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

Safe stolen from community shop in Llanfechain

2012-02-02T16:27:00.001Z

Safe stolen from community shop in Llanfechain | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

Welshpool police are currently investigating a burglary at Llanfechain Community shop.

Scarlets training clothes stolen from garage

2012-02-02T16:26:00.001Z

Scarlets training clothes stolen from garage | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

A large amount of Llanelli Scarlets rugby training clothes have been stolen from a garage in Pant Bryn Isaf, Llwynhendy. Items include shorts, t-shirts, training tops, socks, most of which have the Scarlets logo on them.

Satnav stolen from car in Presteigne

2012-02-02T16:25:00.001Z

Satnav stolen from insecure car in Presteigne. | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

A satellite navigation system was stolen from a car which had been left insecure on Broad Street in Presteigne.

Poetry research grant for Aberystwyth academic

2012-02-02T13:13:00.000Z

Aberystwyth University academic Dr Sarah Prescott has been awarded a Research Project Grant worth £248,395 by the Leverhulme Trust for a study of ‘Women’s Poetry 1400-1800 in English, Irish, Scots, Scots Gaelic and Welsh’.
Dr Prescott is a Reader at the Department of English and Creative Writing, and Director of the Centre for Women’s Writing and Literary Culture.
She will be working with fellow scholars at the University of Edinburgh, National University of Ireland, Galway and the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth on the three year project.
The study will provide a major new literary history of women's poetry in Ireland, Scotland and Wales from 1400 to 1800, covering poetry in Welsh, Gaelic, Scots, Scots Gaelic and English through a fully edited anthology with translations and a critical study jointly written by the specialists engaged on the project.
“The last twenty years has seen an explosion of interest in pre-1800 British women's writing,” said Dr Prescott. “However, there is currently no comparative study of women’s poetry across linguistic and national boundaries in this period.”
“This is due primarily to the difficulty of finding a single scholar with the appropriate linguistic expertise and interest across the Anglophone, Irish, Scottish and Welsh contexts of women’s writing, but also a result of the disciplinary division between the study of Celtic and Anglophone cultures.”
“The primary aim of the project is thus to cross these linguistic and disciplinary boundaries to understand for the first time the ways in which women’s poetic production operated and survived in multiple geographical locations and comparative linguistic and cultural contexts,” she added.
The project will focus on two main areas: the building of an archive of women’s poetry, much of which will be unexplored or even undiscovered, and interpreting the works so they can be read by a wider audience.
Dr Prescott’s main research interests are in eighteenth-century studies and include women’s poetry and fiction, Welsh writing in English, women's writing and Wales, authorship, feminist literary history and provincial literary cultures.
Her books include Eighteenth-Century Writing from Wales: Bards and Britons (University of Wales Press 2008, shortlisted for the 2009 Roland Mathias Prize for Welsh Writing in English), Women, Authorship, and Literary Culture, 1690-1740 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003) and Women and Poetry, 1660-1750 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003). Her latest volume, Writing Wales from the Renaissance to Romanticism (Ashgate), co-edited with Stewart Mottram, is due for publication in 2012.
Aberystwyth University
Established in 1872, Aberystwyth (www.aber.ac.uk) is a leading teaching and research university and was awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2009. The 2011 National Student Survey placed Aberystwyth in joint 4th for student satisfaction in the UK amongst public residential universities and first in Wales. Aberystwyth University is a registered charity. No 1145141.
The Leverhulme Trust
The Leverhulme Trust was established in 1925 under the Will of the first Viscount Leverhulme. It is one of the largest all-subject providers of research funding in the UK, distributing funds of some £60 million every year. For further information about the schemes that the Leverhulme Trust fund visit their website at www.leverhulme.ac.uk
www.twitter.com/LeverhulmeTrust

Llanelli-based Chamber publishes February diary

2012-02-02T10:33:00.001Z

The Chamber for Business and Social Action (Wales) Limited has organised a series of events in February -

8th Spotlight Your Business Networking Breakfast
9th Maximising Sell 2 Wales Workshop
14th Environmental Management System Training
15th How to Tender (Construction)
16th How to Tender
20th ISO 9001 (Construction)
20th ISO 14001 & 18001 (Construction)
23rd Regional Business Day – Trade Exhibition which includes:
23rd ‘SQiUD’ Seminar - 10.15am-11.30am
23rd Networking Lunch - 12.00pm-2.00pm
23rd Guest Speaker – Sarah Dickins from 1.30pm
28th ISO 9001 (Construction)
28th ISO 14001 & 18001 (Construction)
For more information on any of the events please visit:
www.cbsa.org.uk
To book your place, email:
levans@cbsa.org.uk

The CBSA is based at the Stenbonheath Centre in Llanelli.
All of our events are funded by the Welsh Government through the Supplier Development Service and all events are free to attend.

Motorist dies following road accident on A470

2012-02-02T10:27:00.001Z

Motorist dies following road traffic collision on A470 near Llangurig | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

A young woman has died following a road traffic collision on the A470 between Rhyader and Llangurig.

Good business breakfast meeting today

2012-02-02T10:25:00.003Z

Excellent business breakfast meeting this morning with the Business Network International BNI group at The Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli.

Rotary Youth Speaks event a hit in Llanelli

2012-02-01T19:09:00.002Z

Ghosts, sport cheats, online piracy and the difference between real and virtuals worlds.
These were among the topics debated in the annual Llanelli Rotary Club Youth Speaks competition held at Llanelli Town Hall.
“The quality of the arguments presented was outstanding and the children taking part reflected great credit on their schools and families,” said the chairman of the judging panel Lt Colonel David Mathias.
The competition saw the teams from St John Lloyd take the junior and senior prizes to progress to the next round of the Rotary competition – a zone area final to be held at Llanelli Town Hall on February 14.
Lt Col Mathias said: “The standard in the competition was exceptionally high and the competitors made the judging task a very difficult one.”
Llanelli Rotary Club president Graham Williams explained that the Youth Speaks event offered an opportunity for Llanelli pupils to gain experience of speaking on a public platform.
He said: “It allows young people to form ideas on significant subjects and learn high standards of expression, presentation and appearance. It also gives pupils the experience of accepting impartial assessments and constructive criticism.”
In the junior competition, the Bryngwyn team debated ‘Ghosts do not exist’. The St John Lloyd topic was ‘Once a cheat, always a cheat’ and Coedcae debated ‘Are we living in a real world, or a virtual one?’
In the senior section, the St John Lloyd team debated ‘Sport is a unifier’. Bryngwyn debated ‘Recent trade agreements (SOPA and ACTA) threaten aspects of our freedom’ and Coedcae asked the question, ‘Do the youth of today really have a say?’
This year’s competition was run to a new national Rotary format which included a question from the floor. The main speaker for each team faced the daunting task of fielding an unrehearsed question from Rotarian Past President JC Williams MBE.
Llanelli Rotary President Graham Williams added: “The youngsters coped admirably with the questions and the change in format definitely added an extra unpredictable edge to the proceedings.”
Results –

Best Youth Team – St John Lloyd, pictured above.

Best Chair – Sophie Ayres, St John Lloyd
Best Speaker – Sion Davies, St John Lloyd
Best Proposer of Vote of Thanks – Matthew Honour, Bryngwyn.

Best Senior Team - St John Lloyd, pictured above.
Best Chair – Lucy Havard, Bryngwyn
Best Speaker – Lloyd Haines, St John Lloyd
Best Proposer of Vote of Thanks – Conor Charles, St John Lloyd
The judging panel was – Lt Colonel David Mathias DL (chair), Ann Brace, of Tregib School, Llandeilo, and retired QE High Carmarthen headmaster Tim Day.
The MC for the evening was Rotarian Past President Robert Lloyd. The event was organised by a team led by Rotarian Susan Roberts. Prizes were handed out by Llanelli Rotary Club President Graham Williams.
There are some pictures of the event on the following link – https://picasaweb.google.com/114054103325052180233/LlanelliRotary2012

Survey aims to identify skills needs

2012-02-01T19:03:00.000Z

Organisations within the Third Sector (charitable and voluntary) are being given a unique opportunity to get their voices heard about their current and future skills needs across the region.
A survey, in the form of a questionnaire, has been jointly developed by the Regional Learning Partnership (RLP) and partners within the county’s five voluntary councils (CVC’s).
This is part of a wider profiling exercise, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), through the RLP, which seeks to define the regional picture of the third sector and demonstrate its contribution to education, skills and regeneration.
The CVC’s include Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services, Swansea Council for Voluntary Service, Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service and Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Organisations.
Looking at key themes including the role of each organisation within the community, the questionnaire also addresses the current impact of the various organisations, staff recruitment, volunteer and trustee numbers and how each organisation is being recognised.
Speaking about the importance of undertaking this survey, Executive Director of Carmarthenshire’s Association of Voluntary Services (CAVS), Mandy Jones, said: “This questionnaire provides a real opportunity for the role of the voluntary sector across south west Wales to be recognised.
“It’s an important piece of work and the support and input of organisations working within this sector is vital as the information gained through this exercise will help determine how services are delivered, if and how staff and volunteers access training and develop opportunities and help reinforce the impact of the sector to strategic decision makers and others.”
Once all the questionnaires have been collated, the valuable information contained within each will help form the basis of a final report which aims to influence future funding and policy around the third sector.
This report will be available in late spring/early summer this year and will be launched at an event to an audience of policy makers.
To access the questionnaire, which should take no longer than a few minutes to complete, log onto the RLP website atwww.rlpsww.org.uk. Follow the link to the ‘Third Sector Questionnaire’ and once completed, click submit. Alternatively, for a postal copy or further details, call the RLP Team on 01554 742430. The deadline for submission is February 20, 2012.

Investigation into Meinciau fly-tipping

2012-02-01T19:01:00.001Z

Carmarthenshire Council environmental enforcement officers are investigating a serious fly-tipping incident in the Gwendraeth Valley.
A large number of black and blue bags, a fridge-freezer, cardboard boxes and other rubbish was dumped in a lay-by at Heol Mansant, near Meinciau.
Officers are appealing to the public for any information which may help them to catch those responsible.
It is believed the persons involved may have used a Ford Transit type pick-up lorry with a blue cab and a white back.
Officers also want to speak to a man named ‘Tom’ who is thought to live in a caravan in the Pontyates area and may be able to assist in identifying the persons responsible.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Director of Technical Services Richard Workman said: “This is totally unacceptable and unfair to local residents who have to put up with this appalling mess on their doorstep.
“Not only does fly-tipping spoil our quality of life and enjoyment of the environment, but it can cause serious pollution and harm to human health and wildlife. It also costs the authority tens of thousands of pounds a year to clean up, money that could be much better spent.”
Fly-tipping is a criminal offence and anyone caught could be fined up to £50,000 and/or up to five years in prison.
Chair of the council’s Environment Scrutiny Committee Cllr Jim Jones has condemned the irresponsible behaviour of those responsible.
He added: “The council is committed to tackling fly-tipping and is working hard to improve the quality of the environment in Carmarthenshire.
“But we all have a part to play in keeping our communities clean and I would urge anyone with any information which may help to catch the offenders to please contact the council.”
The council, as part of Fly-tipping Action Wales, is working hard to stamp out the problem of fly-tipping by working with other partners such as the police, Environment Agency Wales and Keep Wales Tidy across The Valleys.
Fly-tipping Action Wales is part of the Valleys Regional Park initiative, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Welsh Government.
Gary Evans, Project Manager for Fly-tipping Action Wales in The Valleys, said: “More than £25 million is being injected into The Valleys to help maximise the area’s potential for tourism and we cannot sit back and let fly-tippers blight our communities and beautiful landscapes.
“Taking a multi-agency approach to tackling fly-tippers by sharing intelligence and covert surveillance techniques has led to successful arrests and prosecutions and we hope that this will help Carmarthenshire County Council find those responsible.”
If you have any information in relation to this incident or can identify ‘Tom’ or his whereabouts, please contact Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567.

Crime pays for Skate Park initiative!

2012-02-01T18:52:00.001Z

Crime pays for Skate Park initiative! | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

It’s not everyday that you can say crime pays – but thanks to the Dyfed-Powys Police Incentivisation Fund, a local youth programme has received £1,000.
The cash, which paid towards a design and construction project at Cardigan Skate Park, was obtained as a result of Police successfully seizing and confiscating criminal assets. Small World Theatre put together the initiative, which will work with skate park users and young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETS).

Break-in at creamery investigated

2012-02-01T18:51:00.001Z

Break in at creamery investigated | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

Officers in Welshpool are investigating a break in at the Old Creamery in the Four Crosses area of Welshpool.

Llanelli pub targeted by metal thieves

2012-02-01T18:50:00.001Z

Pub targeted by metal theives | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

A public house in Llanelli has been targeted by thieves who’ve taken copper piping and a tank from inside the premises.
The theft at the Royal Oak on Bryn happened some time between 5pm on Friday 20th January and 9.30am on Monday 23rd January.

Feedback sought on police equality priorities

2012-02-01T16:54:00.001Z

Feedback sought on police equality priorities. | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

Dyfed-Powys Police is currently consulting about its priorities for equality and diversity in preparation for its Strategic Equality Plan 2012 – 2016.

Burglary in Four Crosses investigated

2012-02-01T16:53:00.001Z

Burglary in Four Crosses investigated | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

Police are making inquiries following a burglary at a shed at the rear of a home in Criggion Close, Four Crosses near Welshpool.

Wildlife artist David Cowdry prepares for new show

2012-02-01T16:48:00.000Z

Llandeilo wildlife artist David Cowdry is getting ready for another major exhibition at Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley.

The 41-year-old has been steadily building up a ‘fan club’ of followers at Aberglasney with exhibitions at the mansion house over each of the last five years.
“It’s become a bit of a base camp and it’s a place I really enjoy visiting to show off my latest works,” said David.
Aberglasney is a long way from David’s native Kent, but it’s very much a home from home for the artist.
“I first moved down to Wales from Kent more than 20 years ago to study wildlife illustration at the old Carmarthen College of Art.
“Believe it or not, but I was a failure,” chuckled David.
“I did some, but not all of the course as there was too much attention paid to bookwork and classroom activity.
“I couldn’t believe that we could be stuck indoors in an area which boasts some of the finest countryside around. I couldn’t wait to get out into the light and the air.”
Today, David probably ranks as one of the old art school’s most successful failures, with his works frequently selling at some speed at exhibitions.
“Building a reputation took some time,” David said. “And for a while I had to support myself with part-time jobs, but I have worked at it and I am now a full-time artist.
“Initially, I had some good breaks with works being exhibited at Fountain Fine Art in Llandeilo and Newton House on the National Trust’s Dinefwr Estate.
“I’d like to think that today people know what they are getting when they see a David Cowdry painting. I put my heart into things and I think that comes through in my paintings.
“You may ask why I don’t do commissions? Well, the reason is they are sometimes too formal and restrictive. I like to soak up the atmosphere when I am painting. I like to revel in the surroundings – and that goes for landscapes and wildlife paintings.
“I just love this area. I want to show the rest of the world how beautiful this country and its wildlife is. There is, sometimes, much complaining about the weather, but it is the weather that I find makes this land so magical.
“I have no interest in making any artistic statements or forwarding any particular artistic movement. In its simplest form, I paint wildlife and landscape to the best of my ability and I thoroughly enjoy doing so.
“If I can bring some of the pleasure that I get from painting to other people then it is ‘job done’!
“I absolutely love it here in West Wales. There are so many different habitats within easy reach and the wealth of flora and fauna is extraordinary.
“My interest in the natural world is reaching new levels combined with my painting. There is no mystery to what or how I paint. I paint what I see and as I see it.

“Light and atmosphere and a sense of ‘being there’ are very important to me. I want people to look at the paintings I do and hopefully to feel connected in the same way to what they are seeing.”
David added: “Some people may think I am more well-known for my wildlife paintings than anything else, but I do also enjoy landscapes. The wildlife paintings can be anything from domestic animals to cattle and sheep. I enjoy the fact that I paint what I like and try to make the most of the wonderful light we have here.
“I am also lucky in that I have occasional exhibitions in North Norfolk and at Nick Holly’s studio in Swansea. But, I guess, that my name is more closely associated with Aberglasney than with anywhere else. I am, of course, greatly appreciative to the staff and the management at Aberglasney for the help and support they provide when I stage an exhibition.”
Aberglasney exhibition dates: Friday, March 30 to Thursday, April 5
Weblink:
http://www.aberglasney.org/

Police launch inquiries into two Welshpool burglaries

2012-02-01T15:22:00.001Z

Police launch inquiries into two burglaries in Welshpool area | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

Two burglaries, one of which was an unsuccessful attempt, are under investigation by officers in Welshpool.

The latest Clay Shaw Butler column from the Journal

2012-02-01T15:13:00.000Z

Here is the latest Clay Shaw Butler 'Looking after business' column from the pages of the Carmarthen Journal -

By Ann Thomas, leading Consultant at West Wales Chartered Accountants and Business Consultants Clay Shaw Butler

Those who know me well will often tell you that I talk a lot, particularly when I stray onto a favourite topic.
The fortunes of the Welsh rugby team and the subject of food and drink are two cases in point. But, there again, I think we’ve all got a lot to say about those!
A popular third topic concerns the Sage accounting software package.
For those who haven’t enjoyed one of my monologues on the topic, here are some key points about Sage –
Sage is the brainchild of a printer, a Nasa scientist and a computer student.
It is now a global business valued at £3.5bn and has 6.3 million customers worldwide.
The company – originally called Sage Systems, then Sagesoft before becoming known simply as Sage – was set up by printer and entrepreneur David Goldman, with Newcastle University student Graham Wylie and Nasa scientist Dr Paul Muller.
It is celebrating its 30 anniversary.
The company focuses on accountancy software, mainly for the SME (small to medium-sized enterprises) market.
Brendan Flattery is the CEO for Sage UK and Ireland.
He says, “The increasing prevalence of broadband and smartphones has enabled many business people to break away from the confines of their desk, and empowering our customers with anytime and anywhere access to key business information has been a major development.
“It is a very exciting time for Sage and our customers. As new generations of instinctively web-centric entrepreneurs start their own businesses, we expect the proportion of accounting software delivered via the web to increase for small and micro businesses, and innovative cloud products such as Sage One will allow us to meet those needs.
“Twenty per cent of UK employees work in our research & development team and with more than 10% of those dedicated to delivering our online strategy, we are consistently exploring new technologies that will help make it easier for people to run their business.”
Some key facts about sage –
Sage founded with a £40,000 loan from Barclays.
Group valued at £3.5bn, has 6.3 million customers and operates in 24 countries.
Employs more than 2,300 staff in UK and 13,500 globally. Of these, 1,500 are based in the North East.
One in four UK employees are paid using Sage software.
400,000 UK businesses file their tax returns using Sage software.
One third of FTSE100 companies use Sage's software.
For further details on the software, whether it be for purchase, upgrade or training, you can give us a call at Clay Shaw Butler. It is also worth bearing in mind that we have team members here who are specialists in Quick Books software and other accounting packages. They can help with training and ‘hand-holding’ for inexperienced computer operators.
The team at Clay Shaw Butler can be contacted on 01267 228500 or through the website at www.clayshawbutler.com

Appeal for information on damaged taxi

2012-02-01T15:12:00.001Z

Appeal for information on damaged taxi | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys
Police are appealing for information on a taxi which was damaged while it was parked up in the vicinity of Dylan in Llwynhendy.

Pictures from Aberglasney today

2012-02-01T15:06:00.003Z

Pictures from Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley today -

Witnesses appeal following criminal damage in Welshpooll

2012-02-01T15:06:00.001Z

Witnesses and information appeal following criminal damage in Welshpool | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys:

Welshpool police are investigating criminal damage. An unknown person has scratched a dark blue Volkswagen Golf VRM dv60 KXL along the entire offside length with unknown object.

Criminal damage under investigation in Newtown

2012-02-01T15:03:00.001Z

Criminal damage under investigation in Newtown | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

Two separate instances of criminal damage are the focus for police investigations in Newtown.

Car damaged in Brecon

2012-02-01T15:02:00.001Z

Car damaged in Brecon | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys

A black Ford Focus has been damaged by paint while it was parked up outside a house on Brecon Road in Brecon.

Latest 'View from Richmond Park' column

2012-02-01T14:59:00.000Z

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC column from the Carmarthen Journal newspaper -

There was a great welcome for the new Welsh football team manager Chris Coleman at the Richmond Park clubhouse and community centre last week.
Fans were able to meet and question Coleman and women’s team manager Jarmo Matikainen.
The event was one of a series of FAW roadshows travelling around Wales.
This Carmarthen roadshow focussed on the UEFA Under 19 Women’s Finals that will be hosted in Wales in August 2013. Some of those matches will be played at Richmond Park Carmarthen.
It will be the first time that Wales has ever hosted such a tournament and seven other sides will join us for a festival of female football.
Other matches will be held in Swansea and Llanelli. Visitors will come to South West Wales from all over Europe for the two weeks, so it will be a considerable boost to the tourist numbers for the area.
Carmarthen AFC club chairman Gareth Jones said he was delighted with the success of the roadshow. “It was a delight to welcome Chris Coleman and the FAW team to Richmond Park,” he said. “The evening was a great success.”
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Carmarthen Town supporters and friends of the club are reminded that donations are still being collected in memory of club stalwart Nigel Williams.
Mr Williams was a former treasurer of the club and a director of the Carmarthen Town AFC company.
Donations in memory of Mr Williams are going towards the Carmarthen Town Community Programme. If you would like to contribute, please send donations c/o Jeff Thomas 55 Bronwydd Road, Carmarthen, SA31 2AP.
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Carmarthen Town fixtures - February 2012
February 1 (Wednesday) 7:30pm, away at Port Talbot Town in the second leg of the League Cup tie.
February 4, 2:30pm away at Newtown AFC in the Welsh Premier League.
February 11, 3:45pm away at Aberystwyth Town in the Welsh Premier League.
February 18, 2:30pm, home against Airbus UK Broughton in the Welsh Premier League.
February 25, 2:30pm, away at Airbus UK Broughton in the quarter-final of the Welsh Cup.
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Tote: January 24 – Winner numbers, 2 and 40. The prize of £500 went to Alan Davies. Tote 17 January- Prize £400. Nos 34/54, no winner. The draw for a prize of £200 was being made on Tuesday night.

In the news today . . .

2012-02-01T14:57:00.002Z

Nice story about the Llanelli Rotary Club Ball (March 23 Stradey Park Hotel) in the Llanelli Star today.
Nice story about The Ashburnham Golf Club helping a PGA medals revival in the Carmarthen Journal and Llanelli Star newspapers.
The latest 'View from Richmond Park' Carmarthen Town AFC column is in the Carmarthen Journal today.
The latest Clay Shaw Butler (accountants) 'Looking After Business' column is in the Carmarthen Journal today.
Nice picture story about Llanelli-based Melin Consultants in the Business section of the Western Mail today.