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

Cardiff's newest pub will be blowing its own trumpet next week (September 24-26) as it stages a ground-breaking music and beer festival. The Cricketers, just a 'six-hit' away from Glamorgan's Swalec stadium in Cathedral Road, is making its bow as a new venue for the very best in live music. And the venue has a Welsh music legend topping the bill. Mike Harries Root Doctors will be headlining on Sunday (September 26). Saturday (September 25) will see the renowned Acoustic Zeppelin as the main attraction. “It promises to be a real treat for jazz and music fans in Cardiff," said Cricketers owner Simon Buckley. “I have been a massive fan of the Brecon Jazz Festival and I have been happy to make sure that event is supported by staging events at one of my other venues, The George Hotel in Brecon. “The capital city of Cardiff needs a capital venue with a convivial atmosphere for quality music and I hope that this first festival will be the first of many similar events at T...

Thanks to you, folks, this blog is continuing to pick up more hits. It's now hit the 13,000 page views mark. That's a 1000 views since August 24. Keep the hits coming, folks! Many thanks. See earlier blog - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/12000-visits-chalked-up.html Meanwhile, the blog has chalked up its first visitor from Uruguay. The full country by country list (figures from January 6) is as follows - United Kingdom (GB) 3,307; United States (US) 430; India (IN) 40; Germany (DE) 35; Europe (EU) 34; Australia (AU) 29; Qatar (QA) 29; Canada (CA) 25; Ireland (IE) 22; Italy (IT) 17; France (FR) 15; Malaysia (MY) 14; New Zealand (NZ) 11; Belgium (BE) 11; Netherlands (NL) 11; United Arab Emirates (AE) 9; Russian Federation (RU) 9; Singapore (SG) 8; Philippines (PH) 7; Spain (ES) 7; Sweden (SE) 6; Denmark (DK) 6; Greece (GR) 5; Austria (AT) 5; Romania (RO) 4; Bahrain (BH) 4; Bulgaria (BG) 3; Saudi Arabia (SA) 3; Cote D'Ivoire (CI) 3; South Africa (ZA) 3; Poland (PL) 3; ...

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' column from the Carmarthen Journal - There’s a new look to the Carmarthen Town AFC Welsh Premier League squad this season. So this column continues to put the spotlight on individual squad members. KIERAN HOWARD (Midfield) 17.01.91. Morriston-based Kieran progressed through Swansea City's youth set-up to captain the Swans reserves side. A member of the Wales Under-19 squad he signed professional in 2009. Joined Neath on a season’s contract at the end of August 2009. Recent signing. GERAINT PASSMORE (Midfield) 18.02.86 Passmore spent two seasons at Park Avenue after signing from University Wales Aberystwyth, where he captained the University side. Moving back to South Wales he joined Neath FC in July 2008, but made only limited appearances at the Gnoll before moving to Welsh Leaguers ENTO Aberaman. Returned to Park Avenue in August 2009. HUW SEXTON (Midfield) 20.09.89 Developed through Town’s Youth and Academy set up. Having impressed in ...

Volunteers pulled out two scooters and a bike during a clean-up of the River Amman. Members of the Cwmamman Rivercare Group also filled 14 bags with rubbish. The clean-up was held in partnership with Tidy Towns, a Welsh Assembly Government-funded initiative which is delivered in partnership by Carmarthenshire County Council and Keep Wales Tidy. Tidy Towns officer Simon Troake said: “The group are doing a lot of good work in the area. It was amazing the amount of rubbish that was pulled from the river in just a short space of time and I would like to thank them for their efforts.” The aim of Tidy Towns is to encourage and support communities to improve the quality of their local environment. The council’s executive board member for regeneration Councillor Clive Scourfield said: “Community groups like this one in Cwmamman are a real asset to society and their sterling work does not go unrecognised. I am delighted that Tidy Towns was able to support them. “By working together we can make ...

A Llanelli woman has been ordered to pay more than £400 for throwing a cigarette end out of a car window. Angela Walters, aged 50, of Langland Road, Llanelli, was convicted in her absence of an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that on May 22 this year the council’s environmental enforcement officers were on duty in Parc Trostre. They were parked in the car park adjacent to B&Q when they saw a cigarette end thrown out of a car window. The officers approached the vehicle and explained what they had seen and that it was an offence to throw litter. The woman was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75, however, she failed to pay it within the specified time and as a result was prosecuted in court. Walters was fined £175 by magistrates and ordered to pay £232 towards prosecution costs as well as a £15 victim surcharge. This follows a council campaign to hig...

A Llanelli dog owner has been fined £75 for failing to clean up after his pet. The council’s environmental enforcement officers issued a fixed penalty notice to the man on the Machynys coast road in Llanelli. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and a maximum fine of £1,000. Carmarthenshire County Council is working hard to tackle the problem of dog fouling and enforcement officers regularly carry out patrols the county. Executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “Dog mess left anywhere is a serious health risk. Hopefully this will act as a warning to others that this type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and those caught flouting the law will be prosecuted.” The council is appealing to the public to help identify those responsible. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567. Councillor Hughes added: “The council is determined to stop the problem of dog fouling in Carma...

Two people have been fined for dropping litter in Carmarthenshire. Council environmental enforcement officers issued two fixed penalty notices for £75 following separate incidents at Myrtle Hill in Carmarthen and McDonalds in Parc Trostre, Llanelli. Failure to pay the fines could result in prosecution in the magistrates court and a maximum penalty of £2,500. The council’s executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “There is no excuse for littering our streets, if there are no bins nearby, then take your rubbish home with you to dispose of. Saying it keeps someone in a job is just an excuse for those who are too lazy or just don’t care about where they live. “The council’s environmental enforcement officers regularly patrol the county and anyone caught dropping litter is fined. We determined to make Carmarthenshire a cleaner, greener and safer place to live for everyone.” It is hoped these latest fines will act as a warning to would-be litterbugs that this...

Llanelli Rotary Club was delighted to welcome the District Governor of the Rotary movement, Donna Wallbank, to its meeting held at the Stradey Park Hotel. Donna, who was accompanied by husband Steve, gave an inspirational address outlining the great strides Rotary has made internationally in attempting to eradicate polio. She also praised members of Llanelli Rotary Club – the second oldest in Wales – for their work in the local community. She also highlighted Llanelli Rotary’s £62,000 contribution to the Foundation charity, the international Rotary movement’s own charity fund. The vote of thanks to District Governor Donna was given by JC Williams, a past president of Llanelli Rotary Club and a former District Governor. Pictured above are Llanelli Rotary Club president Melanie Carroll-Cliffe, District Governor Donna Wallbank and Llanelli Rotary member and past president JC Williams. If you are interested in finding out more about Rotary, then you can call Llanelli’s public relations cha...

Communities First Pantyffynnon in Ammanford will be asking residents ‘Are you gambling with your health?’ as it urges everyone to get their blood pressure checked. Free checks are being offered during this year’s Know your Numbers! Week, which runs from today until Sunday September 19. Communities First Pantyffynnon and the Carmarthenshire Leisure Services Department have teamed and are among around 1,400 official ‘Pressure Stations’ taking part in the nation’s biggest blood pressure testing event run by UK charity the Blood Pressure Association. Communities First Pantyffynnon will be offering free blood pressure checks in Ammanford Market (along Quay Street) on September 17 between 10am-3pm. Professionals will be on hand to give the free checks and offer advice of staying healthy. Research from the Blood Pressure Association has revealed almost three quarters of adults do not know their blood pressure numbers. This ignorance means they are taking an unnecessary gamble with their healt...

The first attempted crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by a robotic sailing boat is underway. Pinta, a three-metre robotic sailing boat developed by a team of scientists at the Department of Computer Science at Aberystwyth University, was launched off the coast of County Kerry in Ireland on Saturday. Based on the popular Topper Taz sailing boat, Pinta is the brainchild of robot scientist and sailing enthusiast Dr Mark Neal and bears the name of one of the ships used by Christopher Columbus for his first crossing of the Atlantic in 1492. However, the modern day Pinta has little if anything in common with its illustrious predecessor and features a Gumstix computer, solar panels, around 30kg of batteries, a sail winch, tiller actuator and a 25kg keel bulb. The launch is part of The Microtransat Challenge ( http://www.microtransat.org ) which aims to stimulate the development of robotic sailing boats by challenging teams to build a completely autonomous boat and control system capable of saili...

It’s time to climb on board the Stagecoach! Carmarthen’s performing arts school is all ready to start another exciting journey for youngsters. Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen has its base at the Model Church in Wales School. And it is now gearing up for a new season, fresh from the excitement of staging the musical Billy Elliot in July. “It’s always a big thrill starting a new ‘term’ at Stagecoach in Carmarthen,” said principal Liane Davies. “This year, we are delighted to welcome back current students and new pupils. “Our aim is always to nurture and develop 4-18 year-olds to fulfil their potential through dance, drama and singing. “Our class sizes are virtually full, but there are some places left in the early stages classes for 4-6 year-olds.” Liane added: “We believe in starting young and our early stages classes are tailored specifically for the needs of 4-6 year-olds. “The weekly Saturday morning classes are 90-minute sessions where children are taught the elementary skills in...

There will be two big matches at Richmond Park, Carmarthen, on Friday night. Carmarthen Town kick-off their Welsh Premier League match against Haverfordwest County at 7.30pm. And, at half-time, two schools teams go head-to-head in a junior primary school match on the pitch. It’s the start of a new innovation at Richmond Park to give youngsters first-hand experience of playing on the Welsh Premier ground. “Teams from Richmond Park School and St Mary’s School will be special guests of Carmarthen Town on Friday night,” said Town vice-chairman Robert Lloyd. “The local ‘derby’ against Haverfordwest is always keenly contested and is a must-win match for both teams, so there is sure to be a buzz around the ground on Friday night. “This year, we are planning to give as many youngsters as a taste of what the big match experience is like. They will get a pep-talk from manager Tomi Morgan and meet some of Town’s players. “The highlight for the youngsters will be running out on the Richmond Park p...