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

Letter to the editor of the Carmarthen Journal from Simon Buckley, chief executive of Llandeilo-based brewery Evan-Evans -  Dear Madam, It just goes to show that politicians do listen if you talk to the right ones! The Budget yet again produced a helping hand for the brewing and pub industry. If careful balloting of MPs and Government ministers can achieve this huge result, why is it that at a local level we cannot exercise democracy? Why can’t we see our independent councillors in Carmarthenshire do what they were elected to do: act independently and fight the corner for the electorate and council tax-payers? The Mark James fiasco is a poor example of so-called ‘Independent’ democracy at work. It was laughable. The simple fact is that Meryl’s Gravell’s Gang (and I think the former Leader is still calling the shots) respond to a ‘party’ whip line when voting. An ‘Independent’ group responding to a whip? That makes them far from ‘independent’, and certainly ema...

Had a letter published in the Carmarthen Journal last week re the continuing debate about Carmarthenshire News - the county council and local service board's regular newsletter. Not all of it made it into print. Here is the 'unedited' version -  It was interesting to read the ‘War of Words’ story about the costs of Carmarthenshire County Council’s Carmarthenshire News ‘news-sheet’on Page 9 of the Journal (August 22). My eyebrows went up higher than a Roger Moore impersonator when I read that the council had not retained all back editions for the last five years – and it hadn’t recorded the cost of individual adverts. Perhaps this is an indication of the manner in which the council has used the newsletter as a ‘toy train-set plaything’. Having some experience of running newspapers and newsletters, I know that in the ‘real world’ of newspaper budgets it was always considered proper to keep records of such matters. Like Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas, I a...

Think in human terms (From Western Telegraph) With regard to the Hywel Dda Health Board's proposed relocation of services from Withybush Hospital, I wish those members of the board would think in human terms. My husband, who celebrated his 80th birthday this month, was in Withybush Hospital for a week in April. I found it quite a strain driving 20 miles each way to visit him every day. I contemplate with sheer horror the idea of having to go to Carmarthen, which is about 53 miles away, especially in the winter, as I avoid driving in the dark, because of eyesight problems.

Two misdirected letters arrived at Lloyd HQ this morning. Can only assume my business card must be lurking on a couple of desks out there. One to the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr Christianne Glossop and the other to the chairman of Carmarthenshire Council Councillor Ivor Jackson. I am happy to make it clear that neither resides at 84 New Road, Llanelli!

Letter sent by Kevin Richards, executive director of the Healing The Wounds charity, to the South Wales Guardian today - Your letters page last week (December 1) carried an excellent thank-you letter from Melanie Coombes, who has worked very hard in raising cash for the Healing The Wounds (Golden Grove) appeal. It does, however, require a clarification. While Melanie and her fundraisers are finishing their charitable endeavours for Healing The Wounds to concentrate on other worthy charities, the work of the Healing The Wounds charity continues at an ever-increasing pace. A casual glance at Melanie’s letter could mistakenly leave readers with the impression that our appeal is coming to an end. Nothing could be further from the truth. The work of the Healing The Wounds charity is gathering pace at a rate of knots. In fact, more than £120,000 has been raised towards our initial target of £200,000. Healing the Wounds has been launched for the purpose of raising the funds needed to enable t...

If Star readers are anything like me, then they love amazing facts. Recently, I have been researching the history of Jenkins the Bakers in Llanelli (they were featured in the Star last week, June 2, following their double award success). While learning more about a business which is due to celebrate its 90th anniversary, I came across the following snippets about the family firm – The business employs 70 people at its Trostre HQ, while the Jenkins shop network stretches from Carmarthen to Bridgend. There are 13 shops in Carmarthenshire and even one as far afield as Powys. The company employs 300 people, full and part-time, across 25 different stores in South Wales Jenkins the Bakers produce 50,000 corned beef pasties a week. The company serves 60,000 customers per week 7,500 custard slices are produced in a week. The business uses 15 tons of flour a week The flour silo at the Trostre HQ sees an 18-ton delivery every 10 days. Before anyone asks . . . Yes, I am a fan of their corned beef...

Just sent this off - As if the result wasn't bad enough, why do we have to put up with Eddie Butler as the commentator on BBC Wales? 'What the Butler saw' isn't quite what the spectator sees. He gets names wrong and makes ham-fisted attempts to wax lyrical. Is it any wonder that many of us are now opting for the TV mute button and tuning in to the Gareth Charles commentary on Radio Wales instead?

I write in response to M Edwards, of North Cornelly, who asked in last week’s Star Letters for the origin of the name Capel Als in Llanelli. There appears to be no definitive answer, but the best suggestion was made by eminent Llanelli historian John Edwards in his book ‘Llanelli: Story of a Town’ (published, incidentally, by the Llanelli Star). I quote from what is an excellent work of reference – ‘It was during the ministry of Evan Davies (his home was Gelli Farm near Llanelli) that the first Independent Chapel was established in 1780. That chapel was Capel Als. It is claimed that the name, derives from a cottage called Ty Alys which previously stood on the spot where the chapel was built. ‘Alys apparently sold water from a well which was still there until 1852 when it was filled in during the building of an extension to the chapel. The word ‘als’ in Welsh means rock cliff (compare the Gaelic, Ailsa Craig) and if one ventures to the vestry behind the chapel one is faced by a steep ro...