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

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. You’ll hear plenty of talk these days about money laundering and you will probably assume it has nothing to do with you. But it is worth taking a moment to consider how money laundering rules could affect your organisation. So, over the next couple of weeks, we will take an in-depth look at money laundering. Money laundering - a definition . . . Most of us imagine money launderers to be criminals involved in drug trafficking or terrorism or to be an arch-criminal like Al Capone. However, legislation, in the last decade, has expanded significantly the definition of what we might have traditionally considered as money laundering. While the general principles remain; money laundering involves turning the proceeds of crime into apparently 'innocent' funds with no obvious link to their crimina...

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 ------------------------------------------ IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT, THEN DON’T LIGHT THE FIRE! If someone swore at you in the street, threatened you and insulted your character, you’d feel justifiably annoyed and upset. You’d probably call the police and have him locked-up. Depending on the size of the person in question, you might want to give him a ‘punch up the bracket’ as my Uncle Billy used to say in the rasping Cockney accent of an old Covent Garden costermonger with a face burnished from decades of working outside in all weathers. We never understood why Billy spoke like that, because he was only 35 and a window-dresser from Aberystwyth. Today, people don’t insult you in the street. They do it through a laptop or smart phone via ‘social’ media. Some of the ill-informed bile that’s unleashed on T...

A new Barn Owl box has moved into Pembrey Country Park. Nestled in the woodlands, towards the west of the park, it is hoped the roost will help boost declining owl numbers. The heart shape faced barn owls have been spotted nesting in the Corsican Pine woodlands for some time. The box, made by Burns Pet Nutrition, is one of three donated by Carmarthenshire Bird Club. Other locations in Carmarthenshire include Penclacwydd and near Llanboidy in the west of the county. Plans are also in hand to put up boxes near Llangunnor and Cross Hands. The council’s executive board for leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “We are doing our bit to conserve one of the most beautiful birds on earth and together with the park being a perfect location for them the box will help increase the Barn Owl population.” Barn Owls screech, not hoot. The barn owl can fly almost silently which enables it to hear the slightest sounds made by its rodent prey hidden in deep vegetation while it’s flying up to three me...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star and the Carmarthen Journal - There’s a big night of choral singing coming up in the Gwendraeth Valley in October. It is all to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Côr Meibion Mynydd Mawr. Pontyberem Memorial Hall will be the venue for ‘Canu o’r Cwm’ (Singing from the Valley) on Saturday, October 15. Côr Meibion Mynydd Mawr chorister John Williams said: “It promises to be a very special night as we will be joined by our neighbouring choirs for a wonderful evening celebrating our best Welsh choral traditions.” Guest artists include star Welsh soloist and TV and radio star Shân Cothi, Côr Meibion Caerfyrddin, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Aman, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Twyi, Côr Meibion Porth Tywyn and Côr Meibion Llandybie. In its current form, Côr Meibion Mynydd Mawr dates back to 1965. But the roots of the choir go as far back as 1913 (perhaps 1908) in the Tumble area. A male choir - Mynydd Mawr M...

Two minutes silence was held at Carmarthenshire County Council meeting today in honour of Cllr Tom Theophilus who died suddenly last week. Tributes were paid to the councillor, who had been a member of the county council since its formation in 1996, representing the Cilycwm ward. Cllr Theophilus, who would have celebrated his 85th birthday this week, had also been a member of the former Dyfed County Council and Dinefwr Borough Council. Independents group leader Cllr Pam Palmer said: “It is with great sadness that I see an empty space in the chamber today where Tom used to sit. “He was a valued member of the county council, during all this time he undertook his duties with an affable and friendly demeanour, which typified his approach to the world. “He was a true gentleman who always acted with honour.” Council leader Cllr Emlyn Dole said his deepest sympathy was wife Cllr Theophilus’ wife Ann, sons William and Jeffrey, his grandchildren and all his family. “His maturity and experienc...

Worried about leaving your home empty while you go away on your summer holiday? Why not borrow security gadgets from your local police station to put off burglars. Holiday Watch is a pioneering holiday security equipment loan scheme established by Dyfed-Powys Police’s Neighbourhood Development Team with the support of the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership. The scheme, set up last year, is run by the Neighbourhood Development team in Llanelli who will loan boxes containing security equipment to members of the public. It is aimed at anyone who has poor security measures or people with a high level of fear of a crime happening when they are away on holiday. The person loaning the kit will attend a police station and sign the relevant documentation, they will then be given advice on where to place the equipment. Carmarthenshire CSP provided funding for a number of packs consisting of a variety of security products in a secure box. PC Dave White of the Neighbourhood Developmen...

Cancer services in Pembrokeshire continue to benefit from the amazing fundraising efforts of Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal, which has recently passed the £25,000 mark. Bernardine Rees, Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board said: "I want to say a huge thank you to Elly and her family for their fantastic fundraising efforts. “Elly's energy and enthusiasm is incredible. We very much appreciate Team Elly’s support, which continues to help us in improving cancer services locally, particularly in relation to Ward 10 at Withybush Hospital.” As well as building a new Chemotherapy Day Unit in Withybush Hospital, Hywel Dda University Health Board’s plans for a significantly refurbished Palliative Care, Haematology and Oncology Unit (currently known as Ward 10) continue to move forward as part of a proposed multi-million pound development. The development of the proposed new unit, which is subject to engagement work and approval of a business case by Welsh Government, will provide a mo...

Ruth Lambert MBE, who has been the face of MOMA Machynlleth and chair of the Machynlleth Tabernacle Trust for nearly thirty years, has been honoured as Fellow of Aberystwyth University. Ruth Lambert was presented as Fellow by Professor Robert Meyrick, School of Art. Presentation of Ruth Lambert: Pro Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, prospective graduates and supporters. It is an honour and a privilege to present Ruth Lambert as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University. Ruth can be credited with revitalizing the mid Wales market town of Machynlleth. Through her tireless work ensuring the growth, success and sustainability of the Museum of Modern Art,Machynlleth – with its regular programme of exhibitions, performances and festivals – Ruth is to Machynlleth as Richard Booth is to Hay-on-Wye, town of books, Peter Florence to the Hay Festival, John Christie to Glyndebourne, and Leslie Evershed-Martin to the Chichester Festival Theatre. All shared a commitment to promoting and supporting the arts ...

Llanelli Library is offering people the chance to meet their local police officer over a cup of coffee. Costa Cuppa with a Copper is held at the Lending Library every Wednesday from 2.30-3.30pm.

School pupils have been sworn in as Deputy Sheriffs at Ammanford Library by local police. The Library has had pupils at three schools, Ysgol Bro Banw, Ysgol Betws and Ysgol Parcyrhun, visit as part of National Crime Month working in partnership with the police. The youngsters were sworn in as Deputy Sheriffs by their local Police team, given baseball hats, had their thumbprints made into key-rings, tried on various items and sat in the police car. Deputy Sheriffs are local school children who look after their school and each other. They are encouraged to take an active interest in looking after their school premises reporting incidents to adults who can take the necessary action.

Carmarthenshire County Council social workers joined volunteers from Ty Golau on their fourth annual fundraising walk at Llanelli's Millennium Coastal Park. Ty Golau founder Janet Lewis praised all those who took part for helping to raise much needed support. Ty Golau runs weekly health and wellbeing sessions for people aged 50+ in homes across Llanelli, Pembrey, Burry Port and Kidwelly. The weekly programme includes memory jogging quizzes and music, resulting in many service users singing for the first time in years. Mrs Lewis said: “We aim, in the not too distant future, to set up another workshop in Llanelli as demand is steadily growing. The service is becoming more recognised and talked about.” The council's executive board member for social care and health, Cllr Jane Tremlett, said: “Janet and her team perform sterling work in Llanelli. It would be wonderful to see them expand their service further across the county.”

Press release from Country Landowners Association, CLA Cymru: Kevin Green is a self-made multi-millionaire and social entrepreneur and an acknowledged expert in how to set up a profitable business. He is one of the UK’s largest residential property landlords and a multi-business owner. Kevin featured on Channel 4′s Secret Millionaire, was homeless in 1988.  The questions he gets asked most in life are: “How can I get rich?” and “How can I make money?”. CLA Cymru are delighted that Kevin will be speaking at our Monday night reception at the Royal Welsh Show. The event is open to all show goers to attend Before making his fortune in business, he was a successful dairy farmer. In 1999, he won a Nuffield Scholarship in agriculture and studied the attitudes and personalities of high achievers. He also interviewed the likes of Bill Gates and Sir Richard Branson. During the study he learned the simple principles for success and determined the common elements that contributed...

Burry Port Town Band are ready to host their summer concert in Burry Port Memorial Hall, on Saturday, July 23. The concert will offer the audience the chance to exclusively preview the band's programme for this year's National Eisteddfod of Wales competition. Burry Port Band are the reigning 2015 Eisteddfod champions and return to the contest in Abergavenny at the end of July to defend their title with a show-stopping programme. On top of this, the concert will feature some classic brass band music, as well as some jazz and popular numbers, and will undoubtedly have something to please all ears. What's more, the band are delighted to announce that their musical guests for the evening will be Côr Lleisiau’r Cwm. The ladies choir from Dyffryn Aman will be bringing their own fabulous sounds to the concert, under the experienced leadership of musical director Catrin Hughes.  Robert Lloyd will also return as compere for another year, bringing his light-hearted touch...

Co-founder and director of Global Witness, Charmian Gooch, has been honoured as Fellow of Aberystwyth University. Global Witness is a non-profit organisation campaigning to end environmental and human rights abuses which are driven by the exploitation of natural resources and corruption in the global political and economic system. Charmian jointly led Global Witness’s first campaign, exposing the trade in timber between the Khmer Rouge and Thai logging companies and their political and military backers. She also developed and launched their campaign to combat ‘blood diamonds’, work for which Global Witness was nominated for the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize. An alumna of the University (BA History, 1987), Charmian won the annual TED Prize for 2014, and along with her co-founders of Global Witness, has received a Gleitsman International Activist Award and Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. In 2014 she was named on Bloomberg Markets’ 50 Most Influential list. Charmian Gooch was presente...

Hywel Dda University Health Board is working with Ashleigh Surgery in Cardigan to ensure continued provision of GP services in the area following a resignation and future retirement of one of the partners. Dr Peter Counsell resigned from Ashleigh Surgery in January 2016 and will be leaving the Practice at the end of July. Dr Simon Knight will reach retirement age in January 2017. The Practice has been striving hard for some time to attract GPs to the area, but unfortunately has not been successful to date. In light of this, the partnership has decided to serve seven months' notice to end their General Medical Services contract with Hywel Dda University Health Board. In the short term this means that care will be provided by the same doctors, nurses and reception staff currently within the Practice, whilst the Practice and the University Health Board work with the community to find a longer term future that secures this important service for the Cardigan population. The decisio...

The acclaimed Juno Practitioner status has been awarded to Aberystwyth University’s Department of Physics by the Institute of Physics’ Juno Assessment panel, becoming only the second University in Wales to be awarded this prestigious honour. The aim of the Juno project is to recognise and reward departments that can demonstrate they have taken action to address the under-representation of women in university physics and to encourage better practice for both men and women. Director of Equality at Aberystwyth University, Dr Debra Croft, is pleased that the department’s long-term efforts had been acknowledged. “I am delighted that the Physics department has been recognised in this Practitioner award. I have, for more than 10 years, been impressed by the on-going commitment and enthusiasm of all the staff, at all levels and all genders, for making physics accessible to all, and for encouraging and promoting women in science.” Project Juno was established by the Institute in 2007 in respons...

A new directory of bus services in Carmarthenshire has been launched. The latest edition of the council’s Directory of Local Bus Services and Travel Guide is hot off the press. The free guide contains full timetables for each bus route operating in and around Carmarthenshire. It also contains a number of features aimed at helping to plan public transport journeys, including a colour route map, an index to places served by local bus and rail routes, information on discount tickets and travel passes, and contact details. The guide is popular with the public and a total of 15,000 copies of the guide is produced annually by the council to ensure passengers are kept well informed. It is available at most council buildings as well as various other outlets across the county including hospitals, surgeries, dentists, libraries, and tourist information centres. Executive Board Member for Transport Councillor Hazel Evans said: “Thousands of people use public transport to travel across Carmarthe...

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Public Protection, Cllr Jim Jones, has received a Hero Award from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). Councillor Jones, who has championed Trading Standards since taking up his position on the council’s Executive Board in 2012, was nominated for his role in developing the Financial Exploitation Safeguarding Scheme (FESS), a multi-agency safeguarding scheme aimed at early intervention and the prevention of fraud and financial abuse. CTSI president Baroness Christine Crawley presented him with the Hero Award at the institute’s annual Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards Conference and Exhibition in Telford, this week. Baroness Crawley said: "Jim has been instrumental in getting the hard work of trading standards recognised by the right people, always encouraging them to understand the important role that the service plays in consumer protection. "Many campaigns that put consumers at the heart of their...

Press release from Hywel Ddea University Health Board : Staff working in Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Children’s Services are thanking Coleg Sir Gar students for volunteering their time to redecorate the Rainbow Room on Cilgerran Ward, Glangwili Hospital. We would like to say a big thank you to the students on the Level 1 Visual Art course at Coleg Sir Gar who have given up their time to spruce up the room for the children and young people who use the service. Play Specialist, Dawn Thomas, commented: “The whole team felt that we needed to do something to brighten up the room and create a nice environment for the children when they come to stay. I really do feel a sense of pride when I look at the room, we’d never have been able to do it without the help of the Coleg Sir Gar students.” Sarah Lees, Coleg Sir Gar’s Course Co-ordinator for Level 1, explaining why the students wanted to take part in the project, said: “It’s been a great opportunity for the students, a great starti...

A Dinefwr Park family walk, in aid of Carmarthenshire Colorectal Nursing Services, has raised £833 for patients. A group of 30 staff members, patients, family and friends attended the walk, led by Sarah Jones, Engagement Ranger. The service plan to purchase pressure relief cushions which help ease the pain that patients experience after surgery and advance the recovery period.

This week's special offers at Jenkins Bakery shops - WEEK COMMENCING July 11, 2016 3 Medium Corned Beef Pasties, £1.70 2 Large Corned Beef Pasties, £2.00 4 Medium Sausage Rolls, £1.85 2 Fresh Cream Doughnuts, £1.85 Sandwich of the Week, Tuna Crunch, £2.10 Rustic Baguette of the Week, Ham and Cheese, £2.50 Filled Softie of the Week, Chicken Tikka, £2.45 Website - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/

More than 50 foster carers and their families enjoyed a sunny family fun day at Pembrey Country Park. The event was organised by Carmarthenshire County Council’s fostering service and was supported by Tesco and Morrisons who provided refreshments. The children, from all over the county, enjoyed free archery, arts and crafts sessions with Splat Cymru and miniature train rides and sports activities with the Actif team as well as toboggan rides throughout the day. Face painting was provided by members of the fostering service. Executive board member for children’s services, Cllr Gareth Jones, said: “The foster team work hard to provide activities and outing for their carers and their charges and it is great to see they can use the council’s parks and attractions. “Foster is a rewarding careers in so many ways for those who have room in their home and lives to give youngsters love, care and an opportunity to improve their life chances. “The authority is always looking for foster carers t...

The Romans are returning to Carmarthen to put on an exciting cavalry display! Comitatus, one of Britain’s finest Roman re-enactment groups, is back in town and will be performing in Carmarthen Park on Saturday July 23. The group will set up a living history camp in the Park, but the main entertainment will be the cavalry display. Free performances will run between 10:30 am and 4pm. Comitatus puts on a complete living history presentation demonstrating the life and skills of the Late Roman Army including cavalry, infantry, artillery, archery and everyday life. The group’s members will demonstrate armour, equipment, skills and tactics. The group appeared in Abergwili two years ago as part of the Romans in Carmarthenshire project. The Friends of Carmarthenshire County Museum were so impressed that they asked the group back and have helped sponsor this event.

Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi, TRIO, Joy Cornock, Dawnswyr Talog - Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi annual concert at Gwenllian Centre, Kidwelly. There’s a Welsh word that sums up this concert staged by Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi. It is ‘bendigedig’, meaning splendid. You could throw a few other Welsh words into the mix – ‘gwych’ and ‘ardderchog’, for example, and you would get a decent idea of how it all went. Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi have a fine reputation as one of the smaller male voice choirs in Wales. Indeed, they only fielded 19 choristers on Saturday night, but, rather like the Welsh football team, they are a great team unit and #TogetherStronger. Special guests included TRIO (a male vocal group from Snowdonia, North Wales), the harpist and soprano Joy Cornock and Dawnswyr Talog, Carmarthenshire’s traditional Welsh folk dancers. TRIO, formed by renowned pianist/accompanist Annette Bryn Parri, features Emyr Wyn Gibson, tenor, Bedwyr Gwyn Parri, baritone, and Steffan Lloyd Owen, bass-bar...