By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants. This column appears in the Pembrokeshire Herald, Carmarthen Herald and Llanelli Herald.

The ‘B’ word continues to dominate the news agenda and the headlines on TV, radio and on the printed press.

Brexit is the ever-present keyword of the day as we continue the countdown towards Britain’s proposed exit from the European Union.

Some of the Brexit news is good, some of it not so good, some of it bad.

For example, British households are the most upbeat about their finances since early 2015, buoyed up, of course, by near-record employment.

But the approach of Brexit and concerns about inflation are making them worry more about the future.

That’s what a new survey showed this week.

Households said they felt able to spend more as their earnings from employment rose at the fastest pace since the survey began.

Market research company IPSOS Mori interviewed 1,500 people for IHS Markit between August 9 and 13.

Britain’s unemployment rate sank to a new 43-year low of 4.0 percent in the three months to June and the share of people in work is only a fraction off a record high.

Sam Teague, an economist at IHS Markit, declared: “That said, the spectre of higher living costs on the horizon and ongoing Brexit uncertainty both contributed to renewed worries towards future household finances.”

Households’ pessimism about how their finances would fare over the next 12 months was the greatest since March 2017, when British Prime Minister Theresa May started the clock on a two-year period of Brexit negotiations.

With little more than seven months to go until Britain is due to leave the European Union, London and Brussels are still at odds over their future trading relationship, raising the prospect of no deal being reached.

The survey also found nearly 73 percent of respondents expected another Bank of England interest rate hike in the next 12 months.

The BoE raised interest rates for only the second time since the financial crisis on August 2.

BoE Governor Mark Carney said financial market expectations of one rate rise a year for the next couple of years was a good rule of thumb.

In other news, hot off the press from the Reuters news agency, Britain has extended its lead in the global currency trading business in the two years since it voted to leave the European Union.

It is reckoned to be another sign London is likely to continue to be one of the world’s top two financial centres – even after Brexit.

Leaving the European Union was supposed to deal a crippling blow to London’s position in global finance, prompting a mass exodus of jobs and business.

But with eight months to go, London has tightened rather than weakened its grip on foreign exchange trading, a Reuters analysis shows.

Foreign exchange – the largest and most interconnected of global markets, used by everyone from global airlines to money managers in transactions worth trillions of dollars a day – is the crowning jewel of London’s financial services industry.

Reuters’ analysis, based on surveys released by central banks in the five biggest trading centres, shows forex trading volumes in Britain had grown by 23 percent to a record daily average of $2.7 trillion (£2.1 trillion) in April compared to April 2016.

That was double the pace of its nearest rival, the United States, which was up 11 percent to $994 billion, mostly out of New York.

That means about two-fifths of all trades are handled in Britain, nearly all of them in London – a daily volume almost equivalent to the annual economic output of the United Kingdom.

The next three biggest markets are Singapore, which fell by 5 percent to $523 billion; Hong Kong, which grew 10 percent to $482 billion; and Japan, which increased by 2 percent to $415 billion.

London has dominated the foreign exchange market for nearly half a century.

You can find out more about money matters on the Clay Shaw Butler website (under our news for business section) –

http://www.clayshawbutler.com/news/latest-news-for-business

We have a strong and experienced team with great local knowledge all geared-up to helping you get the very best from your finances – whether that is as an individual or as a business.

We stay ahead of the game by putting great store by continual professional development for our staff.

With Investors In People status at Clay Shaw Butler, we care passionately about making sure our staff have all the tools they need to serve you, our customers.

Weblink – http://www.clayshawbutler.com

The team at Clay Shaw Butler can be contacted on 01267 228500.

The team at Clay Shaw Butler are on Twitter. Look for @clayshawbutler.

The second, and final, pre-season friendly of the summer will take place at The Rec ground on Friday evening, 24^th August, with Scarlets taking on Todd Blackadder’s Bath Rugby side.

A victory over Bristol Bears at Carmarthen Park last weekend secured a winning start to the season for the Scarlets and Friday night’s clash will be a final opportunity for Wayne Pivac and his coaches to see the boys in action, and work on new plays, before the Guinness PRO14 starts in earnest next weekend.

The star-studded starting XV includes no less than 12 internationally capped players with British and Irish Lions Man of the Series 2017, Jonathan Davies, captaining the side.

Club captain Ken Owens is named on the replacements bench and is one of two additional international replacements named alongside Werner Kruger.

Davies makes a long-awaited return to action after suffering a foot injury against Australia during last year’s Autumn Series.

Kieron Fonotia, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Uzair Cassiem will make their first starts for the region while newcomer Blade Thomson, who arrived in Wales only a few weeks ago, will make his Scarlets debut.

Looking ahead to the game head coach Wayne Pivac said; “We learned a lot from the performance against Bristol last week, despite the terrible conditions, and we’ll hopefully be able to build on that against Bath on Friday.

“Last weekend’s game was more of a trial whilst the second of our two friendlies is more of a dress rehearsal.”

Scarlets team to take on Bath Rugby at The Rec, Friday 24^th August, KO 19:30;

15 Leigh Halfpenny*, 14 Tom Prydie*, 13 Jonathan Davies* ©, 12 Kieron Fonotia*, 11 Steff Evans*, 10 Rhys Patchell*, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyde*, 1 Rob Evans*, 2 Ryan Elias*, 3 Samson Lee*, 4 David Bulbring, 5 Steve Cummins, 6 Blade Thomson, 7 James Davies*, 8 Uzair Cassiem*

Replacements; 16 Ken Owens*, 17 Phil Price, 18 Werner Kruger*, 19 Ed Kennedy, 20 Josh Macleod, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Clayton Blommetjies, 24 Tom Price, 25 Steff Hughes

Car parking charges for patients at Glangwili and Prince Philip hospitals are coming to an end on 31 August and the Health Board wishes to work with both staff and patients to continue to manage safe and smooth access to the hospitals.

As a guiding principle parking will be prioritised for those patients, staff and visitors with the greatest of need.

From 1 September 2018 the Health Board will be putting in place a staged car park management system, based on validation of tickets to ensure car parking facilities are not abused by those who do not have a genuine reason to park at the hospitals.

To ensure this, we will be engaging with our staff on how best to oversee the allocation of spaces and how we can utilise Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to include the potential for maximum stays on site.

The Health Board needs to strike a balance between ensuring effective access for patients, whilst at the same time giving sufficient space to staff to enable the smooth running of hospital services. Over the next few weeks ANPR cameras will be installed at both sites and will initially be used for monitoring and data collection purposes until a process can be agreed. The health board will retain parking attendants to manage capacity and demand during the immediate period.

Joe Teape, Director of Operations and Deputy Chief Executive at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “Parking has long been an issue at our hospital sites and I’d firstly like to acknowledge the frustrations that this has caused our staff, patients and visitors. We will soon be coming to the end of our existing arrangements and we want to take this opportunity to put a new and improved system in place to make it easier for people to park.

“We’re engaging with staff and the public to ensure a fairer deal for everyone, by protecting designated patient and visitor car parks and improving access for emergency vehicles. We will continue to work with the Staff Partnership Forum in relation to any potential alterations to staff parking, and further updates will be communicated soon.”

Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. Website – www.philevans.co.uk

………………………….

Boris Johnson recently got into hot water (his hair needed washing) accused of making a racist joke.

But, from an objective viewpoint, it wasn’t really a ‘joke’ in the accepted sense.

(Trust me; I’m a comedian and I know a thing or two about jokes)

It was more of a throwaway comment or off-hand remark.

We occasionally get told things about ourselves that we disagree with, but most of us brush them off and move on.

That Boris’s comment offended so many, shows certain sections of society are very sensitive.

But . . . that wasn’t always the case . . .

I watched a Channel Five programme last year that featured a bunch of ‘experts’ viewing clips from 1970s TV comedy shows.

Looking ‘shocked’ and ‘appalled’ they said things like “Did people reallywatch this 40 years ago?” and “When do I get my fee for pretending to be shocked and appalled?”

Being just a lad when “Love Thy Neighbour”, “Mind Your Language” and “It Ain’t ‘Alf  Hot Mum” entertained millions, I don’t know whether people were more tolerant in the 70s or less choosy about what they watched.

Although those shows are considered too non-P.C. to repeat, “Are You Being Served?” which features John Inman’s outrageously camp Mr Humphries and constant references to Mrs. Slocombe’s pussy, is being repeated on one of the digital channels during daytime – and nobody’s complained!

In 2018, people – not just the ‘professionally offended’ who demand their five minutes of airtime to complain about whatever’s got up their nose that morning –  appear more sensitive, not only regarding what’s said about them,but about other people.

Which makes a comedian’s job doubly difficult.

Audiences expect comedians to be edgy (and funny, too!) but that doesn’t mean they’ll accept every line you throw at them.

An audience is both one unit andseveral individuals.

Upset too many individuals and the unit will fall apart.

A bit like society in general.

Keep smiling!

——————

Having just returned from what has been described as the biggest street party in Europe, I’m pleased to report that I still have the time and energy to fill this newspaper column.

Although, I must admit, I only just made the deadline.

At the start of August, the greatest show on earth geared up for its 70^thanniversary and the streets of Edinburgh came alive with performers and tourists from the four corners of the world.

For a whole month, the city doesn’t sleep, while more than 3,000 shows take place, with something to suit everyone.

In a few weeks’ time, many of the shows that appeared in Edinburgh will be traveling the length and breadth of the UK to perform.

I have already noticed that Swansea, Llanelli and Carmarthen have pre-booked Edinburgh shows – and you can take it from me that the standard is exceptionally high.

The performing arts and live shows help our economy and instil a feeling of wellbeing among both artists and the audience members.

Creative arts are part of the joy of humanity.

But they can so often be overlooked in our current education system in favour of more ‘useful’ subjects such as science and maths.

Undoubtedly, there is increasing pressure on young children and schools to achieve outstanding exam results, but, unfortunately, only a few schools see the value of creativity.

Somehow, we need to get the message out there, and to start with, we could all support live entertainment, in all its forms.

——————-

You can follow Phil Evans on Twitter @philevanswales and www.philevans.co.uk

Please again include www.philevans.co.uk

Burry Port Male Voice Choir will hold their 55^thannual concert next month.

St Mary’s Church in Burry Port will be the venue for the concert at 7pm on Saturday, September 8.

The guest artists will be –

Soprano Mary-Jean O’Doherty, baritone Ben Anthony, Adrian Williams on trumpet and Caradog Williams on piano.

Tickets are £10 and are available from Sewards the grocer on Llanelli Market, Barry Lewis at Llanelli Market and all choir members.

Burry Port Male Choir has a proud history.

The rebirth of the Burry Port Male Choir took place in September, 1962, when a meeting was called at the Memorial Hall inviting any persons interested in reforming the old choir.

Some 30 people attended.

The meeting concluded with Raymond Morris being appointed conductor.

The objectives and aims of the present choir are still founded on the foundations set more than 50 years ago.

The current conductor is the multi-talented Ryan Lee.

He is only the seventh conductor in more than 50 years.

The reputation of the Burry Port Male Choir extended under Mr Lee’s leadership to many parts of the British Isles, Europe and the United States of America.

Over the years, the choir has supported local charitable events and competed at eisteddfodau at both National and International levels.

The choir has twice visited Holland, Canada once, and has been to America on three occasions.

The choir has also visited and performed in Paris and at The Albert Hall, London in the Thousand Voices Concerts.

Mr Lee is a native of Llangennech.

Before his retirement, he was a headmaster by profession and had been teaching for more than 15 years in English schools, where he gained valuable experience as a conductor of choirs and operatic societies.

Mr Lee has arranged many of the songs sung by the choir – the music set to Psalm 121 was composed by him and part of the current repertoire was arranged by him.

Many other choirs have benefitted by receiving copies of his arrangements.

He is also the Musical Director of the Burry Port Operatic Society, one of the very few Operatic Groups performing grand Opera in Wales.

Over the last few years he has been in great demand as a conductor of Hymn singing festivals known in Wales as “Cymanfaoedd Canu” and requests for his services are increasing every year.

Choir rehearsals take place every Monday and Thursday nights (except Bank Holidays and the month of August) between 7.00pm and 8.45pm at the Burry Port Memorial Hall.

Meanwhile, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi Male Voice choir members are looking forward to events in September and October.

On Sunday, September 30 (7pm), Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi will be staging a special concert at St Maelog’s Church in Llandyfaelog.

The choir will perform alongside a guest choir from Cornwall, the Tamar Valley Male Choir.

Other guest artists include soprano Llio Evans, with guest accompanist Kim Lloyd Jones.

The President for the evening will be Tinopolis TV company boss and founder Ron Jones.

Tickets are £7 and are available from telephone number 01269860996.

Proceeds from the evening will go towards St Maelog Church and the chemotherapy unit at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen.

On Saturday, October 13, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi will join Carmarthen Male Voice Choir for their 60^thanniversary celebration concert at the Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen.

In other news, Côr Meibion Dinefwr Male Voice Choir will be holding their annual concert at Capel Newydd, Llandeilo, on Saturday, October 27 (7.30pm).

The special guests will be Côr Meibion Llandybie Male Voice Choir.

The conductor will be John Williams, the accompanist will be Sara Morgan and the chairman for the evening will be Eifion Davies.

Other special guests include tenor Osian Wyn Bowen, soloist Martha Harries and accompanist Gareth Wyn Thomas.

Admission is £8 and £3 for children and students.

Proceeds will go towards the choir’s funds.

Welsh tenor Osian Wyn Bowen is from Burry Port.

Currently he is an undergraduate student, studying under English National Opera Tenor Jeff Stewart at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

Osian has already performed in concert with Sir Bryn Terfel, Soprano Rebecca Evans, Soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, Baritone Gary Griffiths, Tenors Aled Hall and Rhys Meirion.

Venues include the RWCMD Dora Stoutzker Hall, St. David’s Hall, The Principality Stadium, Wales Millennium Centre, Llandaff Cathedral, Venue Cymru, The O2 Arena, The Queen’s Theatre, London, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the Milford Haven Music Festival.

He has worked with some of Wales and the world’s best coaches and accompanists including, Jeff Howard, Simon Lepper, Joseph Middleton, Kathryn Harries and Dr. Laura Osgood Brown.

Choral performances and concerts include ‘Gloria – Vivaldi’, ‘Beethoven’s 9th Symphony’, ‘Mozart’s Requiem’, and ‘Stabat Mater – Szymanowski’.

Osian is also a popular soloist for various concerts and oratorios under the baton of Edward Rhys Harry, the most recent being Saint Sëan Christmas Oratorio, Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes De Confessore.

Television appearances include S4C’s ‘Heno’,‘Les Mis – Y Daith’, Cyngerdd y 10 Tenor, Noson Lawen and BBC’s Songs of Praise.

Recent highlights include performing as part of trio in a live broadcast on BBC1 to mark the Passchendaele Centenary at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium. The tribute to Welsh poet Hedd Wyn was performed in the presence of members Royal Family and European Ministers.

Other highlights include playing the lead role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables as part of the Urdd’s National Theatre company’s 10 Year Anniversary production at the WMC, Cardiff.

In addition to his busy schedule, Osian is a patron of the charity Welsh Hearts and is an active volunteer crew member of Burry Port Lifeboat Station.

His list of awards includes – 2017 & 2018 – Minnie Morgan Scholarship Recipient. 2018 – Douglas Rees Young Opera Singer of the Year – Finalist.

Carmarthen baritone Mark Llewelyn Evans will be hosting ‘An Afternoon of Music at The Orangery’ at Margam Park on Sunday, September 2.

The event will feature the young up-and-coming members of the Llanelli-based Loud Applause Rising Stars group.

Youngsters performing at the Orangery will include Callum Howells, Lauren Fisher, Neve Summers, Jack Owens, Sydney Richards, Thomas Bytheway, Daisy Owens and Osian Clarke.

The special guests will be violin virtuoso Charlie Lovell-Jones and the Kenfig Hill youth choir Crescendo.

The concert starts at 3pm.

In September, at Ffwrnes Theatre, the famous Llanelli-based Academy Amateur Company will celebrate 35 years of performing great musicals.

They will be staging ‘Thank you for the Memories’ at Ffwrnes on Saturday, September 8.

This special celebratory concert will feature songs from their favourite productions over the years, promising a musical journey down memory lane that will leave you singing all the way home.

There will be songs from shows such as Singin’ In The Rain, Guys And Dolls, Anything Goes, The Full Monty and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Looking further ahead, to October, one of Carmarthenshire’s finest will be returning ‘home’ for two special concerts.

John Owen-Jones is a Burry Port boy who has gone on to be an award-winning West End and Broadway star.

He will play Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, on Wednesday, October 3 and the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, on Sunday, October 7.

In October, Carmarthen will also see another big name singer roll into town.

Russell Watson will be performing his new show, Canzoni d’Amore, at the Lyric on October 19.

Having sold more than seven million albums worldwide, Russell Watson is firmly established as the UK’s best-selling classical crossover artist of all time.

To date, his illustrious career has included performances for Her Majesty The Queen, The Pope and two US Presidents.

Robert Lloyd works as a media consultant – www.rlloydpr.co.uk

If you have any news about the choral scene in Llanelli, the please contact him on 07777 683637 or email rlloydpr@btinternet.com