Alan Rustad

Alan Rustad was for a decade the “face” of television news in Wales as senior anchorman of HTV’s nightly news programme “Wales at Six”. He has worked as a reporter and sub editor, as well as a freelance contributor to BBC Radio London, now London Live. He later moved into television by joining HTV Wales (now ITV Wales) as the station’s first English language reporter for news and current affairs programmes to cover North Wales.

Alan later went on to form AR Communications in August 1999, an agency that covers public relations, media production and training. Alan has previously written the Guinness Cricket Encyclopedia published in 1995.

Books by this author

• > Cooks & Kids

Andrew Isaac

Andrew, trained at the Westminster Hotel School, has spent his career in roles related to Marketing, Sales and Communications. He has worked for a number of Hospitality and Customer Service related organisations including Marriott and Sodexo. He has extensive experience in the independent sector service provision to the public sector, particularly Healthcare.

In his current role, Andrew has been able to consolidate his experience to support the marketing and communication needs for the National Fostering Agency and their proposition ‘children are the heart of everything we do’. With a passion for food continuing from his Hotel days, a commitment to involve children and young people, and the combined support of some really good chefs, the concept of Cooks and Kids was born.

Books by this author

• > Cooks & Kids

Andy Davies

Andy Davies was born in Cardiff in 1962 and spent nearly every holiday in his family’s caravan, just above the limestone cliffs of Southgate in south Gower. He studied Geology at Swansea University, Marine Geology and Geophysics at University College of London and Environmental Land Management at Cardiff University. Andy now lives with his wife and two sons near Marloes, Pembrokeshire, where he continues to work in marine nature conservation.

Books by this author

• > Coastline Wales

Andy Pearson

A journalist of 23 years, Andy took the Llanelli Star to several national awards as editor (2002-06). He has worked as a reporter for the Western Mail and as a sub-editor and features editor with the principality’s biggest selling newspaper, the South Wales Evening Post. In the late 1990s he was a key driver in the launch and development of a series of South Wales nostalgia books that topped local sales charts.

Andy was born in Brecon and raised in Yorkshire. He lives in Swansea with wife Claire, son Evan and daughter Millie. He rides around town on his beloved 125cc Vespa. His other passions include Huddersfield Town AFC, cricket, Timothy Taylor Landlord pale ale, ska, reggae, blues and jazz.

Books by this author

• > Cool Cymru

Archie Miles

Archie Miles has previously worked as an assistant to renowned Time & Life photojournalist Brian Seed throughout the UK. He began to write professionally with articles on country/travel matters for magazines such as Country Talk and The Countryman. He has authored, photographed and project managed several books on trees, including Common British Trees, Great British Trees, Heritage Trees of Scotland, Heritage Trees of Britain & Northern Ireland, The Trees that made Britain, and The Hidden Trees of Britain. Archie has appeared on live and recorded radio programmes across various regions and featured in two programmes of the first series of The Trees that made Britain – BBC2 (2006).

Heritage Trees of Wales by Archie Miles will be published April 2012.

Books by this author

• > Heritage Trees Wales

Bryan Webb

Bryan has been actively involved in cooking since his early teens. It all started in Whitebrook, South Wales, in the mid-seventies with Sonia and Neville Blech, the first ever restauranteurs in Wales to attain a Michelin Star. After four years in Swansea at the famous Drangway restaurant with Colin Pressdee, Bryan, aged 24, took control of his first kitchen and began his stepping stone to Hilaire where he remained for fourteen years.

In the autumn of 2002, Bryan and Susan purchased Tyddyn Llan from Peter and Bridget Kindred, who had for the past 20 years built Tyddyn Llan’s reputation for fine hospitality. Since the Webbs took over they have built on Tyddyn Llan’s reputation to make it one of the finest restaurants with rooms in the country. Bryan and Susan look forward to welcoming you into their home.

Books by this author

• > Bryan Webb's Kitchen

Caroline Leech

Caroline Leech is a public relations consultant and writer, specialising in the performing arts. She was Head of Press and Public Affairs at Welsh National Opera until the end of 2005. Her move to Wales followed nine years in the Press Office at the Arts Council of England, in London. Caroline is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, and lives in South Wales with her husband and three children. Her favourite opera is Verdi’s Don Carlos.

Books by this author

• > Welsh National Opera

Chris Howells

Chris Howells first visited Caldey when he worked with his partner Sara on a television project for BBC Wales, Magic Islands. Since then they have been regular visitors. Other television series Chris has worked on include Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones, So What Do You Do All Day? with Adrian Chiles, BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Scrum V and Welsh Rugby in the Noughties.

Books by this author

• > Caldey Island

Colin Pressdee

Colin Pressdee is a writer and broadcaster, regularly presenting on Great Food Live, UKTV Food Channel and BBC Radio Wales. He has written several articles for national press such as the Observer, The Times and BBC Good Food Magazine. He has also been a member of the judging panel at the Wales the True Taste
Food and Drink Awards for several years.

Books by this author

• > Food Wales - a second helping
• > Golf Wales
• > Food Wales eating out guide second edition
• > London Oyster Guide