A pioneering teacher training progamme at Aberystwyth University has been granted accreditation for five years by the Education Workforce Council.

From September 2019, the University’s School of Education will be delivering a new Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) offering two pathways to Qualified Teaching Status (QTS).

Student teachers can choose to follow either a Primary Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Secondary Enrichment, or a Secondary PGCE with Primary Enrichment.

Professor Malcolm Thomas, Director of the School of Education at Aberystwyth University, said: “This is a pioneering, integrated programme which responds to the needs of teacher education in the 21^stcentury, and which educates and develops student teachers to teach across both primary and secondary sectors. This ideology is in keeping with the Welsh Government’s National Mission and the new Curriculum for Wales, as well as with the increasing emergence of All-Through schools not only in rural authorities but also urbanised areas. We look forward to working with the Education Workforce Council on our accreditation in the coming months and meeting their specified criteria.”

The PGCE programme has been developed in partnership with the local education authority -Ceredigion County Council – as well as primary and secondary schools in Mid Wales.

Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, said: “Aberystwyth has a long history of training teachers and we are delighted to have been granted accreditation for five years by the Education Workforce Council to deliver initial teacher education from September 2019. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate 125 years in teacher training since the start in 1892/3, the year when the University of Wales was established.

“Not only does this programme strengthen our secondary teacher training offering, it also brings back primary teacher training to Aberystwyth. As a University, we would like to thank members of the Aberystwyth ITE Partnership Working Group inclusive of Ceredigion County Council and partner schools who have worked with us on these innovative proposals to develop teacher education for the future.”

Applications for the PGCE programmes starting in September 2019 are now open. For further information, please email education@aber.ac.ukor visit the website www.aber.ac.uk/en/education.

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

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Unless you’ve been shipwrecked on a tropical island surrounded by sharks off the Cardigan coast, you’ll know that a red-haired troubadour named Edward Sheeran recently performed four sell-out concerts at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

I wasn’t one of the 240,000 fans who packed the stadium – and I also missed out on seeing The Rolling Stones and Beyonce.

Then again, none of ’em have ever turned up to see meperform.

And, let me tell you, if an audience gets too aggressive I can move like Jagger!

But things I’ve read in certain Welsh newspapers – notthis oneI hasten to add and it’s not easy to hasten when you’re down on your knees pleading to keep your job – made me wonder whether attending these huge concerts is more of a pain than a pleasure.

Apart from the cost of the tickets, if you live some distance from Cardiff, you’ll need to book a hotel, which have a habit of raising prices when demand for their rooms is high.

If you travel to the concert by car, not only will you have to park miles away, the cost of parking for several hours isn’t cheap.

Should you travel by train, if you live in Wales you’ll have to squeeze into those jam-packed, two-car ‘rattlers’ we have to put up with until the long-promised shiny new rolling stock arrives.

Anyone travelling from Paddington will have had a frustrating journey as The Severn Tunnel was (and might still be) closed.

Trains via Bristol Parkway and Newport were replaced by ‘Rail Replacment Services’ i.e. buses!

Not much fun when you’re carrying suitcases

If you want to catch a train homeaftera concert in the capital ends, there are so few late night trains out of Cardiff you’ve got more chance of winning the Lottery.

On reflection, spending three days in a muddy field in Glastonbury sounds much easier than attending a show at the Principality Stadium.

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Festivals everywhere:

Nobody loves a good party or festival more than the Welsh.

It’s as if we were born to perform and we have been holding these events long before the invention of radio, television, internet or newspapers.

Now that’s a long time!

It’s a form of ritual, a chance to show off and feel young and alive again, which is undoubtedly a good thing.

There is so much choice in Wales . . .

Food festivals, flower festivals, beer festivals, folk and jazz festivals . . .  and, my favourite, comedy festivals.

The festival scene is booming and record numbers are being recorded up and down the country, especially during our most recent spell of amazingly good weather.

These events are so important for the local economy, while preserving traditions that our grandparents and great grandparents started generations before us.

If you don’t believe me, ask them.

I’m now well informed that many people met up with their future partners at such gatherings.

Unlike the internet dating sites of today, the festival scene was often the only way to mix with like-minded people, which made it easier to talk or chat up a future partner.

Some years back, a survey stated that the first thing men noticed about women was their eyes.

Following this survey, women observed that the men in this survey were a bunch of liars.

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

Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi have put together an exciting line-up for their annual concert on Saturday, July 21, at the Princess Gwenllian Centre in Kidwelly.

The evening will feature the popular North Wales act Piantel.

Piantel are pianist Annette Bryn Parry and harpist Dylan Cernyw. They are described as ‘a magical musical experience not to be missed!’

The concert will also feature the much-acclaimed Tywi Valley musical duo, the husband and wife team of Aled Edwards and Eleri Owen Edwards.

They are already two of the most popular and successful singers in Wales.

Last year, Aled and Eleri launched a new CD of uplifting and inspirational duets, “Dau fel ni” (Two like us).

Home for Aled and Eleri is in Cilycwm, Llandovery, on a farm well-known for its pedigree herd of Limousin cattle.

Balancing a busy farming life in the picturesque Tywi Valley and their musical careers is now second nature to the couple.

“We love singing – and we love entertaining,” said Eleri.

The mezzo-soprano and baritone are both Blue Riband (David Ellis Memorial Prize) National Eisteddfod winners.

Aled triumphed at the National Eistedddfod held at Bala in 1997 and Eleri in 2013 at the National Eisteddfod at Denbigh.

They are the only married couple to have both gained the coveted Blue Riband.

Eleri is originally from the renowned cultural village of Llangernyw in the Conwy Valley.

A former bank manager in Conwy and a keen supporter of the local and national Eisteddfod throughout Wales, she now shares responsibility for the running of the family farm, while she also teaching children and youngsters to sing.

Aled’s development of the family’s prized herd of Limousin cattle is recognised internationally. Aled served a eight-year term as President of the International Limousin Congress.

The CD was recorded at the famous Acapela studio in South Wales, a venue made famous by harpist Catrin Finch and her husband.

Both Aled and Eleri have praise for their vocal coaches.

Aled has studied singing with Ken and Christine Reynolds, of Aberystwyth, and Eleri’s voice coach is the well-known composer and musician Brian Hughes, of Gresford. Brian has also composed two songs for the CD “Cariad Cyntaf” and “Mae’n Wir”.

The couple both started singing individually as children in chapels and village halls.

They have since travelled extensively as guest soloists to countries all over the world, particularly Europe and North America.

Further afield, Eleri was invited to Melbourne, Australia as guest soloist at the St David’s Day celebrations in 2014

The compere for the Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi concert will be Eirian Wyn.

On the same night (July 21), Burry Port Town Band are scheduled to stage their annual summer concert.

The band’s special guests will be Tenovus Cancer Care Swansea Sing With Us Choir and Burry Port Junior Band.

Curtain up is at 7pm on July 21, with tickets £10, under 16s free.

The Burry Port Town Band will be looking to perform an entertaining programme featuring popular classics and music from the stage and screen.

They will also feature their Eisteddfod programme ahead of the Royal National Eisteddfod at the Wales Millennium Centre on Saturday, August 4.

It has been a successful year for Burry Port Town Band, reaching the semi-finals of S4C Band Cymru and again qualifying to represent Wales at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain taking place on September.

The compere for the Burry Port concert will be Robert Lloyd.

This weekend, there will be a special fundraiser for the Llanelli and District Twinning Association at Llanelly House.

Christian Moulie, a renowned singer from Llanelli’s twin town of Agen, will be the featured soloist at the event, which starts at 7pm. Tickets are £10 and are available from Paolo Piana, email pianapaolo@hotmail.com

Looking further ahead, Côr Meibion Caerfyrddin Carmarthen Male Choir’s 60th anniversary concert will be held at the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, on Saturday, October 13.

The choir will be joined on stage by four other choirs – Mynydd Mawr, Burry Port, Dyffryn Tywi and Dyffryn Aman.

This will create a combined choir of around 150 voices under the baton of Wyn Maskell, musical director of Côr Meibion Caerfyrddin.

Also taking part will be well known soloists: Jessica Robinson, soprano, and Trystan Llŷr Griffiths, tenor.

Finally, another date for your diary for later in the year – The Annual Royal British Legion Charity Gala Concert will be held at the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, on October 27 (7pm).

This year, 2018, marks a significant year for our Armed Forces. It is the centenary of the end of The Great War (First World War) and also commemorates 100 years of the Royal Air Force.

The prestigious annual Royal British Legion Concert has become one of the landmark events in the calendar of South West Wales, providing a platform for the Royal British Legion to pay tribute to the fallen of current and past conflicts.

It also helps the British Legion launch the Poppy Appeal in South West Wales.

The concert features leading soprano and TV and radio personality Shân Cothi, one of Wales’s premier choirs in the form of Dunvant Male Choir, the highly popular Carmarthen-based mixed youth choir Côr Seingar, Swansea-based Dancerama performing arts group youth choir, the stirring sounds of the City of Swansea Pipe Band and the unforgettable Corps of Drums of the 215 City of Swansea Squadron.

The compére will be Brian Sullivan and the guest accompanist Jeffrey Howard.

The evening ends with the poignant Tribute to the Fallen and a Service of Remembrance.

The Royal British Legion is being supported with this event by Loud Applause Productions, the production company run by Llanelli’s Cerith Owens.

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

The winner of this year’s Beacon Bursary award is a passionate dog owner whose business proposal is to provide nutrient-rich dog treats.
Biscuit’s Barkery, set up by Amanda Thomas, will receive a cash prize of £5,000, free office space within the Beacon Centre for Enterprise in Dafen, Llanelli, and business mentoring support to help develop her business.
The Beacon Bursary is an annual competition run by Carmarthenshire County Council in partnership with Coleg Sir Gâr and University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
The award provides new businesses and entrepreneurs an opportunity to access finance, office space and a wealth of advice and support which will provide the best opportunity for their new businesses to flourish.
Amanda, 32, from Carmarthen, is currently a student at Coleg Sir Gâr.
She is studying towards her Level 3 Beauty Therapy student at the Graig campus where she has also just completed the business module of Welsh Bacc qualification to provide her with the knowledge needed to develop ‘Biscuit Barkery’.
“I set up Biscuits Barkery after having my own French bulldog named Biscuit. My business is really led by my passion for dogs,” said Amanda, a qualified degree-level nutritionist.
“Winning this award means everything, especially having the support from business mentors as I have so many ideas but don’t know how to exercise them.
“The business is very much in its start-up phase so winning this award means I can get the business up and running and get my brand out there.”
Amanda was one of 10 new entrepreneurs to reach this year’s final and get the chance to pitch their proposals to a panel of judges including Carmarthenshire County Council Leader Emlyn Dole, last year’s Beacon Bursary winner Lian Poulson who has her own fashion label Lian Cara, and Chris Jenkins from Gerald Thomas Accountants.
Second place and receiving £2,000 and six months free office space at the Beacon, went to Sewing Circus, set up by Hanna Symis. Sewing Circus is a Unisex Childrenswear manufacturer and retailer, selling STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) influenced clothes online to challenge negative stereotypes in kids clothing. Hanna is a University of Wales Trinity Saint David student studying for her BA in Business Management.
Third place and receiving £1,000 and six months free office space at the Beacon, went to Adam, Eve and Green, by Elizabeth Diamond, Sue Diamond and Lisa Ariffin. Their aim is to be an environmentally friendly and eco-conscious gardening brand who will offset each order made with planting a native tree here in Wales to reduce Carbon footprint.
Mother Sue is a Coleg Sir Gâr student and is about to graduate with a BA in Fine Art Sculpture from the Jobs Well campus where Elizabeth also did her foundation course before going to Falmouth University, graduating in 2016.
Council Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole, who is responsible for Economic Development, said: “Once again this year we have seen some great ideas and all 10 candidates will be offered support by our business officers with their business ideas as we thought they all had potential. I would like to congratulate the three winners and wish them all the best with their future plans and I look forward to following their progress.”
Helen Evans, enterprise champion at Coleg Sir Gâr said: “We’re thrilled and proud that two of our students have been successful in the bursary competition. They, along with all 10 finalists, have worked hard at juggling their business plans and academic studies at the same and are worthy winners.
“They both have fantastic ideas which will be further supported by the enterprise department at Coleg Sir Gâr, as well as Carmarthenshire County Council who have provided the prize awards and will be supporting them with business expertise at the Beacon to develop and grow their companies.”

Link to video –

Beacon Bursary 2018 from Cyngor Sir Gâr | Carms Council on Vimeo.

A celebration day for Carmarthenshire Young Ambassadors has taken place with pupils from Carmarthenshire schools.

The event was hosted by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Actif Sport and Leisure team and celebrated the achievements and dedication of Carmarthenshire’s Young Ambassadors as well as inspire them to continue along the programme.

The pupils, aged from eight to 21, are part of a national programme that aims to empower and inspire young people to become leaders through sport, and to help encourage their peers to become hooked on sport.

Carmarthenshire’s programme is hailed as sector-leading and has over 300 active Young Ambassadors in primary, secondary schools and colleges.

They are champions of PE and school sport in their school / college, working closely with teachers to organise sporting events, lead and organise lunchtime activities and supporting older leaders to deliver sessions in their school and community.

Commonwealth athlete and marathon runner Caryl Jones was in attendance at the event, held at Pembrey Country Park, along with a number of other young athletes, including gymnasts Nikara Jenkins, Abigail Hanford and Lauren Carmon, as well as wheelchair basketballer Oliver Griffith.

They spoke to the Young Ambassadors about their experiences of representing Wales and Great Britain.

The children also took part in several activities delivered by a number of partners including Scarlets, Hockey Wales, Ski Pembrey and Actif Club and a question and answer session led by silver and gold ambassadors who spoke about their ambassadorial experience.

Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole was also present. He said: “It has been a pleasure to see the Young Ambassador programme grow and move from strength to strength here in Carmarthenshire and to see the opportunities that it creates for young people, by empowering them to be role models for sport, health and wellbeing in their own schools.

“Thanks also to key partners for their support on the day including Youth Sport Trust, Sport Wales, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Family Information Services, Brecon Carreg and Tesco (Llanelli).”

Sam Parry will undergo surgery this week to repair a bicep injury suffered in pre-season training.

The hooker had been set to return to action at the start of the new campaign having missed the end of last season with a chest injury that sidelined him at the end of February.

However, following this week’s surgery he is now looking at a possible four-month lay-off.