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

An 11-foot long dinosaur built by a Penparcau community group for Aberystwyth’s annual carnival is to feature in a Jurassic heritage exhibition in Old College. Dave the Dinosaur will be on display in the Quad alongside the main Archaeopteryx exhibition, which will be officially opened by wildlife expert and television presenter Iolo Williams at 6.30pm on Tuesday 14 February. The lifelike model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex was made by members of the Penparcau Community Forum, an organisation set up to develop sustainable and inclusive activities and facilities for the benefit of local people. Complete with moving jaws and a thunderous roar, Dave formed the centrepiece of the Forum’s Jurassic Penparcau float at the 2017 Aberystwyth Carnival and was awarded the prize for Best Overall Float. Visitors to Old College will walk past Dave on their way to the main exhibition featuring Archaeopteryx, a bird-like dinosaur with sharp teeth and claws. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), th...

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. The Government has revealed 10 of the most bizarre excuses used by unscrupulous business owners who have been found to have underpaid workers the NMW (the national minimum wage). These employers used excuses such as ‘only wanting to pay staff when there are customers to serve and believing it was acceptable to underpay workers until they had ‘proved’ themselves’. The Government has launched an awareness campaign to encourage workers to check their pay to ensure they are receiving at least the statutory minimum ahead of the NMW and NLW (national living wage) increases on 1 April 2017. Employers need to ensure they are paying their employees at least the NMW and NLW. This will be the second increase in six months for the NMW rates. Going forward the NMW and NLW rates will both be reviewed annuall...

Aberystwyth University’s Welsh Students’ Union UMCA is on a mission to collect the tales of Welsh language bands with strong links to the college. The aim is to create a lasting record of different groups who honed their musical skills during their time as Aber students and made a contribution to the wider Welsh music scene. Some of the musicians who’ve been talking about their experiences are looking back at a career spanning several decades – among them, Linda Griffiths (Plethyn, 1976) and Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan (Cerrig Melys, 1989). Others such as Gruff Lynch (Yr Ods, 2007), Lewis White (Yr Eira, 2013) and Iolo Jones (Ysgol Sul, 2015) have more recent memories to share. UMCA President and Welsh Affairs officer for Aberystwyth University’s Students Union, Rhun Dafydd, is behind the project: "The aim is to show Aberystwyth’s huge contribution to the Welsh music scene and the way in which UMCA has been able to offer a platform to a range of early career bands.” “The town itself ...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in Carmarthenshire) from the Carmarthen Journal and Llanelli Star - Concert promoter Cerith Owens has released further details about the St David’s Celebration Concert he is organising at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, next month. The event will be a Loud Applause production on behalf of Theatrau Sir Gar, Carmarthenshire Theatres. It will feature combined male voice choirs from across West Wales, under the direction of guest conductor Alwyn Humphreys MBE. As is customary at these events, Mr Owens likes to introduce a young up-and-coming singer to a wider audience. This year, it will be the turn of 20-year-old Osian Wyn Bowen from Burry Port. Osian is currently a student at the Welsh College of Music and Drama. Tenor Osian has performed at a number of venues including St. David’s Hall, Wales Millennium Centre and Buckingham Palace. Televised appearances include S4C Heno; Les Miserables – Y Daith; Cyngerdd y 10 Tenor and BBC’s Song...

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 ................................ WHAT’S ALL THE WHO-HA? Since Peter Capaldi announced that, after four years he’s leaving the role of Doctor Who once he’s filmed the 2017 Christmas special, there’s been much speculation about who should succeed him as the Time Lord. The fervour and excitement surrounding this story has been so great, questions have even been raised in the House. Not the House of Commons. The house of my mate Terry – a ‘Whovian’. No, he’s not half-man, half-vacuum cleaner. A Whovian is a dedicated Doctor Who fan(atic). They’re sometimes called other things - but this is a family newspaper. The questions raised by Terry – and the media - were the same ones asked when the previous two Doctors (David Tennant and err . . . cough . . . umm . . . wotsisname) admitted they’d had enough of being c...

Plans to develop Carmarthenshire as the cycling capital of Wales have shifted a gear following Executive Board approval to create a new £500,000 closed road cycling circuit at Pembrey Country Park. Carmarthenshire County Council has allocated capital programme funding for the purpose-built track, with the backing of Welsh Cycling and Sport Wales. It will be good news for cyclists near and far, and will further boost Pembrey Country Park with an additional income of over £25,000 a year expected via entrance fees, caravan and camping stays and secondary spend. Welsh Government has agreed to sign over a parcel of Joint Venture land on industrial space near the entrance of Pembrey Country Park meaning work will begin shortly. When complete it will be used to stage competitive cycle sports, recreational events, and a traffic free environment for coaching and training. The facility will be of British cycling standard, and will be the best in Wales – if not the UK – attracting local, region...

A new report which shines the spotlight on services and support for older people in Carmarthenshire has been published. The Ageing Well Plan, produced by Carmarthenshire County Council, documents the council’s contribution to helping people to age well in their communities. Five priorities form the basis of the report including age friendly communities, dementia supportive communities, falls prevention, opportunities for employment and new skills and tackling loneliness and isolation. Commitments carried out in the last year include the development of extra care schemes at Cartref Cynnes and Ty Dyffryn, in partnership with the Family Housing Association. Some 61 self-contained flats in Carmarthen and 50 in Ammanford have been provided. Also included is voluntary led scheme, Carmarthenshire Therapy Dogs. Owners and their pets regularly visit people in residential homes, in their own homes, as well as going into schools, hospices and hospitals. Organisations whose clients benefit from ...

Some photos from a walk on Tuesday, February 7. Pond Twym. Cocklers on Llwchwr Estuary. Diggers on the groynes at Llanelli Beach.

Wildlife expert, television presenter and Aberystwyth University Honorary Fellow Iolo Williams is to officially open a ‘Jurassic Heritage’ exhibition in the iconic Old College on Tuesday 14 February 2017. The centrepiece of the exhibition will be Archaeopteryx, a bird-like dinosaur with sharp teeth and claws. Dating from the late Jurassic period around 150 million years ago, Archaeopteryx is believed to be the link between prehistoric dinosaurs and the modern bird. As well as opening the exhibition, Iolo Williams will take part in two question and answer sessions which are free and open to all members of the local community. · 6pm: Iolo Williams talks about his work as a naturalist and television presenter, taking questions from an audience of young people. Seddon Room, Old College. · 6.30pm: Iolo Williams officially opens the Archaeopteryx exhibition · 7pm: Q&A session with a panel of experts including Iolo Williams, Dr Caroline Buttler (Amgueddfa Cymr...

Carmarthenshire Council’s Executive board members have pledged their support to Burry Port Harbour. Members agreed a host of Improvement and maintenance works totalling over £2m including a phased programme to transform and repair the harbour walls. Sand dredging will be increased along the approach channel and accessible areas of the outer harbour basin ahead of the summer season when the harbour is at its busiest. This will increase usage and enable the harbour to be central to the regeneration of the area. The council’s executive board member for leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “Burry Port Harbour attracts hundreds of visitors every week and we are very proud to have such a wonderful facility as part of our Millennium Coastal Park. Our decision today will demonstrate our commitment to the harbour that will support its future as a working marina and major tourist attraction.” Carmarthenshire Council leader, Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “Investment in Burry Port Harbour will support the ...

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board has recommended injecting an additional £1.92million into its revenue budget, with several savings proposals cut following feedback from a public consultation. Full Council will have the final say on the authority’s budget for 2017-18 when it meets on February 22, however Cllr David Jenkins, the council’s Executive Board Member for Resources, today recommended a number of new amendments to the original budget strategy in response to public concern. They included reversing a proposal to cut the delegated schools budget, meaning schools in Carmarthenshire will have the same amount of money to spend as this year – this would be achieved by injecting £1.76million into the budget to bring the schools budget back to a cash neutral position. To support the youth service, savings proposed for Carmarthen’s Quay Centre - where the service was previously provided - have been halved in response to concerns raised, therefore allowing a further £10,...

A new special care baby and parent support group has met for the first time at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest. Ten families, a mixture of mums, dads and grandparents met with their babies, born between 32 weeks and full tern for the first session on ‘tummy time’ set up by Jennifer Smith, Trainee Assistant Practitioner at Glangwili Hospital Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and led by Angharad Eynon, Clinical Lead Paediatric Physiotherapist for Neonates and Acute. Jennifer said: “It was wonderful that so many could attend this first group meeting. Everyone who attended is a member of a closed Facebook group that has been set up to provide support and guidance during admission and following discharge from Glangwili Hospital’s SCBU. “We hope that it will form friendships between the parents where they can share stories, tips etc. We chose a closed Facebook group as it is difficult to get regular face to face meetings. “In the coming year I hope to arrange group meetings by way of baby ma...

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board has today outlined plans to spend more than £210million on projects that will regenerate the economy and create hundreds of jobs over the next five years. Discussing the Five Year Capital Programme in the Chamber earlier today, Cllr David Jenkins, the council’s Executive Board Member for Resources, said he hoped Full Council would support his plans for an exciting and ambitions programme that would support strategic priorities and aspirations for the county. The proposed capital programme anticipates spending in excess of £210million over the next five years, aimed at delivery of a number of key projects that will create jobs and improve the quality of life for the people of Carmarthenshire. They include significant investment in schools, highways, housing and regeneration; as well as new schemes within Pembrey Country Park, Carmarthen Leisure Centre, Pendine and Burry Port Harbour, which requires £2million of urgent improvement and ma...

South West Wales is renowned for its captivating castles and breath-taking gardens and, to mark the Welsh Government’s 2017 Year of Legends, group tour operators are being given some legendary itineraries to help them bring new visitors to the area. As part of the Legends campaign, tourism teams from across the region are working together as a Tourism Destination Partnership to showcase the country’s rich culture and heritage, led by Carmarthenshire County Council. Several new travel itineraries have been created, giving visitors up to five days of tours, including wet weather friendly venues and driving tours that take in some of the region’s finest attractions and landscapes. The area boasts the world’s largest single span glasshouse at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, and fascinating history from the monastic era to modern times alongside many other iconic castles and gardens. Tours will also showcase the area’s glorious landscapes and suggest refreshment and accommodation ...

Patients and visitors at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth are being advised of temporary traffic control measures which will affect the way they can access the hospital over the next six months. From 13 February there will be no vehicle access to the hospital via Caradog Road as work begins to improve the theatre lifts. Patients can still be dropped off at the outpatient entrance, but vehicles will not be able to park there or access the hospital site to park. Parking will be designated for patients and their visitors in the multi-storey car park which can be accessed from Penglais Road. Pedestrian access to the hospital can then be made by the upper or lower entrances with lift of stair access to the rest of the site. During this period, night access to the site will be via the Accident and Emergency entrance. Hospital Director, Dr Phil Jones, said: “We apologise to patients and their visitors for the inconvenience that is being caused whilst these essential works are carried out. “...

Residents and businesses in Carmarthenshire are being warned about a telephone IT scam doing the rounds. Carmarthenshire Trading Standards has issued the warning as it appears offices are being targeted across the county by telephone callers claiming to be from Microsoft. With such scams victims are cold called, usually by phone, and told that there is a problem with their computer and for a nominal fee the caller can fix it. The callers often claim to be working with Microsoft who have identified that the computer has been infected with a virus and offer an update or fix. The victims are talked through the log-on steps in order for the fraudster to gain remote access to the computer. The victims will then often witness the mouse moving and changes being made to the display. They then pay a fee (anything between £100 and £300 has been reported to Action Fraud) and are told the problem has been resolved. Once the initial payment has been processed it is not uncommon for additional lar...

The Valli Boys, Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir, The Phil Harmonics, pianist Thomas Park in concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, Saturday, February 4. Oh, what a night! Ffwrnes Theatre was alive to the sounds of music from Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons on Saturday night. Tribute act The Valli Boys rocked the packed house with classics from the Jersey Boys musical. But the night wasn’t all about the Four Seasons. Côr Meibion Llanelli and The Phil Harmonics chipped in with classics from Elvis Presley and Queen. And the evening saw a Ffwrnes concert debut for Thomas Park, a 12 year-old pupil of Coedcae School, Llanelli, and the recent winner of the Llanelli Rotary Club Young Musician of the Year competition. Thomas, originally from South Korea, but now living in Llanelli, provided a stunning example of his outstanding talent as a pianist with a faultless excerpt from Variations Brillantes by Frederic Chopin. Make a note of the name: Thomas Park is a young man going pla...

This week's special offers at Jenkins Bakery shops - WEEK COMMENCING February 6, 2017 3 Medium Corned Beef Pasties, £1.75 2 Large Corned Beef Pasties, £2.10 4 Medium Sausage Rols, £1.90 2 Fresh Cream Eclairs, £2.00 Sandwich of the Week, Chicken and Bacon, £2.50 Rustic Baguette of the Week, Ham and Cheese, £2.50 Filled Softie of the Week, Chicken Tikka, £2.45 Website - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/

Melin Consultants, providers of sustainable building and construction solutions, are pleased to announce that they will be the main sponsor of this year’s Melin Sospan Sizzler Middle Distance Triathlon. Held in Burry Port on Sunday June 11, the event is organised by non-profit organisation Healthy Life Activities. This is the only middle distance triathlon to be held in Carmarthenshire and the challenging hilly bike course attracts athletes from across the UK. The Melin Sospan Sizzler Middle Distance Triathlon will start with a 1,900m early morning sea swim, encompassing two loops from Burry Port Harbour. The bike leg will then take competitors on a two-loop 90km course around the Gwendraeth Valley, taking in the legendary Meinciau climb, not once, but twice. The final stage will be a fast and flat 21km run along the stunning scenery of the coastal path. While most competitors will be looking to complete the event in under nine hours, the winning time for the inaug...