Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Valley Veteran TVR 28 needs your help! The cosmetic restoration of Taff Vale Railway ‘O1’ class 0-6-2T No. 28, the last surviving Welsh-built standard gauge steam locomotive, is set to go ahead thanks to a unique three-way partnership between the National Railway Museum, and two of Wales’s leading standard gauge preserved railways. The Gwili Railway-based Gwili Vintage Carriage Group (GVCG), and the Llangollen Railway have agreed to work together to cosmetically restore the locomotive to showroom condition and display it with the only Welsh-built standard gauge railway carriage to survive into preservation, Taff Vale Railway Brake Third No. 220. James Buckley, of the GVCG, explained: “As custodians of No. 220, this project reflects a long-held aspiration to display the carriage within an appropriate context, and uniting it with the sole-surviving Welsh-built standard gauge steam locomotive in South Wales is a fantastic proposition. “This project has three major benefits in that...

Aberglasney Gardens in the picturesque Tywi Valley in Carmarthenshire is delighted to be celebrating a new partnership with one of Wales’ most prominent food critics. Along with his family, the food writer, broadcaster, and restaurateur Simon Wright will take over the franchise for Aberglasney’s café on St David’s Day, March 1, 2013. Simon and his team, including wife Maryann and son Joel, will bring food of the quality you don’t always expect at museums and gardens to this historic site. Using fresh local ingredients picked from the gardens where possible the menu will change daily according to the seasons and the weather, but you can expect to sample innovative sandwiches and salads, soups, stews and homemade cakes – all complimented with Welsh Coffee, Suki Teas and homemade lemonade. Simon’s impressive CV reinforces the offering he brings to Aberglasney. He and Maryann have been running restaurants in South West Wales for more than 20 years. They were previously partners i...

March is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and Hywel Dda Health Board has made a pledge to reduce the number the number of people dying of cancer by 100 a year. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. More than 40,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. More than 250,000 men are currently living with the disease. Latest figures show 1783 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer within the South Wales Cancer Network alone in 2010. Prostate cancer mainly affects men over the age of 50 and the risk does increase with age. The average age to be diagnosed with prostate cancer is between 70 and 74 years. Most prostate cancer is slow-growing to start with and may never cause any symptoms or problems in a man's lifetime. However, some men will have symptoms, such as problems urinating; they might be mild and happen over many years. Mr Sohail Moosa, Head of Urology and Consultant Urologist said: “Especially as you get older and if you have a fam...

A ground-breaking theatre performance group will be opening its doors in Llanelli on Tuesday, March 12. Called ‘InterAct’, the group will give disadvantaged youngsters and children with learning difficulties the chance to enjoy drama, dance and singing workshops. “It really is an innovative venture designed to help children into theatre-based activities,” said Liane Davies (pictured above), one of the co-founders of the Llanelli venture. “InterAct is gradually developing in other parts of the UK, but this will be the very first InterAct group in Wales, right here in Llanelli. “And it’s going to be based at the brand new state-of-the-art Y Ffwrnes theatre in Llanelli.” The foundation stones for InterAct have been laid by the Stagecoach Charitable Trust, a wing of the hugely-successful Stagecoach theatre arts group. Liane runs Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest and will be the managing teacher of InterAct Llanelli after establishing the group with a colleague fr...

Former miner and history teacher Rhys Lewis, who died at the age of 108 in July 2012, has bequeathed £10,000 to the library of his former university. Mr Lewis graduated from Aberystwyth University in 1931 having studied History and Economic History, and gained his teacher’s certificate, also at Aberystwyth, the following year. The bequest will be used to add to the already extensive collection of books in the University’s history section, and will be acknowledged by a bookplate in each acquired volume. It is a gesture that will benefit students in as direct a fashion as academics thanks to a pioneering initiative to allow students to order books relevant to their courses, bolstering and complementing the purchases made by tutors. Mr Lewis’ bequest was presented to the University by his son, John, who is also an Aberystwyth graduate (BA Economics and Geography 1963), and his partner Ms Brenda Dobney. Speaking at a reception in the University’s Hugh Owen Library, John Lewis said; “Aber...

Staff and children at Withybush Hospital Crèche were all smiles after being awarded a silver plaque for their dedication to oral hygiene. The Designed to Smile team works across Wales to encourage schools, nurseries and crèches to improve their oral health. Withybush Hospital Crèche is one of the first places to receive their silver award, which recognises a commitment to the programme for two years. Tara Gover, Designed to Smile Coordinator said: “I am delighted to present staff at Withybush Crèche with this award. They have embedded the programme well into their daily routine and understand the importance of teaching children this life skill. “We hope that this will see a decrease in tooth decay and improved all round oral hygiene." Designed to Smile are a national oral health improvement programme aimed at encouraging children to brush their teeth daily. Working in conjunction with the All Wales Healthy and Sustainable Pre-School Scheme and Healthy Schools, the scheme gives o...

The Burry Port Town Band held their second youth music event at the Memorial Hall, Burry Port. The West Wales Brass Festival saw an encouraging field of entries, which doubled from last year's event. There was an exceptional group of adjudicators lined up for the day - Mr Alan Bourne, Mr Matthew Jenkins to adjudicate the solo, duet and trio classes; Mr Tom Davoren and Mr Nigel Seaman to adjudicate the Ensembles and Youth Band sections. It meant that all the entrants received two sets of encouraging and supportive feedback on their performances. Tom said: "It was a real pleasure coming back to Burry Port to adjudicate this event again this year and it is totally heartening to see Burry Port Town Band looking outside the tempting boundaries of self-preservation to benefit brass playing of all levels throughout West Wales. The day was both fun-filled and musically exciting and I can’t wait to come back next year!” Graham Howe, the band's chairman commented; "We...

Healthy Wednesday advice from the Hywel Dda Health Board -  This Healthy Wednesday we’re encouraging people to talk about cancer. Talking about cancer can be hard. Charities such as Macmillan have a team of experts who can answer any questions you have, offer support, or simply listen if you need a chat. You can contact Macmillan free on 0808 808 00 00. You may be surprised to find out you have local support groups in your area – ask your GP or doctor on your next visit if they can recommend a local group to you. Throughout March, West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group will have information stands at Hywel Dda Health Board’s main hospitals. They are a patient-led group of volunteers working in West and South West Wales, offering support to prostate cancer patients and to their families and friends. Chair of the West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group Mr Phil Burr said: “If you want an opportunity to talk to other men who have already been through the experience of investiga...

Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest are staging an unique opportunity to sing, dance and act with Kylie Minogue and Justin Timberlake’s choreographer The summer workshop day is a ‘one-off’ opportunity to learn from Tim Noble, a former mentor and choreographer on the Pop Idol and X-Factor TV series. “There’s something of a ‘Wow factor; about this workshop as Tim Noble has a brilliant reputation working with superstars like Kylie Minogue and Justin Timberlake,” said Liane Davies, principal of the Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools in Carmarthen and Haverfordwest. “It’s a very special workshop and will be the highlight of the summer holidays for many of our pupils. It promises to be the experience of a lifetime for many.” Young performers aged between seven and 16 are invited to join the Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest West Wales workshop on Tuesday, August 13. With no previous experience necessary, children and teenagers of all abilities will get t...

Cor Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Choir) will be performing at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Llanarthne on Saturday afternoon. The choir will be performing from 2pm inside the Great Glasshouse. The concert is free. On St David's Day, Friday, the choir will be giving a concert at the Coleg Sir Gar Graig campus in Llanelli at 12noon. Cor Meibion Llanelli secretary Fred Elias said: "We thought we'd try something different to a normal St David's Day concert this year. The choir is keen to get involved in all sections of the community, young and old. We are looking forward to performing before the students of Coleg Sir Gar and the visitors to the Botanic Gardens. Performing in the Great Glasshouse at the Botanic is going to be a first for the choir."

Cor Meibion Llanelli is celebrating St David’s Day by releasing a new “battle hymn” for the British and Irish Lions’ summer tour of Australia. The song Lions To A Man, to the tune of Men of Harlech, has been written by former soldier Ollie Ward, of Swansea, and has been described as a stirring rendition of one of Wales’ iconic songs. The song is being officially launched at Parc y Scarlets during the Scarlets versus Edinburgh match on St David’s Day and will be available on YouTube on the internet and for downloads on the iTunes and Android platforms on computers and mobile phones. Men of Harlech is traditionally a popular military march often heard during military parades, especially by regiments historically associated with Wales. It has featured in numerous Hollywood films such as How Green Was My Valley, The Corn Is Green, and the Englishman Who Went Up a Hill And Came Down a Mountain. But Men of Harlech is best known for the stirring rendition by Ivor Emmanuel in the 1964...

Brynwgyn Comprehensive School pupil Tegan Andrews had her chef's hat on again on Friday to help cook lunch for 40 members of Llanelli Rotary Club at the Stradey Park Hotel. Tegan, 13, was the winner of the first ever Young Chef competition to be staged by Llanelli Rotary Club. Part of her 'prize' included a morning working in the kitchen of the Stradey Park Hotel with Star columnist and TV celebrity chef Anna Brown. "I was nervous to be cooking for so many people at the Rotary Club lunch, but I was made to feel very welcome and I didn't get any complaints," said Tegan. Tegan helped supervise a three course menu of Welsh leek and sweet potato soup; sugar crusted lamb; raspberry and Caerphilly chocolate pots. She is pictured with Anna Brown and Llanelli Rotary Club president Alan Owen. On Saturday (March 2), Tegan takes part in the Rotary District Final of the Young Chef competition in Builth Wells. The Young Chef tournament is part of a national competiti...

  The Jenkins Bakery has released details of its St David’s Day range of products. "There's something for everyone to enjoy at on St David’s Day, March 1" said the Jenkins Bakery's operations director Russell Jenkins. "Our staff always enjoy producing new ideas for our patron saint’s day and I'm sure our customers will enjoy sampling the products we have on offer." The range of products includes - BARA BRITH £2.95 Bara Brith is a traditional fruit loaf made with our own rich dough containing top quality sultanas and currants with mixed peel and mixed spices. This will be packed with a decorated bow. TEISEN LAP £3.00 Our traditional Welsh farmhouse cake which contains honey, brown sugar, mixed spices, currants and sultanas which is topped with streusel topping. WELSH CUPCAKE £0.85 Our top quality sponge, individually decorated with fondant icing and daffodil TEISEN LAP MINI LOAF CAKE £1.25 Made with our Teisen lap cake mix and new for 2...

The guest speaker at Llanelli Rotary Club's 'St David's Day' dinner at the Stradey Park Hotel on Wednesday night will be Simon Easterby, Scarlets coach and former Scarlets, Ireland & British Lions player. More than 30 visiting Rotarians from Morriston Rotary will also be attending.

The Llanelli Constituency Labour Party will be holding a Carvery Dinner at the Ashburnham Hotel, Pembrey, on Thursday, March 21. The guest speaker will be Michael Dugher MP, Shadow Minister without Portfolio, and Vice Chair of the Labour Party. Mr Dugher has been MP for Barnsley East since 2010. He was a Shadow Defence Minister and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ed Miliband before his appointment to the Shadow Cabinet in 2011. He previously worked for the AEEU (now Unite) and was an adviser to the last Labour Government, including at Downing Street. The dinner, starting at 7pm, will feature a  raffle and auction. Price: £15 per ticket, children/students £8. All proceeds go to Llanelli CLP funds Further details from Fundraising Officer Suzy Curry 0756 1566 456.

Wales’ Archbishop, the Most Reverend Dr Barry Morgan, turned 16th century Presbyterian leader, John Knox’s diatribe* against the ‘monstrous regiment of women’ well and truly on its head in St David’s Cathedral. The occasion was the Commissioning Service of the Mothers' Union Province of Wales and St David’s Diocese officers. In his eloquent address, the Archbishop pulled no punches in his effort to bring home to women the importance of their role in the Church. He began with a graphic description of the diversity of family life in today’s Wales and went on to describe the role of women in the Church as most often supportive and frequently subservient. Using current statistics across Wales and in each Diocese, he made an impassioned plea for women to take their place in the governance of the Church in Wales. He described sayings that ‘women are over-represented and under-authorised’ as having some foundation but refuted absolutely the dogma that ‘subordination [of women] is i...

This week's special offers from the Jenkins Bakery - WEEK COMMENCING 25/02/13 3 MEDIUM CORNED BEEF PASTIES £1.60 2 STEAK & FELINFOEL ALE PIES £2.50 2 LARGE CORNED BEEF PASTIES £1.90 2 EGG CUSTARD TARTS £1.10 2 FRESH CREAM DOUGHNUTS £1.70 SANDWICH OF THE WEEK – CHICKEN & STUFFING £2.20 BAGUETTE OF THE WEEK – CHICKEN TIKKA £2.30 ROLLS OF THE WEEK – BROWN BAPS PACK of 4 £1.00 LOAF OF THE WEEK – SMALL WHITE TIN £1.05 Website - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/