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

The leader of Carmarthenshire County Council has paid tribute to Cllr Keith Davies who died today. Councillor Keith Davies represented the Council Division of Kidwelly in the Gwendraeth Valley. He had been a county councillor since 2008 and following his re-election in 2012, he was appointed to serve on the council’s Executive Board with responsibility for Education and Children, a position he held until earlier this year. Before retiring in 2006 he worked in retail management and was a supermarket manager with the Co-op. He was a Governor of Ysgol y Castell, Kidwelly and Ysgol Glanymor, Burry Port. He was also a member of Kidwelly Town Council and served on a number of other committees within his local community. Council Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “It was with sadness that I heard of the sudden, unexpected and early death of Cllr Keith Davies and would like to offer my sympathy to his family and to the people of Kidwelly where he was a central part of the community. “Everyone ...

One of the longest-serving members of Llanelli Rotary Club has died. Gordon Battersby, of St Margaret's Drive, Llanelli, was 90. His wife Rachel Mary (Rae) died four years ago. Mr Battersby is survived by his sons Mark and Michael. A retired mining engineer, Mr Battersby celebrated his 90th birthday in the company of fellow Rotarians earlier this year. A special cake marked the occasion at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Llanelli Rotary Club press spokesman Robert Lloyd said: "Gordon was a much-admired and respected Rotarian. That admiration extended beyond the orbit of Llanelli Rotary Club into the wider world of Rotary internationally and the community at large. "He was a committed and dedicated Rotarian who always strived to fulfil the Rotary motto of 'service above self'. "Gordon was a Paul Harris Fellow (the highest honour Rotary can give to a member). He was President of the club in 1986. "Always a fount of knowledge on Rot...

Football players united in grief at loss of much-loved Jonathan 'Butty' Evans | Llanelli Star Football players from Kidwelly and Llanelli came together in a minute's silence to mark the death of a "gentle giant" who died a fortnight ago. The match, which had been organised by Kidwelly Town against Llanelli Reds to mark their 30th anniversary began with sadness as players linked arms at the centre circle in respect of dad-of-two Jonathan Evans. Mr Evans tragically lost his life in a farming accident at the age of just 43.

ROBIN WILLIAMS 1951 -2014 With so many parts of the word in crisis, why should the death of an entertainer affect so many of us? Perhaps because during his 40-year career Robin Williams’ performances helped us forget the cruel world we live in. Apart his many hit films, he was a sensational stand-up comedian. In the early 80s he topped the bill on a Prince’s Trust Charity Performance, fresh from his TV series “Mork and Mindy” for which he was mainly known here. He struggled at first, sweating and looking panicky. But once the audience had attuned themselves to his manic, stream-of-consciousness delivery...boom! He got his first huge laugh and was off and running, improvising and riffing, like a veteran jazz musician. He was also a terrific actor in straight roles - playing memorably sinister characters in both “One Hour Photo” and “Insomnia” - and his voice performance as the animated Genie in “Aladdin” has entertained generations. And now he’s gone. Looking at his career and...

Tributes to devoted bishop | This is South Wales Tributes have been paid to a retired Welsh bishop from Carmarthen who has died. Bishop Roy Thomas Davies, former Bishop of Llandaff, passed away following a short illness. He was 79 and from Llangunnor. Story link to Thisissouthwales website.

Fatal RTC on A40 in Powys - police appeal for witnesses | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys At 11.50am Sunday 26th February police attended following a report of a two vehicle road traffic collision at a junction on the A40 between Sennybridge and Trecastle. This involved a motorcycle and a Subaru vehicle. “The rider of the bike and the driver of the car were both taken to hospital but unfortunately the rider later died from his injuries,” said roads policing Inspector Dyfed Bolton. “The driver of the car is still critical at Morriston Hospital."

Cause of death of man 'will never be known' | This is South Wales The true true cause of the death of a young Llanelli man may never be known. An inquest into the death of Lee Andrew Thomas has returned an open verdict. Mr Thomas, who lived on Firth Road, was just 27 when he died on the morning of August 4 last year. But at his inquest yesterday in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire coroner Mark Layton told his family there were two possible causes of his death and no way of knowing which one resulted in it.

Motorist dies following road traffic collision on A470 near Llangurig | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys A young woman has died following a road traffic collision on the A470 between Rhyader and Llangurig.