This project is a fine example of the value of Government bodies working together to deliver for local communities." The scheme will utilise the former railway track and will be completed in two stages Stage one has now commenced between Belvedere Road Stage 2 will be between Whitespots and Green Road mostly following the former railway line in a north easterly direction towards Green Road Bangor where it will link with the existing shared path along Green Road Minister Kimmins was joined by other funders Ards and North Down's Mayor Councillor Alastair Cathcart and representatives from UK Government Mayor Cathcart said: "It is fantastic to see work progressing 'on the ground' on this new greenway The 5.4km route will help to better connect the town of Newtownards with the city of Bangor by providing a new safe path for those who want to walk We expect it to be popular with leisure users including those wanting to undertake exercise or to access Whitespots Country Park/Ark Farm as well as those who are commuting to work or a place of study such as the South East Regional College campus in Ards We are immensely grateful to our funders for their financial and technical support and to our contractors Charles Brand for their enthusiastic and innovative approach to delivering this exciting green infrastructure project."  DfT Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said: "I'm pleased to see construction begin on this greenway which will make walking and cycling between Newtownards and Bangor easier and more accessible than ever before."We know investment in active travel helps people live happier and healthier lives This is why we are funding Ards and North Down Borough Council £3.2m through the Levelling up Fund - £2.3m of which is going to support this important project."   The project is expected to take around 12 months to complete.  The fall in the number of international students has led Bangor University to place about 200 jobs at risk of redundancy its vice-chancellor has told staff in an email Additional factors behind the layoffs were a rise in costs including the government’s employers’ national insurance rises who added that “unprecedented” changes were needed also announced on Wednesday it planned to cut 90 jobs Universities across the UK are enduring a financial crisis for the same reasons cited by Bangor including two members of the research-intensive Russell Group of universities set out a combined 1,000 job losses in response to budget shortfalls University fees reach record high of £9,535 Sharp drop in students joining nursing courses University workers threaten strike action over job losses CBI wants science and engineering tuition fees cut to avoid skills shortages Cardiff University is planning to cut 400 jobs mostly among staff running nursing and humanities courses Bangor University has about 10,000 students and about 650 academic staff members though the voluntary redundancy scheme will be offered to non-academic staff too The vice-chancellor said the university aimed to extend the voluntary redundancy scheme but compulsory redundancies may also be needed “These sector-level challenges are very significant for us,” Prof Burke said our student intakes were smaller than in 2023 Our home undergraduate intake was 7% smaller and “Our international intake was also smaller with our September international postgraduate intake around half the size of the 2023 intake.” He added in his email to staff that although universities were able to increase fees for incoming students to £9,535 from 2025-26 onwards “there is no agreement for future inflation adjustment to the amount of money we receive per student” He wrote: “UK universities have been increasingly reliant on international income to make up for the shortfall from home fees not increasing by inflation.” The downturn in international students was caused by visa restrictions announced by the previous government in late 2023 and not reversed under Keir Starmer’s administration Bangor staff were invited to a meeting with university bosses on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the proposed changes and had a chance to voice concerns Prof Burke added: “Some high-tariff universities appear to have responded to the fall in international student intakes by reducing their entry grades and taking more home students This has reduced the size of the pool of students coming to other universities.” the vice-chancellor said the university had already moved staff out of some buildings and these were to be sold has written to 1,800 academic staff at risk of being part of the 400 job losses previously announced The university hopes to achieve as much of the cuts as possible through voluntary redundancies On Tuesday the minister responsible for higher education in Wales asked universities to “consider all options” Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday That's all from us this evening as Championship side Bangor knock out second in the Premiership Glentoran to book their place in the Irish Cup semi-finals You can read the report from the match here Thanks for joining us tonight and join us tomorrow for Sportssound live text coverage and in-play clips from the other semi-finals 180Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:48 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:48 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran A night that will go down in Bangor's history books 201Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIMEpublished at 21:35 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:35 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran Bangor advance to the semi-finals of the Irish Cup What a performance from the Championship side who will find out their opponents tomorrow evening 709Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:34 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:34 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran Bangor have possession and are keeping the ball near the corner flag 264Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:33 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:33 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran We're into four minutes of additional time 129Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCLOSE!published at 21:32 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:32 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran Danny Amos' corner causes a scramble in the box with Patrick Solis Grogan making a superb save to deny David Fisher's header from point-blank range Another Glentoran goal would have made for a tense last few minutes 184Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:29 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:29 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran Glentoran have a corner after Jack O'Mahony heads the ball out of play 97Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingSUBSTITUTIONpublished at 21:26 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:26 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran Ben Arthurs evening is over as he is replaced by Matthew Ferguson 82Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:25 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:25 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran Glentoran are trying to push forward but so are Bangor This has been a superb Irish Cup game for the neutrals 133Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingYELLOW CARDpublished at 21:24 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:24 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran 51Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:23 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:23 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran Give this post a thumbs up if you think so 3427Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWatch: Deflected Lindsay goal throws Glens potential lifelinepublished at 21:22 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:22 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran Watch the Glens pull a goal back through Charlie Lindsay's deflected goal in the 70th minute at Clandeboye Park Watch: Charlie Lindsay scores for Glentoran to make it 3-1 613Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingYELLOW CARDpublished at 21:21 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:21 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran Jordan Jenkins is cautioned for shoving stopper Patrick Solis Grogan 55Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCLOSE!published at 21:19 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:19 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran Substitute Jack O'Mahony bursts forward and plays Tiarnan Mulvenna through on goal but he can't keep his effort on target I'm sure the Glentoran fans are breathing a sigh of relief as that was a huge chance for the home side 46Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingYELLOW CARDpublished at 21:15 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:15 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran The bookings are levelled as Kodi Lyons-Foster is cautioned 37Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 21:14 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:14 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-1 Glentoran That is the first goal that Patrick Solis Grogan has conceded since joining the Seasiders on loan from Dungannon He had registered five clean sheets before this evening 80Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGOAL- Bangor 3-1 Glentoranpublished at 21:11 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:11 GMT 28 FebruaryCharlie Lindsay (70 mins) Aaron Wightman skips around multiple Bangor players and finds Charlie Lindsay whose strike takes a deflection off Caomhan McGuinness on its route into the back of the net 2244Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingSUBSTITUTIONSpublished at 21:10 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:10 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-0 Glentoran A change apiece with Charlie Lindsay on for Christie Pattison and Reece Neale making way for Tom Mathieson That was the Glens final change of the game 90Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCLOSE!published at 21:10 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:10 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-0 Glentoran Patrick Solis Grogan dives to his left to palm away Finley Thorndike's effort from range 60Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingSUBSTITUTIONpublished at 21:05 Greenwich Mean Time 28 February21:05 GMT 28 FebruaryBangor 3-0 Glentoran Lee Feeney makes his first switch of the evening with Ben Cushnie making way for Jack O'Mahony This means that Bangor are now playing with a back five 121Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingprevious pagePage 1 of 3123next pageTo watch and listen you need to enable JavaScript in your browser Watch: Bangor v Glentoran - Irish Cup quarter-final VideoWatch: Bangor v Glentoran - Irish Cup quarter-final Former Clondalkin CEO John FitzGerald has teamed up with Cordovan Capital to acquire Mayr Melnhof’s paper sack business in Bangor The company has been producing multiwall paper sacks for bulk produces such as animal feed FitzGerald has spent more than 30 years working in the packaging industry with two decades at Clondalkin where he rose to head up the group’s specialist packaging and then flexible packaging businesses In recent years he has been chairman and executive chairman at a range of other business working with a number of private equity firms The County Down sack maker and printer was owned by Essentra before the Mayr Melnhof takeover of Essentra Packaging just over three years ago “This is the first transaction that I’ve worked with Cordovan on and also their first transaction in the print and packaging space,” FitzGerald told Printweek “I heard that Mayr Melnhof was potentially looking to divest it and as a result put together a deal with Cordovan to buy it and we see a lot of opportunity in brand owners seeking out improvements on packaging sustainability – the whole green circular economy with paper as the raw material with FitzGerald holding a “significant minority” in the acquired business MM Bangor has sales of around £15m and employs 37 It runs 24/5 with flexo printing in up to six-colours tubing and bottoming lines to create the sacks It is the only paper sack producer on the island of Ireland and thanks to its location can serve customers in the UK “It’s been well-invested in the past 12 months and has state-of-the-art automation and handling equipment,” FitzGerald added He said there was potential to grow the sacks operation organically but he also had ambitions to acquire more businesses “I hope I’ve got a good reputation in the market I’ve done buy and build before with the Boxes Group back in the day But hopefully we can replicate that kind of model.” FitzGerald noted that he wanted to capitalise on being agile “I’m a big believer in protecting the identities of local companies so we would not be following the centralised model where decision making is removed and they become cost centres in a group “The people that make it happen are the local people,” he added commented: “We are thrilled to partner with John Fitzgerald as well as all the team at Bangor under the leadership of Declan McGrady “This acquisition aligns perfectly with our mission to invest in businesses that drive positive environmental impact and strengthen the company’s position as a leader in sustainable packaging.”   The business will be rebranded with a new name to be decided in the coming weeks Printweek welcomes informed debate, but please read our House Rules before posting Printweek is the premier website for the print industry Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced significant funding for three iconic art installations in Bangor.  They are being designed by renowned artist and Bangor resident Colin Davidson to showcase the 'new' city centre in the context of the substantial investment being delivered through the complimentary developments of Queen's Parade (by Bangor Marine Ltd) and the Council's Bangor Waterfront City Deal project Quality public art acts as a focal point for residents and an attraction for visitors and has made an extremely valuable contribution to regeneration in towns and cities across the world Following confirmation of funding from the Department for Communities and in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 Colin Davidson has now been formally commissioned.  Production and casting of the pieces will take just over a year.  It is anticipated that the three artworks will be assembled and installed by Summer 2025.   Work is being undertaken to confirm the final locations and work up the drawings/details required for planning - these will then be submitted to planning.  This is an extremely exciting project for Bangor.  We look forward over the coming months to sharing updates from the artist on the progress of his work.  For more information on the project please see the FAQs below or read the Ministerial press release announcing the funding Minister supports iconic art installations in Bangor.     Hand Shadows is a proposal for a major art installation in Bangor that will support the city's short and long-term regeneration plans The most significant of the proposed sculptures will be situated in Marine Gardens complimentary sculptures located near Pickie Fun Park and the Long Hole - along the 2-mile stretch of Bangor Waterfront that is being redeveloped by the Council as part of the Belfast Region City Deal.  public art is a key driver for economic development and creative industry competitiveness.  'The Rise', Westlink, Belfast  contemporary visual artist living and working in the Bangor area is the artist who has designed Hand Shadows which includes grand-scale portraits (German Chancellor and HM Queen Elizabeth II) and 3D installations (a large bronze bust of Senator George Mitchell at Queen's University) has won widespread recognition and many international awards Alongside his outstanding talent and experience in delivering large-scale portraits, 3D art and bronze pieces, Colin has a personal connection to Bangor having lived and worked here for many years. He has a passion for regeneration across the city and wider Borough and was a supporter of Bangor's bid for city status in 2021. Find out more here Portrait Paintings - Colin Davidson The ultimate vision of Hand Shadows is to create a "trail" of art pieces that work both on an individual level attracting locals and visitors to explore the city's coastline and engage with Bangor and patented in a dark grey/green to fit into their coastal environment each art piece will include a QR code linking the audience to local information and stories enabling them to interact with the Borough's unique history and heritage inviting people of all ages to interact with the art and cast their own shadows - creating their own stories The main piece will be an impressive 6m tall set of hands The two hands will cast the shadow of a dove linking to the unique history of St Columbanus who left Bangor in c590 and took his message of hope across Europe The piece will also represent the excitement in the city providing a central focal area for the major regeneration schemes planned over the next five to ten years two smaller pieces will also be progressed They are also to be made from bronze and will stand 2.4m tall One will be located close to Pickie Fun Park and depict hands reflecting the image of a Swan will be placed around the Long Hole (Seacliff Road) the Council formally commissioned the artist in March 2024.  It is expected the production and casting of the pieces will take just over a year with assembly and installation completed by Summer 2025.  assembly and installation of the three sculptures is £1.2M.    The Council will own the art pieces and be responsible for any ongoing maintenance.  Council is contributing £221k to the art project.  This money is coming from the Council's capital reserves fund (underspends from various service budgets in previous years).  As such there is no additional cost to the ratepayers from this project.   This art-led regeneration project offers the potential to: The main sculpture will be situated in the Marine Gardens area which is due to be redeveloped as part of the Queen's Parade project has given a start date of Summer 2024 for work at the Marine Garden's site which will include significant landscaping events space and a play park.  It will also contain a number of units that can be used for commercial activity.  It is estimated that this work will take 12 months to complete which will dovetail with the installation of the art piece in late Summer 2025.    The Swan art piece will be located close to Pickie Fun Park and the Crab will be placed around the Long Hole or on the Eisenhower Pier is to be finalised.  These locations are part of the Council's Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment.  This is a 10-year project and work 'on the ground' will not have started by the time these smaller art pieces are installed however the project plan takes cognisance of them and any nearby public realm works will be sympathetic.    The Queen's Parade area of Bangor waterfront will be developed by Bangor Marine Ltd Full details on the redevelopment can be found at www.queensparadebangor.com the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment programme is one of several exciting tourism-led regeneration schemes that were eligible to receive funding from the Belfast Region City Deal   Ards and North Down Borough Council was awarded £40M for the 10-year Redevelopment via a bespoke package of funding from the Department of Communities with £20M secured from Council and an additional investment of £12.8M being sought from private investment.  The vision is to seamlessly connect the waterfront to the rest of the city and provide a unique range of opportunities for residents and visitors to have their lives and businesses enriched by a mix of public spaces attractions and experiences that speak of local stories to a global audience The Redevelopment will regenerate a 2-mile stretch of the waterfront from Skippingstone in the west to Bank's Lane in the east More information can be found here Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment The Official website of Glentoran Football Club / Pride of East Belfast  Glentoran has announced ticketing details for the Clearer Water Irish Cup Quarter Final clash against Bangor on Friday 28th February 2025 at Clandeboye Park (Kick Off: 7:45pm) Here’s all the essential ticketing information you need to secure your ticket for this highly anticipated cup fixture Season Ticket Holders will have exclusive priority to purchase a match ticket for the Irish Cup Quarter Final clash starting at 10am on Monday 17th February and running until midnight on the same day To secure your ticket visit https://www.glentoran.com/tickets Provide your valid email address and enter your 13-digit barcode from your Season Ticket to complete the process *Due to limited numbers the Child Tickets (£4) will be sold on a first-come Tickets will go on general sale from 10am on Tuesday 18th February at https://www.glentoran.com/tickets For any ticket-related enquiries, please contact us via email at commercial@glentoran.com or admin@glentoran.com Site funded by the Glentoran 'Our Club, Our Community' programme and developed by Avec Solutions Ards and North Down Borough Council hosted an event at Bangor Castle on Tuesday 25 March to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Ards Peninsula First Responders The event was attended by the Minister of Health and was officiated by the Mayor of Ards and North Down The Ards Peninsula First Responders was set up in February 2015 to provide first aid and emergency life support to people across the peninsula It is a registered charity that operates without financial support from government entities and is reliant upon the commitment of dedicated volunteers "The 10-year anniversary gave us the opportunity to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the Ards Peninsula First Responders volunteers These dedicated individuals have become a vital link in the chain of emergency care providing fast and effective life-saving skills to neighbours and families until an ambulance can reach them Their selflessness and dedication have made our community safer and stronger so we must continue to support and champion their efforts to ensure that they remain a beacon of hope for many years to come." "Reaching the 10-year milestone of the Ards Peninsula First Responders shows that they have not only acted as volunteers but as advocates and activists to encourage others to join the scheme Their work to train new recruits to enable them to go from strength to strength with the aim of improving outcomes for those in health distress must be commended "Community First Responder schemes such as this really do represent the best of community and the best of humanity Selflessly giving up your own time and energy to help those most in need especially in our rural and hard to reach areas Ards Peninsula First Responders cover approximately 84 square miles of the BT22 area and have been tasked with around 4,000 calls since their launch and a community united in the face of adversity They respond to the most critical emergencies all moments of crisis that can change lives forever they have also empowered thousands of individuals in the community with the skills to act decisively during a crisis They have instilled a sense of confidence that is essential in moments of panic Their dedication and service were recognised with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2021 This prestigious honour was testament to their hard work and is a reflection of our community's belief in the importance of being prepared and responsive For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ArdsPeninsulaFirstResponders Photo caption: Ards Peninsula First Responders (APFR) were hosted at Bangor Castle to celebrate their 10th anniversary APFR volunteers are pictured with Minister of Health and Michael Allen (Northern Ireland Ambulance Se Rumours of a suspected fatality on a Bangor beach have been corrected by police who confirm no such thing happened It follows online footage of groups of youngsters gathering at Ballyholme beach to watch or take part in a large fight around eight o'clock last night There was also speculation that weapons had been used The PSNI has issued a statement confirming the rumours are not true.  A spokesperson said: "We’re continuing to investigate last night’s report of a large altercation at Ballyholme Beach We also understand there’s footage of what happened circulating online "In order to assist us with the ongoing investigation – we’re asking anyone in possession of the footage "You can do this by calling 101 and quoting reference number 1806 11/04/25 you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/__;!!F0Stn7g!AoIJvg1bK24ojE6JzZCpx04hFIzRt57YxcfdCnLW_EEUl1op-dNyfJkIQAkAYSFDemTfZXokWDcwl1AQ6OaPpYeNYw$> You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://crimestoppers-uk.org/__;!!F0Stn7g!AoIJvg1bK24ojE6JzZCpx04hFIzRt57YxcfdCnLW_EEUl1op-dNyfJkIQAkAYSFDemTfZXokWDcwl1AQ6ObsP9ldEA$>  The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response 1 MAY 2025BookmarkGeneral view of runners and supporters of the 2024 Moy Park Belfast City Marathon in Belfast city centre (Image: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye)The countdown to the Moy Park Belfast City Marathon 2025 thousands will take to the streets of Belfast to complete the 26.2 mile race you may be wondering how you are going to arrange your travel to or around the city on race day Read more: Belfast City Marathon 2025 LIVE tracker: Official results from this year's race - as it happens Read more: Full list of road closures for Belfast City Marathon 2025 All transport for the marathon is free for spectators and participants - excluding rail services Here is what you need to know about transport and travel ahead of the Belfast City Marathon 2025: Getting to the start line - a shuttle bus will be available from Belfast City Hall (outside SS Moore’s) 07:00am – 8:00am and Lanyon Place Train Station 7:30am – 8:00am to the Start Line Spectator Transport from Stormont - a shuttle bus will pick spectators from Massey Avenue to Ormeau Park after the start of the race at Stormont A shuttle bus service will run 8:00am – 10:00am from Annadale Embankment at Dunnes Stores to drop runners off at their designated relay changeover point: Getting back to Belfast City Centre - a shuttle bus will transport participants from Ormeau Embankment to Belfast City Centre This service will run from 11:45am – 4:00pm Getting back to Stormont – a complimentary Glider service is available from SS Moore’s Chichester Street or Wellington Street to Stormont Please note that Stormont car parks will close from 5:00pm To help people going to the Belfast City Marathon on Sunday 4 May 2025 there will be early morning trains from Derry~Londonderry These additional services cannot be booked in advance and standard fares will apply Parking will be available at the start line within the Stormont Complex for FREE Please note the Upper Newtownards Road from the Stormont Entrance will close from around 8.00am to facilitate traffic management solutions for the start of the event Access will be from the Dundonald side ONLY Parking around Ormeau Park/Finish Area/City Centre – parking will be available in Belfast City Council Car Park To source other suitable parking please follow this link https://visitbelfast.com/plan/car-parking-in-belfast/ Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Four green spaces in Bangor are set to be transformed as part of the city’s 1500th anniversary celebrations. The Bible Gardens, located in the heart of the city, will undergo a significant makeover thanks to the efforts of Bangor City Council, in collaboration with the Cathedral. Preparatory work for this major facelift of these iconic and popular town gardens has already begun. The tranquil space, situated adjacent to the Cathedral, was established in 1961 by Dr. Tatham Whitehead, who was then a Professor of Botany at the University College of North Wales. The garden was designed to feature plants and trees mentioned in the Bible. Dr. Whitehead's extensive research identified 148 individual plants referenced in the scriptures, and he sought to cultivate as many of these as possible within the garden. In January 2025, Bangor University started improvement works on Parc y Coleg (College Park). The project includes the creation of a new entrance off Deiniol Road, the construction of a pathway connecting the city centre with the Main Arts building and Pontio, and the installation of lighting to improve accessibility after dusk. Initial efforts involved thinning out wooded areas and addressing invasive species to enhance visibility and promote the growth of native flora. Deputy Vice Chancellor Andrew Edwards said: “Parc y Coleg is a vital green space, naturally linking Bangor University and the city. Its transformation aims to enhance regeneration, creating a vibrant and welcoming place for everyone to enjoy while strengthening our connection with the community.” The vision for Parc y Coleg is to improve accessibility, transforming it into a place of education and enjoyment. The land adjacent to Sackville Road and Deiniol Road, near the Asda roundabout, has been donated to the council by a local businessman. The council plans to transform the area into a community space, including a quiet area in the middle of Bangor. The renovation is expected to take place over the next few months and aims to create a calming, green environment for both pedestrians and passing vehicles. And finally land between Farrar Road and Asda is being donated to the city and will shortly be renovated to create a pleasant community space in a busy area of the city. Bangor City Director Dr. Martin Hanks said: “These improvements reflect our commitment to transforming Bangor and will lead to lasting changes in the city, making it a more pleasant place to live and work well beyond 2025.” and highly targeted distribution networks offers our clients a proven strategically connected one-stop-shop solution for all regions and business sectors in Wales and beyond A 34-year-old Oregon man was arrested in Bangor on Wednesday after allegedly assaulting a police officer during an altercation at a Main Street business Bangor Police say that on the morning of Wednesday they responded to a report of a person refusing to leave the property of an unnamed business on Main Street he allegedly slammed one officer’s head into the pavement The injured officer was treated at a local hospital where he faces charges of assault on an officer (a Class C felony) who police say is on probation for prior convictions in Oregon It remains unclear whether he will be extradited to Oregon Edward Tomic is a reporter for The Maine Wire based in Southern Maine Massachusetts and is a graduate of Boston University He can be reached at tomic@themainewire.com I’m just getting over the symptoms of a concussion I got in early March The officer is going to need a long time of solid rest to recover One of the x-antifa members has found thier way to Maine show us the officer who got injured in the line of duty just want to be able to judge if they are a dei hire… the cops i grew up fearing would have handle him like a rag doll… he will be out soon enouh have no doubt… the real question is did the police violate his rights to begin with by asking him to leave public property? is this all a snowball effect from thier illegal policing practices Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.