Latest news with #RhysJones
Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Britain's iconic art deco lido re-opens with beach and bar after £4.5million revamp
The famous Tinside Lido in Plymouth, Devon, has re-opened its new-look spaces after a huge £4.5million revamp and there are now new features including a cove and bar A beloved British lido has unveiled its fresh look following a massive £4.5million makeover, with hopes the extensive refurbishment will attract both tourists and locals to enjoy the facility throughout the year. The art deco pool, established in 1935 and boasting Grade II listing, is an idyllic spot for a summer jaunt. Plymouth's renowned Tinside Lido, famed for its sunbathing and swimming in filtered, crystal-clear saltwater, is a favourite haunt for those looking to bask in the sunshine. Following the upgrade, visitors can now relish the new café pod and event space on the sun terrace. The lido, nestled next to a quaint shingle beach, is a hub for hardy swimmers who take to the sea regardless of the season. Thanks to Plymouth Hoe's elevated terrain, the south-facing lido enjoys a 'micro climate' that shields it from northern gusts, often making it feel toastier than surrounding areas, reports the Express. This year marks the 'iconic' Tinside Lido's 90th anniversary, a celebration that aligns with the rejuvenation of this quintessential British summertime locale. This comes on the heels of Plymouth Sound being designated as the UK's inaugural National Marine Park. Tudor Evans OBE, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "People use the word iconic all the time but Tinside honestly is. "It's treasured not only by the people of Plymouth but visitors from far and wide - and offers some of the most breathtaking views in the city, if not the country. "But it's not just a spectacular place to go for a swim and take in our amazing waterfront. "This regeneration has brought a whole new life to the lido and is such an important project for the city. "It not only protected a much-loved part of Plymouth's heritage. It's helped to secure its future, by creating new, inspirational spaces that the whole community - and visitors to the city - can enjoy for many years to come - exciting times are ahead!". The lido's restoration opens doors to fresh opportunities that will support the long-term viability of this picturesque outdoor swimming venue - with the lido's future set to provide Plymouth youngsters with the chance to master swimming skills. Rhys Jones, chief executive officer of Plymouth Active, said: "We're delighted to see these new spaces at Tinside Lido open for the community. "Tinside is a vital part of our mission to give every child in Plymouth the chance to learn to swim and develop a love for the water. "The new facilities also open up opportunities for events and activities that will help sustain Tinside for future generations." Looking ahead, couples will be able to tie the knot at the breathtaking lido location, whilst silent discos are also planned alongside open-air film screenings designed to bring in revenue - supporting free and affordable youth programmes across this major Devon city.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Computer games design graduates selected for competition
RuneCube Studios – made up of Rhys Jones, Connor Elsbury and Cameron Fritz, along with BA Music Producing graduate Wigg Grant, who are all graduates of the University of South Wales, are among 21 teams across the UK to be chosen for this year's programme. Their game, Overstaffed, is a two player co-op action adventure set in the world of Arrilla. Now in its 10th year, Tranzfuser gives graduate teams the opportunity to independently develop a vertical slice of their game over the summer, culminating in a public showcase in September. Over the course of 14 weeks, RuneCube Studios, with support from the BA Computer Games Design course team, will work with a handpicked industry mentor. At the end, all teams will have the chance to pitch for grant funding of up to £25,000 from the UK Games Fund to support the commercial development of their game. Connor Elsbury, programme lead for RuneCube Studios, said: 'The competition is one of the best opportunities we could have received right after coming out of university. It is a great way for the team to develop their skills both existing and new by working on a game we are all familiar with developing."
Business News Wales
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
Computer Games Design Graduates Selected for Tranzfuser 2025 Competition
A team of Computer Games Design graduates at USW has once again been selected for Tranzfuser 2025 – the UK's flagship competition for emerging game development talent. RuneCube Studios – made up of Rhys Jones, Connor Elsbury and Cameron Fritz, along with BA Music Producing graduate Wigg Grant – is one of just 21 teams across the UK to be chosen for this year's programme. Their game, Overstaffed, is a two-player co-op action adventure set in the world of Arrilla. The wizards the players control are exploring an ancient area known as the Forsaken Ruins, home to different environments each with their own climate and inhabitants, in order to retrieve an extremely powerful artefact. The game features multiple co-op elements such as Overstacking, which allows players to throw each other, reach areas which are usually unreachable, and defeat more difficult enemies. Now in its 10th year, Tranzfuser gives graduate teams the opportunity to independently develop a vertical slice of their game over the summer, culminating in a public showcase this September. The programme goes far beyond game development: teams are given the freedom to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions, supported by the Games Biz Academy, a curated resource hub designed to develop real-world business and studio leadership skills. Over the course of 14 weeks, RuneCube Studios, with support from the BA Computer Games Design course team, will work with a handpicked industry mentor, often a seasoned developer from the UK Games Fund portfolio. Alongside independent development and support from their local hub, the team will take part in cohort-wide activities and mentoring sessions, giving them a unique opportunity to grow not just as developers, but as founders building the foundations of a sustainable studio. At the end of the programme, all teams will have the chance to pitch for grant funding of up to £25,000 from the UK Games Fund to support the commercial development of their game – a crucial stepping stone towards taking their work to market. Connor Elsbury, programme lead for RuneCube Studios, said: 'We are delighted to be a part of the Tranzfuser 2025 lineup and are ready to work our hardest to bring the best possible game we can. Tranzfuser is a great opportunity for each team member to develop their skills, and potentially push Overstaffed out to the public and find fans. 'The competition is one of the best opportunities we could have received right after coming out of University. It is a great way for the team to develop their skills both existing and new by working on a game we are all familiar with developing. We also see it as an opportunity to put our names out in the industry, potentially create our own studio and also have it become a hallmark of our experience as developers.' Dann Rees, course leader for Computer Games Design, added: 'We are very proud that 2025 marks the 10th consecutive year that USW teams have earned a place in Tranzfuser – an incredible achievement that underscores the course's strong track record in producing talented, ambitious, and industry-ready graduates.'
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Brits facing extra £388 cost per person as summer holiday prices surge
The difference in price between breaks during the summer holidays and those when most state kids have to be in school has long been a sore point for parents British families face forking out £388 more per person if they don't break school rules and head away during term times. The difference in price between breaks during the summer holidays and those when most state kids have to be in school has long been a sore point for parents. New research has revealed just how big the price hike facing families still planning a getaway during the school summer holidays this year is. The figures reveal that summer holiday package prices rise by an average of 15% when compared to term-time travel - equal to an extra £338 per person. According to the study, a family of four will pay an additional £716 on average if they travel during a school half-term or holidays across the year, compared to travelling in term time. It also finds that this number rises even further during the six-week summer break, when travel costs increase the most. Do you take your kids on holidays during term time to save money? Email us a t webtravel@ analysed package holiday prices for popular European family destinations, uncovering the cost to parents who want to travel during school holidays. The comparison site found that prices increase by 9% per person overall during school holidays. The average price for term-time packages to family-favourite destinations like Spain, Italy and France is as low as £290 per person. Meanwhile, the lowest average package price during school breaks sits at £384 per person - close to £100 more per person. Trips to Spain saw the largest spike in costs, with holidaymakers charged 27% more per person - an increase of £496 - if they travel during the summer break. But across all the school holidays, Greece was the most expensive destination, with a median price of £2,329 per person. Package price increases for the summer holidays (Destination; Summer increase (%); Summer increase (£ pp)) Spain; 27%; £496 Italy; 7%; £152 France; 3%; £57 Greece; 24%; £646 Due to rules around unauthorised absences, the sharp rise in prices is particularly concerning for parents who would otherwise be faced with fines for removing children from school to travel. Without authorisation, a family of four could be fined up to £640, depending on the rules for their council. Despite these risks, more than two out of five (44%) parents and guardians said they have, or would consider taking their children out of school for a family holiday. More than half (53%) of these parents said the biggest reason for this was to help save on travel costs.[3] Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert for said: 'The cost difference between term time and school holidays is stark, particularly during the summer holidays. For many families, it's a choice between affordability and avoiding a fine or even further action. 'Although travelling outside school holidays can seem tempting to save money, it's important to factor in if the trip might impact your child's education. You'll also need to consider the full cost of a trip, including insurance, local travel, food and entertainment. 'Travel insurance, in particular, shouldn't be overlooked. Prices for cover can vary significantly based on timing, destination and the size of your group. Comparing policies early ensures families can get the right protection without adding unnecessary costs.'
RNZ News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
'Times do need to change': RSA to modernise to support younger veterans
Photo: RNZ / Nathan McKinnon The Returned Services Association (RSA) say they are modernising their approach to supporting younger millitary veterans. Members of the RSA, Defence Force, members of Parliament and veterans from recent operational deployments attended an event at Parliament on Tuesday night unveiling new initiatives aimed at "relaunching" the organisation. Speaking at the event, board chairperson Lieutenant General (retired) Rhys Jones said the RSA had been the backbone of support to veterans for 109 years, but "times do need to change". "There is a new generation of veterans that are being produced every year that have different requirements to the World War I or World War II, or Korean veterans," he said "They are an environment of social media. They are an environment of wanting to do things actively that are not necessarily about just coming together and talking, but actually actively doing things." Jones announced four new initiatives; a renewed national support and advocacy network, improving the RSA's online capability, a new membership and communication system and a push to collect stories from contemporary veterans. The national support and advocacy network, Jones said, would "focus more on central funding and management" for a more "standardised" approach to resources. "That support still needs to be locally provided, but a far stronger emphasis on how do we support that nationally." That would include help with career transitions out of the Defence Force and assistance getting in contact with Veterans Affairs, ACC and psychological or medical support, he said. Today's world is a digital world, Jones said, and the RSA still had a "long way to go" to catch up on its online capability. The initiative would include "more things that are on your phone" instead of the "clunky, mechanical, hand driven system" in use, Jones said. "That will improve our reach and engagement with contemporary veterans [because] that's how they operate, that's how they interact, and that's what they expect an organisation to be able to provide." he said. The collection of more contemporary veteran stories was something Jones admitted sometimes "drop through the gaps". "There are lots of histories and official histories of World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and so on. But modern deployments, and there may be individuals going to UN missions or larger collective groups, East Timor or Afghanistan... those kind of things often come through the gaps." "[There is] a dedicated need for us to capture those stories so the public can understand what the modern, contemporary veterans are about," Jones said.
