There was no shortage of excellent athletes in Section V for the 2024-25 academic year. But some stood out above the rest.

King Charles has approved the appointment of former Welsh rugby star Alun Wyn Jones as Honorary Colonel of 3rd Battalion the Royal Welsh.

Alun Wyn is the most capped rugby player in history having played for Wales 158 times and 12 times for the British and Irish Lions including captaining the side on their previous tour to South Africa in 2021.

Colonel of the Regiment, Major General Chris Barry, said: “It is an honour for us to bring into the fold a true Welsh warrior who has served and led the national rugby team of Wales and the British and Irish Lions and the most capped rugby player in history.”

He replaces Brigadier Russ Wardle, the former head of the Army in Wales, in the role and will serve as an ambassador for Wales.

Maj Gen Barry said: “The Regimental Headquarters, on behalf of all ranks of The Royal Welsh, would like to thank the outgoing Honorary Colonel of 3 Royal Welsh, Brigadier Russ Wardle OBE DL, for more than 11 years of outstanding leadership and service to the regimental family. We wish him all the very best for the future.”

Alun Wyn will wear military uniform in the role and is humbled to be appointed, saying: “Having played in our great stadium and seeing the men and women in uniform holding our national flag, it was always a significant and poignant symbol of the history and connection to the military in Wales.

“There was also the iconic Royal Welsh Band serving to provide acoustics in the stadium, which is something that I enjoyed as much as a player as I continue to do now as a fan. 

“My apprehension was borne out of the responsibility felt while wearing the red jersey and all that comes with representing our nation. Learning more about the history of The Royal Welsh, particularly Sir Tasker Watkins, who served in the Welsh Regiment and his heroism and commitment to Wales and Welsh rugby, made it something I couldn’t turn down.

“I’m looking forward to learning more about 3 Royal Welsh and also share my experience of leadership in sport and the experience of leaving one career and moving into another.

“The fact that personnel serving with 3rd Battalion also have day jobs also sparked an awareness that reservists are all around us in civilian life.
 
“Yes, the uniform I’ll wear in this role will be very different to what I’m used to, but one I will be equally proud to wear as any jersey in my playing career and represent 3 Royal Welsh and Wales.”

By OBA Staff
•
July 18, 2025

Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — The City of Foley is moving ahead with plans to expand its pedestrian trail system by adding a new walking path along Wolf Creek. The project, known as the Schreiber Trail, would stretch between the Wilbourne Antique Rose Trail and North Poplar Street. It will follow the south bank of the creek…

If you were planning on protecting your peace, Giveon has other plans.

American singer-songwriter Giveon Dezmann Evans dropped his second studio album “BELOVED” on July 11. The 14 tracks give listeners 38 minutes of an emotional rollercoaster by holding a magnifying glass to every phase of getting over a breakup.

‘BELOVED’ also pays homage to ‘70s rhythm and blues, which relied heavily on strong instrumentals and soulful vocals. This is for those who’ve lingered on a dead love for too long before moving on.

The intro reflects the recovery stage of a fresh breakup. “MUD” kicks things off with a magical instrumental that continues throughout the entire album. While the music shines in this intro song, the lyrics cannot go unnoticed. “When you tell your story, it means telling everything about me” speaks the same as Fleetwood Mac’s “you’ll never get away from the sound of a woman that loves you.”

This also touches on one of the main themes in the album: the struggle of finding who you are outside of a relationship. It’s not uncommon to feel like the person you are after a breakup is too reflective of your ex. “RATHER BE” dives into the reality of settling out of convenience despite having someone else on your mind. It’s a waste of time, especially when Giveon knows he’d “rather be with you than the other half of someone who’s not even half of you.”

“TWENTIES” is Giveon realizing he spent too much of his youth with someone who was never going to be the right one. He thought he was growing alongside them, when in reality everything he learned to love was just because his partner loved it.

Like he said, though, he “hung onto you ‘cause I didn’t know better, I just felt like time was running out … I was so young and dumb.” For all the 20-somethings, do you also feel the weight of the world? Why is the success of our personal lives judged side by side with the success of our love lives? Sometimes young love strikes in frantic moments, and that’s why we settle for less.

“STRANGERS” shows the grief and anger before realizing it’s time to move on. I’m sure you’ve also found yourself thinking, “how’d we go from I love you, to how you been?” about someone you thought would be in your life forever.

“NUMB” has that same beautiful instrumental and complementary background vocals. It’s about hitting that rock bottom feeling after a breakup, when you think there’s no coming back from the pain. You “don’t even feel, don’t even fight, don’t know the days and I don’t know the nights.” This in combination with the fact that he’s “running out of things I want ever since she took my love” is like twisting the knife. “NUMB” ties up the theme of not knowing who you are outside of a relationship.

“I CAN TELL” flips emotions. It’s a profession of love for someone in a relationship. He knows he can treat them better in every way and “if you let me, I’ma take his place.” This part of the album starts to show toxic themes. “I CAN TELL” is messy and destructive, while “DIAMONDS FOR YOUR PAIN” is emotional and manipulative.

“DIAMONDS FOR YOUR PAIN” is about a connection that just won’t fizz out – because he won’t let it. Giveon uses what this person loves against them to reel them back in. Every time, he’s just going to trade “diamonds for your pain, that’s a beautiful exchange.”

“KEEPER” shows his growth. He’s not the best, but he wants to work for another chance with this person. He’s “tryna be the one that you keep, not just the one who comes back around and drives you crazy.”

“SIX:THIRTY” is just 32 seconds, and I’m a fan of interlude types of songs in albums. It’s a nice buffer between tracks while serving as a palate cleanser in between Giveon’s second chance love story in “KEEPER” and his epiphany in “BACKUP PLAN.”

Now, dare I say “BACKUP PLAN” is the other side of “I CAN TELL” in a way? This is what it’s like to realize your significant other is checked out of the relationship. Giveon said they “used to fight a little longer, now you choose silence over war,” which shows clear as day that things aren’t going to end well.

“BLEEDING” is another ballad about putting someone before you. In a desperate effort to make a connection work, Giveon’s putting the pieces back together of this girl who’s still hung up on her ex, hurting himself in the process. He’s literally bleeding for her love, and it’s not going so well.

Things change in “DON’T LEAVE.” Rather than putting all his energy into someone reluctant to replenish with him, Giveon fights for a strong connection that doesn’t want things to end either.

The theme of being better for someone better continues in “AVALANCHE,” one of my favorites by far. Giveon’s feeling butterflies while realizing this is the only girl he needs; he’s “falling hard, and falling for you” after “long calls, playing songs we both love.” It really is just the simple moments. Music is a love language in itself, of course.

Speaking of love languages, the last track hits on there being more to a relationship than physical attraction. Like Giveon said, there’s the “GOOD BAD UGLY.” He worries about his relationship, wondering if the commitment is still mutual. Even though he’s wondering if it’s time to leave, he remembers being loved through the good, bad and ugly, and how it’s important to reciprocate that.

For his second studio album, Giveon can give himself a pat on the back. He’s placing his name at the top of R&B’s resurgence while fine tuning his own craft along the way. “MUD,” “STRANGERS” and “AVALANCHE” will live on my playlists for a long time, but I can’t not mention leading singles “RATHER BE” and “TWENTIES.” Every track in “BELOVED” has a different take on common storylines in modern romance, from the young and naive to the mature and yearning.