(Pictured: [l-r] Kevin George, Scarlets Academy Manager, Luke Davies, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Callum Williams, Jon Daniels, Scarlets General Manager)

With preparations for the new season underway Scarlets Academy has welcome a new wave of talented youngsters looking to forge a successful path in to the region’s senior side in years to come.

The first intake of new recruits welcomed in to the Junior Academy are scrum half Luke Davies, wing Callum Williams and number 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu following in the footsteps of the likes of current Scarlets and internationals Gareth Davies, Steff Evans and Ryan Elias.

Luke, from Tumble, and Callum, from Cardigan both showed great promise in the region’s Under 16s East and West programmes respectively last season. Carwyn is a product of the Welsh Exiles programme and was selected for Wales Under 18s trials against Scotland earlier this year, at only 16.

The under 16s programme is an important part of region’s development pathway with players introduced to a professional training regime, the use of performance analysis and gain experience of being involved in a professional rugby environment.

The WRU Exiles programme sets out to identify, monitor and develop a network of young, Welsh-qualified boys and girls based outside Wales.

All three Academy newcomers will continue with full time education whilst also training with Scarlets Academy and receiving expert coaching and guidance from the region’s Academy and development staff.

Scarlets General Manager of Rugby Jon Daniels said; “Players like Callum, Luke and Carwyn are the lifeblood and future of the region and we’re delighted to be welcoming the three in as the first new intake in to the Academy for the forthcoming season.

“We have a very experienced team of staff running our Academy and age grade programmes doing excellent work unearthing and nurturing the region’s next generation of talent. We have seen a number of players from within the Scarlets wider community go on to become senior Scarlets as well as internationals.

“We’re also working closely with the WRU and their Exiles programme to identify Welsh qualified players who are currently residing and are educated outside of Wales.”

Scarlets Academy Manager Kevin George added; “We’re now a few weeks in to the first phase of the Academy programme for the forthcoming season. It can be difficult for young players to adjust to the training schedules and working in and around a professional environment but all three young recruits have done exceptionally well.

“Callum, Luke and Carwyn are all settling in well and have impressed with their diligence and approach to the new challenge ahead of them.”

Review: Côr Meibion Llanelli Gethin Hughes Annual Memorial Bursary Award at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.

Gethin Hughes would have loved every minute of it!

An evening which put the spotlight on young up-and-coming singers fitted perfectly with Gethin’s musical philosophy.

The much-missed pianist and organist, who was known as Llanelli’s ‘Mr Music’, would have been overjoyed to see such a wealth of talent on show.

As the evening came to a climax with the classic Superstar medley from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, the audience was able to reflect on the fact they had seen six ‘stars’ of the future.

The winner of the £750 Gethin Hughes Memorial Bursary prize was 15-year-old Ysgol y Strade pupil Lauren Fisher.

She was the final contestant to take the stage at Ffwrnes (the running order having been picked independently to give the singers a level playing field).

And Lauren took full advantage of her prime position to show her dazzling vocal range on Maybe I Like it This Way from Andrew Lippa’s musical The Wild Party.

That had the crowd whooping and hollering, but there was more, much more to come.

Her second song was a true show-stopper, the classic And I’m Telling You – the belter made famous by Jennifer Hudson in the musical film Dreamgirls.

It was, literally, breathless stuff.

Lauren, who won the Llanelli Rotary Club Young Musician of the Year competition earlier this year, was delighted at the win as she received her cash prize and certificate from Côr Meibion Llanelli’s musical director Mr D Eifion Thomas.

The competition was of the highest standard, giving the three judges – Meinir Richards, D Huw Rees and Allan Fewster MBE – a very difficult task.

The other five competitors and their chosen songs were –

Osian Clarke, who sang O Del Mio Dolce Ardor and Stars, from Les Miserables.

Neve Summers, Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man and Handel’s Lascia ch’io Pianga.

Daisy Owens, I’m a Star and Morricone’s Nella Fantasia.

Jack Owens, Run Away With Me and Sychwn Ddagrau.

Joseph Cavalli-Price, Handel’s Total Eclipe and Schumann’s The Lotus Flower.

All six contestants were members of Loud Applause Rising Stars, the charitable group which works hard to nurture young musical talent in South Wales.

Côr Meibion Llanelli kept the evening moving along in their own supremely entertaining style, filling in the programme around the main Gethin Hughes Bursary competition and during the judging process.

They opened the first half with Cri Yn Y Nos, Y Fedwen Arian and the very technical Baba Yetu.

Côr Meibion Llanelli closed the first half with an Elvis Presley tribute – Return to Sender, Peace In The Valley (featuring soloist David Williams) and American Trilogy.

Half-time saw the choir recognise two of its longest-serving choristers, John Davies and Denzil James, who were presented with commemorative badges to mark, respectively, 25 and 50 years with Côr Meibion Llanelli.

The choir resumed the second half with Nikosi Sikele Le’I Africa before the competition returned for its conclusion.

As the judges left the auditorium to deliberate, the choir continued to entertain with The Fields of Athenry (featuring debut soloist Aan Owen), Oh Danny Boy, Wade In The Water and A-men.

The grand finale of Lloyd Webber’s Superstar was entirely appropriate.

The choir’s accompanist throughout was Aled Maddock, while all six of the Gethin Hughes bursary competitors were accompanied on the piano by Jeffrey Howard.

Special mention goes to Catrin Hughes and Cerith Owens of Loud Applause for their help in preparing the contestants and their work back-stage.

The joint comperes for the evening were Richard Christopher (Gethin’s second cousin) and Robert Lloyd.

Photos:

Lauren Fisher.

Lauren Fisher with D Eifion Thomas and Richard Christopher of the Gethin Hughes Memorial Bursary Fund.

Carmarthen boxer Angelo Dragone has it all figured out as he gets ready to start his professional career in the ring.

The 28-year-old milkman has secured sponsorship from Carmarthen-based chartered accountants and business consultants Clay Shaw Butler.

“It’s a big boost for me as I look forward to starting my professional boxing career,” said Angelo, who works for the family business, Nigel’s Dairy.

“David Butler and Mark Jones are big fans of sport and great supporters of local sport and I am very grateful to Clay Shaw Butler for their backing.”

Mark Jones, director at Clay Shaw Butler in Lammas Street, said: “It was great to meet with Angelo at our offices the other day.

“We always try to do our best to support and promote local sporting talent and we are delighted to be one of Angelo’s sponsors.”

Angelo has had 26 amateur fights and two semi-professional bouts.

His last semi-pro bout was an IBA-organised British title fight at the world famous boxing mecca in York Hall, Bethnal Green, London.

“I only lost by a point and that experience was probably the tipping point in my deciding to go fully professional. I thought it was the next logical move for me as a boxer.

“In April, I signed with Swansea-based manager and trainer Richie Garner, who has a fantastic crop of young fighters in his stable.

“My professional debut is August 11 at the Llandarcy Sports Centre, just off the M4 motorway. I will be fighting against a guy from Liverpool, Paul Peers, over four three-minute rounds.”

Lightweight Angelo weighs in at 10 stone and is excited at the prospect of getting into the ring.

“It can’t come too soon for me now. I have been training well and ready for what is a hugely exciting step forward in my career.

“The card at Llandarcy is stacked full of Welsh prospects so it promises to be a great evening’s entertainment.

“I’m fit and raring to go. The great thing about my job as a milkman is that I am up and busy from early in the morning. It also frees up my afternoon for training.

“My regular ring training is with Richie Garner in Swansea. His team has been a great help and I can’t wait now for August 11 to come around.”

Angelo is also grateful to his other sponsors, who include Nigel’s Dairy; D12 fitness gym; CFK kick boxing gym; Celtic Massage; A Poulton, plasterer, Llandeilo; Newcastle Emlyn Premier Stores; the Bridge Inn in Llangennech; Cy Gwyllt Supplements and Toppers in Llanelli.

If you are interested in tickets for Angelo’s professional debut, then give him a ring on 07462 773137.

Tickets are £35 Standard, £60 ringside or £75 VIP ringside. The VIP ticket includes an opportunity to hear guest speaker Enzo Maccarinelli. The Swansea hero is a Welsh former professional boxer who held the WBO cruiserweight title from 2006 to 2008 and the European and British cruiserweight titles between 2010 and 2012.

Photos:

Angelo Dragone.

Angelo Dragone with Clay Shaw Butler director Mark Jones.

About Clay Shaw Butler:

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.

Advances by researchers at Aberystwyth University in the understanding of one of the world’s deadliest diseases have the potential to bring relief to thousands of sufferers around the world.

Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, affects more than 200 million people world-wide, and causes hundreds of thousands of premature deaths every year.

Caused by a parasitic flatworm found in snails in shallow freshwater, 85% of all cases are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

People are infected during routine agricultural, domestic, occupational and recreational activities, which expose them to infested water.

Second only to malaria on the scale of devastating parasitic diseases, recent evidence suggests that the disease is moving into parts of Europe with cases reported on the Mediterranean island of Corsica.

Scientists at Aberystwyth University are studying the biology of the schistosome, the flatworm parasite which causes the disease.

Led by Professor Karl Hoffmann at the University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, the team are looking for targets that may lead to the development new treatments.

Writing in the science journal PLoS Pathogens, Professor Hoffmann and colleagues report on a series of experiments that focus on the activity of proteins that are influential in the parasite’s ability to reproduce, once it has infected a person.

Professor Hoffmann said: “Not so long ago, human diseases caused by parasitic worms were thought to be confined to resource poor communities throughout Africa, Asia and South America. However, in this age of global travel and altering climate, parasitic worms are slowly, but surely, moving into parts of Europe and North America. The long term consequences of increased parasitic worm distributions are difficult to predict, but the harm that infection causes highlights the need for developing control strategies that can mitigate this 21st century threat to global health.

“We have spent the last two decades studying schistosome biology in order to identify parasite processes and targets that may lead to the development of new drugs or other treatments.

“Schistosomiasis is currently treated with Praziquantel, a highly effective drug developed in the 1970s, but there is no vaccine. The effectiveness of Praziquantel has meant that drug development has been complacent over the past 20 to 30 years and new treatments are required in case the parasite develops resistance to current treatments.”

Professor Hoffmann’s team has been focusing on DNA methylation where proteins add molecular components called methyl groups to DNA molecules, influencing genetic activity without affecting the underlying DNA sequence (epigenetics).

Their latest findings reveal a potential method for reducing the number of eggs laid by the flatworms in people, and thereby offering the potential for reducing the transmission of the disease.

The paper Methyl-CpG-binding (SmMBD2/3) and chromobox (SmCBX) proteins are required for neoblast proliferation and oviposition in the parasitic blood fluke Schistosoma mansoniwas published on Thursday 28 June 2018 in the journal PloS Pathogens.

Professor Hoffman has also written about the challenges of tacking schistosomiasis in The Conversation: Parasitic flatworms affect millions in developing countries, but new research offers hope.

Photos:

Professor Karl Hoffman.

Schistosomiasis affects over 200 million people world-wide. Eggs (oval) produced by schistosome parasites accumulate in the host liver (pink cells) and induce an inflammatory response (purple cells). This leads to pathological complications associated with schistosomiasis and death.

Links:

Methyl-CpG-binding (SmMBD2/3) and chromobox (SmCBX) proteins are required for neoblast proliferation and oviposition in the parasitic blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni:PloS Pathogens

Parasitic flatworms affect millions in developing countries, but new research offers hope: The Conversation

Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/

Professor Karl Hoffmann
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/staff-profiles/listing/profile/krh/

By Mark Jones, director of Carmarthen-based Clay Shaw Butler chartered accountants and business consultants.

Turn on the TV, listen to the radio, or open your tablet computer or newspaper and you’ll find pensions are always in the news.

Pensions are an important consideration for all – and they become much more important the older you get.

But what are the rules?

Employers can help promote retirement benefits for their employees in a number of ways, including occupational schemes.

Occupational pension schemes require the establishment of a trust in order to gain the tax advantages and to ensure that the assets of the pension scheme are kept separate from those of the employer.

The team at Clay Shaw Butler produce regularly-updated factsheets on the main responsibilities of occupational pension scheme trustees.

If your business is in West Wales, we can advise you on the accounting and audit requirements of your scheme.

Many employers offer their staff an opportunity to save for their retirement through an occupational (or company) pension scheme.

Those employees who join the scheme need to have confidence that the scheme is being well run.

The role of pension scheme trustees is very important in ensuring that the scheme is run honestly and efficiently and in the best interests of the members.

The Pensions Act 1995 (the Act) brought about a number of major changes to the way occupational pension schemes are run. The 2004 Pensions Act brought about further change and introduced, in April 2005, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) as the UK regulator of work-based pension schemes.

TPR has an important role in the pension sector.

Its objectives, as set out in legislation, are to:

• protect the benefits of members of work-based pension schemes
• protect the benefits of members of personal pension schemes (where there is a direct payment arrangement)
• promote, and to improve understanding of the good administration of work-based pension schemes
• reduce the risk of situations arising which may lead to claims for compensation being payable from the Pension Protection Fund
• maximise employer compliance with employer duties and the employment safeguards introduced by the Pensions Act 2008
• minimise any adverse impact on the sustainable growth of an employer (in relation to the exercise of the regulator’s functions under Part 3 of the Pension Act 2014).

TPR has three core powers that underpin its regulatory approach:

• investigating schemes by gathering information that helps them identify and monitor risks
• putting things right where problems have been identified
• acting against avoidance to ensure that employers do not sidestep their pension obligations.

In fulfilling its role, TPR produces important guidance for those involved with pension schemes including trustees as well as auditors and actuaries. This guidance is available from TPR’s website.

The Pensions Act 2008 introduced a requirement on UK employers to automatically enrol all employees in a ‘qualifying auto-enrolment pension scheme’ and to make contributions to that scheme on their behalf. Enrolment may be either into an occupational pension scheme or a contract based scheme.

Many contract based schemes are group personal pensions where an employer appoints a pension provider, often an insurance company, to run the scheme. The National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) is a government backed pension scheme that employers can use for auto enrolling employees.

Compliance with the regulations started from 2012 for the largest employers.

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.

Construction work on the £40.5m Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus is set to start on 2 July 2018 at Aberystwyth University’s Gogerddan campus near Penrhyncoch.

The Innovation Campus will foster collaboration between business and academia, providing world-leading facilities and expertise for the food and drink, bio-processing and biotechnology sectors.

The construction contract for the ambitious development has been awarded to Willmott Dixon Construction Limited and is expected to take two years to complete.

Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University said: “Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus is an exceptional development that will bring new industry partnerships and jobs to the region. It is an example of the University working collaboratively to ensure that the excellent research carried out here – particularly within our Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) – acts as a catalyst for innovative practice which has an impact on the wider economy.

“We are grateful to the Welsh Government for their support through the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) and to BBSRC, part of UK Research and Innovation, for their support, as well as to Ceredigion County Council who have worked with us on infrastructure improvements for the benefit of the area.”

The University and Ceredigion County Council have worked together to deliver highway improvements to widen the road leading to the Campus from the main A4159 crossroads and these works were successfully completed by the County Council in May 2018.

The County Council’s Cabinet member responsible for Economy and Regeneration, Councillor Rhodri Evans said: “Innovation and enterprise are key factors in supporting Ceredigion’s economy to flourish. The Council has worked closely with Aberystwyth University to enable the development to progress and I am delighted to see work beginning. I hope to see many benefits for the whole county after the Campus is established.”

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government (£20m), BBSRC – part of UK Research and Innovation (£12m) and Aberystwyth University (£8.5m), the Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus will offer a range of high quality facilities to support innovation, enabling commercial enterprises to grow, prosper and drive economic growth in the food and drink, bio-processing and biotechnology sectors throughout Wales and beyond.

Rhian Hayward MBE, Chief Executive Officer for Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus said: “As we move into this construction phase we have already received considerable interest from companies in using the facilities in collaboration with Aberystwyth University experts. The Campus development is already showing early promise of its potential to support economic growth amongst entrepreneurs, start-up companies and large industry partners.”

Ian Jones, Director for Willmott Dixon Wales and West added: “We understand the significance of this project to the region and we are proud to be able to help bring the vision of the Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus to life. The size and scale of the project is impressive, and highlights the University’s commitment to delivering world class research and innovation facilities.”

Photo: Left to Right:Ian Jones, Director for Wilmott Dixon Wales and West; Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University; Professor Chris Thomas, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Aberystwyth University; Dr Rhian Hayward, Chief Executive Officer at Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus; and Jeff Monks, Head of Estate Operations at BBSRC.

Links:
Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus
www.aberinnovation.co.uk

Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers

BBSRC
https://bbsrc.ukri.org

Wales European Funding Office – WEFO
wefo.gov.wales