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

Pupils of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen and Haverfordwest are still on a high after a real Cats’ whiskers event in Birmingham West Wales pupils from Stagecoach took part in a special performance of the musical Cats at the 12,000-seat National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. The world-famous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical was performed as part of the 25th anniversary of Stagecoach Theatre Arts in the UK. One of the star pupils at Carmarthen’s Stagecoach theatre arts group landed a key role in the musical. Gwenno Jones (pictured above), 16, from Nantgaredig, is a pupil at Stagecoach based at the Queen Elizabeth High School, Johnstown, Carmarthen. The Bro Myrddin school pupil was joined on stage by other pupils from Stagecoach who had rehearsed especially for the gala show. The evening was opened by Jonathan Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli from Britain’s Got Talent. “It was a thrilling occasion for all the pupils,” said Stagecoach Carmarthen and Haverfordwest principal Liane Davies. “A

Former Foreign Secretary and one of the founding members of the Social Democratic Party Lord David Owen will deliver a public lecture on the Eurozone Reform and the British EU policy next week. Lord Owen will argue that Europe’s crisis is not only about technical flaws in the adoption of a single currency, it is more fundamentally about the incompatibility of the different models that EU governments have been pursuing while claiming to be engaged in a common endeavour. He maintains that countries that see their future as part of an ever closer union should be free to pursue that goal, but that those who favour a union of self-governing states should have their sovereignty respected while being able to remain in a restructured single market. Lord Owen, who qualified as a doctor in 1962, before entering politics, will be taking questions from the audience as part of the event when he comes to Aberystwyth on 15 April. Dr Kristan Stoddart, Lecturer in International Politics and Cyber Sec

A Parkinson’s Resource Box will be provided for every inpatient ward in Hywel Dda Health Board and community pharmacies across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire will also be marking Parkinson’s Awareness Week (15-19 April). The resources boxes, created by the board’s four Parkinson’s Specialist Nurses, are designed to support general ward staff to better understand the condition. They include information about medication and the support services that are available for patients. And they are being distributed across all in-patient wards in Amman Valley, Bronglais, Cardigan, Glangwili, Llandovery, Mynydd Mawr, Prince Philip, South Pembrokeshire, Tenby and Withybush Hospitals. The 99 community pharmacies based across the three counties will also support the campaign by distributing local information leaflets and talking to patients about the importance of taking medication on time. Information stands will also be available between 10.30am and 2.30pm as follows; Wednesda

Hywel Dda Health Board’s consultation – Your Health Your Future – has been given a hallmark of best practice. The Consultation Institute has confirmed the consultation was compliant with Best Practice Standards as per the Consultation Charter, providing quality assurance for the exercise. To achieve the Compliance Assessment Scheme to best practice standards, the Health Board had to demonstrate it delivered on seven best practice principles including the integrity, visibility, accessibility, transparency, disclosure obligations, fair interpretation and publication. Chairman Chris Martin said: “We are very proud to have received this quality mark that confirms the credibility of the consultation process. Hywel Dda Health Board endeavours to promote and uphold the highest standards of engagement with staff, patients, stakeholders and the public and we are pleased this demonstrates our commitment to best practice.” Chief Executive Trevor Purt added: “The compliance assessment confirms the

The Carmarthen Bay Film Festival is continuing today at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Diary of events for today -  More information on the website - http://www.carmarthenbayfilmfestival.co.uk

The hugely popular Stagecoach Theatre Arts group is arriving in Haverfordwest this month. Stagecoach Carmarthen and Haverfordwest is part of the longest-running and most successful children’s performing arts schools network in the world. Demand for places at the existing Carmarthen school has been so high that the group is now launching into Haverfordwest. Principal Liane Davies said: “Stagecoach is more than just a stage school, theatre school or drama school. We are proud to offer a full and rounded education, teaching life skills to build confidence and stretch imaginations through singing, acting and dance classes. “The success of our Carmarthen school has been pulling in students from Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire. It really is a case of responding to demand and we are delighted to be in a position this month to launch the group in Haverfordwest.” On Thursday, April 18, from 4.30pm - 6.30pm there will be the chance for potential parents and students to come and ‘meet the t

Lovespoon carvers Siôn Llewellyn and David Western will be appearing at St Fagan's, the National Folk Museum of Wales in the museum shop on May 26 as part of "The Lovespoon Carver’s Craft." They'll be creating spoons on the spot, live - 26 May, 11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm Siôn is from Bridgend and David is originally from Cardiff and now living in Canada. They are both passionate about their art and ensuring that an age-old tradition remains fresh and vibrant in modern-day life. Siôn was recently commissioned by the museum to create exact replicas of a number of spoons in the collections and these will be on sale during the event. David will be selling copies of his recent books, History of Lovespoons and Fine Art of Carving Lovespoons, which prominently feature many of the spoons housed at St Fagan's. Weblink - http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/whatson/?event_id=6740

The secrets of how animals adapt to the ebb and flow of the tide are revealed by Aberystwyth University lecturer Dr David Wilcockson in ‘The Secret Life of Rock Pools’, a television documentary broadcast on BBC4 on 16 April 2013. The programme’s presenter, Professor Richard Fortey embarks on a quest to discover the extraordinary lives of rock pool creatures. He is joined by Dr David Wilcockson, aquatic lecturer in IBERS, Aberystwyth University and other leading marine biologists to help explore this unusual environment. Startling behaviour is revealed and new insights are given into how these animals cope with intertidal life at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth and on the beach in various locations around the UK. Describing his contribution Dr Wilcockson explains “Animals that are challenged by regular, periodic inundation and exposure by the ebb and flow of tides coordinate their behaviour and physiology. This is what enables them to survive and flourish in a complex and ra

The Carmarthen Bay Film Festival is continuing today at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Diary of events for today -  More information on the website - http://www.carmarthenbayfilmfestival.co.uk

Steve Claridge, the former Birmingham City and Leicester City player who is currently a pundit for BBC Sport football shows, including Football Focus and the Football League show, will be the guest speaker at Carmarthen Town AFC's 22nd Annual Celebrity Dinner. The dinner is being held at the Ivy Bush Royal Hotel in Carmarthen on Friday 7th June 2013 - 7:30pm. Ticket details and more information on the link below. http://www.carmarthentownafc.com/news_dinner13_claridge.html

Latest news from the 'Jazz in the Bar' team at Brecon - JAZZ CLUB : JAZZ IN THE BAR @ THEATR BRYCHEINIOG, BRECON TUESDAY 16 APRIL 2013 8pm start, £6 on the door Ruth Bowen's Gardenia Swing featuring Heinz Hunt Top Jazz vocals, guitar, bass, drums, with special guest Heinz Hunt on sax & flute. Line-up:- Ruth Bowen, double bass/vocals Andrew Jones, guitar Richard Bowen, drums Featuring Heinz Hunt, sax and flute Ruth Bowen's Gardenia Swing will play a wide variety of jazz and swing numbers mainly from the thirties, forties and fifties - tunes made popular by artists such Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington and more recently Diana Krall, Stacey Kent and Clare Teal. But be prepared for a few musical surprises! This evening they will be joined with the wonderfully mellow sax and flute of Heinz Hunt. Check out the following websites for more information: www.ruthbowenjazz.com and  www.heinzhuntmusicbox.net . Venue : Upper bar, Canalside, Brecon LD3 7EW te1 01

The latest Iechyd Da beer column written by Llandeilo brewer Simon Buckley in the Carmarthen Journal - The start of the holiday and tourism season is normally the cue to write about new beers for the spring. But the weather hasn’t been that encouraging to get us all out of doors, so that topic can wait until the end of April. Instead, I thought I would look at the changes that are currently sweeping the market-place with the surge in demand for what the consumer perceives are American-style craft brewers. We have seen the success of the likes of Brew Dog, and now, in Wales Tiny Rebel. So what is the message? Simple I think. The new converts to ale drinking are looking for something different, exciting new flavours, and they want to understand what it is that makes the beers taste very different. They want trendy branding and beers that excite. Oh dear! What this has done is give the brewers who have no idea what they are doing in the UK the opportunity to throw together some raw mat

The Dyfed Golfing Union Mixed Greensomes Foursomes Championship will be held on Sunday, May 19, at Milford Haven Golf Club. It will be a 18-hole stableford with a handicap limit of 20 for gents and 36 for ladies. Entry fee £10 a pair. All entry fees returned in prizes. Entries to Elaine Rees, email: jelaine27@aol.com Address : 4 Gwaun Henllan, Bonllwyn, Ammanford, SA18 2FD. Closing date: 13/5/13

The Welsh Draft Action Plan for Bees and other Pollinators has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth Cymru. Commenting on the draft Action Plan for Pollinators for Wales, published today (Tuesday 9 April 2013) by the Welsh Government, Friends of the Earth Cymru Director Gareth Clubb, said: "The Welsh Government’s draft pollinator action plan – in response to our Bee Cause campaign – is very welcome and shows real leadership. “However, the power to ban pesticides lies in Westminster, not Cardiff Bay, and the Welsh Government must discuss devolution of these controls immediately if we are to have decent protection for Welsh bees. "With wild bees in particular struggling across Britain, it’s essential that David Cameron’s Government acts too. “The UK administration must follow the forward-thinking Welsh Government’s lead with a Bee Action Plan – and support restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides linked to bee decline." Notes: 1. Welsh Government: Draft Action Plan f

The Carmarthen Bay Film Festival, now in its second year, launches tonight. The festival held its first event last year in a bid to encourage independent film and cinema in Wales and internationally. Founder and chief executive Kelvin Guy said his interest in film stemmed from his ancestors — including Gareth Hughes, the first Welsh silent film star in Hollywood, who was his grandmother's cousin. "I made a documentary about him and met and interviewed some of his friends and family in the US," said Mr Guy. "So I suppose it is his fault that I had the idea to start a festival in the first place, and what better place than his birthplace of Llanelli here in Wales?" Mr Guy said anyone who submitted a film for the festival — which launches on Monday night at Stradey Park Hotel, and runs until April 12 — will have it screened during the event. This year the festival will screen more than 60 films, an increase of 50 per cent on last year's submissions. "I

Latest special offers at Jenkins Bakery shops - WEEK COMMENCING 08/04/13 3 MEDIUM CORNED BEEF PASTIES £1.60 2 MINCED BEEF & ONION PIES £2.10 2 LARGE CORNED BEEF PASTIES £1.90 2 FRESH CREAM DOUGHNUTS £1.70 SANDWICH OF THE WEEK – SALMON & CUCUMBER £2.10 BAGUETTE OF THE WEEK – CHICKEN TIKKA £2.30 ROLLS OF THE WEEK – FLOURED BAPS - PACK OF 4 90p LOAF OF THE WEEK - SMALL MULTISEED £1.40 4 PANCAKES £1.70 Website -  http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/

Runners of all ages, shapes and sizes are being encouraged to take part in the Carmarthen Mayor’s Fun Run races next month. The event, which has been held in the town over the past 31 years, will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6. "This is the 32nd running of the races and we are hoping for a bumper turnout," said race organiser Noelwyn Daniel. "In particular, we are keen to inject as much fun as possible into the event - encouraging people to take part in fancy dress and asking local sporting teams, organisations, pubs and clubs to consider entering teams. Mr Daniel added: "The beauty of the Carmarthen Mayor's Fun Run races is that they take place in the heart of the town centre, affording great opportunities for spectators to cheer on the runners. "We are also encouraging local businesses to enter teams. Businesses can dress up in the corporate colours and logos and earn themselves some free publicity by taking part." The event has raised th