Vintage
A Unique Celebration of Music, Dance and Vintage Culture
Vintage for Victory, the only festival of its kind in Wales, returns to Whitchurch Library Gardens, Cardiff, from Thursday 9 July to Sunday 12 July 2026, offering a fully immersive celebration of 1940s, 50s and 60s music, dance, fashion and culture.
Set across one summer weekend, Vintage for Victory transforms Whitchurch Library Gardens into a meticulously themed vintage environment, combining live music, period styling, historical features and participatory dance to create a distinctive cultural experience for audiences of all ages.
At the heart of the festival is an extensive live music programme, with performances across multiple stages throughout the weekend. Musical styles include swing, rock ’n’ roll, soul and classic popular music, delivered by a line up of established artists and specialist tribute performers.
The festival opens on Thursday 9 July with a warm up evening for early arrivals, followed by a ticketed pre festival party on Friday 10 July, featuring high energy live performances. The main festival takes place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July, with a full programme of live music, dance and entertainment from midday through to evening.
In addition to live performances, Vintage for Victory places strong emphasis on
participation. Three dedicated dance floors host instructor led sessions throughout the weekend, covering styles such as jive, lindy hop, rock ’n’ roll and collegiate shag. All sessions are open to beginners, with no prior experience required.
Beyond music and dance, the festival features a wide range of attractions including a vintage fun fair, outdoor cinema, cabaret performances, vintage fashion and lifestyle traders, full size Spitfire and Hurricane replicas, and historical re enactors positioned throughout the site.
Vintage dress is encouraged and forms a key part of the festival atmosphere, though it is not compulsory. The event is family friendly, with under 16s attending free, and offers both camping and glamping options for those wishing to stay for the full weekend.
Vintage for Victory has established itself as a standout event in the UK vintage calendar, offering a carefully curated alternative to conventional music festivals and attracting visitors from across Wales and beyond.
Tickets are available via Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/vfvf2026
Further information can be found at www.vintageforvictory.co.uk.
I reported a few issues ago that The Girl, my 20-year-old daughter who has Down Syndrome, now has a boyfriend. This raises a number of issues upon which I have reflected. First is amazement that she is twenty – already. My little girl is now a woman. I think of all the various classes and activities I escorted her to and can see how they have contributed to making her the woman she is today.
She loves physical activity and has continued with ballet and trampolining. She has passed the Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Grade 8 and continues to perform well in trampolining competitions. You may know that children with Down Syndrome usually develop physically later than typically developing kids. Partly this is caused by low muscle tone. On the day she was born a very helpful doctor told us that we could expect years to go by before The Girl might walk, or use the loo unaided, or feed herself, or learn to read or write. Throughout my wife’s pregnancy it surprised us the number of clinicians who were nothing but negative about The Girl’s prospects. Worse, there was a subset of that larger group who reminded us at every outpatient visit that we really should consider having an abortion. We got so upset over this that we insisted that they write in
the notes that we didn’t want to be asked about a termination ever again.
The Girl’s early years were a blizzard of activities which were fun in their own right and which also helped develop skills transferable to daily life: baby yoga, music with mums and dads, occupational therapy, climbing, soft play, adventure play, ballet, cycling (which she hated), athletics, speech therapy, reading and writing, being prepared to make a mess at meal times. All these activities kept me busy and helped The Girl develop a degree of independence. But still?! Twenty already. Tempus fugit and all but how did it fugit so quickly?
In lots of ways her reaching adulthood is a marvellous thing. She knows her own mind and is still willing to listen to advice from her parents Just as well really because she is in her penultimate year at Cardiff and Vale college and –availability of places allowing – she has to make some decisions with her college tutors regarding work placements and internships.
Where was I? Ah yes, the boyfriend. They’ve had three dates so far and each has reinforced the previous. They are happy in one another’s company and are solicitous of each other. I’ve been aware that
I am no longer the only man in my daughter’s life. A very wise woman (The Boss!) pointed out to me that as her father, and hopefully a fun and reliable father at that, I will be the yardstick against which all the future men in her life will be judged, That thought has been a great comfort to me each time I remember that I am 67 years of age and have both Parkinson’s and arthritis of the spine. That is, when I worry that I am unlikely to have a long life ahead of me, and fear not being around for The Girl, I will at the very least have left a foundation of love and respect
between us as an exemplar of the very least she should look for when she decides upon her life’s partner.
Anyway, The Girl and The Boyfriend are in a good place and The Boss and I look forward to seeing the fun they will have together as their friendship deepens. I like the lad, he’s bright, is respectful to our daughter and they laugh a lot. And that’s a good place to start.
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‘And Another Thing...’
Be Fair, It’s A Great Wall
I have been reading about the Great Wall of China, as one does. It has been widely reported that this is the only manmade structure which can be seen with the naked eye from space. Alas this appears to be untrue. However, the sheer scale of this construction is mind blowing. The wall is 13,170 miles long, roughly the equivalent distance from the UK to New Zealand and half the circumference of the world. It took over 2,000 years to build. China is virtually the same size as the USA and Canada combined so if you then factor in the mountains, which the wall traverses, that is why it is so long. How much does the Great Wall of China weigh though? Wan ton. Sorry.
千里之行，始于足下 – (Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià) *. Go on, have a guess. Answer at the end of the article.
Now don’t start me off about these latest all over body deodorant adverts. The Current Mrs Nolan and I are very much on the same page on this topic. We are being asked to believe that all of a sudden, we are now all reeking from every crease and orifice and need to spray ourselves from head to foot with a smorgasbord of aerosol based
by Vince Nolan
products, before we leave the house, or risk being ridiculed by the great unwashed. It may be early paranoia creeping in but I am now convinced that I could be developing Patella Pong or Humerus Hum. Whilst travelling in to work, She Who Must Be Obeyed admitted that she had only put deodorant on one side. To which I replied, “At least you won’t smell half bad!” However, we have now decided to use laughing gas as a deodorant. We won’t half smell funny.
Doing the supermarket shopping list on my phone (I know, still living the dream) when I tried to add paracetamols to it. Spellcheck kept changing it to parachutes. An interesting and alternative cure for a headache methinks. Later, at the chosen retail emporium I could not fail to notice this unusual strawberry pricing approach. I could only guess that it was for shoppers whose right eye was not as strong as their left. How very thoughtful.
Being the politically correct bloke like what I am, I trust you all enjoyed your elliptical chocolate treats associated with the recent Spring Festival. Here’s an egg story for you. It seems that Scotch eggs originated in 1738 in England and are often credited to a Yorkshire eatery called William J Scott & Sons. Continuing the Yorkshire theme, actress Jean
Fergusson from Last of the Summer Wine was born in Yorkshire but went to school in Bridgend and graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. An honorary Taff if ever there was one, Oh Marina!
Apparently there is going to be a new crematorium built on the outskirts of Cardiff, at Pontprennau, close to the Dutch Garden Centre. It is to be powered by solar and battery. I know we have global warming to endure but unless we have a good late Spring/early Summer it may be some time before I will be able to pick up Uncle Freds’ ashes. In related matters, the wonderful playwright, Alan Bennet, is 91 years young and gave this to the press a week or so ago. “I had a call from Radio 4 asking for my views on assisted dying.” I said: “I am too near the unassisted type to be keen on it.”
He said: “Come up quickly, I fought with my wife and now she wants to throw herself out of the window.”
The manager replied: “Sir this is a personal matter and we can’t get involved.” The man interrupted and said: “No! This is a maintenance issue. I can’t open the window!”
I went to the local hair emporium to have the Nolan bouffant cut down to size and whilst waiting was sat next to a two year old little guy and his mum. A bloke walked in and the boy shouted “Daddy.” Mum quickly explained to him and to us that it was not his Daddy but a man who had the same coat that Daddy wore. My how we all laughed. The bloke looked scared!
In other news, a North Walian entrepreneur recently bought a North American fishing boat which is identical to the one used in the Jaws film. He has renamed it Orca and has furnished it with realistic and period memorabilia as per the film which he sourced from around the world. It can be visited by tourists and some Hollywood stars are rumoured to be interested in it. There are also plans to invite surviving cast members to visit. All great stuff and good luck to him. However, the journalist writing the story went on to say: “Already, it has the seal of approval from a leading collector of Jaws memorabilia.” I thought it was sharks not seals, just saying. The appropriate collective noun here is a Shiver of Sharks rather than a Bob of Seals (if in the water). Did you hear how they found out that the girl Jaws attacked had dandruff? They found her head & shoulders on the beach. Spoiler alert: The French remake of Jaws has a surprise ending......................”Fin.”
French and very good English/Welsh. On New Years Eve their leader Franck sent this message to us: “Blwyddyn newydd dda” His French mate quickly followed this up with: “Don’t tell everyone your computer password Franck.”
I don’t know if you saw the new artwork installation at the National Museum of Wales made from 6,500 hand crafted bird boxes apparently motivated by Ceredigion Councils’ plans to build the same number of new homes in their area. An art spokesperson said: “The artwork comments on the ongoing agricultural crisis and threats to social influx on the economic structure and culture in rural Cymru.” Could have fooled me but then again, that’s not too difficult to do these days.
Whilst the New Year hostilities are now long faded into the distance, I have two tales from that time which I should like to share with you. The first involves the bar manager at our local alehouse, The Fisherman’s Ar - - . That should be The Fisherman’s Arms but the last two letters fell off in the recent high winds. We
This caught my eye. Bing Crosby was quoted as saying that Frank Sinatra had a once in a lifetime voice but that it was just a shame that it was in Bings’ lifetime. Some other famous quotes from famous folks: Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill: “I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play. Bring a friend, if you have one.” Churchill replied: “Cannot possibly attend first night, I will attend the second........if there is one.” Staying with things Churchillian, allegedly Lady Astor said to Winston: “If you were my husband, I’d poison your coffee.” Churchills’ response: “If you were my wife, I’d drink it.”
Oh, nearly forgot: *The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Top saying
Staying with rugby matters, we recently lost a much-loved member of St. Peter’s Rugby Club, Bart O’Brien. He lived to the fine old age of ninety, was a former Club Captain and a great wit. I had the honour of playing alongside his three sons and he was an avid reader of this publication. As part of the eulogy, his son Bernard shared the following with us: “Bart was very much on the ball and retained his humour and enthusiasm to the very end. He was asked to attend a Doctors appointment as his memory was apparently showing its age (understandably so). The Doctor said to him: “I want you to give me a list of as many animals you can think of. Take your time” Bart thought for a second and said: “Ten cows, twelve sheep and twenty horses.” Brilliant! At the other end
played each other and we now communicate with each other regularly via WhatsApp in schoolboy
MON 22 - FRI 26
Hearing is one of our main senses and vital for living life to the full, but all too often it’s taken for granted. That’s why throughout Hearing Health Week our specialists are here to give you FREE advice and FREE services that will help you stay hearing healthy now and in the future!
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Tinnitus affects about 1 in 10 of the UK population so if you’re concerned about tinnitus then our specialists can give you helpful advice on how to manage it.
THURSDAY 25 & FRIDAY 26
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“I can’t thank Janine enough for all her help in finding me the perfect hearing aids. Nothing is too much trouble and Janine is so knowledgeable and friendly. Having them has improved my confidence when speaking to people and I can now use my mobile phone again with the sound coming straight though the hearing aids with no background noise.”
Mrs Davies
Take on Pedal Wye Valley this September and cycle for people affected by Parkinson’s
Take on Pedal Wye Valley this September and cycle for people affected by Parkinson’s
Cyclists are being invited to take on a challenge in one of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes while raising funds to support people affected by Parkinson’s. Pedal Wye Valley returns this September, offering riders the chance to explore the stunning scenery of the River Wye and Forest of Dean.
This British Cycling-approved event features three routes, all starting and finishing at Chepstow Racecourse. Whether you’re new to cycling events or looking for the next big challenge, there is an option for everyone.
The Bronze route (25 miles) follows the picturesque River Wye, taking in the iconic Tintern Abbey before heading through Hale Woods and Chepstow Woods. It’s a scenic and achievable ride that offers a satisfying challenge.
For those ready to go further, the Silver route (57 miles) ventures deeper into the Wye Valley, passing through Coleford and Monmouth, tackling Golden Hill, and offering stunning views from Whitestone and Cleddon. Riders will also enjoy stretches along the River Wye.
The Gold route (82 miles) is a true test of endurance. This ride takes in the breathtaking scenery of the Forest of Dean, with some properly challenging climbs. It’s a tough route, but the views make every mile worthwhile.
All riders will benefit from fully supported routes, regular refreshment stops, first aid and mechanical support, a finishers medal and free sports massage to reward your tired legs. Riders on the 57 and 82 mile
routes will also enjoy a lunch stop at the local Silver Circle Distillery. Funds raised through Pedal Wye Valley will help deliver life-changing support and fund groundbreaking research for the Parkinson’s community. Parkinson’s is on the rise, with 166,000 people currently diagnosed in the UK including around 8,600 in Wales. It has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, and there is currently no cure.
In 2025, Shaun took part in Pedal Wye Valley after his mum was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
“I like to take on a charity challenge each year for causes that are close to me,” he says. “It also helps keep me motivated and stay fit throughout the year.
“My mum was diagnosed with Parkinson’s around 12 years ago. I’ve seen how it’s impacted her quality of life, but I’ve also seen the wonderful care and treatment she’s received. She’s now 75 and doing really well, all things considered. Any advancements in research will benefit so many people.”
“I shared my page on social media and, despite me asking most years, people were still incredibly generous and I ended up raising more than £730”
“The event was really well organised, with great communication beforehand. The route is beautiful, but some of the hills are savage. The lunch stop after the climb out of Monmouth was very welcome.”
“I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who might be thinking of giving it a go. It’s a proper challenge in a beautiful location, for an excellent cause.”
To find out more, visit events.parkinsons.org.uk/wye-valley
In The Words Of
May 2026
So… all in all, Scotland was amazing. And honestly, it was beyond words.
The weather was ridiculous — all four seasons in the space of an hour at times. Sun one minute, hail and sideways rain the next, then clear skies again like nothing had happened. Unforgettable.
On my way to Ullapool, ahead of the ferry to the Outer Hebrides, I stopped off in Glencoe, which was as dramatic as you’d expect. The Outer Hebrides, though… a different level. Proper stillness in places. Nothing forced, nothing busy — just space. The Isle of Harris, in particular, stayed with me. The gin and whisky tour was class, but even just being there felt like enough.
After getting the boat back to the mainland, I drove down to the Isle of Skye — briefly — and that didn’t disappoint either, along with some of the best parts of the NC500, which came together properly — helped massively by the new Lonely Planet guide, which actually earned its place in the van. In my wisdom, I chose to stop over at my friend’s relatives’ caravan park in Inverness, not realising it would take me back north and out of my way… but that’s how I roll sometimes.
Interviews
This month was lighter, but two that stayed with me. Comedian Ian Stone is still searching — not in a big way, just in that everyday way most of us are, looking for the moments, the “wow”. No pretending, no big answers — just honesty. That always lands better.
Melanie C was a different kind of energy—one I couldn’t make in person, but still one I wanted in here. The person who did it for me didn’t want the credit, and I shaped it to make it land properly for you. Her new album Sweat feels like movement — not nostalgia, something more current than that.
Live Music — Gorillaz
Gorillaz was one of those nights that just stays with you. From the start, the place was up for it — no slow build, straight into it. And the crowd… I haven’t seen that level of participation since Oasis last year. Proper involvement. Not too many phones up, not half-watching — everyone on it.
by Carl Marsh
That’s what made it. You get good bands all the time, but when the crowd lifts it into something else, that’s when it sticks. Damon Albarn just lets it happen as well — no forcing it, just knowing when to step in and when to leave it alone. I’d relive this night over and over again in a heartbeat.
Live Music — James
There’s something about James live that never quite stands still. No coasting, no going through the motions — just constantly finding ways to keep it feeling fresh. There’s always a sense they’re still pushing it, still trying to make it mean something on the night. You don’t always get that. And it is always a highlight when Tim Booth gets into the crowd and walks around the arena singing amongst the masses. Quality.
Book Review — Journey North Coast 500 (£14.99, Amazon)
I do like to review books across different genres, and the new Lonely Planet NC500 guide is a good one. Simple, clear, and actually useful — which sounds obvious, but isn’t always the case. It doesn’t try too hard, just tells you where to go, what’s worth your time, and what isn’t.
What stood out was the balance — not just the obvious stops, but the quieter ones you’d drive past otherwise. A couple of those turned out to be highlights. It also doesn’t dress it up — some roads are tough, the weather turns quickly, and it says that.
If you’re doing the NC500, it’s worth having with you. And if you’re not sure what it is, this book will give you a good idea of why people keep talking about it.
That’s May done. Still drying out from Scotland… and already thinking about going back — maybe the Shetland Islands next time. But first, South Korea and Japan.
See you next month,
Carl Marsh
Twitter — @InTheWordsOf_CM YouTube — InTheWordsOf
INTERVIEW: IAN STONE
Words: Carl Marsh
Ahead of his return to Cardiff this May, comedian Ian Stone reflects on ageing, meaning, and why life’s about chasing moments of “wow” wherever you can find them.
Your new show searches for life’s missing magic — when did you first feel it slipping away?
Oh, well, no, I don’t feel it. I don’t think things are slipping away. As I get older, my overriding sense is that I just want to enjoy as much as I can for as long as I can. I went clubbing on Friday night… this woman said to me, “The secret is to die young as late as you can.” And I thought, yeah, that’s what it’s about. So that’s what I’m trying to do — die young as late as I possibly can. I need as much wow as I can get my hands on. It’s more about looking for fun wherever it is, as often as I can.
So is this show more hopeful than angry?
No, no, it is more hopeful. I mean, obviously I’m a Jewish man — of course I’m irritable and angry — but no, it’s hopeful. Of course it is, because I think hope is all we’ve got.
You joke about resisting spirituality — do you secretly envy people who believe easily?
No, not at all. The doubt is where the funny is to me. I don’t believe in anything. I understand spirituality, I understand that feeling you get when lots of believers are together — but I get that at the Arsenal, so I’m all right with it. It’s my religion. I’m happy with that, as opposed to some big beardy bloke in the sky.
Does comedy replace religion for you, or just help you deal with life?
Comedy doesn’t replace religion. Comedy is just
the way I deal with life. I’ve always done that, really, since I was a kid, and luckily, I found a way to monetise it.
Has getting older sharpened your sense of wonder?
No, no, I’m more in search of it now than I’ve ever been. I realise now that what life is about is those moments, really, so I’m looking for as many of them as I can.
You’ve called life humdrum — when does routine become the enemy?
I wouldn’t say routine is an enemy. You have to have some, otherwise life is chaos. You’ve got to do the admin — clean your teeth, look after yourself — so that when those moments come, you can enjoy them. If you’re watching your favourite band and suddenly think you’ve left the gas on, you can’t enjoy it. You’ve got to be on top of the routine stuff so you can have fun.
Does searching for meaning risk killing the joke?
I’m not really searching for meaning. I’m just looking for jokes, to be honest with you. I want to talk about real things, but I’m looking for what’s funny about them. There are no subjects off limits. If I can find something funny to say, I’ll say it.
Your humour often circles mortality — does comedy make death less frightening?
There’s nothing you can do about death. It’s inevitable. So no, it’s not even about staving it off — it’s about having as much fun as possible until it happens.
After all the searching and questioning, what do you want audiences to feel as they leave the show?
Happier. Happier, and just like a bit of joy. A bit of wow would be nice. I don’t want them to think it’s the greatest thing they’ve ever seen and start following me like a guru — I want people to enjoy the show.
Ian Stone brings his latest show - Looking for the Wow - to Glee Club Cardiff on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
INTERVIEW: MELANIE C
Edited: Carl Marsh
With her new album Sweat landing this May, Melanie C returns to her dance roots — channelling rave culture, energy, and pure release into her most liberated record yet.
This record feels freer, more physical — what changed for you creatively with Sweat?
So many things have changed. Every album I’ve ever made has been a reflection of that moment in my life. Over the last eight years, I’ve been DJing, playing festivals all over the world and at Pacha in Ibiza, and it really reignited my passion for dance music. I discovered raving when I was about 17… everybody was so free when they were dancing, and we were completely hooked. When I got back to London, I really got into that scene — it felt like our generation’s movement. Then, of course, the Spice Girls took over my life, and I almost left that part of me behind. So with this album, I revisited those early days and reclaimed who I was before all of that, bringing my solo work closer to what I play as a DJ and finding my own voice within it.
Did you approach this album more like building a DJ set than a traditional pop record?
I definitely approached things differently. The perspective of a DJ is very different from that of an artist, and I was really thinking about how I wanted the music to sound and how I wanted it to make you feel. As a live performer, I’m very energetic and confident, but in the studio, I’m quite different, so I had to find that person again and create music I could bring to life on stage. DJing has brought so much joy into my life, and I really wanted that to translate onto the album. A song like Sweat felt like the perfect introduction — it has that energy, it’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, like a fitness banger, and that became a thread throughout the record.
When you’re making these tracks, are you picturing the dancefloor rather than someone listening at home?
Yeah, 100%. I wasn’t thinking about people sitting at home — it was about the dancefloor, about motivating and inspiring people, whether that’s in a club or even in the gym. Something like Undefeated Champion — I can’t not smile when I hear it. It’s one of those self-empowerment anthems, picking yourself up when things have gone to sh*t. We all need that. And performing
has changed so much for me over the years. I’ve got such appreciation now for that transaction between you and the audience — when you meet fans, and they tell you how much they love the music, it gives you that boost and makes you want to get it out to as many people as possible.
After decades in the industry, what still keeps you creatively hungry?
I love what I do. I love performing, I love being on stage, releasing music and having that connection with people. We’re all so different, but we share so much, and it’s really beautiful to express ourselves and connect with others. That’s what keeps me going. And other people’s music inspires me too — seeing how things evolve, hearing new artists. I can’t imagine ever not wanting to make new music.
Your influence is now coming full circle — how does it feel hearing younger artists cite you as an inspiration?
It blows my mind. All of us Spice Girls are so proud of the legacy. We see so many artists who’ve been affected by it — and some of them inspire me now, which feels very full circle. What’s surprising is when it’s artists who weren’t even born when we started. You think, how do you know? But music gets passed down through generations — from siblings, from parents — and that’s really special to see.
If you had to sum up this Sweat era in a few words, what would they be?
Joyous. Energetic… and fun!
Melanie C’s new album Sweat is released on May 1, 2026.
Nicola Adams
In this month’s edition of Cardiff Times we look at the career of Nicola Adams whose achievements in boxing were vast. Sadly, her professional career did not last too long, but despite that she was still able to win a world title.
Adams was born on the 26 October 1982 in Leeds, West Yorkshire. When she started boxing in the amateur ranks it was apparent to the keen eye of those who followed the sport that she was a little special. Success didn’t come easy and she faced various obstacles along the way which she overcame in true championship style. Adams made her name at the 2012 Olympic Games which was staged in London. On that occasion she fought her way to the flyweight finals and out-pointed Ren Cancan of China over four rounds to claim her gold medal. It wasn’t easy, but then no-one thought it would be.
In the months which followed Adams won numerous championships; her trophy cabinet must have been stacked full. In fact, she would have had to have more than one cabinet to house the various prizes she had duly collected.
The Olympic Games came around once more, this time it was staged in Brazil in 2016. Adams once again fought her way through to the finals defeating a tough selection of fighters to do so. In the final she faced Sarah Ourahmoune of France. At the end of a very competitive bout she won a four round points decision and hence her second gold.
This was an achievement – winning one Olympic gold medal is special, let’s make no mistake about that, but two is truly outstanding. In fact, she is only the second British boxer to win two successive gold
by Ralph Oates
medals at the Olympics. The first was Harry Mallin who won a gold medal at middleweight at the 1920 games, which took place in Antwerp, Belgium outpointing Canada’s Art Prud’homme in the final. Mallin repeated his success in the middleweight division at the 1924 Olympics which took place in Paris, outpointing fellow Briton John Elliott in the final to collect his second gold.
It was evident that Adams, who was nicknamed The Lioness, would eventually turn her sights to the professional ranks. This she did, having her first paid bout on the 8 April 2017 which saw her out-point Virginia Noemi Carcamo at the Manchester Arena. Carcamo from Argentina came with a resume of 7 bouts with 4 victories, 2 defeats and 1 draw. This was a good start by Adams, who showed her boxing skills in this bout. She was next in action on the 13 May 2017 against Maryan Salazar of Mexico. The fight took place at First
Nicola Adams Courtesy of Philip Sharkey
Direct Arena in Leeds. Salazar had a resume of 6 bouts consisting of 5 wins and 1 defeat. The contest was scheduled for 4 rounds but concluded in the third stanza when the bout was stopped in Adams’ favour.
Adams next ventured to Canada on the 16 December 2017 where at the Place Bell, Laval in Quebec, she confronted Soledad Macedo of Uruguay who came into the ring with a slate of 29 contests winning 15, losing 13 with 1 draw. The fight was set for the duration of six rounds, but Adams stopped her opponent in the third session.
Adams was moving forward and her next date in the ring was on the 19 May 2018 at Elland Road Football Ground in Leeds. Adams stepped in with Soledad del Valle Frias of Argentina who had a resume of 28 bouts, winning 13, losing 11 with 4 drawn. The contest was set for 10 rounds, but Adams had an early night, stopping her opponent in the first stanza. All boxers welcome an early night – especially if they win.
On the 6 October 2018 Adams had her big night against Mexican Isabel Millan at the Leicester Arena. The fight was for the WBO interim world flyweight title. The winner would be well positioned to challenge for the full world title. Millan came with a resume of 27 bouts consisting of 22 wins, with 4 defeats, and 1 draw. She was very experienced and would not be easy to defeat. However Adams boxed well, earning a 10-round points decision.
Adams now had her sights firmly fixed on the reigning WBO champion, Arely Mucino of Mexico. Sadly, the two were not fated to meet. Mucino suffered an injury which put her out of action for a period of time. This meant that Adams was now upgraded to full WBO world flyweight champion. It was not the way she would have wanted to obtain the crown; she would have preferred to have won it in
the ring. However, the situation was no fault of hers and she could now look forward to defending the title.
On the 27 September 2019, she climbed between the ring to defend the crown against yet another Mexican fighter, Maria Salinas, at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Salinas arrived in the UK with a record of 31 fights, 21 wins, 7 defeats with 3 draws. It looked like a tough outing for Adams, but then once you are the champion of the world the fights are rarely easy. Adams was the favourite but it was a little disappointing for her since the contest was called a draw after 10 rounds. It would of course have been fantastic had she taken the win, but in boxing these things happen. At that point in time it looked as if a return bout between the two was very much on the cards. It was a natural match to make. That failed to happen since the Salinas contest proved to be the last professional bout for Adams. After just 6 fights, with 5 wins, and 1 draw, it was all over. It was reported that in her contest with Salinas she suffered a torn pupil which she felt at the time was only minor. However, it was reasoned that should she continue to box and thus received further blows to the eye there could be serious consequences. The sensible thing for her to do was to hang up the gloves. She loved her boxing, of that there was no doubt, it had played a big part in her life, but your health in such matters always comes first.
Adams was the first female boxer to receive an award from the Boxing Writers Club of Great Britain. She received an MBE in 2013 and an OBE in 2017. It must not be forgotten that she was the first ever lady boxer to win an Olympic gold medal. Nicola Adams can look back at a fantastic career both amateur and professional. What she did to advance the cause of women’s boxing was truly outstanding.
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“I’M
FINE” IS NOT ENOUGH! Cardiff’s need for earlier mental health support
• Cardiff’s mental health challenge will not be solved only in crisis services: prevention, early intervention and accessible support must come much earlier.
• Mind Cymru’s figures show thousands of people across Wales waiting more than six months for specialist psychological therapies, with many waiting a year or longer.
• Cardiff needs a wider mental health safety net: NHS services, voluntary-sector support, youth hubs, schools, sport clubs, workplaces, online courses, self-study resources, one-to-one therapy and hybrid options all working together.
• Cardiff Times’ Mental Health Partners, The Brain Gym, exclusively offers to our readers instantaccess self-study courses, information, articles and free resources or discounted 1:1 support and hybrid options at www.thebraingym.org.
Cardiff must build a wider safety net for mental health
There is a quiet sentence many people in Cardiff will recognise: “I’m fine.”
It is said at school gates, in staff rooms, on buses, in GP waiting rooms, in sports clubs, in family kitchens, and during those ordinary moments when someone asks how we are and we do not quite know whether they have the time, space or emotional bandwidth to hear the truth.
Across Wales, we have become very good at carrying on. We work. We parent. We study. We pay bills. We look after others. We answer emails. We put the bins out. We smile when we can. We say we are fine because, often, that feels easier than explaining that sleep has gone, anxiety is rising, confidence has shrunk, and life has begun to feel like something to survive rather than something to live.
But Cardiff, like the rest of Wales, is now facing a mental health challenge that cannot be answered only by telling people to be more resilient. Resilience is not a private virtue
that people either have or lack. It is built - or broken - by housing, income, community, work, schools, loneliness, pressure, services, relationships and hope.
The Welsh Government’s current mental health and wellbeing strategy for 2025-2035 is clear that Wales must focus more strongly on prevention, early intervention, and ensuring people reach the right support without delay. Public Health Wales has also warned of a continuing rise in mental health difficulties among children and young people, highlighting the need for early action across families, schools and communities.
The waiting room before the waiting list
When people talk about mental health, we often jump straight to crisis: breakdown, hospital, medication, diagnosis, emergency intervention. Of course, crisis care matters. For some people, it saves lives.
But there is another place we need to talk about: the waiting room before the waiting list.
This is where thousands of people live every day. They are not always in immediate danger. They may not meet the threshold for specialist support. They may not know how to explain what is wrong. They may have been told to self-refer, wait, call back, try online advice, or come back if things get worse.
And while they wait, life continues to press.
A teenager becomes afraid of school. A parent stops sleeping. A carer burns out. A young man drinks more than he means to. A nurse goes home numb. A teacher gives everything to the classroom and has nothing left for themselves. A retired person sees fewer people each week. A university student starts missing lectures. A small-business owner feels permanently hunted by bills, targets and expectations.
These are not small things. They are the early warning lights of human distress.
Mind Cymru’s figures make the scale of the problem painfully clear. Freedom of Information data gathered from Wales’ seven local health boards found that around 2,000 adults a month with moderate and severe mental health problems are still waiting more than six months for specialist psychological therapies, with more than 750 waiting a year or longer. Mind Cymru also reported that as many as 7,500 people may be on talking-therapy waiting lists across Wales in any given month, with an average of nearly 6,000 people waiting each month since April 2019. The charity has warned that, because of gaps and inconsistencies in how waiting-list data is collected and published, even these figures may not fully reveal the true level of unmet need. For Cardiff, this means early, practical and accessible support is not a luxury extra - it is part of the safety net people need while the formal system struggles to keep up.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is currently under level 4 targeted intervention, with the Welsh Government noting concerns including finance, quality, planned care waiting times, and leadership and governance challenges. That does not mean staff are not working hard. Quite the opposite. It means the system itself is under serious strain.
So the question for Cardiff is not simply: “How do we treat mental illness once it has fully arrived?”
The better question is: “How do we help people earlier, more kindly, more practically and more locally?”
Mental health is not just an NHS issue
The NHS is essential. GPs, mental health nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, support workers and crisis teams do work that can be deeply skilled, patient and humane.
But mental health cannot be left to the NHS alone.
If someone is lonely, what they need is connection. If someone is frightened of the future, they need support and agency. If someone is overwhelmed at work, they need boundaries and a culture change. If a child is anxious, they need adults who can help them name, regulate and understand their feelings. If a young person is being bullied, they need safety, not slogans. If someone is living in poverty, they need more than a breathing exercise.
We need a public mental health culture in Cardiff that is wider than treatment and deeper than awareness days.
Awareness matters. But awareness without access can become frustrating. We tell people to speak up, then they discover there is a queue. We tell children their feelings matter, then schools and families are left trying to manage need without enough support. We tell men not to bottle things up, but many still do not know where to go before reaching their crisis point.
Cardiff Times has carried mental health stories before, including reporting that many people in Wales put on a “brave face” rather than speak openly about distress. That phrase matters because it captures something culturally familiar: the smile used as armour.
Now we need the next step. Not just permission to talk, but routes to help.
The missing middle
One of the biggest mental health gaps is the “missing middle”: people who are struggling enough to need support, but not always severely enough to receive specialist care quickly.
They may need psychoeducation, group support, mindfulness, practical tools, low-cost courses, short-term counselling, coaching-informed wellbeing support, peer connection, or structured self-help. They may need a GP. They may need therapy. They may need crisis care. But many need something before the cliff edge.
In Cardiff and the Vale, there are useful routes. Cardiff and the Vale Action for Mental Health provides directories of mental health organisations and resources, including urgent help, voluntary-sector services, training, helplines and community support. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s Psychological Therapies Hub offers group and individual therapies, including CBT groups, emotion regulation skills and mindfulness-based stress reduction, following referral through mental health services.
For young people, The Hangout, developed by Platfform with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, offers open-access support, drop-in help, scheduled one-to-one sessions and wellbeing groups, with services available in Cardiff and Barry. Its recent expansion in Barry shows the kind of accessible, community-facing provision that can make support feel less clinical and more reachable.
These are exactly the kinds of services Cardiff needs more of: visible, local, practical, emotionally safe and easy to enter.
Schools, sport and workplaces must become part of the answer
Cardiff is a city of schools, universities, clubs, offices, public services, hospitals, hospitality venues, creative industries and communities. Mental health support should not be hidden away behind specialist doors only.
In schools, we need emotional literacy to be as normal as exam preparation. Children should learn how thoughts, actions, relationships, sleep, movement, food, self-talk and belonging affect their brains and bodies.
In sport, we need to stop pretending performance is only physical. Stress, anxiety, depression, confidence, family pressure, injury, selection disappointment and identity all affect how young athletes train and play.
In workplaces, we need more than posters about wellbeing. People need psychologically informed management, realistic workloads, humane absence policies, burnout prevention, and signposting that does not feel like a box-ticking exercise.
In families, we need ways to talk about mental health without panic or shame. Parents do not need to become therapists. But they do need simple, compassionate tools for listening, regulating and guiding.
In communities, we need safe spaces where people can belong before they break.
Prevention is not soft. It is serious
There is still a dangerous idea that prevention is somehow fluffy. It is not.
Prevention is the teenager who learns how to manage anxiety before it becomes school refusal. It is the father who asks
for help before anger damages his family. It is the nurse who learns how to decompress before compassion fatigue becomes collapse. It is the carer who finds support before exhaustion becomes depression. It is the older person who joins a group before loneliness hardens into despair.
Prevention saves suffering. It also saves money, pressure and time.
The Welsh Government’s direction of travel is right: early intervention, connected support, equity of access and services that help people before deterioration. The challenge is making that real on the ground - in Ely, Splott, Grangetown, Llanishen, Butetown, Canton, Rumney, Cathays, Roath, Llandaff, Llanrumney, Whitchurch and every part of the city.
The planned Park View Health and Wellbeing Hub in Ely, expected to bring together GP, mental health, neurodiversity, early intervention and family wellbeing services, is an encouraging sign of more joined-up thinking. But it is due to open in 2028. Cardiff needs long-term infrastructure, yes, but it also needs help that people can reach now.
A more hopeful model for Cardiff
The old model was simple: struggle privately, wait until things worsen, then seek help.
The new model should be different.
It should say: Learn early. Talk early. Notice early. Support early. Refer early. Rest early. Reconnect early. Practise early. Ask early.
That means NHS services, voluntary-sector directories, youth hubs, school-based support, sport programmes, workplace wellbeing, online courses, self-study resources, one-to-one therapy and hybrid support all working as parts of the same wider culture.
Not everyone needs the same level of care. But everyone deserves a route into support.
Where The Brain Gym fits
This is also where instant access and short waiting lists can make a real difference.
The Brain Gym and its sister provider, Presenting Mindfulness, offer self-study courses, information, articles and free resources through The Brain Gym website, including practical mental health education and mindfulness-based tools that people can access without waiting for a formal appointment. For many people, this kind of support is not a replacement for therapy, medical care or crisis intervention. But it can be a bridge.
A bridge matters.
It gives someone something to do tonight, not in six months. It gives language to the person who cannot yet explain what is happening. It helps people understand stress, anxiety, overthinking, confidence, emotional regulation, habits, relationships, purpose and recovery in plain English. It gives families, employers, schools and individuals a way to begin.
The Brain Gym is “The Matrix of Mental Health” and also offers one-to-one support and hybrid options that combine online resources with personalised therapeutic support where appropriate. This matters because not everyone wants the
same doorway into help. Some people want private oneto-one work. Some want low-cost self-study. Some want a group. Some want a blend. Some need to start gently, anonymously, in their own time, before they are ready to talk.
This is not about replacing public services. It is about widening the mental health ecosystem so that fewer people are left with nothing while they wait.
Cardiff’s mental health challenge is serious. But the answer does not have to be despair. We already know many of the ingredients: prevention, education, community, early intervention, accessible therapy, practical tools, peer support, nature, movement, creativity, belonging and timely professional care. The task now is to connect them. Because “I’m fine” should never be the only sentence available to someone who is quietly falling apart.
To see the complete catalogue of courses and free resources, see www.thebraingym.org/cardiff-times and use the code CARDIFFTIMES1 to instantly access a free self-study course worth up to £29.99.
There is something there for everyone!
By Gareth Strangemore-Jones (Alchemy Life Therapy & The Brain Gym)
MHFA, DCST, PDPCP, HPD, DSFH, DMH, AHD, MNCPS (Reg.), MNCH (Reg.), MAfSFH (Reg.), MCNHC (Reg.), FSE (Fellow), IFfS (Assoc.), NCTJ, MSC-CPA, PGCE I & II
Mental Health First Aider | Pluralistic Counsellor | Clinical Psychotherapist | Consultant Medical Hypnotherapist | Mindfulness Teacher | PGCE-Trained Teacher | Lecturer | Corporate Trainer | Workplace Wellbeing Consultant | PR & Marketing Consultant | Psychology & Behaviour Advisor | Author | Journalist | Broadcaster
Advocate for Mental Health, People & Planet
Website: www.alchemylifetherapy.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/garethsj/
ALCHEMY LIFE THERAPY
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Clinical Psychotherapy & Counselling for Stress, Anxiety, Depression
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Sharing is Caring
by Natalie McCulloch
“Sharing is Caring” is a phrase often bandied around in relation to a number of scenarios and situations – but what about in relation to going to gigs or watching a football match?
The famous US actor, Lenoard Nimoy, (yes that’s Spock from Star Trek) famously stated that “The miracle is this: the more we share, the more we have” and whilst this can take a few moments to get your head around, it is certainly applicable when you view it in relation to shared experiences and community events.
However, for the 1.5 million people in the UK with learning disabilities, attending such events can be challenging for a range of reasons such as anxiety, accessibility, and most importantly – companionship. Often support workers do not have capacity to provide support past 9pm and thus experiences such as staying to see the final score or getting to join in shouting “encore!” as the curtains come down, can be unavailable to people who need additional support.
This is exactly what Gig Buddies Cymru aims to eradicate! They want everyone to have the
opportunity to cheer at the winning goal, to be the last person on the dance floor or simply to see the end of a show!
Gig Buddies is a nationwide charity befriending scheme that was set up to help adults with a learning disability and autistic adults to overcome loneliness and social isolation and consequently impact their health and wellbeing! Participants are paired up with a volunteer gig buddy who shares the same interests and the gig buddy pairs then enjoy monthly activities together. This can be anything from concerts, theatre or museums, to sport, bird watching, theme parks or just a nice walk in the country.
Being a gig buddy is mutually beneficial –volunteers get to share their interests and hobbies with a new friend, plus experience lots of things they may not have tried before. For participants it is life changing. Research from the Brighton charity Stay Up Late, who first developed the Gig Buddies concept, found that on an average Friday night at 8.30pm, 70% of adults with a learning disability are either in bed or getting ready for bed – only 7% are out of their home with friends.
In Wales, Gig Buddies is run by the national charity Learning Disability Wales, who set up Gig Buddies Cymru in Cardiff in 2018. Since then, it has expanded across Wales and currently has projects in Neath, Port Talbot and Swansea, and across north Wales.
Gig buddy participant Sophie has been with her buddy Gareth for nearly 7 years. In this time, they have been to drag shows, wrestling, murder-mystery events and last year went to see Alanis Morissette. “Gig Buddies is brilliant,” said Sophie. “It’s friendly and they treat people like how we want to be treated. I love my buddy. He is amazing and funny. I am happy I found someone like him. It has changed my life.”
People with a learning disability often need support to help them live the life they want to live. Could you be that person for someone via the Gig Buddy scheme?
As a gig buddy you can use your love of music, the arts, sport, culture and fun to help somebody else in your community to socialise and enjoy new experiences. Gig buddies are matched with people with learning disabilities/ autism on shared interests so they can enjoy social activities together. And so the magic begins!
Just think - a few of your hours every month could change someone’s life.
As forementioned, there are approximately 1.5 million people in the UK living with a learning disability and approximately 54,000 adults with a learning disability in Wales. A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability, usually identified soon after birth or in the early years. It will last a person’s whole life. People with learning disabilities may take longer to learn and need support to develop new skills, understand information or interact with other people. They may have difficulties with everyday activities such as household tasks, money management or socialising. Other people with learning disabilities may need more support including personal care, safety awareness and community access. However, even though a learning disability is permanent, many people can still develop skills throughout their lives and, with the right community awareness and social support, people with a learning disability can thrive!
Do you have the time to be that support for someone and gift them your time?
Rick Warren, a noted author and pastor, has observed:
“Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you’ll never get back”.
If you are interested in becoming a gig buddy, please do not hesitate to get in touch!
As a gig buddy you will be able to undertake FREE training and access ongoing advice and support – and you’ll get a new buddy too! No skills are needed – just a sense of fun, reliability and ability to commit around 6-12 hours a month to go out with your gig buddy. The charity provides a free DBS check for all new volunteers.
All you have to do is send an email to gigbuddies@ldw.org.uk or phone 02920 681160 and the friendly team will send you an application form and begin the process of getting a safety police check to ensure everyone is safe!
If you are interested in getting a gig buddy, reach out to the team today!
The team will match you with a gig buddy for free, to help you attend events you may find challenging. You can go to one event per month, join group activities, or meet online. The team works to ensure each person gets suitable support.
Gig Buddies will also be providing an inclusive calm space at Blackweir Live in June and July.
If you are over 18 and interested in getting a gig buddy, please contact gigbuddies@ldw.org.uk, or phone 02920 681160.
There could be an array of exciting experiences awaiting you and your gig buddy in 2026!
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