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

Outgoing Llanelli Rotary Club President Hywel Bassett reflected on a year of great achievement for the club at the annual Presidential Handover dinner held at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. “The Rotary International theme for the year was ‘Light Up Rotary’ - and the candle was well and truly lit my year as President of the second oldest Rotary Club in Wales,” said Mr Bassett. “It has been an exceptionally busy year, with very successful fund-raising activities for different charities, excellent youth and social events and some very successful community projects.” Mr Bassett was succeeded as President by Mrs Susan Roberts. In his valedictory speech, he reflected on some of the highlights of his year as President – The annual Rotary Golf Day at the Ashburnham Golf Club in Pembrey raised more than £1,500 on the day for the club’s charity account.  World War One Commemoration concert held at Greenfield Chapel, Llanelli, and featuring Cor Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir, Cor Cu...

The new President of Llanelli Rotary Club is Mrs Susan Roberts. She succeeded Hywel Bassett at the club's annual Handover dinner held at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Immediate Past President Hywel said it was a great pleasure to see Mrs Roberts take over the presidential duties and he wished her well during her year of office. Rotarian Jo Isaac pledged the support of members of Llanelli Rotary Club during the formal handover. Mrs Roberts expressed her delight at taking over as club President and added that she was looking forward to a great year of community activities and fund-raising. Mrs Roberts was born Llanelli and attended the old Llanelli Girls' Grammar School. After graduating in Institutional and hotel management, she went onto the King's Fund College for Officers (NHS) London as a management trainee. She spent three years based at the college in London and having practical work experience at a variety of hospitals throughout Wales. Mrs Roberts spen...

There was a clean sweep for Bryngwyn Comprehensive School in the first ever Young Photographer competition organised by Llanelli Rotary Club. “There was a very high standard of entries and the judges were given a very difficult task,” said competition organiser Rotarian Jeff Wheeler. The winner in the Senior Category (14 to 17 years old) was Lucie Emily Wiltshire. The runner-up was her Bryngwyn schoolmate Abeera Sohail. In the Intermediate Category (11 to 13 years old) the winner was John O'Brien. The runner-up was his Bryngwyn colleague Brooke James. The theme of the competition was ‘Light Up Your Community’ and the event was part of a national Rotary competition, with the winners progressing to regional finals. The judges were Peter Owen Jones, professional studio photographer, Thomas Street, Llanelli, and Peter Evans, a member of Cefn Sidan Rotary Club and a former chairman of the Trostre Camera Club. The winners and runners-up received their certificates at a special prese...

Club president Hywel Bassett was in the chair at the weekly meeting of Llanelli Rotary Club held at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. Mr Bassett said he was delighted to report Rotarian Brian Mansel-Thomas was home from hospital. Get well soon wishes were sent from the club. Members were told that the Llanelli club’s representatives would be taking part in the District Final of the Rotary Young Musician of the Year competition in Cowbridge. The instrumental section winner of the Llanelli competition was 16-year-old guitarist Cai Charles from Ysgol Gyfun Y Strade. The vocalist winner of the Llanelli competition was 15-year-old Calley Lewis-Meredith, of Coedcae School. The Rotary meeting on Wednesday, March 25, will feature Scarlets rugby head coach Wayne Pivac as guest speaker. Other diary dates: Friday, April 3 No meeting. Good Friday. Tuesday, April 7 Club Council. Wednesday, April 8 Committee structure meeting. Friday, April 17, Rotary Boxing Night in association with Trostre Amate...

Watch your step Jamie Oliver; there’s some competition for you on the horizon from the talented schoolchildren of Llanelli. Llanelli Rotary Club staged their third annual Young Chef competition at Brynwgyn School. “It was a wonderful occasion and a great showpiece for the culinary skills of young Llanelli people,” said Llanelli Rotary President Hywel Bassett. The title of Llanelli Rotary Club Young Chef 2015 went to 14-year-old Bryngwyn pupil Emily Beth Jones. Her winning three-course meal for two consisted of – Fresh carrot soup served with soft white poppyseed bread.  Duck and Savoy Cabbage served with sliced new potatoes. Savoy Cabbage combined with slices of streaky bacon.  Traditional Lemon Drizzle Cake covered with lemon glaze and served with vanilla ice cream.  “It was a well planned menu, cooked with a sense of style and well presented,” said judge Anna Brown, senior chef at Llanelly House. Her co-judge Stewart Williams, development chef at Castell Howe...

The first ever Young Musician competition organised by Llanelli Rotary Club saw nine children from three different schools battle for the title. Set in the prestigious surroundings of Stradey Castle, the competition set a very high benchmark for future Young Musician events. “It would be fair to say that the talent on display was quite remarkable,” said Llanelli Rotary President Hywel Bassett. “As this was our inaugural Young Musician competition, we didn’t really know what to expect. But I know I was blown away by the quality of musicianship and singing – and I know the audience packed into the Great Hall at Stradey Castle felt the same.” The winner was 16-year-old guitarist Cai Charles from Ysgol Gyfun Y Strade (pictured above with Llanelli Rotary President Hywel Bassett). Cai, who has ambitions to study at the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, performed The Cello Suite in G Major No1 by J S Bach and Sunburst by Andrew York. Cai said he had been inspired to take up the g...

Llanelli’s future, school security, the media’s glorification of war, giving students a political voice and the dangers of social media destroying privacy . . .  These were among the topics debated in the annual Llanelli Rotary Club Youth Speaks competition held at Llanelli Town Hall. “The quality of the arguments presented was outstanding and the children taking part reflected great credit on their schools and families,” said the chairman of the judging panel Lt Colonel David Mathias. The competition saw St John Lloyd win the senior category and Brynwgyn Comprehensive take the junior intermediate section. Both teams will now progress to the next round of the Rotary competition – zone area and district finals. The competition attracted entries from Ysgol y Strade, St John Lloyd, Coedcae and Brynwgyn schools. Lt Col Mathias said: “The standard in the competition was exceptionally high and the competitors made the judging task a very difficult one.” Llanelli Rotary Club pres...

Members of Llanelli Rotary Club have enjoyed taking part in the Mary's Meals backpack appeal. The club members and friends collected 59 backpacks to send to needy children in Africa. Project coordinator Alison Evans said she was delighted with the response. "We have had great fun building bridges with local schools to get response for the backpack appeal. "This is the first time we (as a club) have attempted anything like this and we are very grateful to the public for their response. "We know the backpacks are going to be put to good use in Africa, "Having seen some of the feedback videos from the delivery of the backpacks, I can say it is a wonderful donation. The joy on the faces of the children is incredible!" Llanelli Rotary Club President Hywel Bassett said: "We are a very active group of Rotarians who believe firmly in the Rotary motto of 'service above self'. "We have a number of community projects which are base...

Llanelli Rotarians raised £3000 for the Royal British Legion through a memorable World War One centenary concert staged at Greenfield Chapel, Llanelli. The money was handed over to Phil Flower, community fundraiser for the Royal British Legion in South West Wales, at the Rotary club’s weekly meeting at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli. The President of Llanelli Rotary Club Hywel Bassett said he was delighted that the club had been able to support the work of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in South West Wales.. He added: “The sum represents a sterling fundraising effort on the part of Llanelli Rotary and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the evening and who attended what was a memorable and very moving concert. In particular, I’d like to thank Rotarian Cerith Owens of Loud Applause Productions and the small sub-committee of Rotarians who made the event work like clockwork.” The programme for the concert carried the bold letters, 'Lest we forget'. The w...

Prize-winning public speakers from St John Lloyd School in Llanelli addressed members of Llanelli Rotary Club at their weekly meeting at the Stradey Park Hotel. The teams from St John Lloyd carried off the senior and intermediate team prizes in the annual Llanelli Rotary Club Youth Speaks public speaking competition staged at Llanelli Town Hall. They went on to win the area finals staged at Gower and Llwchwr Rotary Club. They now go forward to the Rotary District 1150 competition (for all of South Wales) on March 7 at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. The next step then would be a regional final to be held in Gloucester and a national RIBI Rotary final to be held in May. Last year, one of the St John Lloyd teams made it all the way to the national final held in Hull. The St John Lloyd intermediate team debated ‘We’re all going on a term-time holiday, what’s the big deal?’). The team members were – Chair Jack Rees, Speaker Joseph Toft, Vote of thanks proposer Francis Venzon. ...