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Scarlets

Press releases

Shingler and Evans to undergo surgery

Posted By Robert Lloyd

Press release from Scarlets:

Backrow Aaron Shingler and scrum half Jonathan Evans both sustained injuries in the Guinness PRO14 final last weekend, against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

We can today confirm that both will require surgery to repair damage done to knee (Shingler) and foot (Evans).

Neither player will be available for the start of the 2018-19 season.

They will both follow an extensive rehabilitation period; expected return to play dates will be made available in due course.

Weblink –

http://www.scarlets.wales

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Press releases

Residents in Ammanford invited to a public drop-in event about health changes

Posted By Robert Lloyd

Press release from the Hywel Dda University Health Board –

Calling all Ammanford residents – your NHS services need to change and now is the time to make your voices heard

Residents in Ammanford and the surrounding area are being invited to a public drop-in event to discuss our proposals to fundamentally change the way we provide healthcare services for current and future generations.

The event will be held between 2pm-7pm at Penybanc Welfare Hall, Ammanford SA18 3QS on Monday 11 June 2018.  This is your opportunity to tell us what you think about our proposals or to give us new ideas.

Hywel Dda University Health Board has formally launched its “Big NHS Change,” a 12-week consultation aimed at making provision of local health and care better for our communities.

We’re asking residents across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, as well as the wider cross-border regions, to get involved and have your say on three proposals to improve the way we provide care for our population. Each proposal has been designed and tested by our clinicians to ensure that our services are safe, sustainable, accessible and kind for our generation and those to come.

The health board particularly wants to reach out to people who may not usually take part in or may be traditionally under-represented in similar consultation feedback, including among others, disabled people, LGBTQ+, black and minority ethnic groups, different age groups, people of varying faiths or none, men and people of working age.  We are also keen to hear from any voluntary agencies or third sector agencies supporting protected groups.

Hywel Dda Chief Executive Steve Moore said: “Our proposals for change could affect everyone in our area, from bumps and babies to older people and everyone in between, so we are asking you all to tell us what you think. Whether you are a patient, a carer, a family member, or one of the thousands of people who work for the Health Board – we want to hear from you.

“Last year we started a conversation with our population, our staff and with people we work with to provide care to explore what is important to us and to jointly think about how to best run services. We did this because we think it is the right thing to do to design our services together. We explored the opportunities we think are offered to us through modern medicine and advancements in technology and the expectations you have for us to improve.

“We also set out the significant challenges faced by the NHS which we must deal with to ensure it thrives and delivers for you and your family now and in the future. This means that we will have to make decisions about where we can provide services and know that there are going to be compromises to make, so that we make best use of our resources.”

Among the biggest challenges the health board currently faces are an ageing population, difficulty for many people in accessing services close to home, significant recruitment challenges – particularly specialist medical staff – and ageing hospital buildings which require a lot of maintenance to keep running.

To overcome these we want to radically change the way we provide local health care services so that people are accessing most of the care and treatment they need in their local community, and are able to stay at home while they are getting treatment rather than having to go into hospital.

Reducing the number of main hospitals will mean having fewer medical rotas to fill, making it easier to attract clinicians to come and work for us; it will also mean shorter waiting times and fewer cancellations, and more money for local and community health services.

In all three of the proposals, Bronglais District General Hospital will continue to provide services for mid Wales; a new major hospital will be built somewhere between Narberth and St Clears, and there will be 10 community hubs across the Health Board area.

The proposals are:

Proposal A

  • A new urgent care and planned care hospital between Narberth and St Clears
  • Community hospitals in Glangwili, Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Withybush
  • A general hospital in Aberystwyth on the Bronglais Hospital site

Proposal B

  • A new urgent care and planned care hospital between Narberth and St Clears
  • Community hospitals in Glangwili and Withybush
  • General hospitals at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Aberystwyth on the Bronglais Hospital site

Proposal C

  • A new urgent care hospital between Narberth and St Clears
  • A planned care hospital on Glangwili site
  • A community hospital in Withybush
  • General hospitals at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Aberystwyth on the Bronglais Hospital site

Hywel Dda’s Executive Medical Director & Director of Clinical Strategy, Dr Phil Kloer, added: “The challenges we face are really significant.  People are living longer, some with long lasting health conditions, and we expect there to be many more older people who will need regular health care and social care.

“In our area some people live in towns and some in country areas, making it difficult for us to ensure that services are in the right place for people to access.  Many people live a long way from services, so helping people to live at home while they have treatment can involve a lot of travel for health workers.

“We know that people want to be supported to manage their health in their own homes – about 4 out of every 10 hospital beds are filled by people who could be treated at home. Added to this is the fact that we’re finding it hard to get enough permanent staff, especially specialist medical staff, to come and work for us, and we also need to make fuller use of new technology such as computers, phones, telehealth and telecare.

“This is why we have come up with three proposals that we think are safe, viable and offer an improvement on what we currently have, and have launched a formal 12-week consultation to present these to you, to listen and talk to you further and take on board your views and ideas.

“We all have a shared passion for the NHS, our services, our history and our staff and we want to harness this to design, together with you, the best health service for our population. We are so grateful to those of you who have already been involved in this as patients, staff and members of our communities.”

Your feedback will be independently analysed and considered before any formal proposal is put before our Health Board for decision on how to proceed later in 2018 and we will continue to keep you updated on how we have used your feedback.

Please tell us your views by:

Completing the online questionnaire at: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/hddchange

Emailing us at: hyweldda.engagement@wales.nhs.uk

Telephone: 01554 899 056

Coming to one of our drop-in events: 

Monday 11th June 2pm-7pm / Penybanc Welfare Hall, Ammanford SA18 3QS

Thursday 14th June 2pm-7pm / City Hall, St.David’s SA62 6SD

Monday 18th June 2pm-7pm / Tysul Hall, Llandysul SA44 4HS

Tuesday 26th June 2pm-7pm / Pembrokeshire Archives Building, Haverfordwest SA61 2PE

Monday 2nd July 2pm-7pm / Victoria Hall, Lampeter SA48 7EE

Thursday 5th July 2pm-7pm / Pill Social Centre, Milford Haven SA73 2QT

Monday 9th July 2pm-7pm / Tumble Hall, Tumble SA14 6HR

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Press releases

Aberystwyth academics appointed to Research Excellence Framework panels

Posted By Robert Lloyd

Four prominent academics from Aberystwyth University have been selected as panel members for the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Professor Colin McInnesfrom the Department of International Politics has been appointed as an interdisciplinary adviser and member of Sub-panel 19: Politics and International Studies.

Professor McInnes has also been appointed as a panel member for the ‘criteria phase’ which will develop the detailed guidance and criteria for REF 2021, as well as for the ‘assessment phase’ which will involve the full assessment of submissions made by institutions.

Professor Mike Gooding, Director of the Institute of Biological, Rural and Environmental Sciences, has been appointed as a member of Sub-panel 6: Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science, for the assessment phase.

Professor Qiang Shen, Director of the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science, has been appointed as a member of Sub-panel 11: Computer Science and Informatics, for the assessment phase.

Professor Phillipp Schofield, Professor of Medieval History at the Department of History and Welsh History, has been appointed as a member of Sub-panel 28: History, for the assessment phase.

First carried out in 2014, and replacing the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), the Research Excellence Framework (REF) assesses the quality of research in UK universities and higher education colleges, and is undertaken by the four UK higher education funding bodies.

Research is judged on the quality of outputs (e.g. publications, performances, and exhibitions), their impact beyond academia, and the environment that supports research, with the results informing the allocation of research funding.

Panel members were selected from over 4,000 nominations to the four main panels and the 34 sub-panels.

Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Vice Chancellor, said: “I congratulate my colleagues on being nominated by their peers for these important roles in the REF 2021 process.  Their appointment reflects their reputation and expertise within their subject areas, and their commitment to their academic disciplines.”

The results of the last REF in 2014 reported that 95% of the research activity submitted by Aberystwyth University was of an internationally recognised standard or higher, with world leading research (4*) identified in all 17 of the Units of Assessment submitted.


Link:

REF 2021 – https://www.ref.ac.uk/

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News

Judges revealed for the Gethin Hughes Memorial Bursary competition

Posted By Robert Lloyd

Cue drum roll . . .

The judges have been revealed for the Gethin Hughes Memorial Bursary competition.

The event is part of Cor Meibion Llanelli’s annual concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, on Saturday, June 30.

The judges will be – Allan Fewster, Eilir Owen Griffiths and Meinir Richards.

The contestants will be accompanied by Jeffrey Howard.

Biographical information on the judges and accompanist –

Allan Fewster

Allan is a native of Llangennech and was educated at the Llanelli Boys’ Grammar / technical school, Trinity College Carmarthen and the Birmingham Conservatoire.

He has dedicated his life to music in the community through his long-standing direction of the mixed choir Cor Glandulais. His expertise as both accompanist and organist is widely respected and he has appeared often on television as guest accompanist to various well-known singers.

Special mention, however, must be made of his committment to the tradition of choral singing and his work in ensuring an annual performance of a classical oratorio in the village of Llangennech.

His musical ability has been recognised by his elevation to the white robes of the Druidic Circle at the National Eisteddfod and his receiving the honour of the MBE for his services to music in Wales.

***

Eilir Owen Griffiths

Eilir Owen Griffiths is one of Wales’s most dynamic choral directors.

With more than 15 years of experience as a music director and composer, he has conducted CF1 Choir since its formation in 2002. He was also the music director for the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and won ” tlws y cerddor” (musician’s award) at the National Eisteddfod in 2008.

Eilir has conducted many different choirs over the years. Between 2004 and 2014 he was the music director of Cor Godre’r Garth, winning the mixed choir competition five times at the National Eisteddfod. He was one of the first music directors of the Cardiff Blues Choir formed in 2006.

Eilir works as a BA course co-ordinator at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s performance centre and is also the artistic director for the Trinity Saint David Festival. He has visited Ireland, Germany, Poland, France, India, and the United States of America as part of his involvement in musical performance.

***

Meinir Richards

Meinir was born in Whitland and attended the local grammar school before studying music at Bangor University. She commenced her teaching career at Maesteg Comprehensive School before spending 15 years as head of the music department at Gowerton Comprehensive School – Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr.

For the past 20 years she has been the head of music at Ysgol Gyfun Bro Myrddin in Carmarthen. As well as competing successfully in Eisteddfodau and taking part in whole-school musicals and concerts, the school choir loves travelling abroad. Recently, the Bro Myrddin school choirs received an “excellence in music” award from Carmarthenshire County Council.

Under Meinir’s direction, Cor Llanddarog has won the mixed choir competition for ‘over 45 voices’ at the National Eisteddfod five times. Last year, the choir visited Canada and have released a CD of choral works by Eric Jones.

***

Jeffrey Howard

Jeffrey Howard was born in Cardiff and studied at the University of Wales College, Cardiff, and at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he specialised in organ performance and church music. He now pusues a career as organist, pianist, singer, coach, and conductor, and has accompanied leading international singers, including Sir Bryn Terfel, Sir Willard White, Dennis O’Neill, Nuccia Focile, Rebecca Evans, Wynne Evans, Alfie Boe and Jason Howard.

For the last 20 years, Jeff has been a vocal coach at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Welsh National Opera and Welsh National Youth Opera. Jeff coaches at the Wales International Academy of Voice and on the music theatre course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He is also vocal tutor at Bristol University, music director of the 200-voice St David’s Praise Choir and Orchestra, the Cambrensis Choir and Treorchy Male Voice Choir.

Jeff is involved in music theatre and cabaret work and has accompanied artists such as Michael Ball, John Owen Jones, Shan Cothi, Rhydian Roberts, Connie Fisher, Ruth Madoc and Dame Shirley Bassey.

Jeff is a recipient of the Joseph Parry Award, given by the Welsh Music Guild for his services to music in Wales.

***

More details about the concert here –

Côr Meibion Llanelli will remember their former accompanist at their annual concert

 

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Press releases

Aberystwyth gets ready for Business Start-Up Week 2018

Posted By RobertLloyd58

If you have a business idea that you would like to turn into reality, or are interested in developing your entrepreneurial skills, then Aberystwyth University’s annual Business Start-up Week may be just what you need.

The week long programme from Monday 4thto Friday 8thJune, consists of a range of business skills workshops designed around the key issues which face a start-up business or social enterprise.  The workshops are free and open to all.

This year’s Business Start-up Week programme includes sessions on market research, marketing, selling techniques, digital marketing, financial planning and control, selling, intellectual property and legal issues.

The schedule also includes three presentations by role models who have started successful businesses.

The University’s Enterprise Manager, Tony Orme, who has organised Business Start-up Week at the University for over ten years, explains:  “If you’ve ever dreamt of starting your own business then Business Start-up Week will be ideal for you.

“Focusing on essential business skills training, the free workshops offer inspiration and first-hand experience from successful entrepreneurs, and tips and practical guidance from business advisors and University staff.

“The format offers flexibility for participants to attend the full programme of sessions, or to identify topics which are of particular interest to them.

“An added benefit of attending this event is the opportunity to meet like-minded entrepreneurs and build a support network to draw on when taking your business idea forward.” 

Open to all, including Aberystwyth University staff, students and graduates, and free of charge to participants, the workshops will be held on Aberystwyth University’s Penglais Campus.

Business Start-Up Week is a partnership between Aberystwyth University’s Careers Service and the Welsh Government’s Big Ideas Wales.

For further information and to book a place on one or more workshops, please contact aberpreneurs@aber.ac.uk.

Link:

Aberystwyth University Careers Service – https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/careers/

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Press releases

Creative writing student wins New Welsh Review award

Posted By RobertLloyd58

A collection of essays on hearing loss by an Aberystwyth University creative writing student has been hailed the winner of an award hosted by literary magazine New Welsh Review.

Fiction as a Hearing Aid by Ed Garland, expertly examines how literature can provide comfort and clarification to those with hearing difficulties.

Ed, who is currently studying for an MA in Creative Writing at the Department of English and Creative Writing, was announced as the winner of the New Welsh Writing Awards 2018: Aberystwyth University Prize for an Essay Collection at the Hay Festival.

The prize comprises a £1,000 advance on an ebook deal, published under the magazine’s book imprint New Welsh Rarebyte, together with a critique by London literary agent and Awards partner Cathryn Summerhayes of Curtis Brown.

The themes highlighted in Ed’s essays have also been set in a short animated film by Aberystwyth University graduate Emily Roberts.

The New Welsh Writing Awards, unique to the annual writing prize calendar in its championing of long-form writing, celebrated the essay collection form this year.

Since its inception in 2015, the annual awards have received well over 200 entries; the winner in 2015, Eluned Gramich who won with Woman Who Brings the Rain, went on to be shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year in 2016.

This year, New Welsh Revieweditor Gwen Davies judged entries with the help of students from Aberystwyth University.

Gwen Davies said of Ed Garland’s winning collection of essays that it is “an intelligent, rigorous, personal, humorous and compelling presentation of words as soundscape.”

Ed Garland’s success builds on a successful week for the Department of English and Creative Writing which has been rated second in the UK for student satisfaction with teaching and feedback in the 2019 Guardian University Guide published on Tuesday 29 May.

Dr Louise Marshall, Head of the Department of English and Creative Writing said: “The Department are absolutely delighted for Ed and we are incredibly proud of his well-deserved success. Ed’s work is at the cutting-edge of research in the humanities and his creative writing demonstrates his incredible prowess, poise, and reflective thinking.”

“Ed joins a growing cohort of award-winning Aberystwyth Creative Writing students whose successes demonstrate the quality, originality, and glittering brilliance of their writing across a broad range of genres and forms. We wish Ed every success for his future and heartily congratulate him on this prestigious award.”

Second place was awarded to Alex Diggins from Bristol for Sea Change: An Argument in Six Parts, and third to Nicholas Murray from Presteigne for Writing and Engagement.

All three shortlisted entries will be published in extract form in the autumn issue of New Welsh Reader 118 to be published on 1 September 2018.

Ed Garland
Ed Garland is a part-time student on the MA in Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University.

His writing has appeared in Anticmagazine, A Glimpse Of, and various collaborations with the illustrator Inkymole.

He is from Greater Manchester, and lived in Leicester and Bristol before moving to Aberystwyth with his wife, Helena, in 2016.

He was awarded a BSc in Music Technology from DeMontfort University in 2005.

He works as a copywriter and has worked as a court clerk, a climbing instructor, a poster seller, and many other things.

New Welsh Review:

New Welsh Review was founded in 1988 as the successor to The Welsh Review (1939- 1948), Dock Leaves and The Anglo-Welsh Review (1949-1987) and is Wales’s foremost literary magazine in English, offering a vital outlet for the very best new fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry, a forum for critical debate, and a rigorous and engaged reviewing culture.

New Welsh Review Ltd is supported through core funding by the Welsh Books Council and hosted by Aberystwyth University Department of English and Creative Writing. The magazine’s creative content was rebranded as New Welsh Reader in 2015, with reviews moving entirely online.

Photo: Ed Garland, winner of the New Welsh Writing Awards 2018: Aberystwyth University Prize for an Essay Collection

Links:
New Welsh Writing Awards
http://www.newwelshwritingawards.com/

New Welsh Review
https://www.newwelshreview.com/

Department of English and Creative Writing
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/english/

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