Today | 7 days

John Paul Maunders, director of the Midsummer Festival, held at Duffryn Gardens in June, talks about his life in the Vale Tell us a bit about yourself I am currently on a career break from South Wales Police working for the Welsh Local Government Association as team leader of Excellence Wales, a scheme set up to identify good practice in Welsh local government, making sure it is shared to improve standards of service. During my early days with the police I spent many years patrolling the streets of Barry, Penarth, Cowbridge and Llantwit Major and as a Diversity Trainer before taking up the opportunity to experience the outside' world in an attempt to add more skills to my repertoire! I am also festival director of the annual open air Midsummer Festival of Music and Theatre which this year runs from June 16 to 29 at Dyffryn Gardens. I have been involved in the theatre as an actor, director and over the past five years as a writer, having written two successful family musicals. Most recently I have written, directed and produced two short films.

A Barry-born academic is celebrating after being given a prestigious award for his achievements in mechanics.

The visit of the Archbishop of Wales, the Very Reverend Dr Barrie Morgan, to the small listed redundant church of St Lawrence at Lavernock Point, between Penarth and Sully, in December has been hailed as an enormous success by the Friends of St Lawrence.

A £1m programme of environmental and community projects is set to provide a further boost to the major renewal area initiative transforming central Penarth.

VCL: Tell us about yourself Ted Arbuthnot: I am Ted Arbuthnot, an optician in Barry. Apparently I have been in practice there for 33 years (but I don't believe it). In fact the practice, which is the largest independent in the Vale, has been in existence for almost 75 years, and virtually in the hands of just two people, myself and the well known and still thriving 96 year old Norman Alexander. I am also married and the father of five daughters so I may have to work for another 33 years yet!

From this block of stone a country house may be refurbished, a statue may be brought back to life, or something new and exciting may be built. Jo Barnes visited a Barry-based stonemasons to find out what the job entails.

The Egerton Grey Country House Hotel recently had two very special guests to stay - the Prince of Wales and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall.