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

Did you hear the one about the two comedians who tried to tell jokes to the town’s deaf club? No? Well, you’re about to. In what is expected to be a ‘Welsh first’ comedians Phil Evans and Daniel Glyn are staging a show with live sign language for the deaf and hard of hearing. “It sounds impossible,” said Phil, who is famous for his promotion of the Welsh ‘cwtsh’ (hug). “But laughter is for everyone and we’ve always been determined to reach the parts other comedians fail to reach. “We believe we are the first comedians in Wales to try this idea – a live laugh-a-minute show with sign language, a treat which makes sure everyone gets the joke!” The Comedy and Cwtshes event takes place at The Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli, on Saturday, February 22. The sign language support will be provided by Sarah Williams. She said: “I’ve been ‘Signing’ from the age of three. This was due to a wonderful and special lady in our lives, who was my grandmother and was born deaf. She taught me so much a...

Two talented cake-makers from the Jenkins Bakery have won a place in the National Cup Cakes finals. Cake department manager Sarah Williams and trainee Alex Cowell were picked out of 350 entries nationwide for a place in the finals. The event is organised by the British Baker magazine and website. The ‘live’ finals will take place at the National Exhibition centre (NEC) in Birmingham in November. Jenkins Bakery operations director Russell Jenkins said: “It’s already been very successful year for us in terms of awards, but we are delighted with this latest success. “We believe in competing against the very best in the baking and cake-making industry. Competitions like this one help our staff hone their skills to a very sharp level. We wish Sarah and Alex all the very best in the heat of the kitchen in the finals.” There were four categories in the competition: ‘Classic’, ‘Themed’, ‘Free-from’ and ‘Made with Alcohol’. The judges whittled down the entries, based on recipe, appearance, in...

The popular Jenkins Bakery has scooped two prizes in national competitions. The Llanelli-based bakery was successful in the The National Association of Master Bakers' bakery competitions at the Bakers' and Butchers' Spring Fair at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern. "It's a double delight for us as a business," said operations director Russell Jenkins. "What is particularly pleasing is that the wins went to two of our youngest members of staff. "We believe in nurturing young talent here at the Jenkins Bakery and the two winners created top quality showpiece products to beat off stiff competition from the rest of the UK." Natasha Fuge's winning design at the Spring Fair was in the Celebration Cake category and was inspired by impending birth of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s baby. Trainee Alex Cowell won first for her cupcakes. And Alex also won a special prize of a training day with television's Fabulous Baker Broth...

Llanelli’s famous Jenkins Bakery has plenty to celebrate for the forthcoming Royal Wedding. The bakery scooped two prizes at the national Bakers’ Fair at Newbury Racecourse – with one of the awards being claimed for the best celebration cake to mark the marriage of Kate Middleton to Prince William. “It’s a big achievement as this was a nationwide competition held by the National Association of Master Bakers,” said Jenkins Bakery director Russell Jenkins. “It’s also very significant as we plan to mark the Royal Wedding in some style. “We won the competition for the best single tier cake inspired by the Royal Wedding. The cake was created by Sarah Williams, our professional cake decorator. It is now on display at our Trostre HQ in Llanelli. “Meanwhile, we will be launching special mini wedding cakes to mark Prince William and Kate’s wedding. These feature the happy couple and are traditional wedding cakes designed to help everyone get into the wedding spirit. “They will be on sale in our...