Conversation, Connections and Conveniences with Stefan Thomas

"A Lifetime of Excellence: The Story Behind Pencelli Castle's Diamond Standard

In this episode, Becky is joined by Craig Rees from Pencelli Castle Caravan & Camping Park, a family-run business that has been setting standards in the tourism industry for decades. Craig, who now runs the park alongside his father Gerwyn and brother Morgan, shares the story of how the business was established by his parents and how his mother first entered the Loo of the Year Awards more than 20 years ago. For the family, the awards were never just about recognition; they provided a benchmark to work towards and a way of continually improving the facilities they offer to visitors. Today, Pencelli Castle Caravan & Camping Park is among an elite group of sites holding the prestigious Diamond Grade, achieved by only around 3% of entrants. Craig explains how maintaining these standards requires commitment, attention to detail, and a dedication to ensuring facilities remain clean, welcoming, and up to date, even when inspectors arrive during the busiest periods of the season. 🏆 A Special Recognition The conversation reflects on an emotional moment at the Loo of the Year Awards in January, when the Rees family were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Craig speaks openly about the honour of receiving the award and how poignant it was, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of losing his mother, whose vision and determination helped shape both the business and its long-standing commitment to excellence. 🌟 Shared Standards and Values Craig discusses how the Loo of the Year Awards complement other respected industry accreditations, including those from the Welsh tourism sector, the AA, and international holiday organisations from Germany and the Netherlands. He explains how the values of continuous improvement, customer care, and quality align closely with those of Pencelli Castle Caravan & Camping Park. 🤝 More Than an Awards Ceremony The episode also explores the wider benefits of participating in the awards, from the knowledge gained through exhibitors and suppliers to the strong sense of community that has developed among entrants over the years. For Craig and his family, the awards day is not only a celebration of achievement but an opportunity to learn, network, and share ideas with others who are passionate about raising standards. 🚻 A Personal Mission The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Craig talks about prostate cancer and the impact it has had on his family following his father's diagnosis. He shares how his family, together with eleven other men from the farming community in Brecon, have worked to raise awareness of the disease and encourage conversations about men's health. Their experiences highlight the vital role that accessible, high-quality toilet facilities can play in supporting people living with health conditions. This episode is a powerful reminder that behind every award-winning washroom is a story of dedication, hard work, family values, and a commitment to creating the best possible experience for visitors. 🎧 Tune in now to hear Craig's inspiring story. to follow Craig :- please  go to Facebook  Pencelli Castle caravan and camping  is also on facebook or www.pencelli-castle.com For Becky :-www.linkedin.com/in/becky-wall-bem-a69b7a7b/ or  www.loo.co.uk

“Where Hygiene Meets Innovation: Transforming the Modern Washroom to incorporate inclusive hygiene for all ” with Stuart Hands Commercial Development Manager for Tork/Essity

In this episode, Becky is joined by Stuart Hands, Commercial Development Manager at Essity, the global business behind the well-known professional washroom brand Tork. With over 25 years of experience across the washroom and hygiene sector, Stuart brings a wealth of insight into the evolving world of facilities management, hygiene standards, and the growing role of data and smart technology in modern cleaning. At the heart of the conversation is how facilities management companies are using innovation and data-led cleaning to raise hygiene standards in washrooms, ensuring spaces are not only clean, but safe, efficient, and responsive to user needs. From public washrooms to home essentials Stuart shares the story behind the Tork professional range, the dispensers and systems we see in public and commercial washrooms, as well as the household brands many of us recognise on supermarket shelves. Together, they form part of Essity’s global mission to improve hygiene and health for all. A global business with shared values As Headline Sponsor of the Loo of the Year Awards, Essity recognised a natural alignment in values. Stuart explains how they were looking for a platform to celebrate best practice, raise standards, and support education and awareness across the industry, not just for those already excelling, but for those striving to improve. Collaboration across the industry This episode highlights the importance of recognising the collective effort behind great washrooms, from small businesses to multinational organisations and the essential role played by cleaners and operatives in maintaining hygiene and dignity for all users. Washrooms as part of brand identity Stuart explores how washrooms are far more than a functional space, they are central to a business’s reputation and customer experience. Behind every well-maintained facility is careful planning, logistics, and a deep understanding of user needs. Inclusive hygiene for everyone A key theme throughout the conversation is inclusivity, understanding the barriers people face in washrooms and how thoughtful product design and innovation can create spaces that work for everyone. Sustainability As a Swedish-founded company, sustainability is deeply embedded in Essity’s DNA. Stuart discusses initiatives such as hand towel recycling and the importance of reducing waste, ensuring that hygiene solutions are not only effective but environmentally responsible. Driving standards through recognition The conversation also introduces an exciting new award category supported by Tork within the Loo of the Year Awards, designed to raise profiles, celebrate success, and continue driving education and awareness across the sector. A two-way conversation From exhibitions to industry collaboration, Stuart reflects on the importance of listening and understanding what customers and end users truly need, and developing solutions that meet those challenges. This is a fascinating episode that offers a fresh perspective on the vital role of hygiene, innovation, and collaboration in shaping the future of washrooms and why getting it right matters more than ever. 🎧 Tune in now to hear the full conversation! For more information :- wwwTorkglobal.com                                         :- Stuart Hands MBA | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-hands-mba-97a31827/] or for Loo of The Year Awards :- www.loo.co.uk                                                       :-Becky Wall BEM | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-wall-bem-a69b7a7b/]

More Than Just a Loo: Transforming School Life with Lee Batstone

Becky welcomes Lee Batstone, Headteacher of Madley Primary School, to the next episode of the Bog Cast. Lee has led the school for 20 years, overseeing 176 pupils in a unique village setting that blends rural and urban communities. Under his leadership, Madley Primary has embraced innovation and continuous improvement, including the often-overlooked areas of school life: lunchtimes and toilets. Lee first entered the Loo of the Year Awards in 2021, winning the Educational Cup. For him, the awards are about more than recognition, they are an opportunity to invite external scrutiny and ensure the school provides the safest and most supportive environment possible. He also celebrated success in the Washroom Cleaner Awards, highlighting the essential role cleaners play in safeguarding children through maintaining clean, safe washrooms. Toilets, Lee explains, can be a place of fear or discomfort for children, yet they are essential for health, dignity, and concentration. By making washrooms comfortable and inviting, schools can prevent both short- and long-term health problems, encouraging children to drink more and use facilities regularly without embarrassment. There is also an element of trust involved, children must feel confident to use the toilets freely during breaks or lessons, knowing the spaces are safe, clean, and respected. Looking ahead, Lee and the children at Madley Primary are planning a project in collaboration with the Loo of the Year Awards to improve and redesign the school’s toilets. The aim is to make the facilities more inviting and functional, while keeping costs manageable by involving pupils and parents in the process. This initiative also reflects one of the school’s core values: “always leave something better than you found it,” with children actively participating in the project and taking responsibility for their environment. The episode also touches on inclusivity and accessibility. Lee discusses barriers faced by children with both visible and hidden disabilities, and how the school ensures consumables and facilities align with their long-standing Green Flag Eco School Award principles. Toilets, he believes, are a small investment with a huge impact, yet they are often undervalued in school planning and policy. Lee addresses the ethical debates around when children should be allowed to use the toilet, particularly as schools encourage healthy hydration throughout the day. Children cannot concentrate when they need the toilet, and accidents can affect their dignity and confidence. Ensuring toilets are safe, hygienic, and welcoming is not just the responsibility of the headteacher or governors, it is a collective effort involving staff, parents, and pupils alike. Finally, Lee reflects on the broader significance of awards. For him, recognition should always be sought for the right reasons. The Loo of the Year Awards represent part of a holistic approach to education, encompassing academic achievement, social development, emotional wellbeing, and the creation of a nurturing school environment. In Lee’s eyes, investing in toilets is an investment in children’s learning, health, and confidence. to find out more about: Madley School www.madleyprimaryschool.co.uk or  LinkedIn for Lee - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-batstone-6002a529/ for more information about Loo of The Year Awards:- www.loo.co.uk.   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-wall-bem-a69b7a

Conversation, Connections and Conveniences with Stefan Thomas

Becky welcomes Stefan Thomas to the second Bog Cast from the Loo of the Year Awards and promises listeners that this episode goes far beyond toilet humour (although there is still plenty of that!).   Stefan is widely known for his expertise in networking and relationship building, and is the author of Business Networking for Dummies, Instant Networking and Win The Room. Becky and Stefan reflect on how they first met at a Herefordshire Means Business event, where conversations quickly turned into meaningful connections, proving Stefan’s core belief that conversations, when approached in the right way, can naturally lead to opportunities and even sales.   They discuss how Stefan felt arriving at the Loo of the Year Awards as keynote speaker, curious, excited, and perhaps not quite knowing what to expect and the overwhelmingly positive response he received afterwards. He shares what part he played in the 2025 Awards in January 2026 and speaks passionately about how important it is that winners receive the recognition they truly deserve.   The conversation then moves to something deeper. Becky and Stefan talk openly about disabilities, both seen and unseen and the real barriers people face in washrooms every day. Stefan candidly shares his experiences of living with ulcerative colitis and the possibility of prostate cancer, explaining how toilets now heavily influence his decisions on where he shops, eats and socialises. As a young man, he admits he never considered the importance of accessible, clean facilities, until diagnosis changed everything.   For Stefan, the first thing he checks at any venue is the toilets. When planning an event, he believes their standard reflects directly on his business. After all, using the toilet is something everyone in the world has in common, so why don’t we talk about it more openly?   When Becky asks if there is another book in him, Stefan laughs. Post-Covid, he believes many people struggle with networking face to face, so perhaps there is another chapter yet to be written. Contact Stefan on : Website www.stefanthomas.biz Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanthomasbiz  Contact us on: Website: www.loo.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-wall-bem-a69b7a

The Bog Cast Loo of the Year Awards

Welcome to the first bog cast from Loo from the Year Awards. Be ready for a lot of toilet puns! Husband and wife team, Becky and Charles talk about how they started working in toilets, years ago, with young farmers and point to point events. Working from 1996 to 2000, they reached a point where they realised that the industry was changing and they decided that a big investment was needed, or, as they chose, they sold the business. Their lives went down a different path, until Charles was best man at a wedding where the conversation the following day wasn’t about the beauty of the bride or the flowers, but  how bad the toilets were. This is when they went back into toilets and started a company called A Plush Flush. Becky and Charles first heard about the Loo of the Year Awards after entering with their business. – where they went for the luxury end of the market. Several years later, they had the opportunity to buy the Loo of the Year Awards, and after Covid, they did just that. They talk about how they go out of their way to ensure recipients of the awards are personally delivered to them if they are unable to attend the awards ceremony. Over the relatively short time they’ve run the awards events, they have learned a lot and have grown their team and have worked with other small businesses to support their own on – including a new accountant and a PR company. It’s obvious hearing them talk about their business that they’re passionate about it, and there are certainly many opportunities for toilet jokes! Join Becky and Charles for future podcasts  where you can learn a whole range of things about everything loos.  Contact us on: Website: www.loo.co.uk [http://www.loo.co.uk] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-wall-bem-a69b7a7b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-wall-bem-a69b7a7b/] Facebook: https://facebook.com/charles.wall.1485 [https://facebook.com/charles.wall.1485]