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

A service which allows blood and tissue samples to be transferred quickly from one place to another is being piloted within Hywel Dda University Health Board. Blood Bikes Wales, a charitable organisation already working with three other health boards in Wales, has agreed a three year service from hospitals in Carmarthenshire. It is hoped the scheme will roll out to the other counties of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire in the future. As part of the scheme, volunteer motorcycle riders can be called on by the health service to deliver urgently needed blood, samples, donor milk and medical equipment. The volunteers compliment the University Health Board transport service over weekends. Director of Strategic Partnerships for Hywel Dda University Health Board Sarah Jennings said: “We are delighted to be working with the Blood Bikes Wales charity, which already provides a professional, reliable service to other health boards in Wales. This is just one of many projects we are working on with th...

Hip swivellers in Llanelli went pink for charity and raised over £145. Around 20 women attended the lunch time Zumbathon to raise money for breast cancer at Llanelli Leisure Centre. The one hour event was organised by the council’s Actif fitness instructors and coincided with breast cancer awareness month and marked national Wear it Pink day. The council’s activity coordinator Mari Jones said: “It went extremely well and was a very energetic hour. There were lots of laughs and fun, and more importantly we raised money for Breast Cancer Campaign . We are hoping to organise another one during the evening or on a weekend.”

A bubbly waitress is staying silent in a bid to raise money for good causes. Amanda Jones who works at Cwtch Bach Cafe in Carmarthen Market will once again be taking part in a sponsored silence to raise money for Children in Need on Friday, November 14. Last year she raised almost £600 thanks to customer donations. The sponsored silence is one of a number of things staff at the cafe will be doing throughout the week in order to raise as much money as possible for Children in Need. Amanda, who has worked at the cafe for five years said: “It’s quite hard to serve and take people’s orders whilst staying silent but I wear a sign explaining what I’m doing and customers are great. We raised a fantastic amount last year and hopefully we can do the same this year.” Why not pop along and see what staff at Cwtch Bach Cafe are getting up to for Children in Need this year. Find out more about our county’s markets and upcoming events by visiting www.carmarthenshiremarkets.co.uk

Children and parents are being asked to give their views about school meals during National School Meals Week. Carmarthenshire County Council’s award -winning catering department is seeking feedback on the quality of the menus and the service provided. They are under taking a consultation, which people can take part in online via Carmarthenshire County Council’s website at ilocal.carmarthenshire.gov.uk The consultation period ends on Monday, November 17, but with National School Meals week taking place across the country, there is a push to get parents’ views. All ideas and suggestions made during the consultation will be considered to improve the school meals service wherever possible. Catering Services Manager Sandra Weigel said: “Many years of on-going research has taken place for school lunches, and we are taking this opportunity to further engage with parents and pupils to identify additional areas for development for the future. “We are very fortunate that Castell Howell, our ...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - Côr Meibion Llanelli will again be taking part in the annual Festival of Light celebration at the St Elli Shopping Centre in the town centre. The Festival of Light celebration raises funds for Llanelli’s Ty Bryngwyn Hopsice. It takes place on Monday November 17 at 6.30p.m. Choir chairman Mel Harries said: “We turn out every year to support the Festival of Light. “It is a wonderful evening of readings and song and the choristers are delighted to be able to support the very important appeal for the Ty Brynwgyn Hospice.” Last Saturday saw the choir complete another of their 50th anniversary celebrations with a Cymanfa Ganu at Soar Chapel, Llwynhendy. Mr Harries said: “Conducted by our musical director Eifion Thomas this was an evening in the finest Welsh choral tradition. “It was very fitting that we should perform at Soar Chapel as the venue as a close association with the formati...

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 ----------------------- So there I was, sat up in bed, silently ruminating (they can’t touch you for it as long as you’re wearing a nightcap) about various subjects I could entertain you with this week, when my ‘phone went. It just got up and walked off. Not really. That was just a figure of speech. Unlike Neath’s Katherine Jenkins, who’s a peach of a figure. I answered the ‘phone and it was a fellah calling for a taxi. This happens occasionally as my ‘phone number is just one digit away from that of a local taxi firm. As he was calling at such a late hour, interrupting me mid-rumination, I gave him a right earful – before asking him where he was, where he wanted to be taken and how much he’d be prepared to pay me. Ten minutes later, I was dressed, in my car and on my way to pick up my first ever customer who was standing outsid...

A son of Sir Gâr (Carmarthenshire) has returned home to join the Red Kite Law commercial property team in their Carmarthen office. Alun Price, who is a fluent Welsh speaker, trained and worked as an associate for seven years in the London office of the Top 10 global firm, Norton Rose Fulbright. At Red Kite Law, he will be advising on a wide range of property transactions, ranging from sales, lettings, financings, developments and the property aspects of corporate transactions (both share and business sales). Alun also has expertise in renewable energy projects such as wind and solar farms. Having grown up in Carmarthenshire, Alun loves the rural life the county has to offer and spends his weekends gardening, playing football and doing other outdoor sports. Simon Campbell-Davies, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Red Kite Law, said: “We are delighted to welcome Alun to the team here at Red Kite. He has great local roots and a passion for the community. He will be a great ...

The Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council has officially opened an ice cream parlour on a Whitland farm. The Cowshed ice cream parlour & bistro has been established by the Bowman family at Penback Farm as a diversification venture. Penback farm is a family enterprise based at Cyffig, near Whitland which presently farm a herd of suckled cows. In the past few years they have developed the Cowpots brand of ice cream which is being produced on the holding. They currently produce over 20 different flavours and sell the product to businesses in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. Penback Farm Partnership have been awarded a grant under the Supporting Farmers to Diversify  grant scheme of £74,804 towards the total project costs of £152,401 for the conversion and fit out of a redundant farm building. The Supporting Farmers to Diversify grant scheme is funded through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European A...

Students and staff at Aberystwyth University are wearing purple ribbons (30 October - 6 November) to mark Philanthropy Week in Wales and to show their appreciation for those who have donated money to the University over the years. Aberystwyth University is an official partner of Philanthropy Week Wales, an initiative convened by the Community Foundation in Wales to celebrate, promote and explore philanthropy in Wales. In 1867 the iconic Old College, with the help of Sir Hugh Owen, was bought with money raised by the people of Wales, the local people of Aberystwyth and individuals who felt strongly about establishing a university in mid Wales. The very land on which Penglais Campus was built, along with around 400 acres of land, was donated by Lord Stuart Rendel, Joseph Davies Bryan and David Alban Davies to the University in the 1880s. In 1875 chapels throughout Wales declared the last Sunday in October ‘Sul y Brifysgol / University Sunday’ and devoted to a collection for the College a...

As part of its participation in the EcoCampus National Award Scheme, Aberystwyth University has been awarded the Silver certificate in recognition of the work taking place to improve the environmental sustainability of its campuses. EcoCampus is a UK wide environmental management system and award scheme for the higher and further education sectors. The scheme enables universities to systematically identify, evaluate, manage and improve their environmental performance and practices in various progressive phases aiming towards compliance with the European ISO14001 standard. Those that achieve silver accreditation have demonstrated that they have a clear environmental policy and have started to set objectives and targets for environmental improvement. Janet Sanders, Energy Advisor at Aberystwyth University, said; “Here at Aberystwyth we are committed to being as efficient as possible in our use of energy and natural resources in order to minimise the impact on the environment. “We are d...

Efan Parry, aged eight, a pupil at Ysgol y Dderwen, Carmarthen, has won two Welsh books after taking part in a colouring competition held in Carmarthen market. Children visiting the market on Diwrnod Shwmae Day were invited to take part in a colouring competition to be in with a chance to win two books kindly donated by Carmarthen Market business, Siop y Pentan. For further information and upcoming events at our county’s markets visit  www.carmarthenshiremarkets.co.uk

Hywel Dda University Health Board is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Chief Executive Mr Steve Moore. Mr Moore has extensive experience in both the health and social care sectors and is currently Consulting Director for Health and Social Care Policy for a global multi-disciplinary consultancy firm ICF International. Prior to this, he was Chief Executive for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust (PCT) and, following NHS reorganisation, was appointed Chief Executive of the both Cornwall and Devon PCT clusters which include NHS Plymouth, NHS Devon and Torbay Care Trust. More recently he was Director of the NHS England Area Team covering Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Bernardine Rees OBE said: "As Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board, I am very proud to welcome Mr Moore as Chief Executive of our organisation. Steve has an excellent reputation for successfully delivering improvements centered around the values of the NHS putting patients fi...

Hywel Dda University Health Board has received the final reports following unannounced spot checks at Bronglais, Glangwili, Prince Philip and Withybush Hospitals. The spot checks of adult inpatient wards at district general hospitals in Wales were carried out by an independent team of senior individuals as part of the Welsh Government’s response to an independent review of care at the Princess of Wales and Neath Port Talbot hospitals, by Professor June Andrews and Mark Butler. They took place between June 15 and July 30 and focused on four areas highlighted in the Trusted to Care report: medicines management; hydration; the use of night-time sedation and continence care. Director of Nursing and Midwifery Caroline Oakley said: “Hywel Dda University Health Board and its staff are committed to providing high quality care and treating each and every patient with dignity and respect. We are pleased that spot checks across Wales found no systemic issues of concern and areas of good practice ...

A very spooky Halloween event was held in Ammanford last Friday. The well attended event was organised by the “Support Your High Street” team from the Town Council and Ammanford Enterprise Partnership. Hundreds of parents with young children turned out for the free event which offered free goody bags, Toffee Apples and Hot Chocolate. There was a costume parade with prizes for best costume in several categories, as well as best decorated pumpkin, spooky music and images from the Bandstand and a Halloween trail with supernatural happenings and horrible characters. Carmarthenshire County Council physical regeneration project officer Andrew Shufflebotham said: “Some of the eateries benefited from families visiting the event. On the spooky night families were reminded of what Ammanford town centre has to offer in the run up to Christmas.

Students from two Carmarthenshire schools are through to the finals of the Swansea Bay Young Business Dragons. The teams from S t John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive and Bryngwyn School in Llanelli will take on teams from Swansea and Neath Port Talbot in the Dragon’s Den style final of the entrepreneurial business challenge on Wednesday November 19 at the Marriott Hotel in Swansea. The semi final of the Young Business Dragon’s competition was held at the Halliwell Centre, Trinity St David’s Carmarthen, when both teams gave presentations on products on the theme of the Smart Home. In teams of up to eight students the challenge was to design ‘a smart innovative product for the home.’ The St John Lloyd team was supported by business mentor Mel Best and Bryngwyn by mentor Jamie Best. Mr and Mrs Best are the directors of Melin Consultants, based at The Beacon business centre in Dafen, Llanelli. The Young Business Dragons event is organised by the Regional Entrepreneurship Partner...

The Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership has issued a stark warning to Bonfire Night revellers across Carmarthenshire – don’t get your fingers burnt! This time of year is one of the busiest for the police , fire service and county council , with parties, fireworks and bonfires. The Community Safety Partnership is urging people to have fun but to stay safe and not let celebrations get out of hand. Police have stepped up patrols on the streets to crack down on anti-social behaviour in the lead-up to November 5, and the fire service and council are working together to remove potential bonfires before they are lit. Parents are being urged to make sure they know where their children are and what they are doing, to attend organised fireworks events; and if they are having their own celebration to follow the fireworks code . There have also been school visits and a clampdown on shops selling fireworks to young people. And people have been warned - throwing fireworks at people, pro...

Three new businesses have started trading in Carmarthen Market. Rone’s Jewellery Repair Specialists can be found behind the Clock Tower and Big Rasta Nation and Cowin Lush Cakes have opened up inside the market hall. This brings the total to 6 new traders opening in the market in recent months. Rone’s Jewellery Repair Specialists offer services including ring sizing, ring repairs, chain repairs, supply of precious gemstones, remodelling of current jewellery, bespoke design service and cleaning and rhodium services. The independent family business is run by Caroline and Jonathan Rone. Caroline said: “Jonathan previously worked in Burgess Jewellers in Carmarthen for 30-years. Things are going really well here in the market at the moment.” Big Rasta Nation sells Caribbean crafts, mens, ladies and childrenswear, jewellery and over-18 goods. Trader Emerson Ray has been trading in the outdoor market on Wednesdays and Saturdays for a year. He is currently trading in the both the indoor an...

Hywel Dda University Health Board has joined the Stroke Association in marking World Stroke Day and raising awareness of the impact of stroke on women. One in eight women in the UK wrongly believes that a stroke could never happen to them, according to the findings of a poll published today by the Stroke Association. Around 30,000 women die from a stroke every year (i). The condition is the third leading cause of death in women in the UK, and the second biggest killer worldwide. The charity’s latest poll (ii), commissioned to mark World Stroke Day on 29 October, uncovers widespread misconceptions about stroke amongst women. The findings, based on a UK-wide survey of 2,000 adults, show that: Three quarters of women (74%) did not know that stroke is one of the world’s biggest killers Fewer than a third of women (28%) said they thought they would be most likely to have a stroke as they got older. The research also found that women have different attitudes towards the consequences of strok...

The renovation of Withybush Hospital’s Midwife Led Unit is nearing completion and is set to open on Monday (10 November). Following the introduction of midwifery led care in August, building works have ongoing within the maternity ward to provide a modern and purpose designed facility to mums who want to deliver in a homely and relaxed atmosphere. Catherine Cotter, Head of Midwifery and Women’s Health said: “It will be wonderful for our midwives and mums alike to start using this modern facility on Monday. It has been designed with comfort and relaxation in mind whilst providing an environment that caters for the needs of mums, partners and families. “I’d like to pass on my personal thanks to everyone who has contributed over the past few months; many members of staff from numerous different teams have come together. I would like to recognise all who have played their part, in particular our estates and hotel services teams for their dedication and hard work, all staff working within t...

The award-winning Cwmcerrig Farmshop and Grill is in the running for the Welsh Champion of Champions awards in the Rural Oscars. Cwmcerrig, near Gorslas, leads the nominations in the Local Food category in the Countryside Alliance Awards. The awards are known as the Rural Oscars and celebrate their 10th birthday this year. In celebration, the Welsh business champions of the last 10 years have been invited to re-compete, X Factor style, for Champion of Champions plaques across four categories (Local Food; Village Shop/ PO; Traditional and Enterprise categories). Votes will opened on the Countryside Alliance website at 12pm on Monday 3rd November and will close on at 6pm on Sunday 30th November (postal votes to reach the CA by 3rd December.) The website can be found at – http://www.countrysideallianceawards.org.uk/article/who-will-be-crowned-welsh-champion-of-champions Visitors to Cwmcerrig can pick up special postcards to cast their vote by post. Pic: Nick Bowen, of Cwmcerrig F...

Victims of anti-social behaviour (ASB) have been given a stronger voice thanks to the introduction of the Community Trigger. The new initiative has been introduced in the UK and processes have been put in place in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Powys and Pembrokeshire to allow people to access the new power. Individuals, businesses and communities who have experienced ASB or hate crime or incidents - with a hate crime/incident being regarded as related to a person’s race, religion/belief, sexual orientation, disability or transgender status - can apply for a Community Trigger, which could lead to a review of their case. Applications can also be made on behalf of a victim provided their consent is given. For a trigger to be successful there is certain criteria that must be met. There needs to have been at least three complaints of ASB made within six months from an individual, at least five complaints of ASB within six months from more than one person within the same locality or one ...

Guy Fawkes Night revellers are being urged to watch out for hedgehogs before they light their bonfire on the 5th November. Carmarthenshire Biodiversity officers supported by Carmarthenshire Environment Partnership say hedgehogs are preparing for are preparing for hibernation and may use unlit bonfires assuming that they will be a cosy location over the winter. Many people start building their bonfires well before Bonfire Night . This allows hedgehogs (and other small animals) time to investigate and start using these inviting woodpiles. Obviously lighting these without taking special care can mean that many hedgehogs are killed. If you are planning a bonfire please help keep hedgehogs safe from harm by following these simple guidelines: Try and build the bonfire as close to the night as possible to reduce the chance of a hedgehog moving in. Ideally make your pile of material next to the bonfire site and re-build the stack prior to lighting. Before lighting, search the bonfire f...

Latest special offers from the Jenkins Bakery - WEEK COMMENCING November 3, 2014 3 Medium Corned Beef £1.65 2 Large Corned Beef Pasties £1.95 2 minced beef and onion pies £2.20 2 strawberry Manchester tarts £1.70 Sandwich of the week salmon and cucumber £2.10 Rustic Baguette of the week chicken and bacon £2.40 Filed Softie of the week Chicken Tikka £2.30 Website - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/