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

Today’s National School Categorisation System outcomes have shown that more schools across the local ERW (Education through Regional Working) Welsh Region are responding well to support. Results published by Welsh Government today show there is an increase in the percentage of primary schools across the region (Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Swansea) which are becoming more resilient. This means that fewer primary schools are in the categories requiring significant support as compared to last year’s figures. Today’s results also show that the number of secondary schools requiring limited support has almost doubled since last year. This means that the region can allocate greater resources to those schools requiring increased support. Betsan O’Connor, ERW Managing Director said: “It’s pleasing to see schools are becoming more resilient and now need less support. It is also good to see a change in culture, as increasingly the support is coming f...

A Carmarthenshire Youth Council member has shadowed the Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board. It is part of a wider initiative on behalf of the authority to engage with and take on board the views and opinions of the young people of the county represented by the youth council. Executive board member for education and children’s services Cllr Gareth Jones hosted youth council member Amman Valley Comprehensive pupil Stacey Taylor for a day. Other members of the youth council will be following in her footsteps in the next few months. Stacey said she had been looking forward to the opportunity since the youth council first started trying to improve their links with the executive board in November last year. Link Executive Board

If you have room in your hearts to love and care a child, as well as a spare bedroom, then you could start a career as a foster carer. Fostering can keep you eternally young and be rewarding both emotionally and financially. Carmarthenshire County Council’s fostering service is holding an information evening on Wednesday, July 13, 6-9pm at Cross Hands Workingman’s Club to appeal to potential foster carers. Executive board member for children’s services Cllr Gareth Jones said the information evening was a wonderful opportunity for people to determine if fostering would suit their lifestyle. Experienced foster carers and members of the fostering service team will be on hand to talk to people interested in a fostering career offering a safe and stable home for some of the county’s most vulnerable children of all ages and teenagers. To help people find out whether fostering or adoption is right for you call 08000933699 to find out more. Link Carmarthenshire Fostering Service

Sinfonia Cymru bring an evening of Stravinsky, Beethoven and Mozart to Pontyberem on Friday, March 18. The concert takes place at the Pontyberem Memorial Hall, starting at 7.30pm. It will feature - Sinfonia Cymru and violinist Benjamin Baker. It will be a lively and exhilarating programme of classical music, featuring works by Stravinsky, Beethoven and Mozart. Stravinsky’s Danses Concertantes was originally written for the concert stage in 1942 and has also been choreographed and performed as a one-act ballet. The piece is a great example of the composer’s invigorating style. Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major, written in 1806, is the composer’s only violin concerto. It is a bright and lyrical piece and has become one of the most popular works for violin. Symphony No. 41 in C ‘Jupiter’ was Mozart’s last symphony, written in 1788. It is a work of richness and splendour, often viewed as his greatest symphony. This is a very special year for Sinfonia Cymru as it marks the...

A Carmarthenshire schoolboy has been chosen to represent the Young Ambassador Programme at the highest level. Gold Young Ambassador Theo Davies, is one of 16 youngsters to achieve Platinum status after being selected by Sport Wales to represent Carmarthenshire on the National Steering Group and Leadership Academy. Until now the 17-year-old has been working alongside sport and leisure officers training Bronze and Silver ambassadors across the county. Now the St Michael’s School student will have a voice on sporting matters across Wales. Theo said: “It's an honour to represent the Young Ambassador Scheme at the highest level and develop myself as a person in doing so. I’d like to thank the sport and leisure team, the Gold YAs and my school for their support and confidence as I wouldn't be here without them.” Ambassadors are trained by the council’s sport and leisure team and part of their role is to encourage and inspire other children in their school to take part in sport an...

Carmarthen Town AFC will now be hosting three games at Richmond Park in the UEFA Women’s Under 19 Championship final tournament which will take place in Wales in August 2013. Following a site visit by UEFA representatives the Football Association of Wales have asked the club to host three matches in the group stages of the finals tournament on the 19th, 22nd and 25th of August 2013. The draw to decide the teams taking part in these matches will be held in April 2013, when the qualifying teams are decided. Kick off times will also be confirmed. Executive Chairman Gareth Jones was delighted with the news. “This is the first time ever that Wales have hosted a Finals Tournament and to be part of it is a great honour not only for Carmarthen Town Football Club but also for the whole town. We expect the usual suspects, France, Germany, to be part of the finals which will attract a worldwide audience.” As part of preparations for the tournament the FAW have awarded Carmarthen Town a grant to ...

Former Carmarthen Town AFC football club President Mr Anthony Jenkins was honoured at a special evening function at club's Community Centre in Richmond Park. Anthony was President of the club for more than 16 years and could be seen carrying out all kinds of duties for the club. He could be seen manning the turnstile and selling raffles as well as representing the club at official functions. Peter Hughes Griffiths, the compere for the evening, paid tribute not only to Anthony’s contribution to the football club but also to the community of Carmarthen Town. Anthony emphasised how far the club had developed during his time as President, noting the visit to Seven Sisters at the start of his period in office and visiting the Rasunda Stadium in Stockholm for Carmarthen Town’s first ever away fixture in Europe. In the photograph Anthony (left) is being presented with a small token of the club’s gratitude for his work by Executive Chairman Gareth Jones. It is the intention of the current ...

Carmarthen Town AFC Fete and Football Festival 2011 There was a bumper crowd at the annual Fete and Football tournament staged by Carmarthen Town AFC at Richmond Park on Saturday. The Mayor of Carmarthen, Councillor Tom Defis, officially opened the tournament and was on hand to present the trophies at the end of the event. Dewi Sant A won the Boys Years 5 and 6 category. Maesllyn won the Boys Years 3 and 4 competition. The Y Castell 2 team won the girls tournament. The event was sponsored by the St Catherine’s Walk shopping centre. Carmarthen Town AFC chairman Gareth Jones said he was delighted with the success of the event. “It was great to see so many youngsters enjoying their football at Richmond Park. We hope many will visit us again. Many thanks go to everyone who helped organise and contributed to a splendid day.”

Andrew Thomas collected his 'Clubman of the Year' award from Carmarthen Town AFC chairman Gareth Jones at the annual general meeting of the club held at the Clubhouse and Community Centre in Richmond Park. Andrew, who lives in Gorseinon, follows Carmarthen Town at home and away. He is one of a small team of loyal supporters who also help maintain the Richmond Park ground and act as stewards on match days.

Carmarthen Town AFC have completed their first new signing of the season. Despite strong competition from several other clubs, Jack Christopher made the decision to join the Old Gold. A proven goal scorer in the Welsh Premier League with Haverfordwest County, he will bring added potency to the Town forward line. Christopher scored 71 goals for Haverfordwest in 114 (+29 subs) appearances. Manager Tomi Morgan was delighted with his new signing. “Jack has proved himself at this level and will bring something extra into the squad. Despite some very good offers from other clubs we managed to sell Carmarthen Town to him and I was extremely pleased when he put pen to paper.” Town also completed another signing over the weekend when defender Kyle Graves committed himself to the Old Gold. Graves, a former Swansea City professional, has made 97 appearances in the Welsh Premier League while playing for Neath and Haverfordwest County. Morgan stated: “I have always been impressed with Kyle when he...

At the Carmarthen Town AFC annual presentation evening held at the Clubhouse and Community Centre in Richmond Park, the award for Goal of The Season went to Sacha Walters, for his memorable free kick in the match versus Connah's Quay. He is pictured receiving his award from Town chairman and secretary Gareth Jones.