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

Happy New Year to all readers of this blog.

The Steering Committee of the Carmarthenshire Yes Campaign for greater powers for the Welsh Assembly have announced that their Campaign will be launched on Saturday 8 January 2011. The Steering Committee was elected at the open public meeting held in Carmarthen on 15 December. It is a cross political party committee headed by the Rev. John Gillibrand the vicar of Llangeler, with Dafydd Tomos Representing Plaid Cymru, Philip Grice for Labour and Selwyn Runnett for the Lib Dems. Henry Jones-Davies has also joined the committee to help with publicity and promotion – Henry was a leading member of the successful 1997 Yes campaign leading up to the referendum which saw the birth of the National Assembly for Wales. John Gillibrand said; “We are looking for a representative from the Conservatives, and naturally we would welcome membership from other political parties in Wales”. There will be a grand launch of the Carmarthenshire Yes Campaign from the Guildhall steps in Carmarthen Town Centre o...

Bad night for Carmarthen Town. Lost 3-2 to bottom side Haverfordwest County in the Welsh Premier League.

The Healing The Wounds charity - which aims to help Armed Forces Personnel, Veterans and their families – is marking its first anniversary. “And it has been an amazing year,” said Healing the Wounds Executive Director Kevin Richards. “We have come a very long way since the charity was first set up in the second week of December last year. “We initially started with The Golden Grove Appeal and an inspirational idea to turn the historic Tywi Valley mansion into a convalescent home and PTSD treatment facility. “Since then, we have made massive strides and have already raised £120,000 towards our PTSD treatment facility for Wales. Mr Richards said none of this would have been possible without a huge amount of public support. “Our aim is always to provide services within Wales to help members of the armed services and those connected to the services. “This has struck a powerful emotional chord with the people of Wales, who appreciate the fact that the money they raise will be spent in Wales...

The Grapes in Maentwrog in the Vale of Ffestiniog gets a mention in The Guardian - http://ning.it/hhFst6

Happy New Year from the Welsh Christmas Trees Cooperative - http://welshchristmastrees.co.uk/

See The Met in Llanelli are chancing their arm - massive Batman style lights wallpapered on the side of Theatr Elli. Council boyos on alert!

It’s a fair bet that many young sports fans found a copy the Guinness Book of Records in their Christmas stockings. And, unlikely as it sounds, Carmarthen Town AFC could once have figured in the ever-popular reference book. Carmarthen Town stalwart Alan Latham still recalls the time, more than 30 years ago, when he admits he missed a glorious opportunity of getting Carmarthen Town Football Club in the Guinness Book of Records. It was January, 1979, and Mr Latham was acting as press officer for the club. The record could have been for having the greatest number of brothers in the same football side. Carmarthen Town actually fielded two sets of brothers, who accounted for no less than eight of the 11 players in the side. The brothers involved were the Turner and the Goldsmith brothers. The Turners featured Nicky, Peter, Gary and Johnny. The Goldsmiths were Christopher, Nicky, Jeffrey and Martin (as an aside, another brother, Kenny, also played for Carmarthen but at a much earlier time). ...

You can shop at M&S (Marks and Spencer, Trostre, Llanelli) -but can't use the changing rooms. Bit like a pub where you can walk in but can't try the beer!

Game on - Haverfordwest v Carmarthen. See - http://haverfordwestcounty.co.uk/

Menter Cwm Gwendraeth has been praised for its Twilight Service to help patients leave hospital and return to the community. A team of Bangor University researchers has hailed the hospital transport service as a beacon of good practice. The service operates from 2pm-10pm Thursday to Monday, offering free car transport home from accident and emergency departments at Prince Philip and Glangwili hospitals to vulnerable patients. Researchers have estimated that the service saves a minimum of 20 bed days per month at a saving of £363 per day. The service helps to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions by providing social care support to help people settle back at home – patients that would otherwise be admitted on to a ward without any real medical need. As well as seeing people safely home from hospital, Twilight Service volunteers also help people settle by turning on lights and heating, making them refreshments, getting in food supplies and carrying out basic home safety checks. They also...

It looks like game on at Ffos Las racing today - even through the fog! Fun bets of the day at - Betabob, Our Bob and Mr Robert!

Whisper it - but it could be Game On tomorrow night for Haverfordwest v Carmarthen in the Welsh Premier League!

Advice on looking after your Christmas Tree? See - http://welshchristmastrees.co.uk/

Members of Clwb Iechyd Da, held at Pontyberem’s Nant Y Glo Sheltered Housing Complex, have got themselves in the mood for the Christmas. The complex, run by Carmarthenshire County Council, provides safe, secure accommodation for many older tenants and is a place to socialise for many more older people living in the community. Along with other health and wellbeing services, Clwb Iechyd Da includes a lively luncheon club, which provides low-cost meals and entertainment for people aged over 60. This week saw the club hold its annual Christmas dinner – and there was plenty of fun and games. Amanda Wheelhouse, sheltered scheme officer, said: “Everyone had a great time.” Peter Harrison and Brenda Stubbs pulling Christmas crackers at Nant Y Glo, Pontyberem. Pic Jeff Connell

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC column from the Carmarthen Journal - Carmarthen Town AFC is a club with connections everywhere – as we showed last week in this column when we recited the history of former player Robert ‘Bobby’ Jones, uncle to Hollywood star Catherine Zeta Jones. Believe it or not, but it’s possible to link the club to the winner of this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, the great AP McCoy. AP is, of course, the best jump jockey of his generation, and has ridden on many occasions for Carmarthen racehorse trainer Alison Thorpe. Alison, meanwhile, is better known to everyone at Richmond Park as the daughter of Don Jenkins, of our most loyal supporters, home and away. Don retired many moons ago as a superintendent with the Dyfed-Powys Police force, but he keeps himself busy in his retirement as a full-time football fan and part-time racehorse owner. For many years after his retirement from the force he was chief steward at Sw...

An Amman Valley woman has won a Christmas hamper of locally-produced food and drink in a competition run by the council’s waste/recycling section. Catherine Brettle, from Betws, entered the ‘Don’t have a rubbish Christmas competition’ in the Llanelli Star and Carmarthen Journal newspapers. Drawn at random, she correctly answered that the average family waste £12 on food each week.

A Carmarthen schoolgirl has won a prize after coming up with a suggestion to tackle litter at her school. Year 8 pupil Phoebe May Roberts wants to see more litter bins in the grounds of QE High School – and detention for pupils that don’t use them! Phoebe took part in a competition organised by Carmarthenshire County Council after a ‘green day’ was held at the school during Wales Sustainability Week. The aim was to encourage pupils to put their litter in the bin and recycle as much of their waste as possible. The day began with a special assembly and a short film on climate change followed by litter-related activities in lessons throughout the day. Council officers also went into the classroom to speak to pupils about litter and its consequences along with the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and litter-picks were held within the school grounds. As part of the day, pupils were asked to come up with ideas on how best to tackle litter at the school - with all suggestions entered into a...