Carmarthenshire-based EB Associates have played a key role in the merger of a well-known Pembrokeshire cleaning firm with one of the leading private facilities management companies in the UK.

Contract cleaning Services company Atlas FM, who employ more than 8,000, have made a strategic merger with Apple Blossom Cleaning Services Ltd, who employ more than 100 and are based in Narberth, Pembrokeshire.

Atlas has a 30-year track record as a leading private facilities management company.

EB Associates director Edward Ball said his consultancy business was delighted to handle the merger.

He added: “This merger represents a growth opportunity for both businesses and increases the presence of larger organisations within Wales, giving greater opportunity to employees and suppliers alike.

“Both companies are highly respected in the industry. This merger gives large company backing, while continuing with a local presence servicing Apple Blossom’s many clients, as has been done over several years past.”

Atlas FM director Jamie Davies said: ‘This merger is part of a strategic plan to grow our business and improve our presence within Wales.”

Linda Wilshaw, director of Apple Blossom, said: “This is perfect for us, becoming part of a much larger organisation without disturbing relationships with existing clients.”

About EB Associates:

EB Associates director Edward Ball developed a wealth of international experience as an Operations Manager with internationally recognised companies such as Shell UK and Mobil Oil. After 10 years in this role, he returned to South Wales and started working in senior roles for local companies varying in size and market sector with turnovers ranging from 1-12 million GBP. Over the next 10 years he began to understand the problems faced by such companies and was able to help develop these businesses, resulting in much-improved bottom lines and enhanced shareholder value.

Following this period Edward took on the running of companies as a shareholder and Managing Director. At this stage it became clear that being an employee and gaining experience generally in business was no substitute for actually being there and doing it. The day-to-day issues in a business can be overwhelming and have to be tackled with a degree of finesse. Running a company with an individual stake can create immense personal and financial pressures, which then results in a 24 hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week involvement. Along with his success in these businesses he also experienced market forces brought about by the strength of the pound and the dangers of becoming exposed to certain markets and clients. These experiences have given Edward a vital insight into the key factors of success and failure that can be experienced within business.

It became very apparent that the day-to-day duties of small-to-medium sized businesses often restrict the ability to focus on the strategic issues and decision-making processes that are required to achieve success. In 1985 Edward formed EB Associates. However, it was not until the above experiences were gained that the real benefit of the consultancy could be brought to SMEs.

EB Associates now provides a comprehensive range of services, within a wide range of businesses, backed by real experience and professionally qualified personnel. This, coupled with an extensive network of contacts and external partners, has seen the business grow – to the added benefit of clients both large and small.

Most small-to-medium sized companies cannot afford to employ individuals who have the skills and knowledge that EB Associates will provide. If businesses did employ such individuals it is unlikely to be cost-effective, as their abilities would not be required on a full-time basis.

Contact details –

EB Associates, PO Box 14, Kidwelly, SA17 4YH

01554 890 300

www.ebassociates.co.uk

Email eba@ebassociates.co.uk

About Apple Blossom Cleaning:

During the last 20 years Apple Blossom Cleaning has built its reputation on first class service and highly trained, uniformed staff.

The firm is passionate about cleaning and believe it should be delivered to a high standard – discreetly and efficiently, without hassle.

There’s now more than 100 staff in the Apple Blossom team – providing the scale and flexibility to handle any type of cleaning work.

Clients include The National Trust, Castell Howell, Morganstone, Burns Pet Nutrition, Hafan Cymru, Redkite Solicitors and Calon Wen.

Apple Blossom is proud to sponsor and support a number of local charities and teams, including Race for Life, Paul Sartori, The Royal Welsh Regiment and SCW Motor Sports, as well as being sponsors of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society three-day show, and Llandeilo, Narberth and Crymych rugby clubs.

The firm has won West Wales  awards for Family Business, Business Services and Best Supplier. It holds ISO certificates in quality management and environmental management.

Contact details –

Apple Blossom Cleaning Services Ltd, Unit 12, Rushacre Enterprise Park, Redstone Road, Narberth, SA67 7ET

Phone

Narberth: 01834 86 26 26

Carmarthen: 01267 49 31 07

Swansea: 01792 64 59 08

Email: hello@appleblossomcleaning.co.uk

Photos:

Atlas and Apple Blossom logos.

Edward Ball.

EB Associates logo

Apple Blossom employee factory floor cleaning.

They say ‘West is Best’ and Côr Meibion Pontarddulais Male Voice Choir have certainly proved that with a record-breaking win at the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales at Cardiff.

The ‘Bont’ choir took the Blue Riband prize for large male voice choirs for the 17^thtime.

If you want to hear what all the fuss is about, then the choir has three upcoming concerts –

• Friday 21 September, St. Agnes Church, Port Talbot.
• Saturday 6 October, Crwys Chapel, Three Crosses.
• Saturday 27 October, Coventry Cathedral.

It is worth taking the achievement as the trigger to reflect on the choir’s proud history and their achievements.

Their Royal National Eisteddfod wins came in the following years –

1963 Llandudno, 1965 Newtown, 1968 Barry, 1970 Ammanford, 1972 Haverfordwest, 1974 Carmarthen, 1976 Cardigan, 1978 Cardiff, 1981 Machynlleth, 1982 Swansea, 1994 Neath, 2003 Welshpool, 2004 Newport  (also awarded Côr yr Wŷl (Choir of the Festival)), 2006 Swansea (also awarded Côr yr Wŷl), 2008 Cardiff and 2014 Llanelli.

The choir’s early achievements can be firmly attributed to the legendary musical director Noel Davies, who held the baton at the choir from 1960 to 2002.

Clive Phillips, who was the choir’s accompanist, became a worthy successor as musical director when Noel Davies retired.

He continued with the principles established by his predecessor in emphasising a new diversity in the repertoire, ranging from the light in nature to contemporary classical music.

Other key values for the choir are the importance of singing in the Welsh language (as well as other languages) and an unequivocal commitment to the principle of competition.

The choir continues to welcome new members of all ages, and if you are interested in joining, the first step would be to attend one of the twice weekly rehearsals at the Primary School, James Street, Pontarddulais, on Mondays and Wednesdays between 7 and 9pm (except August or bank holidays).

Musical director Clive Phillips is worthy of special mention for his leadership of the choir.

A native of Murton, Gower, Clive John Phillips was born in 1959 and educated at Bishopston Primary and Gowerton Comprehensive schools.

He received music tuition from Professor John Edmunds LRAM, Brenda Llewellyn LRAM ARCM (Piano) and John Morgan Davies LWCMD FTCL LRAM ARCM (Organ).

Clive was first appointed as an accompanist to a local choir at the age of 12 and in 1977 became the accompanist and deputy conductor to Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir, a position he held until he became the Musical Director of Aberavon Male Choir in February, 1983.

Following a short period as Associate Musical Director of the Dunvant choir, Clive was appointed the Musical Director of Burry Port Male Voice Choir, where he remained until he was invited by Noel Davies MBE JP, to become the accompanist of Pontarddulais Male Choir, a position he held from 1991 to 2002, when he was appointed Musical Director.

He was, for a number of years the Musical Director of the Black Mountain Chorus of Wales and a founder Musical Director of Llanelli Musical Players.

Clive has conducted concerts at many venues throughout the United Kingdom including The Royal Albert Hall, London, Chelmsford Town Hall, Oxford Town Hall, Lincoln Cathedral and Winchester Cathedral.

He has also conducted massed male choirs at the Richard Burton Memorial Concert, and the opening concert at the 2006 Swansea National Eisteddfod.

He also had the honour of conducting in concert a number of the famous military bands, including The Royal Marines, The Scots Guards, The Coldstream Guards and The Welsh Guards.

As an organist he has made more than 30 recordings with various choirs and has played at many venues including The Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Festival Hall, Central Hall Westminster, Coventry Cathedral, Birmingham Town Hall, St David’s Hall Cardiff and the Brangwyn Hall Swansea.

He has given organ recitals at various churches in the Swansea and Llanelli areas.

Clive was organist at the 1980 National Gymanfa Ganu of North America when it was held in Vancouver.

His pursuits as a solo accompanist have seen him accompanying many world famous singers, including Delme Bryn Jones, Bryn Terfel, Rebecca Evans and more recently Sir Willard White, Jason Howard, Alfie Boe and Elin Manahan Thomas.

He also accompanied the distinguished astronomer Patrick Moore, who was performing his own xylophone music at a concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Clive is currently the organist at Tabernacle Chapel, Mumbles.

Clive is deputy muscial director to Haydn James at the WRU, leading the singing before numerous rugby matches at the Principality national stadium, with the ‘Bont’ and with many other male and mixed voice choirs.

In 2017, Clive received a well-deserved award from the Gowertonian Society for outstanding service to the community, namely for all his work with music and choirs in the area.

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.

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

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

………………………….

The old saying ‘There Are Lies. Damned Lies. And Statistics’ is pretty much accepted as fact by most people.

There are exceptions, like politicians confronted by TV or radio interviewers with shocking figures that reveal their department’s failings on getting to grips with whatever problems it was set up to sort out.

And I don’t suppose the old saying goes down particularly well with the Office of National Statistics in Newport, Gwent.

Having said all that, I want to present you with some statistics.

No!

Don’t go!

I’ll try and drop a funny line in, I promise.

There’s a report out which reveals that two out of five adults check their mobile phones when they wake up.

The average Briton (Okay, that doesn’t include you because the fact you read my articles means you’re well above average) checks his/her mobile phone every 12 minutes . . . and before going to bed some 60% of over-35s check their mobiles.

Personally, before I go to bed, I brush my teeth and put the cat out.

Although there was one weird night when I brushed the cat and took my teeth out.

However, as the man says in those TV info-mercials for handy home products that we never knew we couldn’t live without . . .

“Wait! That’s not all!”

We’ve all seen families in restaurants who don’t speak to each other, but prefer to look at their phones while they wait for the food and drink to arrive.

Unfortunately, that behaviour has almost become acceptable.

But, unless you’re a doctor on call, what should be punishable by a 20-year stretch in Wormwood Scrubs is the unforgivable crime of making or taking a phone call or checking for messages while everyone is still eating.

While 90% of over-55s would agree with me, only 46% of 18-34s would.

In a generation or two, the words ‘Table Manners’ will be consigned to the dustbin of history . . . along with “Penny Farthing”, “Bowler Hat” and “Severn Bridge Tolls!”

——————-

So, as my regular readers will know, I’m always up for a challenge – and last week was no different!

After a few months of gentle persuasion, I finally gave in and accompanied my partner to her weekly yoga class.

Having appeared on the landing of our home in my leg warmers, sweat band and Lycra shouting “Ta-dah”, I was immediately sent to change into something more suitable.

Now, then, I was quite sceptical, but thought I must try this at least once before I can say it’s not for me.

I have to say I was more than pleasantly surprised.

The hour flew by.

I attempted to get into some very challenging positions but thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was so relaxed by the end of the class that I almost fell asleep at the relaxation part at the end!

Yogi Dai, from Yoga FlowWales, was a superb and very patient teacher and I can safely say that, if you want to unwind and relax, yoga is the way forward.

I’m now wondering how I can incorporate stand-up comedy and yoga in one, which I’m sure you’ll agree would make for a very interesting night out.

Namaste for this week, my friends.

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

Please again include www.philevans.co.uk

Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards will link up with the Ospreys this season in a consultancy role, it was confirmed today.

The former Wasps head coach, and Wigan Rugby League legend, will combine his role with his ongoing duties with the Welsh Rugby Union, working exclusively with the Ospreys at regional level.

His first involvement will see him joining the traveling party heading to Portugal for a training camp this week, ahead of the next pre-season fixture, versus Saracens in London on Thursday 23^rd August.

Ospreys Head Coach, Allen Clarke, is excited about Edwards being part of the coaching group for the coming season.

“Shaun is a world class coach” said Clarke.

 “I wanted to bring him in because we know his strengths and how they will complement the existing coaching team here at the Ospreys. His knowledge and experience is unrivalled and his CV speaks for itself. I’m delighted to have him working alongside myself and, in particular, Brad Davis, complementing the excellent work that Brad is doing with the squad.

“He knows a large number of the squad already through their involvement with the national set-up and has a good understanding of what we want to achieve day to day and across the season.

“I think this appointment is a hugely positive one for both the Ospreys and the WRU, and is a reflection of the direction Welsh rugby is heading, with a clear understanding that we are all stronger as entities working in collaboration. We are extremely grateful to the Union for facilitating it.”

Shaun Edwards said:

“I’m looking forward to linking up with the Ospreys this week and getting down to work with the players and the coaches at the Region.

“For me it is a great opportunity to work alongside some great players, a lot of which I know from their time with Wales but also to work with players hands on who I know a lot about but haven’t been out on the training pitch with.

“The Ospreys are a region with a lot of history and pride and under Allen they are ambitious and I’m looking forward to playing my part.

The Welsh Rugby Union commented: “It is great for the game in Wales that Shaun is linking up with the Ospreys for the forthcoming season. 

“It allows for great continuity between the Senior National Management and the coaching team at the Ospreys and is an extension of the work our national coaches do across the four Regions throughout the season.”

A study by a researcher at Aberystwyth University into how social isolation affects snail responses to stress has been published in the latest edition of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Journal.

The paper by Dr Sarah Dalesman ’Habitat and social context affect memory phenotype, exploration and co-variance among these traits’ appears in a special edition of the journal on Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities10.1098/rstb/373/1756.

Dr Dalesman is a Lecturer in Freshwater Biology at the University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences and a snail behaviour expert.

Dr Dalesman said:“Social isolation is known as a stressor for a lot of animals and humans, causing changes in behaviour and negatively affecting their ability to learn and form memories. However, individuals respond differently to the effects of stress, and some may be able to cope better than others.”

The study looked at whether individuals that form strong memories in unstressed conditions respond differently following social isolation, to those that normally form weaker memories.

The study tested how social isolation affected the snails’ ability to form long-term memory, which in the case of a snail means a single day.

There is a lot of interest in how memory relates to other behavioural traits in animals. The work explored how isolation affected the way snails explore new environments, and whether there was a relationship between memory formation and exploration behaviour.

Snails that formed strong memories when kept in groups were unable to form long-term memory when socially isolated, whereas snails that formed weak memories when kept in groups appeared unaffected by isolation.

So, it seems that snails which normally form weaker memories are more robust to the effects of stress from being socially isolated.

The effect of isolation on exploration behaviour also differed depending on their ability to form memory.

Snails that normally form weak memories did not change their exploration behaviour following isolation; where as those that form strong memories decreased their crawling speed and time spent in contact with the behavioural arena wall (thigmotaxis).

Dr Dalesman added: “These results show that social context can alter our conclusions about how ‘smart’ an animal is. Snails that form stronger memories in groups form the weakest memories in isolation and vice versa. It also shows that the relationship between exploration behaviour and memory changes when the social context is altered.”

Photo: Snail behaviour expertDr Sarah Dalesman with Lymnaea stagnalis, better known as the great pond snail.

Links:

’Habitat and social context affect memory phenotype, exploration and co-variance among these traits’ Dr Sarah Dalesman, IBERS

The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Journal – ‘Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities’

Study at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences

Dr Sarah Dalesman