Latest news with #Bangor
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- Business
- BBC News
There won't be any teachers left in Wales without investment, UCAC says
There will not be any teachers left without more investment, a union has warned, as increasing numbers of people quit the general secretary Ioan Rhys Jones said the "enormous workload" facing teachers must be tackled if Wales wanted to see more people going into teaching. Some of UCAC's members have reported having to work during their lunch breaks, with others working until 22:00, said Mr Welsh government said it was providing an extra £262.5m to the education sector, adding this was "in addition to the increased funding to local authorities to support public services, including schools". "Saying that teachers have 13 weeks of holidays a year, and that they only work from nine to half three, doesn't give you the whole picture," said Mr Jones. "They have meetings, in some schools we're talking about two to three extra hours per week, and on top of all that, when do teachers get the time to plan and mark work? That can't be done between nine and half three."Lowri Mai Jones, from Llandygai, near Bangor, Gwynedd, gave up teaching to start her own nail studio. She said leaving the classroom was "a very big step" at the time."From my experience, I would stay in the school until about half five, then I would come home, make dinner, sort the children and then go back to do more work," adding there was still work to do in the holidays. "It's a job that brought me great satisfaction, but with raising a family it didn't fit in with my personal life," she added. She said her mind was clearer now she did not have the "demands" that come with teaching. Last month, the Education Workforce Council warned the Senedd's education committee that Wales was only training about a third of the secondary school teachers it needed. In a statement, the Welsh government acknowledged schools were struggling with recruitment and retention of staff. It added: "We are making significant progress in tackling staff workload, and have generous financial incentives to attract new teachers in priority subjects.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Scott Mills reveals Prince William and Kate Middleton made secret trip to Radio 1's Big Weekend festival: 'We had no idea'
Scott Mills has revealed Prince William and Kate Middleton made a secret trip to Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2010. The Prince and Princess of Wales turned up for the festival which was held in Bangor, North Wales that year to watch the likes of Rihanna, Paramore and Kesha perform. Speaking to Heat magazine, Scott said: 'I remeber them turning up to Radio 1's Big Weekend years ago in Bagor, North Wales. The bosses knew, but the rest of us had no idea for obvious security reasons. 'It was kept quiet, but they were watching Rihanna at the side of the stage. I like it that they got involved.' Scott has interviewed William and Kate in the past with the couple making an appearance on his Radio 1 show in 2017 tp speak about mental health. The presenter also revealed William was an avid Radio 1 listener at the time although he has since made the switch to Radio 2. 'He used to text in all the time - obviously not going, "Love HRH" - but he would text in and chip in with the conversation via Radio 1's normal contact number,' Scott said. It comes after Scott recently revealed he's finally 'financially secure' feels like he's 'made it' after landing Zoe Ball 's gig on BBC Radio 2. The DJ, 51, took over hosting the highly esteemed breakfast show on from Zoe, 54, in January. Speaking about his career, Scott told The Telegraph how he's finally learned to say 'no' to work after years of missing sleep for various gigs. He said: 'I still feel insecurity a little bit. 'I also think that's because I work in an industry where you don't signup thinking this is a job for life. Contracts can end, radio stations get taken over, and then they decide "we don't have a lot for you". That's happened to a lot of people I know. 'Through my 20s, 30s and even 40s, if I was offered work, I'd take it, sometimes at a risk to my health. 'I was working way too much, because my mindset was that you don't know when it might end.' Scott continued: 'There was one freshers' week where my schedule for playing in student unions was: Monday: Aberdeen, Tuesday: Glasgow, Wednesday: Edinburgh. 'I would do my show in London, fly to Scotland, do the gig around midnight, stay over with four hours sleep, fly back, do the show in London, repeat. 'I took every opportunity for 20 years and actually, I don't really want to any more. I enjoyed it, but life is different now.' After a career spanning three decades, Scott now finally believes he's 'made it', following his promotion by BBC bosses in January. He said: 'For the first time, I really do believe in myself. 'It's like, "you have to look at the facts. They've put you on the breakfast show, you must be doing something right".' Scott was previously reported to be taking a small pay rise for presenting the show, earning approximately £450,000 a year which is far below Zoe's £950,000. The dramatic pay difference comes as BBC bosses are under 'enormous pressure' to cut back on costs. Scott defended his salary and said he had been 'playing the long game' his whole life to reach this point. Zoe left the breakfast show to focus on family and admitted how she wouldn't miss the 4am wake up calls that come with anchoring the flagship slot. She said at the time: 'I've decided it's time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter. 'We've shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there's been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats.' The mum-of-one added: 'But I won't miss the 4am alarm call, if I'm completely honest.'
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Bangor goal ace reveals what he's looking forward to most when Seasiders take on top flight
Bangor dangerman Ben Arthurs says he can't wait to have a run at Sports Direct Premiership defences next season. The 27-year-old scored 24 goals as the Seasiders sealed a return to the top flight for the first time since 2009.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Schupak: I took the 'Rory McIlroy Tour' and played his childhood course. Here's what I learned
HOLYWOOD, Northern Ireland — I always wanted to get my picture with the famous Holywood sign. Not the one with two 'l's' high in the mountains in Los Angeles, an American landmark and cultural icon, but the one pronouncing this town of approximately 10,000 lying on the shores of Belfast Lough, between Belfast, Northern Island's capital, and Bangor. This one proudly proclaims upon entrance: 'Welcome to Holywood, historical gem of the Lough and home of Rory McIlroy.' Just a quarter-mile away, perched high in the Holywood Hills of County Down is Holywood Golf Club, a picturesque 18-hole parkland course where the Grand Slam champion cut his teeth. In April, after McIlroy won the Masters to become the sixth golfer ever to complete the career Grand Slam, the club launched the Rory McIlroy Tour to formalize a way for his golf fans from all over the globe who had been showing up unannounced for years to celebrate his journey to golfing greatness. The tour costs 22 pounds for adults and 17 per child (age 16 and under). It includes fresh Irish scones with jam and cream. The advertisement also offers a coffee or tea but I was given the choice of a Guinness and had the barkeep pour me one of those instead. There are photo opportunities with replicas of his trophies and memorabilia – no Green Jacket just yet! – and a chance to purchase 'the Home of Rory McIlroy' memorabilia in the pro shop. I had some time to kill before my 'tee time' so I drove through the town, past Sullivan Upper School, where he attended grammar school, and parked nearby the famed maypole at the crossroads in the town's center. Its origin is uncertain but according to folklore, it dates from 1700 when a Dutch ship is said to have run aground on the shore nearby. The crew erected the broken mast to show their appreciation of the assistance offered to them by the townsfolk. It was a good landmark to find the aptly named Maypole Bar, which the locals call Ned, and McIlroy biographer Tim Gay claims in his book 'Rory Land,' pours the finest Guinness in all the Emerald Isle. When I arrived for the tour, Paula Denvir, a member since 2010 and last year's ladies club captain, met me in the parking lot. The course overlooks Belfast Harbor, where McIlroy's grandfather worked the docks which would later launch the ill-fated Titanic. 'It was fine when it left here,' Denvir joked. She started the tour at the club's fitness center, which overlooks the 18th green, and an indoor training center equipped with Trackman and several simulator hitting bays that have become popular during the winter. McIlroy personally funded this wing of the clubhouse, which opened in 2019, and Denvir said it has created a new revenue stream of members who only want to use the world-class gym. From there, she led me on a private tour of the Holywood clubhouse, where McIlroy's father, Gerry, was the bar manager. At age seven, a full five years before junior memberships typically began, a young and precocious Rory believed he was ready for the course. 'He said, 'I won't hold anybody up. I'm one of the fastest players and I know all the rules of golf,' ' Denvir recounted in one of the many stories that she shared. The walls of the 'Rory Room' filled in the rest. There's a collage of photos of McIlroy through the years and the ones of him from a tender, young age are the best, including with the likes of Darren Clarke and Nick Faldo. There's a framed photo of McIlroy in jacket and tie holding the trophy as champion of the 2003 Ulster Boys Under 18. Next to it resides a photo of McIlroy's caddie, Harry Diamond, who won the same title in 2002. Scorecards of the course record are framed, too. Surprisingly, a McIlroy once owned the course record, but not Rory – his uncle, Colm, held that honor. The trophy cabinet is chock full of McIlroy baubles, including all the big ones. McIlroy has donated clubs and bags he's used to win Ryder Cups and majors. Denvir unlocked the cases and took out the replica trophies. 'Lift away,' she said. Then she led me through the bar where more than 100 members gathered to watch the final round of the Masters in April. 'It was unbearable at times,' Devnir said. 'You should have heard all the expletives. We all just sat in there going, 'Seriously, this is what you're putting us through.'' But Devnir kept the faith and the celebration that ensued was worth all the heartache. Her husband, the current club president, did 12 hours of media the next day. They stamped McIlroy's signature on a scorecard for me and I bought a ballmark and a club logo hoodie from the well-stocked pro shop with merchandise that reflected that this was the home of the Grand Slam champ. Devnir said that when the Irish Open was played at Royal Portrush, McIlroy had stayed in Holywood and used the gym before making the 60-mile drive north, and predicted he might do the same this week. After the Rory Tour, I took on the 6,015-yard hillside course. The terraced fairways slope towards Belfast and rarely provide a flat lie. I can see how his trademark draw was shaped at holes such as the first, where everything kicks right and the dogleg fifth. It's a quirky course with some killer views from up high by the 10th green. McIlroy noted in his Tuesday press conference that it had probably been 15 years since he last played the course. But should he stop by this week to use the gym or enjoy a pint at the bar where his father once poured the drinks, his primo parking spot will be waiting for him. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Schupak: I took the Rory McIlroy Tour in Holywood, Northern Ireland
CNA
16-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Wales' most-cappted keeper Hennessey retires at 38
Wayne Hennessey, the most-capped goalkeeper in Wales history, retired at the age of 38 after representing his country in 109 matches, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) said on Wednesday. Hennessey made over 100 league appearances each for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace, reaching the FA Cup final in 2016 with the latter. He was at Nottingham Forest last season but did not make an appearance. The Bangor-born player was part of the Wales squad that reached the semi-finals of the Euros in 2016, also appearing in the 2022 World Cup. He last played for Wales in November 2023 in a friendly against Gibraltar. 'I have decided to bring my playing career to an end, I look back with gratitude and forward with optimism as I take the next steps on my footballing journey," Hennessey said in a statement.
