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

Bancyfelin’s new milestone has been unveiled. Local historian Bruce Wallace is pictured being helped by Cllr Graham Edwards, mayor of St Clears, as he unveils the new milestone installed in Bancyfelin by the Bancyfelin Education Community Trust. It was the Romans who were the first great road builders in Britain and the first to measure road distances. When they left, the roads developed in response to community needs and by the 1800s, there were around 20,000 milestones of varying designs in Britain and some of these were on the A40 road from Carmarthen to Hobbs Point in Pembrokeshire. Their purposes were to inform travellers of direction and distances, help coaches keep to journey times, help calculate fees for changes of horses at the coaching inns and before 1840, calculate postal charges. Bancyfelin village was on the main highway to Hobbs Point where travellers embarked for Ireland and it had its own milestone in the form of two metal plaques placed in a V-shape projecting o...

Cash boost for dementia club: St Clears’ Mayor Cllr Graham Edwards presents a cheque from the Town Council’s Community Chest to Reg Wyeth, chairman of the QT Club for people affected by dementia related conditions. Joining the mayor and Reg Wyeth are (l – r) Louise Miller, Jeanette Hooper, secretary Caroline Cookson, treasurer Mair Collinge and Jeff Gronow. The Taf Quality Time Club (the QT Club) provides a lively meeting point for families coping with dementia-related illnesses. The QT Club is a social club which provides entertainment and activities for those with dementia related illnesses and their carers. Membership is free and the atmosphere is very welcoming. The club meets on alternate Fridays at 2pm in the St Clears Boating Club.

Farmers markets are to be launched in St Clears as part of exciting new plans to boost the economy. Fortnightly food and craft markets are being planned in the Carmarthenshire town. Organisers hope the venture will bring a trading boost to the area, with spins off for local businesses. The markets would be held along Pentre Road, and once established could be increased to weekly events during the summer. It follows demand for more community events from local residents and businesses. The Carmarthenshire Centre for Crafts in St Clears has also backed the plan. St Clears Town Council has just secured a grant of £15,503 from the Developing Identity and Distinctiveness programme for market stalls and equipment. The project is a partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council and Menter Bro Dinefwr. It has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The ...