Latest news with #Bridgend
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Glastonbury backstage photographer ready for Raye and Rodrigo
As stars like Olivia Rodrigo, Raye and Rod Stewart head onto the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury this year, one photographer will have the perfect place to capture that Jackson from Bridgend has a small studio set up right next to the a photographer who loves music, it's his dream job."I'm photographing people I had posters of on my wall. It's a massive privilege," he said. Tom is never sure if the stars will agree to have their picture taken. They are told about his studio and asked to have a photo for the Glastonbury archive. Tom says the process is quite "organic", with some stars agreeing, others not, and some changing their minds at the last minute. So he has to be ready, set to take the shot at a moment's notice if the opportunity comes. "It's an electric place, it's nuts, everyone is on high tempo, the management, the artists."They come out of the VIP area, walk to me, have their picture taken, and the stairs are next to me going up to the stage."He remembered seizing the chance to capture one of his music heroes, when Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters came in. "They came off stage quite suddenly so there was no management waiting, and I said 'Dave do you want to do it now?' "And he said 'boys, do you want to have a sweaty band picture' and they went 'Yeah'." "Dave Grohl was the drummer of Nirvana, one of my favourite bands, I've got their album on the wall there. It's mental."Raye was also "cool" although she had Louis Theroux and a documentary team in tow, which Tom said was a bit out of his comfort zone."They filmed the whole thing, then Raye came over and she was chatting to me, so the cameras came in again. "She was lovely, loved her pictures and posted them straight away. "The thing about Glasto is that it's such a big thing for the artists too, so to enjoy that moment with them is quite nice." So how do you bag a dream job? Tom's break came when he was photographing Emily Eavis at Glastonbury, the daughter of Michael Eavis who started the festival, for The Times Magazine. After the shoot, Tom decided to take a chance and send an email."I was quite frank and said, 'If you ever need anyone to do portraits on the Pyramid Stage, I'd just love to help'."In about half an hour, I got an email back saying 'We'd love you to'. "Then the first year it was crazy. "I photographed Kylie Minogue, The Killers, The Cure, Miley Cyrus, Lauren Hill, in three days."But then, he was no stranger to photographing celebrities. His work at The Times magazine led to him capturing all kinds of well known personalities, from a Spice Girl to Sir David Attenborough. Tom remembered out of everyone he's photographed, it was Sir David, who made him feel the most star-struck. "When you're looking through a lens and you see that man... it's mad. He has to be one of my favourites."Tom had 40 minutes to get that shot in Sir David's home. That's a luxury compared to some of the other stars he's said his time with England and Arsenal footballer Bukayo Saka was cut heavily, and he ended up doing the entire shoot in just seven of Tom's favourite photos he's taken is of Lenny Kravitz. The shoot took place in a Paris hotel overlooking the Eiffel Tour, and the rock star was up for playing the part."He had this huge leather case and I thought it's a guitar. He said 'look at this, man' and he opened it up and it was full of god knows how many vintage sunglasses. But he was game. I said do you mind sitting in the bath and he said 'Yeah, get me some champagne'."Tom has done the press photography in recent years for the Christmas special of Gavin and Stacey and also the Finale. He captured actors James Corden and Matthew Horne, Smithy and Gavin. "I was photographing them as characters but then they just started having a laugh and fooling around and I just got a nice picture of them both."His shot of Jarvis Cocker, lead singer of Pulp, was taken in the rehearsal room for the bands' current tour."He helped edit them and it was cool." "I was stood in a Camden studio watching them rehearse and it was like a live private gig with Pulp."Key to a good shoot for Tom is to be prepared, to be set up and ready to go, play some music to help relax people and ensure that everyone feels comfortable. That way Tom feels he'll get the best portrait."I like faces, character in faces. I want to capture 'them', the person."And now that most of us carry good quality cameras in our pockets, built into our phones, what's Tom's top tip for taking a good picture?"Use the flash. Every time."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Police close road near busy roundabout after incident
Police closed a road in Bridgend in the early hours of Friday morning after an incident. It happened around 5.25am on the A473 Pencoed roundabout towards Llanharan. The road was closed in both directions between the roundabout and the road to Llanharan, and officers warned it would be closed for "some time". They advised motorists to avoid the area and use alternative routes. Traffic monitoring service Inrix has since reported the accident was cleared by 6.13am. South Wales Police has been contacted for comment on the nature of the incident. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wimbledon to have first Welsh player in the main draw in 20 years
Wimbledon to have first Welsh player in the main draw in 20 years Mingge (Mimi) Xu will be the first Welsh player in the Wimbledon Championships singles main draw for 20 years Mimi Xu at the Lexus Nottingham Open (Image: Getty Images for LTA ) Wimbledon fever is sweeping across Wales as the country celebrates its first Welsh singles main draw player at The Championships in two decades. Mingge (Mimi) Xu will be the first Welsh competitor in the Wimbledon Championships singles main draw for 20 years. The teenager from Swansea, has been granted a wildcard into the Wimbledon main draw as she climbs the international women's rankings. The last player from Wales to compete in the main draw at Wimbledon was Rebecca Llewellyn, who took part in both the singles and doubles at the Championships in 2005. Other Welsh players who have competed in the main draw at SW1 include Swansea's Mike Davies in the 1960s, Bridgend's Gerald Battrick who competed on the grass at Wimbledon for 11 years in the 1960s and 70s, reaching the third round in 1971. Colwyn Bay's Mike Walker competed in 1986 and Sarah Loosemore, of Dinas Powys, featured in the women's draw four times and made it to the second round in 2000. Wales' Wimbledon heroes through the years Mimi Xu is currently Wales' highest ranked player despite only being 17 years old. She has a world ranking of 302 on the WTA tour and began playing tennis aged three at the Swansea tennis and squash club. Her mum Wendy is retired and dad Tony is an engineer. Article continues below Her profile on the WTA website says she prefers hard courts and her interests outside tennis include playing the piano, studying and baking. The 5ft 9ins tall teenager has had a successful summer so far, picking up a first-round win at the Nottingham Open against American Katie Volynets and reaching the quarter finals of the Birmingham Open. She also reached the second round of the Ilkley Open. Her four WTA-level wins at those three events included victories over two to 150 players and a first round victory against American Alycia Parks in Birmingham, who is ranked 52 in the world. Mimi Xu playing in June (Image: PA ) Xu already has history with Wimbledon; she remains the youngest player in the Open Era to receive a wildcard into the Women's qualifying event. At just 14, she earned this opportunity by winning both the U16 and U18 British National titles. And she's still young enough to participate in the junior tournament, if she chooses to. Last year, she reached the final of the junior doubles with fellow UK player Mika Stojsavljevic. Xu attended the LTA National Academy in Loughborough and now hones her skills at the LTA National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, training alongside players like Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper. (Image: Getty Images for LTA ) Wimbledon will be her first time in the main draw of a Grand Slam. Other Welsh players competing at Wimbledon, although not in the main draw, include James Story, a 24 year old from Cardiff, who is currently Wales' highest-ranked male player, boasting a career-best ATP ranking of No. 557. However Story lost in the first round of the main qualifying draw after winning the LTA Wimbledon Qualifying Play-Offs. (Image: Getty Images for LTA ) Felix Bockelmann-Evans will participate in the junior boys' doubles after securing victory in the Lexus Junior National Championships alongside his partner Ferran Redza. The duo clinched the British national title in a thrilling contest, overcoming the top three seeded teams on their way to lifting the coveted trophy. The 18 year old from Penarth is part of the Tennis Wales National Training Programme, delivered in partnership with Cardiff Met University, and has trained in Wales throughout his budding tennis career. (Image: Getty Images for LTA ) Article continues below This will be Bockelmann-Evans made his debut at the Wimbledon Championships, a significant milestone for the young player who's been having an impressive year, having won his first men's title at a Progress Tour event held at Cardiff Met in January. The Junior Championships at Wimbledon kick off a week after the commencement of the men's and women's events, with main draw matches available for viewing on the BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Driver arrested after woman killed in crash in Caerau, Maesteg
A 58-year-old woman has been killed after being hit by a car in Bridgend woman from Caerau was struck while walking along Caerau Road in Maesteg at about 00:40 on Sunday and died soon after.A 73-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless/inconsiderate Wales Police is appealing for information.
The Guardian
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Garnet Edwards obituary
My father, Garnet Edwards, who has died aged 79, was a gifted advertising creative and a dedicated rugby man. Known for his quiet leadership, sharp eye for design and sense of loyalty, he left a mark on both the creative industry and the communities that he helped to build. Born in Bridgend, south Wales, Garnet was the son of Violet (nee Walters) and Douglas Edwards, a quarryman. He was educated at Oldcastle primary and Bridgend grammar school (later Brynteg school). He thrived academically but was most at home on the rugby pitch or fishing with his brother, Les, on the Ogmore river. He studied graphic design at Manchester School of Art (now part of Manchester Metropolitan University), graduating with first-class honours, and went on to a successful career in advertising, working at several leading agencies in London, most notably Grey. He also helped to set up Wright & Partners in the 1980s with his close friend Johnny Wright. Throughout his career he mentored a generation of creatives, including Trevor Beattie, who would go on to lead major campaigns for Virgin, FCUK and Wonderbra. Garnet is remembered as an exacting leader who believed 'creative is king' and he approached his work with equal parts craftsmanship and humour. He led national and global campaigns for Nissan, Crown Paints, Vodafone, the Labour party, Thistle Hotels and Alfa Romeo, among others. He won many prizes for his work, including Clio and Design & Art Direction awards. Outside the design studio, Garnet's other great passion was rugby. He played for Bridgend Sports RFC, Finchley RFC and Middlesex, and later served as coach and president at Finchley, where he helped transform the club's fortunes and launched its now thriving youth section. A return to Bridgend in the 90s led him to do the same there. An annual youth award at Bridgend Sports now bears his name. Garnet was devoted to his wife, Jennifer (nee Grinnell), whom he met as a teenager and married in 1968. After her death in 2014, he found companionship with Kathryn Lewis, a family friend. He was a hands-on grandfather, a lover of French cheeses and port, and a great storyteller. Former colleagues fondly recall his notorious '9x9 Club' – nine pints by 9am – and his love of mischief, typified by pranks such as luring pigs into his local pub in Ogmore, south Wales. Garnet is survived by his children, Megan, Rhys and me, and seven grandchildren.
