News Roundup

Quite a lot going on in town this week, and all of it a bit "bitty" to do individual posts.
Last night was Open Mic night, and a lady from the USA was singing (so was a bookseller from Scotland, but I think he only has the one song!). She was so good, she's been offered a paid gig on Friday!
I wouldn't have thought the News of the World scandal could reach as far as Hay, but it seems I was wrong. Isobel Hulsman's son was murdered 24 years ago in London, and she's been trying to get justice for him ever since. He was a private detective, and his partner has been arrested more than once in connection with his murder, but it has never come to trial. This partner, Jonathan Rees, has worked for News of the World, and Andy Coulson re-hired him when he came out of prison for perverting the course of justice in another case. The man who led the most recent re-investigation of the murder case (which collapsed when it came to court) was Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who is also implicated in the News of the World scandal. It's all there in this week's B&R. It's not just a local gossip paper, as some people think - they do serious national reporting as well!
Also on the front page is the now ex-head of Brecon High School, who has decided to 'retire' after being suspended.
There's happier news on the inside pages, with Karen Smart having a Bond style 50th birthday celebration at Llangoed Hall, complete with helicopter, Aston Martin and ice sculptures. Karen now works for the Hall, but I remember her when she ran the pine furniture shop on Backfold, and started the local Persian cat rescue centre (which branched out to other cats, but she always had a thing about Persians). So she had the Bond villain cat as well! Karen also made a splash in the B&R when she met Bill Clinton, when he visited the Hay Festival and a banquet was held in a marquee in the Castle Grounds.
And Buster Grant from Breconshire Brewery is seen raising a pint glass at the start of the Brecon Beer Festival, which was held at the Boar's Head in Brecon.