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

Latest news from the Best Western Diplomat Hotel in Felinfoel, Llanelli -  "TOP CABARET TRIBUTE SHOW" BEST WESTERN Diplomat Hotel and Spa Presents A fantastic fully Packed Tribute Show. "OLLY MURS" Tribute Night "LIKE OLLY" FRIDAY 24th October 2 Course Carvery Dinner, Dance & Cabaret. Tickets Just £24.95 person, "Why Not Stay Over"& Extend your Evening and Book the Overnight Stay Over at £35.00 per person, Full Welsh Breakfast, Full use of Leisure Club "Eden Spa" BOOK NOW TEL: 01554 756156 BEST WESTERN Diplomat Hotel and Spa Felinfoel Road Llanelli SA153PJ

A further opportunity to find out about the new Cardigan Integrated Care Resource Centre has been planned for 14 October in Newcastle Emlyn  If you have not been able to attend any of the previous events over recent months, then this drop-in event gives local people another chance to learn about latest progress with the development and the new model of care in Ceredigion. The session will be open between 2.00pm and 6.00pm on Tuesday 14 October in the Holy Trinity Church Community Hall, Newcastle Emlyn. It is being run by the Hywel Dda University Health Board. For more information about the development and to keep updated with future events being planned, go to www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/cardigan  

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star -  This Saturday (October 4), the Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers will present ‘The Town Remembers’ at St Elli Parish Church. The Town Remembers will see the massed voices of the Hywel Choir, Llanelli CHoral Society, leading Welsh tenor Aled Hall, drummers, trumpeters and percussionists unite with dignitaries, armed forces and civilian personnel from across the community in the candelit and specially illuminated St. Elli Parish Church to re-tell the story and sacrifice of the great war through song, music, narration and multimedia. It is all happening under the acclaimed artistic baton of John Hywel Williams. Highlights of the evening will include moments from Karl Jenkins’ Armed Man, Hymn to the Fallen, Ode to Remembrance, Last Post, Pie Jesu, The Lord’s Prayer, Abide with Me, Onward Christian Soldiers and popular sing-along songs from World War One. Aled Hall is known t

The latest Phil Evans column from the South Wales Evening Post - Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. “You can’t beat a bit of bully!” said Jim Bowen on the much-missed ‘Bullseye’ which I still associate with the Sunday teatime aroma of beetroot, cheese, boiled eggs, cucumber, ham and tomatoes. My gran never did know how to make Welsh stew (cawl)! And it seems we really can’t beat bullies because they’re everywhere. Cyber-bullies, playground bullies, work-place bullies, gay-bashing bullies- even celebrity bullies. When the fragrant, immaculately-coiffed Cheryl Fernandez-Versini (aka ‘Biffer’ Cole the famous mime artiste) starts getting wobbly-chinned and weepy over a singer strangling a power ballad on “X Factor”, she’s hoping you’ve forgotten her well-reported encounter with a female nightclub toilet attendant. It was the attendant who was female, not the nightclub. Being a building, it was gender-free. I just wanted to cl

Aberystwyth University has received its first Athena SWAN Charter award that recognises commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) in higher education and research. The University is among seven Higher Education and research institutions to have achieved their first Athena SWAN award in the first of two awards rounds this year. Overall, 83 higher education institutions, research institutes and individual schools and departments will receive awards. The Athena Swan Charter recognises and celebrates good practice on recruiting, retaining and promoting women in STEMM subjects in higher education and has become increasingly important to Higher Education Institutions and Research Councils in the UK. Professor Kate Bullen, Director of Ethics and Equality at Aberystwyth University explains, “We’re absolutely delighted with this recognition for the University which highlights the good work we’re doing on gender equality and espe

Next week (October 4, 2014) the Welsh Department at Aberystwyth University will be holding a Professional Welsh Conference for sixth formers to highlight a vocational BA degree that teaches valuable skills for the workplace. Presentations will be made by Dylan Iorwerth, Managing Editor of Golwg, Branwen Huws, Head of Marketing at Y Lolfa, and Delyth Jewell, Head of Research for Plaid Cymru in Parliament, London, and winner of Researcher of the Year at Westminster this year. "The conference will offer a taste of the Professional Welsh degree," said Dr Rhianedd Jewell, Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Lecturer in Professional Welsh at Aberystwyth University. "There will be a series of presentations by staff and students from the department, as well as guest speakers, who will discuss their careers working with the Welsh language." The degree incorporates elements of the traditional Welsh course and meets employers' demands for experienced workers with suitable professio

The Hywel Dda Sexual Health Service has established a specialist service in Aberystwyth in response to patient demand. Based at Ystwyth Surgery at Parc Y Llyn Retail Park, the specialist service will offer Long-acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) options for women, such as the Intrauterine Device (IUS/IUD). In the first instance this service will focus primarily on delivering care to women requesting an IUS or IUD but the clinic is not restricted to the fitting of this contraception and all women with any issues relating to these devices may be referred. Dr Jo Hoddinott, Consultant in Sexual Health and Reproductive Healthcare said: “The Sexual Health Service is pleased to offer this service. To use the service you don’t have to be registered with Ystywth Surgery and you can access the clinic via a referral from your GP or by calling our appointments line directly on 01267 248674. This service is by appointment only and a specialist sexual health nurse will contact women directly pri

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Best of Health Staff Awards 2014 are now open for nominations. The awards scheme is organised by the University Health Board to recognise and reward the extraordinary achievements of our staff and volunteers, many of whom often go beyond the call of duty in their work for the benefit of our patients. Categories include Improving Health and Wellbeing, Improving the Patient Experience (including safety, dignity and respect), Unsung Hero, and Volunteer of the Year. Last year's winners and nominees came from a range of disciplines, representing the huge field of careers available in the NHS and the contribution they all make to delivering patient care and saving lives. Health Shield, a UK leading provider of health cash plans and a non-profit making friendly society, are the major sponsor for the Best of Health Staff Awards for a second time. Jonathan Burton, Health Shield Chief Executive said: “Health Shield is delighted to be sponsoring the Hywel

Leading councillors in Carmarthenshire are encouraging businesses in Ammanford town centre to take advantage of a £50,000 cash boost. The funding is coming from the Welsh Government as part of the Support Your High Street  campaign, which aims to encourage more people to shop in their local town centre. Recently, the successful Twrch Trwyth festival was held in Ammanford as part of the campaign. The funding has now been awarded to a number of towns across Wales, and will pay for things such as town centre events, branding, promotions, website, signage, footfall counters and digital media training for retailers. Carmarthenshire County Council Leader Cllr Kevin Madge said: “We would urge all shops and businesses in Ammanford town centre to take advantage of the opportunities this funding will provide. “Our executive board members and our officers have worked closely with the Welsh Government on initiatives such as this which support our town centres. “We very much welcome this funding

More than 900 years after King Henry commissioned Carmarthen Castle’s foundation stones to be laid, it is being refreshed. New interpretation works are officially being launched tomorrow (October 1), providing an improved visitor experience. The marketing and tourism section of Carmarthenshire County Council has secured £64,000 to deliver the scheme. The project embraces the intertwined histories of the Princes Deheubarth and Lords of the Southern March into one unique timeline. This is part of the £800,000 regional Castles and Princes scheme led by Carmarthenshire County Council which is part of Cadw £19million Heritage Tourism Project,funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. Executive board member for regeneration and leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said the interpretation that has been installed at Carmarthen Castle consists of a ‘welcome panel’ on the concourse and audio visual figures located in and around the castle, as well a timeline

The latest phase of a £3.6m investment programme to upgrade teaching and learning facilities at Aberystwyth University has been completed in time for the new academic year. Ten lecture and seminar rooms, and learning and study spaces in the University’s Llandinam Building, home to the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, have undergone a comprehensive upgrade over the summer. Kitted out with the latest in audio-visual technology, every room has been redecorated and equipped with new furniture which can be adapted to reflect a host of different teaching and learning requirements, from group work to more traditional seminar and lecture layouts. New audio-visual equipment will make it easier to record lectures for students to access via the University’s Virtual E-learning environment, AberLearn Blackboard, enabling students to recap on lectures and further facilitate learning and revision. The Llandinam Concourse, which has long been a forum for students and staff to meet and exc

A new Chemotherapy Day Unit at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, is a step closer following the first meeting of a new project group which will oversee the development. The project group, with representation from Hywel Dda University Health Board, local charity Adam’s Bucketful of Hope Appeal and Hywel Dda Community Health Council (CHC), provides an opportunity to work together to provide chemotherapy services in a modern facility in Haverfordwest. The people of Pembrokeshire have been raising money for this unit in memory of Adam Evans-Thomas who raised £9000 before he died to thank hospitals that cared for him during his 10 year fight against leukaemia. Adam’s mother, Christine Evans-Thomas set up the charity and has continued to fulfil his legacy with fundraising for a state of the art Chemotherapy Day Unit. Chris Evans-Thomas commented “Pembrokeshire people are very passionate in wanting to improve their local services. This is testament to the years of continuous

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s planning for improvements at Prince Philip Hospital is moving forward. A team of doctors, GPs and nurses have been looking at ways to improve emergency care delivered at the Llanelli hospital and enhance the services most needed by local residents during the last year. Work has focused on six different priority areas: alcohol and substance misuse; frailty; mental health; acute medicine (e.g. strokes, diabetes, infections and asthma attacks); minor injuries; and minor illnesses. Proposed service improvements include a new alcohol liaison nurse to address alcohol and substance misuse issues and a specialist psychiatric team. Improvements are also planned for the rapid access available for elderly or frail patients to an enhanced and expanded frailty service. This will help to identify underlying issues relating to their admission. The team has worked closely with other local organisations such as the police and social care and has kept in close communi

Latest news from Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley - Aberglasney's Giant Vegetable Competition (including our own special 'Gardeners Question Time') - Sunday 5th October Aberglasney Gardens’ Giant Vegetable Competition will be your chance to see some monstrous vegetables ‘in the flesh’ as growers from near and far come together for the second time at this historic site. In charge of the official weigh-in will be gardening guru Medwyn Williams MBE. Even if you don’t plan on entering the competition this year make sure you come along to Aberglasney on the day of judging to enjoy the fruits of other peoples labour. There will also be a special version of ‘Gardeners Question Time’ when a panel of experts including Medwyn Williams and Joseph Atkin will be answering your gardening questions. Thanks to competition sponsors and renewable energy specialist ‘Good Life’, prizes in each category are well worth competitor’s efforts – 1st prize is £40 or a joint

Work is now underway on a new office development located near Carmarthen’s popular retail hub  St Catherine’s Walk . Local development company, Hacer Developments Ltd, is breathing new life into the former Nolan Windows site in Carmarthen town centre with support from the South West Wales Property Development Fund (PDF). The South West Wales Property Development Fund has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. Hacer Developments Ltd, a local firm owned by husband and wife Carwyn and Sarah Davies, is constructing a 5000 sq ft three storey office building on Merlin Street, Carmarthen. The development is receiving £400,000 of funding from the PDF and when complete will have the potential to accommodate 17 jobs. The development will be completed in March 2015. The completed development will be occupied by Bro Myrddin Housing Association , who are relocating from their current base in Johnstown. Bro Myrddin Chief Executive Hilary Jones sa

Carmarthenshire archives and two libraries have joined forces to provide a free family history service. It follows an increasing interest nationwide of people wanting to research their roots, due in some part to the popularity of programmes such as ‘Who do you think you are?’ and ‘Long Lost Family’. Technology and digital archiving of thousands and thousands of documents has also made it easier for people to find information online. Carmarthenshire’s archive and libraries are now teaming up to offer a more accessible service, with experts on hand to help people discover their past. Until now people have enjoyed a basic package researching their ancestry at both Carmarthen and Llanelli town centre libraries. The latest move will mean they will have to access to a wide range of items including hard copies of Parish register indexes maps and access to findmypast.com website. The town centre locations are open six days a week and will make it easier for people to access, as well as the

Latest special offers from the Jenkins Bakery - This week's special offers - WEEK COMMENCING September 29 2014 3 Medium Corned Beef £1.65 2 Large Corned Beef Pasties £1.95 2 Minced Beef & Onion Pies £2.20 2 Custard Slices £1.60 Sandwich of the week Chicken & Bacon £2.40 Rustic Baguette of the week Chicken Tikka £2.40 Softie of the week Turkey salad £2.20 National Craft Bakers Week 2 Welsh Pasties £2.00 2 Bakestones (Plain, Fruit, Rustic) £1.20 4 Crusty Rolls £1.20 Website - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/

Latest news from the Span Arts team in Narberth -  Music, Comedy and Theatre, there is something for everyone this October! Brighten up your month with music and laughter... For tickets or more information on any of these events please click on the relevant photos, or visit the Span Arts website . You can also call the Box Office on 01834 869323 Span Arts Classical series is continuing with Icaris Duo - Thursday 2nd OctoberSet in the elegant Plas Hyfryd Hotel, Span Arts classical Series continues with a selection of music from Debussy, Rodrigo, Euguene Bozza, welsh folk songs and much more. Icaris Duo will be supported on the night by Squidge Squires. Enjoy alongside a delicious meal from 6pm onwards, prepared by Plas Hyfryd’s chef (advance booking essential). SpanJazz: Michael Coates with The John Gibbon Trio - Wednesday 15 OctoberSpan Jazz is back for another soul-filled evening, this time The John Gibbon trio are performing with featured Canadian musician Michael Coate

Since April 2013, more than 475 people have attended a variety of free courses ranging from first aid to construction and business enterprise, through the Carmarthenshire Communities First programme. The courses give individuals the opportunity to brush up on basic skills or to obtain those vital qualifications necessary to take the first steps towards a new career or re-employment. Communities First Family Learning Worker, Rhian Richards, said:”The demand for courses has grown, and we are continuously increasing the variety of classes available, particularly the ones that focus on improving an individual’s chance of future employment.” The courses are open to adults aged 16 plus and live within the Communities First cluster . The most popular course has been business enterprise. Executive Board Member for Regeneration and Leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said:”I encourage those who have the opportunity to attend one of these courses, to do so. “Personal development can have such a posi