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

A service which allows blood and tissue samples to be transferred quickly from one place to another is being piloted within Hywel Dda University Health Board. Blood Bikes Wales, a charitable organisation already working with three other health boards in Wales, has agreed a three year service from hospitals in Carmarthenshire. It is hoped the scheme will roll out to the other counties of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire in the future. As part of the scheme, volunteer motorcycle riders can be called on by the health service to deliver urgently needed blood, samples, donor milk and medical equipment. The volunteers compliment the University Health Board transport service over weekends. Director of Strategic Partnerships for Hywel Dda University Health Board Sarah Jennings said: “We are delighted to be working with the Blood Bikes Wales charity, which already provides a professional, reliable service to other health boards in Wales. This is just one of many projects we are working on with th...

Hip swivellers in Llanelli went pink for charity and raised over £145. Around 20 women attended the lunch time Zumbathon to raise money for breast cancer at Llanelli Leisure Centre. The one hour event was organised by the council’s Actif fitness instructors and coincided with breast cancer awareness month and marked national Wear it Pink day. The council’s activity coordinator Mari Jones said: “It went extremely well and was a very energetic hour. There were lots of laughs and fun, and more importantly we raised money for Breast Cancer Campaign . We are hoping to organise another one during the evening or on a weekend.”

A bubbly waitress is staying silent in a bid to raise money for good causes. Amanda Jones who works at Cwtch Bach Cafe in Carmarthen Market will once again be taking part in a sponsored silence to raise money for Children in Need on Friday, November 14. Last year she raised almost £600 thanks to customer donations. The sponsored silence is one of a number of things staff at the cafe will be doing throughout the week in order to raise as much money as possible for Children in Need. Amanda, who has worked at the cafe for five years said: “It’s quite hard to serve and take people’s orders whilst staying silent but I wear a sign explaining what I’m doing and customers are great. We raised a fantastic amount last year and hopefully we can do the same this year.” Why not pop along and see what staff at Cwtch Bach Cafe are getting up to for Children in Need this year. Find out more about our county’s markets and upcoming events by visiting www.carmarthenshiremarkets.co.uk

Children and parents are being asked to give their views about school meals during National School Meals Week. Carmarthenshire County Council’s award -winning catering department is seeking feedback on the quality of the menus and the service provided. They are under taking a consultation, which people can take part in online via Carmarthenshire County Council’s website at ilocal.carmarthenshire.gov.uk The consultation period ends on Monday, November 17, but with National School Meals week taking place across the country, there is a push to get parents’ views. All ideas and suggestions made during the consultation will be considered to improve the school meals service wherever possible. Catering Services Manager Sandra Weigel said: “Many years of on-going research has taken place for school lunches, and we are taking this opportunity to further engage with parents and pupils to identify additional areas for development for the future. “We are very fortunate that Castell Howell, our ...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - Côr Meibion Llanelli will again be taking part in the annual Festival of Light celebration at the St Elli Shopping Centre in the town centre. The Festival of Light celebration raises funds for Llanelli’s Ty Bryngwyn Hopsice. It takes place on Monday November 17 at 6.30p.m. Choir chairman Mel Harries said: “We turn out every year to support the Festival of Light. “It is a wonderful evening of readings and song and the choristers are delighted to be able to support the very important appeal for the Ty Brynwgyn Hospice.” Last Saturday saw the choir complete another of their 50th anniversary celebrations with a Cymanfa Ganu at Soar Chapel, Llwynhendy. Mr Harries said: “Conducted by our musical director Eifion Thomas this was an evening in the finest Welsh choral tradition. “It was very fitting that we should perform at Soar Chapel as the venue as a close association with the formati...

The latest Phil Evans column from the South Wales Evening Post Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy ----------------------- So there I was, sat up in bed, silently ruminating (they can’t touch you for it as long as you’re wearing a nightcap) about various subjects I could entertain you with this week, when my ‘phone went. It just got up and walked off. Not really. That was just a figure of speech. Unlike Neath’s Katherine Jenkins, who’s a peach of a figure. I answered the ‘phone and it was a fellah calling for a taxi. This happens occasionally as my ‘phone number is just one digit away from that of a local taxi firm. As he was calling at such a late hour, interrupting me mid-rumination, I gave him a right earful – before asking him where he was, where he wanted to be taken and how much he’d be prepared to pay me. Ten minutes later, I was dressed, in my car and on my way to pick up my first ever customer who was standing outsid...

A son of Sir Gâr (Carmarthenshire) has returned home to join the Red Kite Law commercial property team in their Carmarthen office. Alun Price, who is a fluent Welsh speaker, trained and worked as an associate for seven years in the London office of the Top 10 global firm, Norton Rose Fulbright. At Red Kite Law, he will be advising on a wide range of property transactions, ranging from sales, lettings, financings, developments and the property aspects of corporate transactions (both share and business sales). Alun also has expertise in renewable energy projects such as wind and solar farms. Having grown up in Carmarthenshire, Alun loves the rural life the county has to offer and spends his weekends gardening, playing football and doing other outdoor sports. Simon Campbell-Davies, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Red Kite Law, said: “We are delighted to welcome Alun to the team here at Red Kite. He has great local roots and a passion for the community. He will be a great ...