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

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star -  On Saturday (July 12) Lleisiau’r Hardd will be holding their annual concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli. The programme will include a wide range of music from classical to Welsh songs and contemporary songs, plus newly commissioned pieces. Joining the choir will be local artists Greg Arthur and jazz singer and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama singer Megan Thomas, the winner of the 2013 Gethin Hughes Memorial Bursary prize. Lleisiau’r Hardd choristers are currently preparing to appear in this year's Carmarthenshire National Eisteddfod at Festival Fields between August 1 and 9. The choir’s musical director Bridget Goulstone said the choir members were eagerly looking forward to the annual concert. She said: “We can't wait. They are really excited and we have lots of new music and songs to perform. We will be performing our accompanist Roger Harris's own composi...

The latest Phil Evans column from the South Wales Evening Post -  Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. I’m an upright citizen - even when I’m sitting down or sleeping. That said, I have to admit that I once almost fell asleep standing up, watching a not-very-good mime act performing for an hour – and no, it wasn’t Dolly Parton at Glastonmuddy. My usual Mr Upright mode can switch, however. I can also morph into Mr Uptight. The usual trigger for this Jeckyll and Hyde switch is provided by potholes. For example, when I’m driving along a road like the one between Pontlliw and Pontarddulais – a highway that’s riddled with potholes so deep that each one should have a member of the Dan yr Ogof Cave Rescue Team, complete with hard hat and halogen lamp, standing next to it! These are some scary potholes. Rumour has it that Lord Lucan fell into one and hasn’t been seen since. Fall into some of them and shout your name and it w...

The new Bancyfelin Trail plaque was unveiled today. Photo: County Councillor Philip Hughes unveils the new Bancyfelin Trail plaque funded by the Carmarthenshire Landscape and Heritage Grants Scheme. Joining Cty Cllr Hughes were members of Bancyfelin Primary School’s school council, the mayor of St Clears, Cllr Graham Edwards, Bruce Wallace (left), Vicky Hart-Griffiths, head teacher, Emyr Price, Heritage Grants Officer and St Clears’ Town Clerk, Emma Smith (right).

Some disruptions to public services in Carmarthenshire are expected on Thursday due to a strike. A number of county council staff belong to unions including GMB, Unite, Unison and the National Union of Teachers which are all striking for higher pay. Refuse collections are not likely to take place. Residents who usually have their rubbish (blue/black bags and food waste bins) collected on Thursdays are being advised not to put them out on that date and to place them out for collection on Saturday, July 12. The county’s five household waste recycling centres at Trostre (Llanelli); Wernddu, (Ammanford); Nantycaws, (Carmarthen); Whitland and Llangadog, will remain open. Registry offices in Ammanford and Llanelli will be closed, however the Carmarthen office will remain open and all calls will be transferred there. The county archives services will also be closed. Theatres will be open as usual, although Coedcae School’s production of ‘We Will Rock You’ at Ffwrnes Theatre has been ...

Hywel Dda University Health Board team members Sian Hall and Tony Hall have won the Aston OD award for team-based working at the HPMA Excellence Awards 2014 in London! They have been recognised for their work in adapting the training provided to staff to include Aston Core teamwork principles to improve outcomes for patients on our wards. The courses allow multi-professional teams consisting of healthcare support workers, registered nursing staff and foundation year one and two to be trained together in one session. To date, there has been a decrease in the incidence of cardiac arrest calls from the general ward areas. Sian and Tony oversaw the development of ward-based simulation scenarios to recognise and escalate the unwell patient to allow for timely medical management. The education environment was also adapted to allow for reflective simulation. Although Aston teamwork concepts are not new, it is thought that this is the first time they have been integrated into Rapid Resp...