From childminding to modelling!

These people may have been made redundant, taken early retirement, or had to give up work through ill health. but who have long nurtured an idea that they wanted to explore.

Set up three years ago, PRIME has already been instrumental in creating more than 600 businesses in Wales, and its team of fifteen client advisors, who are spread throughout the Principality, is currently assisting around 1,750 individuals from all walks of life who are debating whether or not to realise their long held ambitions.

Based in Mid Wales, PRIME Cymru is the brainchild of the His Royal Highness Prince Charles, who thought the work done for the younger generation through the Prince of Wales Trust could be emulated for budding mature entrepreneurs.

Such has been the success of PRIME Cymru that staff have been in talks with representatives from Northern Ireland, who are keen to mirror the success achieved by them.

Operations Director, John Quinton-Adams, said PRIME had always planned to be the 'flagship' of the Prince's initiative. "Subsequently, we have been asked to facilitate Prime Northern Ireland which is in line with HRH's original plans."

He added, "The idea is to let others benefit from our experience. We will have a strong but guiding influence from the start, but once PRIME Northern Ireland is up and running it will stand alone."

Recently, the Prince was in Carmarthen where he spoke to a number of PRIME Cymru clients from all over Wales, who have already become self employed for one reason or another.

Not surprisingly, their businesses are as varied as they are creative, and include people who have gone on to study alternative medicines, run nurseries, become fashion designers, not to mention turning their talents to traditional skills such as carpentry, bricklaying and plumbing.

If you are interested in finding out more about Prime Cymru, you can visit the website on www.prime-cymru.co.uk or contact them at 16 Stryd Cerrig, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. SA20 0JP or telephone 01550 721813

Writer

Former fireman Vaughan Thomas knows all there is to know about tackling heat and flames.

And it's with this background that he has written his first book, a passionate adventure featuring a young man who, despite having a girlfriend, is smitten by an older woman.

Entitled "The Chaste Fireman," 57 year-old Vaughan from Adam Close in Usk, fans the flames of passion, and although the paperback is written tongue in cheek, the author admits some of it relates to personal experiences.

He describes the book as "light hearted and on the lines of The Virgin Soldiers."

Vaughan, a former leading fireman, was invalided out of the West Midlands Fire service after 23 years, following an accident in which he injured his neck and back while tackling a roof blaze."

He added, "I wrote "The Chaste Fireman" as an antidote for all the writing I did before. When I finished it I sent it to people who read books as a profession to gauge their response, their reaction was positive but I couldn't get a publisher so I decided to publish it myself."

The book is now on sale in the fire service college in the Midlands together with shops in Newport, Abergavenny and Blaenavon.

Photographer

From studying photography at a top French university, to working as a chef in Disneyland Paris.

That's the remarkable story of Ystrad Mynach man Dewi Morgan, aged 53, who has spent the past 15 years in Paris having gained a degree at the city's Institute of Photography.

He covered numerous events in Paris, including major fashion shows, but has now returned to his roots to look after his ageing mother at her home in Edward Street, Ystrad Mynach.

It was while working as a chef at Disneyland Paris, having trained at the College of Food Technology in Cardiff, that his employers discovered that not only was he a talented chef, but was also a qualified photographer.

His recent exhibition of photographs at the Enterprise Ideas gallery in Cowbridge marked the re-launch of his time behind the lens.

He plans to target interior designers and galleries with his work and he's not short of subject matter either having over 30,000 negatives collected over the years.

Model

Glamorous model Silka Casey is not just a pretty face. She is also an astute business woman.

After more than thirty years working as a photographic and catwalk model, she has set up "Catwalk Wales" using models of all ages to promote not only fashion but also major events.

Silka, a youthful 56, is already planning next year's celebrations in Cardiff to celebrate its centenary year and she's looking for women of all ages from Wales to take part.

She is setting up a database of models, although she stresses, "I am not setting up a modelling agency." She wants to hear from bright, vibrant models whatever their age. "I particularly want to hear from women over the age of 50 who feel they have something to offer the modelling industry, and are happy to take part in these catwalk events."

She says, "Fashion is my passion. I have a good eye for fabrics and styling thanks to my art and textile background. Therefore it does give me a great advantage when I am styling a show."

She is already targeting shopping centres, department stores and independent retailers using hotels, conference centres, nightclubs, castles and car dealerships.

Buggy Repairer

Former aero engineer Byron Swales is lucky enough to be mixing business with pleasure thanks to his new found company.

A keen golfer, the 59 year-old aircraft mechanic from Pontypridd has set up business servicing and repairing golf buggies. Byron worked for Saudi Arabian Airlines in Jeddah for 18 years before returning home a few months ago because of the political situation in the Middle East.

Byron originally considered building and repairing classic cars, but says the work and cost involved more than outweighed the return. "I restored an MGB sports car but it is not worth the money I spent on it. I knew then that idea wouldnt work, so I decided to work on golf buggies instead."

Since setting up CBS Golf Buggy Repairs, Byron has canvassed 25 local golf clubs in South Wales and already has a growing list of clients. "There are 50 golf clubs with a 40 mile radius of my home, so if I only get one buggy to repair from each of them that's 50 buggies, which should keep me busy for a while."

Byron is targeting the older golfers in particular. He says, "Young people pull their golf bags on a trolley, while older people, when they get to a certain age, like a buggy. Some golfers suffer from rheumatism and they either have to use a buggy or not play."

He has a purpose built garage to house those buggies under repair, or he will travel to customers and carry out the work on site.

Byron Swales can be contacted on 01443 491019 or 0796 0778924

Orchid Grower

With score years and ten under his belt, 70 year West Walian David Sandy is looking to enjoy the sweet smell of success with his latest venture growing orchids.

David, from New Moat, Clarbeston Road, Haverfordwest, has taken over a nursery on the Gower where he currently stores hundreds of the exotic plants in a row of greenhouses.

In starting up the business, Preseli Orchids, David has achieved a life long ambition in running his own nursery. He said, "I initially started cultivating orchids 50 years ago while working in a nursery in the Midlands. Then after National Service I went to work in a nursery in Sussex, where I looked after 30 greenhouses. There I experimented in growing orchids and it is those methods used then that I will be using now."

David was unable to buy suitable premises in West Wales, but was lucky enough to come across a nursery on Gower owned by his new found business partner Ken Hewins, where he is currently clearing out old greenhouses to make way for more of the exotic flowers.

"I have located stock from various parts of the world and I have thousands of seedlings which take four years to grow. I also have millions of seeds waiting to be sown."

David says since the nursery's been set up, local florists have "gone mad" ordering as many as he can supply. He added, "We are targeting housewives who want them as pot plants and using them as cut flowers for wedding bouquets."

Childminder

At 64 years of age most men dream of putting their feet up or enjoying such pleasurable pastimes as playing golf, but not Michael Hatch. He's just qualified as a registered childminder and admits to loving his latest role.

Mike from Rhyl in Denbighshire, a former civil servant in the Met Office and schools lay inspector, was the only man on the course and admits to receiving some surprised glances from his fellow classmates.

"Everyone on the course was very helpful. There was no ageism," he said, "Now I am looking forward to the challenge. I am quite chuffed, bemused as to how I got there.

"I'm helping to lead the grey evolution," he joked.

Mike, from Lower Foel Road, Dyserth, who spent 21 years at sea on weather ships, decided to become a registered childminder after his daughter gave birth to a baby boy nearly two years ago. He takes up the story, "When my daughter got a job in London she was looking for care for her son. On the spur of the moment I suggested I take it on.

"My experience as a young evacuee and being away when my own children were growing up, I think, acted as a catalyst to my solving her problem.

"At her suggestion I became a registered childminder. With no idea as to what was involved I said yes to her suggestion and now four months later, and wise to what was involved, I am very pleased to become a registered childminder."

Mike looks after his grandson, also named Michael, 24 hours a day for five or six days. "Half the fun of this is it is a challenge, something new. It was daunting at first but now I have more confidence than when I started although I still get the panics, particularly when Michael had to have his MMR jab."

* All photographs supplied by David Merchant - Welsh Nostalgia