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

  THE annual Llanelli Rotary Club Young Musician of the Year competition saw singers and instrumentalists battle it out at Greenfield Chapel in the town centre. The competition was the first stage in a national competition to find the Young Musician of the Year in both vocal and instrumental categories. Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens said: “Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland believes it is highly important to encourage and develop creativity in young people and the young musician competition is one of a number of ways in which we can nurture talent. “The young musician competition in Llanelli has been running for nearly 10 years, with a short break for the coronavirus pandemic. During that time, we have been hugely entertained and impressed by the young talent on display in the two categories of the competition. “This year’s competition was of a very high standard and we would urge schools and music teachers across the area to pencil next autumn into the...

  Review: Meibion Elli at Greenfield Chapel, with special guests The Phil Harmonics and West End star Samuel Wyn-Morris.   LLANELLI male voice choir Meibion Elli celebrated their fifth anniversary with a special concert staged at Greenfield Chapel in the town centre. Meibion Elli choir are growing in numbers under the direction of D Eifion Thomas and accompanist Aled Maddock. The anniversary concert proved to be a memorable and inspiring evening of fine choral singing, mixed in with superb solo performances. Meibion Elli’s growing reputation for musical excellence was underscored by a programme of various musical styles which appealed to the large audience in Greenfield Chapel. John Thomas, David Williams (Dai Llansaint) and Alan Owen were the choir’s three featured soloists. Special mention must be made of the choir’s inspirational blockbuster performance of the Finale to Act 3 of Verdi’s Nabucco (The Slaves’ Chorus), with John Thomas featuring in the role of Zachariah. Barit...

IT’S your chance to feel a warm glow – by donating a winter coat to Llanelli Rotary Club’s Wrap Up campaign. This is the third year that Llanelli Rotary has joined in the national Wrap Up campaign to collect warm winter coats. In the first year of the campaign, the club collected more than 700 coats and distributed them to local food banks, refuge centres, churches, Threshold, CYCA and family support groups. Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens said: “We felt that we made a difference in the community and are excited to do it again. “The response by the local community to our Wrap Up campaign has been wonderful over the last two years. We are hoping for another magnificent response from the people of Llanelli again this year. Everyone we talk to says that they get a nice warm feeling of making a positive contribution to society when they donate a coat to the campaign.” The Wrap Up campaign runs until December 15. The following drop off points have been set up in Llanelli: · ...

  TRIBUTES have been paid to the man whose name was synonymous with shopping and business in Llanelli, Mr TH Gilmore (Gil) Jones. Universally known throughout the town as Gil or Gilmore, he died on Sunday, October 20, aged 82. Gilmore won the Llanelli Star’s Community Champion award in 2010 – an honour which reflected his busy life in retail in the town and his wider interests in supporting community life. Gilmore was President of Llanelli Chamber of Trade and Commerce between 2006 and 2009 and played a key role in supporting the Special Olympics Carmarthenshire club and his award-winning daughter Llinos. His good friend Andrew Stephens, who succeeded Gilmore as manager of the St Elli Shopping Centre in 2014, said: “To say he will be missed is an understatement as Gilmore was part of the fabric of community life in Llanelli.” Andrew, who is now a Llanelli Rural councillor, added: “Gilmore wore his heart on his sleeve and was 100 per cent committed to Llanelli and the people of the ...

It’s been a valued institution in Llanelli for more than 40 years. Now the Llanelli and District Talking Newspaper Association is searching for more volunteers. The association produces a comprehensive CD local news and information bulletin for blind and partially-sighted members of the community once a fortnight – having never missed a deadline in 42 years. “There’s a great sense of pride in Llanelli as we were one of the first towns in Wales to introduce a talking newspaper service,” said Llanelli and District Talking Newspaper Association chairman Robert Lloyd. “The service was founded during 1976, with the first edition being issued to nine listeners in December of that year. “The inspiration and driving force behind the project was the late Mr Harold Owen, Manager of a Painting and Decorating shop situated in Stepney Street, Llanelli. “The team of volunteers involved in the production and distribution of the newspaper numbers about 25 people at present and it is a credit to t...

The Prince of Wales, a new play by Jon Tregenna, performed by Llanelli Stage Company and Llanelli Youth Theatre, Stiwdio Stepni at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli. (running through to Saturday night, November 18). It’s got history, humour and high jinks. And the end result is slightly hysterical in a highly amusing way. The new play from Buggerall author Jon Tregenna is a fast-moving, cleverly-staged development of a radical idea. What if there is a descendant of the last great Welsh king, Llywelyn Ap Gruffudd? Will it be the end of the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles? Will it spark a constitutional crisis? There’s razor-sharp humour in sackloads played across a backdrop of serious themes about Welsh nationhood, friendship, mistaken identity, love, passion and the consumer culture. Throw in a few swipes about a pretentious arts and media culture and you have a bubbling Welsh cocktail which fizzes and delights through one long act with multiple scene changes. The Welsh love their h...

REVIEW: Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir, Dafydd Iwan and Côr Ysgol y Strade at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli. The ‘annual’ Côr Meibion Llanelli concert is always regarded as one of the highlights in the Llanelli musical calendar – and the 2017 renewal continued a fine, high class tradition. The popular guest star for the show was Welsh folk singing legend Dafydd Iwan, who got the audience tapping their feet and singing along with many of his favourite hit recordings. The emotional highspot for many was a rendition of Hawl i Fyw, which moved some audience members to tears. Accompanied on the piano by the excellent Hefin Ellis, guitarist and ranconteur Dafydd thrives on telling musical stories and the audience were entertained, amused and moved in equal measure. Côr Meibion Llanelli played a powerful hand in fielding a 55-strong choir on the Ffwrnes stage – no mean feat in an age when many other male voice choirs complain about a decline in numbers. The first-half hig...

Historic Plas Llanelly House, one of the jewels in Llanelli’s crown, has a new ‘head of the household’. Paul Carter has taken on the new role of Commercial and Events Manager at Llanelli town centre’s premier tourist attraction. He aims to make Llanelly House a major ‘destination venue’ for first class events and exhibitions and raise the profile of the historic property for weddings, top quality entertainment and great value quality food and drink. Mr Carter, 50, said: “Llanelly House is very familiar to many in and around Llanelli, but for some it is still something of a hidden treasure. “We’ll be creating a range of exciting new activities in Llanelly House to reach out to those who have yet to experience the delights of the house. We’ll be putting Llanelly House firmly on the map as a ‘go to’ venue attractive to one and all. “Our historic doors are open with a welcome to all in West Wales (and beyond) and we look forward to working with the local community in developing ne...

Hats off to the Curtain Up Theatre Company. They received a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of their Saturday Night At The Movies show at Ffwrnes, Llanelli. The evening featured some of the best loved songs from music and television, under the musical direction of Anne-Marie Marks and with choreography from Debbie Garratt. The inimitable Denys Jenkins BEM (Denny Twp to Llanelli's Panto fans) was the host with the most, with a rich repertoire of 'true stories' for his Ffwrnes fan club. From the opening with the Drifters classic Saturday Night At The Movies, this was an evening where the cast enjoyed just as much as the audience. And it was all in a good cause, with the proceeds from the night going to the Llanelli branch of Mind. It was a night with plenty of highlights - Circle of Life, from the Lion King, Everything I Do, from Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, The Lakme Flower Duet, from True Romance, Unchained Melody, from Ghost, and Bring Him Home, from L...

The busy ladies of The Phil Harmonics have a special charity fundraising night coming up this summer. They will be performing at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, on Friday, June 9, in aid of the Ty Bryngwyn Hospice Fund. Tickets are £25 and include a two-course meal and other entertainment from 'Friends' of The Phil Harmonics. Tickets are available from Phil Harmonics members of through their Facebook page. Rock and pop choir the Phil Harmonics have made their entrance onto the Llanelli music scene gradually over the last two years. The group was set up by Sarah Mair Richards, Phil Thomas and Pauline Yudowitz. In 2016 they held a charity evening which helped raise more than £1,600 for Prince Philip Hospital Breast Care Unit in Llanelli and a maternity hospital in Uganda. Choir rehearsals are at The Stradey Park Hotel and the choir members are grateful for the hotel’s continuing support. The Choir is for 18 - 80 year olds who want to be part of a very exciting group who ar...

The next public lecture for the Llanelli Workers' Education Association (WEA) promises to be a special event. The lecture is on Thursday 27 April at the Selwyn Samuel Centre in Llanelli and the guest speaker is Bohdana Bahlay. She will be giving a talk on "The Story of the Ukraine".  Bohdana is a specialist Cardiac Physiologist at Morriston Hospital, having held the post for more than 10 years. In her spare time, she is an active member of the organisation Voice of Ukraine Wales, which raises awareness of the history and culture of the Ukraine. She has helped stage several cultural events in Llanelli to promote her homeland. The lecture starts at 7.30pm. Admission free - non members welcome to attend.

Light, Ladd & Emberton is a collective of three Wales-based dance artists – Deborah Light, Eddie Ladd and Gwyn Emberton – together with creative producer Laura Drane. Tomorrow (Friday, April 21), they bring their award winning show called Caitlin to Llanelli (Ffwrnes Theatre). The dance trio came together in 2014 to make Caitlin, a show commissioned for the Dylan Thomas centenary by the National Library of Wales. Through collaborative working, Light Ladd and Emberton create original professional performance work, with the aim of creating exciting and inspiring productions for audiences in Wales and beyond, and to represent Wales and the UK on a national and international stage. They draw on history and identity, predominantly of Wales, to create productions with contemporary relevance and culturally engaged. Caitlin was the wife of poet Dylan Thomas. At the start of the 1970s, 20 years after he died, she started going to Alcoholics Anonymous. In a circle of chairs, set out for...

Funding of almost half a million pounds has been secured for road safety projects in Llanelli and the Amman / Gwendraeth area. The council has received a total of £445,500 from the Welsh Government’s Road Safety Capital Grant which supports road casualty reduction schemes across Wales. It includes £225,000 for a route treatment scheme in Llanelli on the B4297 between the Halfway lights and Talyclun in Llangennech and a grant of £220,500 for a similar scheme on the B4297 between Tycroes and Gorslas. Both schemes will provide reduced speed limits, enhanced warning signs, driver feedback signs, traffic calming, traffic islands, junction visibility improvements, improved crossing points and upgraded red light cameras. Head of Highways and Transport Steve Pilliner said: “I am delighted that the council has secured this funding so that both these schemes can be carried out this financial year. “These schemes will significantly improve safety for both road users and pedestrians along these ...

The Royal British Legion is holding outreach sessions in Llanelli for service personnel and families every other Monday for the next two months. The sessions are to offer help to serving members of the armed forces, veterans, and family members. They will be held in the Hub in Stepney Street from 10am-1pm. Sessions will be held on April 10, April 24, May 8 and May 22. Website - http://www.britishlegion.org.uk

The store that specialises in gear for runners and triathlon competitors is coming to Llanelli. And they are looking for weekend staff – who have a passion and enthusiasm for running! See their poster above. The new store will be in Vaughan Street, roughly opposite Home Bargains. Weblink – http://www.mymoti.com

Carmarthenshire County Council’s dog wardens are calling for information about a dog left abandoned in Llanelli. The council’s dog warden service was called in to action following reports of a male Rottweiler being left tied to a fence near Andrew Street. It is thought the he may have been there for a few days, and was in need of urgent veterinary care. He is recovering well, and now the wardens want people to help them and RSPCA colleagues find the owner and take appropriate action. Dog warden Brendan Davies said: “We don’t know how long he had been there, but it may have been a few days. He was severely underweight and had lost hair on his back due to flea infestation. “He has responded well to treatment and TLC, his fleas have gone and his coat is starting to re-grow already. “This could have been avoided with such little cost - the PDSA was only a short walk away from where he was left tied up without food, water and shelter. His owner could have taken him there for treatment and...

The team behind the ambitious Llanelli Railway Goods Shed project is planning a major consultation event. The free event is aimed at stakeholders - people and organisations interested in playing an active role in the next stage of the project. "In recent weeks, we have been successful in gaining planning permission and Listed Building permissions for the iconic Grade II Listed building," said Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust chairman Nia Griffith MP. "We have carried out a huge amount of development work, including architectural proposals, business plans, heritage work and activity plans. "But the project is moving into a new phase as we build alliances and partnerships with the community at large. "Already, we have had interest from people who want to use the site in Marsh Street - interest from businesses, community groups, organisations and individuals. "Now we have to build formal partnership agreements with our key stakeholders...

Members of Llanelli Rotary Club are getting ready for one of the highlights of Llanelli's social calendar - the annual fund-raising charity ball. "The Rotary Ball is always regarded as one of THE big events of the year in Llanelli and we are looking forward to a full house at this year's event," said Rotary Club President Mark Evans. The ball is being staged at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, on Friday, April 7, with entertainment being provided by The Phil Harmonics choir and popular entertainers Dusty Road. President Mr Evans (pictured) said: "This year, we have a specific target to use all of the funds raised from the ball to purchase defibrillators that will be placed in prominent positions around Llanelli. "The first will be at Felinfoel Community Resource Centre and will be available ‘if needed’ by the numerous people that use the facility. "As always, we appreciate the generous support of the business community in Llanelli, who support by ...

Age Cymru Sir Gâr are celebrating reaching their 21st year operating as a charity for people aged 50-plus in Carmarthenshire. The charity has supported people to live longer, live independently, make informed choices and have control over their lives. The charity is extended a warm invitation to all members of the public to come and join in the celebrations on Thursday, March 30, at St Peter’s Civic Hall, Nott Square, Carmarthen, from 12-3.30pm. Like all good parties, there will be music, activities and refreshments throughout the afternoon. There will be taster sessions of all the activities the charity has helped to set up around the county as well as some new activities. You can have a go at Nordic walking, seated exercise or dancing, as well as the more traditional knitting, arts and crafts. The charity was set up in October 1995 with their first office in Cross Hands. The charity moved to Blue Street in Carmarthen and needed to move again in 2001 to more suitable, disabled-frie...

The team at Llanelli Rotary Club presented two cheques, worth a total of £2600, to the prostate cancer team at the urology department at Llanelli's Prince Philip Hospital. In the top photo, Llanelli Rotary President Mark Evans (right) presented a cheque for £2200, the proceeds of his annual Carten 100 charity bike ride between Cardiff and Tenby. In the second photo, Llanelli Rotary Club associate member Maxine Walters presented a cheque for £400 in memory of her late husband, Llanelli Rotarian Monro Walters. The money was raised at a charity art show featuring Maxine's paintings. Included in both photos are members of the urology department at Prince Philip Hospital, including consultants Mr Moosa and Mr Ng. Also pictured, top, are Llanelli Rotarians Hugh Thomas, Susan Roberts and Maxine Walters.