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

A new bereavement room for grieving parents has opened in the Maternity Unit at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest. Officially launched by Anna Ryder-Richardson, star of TV show Anna’s Welsh Zoo, the room gives families a chance to grieve in a peaceful setting. The room was funded by SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society) along with donations from other local charities and was the creation of local couple Hayley and Will Vallance. Hayley said: “Five years ago our beautiful son George was stillborn and we just wanted somewhere to grieve away from the ward setting. “It’s great to see the finished room after everyone’s hard work. I wanted somewhere that didn’t feel like you were in a hospital and was not just for the parents but for all members of the family as well.” Julie Wall, Head of Maternity also commented: “This room will make a huge difference. To have a room for families affected by this will give them a quiet space to grieve in peace.”

Opposition to fracking is far stronger in Wales than in England. A survey [1] published this week reveals that 48% of people in Wales are opposed to fracking in their area, and only 38% would support it. With opposition to fracking considerably less in England at 39%, campaigners believe Wales must now follow a different path to the pro-fracking stance of the Westminster government. Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “This finding will come as no surprise to many. Every application for dirty, dangerous fracking in Wales has met with strong local opposition, despite a barrage of propaganda from the UK Government and its industry friends. “Wales has suffered the scars of fossil fuel exploitation for decades. The last thing we need is to pursue more and more fossil fuels when the path to green growth and a safe and healthy environment clearly lies with renewable energy. “It’s time the Welsh Government listened to the people of Wales, and imposed an immediate morat...

Llanelli singer Samuel Morris was the guest soloist at Llanelli Rotary Club's 'President's Night' at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Accompanied by Andrew Pike, he gave memorable performances of 'Stars' from the musical Les Miserables and 'Anthem' from Chess. Samuel is having a very busy autumn with solo spots at Radio Carmarthenshire and Scarlet FM Local Hero Awards, the Royal British Legion Gala Concert at the Lyric in Carmarthen and in the Night of the Stars at Ffwrnes Theatre, singing alongside Shan Cothi and Mark Llewelyn Evans. All this, when he only started singing this year. Samuel is pictured above - (left to right) Andrew Pike, Llanelli Rotary Club President Ken Abban and Samuel Morris. Samuel is part of an ambitious plan to develop young talent in South West Wales. Cerith Owens, the director of Loud Applause Productions has set up a ‘Rising Stars’ platform as part of his concert and theatre company. Samuel is a 17-year-old student at ...

A flu roadshow is coming to Llanelli next week. In an effort to raise awareness and boost vaccination numbers, the Infection Prevention and Control Team are lending their support to Occupational Health and the Immunisation and Vaccination Team and the 'Flu Champions' campaign. The best way to protect yourself from flu is to have the vaccine and the team is holding flu awareness roadshows in the four acute hospitals in the Hywel Dda Health Board area. Roadshows have already been held in Glangwili, Withybush and Bronglais hospitals. The next one will be in the Dining Room at Prince Philip Hospital on September 24 from 11am-2pm. The roadshows are an opportunity for staff and public to ask questions, learn more about vaccination and the signs and symptoms of flu. Photo: Tracey Nicholas IP&C Nurse at the roadshow.

The Llanelli charity Links is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with a ball Thursday, September 26, at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. The star attraction will be a fabulous Meatloaf tribute act. Susie Hamill from Links said: "We are interested in anybody who wants to come along or buy a table. "In the face of this year's difficulties, we would like to make this a truly memorable event as many of our Links members have saved up for this - the more the merrier! "Tickets cost £25 per head for a three course meal. "It would be great if you could support." Links is a mental health project based in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. It offers flexible learning opportunities and promotes positive emotional well being." If you are interested in attending, then contact Susie - Links Unit 4 The Palms 96 Queen Victoria Road Llanelli Carmarthenshire SA15 2TH Tel:01554 757957 http://www.links.uk.net/

A special concert to help launch the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in South West Wales will provide a rare opportunity to hear one of the finest choirs from North Wales. The Royal British Legion Charity Gala Concert will be staged at The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen on Saturday, October 19. It will feature Cantorion Colin Jones, the renowned Colin Jones singers. Cantorion Colin Jones is a renowned North Wales choir who don’t perform in South Wales very often. Cantorion was founded by Colin Jones in 1992 when he invited singers he knew from choirs across North Wales to join his new chorus. He was able to match his skills in voice production and choral management with the enthusiasm and commitment of some of North Wales’s finest male choral singers and soloists and during his 15 years he established a male chorus with a special sound and quality. The current musical director is Aled Edwards. Aled was born in Caernarfon and educated in Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St. Asaph. After gra...

A UK Government report [1] condemns the Hafren Power business consortium’s claims for a Severn barrage as lacking any credible evidence. Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “This barrage dinosaur needs to be finally laid to rest, to make way for new technologies that can actually start harnessing the massive tidal power of the Severn. “For years, it’s been clear that the environmental and economic problems of a large-scale Severn barrage are virtually impossible to overcome - and there are far better schemes that deserve committed government support. “The UK and Welsh Governments should now get behind smaller scale projects capable of delivering clean, green energy from the Severn. We have the potential for a world-leading industry, which could be based right here in south Wales”. NOTES 1. The EEC’s report: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmenergy/622/62202.htm

People whose lives have been touched by the loss of a baby, during pregnancy or shortly after birth, are invited to attend a memorial service. The special service of remembrance and hope ‘for all our babies’ is for everyone affected by the death of a baby whether before birth or after. It takes place on 23 October 2013 at 6.30pm in St Lukes Chapel, Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest. Gill Llewellyn, bereavement officer, said: “When someone experiences the loss of a pregnancy and the death of a baby, it feels as if you are the only one in the word going through such a loss, but sadly it happens more often that we imagine. The service is a chance to remember and there will be an opportunity for you to receive a remembrance card to place on the altar.” For further information please contact Sarah Horsley (Pregnancy Loss Nurse) on 01437 773931 or Gill Llewellyn on 01437 772347.

This week's special offers from the Jenkins Bakery - WEEK COMMENCING 16/09/13 3 MEDIUM CORNED BEEF PASTIES £1.60 2 CHICKEN & MUSHROOM PASTIES £2.20 2 LARGE CORNED BEEF PASTIES £1.90 2 FRESH CREAM ECLAIRS £1.70 2 CUSTARD SLICES (85p each) £1.60 SANDWICH OF THE WEEK – CHICKEN TIKKA £2.25 BAGUETTE OF THE WEEK – HAM & CHEESE £2.25 ROLLS OF THE WEEK – 6 WHITE FINGERS £1.25 LOAF OF THE WEEK – SMALL FARMHOUSE £1.05 SPECIALITY LOAF – SOUR DOUGH BREAD (available Thur, Fri, Sat) intro price £1.20 Website - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/

National Grid has announced that eight miles of the electricity cabling needed in mid Wales to bring power from wind farms will be placed underground [1]. Friends of the Earth Cymru’s 2011 consultation response [2] pointed out that the entire 33 mile route could be placed underground at a cost similar to overhead pylons - if National Grid used a more sensible approach. Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “National Grid has clearly listened to our views on grid connections to wind farms in mid Wales. But while this is a step in the right direction, we’re disappointed that our workable method allowing the entire route to be placed underground at similar cost to pylons has not been fully accepted. “If National Grid had a sensible approach to carrying energy from these wind turbines, then perhaps more people in local communities would recognise the benefits of wind energy and get behind the schemes. “Renewable energy projects are need needed throughout the country t...

Two talented cake-makers from the Jenkins Bakery have won a place in the National Cup Cakes finals. Cake department manager Sarah Williams and trainee Alex Cowell were picked out of 350 entries nationwide for a place in the finals. The event is organised by the British Baker magazine and website. The ‘live’ finals will take place at the National Exhibition centre (NEC) in Birmingham in November. Jenkins Bakery operations director Russell Jenkins said: “It’s already been very successful year for us in terms of awards, but we are delighted with this latest success. “We believe in competing against the very best in the baking and cake-making industry. Competitions like this one help our staff hone their skills to a very sharp level. We wish Sarah and Alex all the very best in the heat of the kitchen in the finals.” There were four categories in the competition: ‘Classic’, ‘Themed’, ‘Free-from’ and ‘Made with Alcohol’. The judges whittled down the entries, based on recipe, appearance, in...

Latest news from the Dyfed Golfing Union - DYFED GOLFING UNION ANNUAL PRESENTATION DINNER will be held at CARMARTHEN GOLF CLUB on FRIDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2013 7.00pm for 7.30 pm Guest speaker Garin Jenkins Golf at 1.45 pm (shotgun start) Cost £20 and extra £5 for golf with all monies returned in prizes. Dress code – Jacket and tie Names to Jeff Harries (Sec 01994230634) by Monday 7th Oct at the latest. FOUR BALL BETTER BALL MEDAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Sunday 29th September 2013 Derllys Court G.C. MAX HANDICAP 20. ¾ ALLOWANCE ENTRY FEE £10 PER PAIR ALL ENTRY FEES RETURNED IN PRIZES ENTRIES TO : Elaine Rees Email: jelaine27@aol.com Mobile: 07835102524 CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES 25/9/13

The latest 'On Song' column from the Llanelli Star -  Côr Meibion Llanelli members are spending a couple of days recovering from their trip to Paderborn Germany before going back on the road this weekend. On Saturday, September 21, Côr Meibion Llanelli will travel to perform in Brailes in The Cotswolds, paying a return visit to old friends in the community near Banbury. “We have been visitors to Brailes before and we always get an excellent welcome,” said the choir’s musical director Eifion Thomas. “We are looking forward to making the trip again. The choir members are really buoyed up after a very successful trip to the Britfest in Paderborn, Germany.” On Sunday, October 12, a concert is scheduled for Llanelli Hospice. The following weekend, Saturday, October 19, will see the choir perform at the first Gethin Hughes Memorial Bursary Concert at Greenfield Chapel in Llanelli. Friday, November 15, sees the choir perform at their ‘annual fixture’ for the Llanelli Hospice Appeal Fe...

The Jenkins Bakery is celebrating National Cup Cake Week. The event is organised by the British Baker magazine and website. To mark the occasion, the Llanelli-based bakery has produced four special cup cakes which will be on sale all this week and next week. They are -  COOKIE MONSTER CUP CAKE – 95p Our top quality sponge topped with various flavoured frostings, covered in coloured vermicelli and decorated with chocolate Maltesers for eyes and a small shortbread biscuit for a mouth, a great one for children. 99 CUP CAKE – 95p Our top quality sponge topped with vanilla and chocolate frosting and decorated with a chocolate flake. BLACK FOREST CUP CAKE – 95p Our top quality chocolate sponge, topped with swirls of vanilla and chocolate frosting to give a marbled effect and decorated with a cherry. ROCKY ROAD CUP CAKE – 95p Our top quality chocolate sponge, topped with various flavoured frostings, decorated with mini marshmallows, small chocolate balls a...

ATTENTION! The Siren Sisters will be calling at a special concert to help launch the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in South West Wales. Think 1940s, bluebirds, white cliffs and apple blossom . . . and you’ll get the picture of what’s in store. The blonde, brunette and redhead combo will be one of the stars of the Royal British Legion Charity Gala Concert will be staged at The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen on Saturday, October 19. The concert will also feature Cantorion Colin Jones (the Colin Jones singers) and The 215 City of Swansea Squadron Corps of Drums. The Siren Sisters very much follow in the footsteps of the great ‘sister acts’ – the Andrews, Boswell and Dinning Sisters. Welsh born and bred, The Siren Sisters make audiences sit up and take notice and pay attention! The Siren Sisters were set up as a three-part close harmony group by Sarah Perryman (the blonde in the act). After studying Classical Music at Cardiff University, Sarah trained as a Musical Theatre act...

Rising movie star Samira Mohamed Ali is celebrating seeing her first British feature scoop a prestigious film festival award. The Swansea-based actress stars in Molly Crows, a supernatural feature film made by a relatively unknown British director. The film won Best Drama at London’s Portobello Film Festival when it was screened for its UK premiere. The movie also received praise when it had its world premiere in the Cannes Festival earlier this year. “To scoop the main prize at the Portobello Film Festival was wonderful,” said 28-year-old Samira. “There’s a very young team behind Molly Crows. Making the film was a great experience and for most of us it was a first taste of making a ‘Made in Britain’ feature length film. “We had a wonderful director in Ray Andrew Wilkes, who will surely be making a name for himself as a director to watch.” Molly Crows is the story of a troubled seven-year-old girl, Jess, who summons the spirit of a witch. The film played t...

Côr Meibion Llanelli visited the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (The Welsh Cavalry) to celebrate the annual British cultural festival Britfest in Paderborn Germany. There has been a British garrison in the German City since 1945. It is also the home of many Welsh men, in the form of QDG ‘The Welsh Cavalry’. The two day event which has become a popular fixture in the German city’s calendar exploded into life with a firework display and Beating of the Retreat in the gardens of Schloss Neuhaus. Mel Harries, Chairman of Côr Meibion Llanelli said: “We were delighted to accept the invitation to attend the British Festival and spend time with the boys from the Welsh Cavalry. “The welcome we have received in Paderborn has been exceptional. We already have links to Germany with our twin choir in Laudenbach. The Queen's Dragoon Guards have helped us build on those links. Our thanks go to QDG for inviting and helping organise the event, especially Sergeant Major Matt John who has been ...