THE busy ladies of the popular Côr Curiad Choir in Llanelli have a special concert coming up right in the heart of the town.

The historic St Elli Parish Church will be the venue for a spring charity concert on Friday, April 19 (7pm).

All proceeds from the concert will go towards church funds.

Tickets are £10 and are available from the email address marianneosborne@cinw.org.uk or by ringing 01554 227427.

Côr Curiad ladies choir has been running for more than 25 years and has 40-plus members. The choir includes mothers, daughters and sisters, as well as ‘pals’. They even have members who live outside of Wales.

The choir’s musical director is Alex Esney.

Down the years, the choir has raised thousands for charities, including Llanelli’s Ty Bryngwyn Hospice and the Wales Air Ambulance.

You can find out more about Côr Curiad on their Facebook page at – https://www.facebook.com/Corcuriad

Meanwhile, after two years of rehearsing at St Elli Church, Llanelli Chamber Choir members have relocated to the Athenaeum at Llanelli Library.

The choir will continue to hold major concerts at the church, as it offers a magnificent venue to showcase its repertoire.

In its very short history, the choir, under the direction of Piet Zorn, has tackled various musical challenges, including performances of Stainer’s Crucifixion, Faure’s Requiem, and (last year) a memorable rendition of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.

The choir members are regular guests at Christmas and Summer concerts at the church organised by Loud Applause Rising Stars.

Currently, the choir is diligently preparing Haydn’s Creation, set to be performed at the church on Saturday, September 28.

Prior to that, on Friday, June 14, the choir will host a fundraising concert to help gather the funds necessary for staging the event.

The choir will commence rehearsals at its new venue in the library on Monday, April 8. Rehearsals will take place once a week, from 6.30 to 8.30 pm.

A spokesman for Llanelli Chamber Choir said: “We are a mixed choir with more than 40 members. No audition is required. All that is needed is a love for music and the desire to perform wonderful pieces.”

You can find out more about Llanelli Chamber Choir on their Facebook page at – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090227216918

In other news, later this month, there will be a massive concert showcasing Welsh male voice choirs at their very best.

The Royal Albert Hall will be hosting 500 men, representing 23 choirs, on Saturday, April 27.

The event is organised by the Welsh Male Choirs Association.

The musical director for the evening will be Dr Alwyn Humphreys MBE, who will be supported by the celebrated musicians Caradog Williams (Burry Port) and Huw Tregelles Williams OBE (Loughor).

Mr Tregelles Williams, President of the Welsh Male Choirs Association, said: “The evening will show that choral singing among men is alive and well – despite the struggles we have faced in recent years.”

The concert will also feature tenor Osian Wyn Bowen (Burry Port) and celebrated cellist Steffan Morris (Loughor).

The award-winning ladies choir, Parti Llwchwr, will also perform.

The compere will be BBC journalist, presenter and broadcaster Garry Owen.

Tickets can be ordered through the Royal Albert Hall ticket office.

Further information can be obtained through Alun Thomas on 07795 194498 or email alunethomas@btinternet.com

Meanwhile, members of Llanelli Youth Theatre are getting warmed up for what is going to be a busy 40^th anniversary year.

LYT will be staging a special 40^th anniversary concert at Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli on Saturday, June 1.

Then, in September, LYT will be staging Stephen Sondheim’s Tony award-winning musical Sweeney Todd.

On April 5, the Immersion Theatre company bring the Alice in Wonderland family musical to Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli.

Immersion Theatre are the team behind last year’s smash hit “The Jungle Book”. The company cast will bring their trademark energy to their biggest, funniest, and most spectacular family musical to date: Alice in Wonderland!

Follow Alice and the White Rabbit as they set off on a colourful, topsy-turvy adventure and meet a host of outlandish characters including Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat and of course, the Mad-as a bat-Hatter!

Children and adults alike are invited to join in the hilarity of seeing this classic story brought vividly to life in a show packed with comedy, music, audience interaction, and fun for the whole family! Tickets are £14 and £12

On April 20, Tony Toes Ballet will bring their Movie and Musicals show to Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.

Tiny Toes Ballet take you on a journey of imagination, exploration, fun and dance as their young dancers perform classic hits from your favourite movies and musicals. You’ll leave the theatre smiling from ear to ear.

Tickets are £12.

At The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen, Ghost The Musical will be performed by BOW Productions between April 10 and 13.

Ghost the Musical is a timeless fantasy about the power of love.

Longtime couple Sam and Molly are happily in love and living together in Brooklyn.

Walking back to their apartment one night, they are mugged at gunpoint, leaving Sam murdered on a dark street. Sam is trapped between this world and the next as a ghost and unable to leave Molly, who he quickly learns is in grave danger.

With the help of a storefront psychic named Oda Mae Brown, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of protecting her.

Featuring such popular songs as “With You” and the Righteous Brothers’ classic “Unchained Melody,” this powerful love story is a fan favourite!

More information about Theatrau Sir Gar shows can be found on their website at – https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk

IT was a wise old chap who once said, “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.”

But most of us who live in this lovely corner of Wales will also know that you can add two other certainties to Benjamin Franklin’s quote – rain and potholes!

Cast your mind back, dear reader, over the last four months, and name me one day which has been rain-free.

It’s tempting to think that St Swithin’s Day was moved to December 15, rather than its current position on July 15, when (I am happily willing to predict) it will deliver a further 40 days and nights of rain.

The old saying has been trotted out day after day – “If you can’t see Mumbles Head from Swansea, then it’s raining. If you can see Mumbles, then it is about to rain!”

I’ve heard the same saying tailored to fit Llanelli and Burry Port Lighthouse – and other locations in our patch. But, if a joke is worth telling, it is also worth adapting.

My columnist colleague Phil Evans (he’s here on Wednesdays) is often fond of remarking on postmen (and postwomen) wearing shorts in all weathers. It may be my imagination, but ‘over by ‘ere’ I am sure I saw one postie preparing for another day of Biblical rain by wearing an inflatable rubber ring and a snorkelling kit.

Local sporting fixtures have been badly hit by the rain. For example, Ffos Las racecourse in the Gwendraeth Valley has seen four race meetings abandoned since the start of the year. They will be hoping for more luck when they stage a Family Fun Day this Sunday.

Meanwhile, if the rain has managed to drive us indoors, then at least it is keeping us off our potholed roads.

Perhaps it is just me, but are potholes breeding – and getting bigger?

The community joke in our road is that you can get a decent echo peering down some potholes, while others are big enough to merit a small bridge.

We haven’t had the hard frosts of winter, which usually break our roads up like Crunchie bars. So why are we getting so many potholes? Is tarmac less adhesive? Are cars heavier? Are people driving with snowchains attached to their wheels?

Our local councils are obviously well aware of the problems (in fact, it is worth doing your civic duty and using the ‘report a pothole’ facility on local council websites).

And the roadbuilding industry is worried . . .

The Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), says a critical situation demands urgent attention.

The latest findings from the AIA Alarm Survey reveal that more than half of the local road network in England and Wales faces potential failure within the next 15 years.

The AIA reckons funding to rectify the backlog of repairs is soaring to a staggering £16.3 billion.

Apparently, local authorities expect to grapple with more than two million potholes in the current financial year alone.

This marks a substantial 43 per cent increase compared to the preceding 12 months and represents the highest repair volume since the period of 2015-2016, when approximately 2.2 million potholes were addressed across England and Wales.

Rick Green, Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, has said: “Local authorities find themselves with slightly more financial resources this year, but inflationary pressures have eroded their capacity to address the crisis effectively. When compounded by the increasingly frequent extreme weather events, the deterioration of local roads accelerates towards an inevitable breaking point.”

Simon Williams, head of policy for the motoring group RAC, added: “The findings from this report send the clearest signal yet to the Government of the critical state of so many of the roads used by millions every day. An estimated 107,000 miles of roads are fast reaching the end of their lives, the scale of the problem now facing councils is truly gargantuan.”

My editor tells me there is a General Election coming up this year (he is not willing to speculate on the date!).

In which case, step forward the candidates who are willing to campaign on two ‘certain’ issues – rain and potholes!

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WE’RE a tight-knit group, us South Wales Evening Post columnists.

There’s Phil Evans, Lawrence Bailey (Thursdays), Maldwyn Pope and Kev Johns (Saturdays).

Most of the time, we plough our own furrows. But, every now and again, there are themes and ideas which are worth ‘stealing’.

It is fortunate that my colleagues retain a glass half-full and optimistic view on life as we all share a desire to be positive as we can be, as often as we can be.

For example, Kev’s column last week left me needing to find out more about the Morriston Business Hub and the art exhibition by Jeff Phillips.

Jeff is one of Swansea’s leading artists and has donated 30 paintings from his Swansea Past, Present and Future collection to Swansea MAD, a charity that is committed to the prevention of poverty and advancing social justice and equality in our city!

The paintings which make up Jeff’s Swansea Past, Present and Future collection tell the story of Swansea’s wonderful industrial and cultural past.

A visit to Woodfield Street is recommended. But, if you cannot make it, you can also enjoy the exhibition gallery from your armchair in the front room, thanks to the wonders of modern technology.

Go to https://swanseapastpresentfuture.com/virtual_gallery/ and you can listen to Jeff explain more about his work – and see his fabulous paintings.

Photos: Two oil on canvas works by Jeff Phillips. The Mary Dugdale, River Tawe, circa 1840. Hafod Copper works, Cold Rolling.

NOW, as regular readers will be well aware, I am not usually one to hold a grudge.

But bitter resentment ferments quite nicely over the course of 26-plus years and today is as good a day as any to pop the cork on a vintage moan.

The Senedd has been in the news this week with the appointment of Vaughan Gething as the new First Minister of Wales.

But other bits of Senedd news have been grabbing my attention. For example, there’s the continued progress of the legislation to expand the Senedd from 60 members to 96 at the next election for the Welsh Parliament in 2026.

Back in February, I had a lengthy whinge on this topic in this column. And, already, I can see the move will provide a rich seam for future columns – after all, where are the 36 new boys and girls going to sit in the shiny Senedd building? Is there enough room in the chamber?

Then, this week, I see news of further changes to the Senedd estate infrastructure in Cardiff Bay.

The Senedd Commission, the corporate body for the Senedd, has issued a prior investment notice (PIN) for a potential new location, although it has not ruled out continuing to operate out of the exiting site of Ty Hywel.

The 1990s red brick building, next to the Senedd debating chamber, is home to Senedd Commission staff, Senedd Members and the Welsh Government.

Among the options being considered is a move to an existing building close by or a dedicated new-build development.

Apparently, any location will need to be able to house 900 staff and accommodate an increase in the number of Senedd members and associated staff.

There will, of course, be a cost to all this, which will, I guess, fall to Mr and Mrs Taxpayer.

So, in an effort to help the Welsh Government in its bid to get best value for its money, I have a solution for any expansion problems – move the whole thing to Swansea!

Land prices here are cheaper than Cardiff Bay, the south-west Wales economy gets a boost and the Welsh Government provides clear evidence that it doesn’t regard Wales as a (one horse) one city country.

The philosophy that everything must be placed in Cardiff (as the capital city) is one that must be challenged at every available opportunity.

Already, I can hear you mutter, Swansea as a home to the Welsh Parliament? Haven’t I heard this before?

Well, yes, you have – 26 or so years ago, in fact – and there are some of us in this parish who find it hard to forget what happened back then.

In the run-up to the establishment of the then ‘Welsh Assembly’, the Secretary of State for Wales at the time, Ron Davies, launched a competition to provide a new home for the body.

The two main bids came from Cardiff (a place which, if memory serves me right, didn’t even vote in favour of devolution) and Swansea.

The competition ‘winner’, in the sense that it was the only entrant to meet the requirements of price and immediate availability, was Swansea’s pre-war Guildhall, a magnificent building designed by Percy Thomas.

Gamblers will know there is no ‘sure thing’ in a two-horse race, so Ron Davies opted to tear up the competition rule book and gift the new Assembly to Cardiff.

At the time, commentators suggested the Secretary of State’s justification for ripping up the competition rules was that a move to Swansea would have undermined Cardiff’s status as the capital city of Wales.

The Cardiff decision was later criticised by the Assembly’s own financial watchdog (the audit committee).

The leader of Swansea Council at the time was Mike Hedges, who now sits as a Senedd Member in Cardiff Bay.

Mr Hedges didn’t mince words back in 2001 – “We were treated unfairly . . . there was a major political conspiracy against us, we weren’t aware of at the time.”

So, back to today’s big debates – Senedd expansion plans? Stick to Cardiff Bay? Or, go for a fresh approach, and relocate to Swansea Bay?

Anyone care to join me in a little campaign?

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THERE are times when it is easy to fall out of love with Shakespeare.

For example, someone threw a line from Romeo and Juliet at me this week.

I didn’t bother catching it. I took it on the chin!

Act 1, Scene 5, 26–33, of the tragedy contains the line, ‘For you and I are past our dancing days.’

Mrs L and I will, of course, beg to disagree with the Bard of Avon. In fact, we are only just starting our dancing days.

Working on the principle of ‘use it or lose it’, we are determined to keep our joints flexible. So, we have signed up for ‘beginners’ ballroom dancing classes.

It’s a decent alternative to monthly gym membership. It’s cheaper and (believe it or not) there’s less luminous Lycra on display.

Mrs L has some experience of these things, so my first tentative steps on the dance floor have (fortunately) not involved any treading on toes.

But, I have to admit, I have a long way to go before I make my debut at the Winter Gardens or the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

If dancing is the ‘poetry of the feet’, it is fair to say that I haven’t quite discovered the art of putting the rhyme in the correct place.

But, practice makes perfect, and I’m already ‘half tidy’ at the Waltz and the Foxtrot.

My Cha Cha is a work in progress as I get my left and right feet mixed up on the rock step.

Anton Du Beke’s position as a premier ballroom dancer is safe for now, but he shouldn’t rest on his laurels!

IN more than 47 years as a hack journalist, I’ve probably dropped more Clangers than a butter-fingered and very nervous BBC animation technician.

Readers of a more junior age will have to look up Google to understand the sentence above – and to find out more about the classic Oliver Postgate 1970s stop-motion children’s TV series.

But, readers of my generation will, of course, just recognise the reference to ‘Clangers’ as a clumsy way of introducing a column about mistakes.

Writing a weekly newspaper column is the gift that keeps on giving as it continues to allow me the chance to make the occasional dreadful blunder.

As blunders go, killing people off before their time is one of the most dreadful sins.

History is littered with instances where people have had newspaper obituaries published . . . while they are still alive!

In 1897, an English journalist from the New York Journal contacted the author Mark Twain to (bizarrely) inquire whether the rumours that he was dead were true.

Twain famously replied, “The report of my death was an exaggeration.”

And Twain’s quote came to mind one memorable day when I was hard at work in the Evening Post’s old newsroom in Adelaide Street.

In those days, reporters shared desks and office phones. I shared mine with a chap called Graham Evans, who, this particular lunchtime, was busy studying that day’s edition of the Post and a well-crafted obituary he’d written about the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon.

Picture the scene: Phone rings on desk. I pick up the call, which is transferred from switchboard.

A cultured voice asks to speak to Graham Evans. I ask, who’s calling, please? The answer comes . . . “It’s the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon.”

I relay this news to Graham, a chap with a reputation for not being flustered in a crisis.

Quick as a flash, Graham gives the instruction: “Ask him where he’s calling from?”

Plainly, the Bishop wasn’t calling from the entrance to The Pearly Gates and I am happy to report it was all resolved amicably . . . in the end!

Included in the long list of prematurely reported obituaries is Swansea-born politician Michael Heseltine, who was reported dead by the BBC’s Radio One in 1994. At the time of writing, Mr Heseltine was still alive, aged 90.

Such high-profile cases reinforce the argument that anyone can make a mistake, so I put my hands up to a blunder in this column back in January.

During the course of an essay about Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit quitting Rugby Union to try his hand at playing American Football, I managed to weave in some memories of other Welshmen who have tried the gridiron game.

To quote from my January column, ‘Albie Evans (now, sadly, no longer with us) was a former New Dock Stars and Llanelli Wanderers rugby union player who had, remarkably, found himself with the New England Patriots in Boston in 1971.

‘The genesis of this particular Albie adventure lay in a stunt pulled by a Boston

radio station, who staged a ‘Superfoot’ competition in the UK to find the very best goal-kickers. Albie was one of the winners and found himself on a plane to the USA. He returned with stories galore.’

Stories galore, indeed – and I have provided Albie (Allan) Evans with another tale to tell his family.

For, I am delighted to report, Albie is still, in his own words, “alive and kicking”.

Luckily for me, Albie and his family, have seen the funny side of it all.

“In fact,” Albie said, “We’ve all had a really good laugh about it.”

How did I make the mistake? Well, Albie likes his bowls and during a conversation many moons ago someone mentioned to me that Allan Evans was dead. Obviously, it was a very different Allan Evans, but my sluggish brain must have logged it as Albie.

Now coming up to 77, Albie continues to play sport, regularly turning out for Llanelli for indoor and outdoor bowls competitions.

Albie still has an interest in American Football, but admitted he doesn’t tune in to every game.

“I always look for the Patriots results every week they play – and I do watch the Superbowl,” Albie said. “But, I admit that I tape it to watch the following day as it’s such a marathon late-night show.

“American Football can be such a long-winded event and, let’s face it, as a goal-kicker it could be really boring. You’d be hanging around and only needed for the two minutes when they needed someone for a goal-kick.

“Looking back, it was an amazing life experience going to Boston. Somewhere, I have photos of the trip and I can remember three of us competition winners being photographed coming down the steps of the plane in Boston. It was quite an adventure.

“When I returned to the UK, the Welsh Rugby Union banned me for 13 months as they considered that I had breached the rules which were then in place about professionalism.

“I wasn’t allowed to play rugby, so I ended up playing soccer for the Dafen and Evans and Williams sides in local leagues in Llanelli.

“Fortunately, two rugby stalwarts of the time, Handel Greville and Hermas Evans pleaded my case with the WRU in Cardiff and got the ban lifted and I was able to resume playing for Dock Stars and Llanelli Wanderers.”

Happy days for Albie – and happy days for me, too, to report that he’s still alive!

From now on, I think I will concentrate less on scribbling words and more on digital photography. After all, there’s not a lot that can go wrong with taking a few portrait shots of the family . . . is there?

IT was the American writer Mark Twain who once remarked, “There is no such thing as an ordinary life.”

This is an universal truth which you will all learn to recognise when you get to my stage of life – a period when diary entries for funerals compete with hospital and medical appointments.

The funerals in the last couple of weeks have been much too frequent, but exposure to crematorium and graveside eulogies does hammer home Mark Twain’s message.

Often, while sitting on a cold pew, I also find the mind wandering to the beautiful poem by Linda Ellis, called ‘The Dash’. The poem illustrates the importance of the ‘dash’ (eg 1959-2024) that is written between the date of a person’s birth and the date of their passing.

If you haven’t read the poem, then seek it out as it makes you think about how much you can pack into that ‘dash’.

Three friends knew how to pack life experiences into that ‘dash’. I was privileged to know them and shed a tear at their funerals.

The lives of David Jenkins, Ken Abban and Charles Braham didn’t fall into the ordinary category.

David Jenkins, for example, was company secretary for the famous Jenkins Bakery. He died aged just 66.

David spent some time working away in England before rejoining the family business in 1990.

At the time, the Jenkins Bakery had five shops in Llanelli. Today, the business has 300 full and part-time employees and has 28 shops on an estate spanning south-west Wales.

That is some legacy for a man who was a pillar of the community in west Wales.

Ken Abban (or to give him his correct title, Dr Kenneth Kwesi Abban MSc, MD, FRSM, FRIPH) died aged 82.

He was a much-loved audiologist in Llanelli, but few knew his full story.

Ken’s birthplace was a village called Niconya Ahenkro in Ghana. Considered academically gifted by his teachers, Ken, aged just10, was awarded a scholarship at a Roman Catholic school some 300 miles from his home!

Aged 17, he had sat all O Level and A Level examinations, gaining top grades in 5 A Levels. However, Ken could not apply for a university place because he was too young.

When he was old enough, he was offered a scholarship in . . . Russia!

Ken was given six months to learn the language and then resit his 5 A levels in Russian.

Needless to say, Ken succeeded and he enrolled at the 1st Leningrad Medical Academy. During his time there he was elected President of the Students Union and represented the Union on travels to Germany, Sweden and Finland.

Ken received a medal for the Most Outstanding Student in his six-year study group, an award the family treasure to this day.

Leaving Russia, Ken worked in Germany, Liverpool and London. It was a colleague who suggested Llanelli was a friendly place to work and Ken met his wife Kim in the town.

A distinguished medical career followed, but Ken never forgot his roots.

As a member of Llanelli Rotary Club, he launched a five-year fundraising campaign for a £40,000 mobile audiology unit called a HARK, to help children in remote parts of Ghana.

Charles Braham, meanwhile, who died aged 92, was a much-admired newspaperman and the founding managing director of Swansea Sound independent radio station.

His grandson James Saralis read the eulogy at his funeral at Llanelli Crematorium.

Charles Braham’s life story, James said, showed perseverance, resilience, and a determination to succeed against all the odds.

Charles was born in Hammersmith, London, in 1931. His world changed forever in 1939 when, aged seven, he became one of the millions of young children evacuated to safety at the start of World War Two.

He was separated from his parents and siblings and evacuated – first to Oxfordshire, then to Penzance in Cornwall and finally to Cardigan.

He was taken in by the family of Mr Brinley R Jones, of Llangoedmor, a newspaperman who was the founding owner and editor of the Llanelli Star.

Charles was a quick learner and continued his education at Haverfordwest Grammar and Millfield School in Somerset.

He developed an interest in journalism and carved out an exceptional career for himself in the media.

At the age of 20, he joined the Llanelli Star as a trainee reporter, learning his trade and progressively taking on more responsibility, eventually rising to the role of managing director, which he held for 16 years.

In 1965, Charles added to his portfolio, with another newspaper, the Cardigan and Tivyside Advertiser, which he owned for almost a quarter of a century.

Charles was a passionate supporter of print media, but he was also an innovator and he began to realise the contribution that radio could make to the local area.

In 1973, he joined a consortium of local business-people to apply for a licence to launch just the seventh independent commercial radio station in the UK (the first in Wales) and, against all the odds, won!

His grandson James said: “True to his word, Swansea Sound served the people of the area with distinction for almost 50 years and through this time retained a loyal and devoted audience.

“Charles was an Englishman born, a Welshman raised, and a journalist by trade. He led an extraordinary life, touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people over a 45-year career in the media, cared and provided for his family, and, to me, he was an inspiration.”

All the above is taken from three wonderful funeral eulogies. Obviously, the reflections have been condensed for use in this column, but it does give you an appreciation for that Mark Twain quote about no such thing as an ordinary life.

It may also make you reflect about your own ‘dash’.

You can find out more about Linda Ellis, the author of The Dash poem, on her website at https://lindaellis.life

Charles Braham, includes photo with five other Llanelli Star editors.

Ken Abban, includes photo with Hark vehicle.

David Jenkins.

IT was an evening with more surprises than a primetime Cilla Black TV show.

There were a ‘lorra, lorra laughs’ and a few tears along the way.

The surprise elements weren’t obvious when people arrived for Llanelli Rotary Club’s annual St David’s Day dinner at The Diplomat Hotel.

They unfolded during an evening which left plenty of food for thought.

The Rotarians had planned special entertainment, with guest appearances by Glynneath soprano Lauren Williams and the two winners of the Llanelli Young Musician of the Year competition – Mariia-Anastasiia Mikulska from Bishop Vaughan Catholic School in Swansea and Jasper Caradoc Hollett, from Bishopston Comprehensive.

It was vocalist Jasper who uncovered the first surprise of the evening – a malfunction in The Diplomat’s sound system. Without batting an eyelid, he proceeded to perform his two numbers unaccompanied.

Rising to the challenge, guitarist Mariia-Anastasiia (resplendent in the traditional dress of her native Ukraine) took the platform to perform without any backing.

And to complete the hat-trick, soprano Lauren provided acapella performances of Calon Lan and Anfonaf Angel.

All three richly deserved their standing ovations for battling through the technical surprises.

Given just a few minutes to draw breath, the Rotarians and their guests were then surprised to see the lights dimmed and a cowled monk enter the dining room.

When the monk’s hood was thrown back, it revealed the Rev Eldon Phillips, a familiar figure to many in the parish of Llanelli – and beyond.

Rev Eldon’s surprise was to take on the role of Dewi Sant (St David) for the evening, taking the audience on a journey from Machynys (monk’s island) in Llanelli to the scene of his most famous miracle in Llanddewi Brefi and on to a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Rev Eldon sat down for a deserved rest after his time-travelling Dewi Sant talk, but there was a further surprise to come as Llanelli Rotary vice-president Cerith Owens outlined an extra item on the evening’s agenda.

Very occasionally, Rotary clubs give out Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) awards – the highest honour that Rotary can bestow on an individual.

The award is given by The Rotary Foundation in recognition of substantial and exemplary community service in support of Rotary ideals.

Mr Owens surprised the Rev Eldon with the news he had been chosen to receive a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Mr Owens added: “This former Rotarian has left a lasting impact on the local community. Demonstrating the Rotary Objective of ‘Service Above Self’, he willingly engages in a variety of activities to provide help and support wherever needed.

“He has a penchant for dressing up, not only as Llanelli’s Town Crier, but as the historic characters William Chambers and John Wesley for Llanelly House.

“He holds roles such as chaplain of the Scarlets rugby region, chaplain to Ffos Las racecourse and he is a Trustee of Llanelly House and The Links Workshop. He is dedicated to numerous organisations, assisting underprivileged members of the community.

“He has contributed to preserving the town’s industrial heritage through volunteer efforts. He was involved in the Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust project and currently chair of the Parc Howard Association.

“His positive outlook on life and encouragement for others to overcome personal challenges make him a beacon of optimism.”

Mr Owens concluded by joking: “There’s a belief that there must be clones of him, as he seems to be present everywhere!”

There was a tear in the Rev Eldon’s eye as he accepted the award.

Those watching were reminded of Dewi Sant’s famous maxim – ‘Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd’ – ‘Do the little things in life.’

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus, Happy St David’s Day one and all.

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BY any standards of concert touring, it is an impressive list of 40-plus locations, taking in Munich, Frankfurt, Rotterdam, Mannheim, Copenhagen, Bucharest, Zurich, Innsbruck and Florence.

Oh, and I nearly forgot . . . this particular concert tour will also be headlining at The Welfare in Ystradgynlais in the Swansea Valley!

The Welfare might be miles away from the status of the Kammerspiele in Munich, but I sure the Swansea Valley welcome will be just as warm for the famous BCUC: Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness.

For those of you without an extensive knowledge of South African music, BCUC is an award-winning group that performs indigenous music with a big twist from the rainbow nation.

The 2023 Womex Artist Award Winners will bring their mix of funk, hiphop consciousness and punk rock energy from Soweto to The Welfare.

From humble beginnings, rehearsing in a shipping container a stone’s throw from the church where Desmond Tutu organised the escape of the most wanted anti-Apartheid activists of Soweto, BCUC have grown to become one of the world’s most celebrated bands, playing the biggest stages at some of the most important festivals in the world.

Artistic heirs to Philip “Malombo” Tabane and Batsumi, BCUC give contemporary voice to the ancestral traditions of South African people. Jazz sounds of 1970s and ’80s productions are replaced by hip-hop influences and punk-rock energy, taking the listener on an intriguing journey, while sharing their controversial yet interesting views on modern Africa.

Singing in all 11 official languages of South Africa, they tackle the harsh realities of the voiceless, especially the plight of the uneducated workers at the bottom of the social food chain. The Africa portrayed by BCUC is not poor, but rich in tradition, rituals and beliefs.

Vocalist Kgomotso Mokone explains: “We bring fun and emo-indigenous Afro psychedelic fire from the hood.”

Friday, March 15, is the date; 8pm the time. It promises to be an amazing night for Ystradgynlais.

Tickets for the performance at The Welfare are now available from the venue website at https://thewelfare.co.uk, in person at the hall or by calling 01639 843163.