IS it time to reintroduce National Service in the UK? Is it time to change the working week to four days?

Those were among the topics debated in the annual Llanelli Rotary Club Youth Speaks competition held at St John Lloyd Roman Catholic School.

The annual competition saw teams from St John Lloyd, Bryngwyn and Coedcae schools go head-to-head in the bid to get through to the next area round of the competition.

The Youth Speaks competition, which culminates in a national UK final, is designed to build confidence and teamwork in teenage school pupils.

The Youth Speaks platform recognises that it is becoming increasingly important for young people to present their balanced thoughts and views in a professional and articulate way.

In an age when everything seems to revolve around taps and swipes on mobile phones, it makes a refreshing change to see youngsters stand up and express their views before an audience.

“The quality of the arguments presented was outstanding and the children taking part reflected great credit on their schools, teachers and families,” said the chairman of the Llanelli Youth Speaks judging panel Lt Colonel David Mathias.

In the junior intermediate category, the team from St John Lloyd School emerged as the winners after debating ‘Reimagining the working week: is the four-day-week the answer?’

The team members, Gabriel Campbell (chair), Steven Saji (Proposer) and Elliot Fouracre (Opposer), also won the individual awards in the category.

In the senior category, the team from St John Lloyd School also came out on top after debating ‘Reintroducing National Service in the UK’.

The team members, Taliesin Padraig Owen-Davies (chair), Sophia Lawrence (Proposer) and Katie Evans (Opposer), also won the individual awards in the category.

Runners-up in the senior category were the team from Bryngwyn, made up of Isabel Barrah (chair), Jessica Murphy (Proposer) and Natalia Rychlicka (Opposer). Their topic was ‘The death penalty should return’.

Runners-up in the junior category were the team from Coedcae, made up of Ellie Wills (chair), Katie Turner (Proposer) and Nell Jones (Opposer). Their topic was ‘Is the world becoming too much of a dangerous place for children?’

The winners in both categories go forward to an area final to be held in Carmarthen on January 30.

Senior judge Lt Col Mathias said: “The standard in the competition was exceptionally high – as it is every year – and the competitors made the judging task a very difficult one.”

Llanelli Rotary Club president Cerith Owens 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.”

The competition was run to a national Rotary format, which included a question from the floor. The main speakers for each team faced the daunting task of fielding an unrehearsed question from Llanelli Rotary Club member Mike Goodfellow-Smith.

Rotary President Mr Owens added: “The youngsters coped admirably with the questions – not an easy task in front of a sizeable audience at the main hall at St John Lloyd. It was a very entertaining and thought-provoking evening with some challenging arguments being put forward by pupils who had obviously done their homework and research.”

The judging panel was – Lt Colonel David Mathias, Deputy Lord Lieutenant and distinguished military historian (chair), Rotarian Susan Roberts, a retired charity worker, and Julia Goodfellow-Smith, author and blogger.

The MC for the evening was Rotarian Past President Robert Lloyd and the timekeeper was Rotarian Richard Harries.

The event was organised by a team led by Rotarians Dr Kevin Jones and Julie Jones. Prizes were handed out by Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens.

The event was officially opened by Carmarthenshire County Council chair Cllr Handel Davies.

Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens with Rotarian Dr Kevin Jones and the winning senior team from St John Lloyd school – Taliesin Padraig Owen-Davies (chair), Katie Evans (Opposer) and Sophia Lawrence (Proposer).

Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens with Rotarian Dr Kevin Jones and the winning junior team from St John Lloyd school – Elliot Fouracre (Opposer), and Steven Saji (Proposer). Gabriel Campbell (chair) was unavailable for the photocall.

Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens with the team from Bryngwyn – Jessica Murphy (Proposer), Isabel Barrah (chair) and Natalie Rychlicka (Opposer).

Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens with the team from Coedcae – Katie Turner (Proposer), Nell Jones (Opposer) and Ellie Wills (chair).

Twenty-year-old centre Macs Page is handed his first European start for the Scarlets in Friday’s EPCR Challenge Cup round three clash with Gloucester at Kingsholm Stadium (8pm Premier Sports).

The Wales U20s cap is one of six personnel changes to the side that beat Dragons on New Year’s Day.

With Tom Rogers ruled out with a groin issue, Ioan Lloyd slots in at full-back. Blair Murray and Ellis Mee continue on the wings.

Page links up with Eddie James in a youthful midfield. Joe Roberts provides cover from the bench; Johnny Williams is absent with a foot injury.

At half-back, another home-grown young talent, Archie Hughes, gets the nod at scrum-half, partnering Wales international Sam Costelow.

The average age of the Scarlets back division is just less than 22, with Costelow the ‘senior member’ when he turns 24 on Friday.

Up front, Kemsley Mathias is recalled to the loose-head berth and packs down alongside Marnus van der Merwe and Henry Thomas.

Former Gloucester lock Alex Craig partners Max Douglas in the second row, while in the back row, Tonga international Vaea Fifita returns to the No. 8 shirt with Taine Plumtree switching to blindside flanker. Josh Macleod skippers the side.

The bench includes tight-head prop Gabe Hawley, who is set for his tournament debut

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “Scarlets have a rich history in European competition so whenever it comes around it is always an exciting time for us and our supporters.

“Kingsholm is an awesome place to play rugby, the atmosphere is always good and we’ll have fantastic travelling support as well. This will be a brilliant experience, particularly for the younger players in the squad and an exciting opportunity for us as a group. Yes, we have been competitive this year, but going away to somewhere like Kingsholm where Gloucester have been going well of late, will be a good measure for us.”

Peel added: “We have a real competitive pool in the Challenge Cup, so picking up points is important, particularly away from home, as it always has been in Europe.”

Scarlets team to play Gloucester at Kingsholm Stadium on Friday, January 10 (8pm;  Premier Sports)

15 Ioan Lloyd; 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Macs Page, 12 Eddie James, 11 Blair Murray; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Archie Hughes; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Alex Craig, 5 Max Douglas, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Vaea Fifita

Reps: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Joe Roberts, 23 Ioan Nicholas.

Unavailable because of injury

Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Ben Williams, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Ryan Elias, Tomi Lewis, Harri O’Connor, Josh Morse.

YOU’RE going to have to trust me on this one – it won’t be bad luck if you read this column today . . . honest . . . promise . . . cross my heart.

Yes, it’s Friday the 13^th (only the second Friday the 13^th in the 2024 calendar).

It’s a fair bet that if you survived the one in September, you’ll manage to get through today – even if I take a little bit of delight in reminding you just how superstitious us human beings can be.

There is a medical word for the fear of Friday the 13^th.

It is paraskevidekatriaphobia – a word which just sent my spell-checker into overdrive.

The word paraskevidekatriaphobia was devised by Dr Donald Dossey, a California-based clinical psychologist who had a sideline as a folklore historian.

Dr Dossey would tell suffering patients that they had paraskevidekatriaphobia – but he would cheerfully add, “when you learn to pronounce it, you’re cured!”

As it happens, Friday the 13^th doesn’t bother me that much, but I did take the precaution of writing this column on Thursday the 12^th.

Under questioning, I will admit to certain superstitions.

For example, I won’t walk under ladders, but I will salute solitary magpies.

Welsh superstitions and folklore do remain something of a fascination and I have a little black book where I collect snippets of folk beliefs down the years.

For example, here are a few I have jotted down over the years . . .

• To see several foxes together is unlucky, but to see a lone one means that good luck will attend you.
• A greyhound with a white spot on its forehead will bring luck to the people of Gower.
• If you find the first daffodil, you will have more gold than silver that year.
• Black goats on a lonely bridle path mean that treasure is hidden.
• Money washed in clear rainwater cannot be stolen.
• If a person suffering from rheumatism creeps on hands and knees under, or through, a bramble bush three times with the sun (i.e. east to west), he will be cured.
• If you clothe your right leg first (i.e. put your right stocking on first, and your right leg in your trousers first), you will never have a toothache.
• To prevent drunkenness, take the lungs of a hog and roast them. If a man eats them after fasting all day, he will not get drunk the next day, no matter how much he drinks.
• A man with leek or garlic on him will be victorious in any fight and will suffer no wound.
• When an owl hoots among houses, a maiden will lose her chastity.
• A silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe will ensure a happy and prosperous life.
• It will bring bad luck to hang up mistletoe in the house before Christmas Eve.
• A woman who wets her apron overmuch in washing will be cursed with a drunken husband.
• A bunch of seaweed hanging in the back kitchen will keep away evil spirits.

Folklore? Superstitions? Make your own mind up.

But, if you are looking for me later today, I’m either at Billy Upton’s on Swansea Market, negotiating a price on the lungs of a hog, or I’m stuck in a bramble bush looking for a greyhound on Gower!

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WE haven’t reached the point where I am losing sleep over it, but much of my brain’s declining capacity seems to be given over to the problem of holly berries this week.

Why are holly berries a problem?

Well, the problem is there aren’t any on the tree in my garden!

And a near neighbour reports a similar problem, so is there something of a holly berry crisis this Christmas?

Our tree usually provides a bumper crop of bright red berries, producing just the sort of decorative material for festive displays. In fact, we usually end up giving away bunches of the stuff to our neighbours.

This year, neighbours will have to look elsewhere for holly to decorate their Christmas wreathes and front doors.

Holly has, of course, long been associated with winter and Christmas celebrations. The evergreen leaves symbolise eternal life, while the red berries are said to represent the blood of Christ.

Druids believed holly possessed protective qualities and brought good luck (very necessary for today, Friday the 13^th). Holly was also associated with fertility and used as a charm against evil spirits.

There’s an old wives’ tale that suggests lots of berries on a holly tree indicate the arrival of a hard winter. So, does the absence of berries mean that this winter will be mild? Time will tell.

The berry issue continually crops up during conversations with my equally berry-less neighbour (yes, we have too much time on our hands, but it’s better than discussing geopolitics and the Middle East!).

Doing the research, we have discovered that holly trees are dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Only female holly trees produce berries.

History has established that my neighbour and I both have ‘lady’ trees, as they have been full of berries in previous years.

We have ruled out the overnight sex change theory and are now investigating the fact that there must have been a male pollinator tree nearby to provide us with a crop of red berries.

The finger of suspicion is beginning to point at a newly-arrived neighbour who may have chopped down the male pollinator, without fully appreciating the consequences.

My berry-less neighbour says she has a log of chainsaw noises coming from nearby properties (trust me, Neighbourhood Watch and PC Plod are amateurs when compared to holly tree lovers).

I think she may be taking the matter too seriously, but there may be lots of searching questions in the street in the week before Christmas when neighbours start asking for their usual bunches of festive holly!

THERE was a time when I was regarded as something of a ‘stickler’ for dress codes.

In the days when I sat in the editor’s chair, it was a case of woe betide any male trainee reporter who turned up for work without a jacket and tie.

Female journalists were excused the jacket and tie regime, but they had to be smartly dressed.

And some of my old trainees are still dining out on the tale of how I once sent a photographer home after he turned up (in the middle of a heatwave, it must be said) in a pair of khaki shorts.

Today, of course, I take a more relaxed approach to dress codes. Whisper it, but even my Rotary Club in Llanelli, no longer requires collar and tie for dinner.

The ‘less stuffy’ approach is being adopted (gradually) by politicians and civic leaders, many of our male leaders choosing (on appropriate occasions) to ditch the tie.

The ladies, of course, have more scope when selecting their fashion statements, so it was interesting to see the fallout this week from Neath and Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris’s appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Mrs Harris has always had an unconventional approach to fashion and I’ve lost count of the different colours she’s used on her hairstyle since becoming an MP back in 2015.

For PMQs, Mrs Harris sported purple hair and a black T-shirt and leather jacket.

Perhaps predictably, some took to social media to criticise Mrs Harris for her choice of attire.

Equally predictably, a couple of ‘political commentators’ waded into the debate by criticising Mrs Harris on something called GB News (a colleague tells me this is a TV channel nobody watches).

A chap called Lee Harris launched into a scathing tirade against the Welsh Labour deputy leader – calling for her ejection from the Commons over her “disrespectful” attire.

“The House of Commons really has gone downhill over the years,” Lee Harris said. “This Labour MP could at least show some respect and wear something smart. It’s very clear she showed a shocking lack of respect for the House.

“She shouldn’t have been called to speak, but Lindsay Hoyle (The Speaker) called her anyway. She really should have been ejected from the chamber.”

Conservative author and academic Adrian Hilton said: “What would the Commons Speaker say if a male MP turned up looking like a Dick Emery biker in a leather jacket over a pink/black T-shirt?”

In my view, Messrs Harris and Hilton need to take a few chill pills and go for a blood pressure check.

Getting noticed is the name of the game when it comes to PMQs and catching The Speaker’s eye in a packed chamber of more than 600 MPs is what counts when it comes to the weekly lottery of posing a question to the Prime Minister.

The important bit is not the dress sense of the MP, but the message they want to convey to the House

And, with that objective in mind, it was ‘job done’ by Mrs Harris on Wednesday.

She managed to highlight the fine work she is helping coordinate on the Everyone Deserves a Christmas campaign – and the Christmas single she has released with Mal Pope.

Mrs Harris even joked that she was No3 in the list of MPs called to table a question in the Commons, but she hoped to be No1 in the charts by Christmas!

On that subject, you can vote for the Mal Pope and Carolyn Harris single on the Heritage Charts website at https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/522BLGP

Meanwhile, for those of you who are keen followers of hair styles, the latest news is that I’m off to see my friendly local barber, David.

Or, as we like to call him in these parts, ‘Dye The Barber’.

PS: If you want to see Carolyn Harris’s appearance at PMQs, then go to Mal Pope’s Twitter page at https://x.com/malpope

AND here we go again . . . the annual “Kill the Poinsettia Plant” event is under starter’s orders in the Lloyd Household.

Regular readers of this column will know that, each year, I plead guilty to ‘Poinsettiacide’.

In previous years, some of my poinsettia purchases have only just managed to make to Christmas. Some have survived into the new year. In 2022, the poinsettia established a new record by staying alive into January.

Last year, following advice from a reader, the poinsettia lasted until springtime.

My learned colleague Marc (Chalky) White, the man responsible for designing most of this paper, suggested an elegant solution a couple of years back – “The poinsettia secret is buy a plastic one! Had ours for years and looks as fresh as yesterday. Looks real, too!”

Last year, Pauline O’Brien, from Bonymaen in Swansea, provided me with some sound advice –

“I have one every November 20 as a present from my family. I have always loved a poinsettia, but, like you say, they are hard to keep.

“However, I have kept one from November to August – and every year I have it until July.

“My ‘recipe’ is to find a draught-proof spot; it seems to like the sun. I put it every year in the same spot. I water it once a week (every Sunday) and it likes tepid water. I put a small milk jug full and I truly believe it is the answer to

how I can keep it so long.

“I know I shouldn’t advertise, but it has always come from Marks and Spencer!”

Other stores (and garden centres) are, of course, available should you wish to start your own bid to assassinate a poinsettia plant.

The betting in the Lloyd household is that, given favourable conditions and loving attention, the latest poinsettia will make it through to Easter. I’ll keep you posted . . .

YES, folks, it’s that time of year again – Pantomime season!

One of the most eagerly-anticipated pantomimes in west Wales is the show staged by Theatrau Sir Gâr / Carmarthenshire Theatres at The Lyric in Carmarthen.

This year, it is the turn of Beauty and the Beast, which will run from December 12-29.

The festive favourite promises to be a spectacular show filled with magical moments, plenty of laughs, and all the panto fun that families have come to love.

Following on from the success of last year’s pantomime (seen by nearly 8,000 local people), Beauty and the Beast will be produced in-house again by the Theatrau Sir Gâr team, in arrangement with the renowned pantomime producing company, Imagine Theatre.

This year’s Beauty and the Beast cast includes three Carmarthenshire-born cast members.

The line-up includes Steve Elias as the hilarious and larger-than-life Dame Sylvia Scrub-it, Carwyn Glyn as the lovable sidekick Sammy Scrub-it and Ceri-Anne Thomas as the beautiful and kind-hearted Belle.

Jonathan Alden stars as both the dashing Prince and the fearsome Beast.

There will be a ‘relaxed’ performance of Beauty and the Beast on December 27 at 6pm and a BSL signed performance on December 15, 6pm. There are also selected daytime performances in the last two weeks of term for school audiences. Full details are available on the website or by calling the box office.

For ticket information and booking, please visit www.theatrausirgar.co.uk or contact the Box Office on 0345 226 3510.

At the Miner’s Theatre (Glowyr), Ammanford Community Theatre will be back with their latest fun family Christmas pantomime, Scrooge the Panto!

This brand new panto version of the classic Christmas story, A Christmas Carol, is for all ages.

The show is filled with lots of laughter, classic characters, new characters, singing, dancing and lots of Christmas!

It’s a show that goes from Bah Humbug to a Big Warm Hug!

Tickets are £10 and £8, Performances run from December 6-8.

Llanelli Musical Theatre Group present the traditional family pantomime Mother Goose in Stiwdio Stepney at the Ffwrnes Theatre

Following on from two sell-out pantomimes (Aladdin and Puss In Boots), Mother Goose runs from December 19-23.

Tickets are available online at https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk/en/shows/mother-goose or by calling Theatrau Sir Gar Box Office on 0345 226 3510

Tickets are £12 each, or £45 for a group of four.

The annual Friendship Theatre Group pantomime in Llanelli runs from January9-26 at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.

This year’s panto is Sleeping Beauty, with its magical land of castles, fairies, dragons, and spinning wheels!

The enchanting tale sees the beautiful Princess Aurora prick her finger on a spinning wheel that has been cursed by the evil enchantress, making her sleep for 100 years. Only true love’s kiss can break the curse and wake the princess.

Will she find her true love and live happily ever after?

The fabulous family pantomime at Ffwrnes Theatre Llanelli is set to be a laugh-a-minute extravaganza with stunning sets, top musical hits, fantastic costumes and exciting special effects to keep audiences both young and old entertained!

Premium Performances: (Fri, Sat, Sun) full price: £16, concession £14, family booking £56 Group 10+ £14 (auto discounts in cart when 10+ tickets are added).

Standard Performances: (Tues, Weds, Thurs) full price £14, concession £12, family booking £48 Group 10+ £12 (auto discounts in cart when 10+ tickets are added), Group 25+ £10 (must be booked through the Box Office).

BSL-interpreted performance: Tuesday January 14, 6.30pm – Anthony Evans BSL Interpreter. Relaxed performance: Tuesday January 21, 6:30pm

Ammanford Youth Theatre and the young performers from Starquest Children’s Community Theatre Group present their Christmas pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Miner’s Theatre in Ammanford.

The two young community theatre groups, made up of more than 100 children, meet on a weekly basis, and are excited to perform their fun-filled pantomime this festive season.

Tickets £9 and £8. The show runs from January 3-5.

This year’s pantomime at Pontyberem Memorial Hall will be Aladdin. It will run from January 8-12 and tickets are available through the TicketSource website – https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/

St Elli Parish Church in Llanelli town centre will be the venue on Friday evening for a festive concert staged by popular singer Chris Judd Caine.

Chris promises an evening of Christmas music in a concert which starts at 7pm.

Tickets are £6.50 and are available from the TicketSource website or from Chris on 07568 542768.

Llanelli District Music and Drama Club will present their Christmas Charity Concert (in aid of Tyisha Food Bank) at St Elli Parish Church on Friday, December 15, 7pm.

The concert will feature The Celtic Sinfonia – Director, Edward Skinner; Leader, Paul Lewis.

The programme includes Troika (Prokofiev), Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson), Sleigh Ride (Mozart), Toy Symphony (Mozart), Gabriel’s Oboe (Ennio Morricone).

Tickets: £5 at the door or call Edward Skinner 07575 754 764.

In the Gwendraeth Valley, there’s a busy schedule of events coming up at Pontyberem Memorial Hall.

On Saturday, December 7, there is a Triple Tribute evening, featuring The Valli Boys, The Take That Show and a Neil Sedaka tribute act. Tickets are £15.50 and it starts at 7pm.

Saturday, December 14, sees a ‘Christmas At The Hall’ event, featuring Ed Sheeran and Meat Loaf tribute acts and the popular Cover Notes band. Tickets are £20.50 and the show starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available through the TicketSource website – https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/

Looking further ahead, Carmarthen tenor and BBC radio star Wynne Evans will be bringing his Christmas Special to Llanelli’s Ffwrnes Theatre on December 20.

Tickets are £40.50.

THE annual Llanelli Rotary Club Young Musician of the Year competition saw singers and instrumentalists battle it out at Greenfield Chapel in the town centre.

The competition was the first stage in a national competition to find the Young Musician of the Year in both vocal and instrumental categories.

Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens said: “Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland believes it is highly important to encourage and develop creativity in young people and the young musician competition is one of a number of ways in which we can nurture talent.

“The young musician competition in Llanelli has been running for nearly 10 years, with a short break for the coronavirus pandemic. During that time, we have been hugely entertained and impressed by the young talent on display in the two categories of the competition.

“This year’s competition was of a very high standard and we would urge schools and music teachers across the area to pencil next autumn into their diaries as we want to make sure as many youngsters as possible get their chance to take part in this prestigious Rotary competition in 2025.”

The winner of the vocal competition was Jasper Caradog-Hollett, aged 14, of Bishopston Comprehensive School. His piano accompanist was Piet Zorn.

The runner-up was Elsie Evans, aged eight, of Halfway School, Llanelli. Elsie had been entered for the competition by Music Factory Wales. She is the youngest contestant to have ever taken part in Llanelli Rotary’s competition. Elsie’s piano accompanist was Melody Shads.

Jasper’s programme included Panis Angelicus (Franck), Af i draw gyda ‘nhad i arhedig (Jeffreys) and Apres un reve (Faure)

The instrumental category winner was violinist Evalina-Yeva Mukulska, aged 12, of Bishop Vaughan School, Swansea. The runner-up was her sister, guitarist Marria-Anastasia Mukulska, aged 16, of Bishop Vaughan School.

Evalina-Yeva’s programme included Buruhmtes Menuett ( Mozart) and a variation on the theme of an Ukrainian folk song.

Evalina-Yeva and Marria-Anastasia are both former pupils of Lviv State Children’s Music School in Ukraine.

The trophies and certificates were presented by Llanelli Rotary Club President Mr Owens. The judges were D Eifion Thomas, musical director of Meibion Elli male voice choir, and Susan Roberts, trustee of Loud Applause Rising Stars. The MC was Robert Lloyd.

Mr Owens added: “A big thank-you goes to the Deacons at Greenfield Chapel for allowing the use of the chapel for the competition and for the many members of Llanelli Rotary Club who worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the competition ran as smoothly as possible.”

The winners now go forward to district finals which will be held in the new year.

Photos show (left to right) –

* Jasper Caradog-Hollet, Cerith Owens, Evalina-Yeva Mukulska.

* Elsie Evans, Marria-Anastasia Mukulska, Jasper Caradog-Hollet, Cerith Owens, Evalina-Yeva Mukulska.

* Susan Roberts, Elsie Evans, Marria-Anastasia Mukulska, Jasper Caradog-Hollet, Cerith Owens, Evalina-Yeva Mukulska, D Eifion Thomas.