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Coronavirus: Tour de Gwent 2020 for St David’s cancelled

ONE of Gwent’s most popular annual fundraising events has been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Whitehead Tour de Gwent 2020 was originally scheduled for April, and when the pandemic hit, was moved to September. But, with Covid-19 still a risk, this year’s cycle rally, which raises money for St David’s Hospice Care, has now been cancelled entirely.

But organisers are still asking riders to take part – either individually or in small groups.

All riders who had registered for the event will be issued with their pre-ordered 2020 jerseys and are being asked to take part at their leisure during the rest of 2020, while sharing photographs on social media.

Organisers suggest riders who still want to take part join the Tour de Gwent Strava Cycling Club at strava.com/clubs/StDavidsHospiceCareTourDeGwent

Detailed route information can be found on the Tour de Gwent website at tourdegwent.org

Event organiser Kris Broome, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “The Hospice needs support more than ever before as we are facing one of the most challenging times in our 42-year history due to the effects of Covid-19 on our fundraising efforts.

“We would very much welcome any funds raised to help us provide free services to the community.

“During this pandemic, we have continued to provide most of our clinical services and we are asking riders to raise funds and use the link via Just Giving to create personalised fundraising pages or request sponsor forms from us direct.

“We appreciate that the adapted 2020 Whitehead Tour de Gwent may not have quite the same atmosphere as a large, organised event with 800-plus riders, but the scenery is just as beautiful and the sponsorship raised together with entry fees will be just as vital to help us in these unprecedented times.”

To create your own fundraising page to support St David’s Hospice Care, visit justgiving.com/campaign/tourdegwent

Whitehead Building Services Managing Director, Rhys Morton, who as well as sponsoring the event also takes part, said: “Those signed up for the Whitehead Tour de Gwent and the sponsors have always been fantastically supportive having grown the event year on year.

“I know that the riders can’t wait to get on their bikes and that still can happen but just in smaller groups. “It’s important that we as sponsors and riders back this event to help the hospice raise funds and provide their vital services.”

Visit stdavidshospicecare.org to find out more about the work being carried out.

 

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Balkan holiday home near the river Danube you can buy for less than the price of a second hand car

If a remote property located near a small village in a rural setting for a guide price of £9,000 sounds like a better option for your savings than a second-hand car, then this auction property just might excite you.

But there is more to this auction lot than initially meets the eye.

Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, who are handling the sale for a regular client of their holiday bolthole, says there are many positive elements to bidding on and maybe winning the cheapest property lot in their upcoming online auction.

Sean Roper, who is handling the sale for Paul Fosh Auctions, says: “This smallholding could make a marvelous holiday home for someone looking to really get away from it all.

“The plot extends to approximately half an acre and there are a range of agricultural buildings including stables, animal pens, implement storage, outside wc, external shower room and garage.

“The garden has a number of fruit trees and the remains of a vineyard, plus mains water and electricity are connected.”

The bucolic, property smallholding also consists of two ‘rustic’ bungalows, an outside summer kitchen, gazebo and dining area.

This remote, rural retreat offers a new owner an escape to the country but is on the edge of a hamlet so not completely isolated.

The new owner may consider that the collection of buildings could do with some renovation attention to optimise their potential, but there is another challenge facing the buyer of this auction property.

The journey to the potential holiday home may take a while; it’s in Bulgaria.

According to the auction house, the property is located near the Bulgarian Serbian border in the village of Rabrovo, which has a population of just 400, so peace and quiet at this holiday home are surely guaranteed.

The auctioneer has been unable to personally view the property to take professional photographs of the smallholding, although there are pictures supplied from the owner currently available.

The company can also give any interested parties a flavour of the area.

Sean Roper says: “It is in the village of Rabrovo, famous for the nearby Rock Monastery of Albotin.

“Within an easy drive is the Unesco site of Belogradchik Rocks, Rabisha Lakes, Magura Cave, the river Danube and a new bridge to Romania, the EU and Roman heritage sites.

“The property, which we haven’t inspected internally, is about 23 km north east of Boynitsa village, 28 km west of Vidin and approximately 220 km north west of Sofia city. The nearest airports are Sofia and Cralova.

“The majority of the village streets are paved, there is operational street lighting, mobile internet coverage and bus transportation to Vidin city and the surrounding villages.

“The village has an active town hall, a church, a primary school, a kindergarten and stores.”

Currently, due to the coronavirus situation, it is advised to check with the British foreign office before considering a trip to the property should you choose it over the purchase of a family car.

Bulgaria is roughly 1,500 miles from Wales and is about five times the size. Once part of the Russian Soviet bloc, in 1989 the country gained independence.

There are limited flights to the Black Sea coast tourist city of Burgas directly from Cardiff Airport that take approximately 3 hours 20 minutes but then a journey across the country to this remote village awaits you.

According to Cardiff Airport’s website, Bulgaria has been Europe’s best kept secret in recent years but is growing in popularity due to its beaches and the Black Sea’s warm summer waters plus the opportunity to winter ski in the mountains.

There’s also a myriad of historical towns and villages to discover to truly get a flavour of the traditional Bulgarian way of life.

Direct flights to the capital Sofia, which is closer to this property, are from Manchester Airport and take about two and a half hours.

Alternatively, you could jump into the family car and drive to your new peaceful place of splendid isolation.

For more information about this Bulgarian bolthole that is up for online auction on Thursday September 10 on the company’s website, call Paul Fosh Auctions on 01633 254044 for further information.

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Monmouth Raft Race 2020 may be cancelled but here’s a look at past events

AUGUST is usually a month when crews are putting the finishing touches to their rafts in preparation for the annual Monmouth Raft Race, which for more than 50 years has been held on the first Sunday of September.

But this year the event, like so many others, is cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The keen rafters will have to wait until September 2021 until they are able to launch their craft at Monmouth Rowing Club and paddle the six-and-a-half miles down the River Wye to Tump Farm at Whitebrook.

Heading for the Wye Bridge in Monmouth in 2005

The raft race was founded by the Abergavenny Young Conservatives and run for many years run by the Monmouth Conservative Association. In 2003 organisation of the race was taken over by the Rotary Club of Monmouth.

The original idea was to hold the race on the River Usk but it was decided it was too dangerous a river for an event of this nature.

The first race was held on the River Monnow, starting at the Bell at Skenfrith and finishing in Monmouth.

And they’re off for the 1990 Monmouth Raft Race

The 1966 race was moved to the River Wye with the start near Symonds Yat and finish in Monmouth.

The following year the race eventually moved to its present start and finish points.

Henson’s Heroes in 2014.

Over the years the event has raised thousands of pounds for charities including the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the RNLI, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and St David’s Hospice Care, which for the last few years has been the main beneficiary of this popular event.

This year will be only the third time the race has not gone ahead. In 2001 the foot and mouth epidemic saw it cancelled and then again in 2008 it was called off when the river was in flood.

Yacht’s Your Story at Monmouth Raft Race 2019 crewed by South Wales Argus reporter Dan Barnes and friends. Picture: David Barnes

Monmouth Rotary Club organises the event with marketing help from St David’s Hospice Care, and the entry fees and car parking charges pay organisations such as the Scouts, Guides, RNLI, Monmouth Festival Committee, Rowing and Canoe and Clubs, St John’s Ambulance, Ross Rotary Club and the Severn Area Rescue Association for helping, with any surplus being added to Rotary funds for its local charitable commitments.

The last 15 Raft Race events have raised a total of £329,181; £21,343 of which was raised in 2019.

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Leading accountancy firm sets course for new adventure in business with acquisition of neighbouring practice

Leading south Wales accountancy practice Parker & Co has signalled its post pandemic readiness by acquiring another business as well as launching a new website.

The Newport-based firm has expanded after the acquisition of neighbouring practice Griffiths & James Accountants of Cwmbran.

Gary Parker, head of the new business, said: “The enlarged practice will operate with a staff of 11, which includes three joining from Cwmbran.

“We will continue to practice as Griffiths & James Accountants from the existing office in New Street, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, so there will be continuity for our clients.

” It is a first step to the retirement of the current owner, David Griffiths. The business will be run by Gareth Pinder, ACCA, who joined Parker & Co in March. David will be retiring but will be on hand for six months or so to ensure a good handover.

“The acquisition of the practice, which we have come to know well over the years, presented an opportunity to expand Parker & Co. by the acquisition of a very reputable practice. This will extend the depth of experience we have as a whole.”

“Services will remain the same but will have more depth of experience to help clients with the various business issues that come up on a day to day basis.”

Parker & Co will now have two offices, the one in Cwmbran practicing as Griffiths & James, and will continue to practice as Parker & Co from Summit House, Waterside Court, Newport.

Gary says the pandemic lockdown created ‘challenges and delays’ in completing the acquisition but he had to be bold and confident in pressing on.

“We started talking to David a year ago and were set to complete on 1st April but Coronavirus caused us to delay. Despite the risks and current challenges in business I believe now is the time to be positive and move forward in the true ethos of “adventure in business”.

“The priority now is to get to meet all of David’s clients and reassure them that it will be business as usual and no interruption in the services provided. Karen Tingey and Gloria Dodd will continue to run the office and David Griffiths will be around too.”

Global explorer and mountaineer Gary says the new website, complete with amazing images rolling vistas of mountain scenery, seek to emphasise and underline the ethos of the business.

Gary, who has lead expeditions to some of the world’s most inaccessible places as well as tallest mountains, said: “Our ethos is Business is an Adventure – enjoy it. It is a theme which we have emphasised on our new website and one which we live by on a daily basis and one which is shared by our clients.”

“The website was designed by András Lengyel of RED PXL. He did a marvellous job and fully understood the brief and fully delivered our vision. We needed a new, updated, website that was more akin to our ethos, “adventure in business”.

“We will be updating our news, our Journal, with relevant tax and coronavirus issues as they arise. it will evolve and be updated. Current issues will be regularly included in our news items, which have been called our “journal”.

“We want to continue to expand the practice but first is to consolidate this change and update our systems – for example take final steps into paperless office, cloud accounting and remote working and communications.”