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

The search is on to find Carmarthenshire’s next Richard Branson or Alan Sugar. Budding entrepreneurs are being urged to enter this year’s Beacon Bursary competition, launched at the Graig Campus of Coleg Sir Gar. Open to further and higher education students studying or living in Carmarthenshire, winners of the competition are offered free office space within the Beacon Centre for Enterprise in Dafen, Llanelli, along with a cash prize of up to £3000 and mentoring support, so that they can develop their businesses. The annual competition is delivered through Carmarthenshire County Council in conjunction with Coleg Sir Gâr and University of Wales Trinity Saint David and forms part of the council’s commitment to developing entrepreneurship within the county. It provides people with an opportunity to access finance, office space and a wealth of support and experience which will provide the best opportunity for their businesses to flourish. Last year’s winner was Martin Goddard of 360 Ent...

Stroke specialist nurses from Bronglais Hospital and Ceredigion’s Life after Stroke coordinator held a dedicated stand at Morrison’s supermarket in Aberystwyth this week to support a national awareness-raising campaign. The ‘Lower your risk of stroke’ stand was held in the entrance to the supermarket on Wednesday 8 March, offering blood pressure checks, pulse checks and stroke primary prevention advice and information. Overall the team provided stroke prevention advice to over 40 people and provided blood pressure and pulse checks for 39 people, of which 12 were referred onto their GP for further assessment. In Wales more than 7,000 people have a stroke each year and it is one of the leading causes of severe adult disability. There are over 65,100 people in Wales and 1.2 million people in the UK living with the effects of stroke. By taking action on three of the biggest stroke risk factors, the number of strokes across Wales could be reduced by up to 50%. The campaign asks people to ...

St David’s Celebration Concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, featuring soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, tenor Osian Wyn Bowen, massed male choir from Côr Meibion Mynydd Mawr, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Aman, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi, Côr Meibion Porth Tywyn, conducted by Dr Alwyn Humphreys MBE. This was an evening celebrating the very best of Welsh singing - and a real ‘coming of age’ for West Wales tenor Osian Wyn Bowen. The 20-year-old from Burry Port has been quietly refining his craft for a number of years - and his performance before a packed house at Ffwrnes marked him out as a soloist to watch and follow for years to come. Confident, assured and controlled (with plenty of cheeky stagecraft thrown in for good measure), Osian showed that his time as a student at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama has paid dividends. A duet with top-of-the-bill soprano Elin Manahan Thomas will live long in the memory. The couple’s performance of the Joseph Parry classic ‘Hywel a Blodwen’ (comp...

This week's special offers at Jenkins Bakery shops - WEEK COMMENCING March 13, 2017 3 Medium Corned Beef Pasties, £1.85 2 Large Corned Beef Pasties, £2.20 4 Medium Sausage Rolls, £2.00 2 Fresh Cream Doughnuts, £2.00 Sandwich of the Week, Turkey, Stuffing and Cranberry, £2.50 Rustic Baguette of the Week, Ham and Cheese, £2.60 Filled Softie of the Week, Chicken Tikka, £2.55 Website - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/