Low income families in Carmarthenshire will be supported by the council to buy secondary school uniforms for their children.

Carmarthenshire County Council will pay £50 towards the cost of uniform under a new £15,000 scheme.

The council’s executive board passed the plans for the fund to support families in need at its meeting today (Monday, June 4, 2018).

It follows a decision by the Welsh Government to end its School Uniform Grant.

Cllr Glynog Davies, executive board member for education and children’s services, said: “We are providing a small grant to help families that find it difficult to fund school uniform costs.”

The funding will be made available to pupils entering year seven who are eligible for free school meals.

It is thought that the fund will support more than 300 pupils a year.

More information will be made available on the council’s website www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales

• Watch the executive board discussion and read the report at www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales

Pembrey Country Park in Carmarthenshire has won prestigious Blue Flag status for the 10th consecutive year.

The attraction, which includes Cefn Sidan beach, has been awarded the status every year since 2009.

Since the Blue Flag awards were first introduced in 1988, Pembrey Country Park has won more Blue Flags than anywhere else in Wales.

The attraction also hosted this year’s All Wales Blue Flag Awards, run by Keep Wales Tidy, to mark the 30^th anniversary of Cefn Sidan becoming the first Welsh beach to win the accolade.

Cllr Peter Hughes-Griffiths, Carmarthenshire Council’s executive board member for leisure, said: “Pembrey Country Park is a jewel in Carmarthenshire’s crown, which has a long-standing, proud association with the Blue Flag Awards.

“Flying the Blue Flag once again is testament to the huge amount of hard work that often takes place behind the scenes to maintain the attraction’s beauty, so credit should go to everyone involved in Pembrey Country Park’s running.

“Awarded in recognition of excellence for high standards of water quality, cleanliness, scenery, environmental education and access, the Blue Flag is an indication of a world class visiting experience for local people and visitors to Carmarthenshire.

“Continuous accolades of this calibre raise the county’s profile as a top class destination, helping further boost an already thriving tourism industry.”

Other 2018 winners across Wales include Pendine beach in Carmarthenshire, which won a Seaside Award in recognition of its management, appearance, cleanliness and safety.

Cllr Hughes-Griffiths said: “At a time when more and more people are choosing to holiday at home, the Seaside Award is a symbol of quality that can be depended on when looking for potential places to visit. That’s why everyone involved in the upkeep of stunning Pendine beach also deserves praise.”

The Blue Flag Awards are run in 48 countries across the world. Beaches in Bora Bora, South Africa and Brazil are among the other 2018 winners.

Microbes involved in cement production, art, environmental remediation, building damage, corrosion and kidney stone formation will be the focus for a public lecture at Aberystwyth University on Wednesday 6 June 2018.

‘Rock-Forming Microbes – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ will be delivered by Robin Gerlach, Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the Centre for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University-Bozeman, USA.

In his lecture Professor Gerlach will provide insights into the actions and results of mineral-precipitating and mineral-dissolving microbes.

“These microbes happen to be all around and within us”, said Professor Gerlach, “and depending on the circumstances they can be used for benefit or cause damage.”

Professor Gerlach and collaborators are trying to harness the beauty of, and control the beast within these diverse microbes.

“Controlling the actions of these microbes provides an opportunity to develop novel building materials, stabilize building foundations and dams, seal leaking wells, control radioactive wastes, create pieces of art, and improve the treatment and prevention of kidney stones”, he added.

The lecture takes place in the Llandinam Lecture Theatre A6 on Penglais Campus at 5:30pm on Wednesday 6 June 2018. The lecture will be preceded by a drinks reception at 5:00 pm in the Llandinam concourse. All welcome.

Professor Paul Brewer, Head of the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University said: “We are delighted to host the latest Sêr Cymru National Research Network for Low Carbon, Energy and Environment (NRN-LCEE) public lecture at the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, which this is year is celebrating its centenary. We look forward to hearing Professor Gerlach’s lecture which promises to provide a fascinating insight into the world of microbes, and how they affect our lives in ways most people would never have imagined.”

The lecture is part of the Sêr Cymru National Research Network for Low Carbon, Energy and Environment (NRN-LCEE) public lecture series.

Photo:Robin Gerlach, Professor Chemical and Biological Engineering from the Centre for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University-Bozeman, USA.

Links:

Department of Geography and Earth Science
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/dges/

Sêr Cymru National Research Network for Low Carbon, Energy and Environment (NRN-LCEE)
http://www.nrn-lcee.ac.uk/

Public lecture: Rock-Forming Microbes – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
http://www.nrn-lcee.ac.uk/events/public-lecture-rock-forming-microbes-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-36839

The latest podcast from Phil and Robert Lloyd has just been released.

The Big Cwtsh: Episode 18 is now on Soundcloud.

The annual Carmarthen Boys’ Grammar School reunion dinner takes place next month.

It is being held at the Ivy Bush Royal Hotel on Saturday 7th July 2018 at 5.00 for 5.30pm. Dress code is lounge suit or blazer.

All former pupils and staff are invited to the event, organised by the Old Maridunians Association, the old boys of the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School for Boys.

The guest speaker is Adrian “Harry” Wray (pictured above, marked in blue, in an old Carmarthen Quins rugby photo from 1979).

Here is Adrian’s pen picture in his own words:

I attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School from 1970/71 to 1977/78.  As you can see, I enjoyed it so much I stayed that extra year.

During this time, I had the pleasure of experiencing three headmasters.

I had the honour of captaining the First XV for the final two seasons 1976/77 and 1977/78. During our final season we achieved the title of Welsh Sevens Champions, and we also defeated Christ College Brecon on their home soil.

My academic education finished when leaving the Gram, whereupon I took up employment with a local decorating firm.  Within four years I became self-employed and to this day I am still painting and decorating in and around Carmarthenshire.

I look forward to reminiscing with guests about my Gram years.

Hundreds of pensioners from across Wales will gather at the Grand Pavillion in Porthcawl for the Active Wales annual conference and rally on Wednesday 6 June.

Guest speakers at the morning session include Vaughan Gething AM, the Cabinet Minister for Health and Social Services, Baroness Gale of Blaenrhondda, the president of Active Wales, and a representative from Community Pharmacy Wales.

Active Wales, formerly known as the National Old Age Pensioners’ Association of Wales, has a broad aim of improving the quality of life for older people in Wales through campaigning.

At the same time, it organises lots of informal activities to help combat loneliness and isolation amongst older people.

Therefore, after the formal business in the morning, Active Wales welcomes members of the public to join them at their rally in the afternoon that includes a wide variety of entertainment and usually, lots of laughter.

It takes place between 2.30pm and 5.00pm, and costs £2.50 with a free raffle prize draw.

For more information about the conference contact Active Wales’ chair John Davies on 01685 812130.

Visit www.activewales.org.uk for further details about Active Wales.

Notes:

1. News Release issued by Age Cymru on behalf of Active Wales.
2. Active Wales, formerly the National Old Age Pensioners Association of Wales, is the oldest and largest wholly voluntary pensioners’ organisation in Wales and was founded in 1939.
3. All individuals and groups of retired pensioners are invited to join the Association in our campaign to remove the stigma of pensioner poverty for all time, improving the life of all pensioners.

The Active Wales Charter:

• The Government are expected to provide an adequate weekly State Retirement Pension directly related to, and to be annually increased in line with average earnings, from The National Insurance Fund.
• The Association demands the Government implement to the full the recommendations of the 1999 Royal Commission, Care of the Elderly.
• Demand that discrimination on the grounds of age be illegal.
• Ensure the development of free day care facilities to address the companionship and social needs of the elderly.
• Press the Government and others to take positive action on crime prevention and detection, to alleviate the FEAR OF CRIME amongst pensioners.
• To press for the creation of ways and means to enable older people to participate in the development of policies and legislation which affect them.