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

A Carmarthen student is set to make a positive difference when he takes part in an expedition with sustainable development charity Raleigh International. Ben Butler, 17, will work alongside volunteers from Tanzania for seven weeks, as part of Raleigh International’s expedition programme. Living and working in a rural community, he will be getting stuck into sustainable community and environmental projects, working in some of Tanzania’s most remote places. He will be volunteering on projects to improve the resilience of the community, and helping them to protect their natural resources, helping to make a genuine difference. He will also take part in a challenging trek as part of an adventure phase. Ben said: "I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead." Ben has set up a justgiving page for any supporters to make a donation however small at www.justgiving.com/Ben-Butler5 All funds raised for Raleigh International will contribute towards making tangible a...

The latest Clay Shaw Butler Money Matters column from the Carmarthenshire Herald. By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. We’ve been busy dissecting and analysing the latest Budget in the ‘Money Matters’ column over the last two weeks. And, for those of you who have not been paying attention, here are the main headline issues from Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget speech – reductions in the rates of capital gains tax  introduction of a Lifetime ISA for under 40s  changes to Entrepreneurs’ Relief  abolition of Class 2 NIC  reduction in the corporation tax rate  reforms to corporate tax losses.  Personal tax matters are, of course, very important for most of you and we will look at them again in some detail this week before we look at business taxation next week. There are a number of key headings . . . Help to Save The government has announced the introduction of a new type of ...

Welsh Premiership rugby side Carmarthen Quins have said a big thank-you to one of their principal sponsors, Redkite Solicitors. The law firm was presented with a special signed Quins shirt, autographed by the first team. The shirt was handed over to David Williams, Solicitor and Partner at Redkite, and Catrina Thomas, legal advisor in the Redkite Commercial and Agricultural Property Team. Mr Williams said: “It was a lovely gesture by the Quins and we will now get the shirt framed and put in a place of honour in our Carmarthen office in Spilman Street. As a local firm we take a keen interest in our community and are delighted to be encouraging sporting activities in Carmarthen. It is great to be able to support a local team and help youngsters make strides on the field of play.” The Redkite name is featured on the Carmarthen Quins Under-10s side jerseys and on the arm of the first team shirts. The presentation took place at the Carmarthen Quins training and junior teams centre in Ab...

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. www.philevans.co.uk ------------------------------------------ There are some very scary people in this world. On Easter Sunday, I was sprawled in front of the telly....eating my chocolate egg....when suddenly the manager of Curry’s/PC World came over and yelled at me to get out! Only joking! But it was no joke on Easter Monday when I opened my chocolate egg and noticed that the packaging didn’t actually mention Easter - just ‘Chocolate Egg’, as if the manufacturers were embarrassed to include the word ‘Easter’ in case it upset potential buyers for whom Easter had no meaning. Which is crazy! Confectioners make, advertise and sell chocolate eggs this time of year not because it’s Shrove Tuesday or National Meat Pie Week. But because....it’s Easter! And they’re shaped like an egg because, depending on your belief, it represents ...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - We can consider ourselves well blessed when it comes to excellent male voice choirs. If Wales is the Land of Song, then the circulation area of the Llanelli Star is where Welsh voices are at their best. One example is Burry Port Male Choir. The choir took its present shape way back in September 1962, when a meeting was called at the Memorial Hall inviting along any persons interested in reforming the choir to attend – some 30 people turned up. The meeting concluded with Mr. Raymond Morris being appointed the new choir’s first conductor. Mr. Ryan Lee, the present conductor, is only the seventh in more than 50 years. The reputation of Burry Port Male Choir has extended under Mr Lee’s leadership to many parts of the Britain, Europe and the United States of America. Over the years the choir has supported local charitable events and competed at eisteddfodau at both national and inter...

Llanelli Youth Theatre will be performing A Clockwork Orange later this month. It runs at Stiwdio Stepni, Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd April at 7.30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 3pm. A Clockwork Orange takes place in a futuristic city governed by a repressive, totalitarian super-state. In this society, ordinary citizens have fallen into a passive stupor of complacency, blind to the insidious growth of a rampant, violent youth culture. The protagonist of the story is Alex, who leads a small gang of teenage criminals. The Anthony Burgess play, with music, is based on his own provocative 1962 novella of the same name. The book was first published in 1987. A Clockwork Orange was made into a film classic by Stanley Kubrick in 1971, and was dramatised by the RSC in 1990. Age suitability 14+. Tickets - https://ffwrnes.ticketsolve.com/shows/873544837/events?show_id=873544837