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

It promises to be an ‘End of the Pier’ show with a difference. Four popular South Wales entertainers are getting together for ‘A Night of Music and Laughter’ for a landmark occasion at Mumbles Pier in Swansea. It will be the final night of live entertainment at Mumbles Pier before the revamp of the attraction is completed. Phil Evans, Laura Jayne, Dean Jones and Ignacio Lopez all enjoyed a very successful recent tour with top Welsh independent recording artist Paul Child. “We had a wonderful time on tour with Paul Child and there’s been a lot of popular demand to get us to perform at a local venue in Swansea,” said Evans. “This will be variety and comedy at its best. It’s an unique occasion. It’s the end of one era for the pier and the start of another.” A Night of Music and Laughter is being staged at Mumbles Pier on Friday, June 21, 7.30pm. Phil Evans is sometimes known as the 'Hugmeister of Wales' and the man who has put the 'Cwtsh' back into comedy. He is a f...

Members of Llanelli Rotary Club were at the Tesco superstore in Parc Trostre, Llanelli, to rattle their collection buckets for the 'End Polio Now' campaign. The Rotarians raised more than £300 on the day. Pictured are Rotarians Alison Evans and Iori Thomas. The Llanelli Club also teamed up with their daughter club of Cefn Sidan Rotary for a curry night and quiz at the Masala restaurant in West End, Llanelli. The event raised a further £450 for the 'End Polio Now' campaign. Llanelli Rotary Club president Alan Owen said: "Rotary is about many things, including serving the community locally and internationally. We do lots of hand-on activities but we also make sure that we have fun when raising cash for worthy causes like 'End Polio Now'. Weblinks - http://llanellirotary.com/ http://www.endpolio.org/

Tenby Blues Festival & Span Arts present: The Jay Tamkin Band and Chris Quinn, Friday 7 June at the Queens Hall, Narberth. Running order: Doors 8pm. Julian Murphy & Marc Davies 8.30 - 9 .10 Chris Quinn 9.15 - 10.00 Jay Tamkin 10.15 - 11.15 Still in his early '20s, Jay Tamkin has achieved so much; as a singer, songwriter and versatile instrumentalist, he has been described as “a young Jimi Hendrix”. “Just what blues has been waiting for,” Green Man magazine A “congenital talent,” (Classic Rock magazine), Tamkin is blowing away critics with “instinctive guitar mangling and hip-bucking groove” on his latest album, Alibi. As well as having recently performed on Glastonbury’s main stage and at the BBC Maida Vale studios, this young British bluesman has shared the bill with a list of legends including Jools Holland, Roy Ayers, The Blockheads, John Mayall, and the Blind Boys of Alabama. Recent live video in the Netherlands: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceDP2NAG8O4 C...

One of the best-established and best-known businesses in South Wales has opened a new shop in Portmead, Swansea. The new Jenkins Bakery shop in Pentregethin Road is the 27th in a chain of retail outlets covering a large South Wales footprint, from Bridgend to Carmarthen and north to Ystradgynlais. “This is our fourth Swansea shop,” Jenkins Bakery Operations Director Russell Jenkins proudly declared as he cut the tape to open the new Portmead outlet. “We’re occupying a new purpose-built site, with car parking and a One Stop convenience shop and cashpoint right next door. “It’s an exciting new location for Portmead and we are looking forward to making friends with all our new customers.” The shop is the second new Jenkins Bakery outlet to open this year, following the launch of the company’s coffee shop in the prestigious new East Gate development in Llanelli. David Jenkins, Commercial Director at Llanelli-based business, said: “We are delighted to be expanding once again. “As a thi...

Burry Port Town Band are looking forward to their forthcoming Summer Concert on Saturday 29th June in the Memorial Hall, Burry Port starting at 7:30pm. Conducted by Musical Director Nigel Seaman, the programme will be varied and entertaining, featuring music from the movies together with some more traditional brass band repertoire. Pre-concert drinks will be served from 6pm and patrons benefit from a pre-concert talk with Mr Nigel Seaman. The band will be joined by our special guests, Hywel Girls Choir and Hywel Boys Singers, making it a very special evening. The Burry Port Youth Band will also be playing a key part. Tickets are available from Burry Port Premier Stores, Elgan Jones Butchers, Saith Gallery, Edmond John on 01554 833749 or online from tickets@burryporttownband.co.uk and are priced at £10 'Early Bird' prior to the concert or £12.50 on the door, with children welcome free of charge. Band Chairman, Graham Howe said: "The band have been working hard this y...

QualitySolicitors Redkite, the leading West Wales law firm, has today (Thursday, June 6) announced significant changes to its business. The move reflects the current trend in the UK legal market, which has seen leading national and international firms restructure their operations. “We are fortunate here at QualitySolicitors Redkite in having a clear vision of how to build a successful modern law firm, with the emphasis on effectively and efficiently serving our clients in West Wales,” said QS Redkite chief executive Andrew Manning (pictured above). “Along with other business sectors in the UK economy, we appreciate it is prudent to react to changes in the marketplace. It is a harsh reality that the legal sector now has excess capacity as the economy - and demand for legal services - has shrunk.” The changes begin with the start of a consultation process with staff about potential job losses. The consultation involves 24 staff positions (12 in Carmarthenshire and 12 in Pembrokeshir...

The boss of West Wales brewer Evan-Evans will tell a meeting of the Cross Party Beer group at the Welsh Assembly that there are too many brewers in Wales. And he will declare that the industry is facing declining standards and sales. In a week that sees the Great Welsh Beer and Cider festival come to Cardiff, AMs are being told what the true state of the Welsh Brewing Industry is. Evan-Evans chief executive Simon Buckley said: "All is not well in the Welsh brewing industry and someone needs to speak up and make sure that those in government know what the situation really is. "At a time when, nationally, we are seeing significant numbers of pubs closing (and here in Wales the rural pub sector in rapid decline), we still continue to see more and more breweries opening. "Far from driving competition, and reducing the retail cost of beer, the current price driven market is not seeing beer prices drop at the bar. So the argument that more brewers equals great...