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

By any standards, it’s been quite a year for the Ashburnham Golf Club’s teenage golf star Nia Greville. At just 15, she has chalked up a Welsh title win, represented Wales in the European Championships in Sardinia and she is now heading north to compete in the Home Internationals in Scotland. In the middle of it all, she is putting her mind to completing 12 GSCE Level exams, anxiously awaiting the results of half of them later this month. “Yes, it’s been quite a year,” the modest Ysgol y Strade, Llanelli, pupil said as she took time out from a practice round at the Ashburnham Championship Links. “The golf has gone really well and I am lucky that it’s been both a busy and successful year.” In May, Nia won the Welsh Girls Under-16 Championship at Royal St David's Golf Club, Harlech. In July, she joined the Wales team in the European Girls Under-18 Team Championships in Sardinia. This week, she will be proudly wearing the Wales blazer once again as the Girls Home International Matches...

Tragic reason behind cancellation of Carmarthen game - http://ning.it/oRNGjO

Today's pre-season friendly between Caersws and Carmarthen is off today.

The full-line-up for the Brecon Jazz 'Fringe' events at The George Hotel (see earlier post - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/all-that-jazz-at-george-in-brecon.html ) is as follows - Friday 12th 7.00 Tasha 7.30 The Sunshine Band 9.30 Call Me Albert Saturday 13th 12.00 Just Harrie 1.00 Li Harding (above) & The Gary (Amigos) Philips Trio 2.45 Wonderbrass 3.30 Mike Harries Root Doctors 6.00 The Numbers Racket 8.00 Loose Change 10.00 Blue Traffic 11.00 Morty (Racing Cars) & The Frantics Sunday 14th 12.00 Sarah & H Quartet 2.00 The Remi Harris Trio (above) 4.00 Steely Scam (UK Steely Dan Tribute) with The Division Horns, feat. Odette Adams 6.30 The Albino Frogs 8.30 She Tasted Good (above) 10.30 Nik Turner Project 9

At the Healing The Wounds charity, they firmly believe in the title of the Will Young hit ‘Anything Is Possible’. It could even be something of a motto for the charity, which helps treat sufferers of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Event manager Amie Phillips is a big fan of Will Young . . . so, on the basis of ‘anything is possible’ she asked for a favour when he visited a South Wales radio station. “We asked Will if he’d be kind enough to autograph one of our Healing The Wounds banners and he was delighted to agree after it was explained to him what the charity’s work involves. “His autograph is the first on our banner, but it will be the first of many we hope as we plan to get more celebrity autographs and endorsements. “Then, when we’ve filled as much of the banner was we can, we will put the finished banner up for auction to raise cash for the charity. “As an auction item it will be a real one-off and of great appeal to celebrity autograph hunters.” Amazingly, in December W...

A man has been fined £350 and ordered to pay £110 court costs for illegally carrying scrap metal in Carmarthenshire. Mathew George Jones, aged 27, of Sageston Grange, Sageston, Pembrokeshire, was convicted in absence for an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that Jones was driving a HGV carrying two scrapped vehicles and was stopped by police on the A48 near Nantycaws, Carmarthen. He told police he was the owner of the HGV and when questioned about the ownership of the scrap vehicles on the back of the lorry, he first maintained that they were his, but after further questioning admitted that they were old vehicles. When the officer asked to see Jones’s waste carriers licence, he said that he was in the process of applying for it. When asked if he had a licence, he said no. The information was passed on to Carmarthenshire County Counc...

A man has been prosecuted for failing to fill in the appropriate documentation for the waste he was carrying. Jamie Lee Smith, aged 22, of Amphion Court, Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, pleaded guilty by post to an offence under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that Smith was driving a Ford Transit pick-up truck which was carrying a consignment of scrap metals when he was stopped by police at Pendine Hill in Pendine. On questioning, the officer established that no waste transfer notes had been completed in respect of the scrap metals on his vehicle. The matter was referred to the council’s environmental enforcement section for prosecution. Smith was fined £250 by magistrates and ordered to pay £100 towards prosecution costs. The council now hopes this case will act as a warning to others and help prevent the illegal transport of waste which often results in fl...

The award-winning Evan-Evans brewery in Llandeilo is helping to champion the power of local! There is a growing consumer trend to buy local food and drink, with the accent firmly on quality products. “Pubs are no different in that respect to your local greengrocer, butcher and fishmonger,” said James Buckley, of Evan-Evans. “More and more nowadays customers and consumers are appreciating the value of ‘buying local’. They know they are supporting local industries and businesses and they know they are getting quality products for the pound in their pocket. “In the brewing industry in Wales, we have found in recent years that people putting real value on excellence. Here, at Evan-Evans we produce a range of traditional quality ales which are winning awards and building on our reputation for excellence.” Mr Buckley, 22, recently rejoined the brewing team at Evan-Evans and is now helping to promote an initiative from SIBA, the Small Independent Brewers’ Association. SIBA will this week (Aug...

A popular Llanelli business breakfast club has strengthened its line-up with the addition of some new key players. The trio of new members at the Business Network International (BNI) Chapter in Llanelli is led by Llanelli Reds football club defender Chris Thomas. And the line-up is completed by Llanelli solicitor Michael Davey and finance and mortgage specialist Nigel Wain. “Membership of the BNI business network is all about being part of a bigger team,” said visitor host Paul Thomas. “Everyone comes to a BNI meeting with their own individual skills and talents, but the power of the meeting comes through the way members work together.” Reds star Chris Thomas, of John F Harvey chartered accountants, agreed. He added: “Joining the BNI breakfast club in Llanelli has been a great help. We can all learn from each other as the meeting contains people from such varied backgrounds. “These are challenging times in business and the club is really useful as a support mechanism. You know that fel...

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, described by The Guinness Book of Records as the world’s greatest living explorer, is lending a hand to Healing The Wounds, the Welsh charity which helps treat sufferers of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Sir Ranulph took time out this week to help record a promotional film for the Bridgend-based charity. “It was an honour to meet such an inspirational gentleman with such amazing achievements to his name,” said Healing The Wounds executive director Kevin Richards. “Sir Ranulph Fiennes has been named the UK's top celebrity fundraiser by Justgiving.com. He’s raised a whopping £2.5million for Marie Curie Cancer Care in just two years. “With achievements like that, we are so very grateful that he agreed to help us out with our promotional film. “The film work was carried out at The Celtic Manor Hotel in Newport and the final edited version is likely to be broadcast as a TV advertisement for the charity’s work. “Sir Ranulph took the time to talk to us about t...

Public toilets in Llansteffan, Ferryside, Pendine, Burry Port and Cenarth are to remain under the control of the county council. The remaining 28 grade two facilities will again be offered to town and community councils to take over. The Executive Board has decided to revise the offer to include a £1,000 one-off payment (an increase from the initial £500 offered) and the council will also pay the business rates. Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Philip Hughes said: “We first wrote to the town and community councils in September last year to ask if they would consider taking over the responsibility for public conveniences. Of the 25, two were prepared to take over the responsibility providing we carried out some upgrading works/repairs and a further five said they would consider it. “Some of the responses we had said that they would consider it, but that they felt the payment was too low or they could not afford the business rates. We have therefore decided to revise our o...

Carmarthenshire County Council’s approach to school catering and the support it gives to local food producers has been celebrated in a new book. Widely acclaimed author Kevin Morgan, Professor of Governance and Development at Cardiff University, has given high praise to what he calls the council’s ‘school food revolution’ in a new book called ‘Rural Wales in the 21st Century’. In a chapter entitled ‘Foodscapes and Landscapes: The Gastro-Geographies of Wales’, Prof Morgan states that Carmarthenshire has led the way in modernising school food provision and local food procurement and that it has set an example for others to follow. He said:“Until recently, we might not have sought good food in a public canteen, especially not a school canteen, but some parts of the UK have been quietly pioneering a quality revolution in the school catering service. To examine this quality revolution in the public foodscape, we take Carmarthenshire as the focus because it has been at the forefront of the s...

An Ammanford bridge is being closed for a short time to allow strengthening works that will ensure its future. The Dyffryn Road Bridge work is being carried as part of a planned programme of bridges throughout the county that are being assessed for weight limits and restrictions, complying with European legislation. Local residents, regular users and emergency services have been notified of the diversions that will be necessary over the eight-week period of works. The bridge will be reopened to traffic in October. The Dyffryn Road bridge is currently restricted to a 7.5tonne limit but after strengthening work will be able to take the 40-tonnes limit now accepted as standard on major UK road systems. The old bridge will stay in place a little longer than expected because of a delay in the supply of the pre-cast concrete beams being supplied to local contractor T Richard Jones (Betws) Ltd. County Executive Board member for transport and engineering services Cllr Phillip Hughes said: “Thi...

From Arts to Zoology, and from bachelor’s degree to PhD, thousands of international students are graduating from universities across Wales this week and last. After years of hard study, in many cases in a foreign language, students from all over the world are this week collecting the qualifications they hope will set them on the path to success. At Cardiff University, the graduation ceremony is broadcast live from St David’s Hall to the city on the BBC big screen so that members of the public as well as friends and families of graduates can watch the 2011 degree congregations as they happen. All of the universities honour public figures alongside their graduates and this year at Bangor University, students join the likes of Duffy, the singer, and Welsh rugby international Shane Williams as they collect their degrees. New graduates at University of Glamorgan are applauded by the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and academic staff, accompanied by musicians from the Royal Welsh College of Mus...

Council officers have reviewed the way leisure services are delivered in Carmarthenshire following the impact of the recession. From a golf club to parks, school sports halls and leisure centres, 22 facilities have been scrutinised to improve the way they are delivered. None are closing. In most cases the council is working to deliver the services more efficiently. In some cases partner organisations have been found to deliver the services. County chairman of the regeneration and leisure scrutiny committee Cllr Anthony Jones said the action plan determined over the last year had been a major piece of work and he praised those involved for saving the county’s rich diversity or leisure outlets by making and suggesting efficiencies. He says: “There is no way we could have continued to provide parks, centres and many of the attractions we have without radical changes to develop this action plan to help preserve and improve what we have. “I am confident users will see improvements that will...

Menter Cwm Gwendraeth is looking for local organisations to work with it to develop volunteering opportunities across the community. It has been given the go ahead to employ a Volunteer Development Officer to encourage volunteering and work with people in rural Carmarthenshire. The aim of the project is to encourage volunteering and the role of the Volunteer Development Officer is to recruit Community Mentor Leaders and volunteers. Target groups include 16-25-year-olds, over-50s, unemployed people, disabled people and under-represented groups. These events will be promoted using local partnership networks including the Youth Service, the Carmarthenshire 50+ Forum, local Job Centres, and GP Practices. It will involve supporting the development of volunteers, providing them with skills and confidence, and increasing development and lifelong learning initiatives. Menter will provide each volunteer with a development plan. Possible opportunities to volunteer in the community that Menter Cw...

Menter Cwm Gwendraeth has held a highly successful open day at the Gwendraeth Resource Centre in Pontyberem to promote IT and other courses available in 2011-2012. The Resource Centre has a range of IT courses - keyboard skills, IT for beginners, Word and file management and E-mail and Internet; Multi Media courses – digital camera, digital imaging, Photoshop 1 and 2, Foundation in Multi Media and Level 1 in Further Technology; Welsh, and Spanish. The courses range from four to 30 weeks in length with a mix of daytime and evening courses. Julie Nicholas of Menter Cwm Gwendraeth said: “The open day was very successful. There are still a number of places available on some of the courses for anyone who is interested.”

When you’ve got nearly 245 years of brewing experience behind you, it pays to keep things in the family. The Buckley name is synonymous with award-winning brewing in Wales, so it is no surprise to find that the latest recruit to the family’s Evan-Evans business has the famous surname. James Buckley, 22, has joined the Llandeilo-based brewery as a seventh generation member of the longest-surviving brewing dynasty in Wales. He is following in the footsteps of his father Simon, 53, who heads up operations at Llandeilo and holds the treasure chest of his family’s secret recipes. James is joining head brewer Iven Kelleher at Evan-Evans. “Iven has built up a great reputation as an award-winning brewer so it’s a great opportunity for me to build on the brewing skills I have already acquired,” said James. This is his second stint at the brewery. “After I left Llandovery College, I spent about a year and a half working for Evan-Evans before leaving in April, 2009, to take a brewing job at Oxfor...

IBERS - the Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University has revealed findings of research held into the viability of kelp as a biofuel for the future. It was also discussed how the suitability of its composition varies on a seasonal basis as harvesting the kelp in July when carbohydrate levels are at their highest would ensure optimal sugar release for biofuel production. “The storage carbohydrate and soluble sugars get converted into ethanol in the fermentation process, so we need as much as possible,” explains Dr Jessica Adams, a lead researcher at Aberystwyth University. “Metals can inhibit the yeast too so we also want these to be as low as possible”. Collecting monthly samples of kelp from the Welsh coast, researchers used chemical analysis to assess the seasonal variability. Their results, which were presented at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Conference in Glasgow, showed that the best month for biofuel harvest was in July w...

A series of new No Cold Calling Zones have been set up in the Llangunnor area. Carmarthenshire County Council Trading Standards Service and Dyfed Powys Police have set up No Cold Calling Zones at Awel Tywi, Bryn Tywi, Golwg Tywi, Llys Morfa, Pen y Morfa and Elder Grove at the request of Llangunnor Community Council. The move brings the number of zones established across Carmarthenshire to 26. It is a criminal offence for uninvited traders to call at the houses within the designated zones. No Cold Calling Zones started in Carmarthenshire in 2006 and have proved to be a success. They are set up in areas where elderly or vulnerable people live, or where there has been evidence of doorstep crime and problems with cold callers. The aim of the zones is to protect Carmarthenshire consumers from bogus officials/workers, overbearing sales people and other scams. The first zone was launched at Maes Elfryn Housing Complex, Llandeilo, in September 2006. Areas covered by Carmarthenshire’s No Cold C...

Carmarthenshire dairy producers have been congratulated by the county council for their successes at the Royal Welsh Show. The success against stiff opposition comes as new developments are in the pipeline which will strengthen the industry in the county. Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “I would like to congratulate Carmarthenshire’s dairy producers for an outstanding number of successes at the Royal Welsh Show. “It only goes to prove the quality of produce available from within Carmarthenshire which will be further complemented by the set up of a new dairy at the Old Creamery in Whitland and a new dairy processing unit, initially to churn butter, at Cross Hands Food Park.” The local winners were: Farmhouse & Speciality Classes were, Farmhouse Caerphilly: 1, Caws Cenarth Carmarthenshire 1st; Farmhouse Smoked Cheese, Hard Pressed: Caws Cenarth Carmarthenshire 2nd; Farmhouse Cheese of any Variety Open to P...

A Gwendraeth Valley man has been fined after throwing litter from a car window at McDonald’s in Carmarthen. Daniel Rhodri Evans was convicted in absence for an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that the 20-year-old, of Heol Y Ysgol, Cefneithin, was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75 by the council’s environmental enforcement officers. However, he failed to pay it and was prosecuted in court as a result. Evans was fined £100 by magistrates and ordered to pay £160 towards prosecution costs. The council hopes this fine will act as a warning to would-be litterbugs that this type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated. It follows a county-wide ‘Bin It’ campaign, supported by McDonald’s, to encourage people to dispose of their litter more responsibly. Executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “Dropp...

Two Aberystwyth University students have been acknowledged at the annual Student Employee of the Year Awards, held at the recent National Association of Student Employment Services (NASES) conference in Birmingham. Lynn Abhulimen and Jamie Barker both came away with great accolades, reflecting their outstanding contributions and achievements in combining part-time work with their study commitments Lynn, a student of the Management & Business School was awarded the Wales Student Employee of the Year 2011 Jobshop Award, while Jamie, a business IT student won the Wales Student Employee of the Year 2011 On Campus Award and the overall Wales Student Employee of the Year 2011 Award. Dr Russell Davies, Marketing Manager at Aberystwyth University, said: “We are immensely proud of Jamie and Lynn and they should be very pleased with their achievements. As a University, we actively encourage practical experience within the workplace and we work hard to maintain and develop our links with busi...

It’s all that jazz – and it’s free! The George Hotel in Brecon will be staging its very own ‘Fringe’ in harmony with the Brecon Jazz Festival. Headlining on Saturday, August 13, will be the legendary Mike Harries Root Doctors. The veteran Welsh musician is 78 years young and is living proof that music is always the best medicine. “Brecon Jazz is a superb weekend and we aim to help the event be a massive success,” said The George Hotel’s owner, Simon Buckley. “The festival runs from August 12-14 and we want The George Hotel, slap bang in the middle of town, to be at the heart of things. “We will be running our own ‘Fringe’ events all weekend and they will be free to one and all. “The music will be special, of course. And there will be plenty of opportunity to sample the award-winning beers from my Evan-Evans Brewery in Llandeilo.” Mike Harries has been making music in Cardiff since the late 1940s, for the most time in the New Orleans traditional style. He formed the Root Doctors in 1987...

Latest results from ‘The Ash’ – Huw Richards Cup 1, Bobbie Phillips, 72 - 03 = 69; 2, Brian G Beynon 86 - 17 = 69; 3, David Nicholas 72 - 03 = 69. Lady Captain's Day 1, Mary Elizabeth Ervine, 41 pts (31); 2, Olwen Davies, 40 pts (06); 3, Mary McGregor, 36 pts (26). Frank Maliphant Cup 1, Stefan Jones, 68 - 03 = 65; 2, David Tovey, 77 - 11 = 66; 3, Maurice Barrett, 81 - 11 = 70.

Here is the latest Clay Shaw Butler 'Looking after business' column from the pages of the Carmarthen Journal - By Ann Thomas, leading Consultant at West Wales Chartered Accountants and Business Consultants Clay Shaw Butler In the words of the Dad’s Army character Lance-Corporal Jack Jones, “Don’t panic!” When you are faced with the sometimes bewildering array of accounting software packages available for computers, the temptation may be to close your eyes and pick the first one off the shelf. Here are some tips for making your mind up – What are your requirements for the software? For example, if you need a system to replace your basic book-keeping function of cashbook and simple receipts and payments reconciliations then a basic package will suffice. Should you need highly sophisticated stock control, reporting, e-commerce functions etc, then more complex packages will be required. What are your plans for the future? Consider the next 12-24 months and whether there will be rap...

The latest Iechyd Da beer column written by Llandeilo brewer Simon Buckley in the Carmarthen Journal - Summer now seems virtually over! Last week, I had the good fortune to host a table at the Parliamentary Beer Group’s annual dinner in Westminster, London. At the dinner were the great and the good of the brewing industry, from the very biggest to us smaller specialist brewers. There were not many ‘comrades’ from the Welsh brewing scene and it was left to Brains and the Evan-Evans team to fly the flag. Sadly, the Brains team, led by their Chairman John Rhys, were seen retreating to their hotel rooms early, leaving us as the last brewery team to lock up at the end of the night! It was a memorable evening, but the tenor of the conversation was one of long-term gloom, and the demise of the brewing industry and the great British pub. I was forced to do a reality check because that is not what we at Evan-Evans brewery in Llandeilo are experiencing. Yes, we are having to work harder than eve...

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC column from the Carmarthen Journal - Following the successful trip to the Wales v England match last season, Carmarthen Town are planning to run further trips to the remaining Welsh Euro 2012 qualification matches. Details are as follows: Friday 2nd September – Wales v Montenegro (Cardiff). Bus leaves at 4pm and returns straight after the game. Friday 7th October – Wales v Switzerland (Swansea). Bus leaves at 5pm and returns straight after the game. Through our EMC Services sponsored Community Programme, for each trip we are able to offer subsidised coach travel for our supporters. This offer is limited to the first 45 supporters for each game who book tickets through the club. Coach seats are available at £5 each and this offer is conditional on you purchasing your match tickets through the club. Ticket prices have yet to be released by the FAW but to reserve your place please contact either Paul Ashley-Jones (email: pau...

Off to Bridgend for a meeting with the Healing The Wounds charity which works to help victims of PTSD.

People are being advised that the public computers at Brynamman Library will not be available today. The equipment is being taken away for upgrades to be carried out, and should be returned by Thursday. Staff apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Urban wildlife seems to have a back seat in such a diverse and beautiful county like Carmarthenshire. Those searching out wildlife generally visit our coastline, mountains and rivers. Wildlife has, however, adapted to urban living and all towns will be home to a range of species – some we welcome, some less so and some rarely noticed. Urban habitats, including gardens are becoming important for wildlife, with some species increasingly dependent on gardens for their survival. Join the county’s biodiversity officer and the Llanelli Naturalists on Thursday July 28 for a guided walk in Ammanford to look at the plants, birds and any other wildlife to be find right on our doorstep. Starting at the station at 6:30pm the walk will discover the places in towns that wildlife uses, discuss what we can do to help them and see how the places that we find least appealing might be hidden treasures for wildlife.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Property Services department has scooped another top industry award. The latest award comes from Construction Excellence in Wales, which has celebrated Carmarthenshire’s approach to partnership working across the local construction and training industry. Head of the department, Phil Lumley, picked up the award for Integration and Collaborative Working at the Holland House Hotel, Cardiff, where nine awards were up for grabs by construction companies, projects and local authorities from across Wales. Carmarthenshire had highlighted its commitment to partnership and collaboration in its entry, which focused on the success of its Contracting Framework. Phil Lumley said: “In Carmarthenshire, collaboration is not just a word - it is a way of life. Over the last four years, we have built up strong long-term relationships with many local contractors, and in doing so have created a framework which has proved beneficial in more ways than one. “The Framework now p...

Little children - and big kids - are being encouraged to play the day away on Wednesday, August 3. People across Carmarthenshire are being urged to join in the UK-wide celebrations of Playday 2011. The national event is aimed at celebrating children’s right to play and is a campaign that highlights the importance of play in children’s lives. Hundreds of communities across the UK will put on local Playday events. Here in Carmarthenshire, the county’s Children’s Partnership is supporting a number of activities that are being held close to the date. On Thursday, July 28, a Families Together Group event is taking place at Pembrey Country Park from 10am-3pm. On Thursday, August 4, the Carmarthenshire Family Centre Network is hosting a sports day at Peoples Park, Llanelli, from 10am-3pm. On Friday, August 5, Felinfoel Communities First is holding a play day from 1-6pm, and on Wednesday, August 10, the Kidzone/Teenzone at Llwynhendy Integrated Children's Centre will host den building sess...

Latest figures show CCTV cameras in Carmarthenshire are helping police catch criminals in the act. From April 1 last year to March 31 this year, 230 incidents were recorded in the three main towns of Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford resulting in 210 arrests. Highly-skilled CCTV operators were able to observe the incidents as they happened and police would then direct resources accordingly. The operators work closely with officers and spent a total of 975 hours proactively monitoring specific people or vehicles of interest. The footage is then used in court as evidence. Incidents include assaults, criminal damage, drugs related offences, missing persons, thefts from properties and vehicles, public order offences, shoplifting and road traffic collisions. Executive Board Member for Community Safety Cllr Pam Palmer said: “CCTV makes a huge contribution to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour as well as providing reassurance for residents. “The operators are extremely proactive, helpi...

A total of 14 Scouts from Carmarthenshire flew off to Sweden on July 25 to be a part of the World Scout Jamboree 2011 in Sweden. They will join 4,000 other Scouts from across the UK and 34,000 others from nearly every country in the world for two weeks of activities, fun and making new friends at one of the most international events on the planet. They will first be flying to Copenhagen to be part of a three day ‘Scout take over’ of Denmark’s capital where they will be seeing the sights and taking part in activities, before travelling to the Jamboree site in the South of Sweden. The World Scout Jamboree will include seven days of activities, with modules based around global development, quests, people and the environment. One of the key elements of the programme will be using the natural environment as a learning tool, demonstrating both its vulnerability and what individuals can do to better protect the world we live in. Ben Phillips, an Explorer Scout from the Carmarthen Explorer Sco...

Latest Clay Shaw Butler 'Looking After Business' column is in the Carmarthen Journal Business Page today. Lovely picture story in the Carmarthen Journal on the latest Investors in People award for accountants and consultants Clay Shaw Butler. Latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC column is in the Carmarthen Journal newspaper today. Latest 'Iechyd Da' beer column from West Wales brewer Simon Buckley is in the Carmarthen Journal today.

An ambitious new £1.5 million grant scheme to help farmers to diversify and to retain young people within rural Carmarthenshire is due to be launched this summer. Carmarthenshire County Council has attracted grant funding to offer support to farmers who want to develop other ventures to supplement their income. The aim of the Supporting Farmers to Diversify grant scheme is to maintain and increase the income of farm households in rural Carmarthenshire by helping them to develop alternative sources of income and alternative employment opportunities through providing the capital needed to enable farming families to diversify into non agricultural activity. The scheme has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The fund will provide financial support for farming households seeking to diversify into non agricultural activity. Capital grants at 50% of total proje...

The wraps are coming off the new £2 million state-of-the-art leisure complex at the prestigious Lamphey Court Hotel & Spa in Pembrokeshire. There has been a remarkable transformation at the hotel and spa centre over the last year. It was back in April, 2010, when the old spa at the hotel saw one of the most dramatic fires seen in Pembrokeshire for many years. Six fire engines and 45 firefighters from all over the county were called to tackle 15-metre-high flames bursting through the roof of the leisure facility. The new spa and leisure complex has literally risen like the phoenix from the ashes. “It’s been a dramatic turn-around for the hotel and spa complex and we have managed to achieve it in a relatively short period of time,” said Phil Thomas, general manager at the Lamphey Court Hotel & Spa near Pembroke. “The architects and the builders have worked very hard to create something very special here and we are sure the centre will be a major asset for the tourism industry in ...