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

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2026-01-04T16:47:00.006+00:00

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Worth a visit: Kidwelly Castle, Carmarthenshire

2025-03-31T06:47:00.001+01:00

IT’S right up there as one of my favourite family outings - a wander around historic Kidwelly Castle.

Sure, there’s a decent health warning about climbing the ramparts, stone walls and spiral staircases, but children (and adults) love exploring.

Our family’s most recent visit was in March, 2025. Here’s a few photos - and some words to explain what the castle is all about.

Kidwelly Castle is a formidable stronghold, proudly overlooking the River Gwendraeth in the historic ‘Black Cat’ town of Kidwelly in Carmarthenshire.

Kidwelly Castle's story begins in the early 12th century, around 1106, when it was established by the Normans under Roger, Bishop of Salisbury. Its strategic location was crucial for controlling the surrounding territory and securing Norman influence in the region.

The castle's initial form was a more basic earth and timber structure, a "ringwork." This early fortification laid the groundwork for the more substantial stone castle that would develop over time.

The castle's history is intertwined with the turbulent relationship between the Welsh and the Normans. It witnessed numerous conflicts, including the revolt of Gwenllian ferch (daughter of) Gruffydd in 1136, a powerful symbol of Welsh resistance.

Over the centuries, Kidwelly Castle underwent significant transformations. In the late 13th and 14th centuries, it was extensively rebuilt and strengthened, particularly under the control of the de Chaworth and Lancaster families.

Key features of the castle, such as the impressive inner ward with its circular towers and the formidable gatehouse, were added during this period.

The concentric design of the castle, with its inner and outer walls, reflects the evolving military architecture of the medieval era. This design provided multiple layers of defense, making the castle exceptionally resilient.

The large gate house, that is seen upon approach to the castle, is a very impressive part of the castle. Its construction took more than 100 years to complete. There’s a lovely view of the town’s St Mary’s Church through the gate house.

Kidwelly Castle is renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture. Visitors can explore the various sections of the castle, including the inner and outer wards, the towers, and the gatehouse.

The castle's strategic design and defensive features - such as the arrow slits, machicolations (areas where stones and burning objects could be dropped on attackers), and fortified walls - provide valuable insights into medieval military engineering.

The view from the top of the castle walls provides a great look over the surrounding countryside.

As the need for military strongholds declined, Kidwelly Castle gradually lost its strategic importance.

In the 20th century, efforts were made to preserve and restore the castle, ensuring that its historical significance would be maintained for future generations.

Today, Kidwelly Castle is managed by Cadw, the Welsh government's historic environment service. It is a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the world.

Princess Gwenllian’s association with Kidwelly is one of the most powerful stories from the castle’s history.

Gwenllian was the daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan, Prince of Gwynedd. She married Gruffydd ap Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth.

During a period of intense conflict between the Welsh and the Norman invaders, Gwenllian took a stand.

In 1136, while her husband was away seeking support, she led a force against the Norman lord Maurice de Londres, who held Kidwelly Castle.

Gwenllian led her army into battle near Kidwelly Castle.

Despite her courage, her forces were defeated by the Normans.

She was captured and beheaded, and her son Morgan was killed in the battle.

It is said that another son, Maelgwn, was also executed after the battle.

The site of the battle, near Kidwelly Castle, is known as Maes Gwenllian (Gwenllian's Field).

The Princess Gwenllian Centre in Kidwelly is a community centere named in her honour, demonstrating the continued importance of her legacy to the town.

Kidwelly castle was the target of her attack, and therefore is a key location in her story.

Gwenllian's story became a symbol of Welsh resistance against Norman rule.

Her actions inspired further uprisings, and her memory has been preserved in Welsh folklore and history.

The legend of her ghost haunting Maes Gwenllian adds to the mystique surrounding her story.

For admission prices and opening times, see the Cadw website page for Kidwelly Castle - https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/kidwelly-castle

Latest On Song column – March 19

2025-03-30T20:45:00.002+01:00

THERE’s a special Spring Concert being planned for the end of the month in Llanelli.

It will feature Cor Meibion Elli male voice choir and will be held on Saturday, March 29, at the town centre Parish Church of St Elli at 7pm.

Meibion Elli will be under the baton of celebrated musical director Eifion Thomas, with accompaniment by Aled Maddock.

The choir will be supported by some young up-and-coming artists, including Betsan Daniel, who is studying at Ysgol y Strade, Llanelli.

Betsan is a new recruit to Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS), the Llanelli-based charity which works to mentor and develop young musical talent in south Wales.

Other new recruits to LARS include Nia Card (Kenfig Hill), Hannah Edwards (Cardiff), Jasper Hollett (Gower), Scott Holmes (Port Talbot), Connor Horton (Carmarthen), Max Morris (Cilgerran)) and Ela Mai Williams (Penarth).

Tickets for the Parish Church concert are £10 and are available from Llanelly House or from Hywel Houghton-Jones on 07826 930 396 or at the door on the night.

Meanwhile, the ladies of Llanelli’s popular Côr Curiad choir are on the final countdown to plans to celebrate their 30th anniversary in style.

Côr Curiad’s birthday party will be at Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Tickets have been selling like hot cakes and more seats have become available in the circle this week.

The concert will feature special guests The Welsh of the West End. Made up of seasoned West End performers with Welsh links, the group’s last appearance with Côr Curiad was a sell-out.

Other special guests for Cor Curiad’s big party will be two young singers from Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS) – Liam J Edwards and Heather Dolly.

You can find out the latest news about Côr Curiad on their Facebook page at - https://www.facebook.com/Corcuriad

You can book tickets at the Ffwrnes box office or on the Theatrau Sir Gar website at - https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk

There’s good news for fans of Welsh rock music with two ace musicians teaming up for a concert at Capel Hope Siloh in Pontarddulais on Friday, March 28 (6.30pm).

Cleif Harpwood and Geraint Cynan will be the stars of the Menter Iaith Abertawe show, with tickets on sale for just £5.

Cleif Harpwood is a singer, formerly of 1970s Welsh language bands Ac Eraill, Edward H Dafis and Injaroc, and frontman of the H Band between 2012-2020.

He played the part of Osian in the first performance of the rock opera ‘Nia Ben Aur’.

Cleif will be performing an acoustic session with accomplished composer and musician Geraint Cynan.

Their presentation includes popular Welsh language songs from the 1970s, including ‘Ysbryd y Nos’, ‘Mistar Duw’ and ‘Cân yn Ofer’, and many more familiar songs from that period.

Cleif will also provide an insight into the rise of Welsh rock and pop music in the 1970s, along with stories from his recently published autobiography, ‘Breuddwyd Roc a Rôl’.

In other news, Llanelli Chamber Orchestra are planning their Spring Spectacular concert at Glenalla Civic Hall in Llanelli on Saturday, April 12 (7.30pm).

The concert will feature popular classics, including Von Suppe, Light Cavalry Overture; Loewe, Mr Fair Lady selections; Arlen, Over The Rainbow, and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No1.

The Chamber Orchestra will be led by Lynwen Jones.

Tickets are £7 and are available at the door, or from Llanelli Music and Drama Club on 01554 772594.

The Opera Boys are heading back to west Wales with their sell-out show, A Night at the Musicals.

The show will be at The Lyric in Carmarthen on Friday, May 9 (7.30pm).

A Night at the Musicals has been completely updated with brand new medleys, stunning solo performances, and a few surprises!

Whether you’re a fan of modern-day smash hit musicals like Mamma Mia, Hairspray and Jersey Boys, prefer the classics from the likes of Gershwin and Rodgers and Hammerstein, or adore the definitive masterpieces like Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story, the show has something for everyone and is perfect for musical theatre lovers both young and old.

With beautiful vocal arrangements, spectacular close part harmony and a great line in humour, The Opera Boys have been delighting audiences all over the world with their unique show combining beautiful, powerful and emotional music with funny, engaging and light-hearted entertainment.

The Opera Boys are made up of four core members - Rob Cherry, Richard Colvin, Michael Storrs and Colin Bryce.

The boys trained at some of the UK’s finest schools, including The Royal Academy of Music, and have each become highly successful solo performers.

Between them, they have performed lead roles on London’s West End and on Broadway in New York. They have performed as backing vocalists to some of the world’s biggest superstars, including Russell Watson, Robbie Williams, Tom Jones and Elton John.

In 2015, one of the boys appeared as part of the Belgian entry for The Eurovision Song Contest, performing to a global audience of 200 million, and placing a very respectable fourth in the competition!

Together, the boys have performed in theatres and concert halls throughout the UK and have travelled all over the world.

In 2018, they performed as soloists with The National Symphony Orchestra. They have been invited to perform at several prestigious events, including the 10th Anniversary of the world’s most famous cruise ship, Cunard’s superliner Queen Mary 2, and the inaugural voyage of P&O’s largest cruise ship, Britannia, launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Tickets are £24.50 and are available from The Lyric box office or from the Theatrau Sir Gar (Carmarthenshire Theatres) website - https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk

Meanwhile, there’s good news for country music fans as The Shires will be performing at Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli on June 8 (7.30pm).

Tickets are £37.50 and are available through the Theatrau Sir Gar website.

South Wales Evening Post column, March 28, 2025

2025-03-28T19:30:00.001+00:00

IF you’ve been sitting up and paying attention, then you’ll appreciate that it is the Richard Burton 100 - a celebration of the birth of the internationally-renowned actor and ‘the voice of Wales’.

During the year, there are a whole series of events, with the action stepping up a gear next week with the release of the new film called Mr Burton.

Fortunately, I have something of an inside track on information about the celebrations as one of my pals is Griff Harries, a chap with more strings to his bow than many Olympic archers.

Griff is delivering a programme of Richard Burton Centenary Tours, which will be running until the end of the year.

Griff’s CV runs from musician, performer, lecturer, broadcaster, educator and arts administrator, with the most recent string to his bow being as a Green Badge Wales Tourist Guide.

Between stints on the SA Radio Live station, the former Swansea Sound broadcaster was able to explain more about Richard Burton 100 -

“The film Mr Burton is about to be released so it’s all big news at the moment. “Burton was born in November, 1925, and there are some big things planned for the end of the year as well.

“The tours are literally ‘selling like hot cakes’ - better than was ever envisaged.

“There is to be a tour especially for those with mobility issues and a BSL signed tour as well.”

The tours explore the landscapes that shaped Richard Burton’s life and career.

The tour visits key locations connected to the legendary Welsh actor and offers insights to his life in Pontrhydyfen, Taibach and Port Talbot.

Other Richard Burton 100 events include ‘The King of Pontrhydyfen’, a free-to-enter poetry competition paying tribute to the actor and his roots.

Budding poets are invited to capture the spirit of Burton, including his commanding voice, his poetic soul, and his deep connection to the Afan Valley and Port Talbot through the power of verse.

Finalists will be invited to present their work at a special event on July 8 at Blanco’s Hotel and Restaurant, Port Talbot, where the winner will be crowned in a fitting tribute to one of Wales’s greatest icons.

There will be three adult age categories: 18-20 years, 20-35, aged 35 and over.

Next month will see Angela V John discuss her new biography of Philip Burton, the teacher regarded as the father Richard Burton didn’t have.

Philip Burton (1904-95) was a talented writer and producer who saw the potential of his young protégé and helped propel him from Port Talbot to the London stage and on to Hollywood.

The biography is called Behind The Scenes: The Dramatic Lives of Philip Burton.

Angela V John will be in conversation with Professor Dai Smith to discuss the biography at The Tabernacle, Newton Road, Mumbles, 3-4pm on Wednesday, April 9

Angela V John will also deliver a talk about Behind The Scenes at the New Plaza in Port Talbot on Friday, April 25 (6pm).

Meanwhile, if you’re unable to make any of the Richard Burton 100 tours and would like to find out more about the actor’s early years in Pontrhydyfen and Taibach, Griff Harries is available to talk to groups and schools all this special year. Just contact the email address - griff.harries@gmail.com

You can find everything you need to know about Richard Burton 100 on the website at - https://richardburton100.org/

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AS Bob Hoskins was fond of saying in the 1995 BT advert, ‘It’s good to talk’.

You never know where chance conversations will lead.

There was a good example this week when a very random encounter led to a chat with a Swansea chap called Frank Austin.

The initial discussion was over the merits of a certain brand of tennis table (a long story which can be batted away for now).

The verbal ping-pong led to Frank revealing his occupation as an artist.

I had to confess that I hadn’t heard of him, but it was plain that I should have when he started reciting a list of the places where his works have been on show.

By any stretch of the imagination, Frank has enjoyed an interesting life.

Extensive travel has played its part in developing his artistic skills and he is able to use a wide variety of mediums to express himself.

His CV includes aerial rigging, welding, tree felling in California, busking in Europe, a building project in Spain, carpet fitting, carpentry and work as a library and classroom designer for schools and various institutes.

Most recently he has been expressing his love for his ‘home town’ of Swansea.

He has been concentrating on images from old Swansea, from the Victorian era, right up to the 1960s.

In some of his work, he’s taken old black and white photos and reinterpreted them with a splash of colour.

A visit to his website is a great trip down memory lane for lovers of ‘old Swansea’.

It’s worth remembering that I would have missed it all if I hadn’t followed the ‘It’s good to talk’ principle.

You can find out more about Frank Austin and his art on his website at - https://frankaustin.co.uk/

Latest On Song column – March 26

2025-03-26T19:53:00.008+00:00

LLANELLI’S parish church will host a performance of John Stainer’s oratorio The Crucifixion during Holy Week.

Llanelli Chamber Choir, under the musical direction of Piet Zorn, will perform the oratorio at St Elli Church on Saturday, April 19 (7pm).

The soloists will be tenor Tomos Owen Jones and baritone Liam J Edwards.

The choir will be accompanied by a string ensemble: violin, viola, cello, and double bass. The musicians will be Mihai Stoican and Aden Yip (violin), Imogen Holborn (viola), James McBeth (cello) and Telmo Martins (double bass).

Tickets are £12 and are available from 07535 166956, the email address chamberchoirllanelli@gmail.com, or from any choir or St Elli parish church member.

There’s a first class evening of musical entertainment planned for Pontyberem Memorial Hall, on Thursday, April 3 (7.30pm).

Sinfonia Cymru are presenting the Golden Age of the Harp, featuring former Royal Harpist and Classic FM Rising Star Alis Huws.

The evening is being billed as ‘a concert of glorious romantic music for harp, flute and spring trio’.

The evening will start with a pre-concert talk at 7pm. Tickets are available through the Sinfonia Cymru website - https://sinfonia.cymru/

The programme includes - Charles Rochester Young (USA, b 1965), Song of the Lark (1989); Guy Ropartz (France, 1864-1955), Quintet (1924); Eloise Gynn (UK, b 1985), Song for an Ancient Tree (2021); Joseph Jongen (Belgium, 1873-1953), Concert a cinq, Op. 71 (1923).

Alis was privileged to perform at His Majesty King Charles III’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey. She performed Sir Karl Jenkins’s arrangement of Tros y Garreg (Crossing the Stone) for solo harp and strings, as well as being a part of the prestigious Coronation Orchestra, formed specially for the occasion.

Other high-profile engagements include the Welsh National Service of Prayer and Reflection for HM Queen Elizabeth II, The Royal Opening of the Senedd 2016 and 2021, The Welsh National Thanksgiving Service for VJ Day and the opening of the Welsh Government’s offices in Berlin.

She has performed at a number of prestigious venues including Sony Hall (NYC), 10 Downing Street, Windsor Castle, St James’ Palace and St David’s Hall. In 2019 she appeared as a soloist with Britten Sinfonia, which was later broadcast on Classic FM. Additionally her work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and all major UK television channels.

Having started harp lessons with Ieuan Jones, Alis went on to study with Caryl Thomas at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD), where she obtained her Bachelor and Master’s degrees.

As part of her studies, Alis also spent time in Amsterdam on the Erasmus scheme, studying with renowned harpist Erika Waardenburg. At RWCMD, she was awarded the Midori Matsui Prize for Music, the Royal Welch Fusiliers Harp Prize, the McGrennery Chamber Music Prize, and the Rev. Paul Bigmore Music in the Community Award. She was made an Honorary Associate there in 2022 (ARWCMD).

The team at Loud Applause Rising Stars are busy preparing for a Music From The Musicals evening at Machynys Golf Club on Saturday, April 12 (7.30pm).

The accompanist will be Ryan Wood. Tickets are £20 and are available from tickets@loudapplauserisingstars.co.uk or by telephone on 07854 303918.

Cor Meibion Pontarddulais Male Choir will be staging their annual concert on Saturday, April 26 (7pm) at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea.

The choir’s special guests include Parti Llwchwr ladies choir, soprano Rebecca Evans and cellist Steffan Morris.

Pontrhydyfen-born Rebecca Evans is one of the best-known sopranos in Wales. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

She has performed as Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro) for the Santa Fe Opera; Adele (Die Fledermaus) for the Chicago Lyric Opera; Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Ann Trulove (The Rake's Progress) and Adina (L'elisir d'amore) for San Francisco Opera; and both Susanna and Zerlina for the Metropolitan Opera, New York.

She has appeared at the BBC Proms and the Edinburgh Festival; at a Gala Concert to celebrate the opening of the Welsh Assembly in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales; and in Bremen with Andrea Bocelliand the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Rebecca is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and was awarded an honorary degree, Doctor of Music, from the University of Glamorgan in 1997. She is vice-president of the Welsh homelessness charity Shelter Cymru and Patron of Music in Hospitals Cymru/Wales.

She is a member of the Gorsedd of Bards. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to the arts in Wales.

There’s a special Spring Concert being planned for this weekend in Llanelli.