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

Carmarthenshire Libraries, in collaboration with Ziptales, has reached nearly 5,000 children throughout the county during September alone. Why not encourage your children to foster the joy of books through Ziptales by reading at home as the stories are fun and interactive? As well as being fun, it is an invaluable educational resource fulfilling a variety of children’s needs which is linked to the UK National Curriculum, aimed at children between the ages of four and 13. It is very simple to use and a safe online environment for children to explore – they can log in simply by using their library membership card to experience the exciting and fun interactive modules. Ziptales can be used right away by logging in with a library card, at home or the library. Why don’t you pop down to your nearest library to find out more? Library Services Manager Mark Jewell said: “Promoting a love of reading can also encourage children to desire borrowing and reading books from the library.” Executive...

My interview with Mark Jewell of Carmarthenshire Library Services for the Llanelli Talking Newspaper for the Blind -

A free children’s magic show with Prince Nadin is taking place at Llanelli Children’s Library this Saturday at 11am. The event is open to all youngsters and is part of the library’s official reopening week after its £3.8million refurbishment. Library manager Mark Jewell said: “Come and be dazzled by the tricks and the new library!”

Tales of ghosts and ghouls in Llanelli have been revived since a spooky photograph was handed in to the town library. The picture, apparently showing a ghostly figure of a woman standing outside Llanelly House, was given to staff at Llanelli Library. They discovered it was a hoax as the same image could be downloaded from the internet. However, it has sparked interest in the ghost of Llanelly House and of other spooky tales around the town. It has also brought back memories of TV’s Most Haunted programme, filmed in Llanelli in 2009. Library staff have had people call in to discuss the photograph and the many tales of ghosts in the area. The most famous is Mira Turner, the serving girl who killed herself at Llanelly House after rumours surrounding her and a married butler. However, there are many other stories of ghostly goings-on in Llanelli. They include: • Parc Howard Mansion where a nurse and World War One soldier are said to haunt. • Stradey Woods where different sightings ha...

A photograph appearing to show the ghost of Llanelly House was taken into nearby Llanelli library by a passer-by last week. It is said that the ghost of 22-year-old Mira Turner, a servant in the 19th Century, haunts the house. The picture clearly shows the ghostly image of a young woman – taken on the same date Mira was buried – August 9. Staffs at Llanelli Library were given the photograph by a man who they said was “visibly excited”. However, the “ghost” bears an uncanny resemblance to one which is downloadable via the internet. Library Regional Manager Mark Jewell said: “The elderly gentleman came in and showed us the photograph which had been taken by his friend outside Llanelly House. He was in a state of excitement. He seemed very interested in the restoration work going on at Llanelly House and in the library. “He thought we would be interested in the photograph. He showed it to quite a few of the staff and we gave him a short tour of the work going on at the library. U...