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

The guest speaker at the Spring Dinner meeting of the Five Roads Sporting Association will be former Welsh international football full-back Joey Jones. Joey started and ended his distinguished career at Wrexham and in between played for Liverpool, Chelsea and Huddersfield, gaining 72 caps along the way. Supporting Joey will be top Northern comedian Paul Boardman. Paul is a regular on the 'Jongleurs' comedy circuit and has made numerous television appearances. Paul is also a  former professional footballer, having once been signed by Peter Shilton for Plymouth Argyle. Costs for the dinner have been maintained again at members £20 and guests £30. For tickets, please contact Roger Stephens on 07814 680894. The dinner is at Five Roads Hall, near Llanelli, on Friday, May 17.

Patients are arriving too late at hospital to receive the most promising treatment after a stroke, a Hywel Dda doctor has warned. Only 43% of patients who suffered a stroke in Carmarthenshire in 2012 got to a hospital in time to benefit from thrombolysis. Available 24/7 at Glangwili and Prince Philip Hospitals, thrombolysis treatment is only effective within 4.5hrs of having a stroke. Dr Granville Morris, Consultant Physician at Prince Philip Hospital, said: “Patients with an acute stroke are not accessing the emergency help available to them quick enough and are losing out on the clot buster treatment. “If someone appears to have a stroke according to the FAST protocol, Face droop, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty and Time to call 999, then please call an ambulance immediately.” A delay in getting help can reduce the chances of a full recovery, long-term disabilities or even death. Think FAST, never delay.

Award-winning South Wales business The Jenkins Bakery has released details of its Easter range of products. "Our seasonal ranges of products are always popular," said the Jenkins Bakery's operations director Russell Jenkins. "Whether it's Christmas or other special occasions, our staff always enjoy making something special to mark the event. "Easter is no different and our range of themed products is always popular with customers. We hope they enjoy them and we take this opportunity of wishing staff and customers a peaceful and happy Easter." EASTER PRODUCT RANGE - BUNNY KRISPIES £1.00 Our chocolate krispie confection with an edible sugar bunny and drizzled with white chocolate. CHICK BISCUITS 65p Oval shortbread biscuits half dipped in chocolate with chick sugar plaque. EASTER FRUIT CAKE SLICE £1.10 Our delicious rich fruit cake with marzipan and ribbed rolled sugarpaste – a fruit cake lover’s delight! CHOCOLATE SPRING NEST 95p M...

A bilingual book Wonder Wales: The Welsh Dresser / Cip ar Gymru: Y Ddresel Gymreig will be launched at Tim Bowen Antiques, Ferryside, Carmarthenshire on Friday at 2.30pm. The book has been written by Chris S. Stephens and Eleri Davies. It provides an informative, concise and entertaining portrait of a piece of Welsh furniture that has been admired widely and collected avidly. The new book includes full-colour archive photographs of a variety of Welsh dressers, and is the latest addition to the popular series Cip ar Gymru / Wonder Wales published by Gomer Press. The striking form and character of Welsh dressers are unmistakable. Over the centuries the dresser has lent status to kitchens, living rooms and front parlours. “The functional nature of the dresser, and its durability, ensured that it became almost a vital piece of furniture in all 19th century lower-class homes, from the country farmhouse to the artisan’s cottage or the purpose-built miner’s house,” says Chris Stephens. Ofte...

Latest news from the Mayor of Carmarthen Charity Appeal Committee - At a well-attended meeting on the 26 February the Mayor of Carmarthen Charity Appeal Committee discussed a number of fundraising events to be held during 2013. Final arrangements for the annual Spring Coffee Morning which was to to be held on the 16 March at St Peter’s Civic Hall were discussed. Other events discussed were a barbecue (weather permitting) at the Mayor’s home in May, a Vintage Tea on the 08 June at St Peter’s Civic Hall and the annual Mayor’s Dinner/Dance in December. A fundraising event on the Gwili Railway was also proposed and would be discussed further at the next meeting in April. All proceeds raised by the Appeal Committee are directed to local charities. For further details of any of the events please contact Debby on 01267 222326.  On March the 16th the Mayor’s Charity Appeal Committee organised a well-attended coffee morning at St Peter’s Civic Hall. The event was opened by th...

Reaction to this afternoon's Budget from West Wales businesses - Social entrepreneur Kevin Green, one of the UK’s biggest private sector landlords, said: You obviously have to welcome the help schemes targeted at getting the housing market moving. The shared equity scheme and guarantees on new lending are very good news. The man in the street will be pleased at the £10,000 threshold and there’s good news for businesses on corporation tax. But my biggest worry is the way the Chancellor was talking about changes to welfare and benefit payments in June. He didn’t really elaborate and that must be a headache to landlords like myself. In short, many landlords will be thinking whether they should take on benefit claimants as tenants. The lack of clarity in the Chancellor’s statement will leave landlords worried. We need more detail and we need it now, not in June, as the uncertainty will not be good for the rental housing sector. Kevin is a self-made multi-millionaire and s...

The latest 'Healthy Wednesday' advice from the Hywel Dda Health Board - This Healthy Wednesday have less salt please! Having too much salt is bad for your health so this Healthy Wednesday we are helping you cutback on it. Salt can lead to Hypertension (raised blood pressure) which increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and heart attacks, the leading causes of death and disability in the UK. However, small amounts of salt are essential for our body to function - adults need less than 1 gram per day and children need even less. Teresa Owen, Director of Public Health said: “On average we all eat approximately 8.6g of salt per day, far more than we need and more than the recommended maximum of 6g per day. “Simply reducing your salt intake can lower your blood pressure and the risk of disease. “You can take control of your salt intake when preparing food at home by reading the labels and not adding salt, especially before you taste your food! “Eating out it can be more difficul...

Beer Academy Sommelier, Jane Peyton, has trained the staff of the newly launched Bosphorus Brewing Company in Istanbul on the merits of matching beer and food. The Bosphorus Brewing Company is Istanbul's first brew pub and opened in November 2012. It is owned and run by Britons Phil and Jill Hall both long time Istanbul residents. Jane trained bar staff and the chef in how to match the pub's menu with beer, how to appreciate and identify the styles and flavours of a variety of styles of beer. She said “Pilsner lagers are by far the most popular brands in Turkey and few people have had the chance to sample different beer styles. Phil and Jill brew a whole range of beers from easy drinking blond ale to a chocolaty stout. A fantastic canvas to show people that beer doesn’t all taste the same – and start them on a voyage of discovery to find out more." Head brewer Phil said “Our customers are mainly ex Pats who work in Istanbul or locals who have developed a taste for b...

Aberystwyth University’s Department of International Politics will host a public lecture by Thomas O. Melia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the United States Department of State, on Tuesday 19 March. This year’s David Davies Memorial Institute (DDMI) annual lecture is entitled ‘Is it realistic to think we can advance democracy and human rights?’ It will be held in the Main Hall of the International Politics Building on Penglais Campus at 6pm. Dr Grant Dawson, Deputy Director of the DDMI, explains, “We look forward to welcoming Thomas Melia. His lecture promises to be a major statement about US foreign policy by a senior diplomat in the Obama Administration. I’m sure he will raise a few questions.” Thomas O. Melia is Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL). He is responsible for the DRL’s work in Europe, including Russia, and in the Middle East and North Africa. He has headed the U.S. Delegation to meetings of the Organisat...

Aberystwyth University will welcome more than 2,000 school children from 20 schools in Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week (19-21 March) for a festival of science. The three day festival, which is organised by the University’s Centre for Widening Participation and Social Inclusion, forms part of the 2013 National Science and Engineering Week which runs from 15 to 24 March. This is Wales’ and the UK's widest grassroots celebration of all things science and engineering. Event organiser Roger Morel from the University’s Centre for Widening Participation and Social Inclusion said, “This event aims to shine the spotlight on how all branches of science, technology, engineering, computing and maths relate to our everyday lives and helps to inspire the next generation of scientists with fun and participative activities. “The Centre for Widening Participation is all about education for everyone. We want people, no matter what their background, to h...

Latest special offers from the Jenkins Bakery WEEK COMMENCING 18/03/13 3 MEDIUM CORNED BEEF PASTIES £1.60 2 WELSH PASTIES £2.20 2 LARGE CORNED BEEF PASTIES £1.90 4 HOT X BUNS (42p each) £1.50 2 FRESH CREAM ECLAIRS £1.70 SANDWICH OF THE WEEK - CHICKEN AND BACON £2.40 BAGUETTE OF THE WEEK – CHICKEN & BACON £2.35 ROLLS OF THE WEEK – OATIE ROLLS - PACK OF 4 £1.20 LOAF OF THE WEEK – SMALL WHITE BATCH £1.05 Website - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/

Latest news from the 'Jazz in the Bar' team at Brecon -  On Tuesday, we have the welcome return of saxophonist Glen Manby, who is joined by the Dave Jones Trio. These are a really swinging line-up and they'll be playing a mix of favourite standards and own compositions. Dave has had many excellent reviews of his lyrical and memorable numbers which are contemporary classics to those in the know. We love this line-up with Ashley Long, an excellent double bassist, and the musician of choice on drums, Lloyd Haines. Glen last played for us a couple of years ago, and we're delighted to have him back this month. Glen played at Brecon Jazz Festival last year... Speaking of which, there is a link to the 2013 Brecon Jazz Festival from our club website below. Don't forget to browse and book some August delights of the jazz kind. Gig Tuesday 19 March, Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon: Starts 8pm, £6 on the door: see you there, bring your friends! Tipple n Tiffin bistro ope...

There's a major boxing event coming up at the Selwyn Samuel Centre in Llanelli. The Welsh Amateur Boxing Association is staging the Elite Championship Finals (a grand dinner event) on Friday April 12. Arrival 6.45pm for Dinner at 7.15pm Dinner tickets available at £30 Each Tables of 10 available Public doors open 8.30pm. 'Pay on the door' admission £10.00 (no concessions) The first bout will start at 9pm All bouts will be boxed under AIBA rules. Tickets available from - WELSH BOXING, W.I.S. SOPHIA GDS, CARDIFF TELEPHONE 02920 334927/8/9 or 01554 787417