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

Students at Aberystwyth University have created a collection of 19 short films which document different aspects of life in Ceredigion. The films have been produced by second year students on the Creative Documentary module at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies. The five-minute-long films will be shown for the first time in a special screening evening held in the R Gerallt Jones Studio at the Parry-Williams Building on Penglais Campus on Monday 12 December, starting at 6pm. Among the topics covered is a portrait of a young farmer from Llandysul; the history of the Davies family that runs the Commodore Cinema in Aberystwyth, and a look at the work done at the National Library to protect treasures during the Second World War. A number of films were inspired during a bus tour around the county which was organized by Creative Documentary module coordinator, Elin Morse. “One of the key ingredients of a successful documentary film is to have participants from all walks o...

Computers from Aberystwyth University have found a new lease of life in Africa. Staff at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology in the Nigerian city of Jos, were facing the prospect of expanding their recently launched computer degree without enough computers for their students. Their plight was brought to the attention of the Department of Computer Science at Aberystwyth by PhD student Edore Akpokodje. Edore was head of the Nigerian college’s Computing department before coming to study in Wales. As a result, 60 reconditioned computers powerful enough to run the software needed on the course have been shipped to Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos. They are due to arrive there on Saturday 3 December 2016. From Lagos they will be taken to Jos and installed in a new computer laboratory at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology. After being reconditioned, the computers were taken from Aberystwyth’s Computer Science Department to Cambria...

The latest Clay Shaw Butler Money Matters column from the Carmarthenshire Herald. By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. Well, that was interesting. Last week, the Chancellor Philip Hammond presented his first, and last, Autumn Statement along with the Spending Review. His speech and the supporting documentation set out both tax and economic measures. Our summary concentrates on the tax measures which include: the government reaffirming the objectives to raise the personal allowance to £12,500 and the higher rate threshold to £50,000 by the end of this Parliament  reduction of the Money Purchase Annual Allowance  review of ways to build on research and development tax relief  tax and National Insurance advantages of salary sacrifice schemes to be removed  anti-avoidance measures for the VAT Flat Rate Scheme  autumn Budgets commencing in autumn 2017.  In addition the Chancellor...

Plans are underway for the 32nd annual Walrus Dip at Pembrey Country Park. Hundreds of people are expected to take a dip in the sea on Boxing Day to raise money for good causes. Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised for charities through the years ranging from West Wales children’s cancer charity, LATCH to the British Heart Foundation. Leisure executive board member Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “The Walrus Dip is one of Carmarthenshire’s most traditional and most colourful events in the calendar. Now in its third decade, the event always brings a fantastic atmosphere and gives the opportunity for everyone to let their hair down and brave the Boxing Day waves while raising money for charity at the same time.” Participants are encouraged to dress in fancy dress. Panto season traditionally comes alive on the sands with Santas and sumo wrestlers, pantomime dames and superheroes making a dash for the freezing surf. The event, which was established in 1984, will be kicked off by ...

Christmas arrives in Ammanford on Friday with the switch-on of the town’s lights. Organised by Ammanford Chamber of Trade and Ammanford Town Council, and supported by Carmarthenshire County Council, the event is set to bring hundreds of families in to the town centre for a host of festivities. The main events happen along Quay Street with live music and entertainment, Christmas stalls and a funfair. The Town Mayor will switch the lights on at 6pm but a whole day of activities is planned with an outdoor market from 8am-4pm. From 4-7pm, children will get the chance to meet Santa, who will be in his grotto at the Pensioner’s Hall, and Radio Carmarthenshire will bring live music to the main stage at the top end of Quay Street. Friday night’s festivities will be followed by more Christmas activities on the weekend. Small Business Saturday kicks off early with plenty of local traders taking part. Ammanford Library will also host a Christmas Book Fair with a chance to meet authors and get b...

The wraps will come off the next phase of Llanelli’s new Vocational Village today (Thursday, December 1). Special guests have been invited to get their first glimpse of the pioneering scheme, developed specifically to offer top of the range vocational learning opportunities for secondary schoolchildren in the Llanelli area. A construction skills centre of excellence, built on the site of Bryngwyn School, is the latest element of the scheme to be officially launched. Development will soon begin to create a specialist catering training facility at St John Lloyd Catholic School, a music technology facility at Coedcae School; a performing arts and media facility at Ysgol Y Strade and a caring and child care facility at Glan Y Môr School. The vocational village is being delivered through Carmarthenshire County Council’s Modernising Education Programme, with part funding through the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools initiative. Pupils will be able to attend any of the five elements t...

Opening hours at Withybush Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit will be changed to 10am-6pm from Monday December 5. The move comes following a decision, taken in the interests of patient safety due to a shortage of consultant paediatricians, by Hywel Dda University Health Board last week. Referrals to PACU can continue to be made up until 6pm, after which necessary discharges or transfers to Glangwili Hospital when an overnight stay in hospital is required will be made. Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations Joe Teape explained: “We are carefully planning this temporary change and will be spending a lot of time during the coming days finalising the activation plan and making sure that all our staff, GPs, including out-of-hours, and partners such as the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust and NHS Direct are aware and are able to appropriately advise and assist children and their families.” A task and finish group with clinicians and managers is also being set up to closely monitor the ...