IT’S a fair bet that, come 5.15pm tomorrow, many of you will be tuned in to watch or listen to the Grand National steeplechase at Aintree.

Of course, the Liverpool showpiece race is not to everyone’s taste – and the media has been full of alerts about possible protests at the 175^th annual running of the race.

Each to his own, I say, as everyone is entitled to (peacefully) express their view.

So, forgive me if what follows doesn’t sit well with those of you with strong views about banning horseracing.

Cards on the table – I come from a horsey family, know three Grand National winning jockeys from south Wales (Hywel Davies, Neale Doughty and Carl Llewellyn) and have worked with racehorses and on racecourses.

Activists who claim racing is cruel and want it banned focus on injury and deaths. They make no reference to the wonderful lives that the sport gives so many. Those wanting horse racing banned would effectively be exterminating the thoroughbred breed.

So, when the anti-racing lobby groups bombard you with messages on social media and through more traditional news outlets, consider these bullet points from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the Government-recognised, independent body responsible for the regulation of horseracing –

• Racehorses lead an exceptionally high quality of life. They are bred for the sport and benefit from being involved in racing. They receive unparalleled care and attention, the best possible feed, bedding, facilities and a healthy lifestyle involving regular exercise.
• The 20,000-plus horses in Britain who race over the course of a year receive almost constant attention from the 6,000-plus stable staff who are dedicated to their care.
• While the sport carries some risk for its participants – as with all sporting activities or activities involving animals – this level of risk is very low and is outweighed by the benefits of racing, not only to humans but to horses, too.
• Over the last 20 years British Racing has invested more than £40 million in veterinary research and education with funding invested by the Horserace Betting Levy Board and, more recently, the Racing Foundation. The sport’s substantial investment in veterinary research and education brings benefits for all breeds of horse in Britain.
• The number of horses that have suffered fatal injuries on racecourses has decreased to just 0.21% of runners over the last 20 years. (Consider at the same time this random fact: every year in the UK, there are apparently 1.2 billion land animals slaughtered for human consumption)
• Faller rates during jump races have decreased to just 2.25%, their lowest figure on record as a result of initiatives to make racecourses and jump racing safer.
• No trainers or jockeys are licensed by the BHA unless they are proven to be suitable persons to look after or ride racehorses and they are subject to strict welfare standards.
• No racecourse is licensed, and no racing can take place unless the premises and facilities meet strict BHA equine welfare criteria, which far exceed those demanded by animal welfare legislation.
• There are minimum numbers of vets who officiate at every fixture. For example, at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival there were six Veterinary Officers and eight Veterinary Surgeons and every runner was checked by a vet before competing.
• The sport takes steps to look after horses at all stages of their lives, from the mandatory microchipping and registration of a foal within 30 days of its birth, through to the sport’s own charity – Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) – which is responsible for developing longer‐ term, sustainable solutions to the question of what happens to horses when they finish racing by generating a demand for these horses across a range of equine disciplines.
• Partly through the work of RoR, and due to the adaptability and versatility of the thoroughbred as a breed, an active market for the rehoming and retraining of racehorses has developed. Tens of thousands of former racehorses go on to fulfilling second careers ranging from polo, eventing, dressage, horseball and team chasing, right through to happy hacking and supporting equine therapy programmes for humans.

TV commentator Kevin Blake this week summed up how everyone in the racing industry feels about the Grand National –

‘For all the risks involved in the race, in a world that is being increasingly watered down by health and safety bores, there are no more thrilling 10-minute spectacles in sport than the Aintree Grand National. Racing should be proud to have it as our mainstream showcase and shouldn’t be afraid to celebrate it openly.’

You can find out more about equine welfare and the use of the whip in horseracing on the BHA website at https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/horse-welfare-british-racing/

PS: Reluctant as I am to give a tip for the big race, you might try 20p Each-Way on Longhouse Poet, currently a 14-1 shot with some bookmakers. Just back it for fun, so please don’t bet the farm on the gelding from Ireland.

Latest On Song column from the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star –

THERE’S a big charity concert coming up in Burry Port at the end of the month.

It’s being organised by the Rotary Club of Pembrey and Burry Port in aid of the Marie Curie cancer charity and takes place at 7pm on Saturday, April 29, at the Memorial Hall in the town.

The concert will feature the much-admired Burry Port Male Voice Choir and the award-winning Burry Port Town Band.

The concert will also feature young up-and-coming performers from the Llanelli-based Loud Applause Rising Stars team.

Burry Port Male Voice Choir will be under the musical direction of Ryan Lee.

The choir has a colourful history.

The rebirth of the Burry Port Male Choir took place in September 1962 when a meeting was called at the Memorial Hall inviting along any persons interested in reforming the choir to attend – 30 people turned up.

The meeting concluded with Mr. Raymond Morris being appointed as the first conductor. The objectives and aims of the present choir are still founded on the foundations set more than 60 years ago.

Ryan Lee, the present conductor, is only the seventh in the choir’s history.

The reputation of the Burry Port Male Choir has extended under his leadership to many parts of the British Isles, Europe and the United States of America.

Over the years, the choir has supported local charitable events and competed at eisteddfodau at both National and International levels.

It has twice visited Holland, Canada once, and has been to America on three occasions. The choir has also visited and performed in Paris and at The Albert Hall, London in the Thousand Voices Concerts.

The choristers rehearse every Monday and Thursday 7.00 – 8.45 (except for bank holidays ) in the Memorial Hall, Parc Y Minos Street.

New members always welcome, any age, no experience required. There is an open invitation to attend any rehearsal.

Musical director Ryan Lee was born in Llangennech and now lives in Burry Port. Before his retirement, he was a headmaster by profession and had been teaching for more than 15 years in English schools, where he gained valuable experience as a conductor of choirs and operatic societies.

Ryan came to the notice of Burry Port Male Choir in 1980 when he returned to live and work in the area.

Members of the Burry Port Male Choir who were also members of the Burry Port Operatic Society immediately recognised his musical talent and when the position of Musical Director of the choir became vacant he accepted the invitation to take over as conductor.

Ryan has arranged many of the songs sung by the choir – the music set to Psalm 121 was composed by him and part of the current repertoire was arranged by him.

Many other choirs have benefitted by receiving copies of his arrangements.

Ryan is also the Musical Director of the Burry Port Operatic Society, one of the very few Operatic Groups performing grand Opera in Wales.

Burry Port Town Band, meanwhile, also has a long and colourful past, with the first historical mention of the band, originally named the Elliots Smelting Works Band, found in 1896.

The band grew from this humble, industrial beginning and established itself as a community favourite, playing at local fetes and marches and raising money to support both itself and worthy causes.

Sadly, just before the outbreak of the Second World War the band’s fortunes took a turn for the worse and it disbanded.

Gone but not forgotten, decades later in 1972 a group of local enthusiasts held a meeting with the aim of re-establishing the band. Old instruments and a library of music were discovered, and these, together with some new purchases, a place to rehearse and a keen group of volunteers, sowed the seeds of the band’s renaissance.

The band continued to grow in terms of performance throughout the 80s and 90s winning a host of prizes in the 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st Sections and in 2000, the band was promoted to the elite Championship Section. Since 2001, the band has seven times claimed the title of “Champion Band of Wales”, four times won the National Eisteddfod of Wales and three times represented Wales at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall in London, competing against the country’s top 20 bands. In 2005 the band also claimed victory in the British Open Senior Cup competition at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, beating off the challenge of 20 other bands from across the United Kingdom.

In addition to competitions, the band also remain very active on the concert stage and in recent years have enjoyed performing alongside Paul Potts, John Owen Jones, Richard Allen, Timothy Richards, Cor Meibion Llanelli, Lleisiau’r Cwm, Cor Curiad, Twrw Tawe, Cor Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal, The Tenovus Cancer Care Swansea Sing With Us Choir and S4C Cor Cymru Champions Parti Llwchwr.

Tickets for the April 29 concert are £10 each and available from The Ashburnham Hotel, Nik The Greek, Portobello Inn and The Ticket Hut.

Finally, Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir are continuing their search for a new musical director.

The successful candidate will have to follow in the footsteps of Alex Esney, who was the first woman to take on the role.

Alex has decided to relinquish the role to concentrate on her other duties as musical director of Llanelli-based ladies choir Côr Curiad.

Anyone interested in the Côr Meibion Llanelli post should contact choir secretary Fred Elias, Tir Na Nog, School Road, Pwll, Llanelli, SA15 4AL, phone 01554 741027, email llanellimvc@gmail.com or et_freedy@hotmail.com

You can find out more about the choir on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CorMeibionLlanelli

IN any good dictionary, you’ll find potholing defined as a leisure activity involving going into underground caves and tunnels.

Here, in this parish, of course, we have come to recognise that the word potholing can be used to describe something very different.

Yes, as any motorist knows, potholing can also mean the art of dodging mini-craters in the road.

Perhaps it is just me? Or, perhaps, it’s down to the suspension of my aged car having to cope with the added demands of speed bumps every couple of hundred yards?

The double whammy of speed bumps and potholes probably means good business for garages, service centres and tyre manufacturers.

A drive out on the Penclawdd road this week left me twitching the wheel so often that Mrs L thought I might have contracted St Vitus Dance or another similar disorder.

I swear you could get a decent echo peering down one pothole, while another was big enough to merit a small bridge.

Of course, some of the problems are to be expected after the winter – but we haven’t had the hard frosts which usually break or roads up like Crunchie bars.

‘Chwarae teg’ and fair play to Swansea City Council as they promise to get to every problem pothole within 48 hours.

Go online to report your neighbourhood pothole at https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/4141/Report-a-pothole-online

I’ll be taking a spin down to Penclawdd again next week to see if the tarmac fillers have done their job.

Finally, just a thought . . .

There are plenty of laws which make it clear we should keep our cars roadworthy.

But is there a law on the statute books that says our roads should be carworthy?

Just asking!

PS: Many thanks for the comments received last week about my column on the sand in Swansea Bay and on the promenade.

Brian A Arthur wrote in with this observation –

‘Swansea Council raised the sand level starting at Trafalgar Arch by some 14 foot, towards Brynmill Lane.

‘There are pictures to back this up.

‘Alas, the prevailing wind blows directly at the beach at this point.

‘Ever since, the council have had men working to replace the sand back on the beach. This must be costing them many thousands of pounds every year.

‘Also driving on wet sand is very dangerous as is the sand being blown over the cars as they drive on the road.”

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YES, there are times when I think I’m losing the plot.

And watching the telly doesn’t help.

Sunday night used to be the preferred time for some relaxed viewing.

(Mrs Lloyd’s preferred choice would be for endless repeats of Aidan Turner stripped to the waist as Ross Poldark.)

Instead, Sunday evening has turned into something of a minefield.

The latest version of The Charles Dickens classic Great Expectation has me spitting feathers.

Screenwriter Steven Knight, famed for Peaky Blinders, has ‘sexed up’ the celebrated story, bringing in topics he felt Dickens alluded to but couldn’t explore when he was writing in the 19th century.

In other words, he’s taken some bleeding liberties.

In one scene, the bleeding liberties, are very literal – a scene in which a naked Mr Pumblechook (Matt Berry) is whipped by housewife-turned-dominatrix Mrs Gargery (Hayley Squires).

Watching this latest version of Great Expectations has been baffling. After all, why bother tinkering with a story which has been told so very well in previous versions (a waste of public BBC money, perhaps?).

Mrs L and I thought we were being clever by going into the BBC iPlayer app to watch the latest episodes.

After episode No1, we played episode No2 on iPlayer.

We were a good 20 minutes into the programme before we both suggested Steven Knight was adopting a very strange approach to the production, replacing Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham with American actress Gillian Anderson.

And then the penny dropped . . .

We’d downloaded the 2011 version of Great Expectations!

No wonder the thing didn’t make sense.

But, I have a feeling that mixing the 2011 and 2023 versions of the story may be more entertaining than sticking with the Steven Knight version.

Twitter: @rlloydpr

Email: robertlloydpr@rlloydpr.co.uk

Latest On Song column from the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star –

The countdown is well and truly on to one of the biggest concerts of the year in west Wales.

Côr Curiad’s plans for a major 25^th anniversary concert had to be scrapped during the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the show is very definitely back on – with some star attractions.

Chief guests for the anniversary special being staged at Llanelli’s Ffwrnes Theatre on Saturday, April 15, will be The Welsh of the West End group of singers.

The Welsh of the West End group includes founder and director Steffan Rhys Hughes, Sophie Evans, Jade Davies, Glain Rhys, Siwan Henderson, Mared Williams, Luke McCall, Tom Hier, Samantha Thomas and Rhidian Marc.

The singers normally pick half a dozen singers from their group to represent The Welsh of the West End at individual concerts.

Of particular interest to west Wales audiences is Llanelli-born Samantha Thomas, who is currently in the hit show Wicked in the West End in London.

Côr Curiad musical director Alex Esney was practically breathless with excitement this week when she announced: “We’ve had confirmation that Samantha Thomas will be appearing with The Welsh of the West End at our anniversary concert.

“This is wonderful news and all of us at Côr Curiad are very excited at the prospect of sharing the stage with Samantha. It will be great to see her back on the Llanelli stage after her performances in Wicked in the West End.”

Wicked is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which in turn is based on the characters and setting of the classic 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Samantha, 29, has been part of the ensemble cast for the production since last September and is understudy for Glinda in the famous show.

Samantha, a former Coedcae school and Coleg Sir Gâr pupil, is building a powerful CV for herself in British theatre.

From 2015 to 2017 Samantha was part the West End production of Les Miserables, covering for the part of Cosette and acting as swing, an off-stage performer responsible for covering any number of ensemble roles.

She was previously part of Wicked between 2017 and 2019 before expecting to jet across the pond to the US and take on a role in Boston.

However, with the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic she was forced to take downtime and returned home to work at her former school at Coedcae, helping pupils with drama.

At the end of term last summer in July, the call came that she was returning to Wicked.

Samantha graduated from Coleg Sir Gâr with an extended diploma in performing arts before being accepted at the famous Guildford School of Acting (GSA) at the University of Surrey.

Her love for performance started at Coedcae School in a Year 7 production of Les Misérables.

Along the way, she has performed with the National Youth Theatre of Wales and had roles in Guildford School of Acting productions of Sister Act, The Addams Family and West Side Story.

To keep up with the latest news about Samantha, follow her Twitter feed on @SamanthaEThomas

Côr Curiad will, of course, be under the musical direction of Alex Esney for their anniversary concert.

The compere for the evening will be ‘Mister Swansea’, panto star, broadcaster and writer Kevin Johns MBE.

All proceeds from the event will go towards the Ty Bryngwyn Hospice in Dafen, Llanelli.

You can book tickets through the Theatrau Sir Gar (Carmarthenshire Theatres) website at – https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk/en/shows/cor-curiads-25th-anniversary-concert-with-special-guests-welsh-of-the-west-end

In other news, the SA15 Stage School production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid is running all week at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.

For those who don’t know the story . . .

In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above.

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages.

Looking further ahead, Ammanford’s very own Youth Theatre have their first ever performance opportunity to show their amazing talent on stage to their parents, friends and family.

The Youth Theatre only started in September 2022 and all performers are aged between 10 and 15.

Everyone is very excited at the opportunity to showcase their singing, dancing, comedy and group routines that they have been rehearsing during their weekly theatre workshops in Ammanford Miners’ Theatre.

The show will be at The Miners’ Theatre in Ammanford on April 22.

Finally, Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir are looking for a new musical director.

The successful candidate will have to follow in the footsteps of Alex Esney, who was the first woman to take on the role.

Alex has decided to relinquish the role to concentrate on her other duties as musical director of Llanelli-based ladies choir Côr Curiad.

Anyone interested in the Côr Meibion Llanelli post should contact choir secretary Fred Elias, Tir Na Nog, School Road, Pwll, Llanelli, SA15 4AL, phone 01554 741027, email llanellimvc@gmail.com or et_freedy@hotmail.com

You can find out more about the choir on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CorMeibionLlanelli

Latest On Song column from the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star –

THE Llanelli-based Hospital Notes choir is going from strength to strength, with choristers looking forward to a busy programme which includes celebrations for the 75^th anniversary of the NHS.

Fund-raising for charity forms an important pillar of the work of the Hospital Notes choir.

Last year, the choir raised £2000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

This year, choristers have raised the target to £3000, with this year’s nominated charity being the Carmarthenshire-based Angor.

Angor started more than 15 years ago when it became apparent that there was a real need for support services in Carmarthenshire for individuals diagnosed with cancer or a life-altering diagnosis.

Angor is a charity made up of like-minded individuals from various walks of life who understand the impact that a life altering diagnosis can cause, and who aspire to enable and support the transformation of individuals by providing an informed and holistic service which builds hope and strength.

Hospital Notes was formed in 2018 to celebrate the 70th birthday of the NHS.

Choir Chair Gemma Brown believed that forming a choir for the event would not only be a wonderful way for her colleagues to celebrate 70 years of an organisation they are so proud of, but it would also serve as a fun activity, supporting the well-being of staff within the Hywel Dda Health Board.

Choir spokesman Stacey Harries said: “Such was its success, the choir secured a musical director who is a serving police officer, and thus became the only Health, Social Care and Emergency Services choir in Wales.

“We now even have members from a neighbouring health board as we have grown in reputation. Our continual aim is to promote the health and well-being of our members while bringing joy to our communities.

“We have featured on both BBC Radio Wales and BBC Wales News over the years to promote our choir whilst also raising awareness of the different charities we fundraise for every year.

“We rehearse every Sunday evening and perform to large and smaller audiences frequently.

“During the peak of the pandemic, our members still in active service worked long hours every day and gave everything to serve the communities of South Wales. We managed to meet weekly over Zoom and although exhausted and often emotional, the choir provided much-needed escapism and a safe space for our members.

“Our wonderful members truly make our choir. We have Doctors, Nurses, Physios, Mental Health Specialists, Occupational Therapists, Phlebotomists, Social Workers, Pathologists, Administrators, Management, a Chair and County Director – and we even have two Paralympians in our Soprano section!”

Hospital Notes events for 2023 include –

• Choir ‘boot camp’ on April 15, where choristers get together to rehearse for a whole day to prepare us for upcoming performances.
• Saturday June 24– The choir now rehearses at Dafen Church Hall, a fantastic venue for acoustics. Hospital Notes will be singing at the hall’s Strawberry Tea.
• Saturday July 1– Summer Party at St. Elli’s Bay. Resident band Not All Superheroes will provide the music and some of the night involves ‘bandeoke.’
• Wednesday July 5– The choir will be performing for the 75th Anniversary of the NHS at Prince Philip Hospital.
• Saturday October 21– Annual Concert in Y Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli. More details to follow, including news of a special guest.
• In November, the choir will be singing at the RCN Nurse of the Year Awards along with the NHS Confederation Conference, both in Cardiff.

In other news, if you like big ‘raise the roof’ choirs, then ‘The Lyric’ theatre in Carmarthen is the place to be on Saturday, April 1.

The famous Pendyrus Male Choir will be teaming up with the youngsters from Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS) in what promises to be an inspirational evening of song.

Gavin Parry will be at the piano at The Lyric and the guest conductor will be the celebrated Dr Alwyn Humphreys MBE.

Osian Clarke and Lauren Elizabeth Williams will be the two members of LARS being featured as soloists on The Lyric stage.

You can get tickets from The Lyric box office or from the Theatrau Sir Gar website at –

https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk/en/shows/pendyrus-choir

The world-renowned Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir are looking for a new musical director.

The successful candidate will have to follow in the footsteps of Alex Esney, who was the first woman to take on the role.

Alex has decided to relinquish the role to concentrate on her other duties as musical director of Llanelli-based ladies choir Côr Curiad.

Anyone interested in the Côr Meibion Llanelli post should contact choir secretary Fred Elias, Tir Na Nog, School Road, Pwll, Llanelli, SA15 4AL, phone 01554 741027, email llanellimvc@gmail.com or et_freedy@hotmail.com

You can find out more about the choir on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CorMeibionLlanelli

IT was the imminent arrival in west Wales of broadcaster, journalist and author Huw Edwards that prompted the debate . . .

Who’s the best TV newsreader this part of the world has produced?

Mr Edwards, 61, of the parish of Llangennech near Llanelli, won the argument hands down.

But there were some notable challengers as members of Llanelli Rotary Club debated the matter on the eve of Huw’s arrival to unveil a heritage display board and give the annual Welsh lecture to the town’s Workers’ Educational Association.

My pal, Llanelli solicitor Bob Evans, knows a thing or two about the merits of broadcasters – his brother Viv was one of the very first presenters on the Swansea Sound independent radio station.

“Don’t forget Huw Thomas,” urged Bob, as he added, “perhaps we should all remark on the fact that this part of west Wales has produced not one, but two, first class national newsreaders!”

You probably have to be of a certain generation to remember Huw Thomas, who was the son of the village grocer in Pembrey.

He died in 2009, aged 82.

When he joined ITN as a presenter in 1956, Huw Thomas was part of a pioneering team.

ITV’s news service had just started the previous year and rattled the cages of the BBC’s bosses with a format borrowed largely from American television.

Huw Thomas was notable for his dark, slicked-back hair and became a presenter of the Six O’Clock News in 1956, at a time when ITN was battling with the ITV regional companies, which owned it, over threats to its budget and airtime.

Thomas and the rest of the team adopted a forthright approach and helped to establish a reputation for ITV’s news as a public-service broadcaster even as the channel was criticised for allegedly pandering to popular taste in its entertainment programmes.

Thomas had a varied career in the law and as a would-be politician.

He attended Ellesmere college, Shropshire, before reading law at both Aberystwyth University and Queens’ College, Cambridge.

He stood as the Liberal Party candidate in Llanelli at the 1950 general election, making an attempt to oust Labour hero Jim Griffiths.

The year after, he was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn and practised in London and on the Wales and Chester circuit. In 1955 he became an assistant director at the department of public prosecution.

While with ITN, Thomas also presented the Saturday afternoon sports programme Let’s Go (1959-60) and the topical magazine show Here and Now (1961-64).

On leaving ITN in 1964, he was in demand as a ‘news presenter’ in dramas, including the Dennis Potter play Vote, Vote, Vote, for Nigel Barton (1965).

Thomas also presented the second run of the ITV antiques series Collecting on a Shoestring (1972) and ran Huw Thomas and Associates, which made medical and corporate documentaries.

In 1970, he again ventured into the world of politics and stood unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate in Carmarthen.

By the way, you are probably wondering, who were the others who made the shortlist of our ‘best TV newsreader’ debate?

Well, two names were discussed – but failed to get the necessary ‘votes’ as they never quite made it to national TV and were confined to broadcasting in Wales.

They were, of course, the Grand Master Vincent Kane and the Young Pretender Jamie Owen.

Anyone else care to throw some names into the pot for best TV newsreader this part of the world has produced?

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IT seemed like a good idea at the time – let’s have a spot of lunch at Bracelet Bay near Mumbles, suggested Mrs L.

In the event, it WAS a treat – but in Monday’s mist and murk we could barely see the lighthouse from The Lighthouse, if you know what I mean.

Still, it remains a lovely spot for a stroll – even if you are battling (slightly below) gale force winds.

If Jim the Poet can swim in nearby Langland in all weathers, then the very least we can do is wrap up warm and shrug off the March storms.

There was much to admire – even if we failed to take on the challenge of Ellen Edmond’s 1855 bit of poetry –

. . . I must record in memory.

Our stroll the bright March day,

We gathered sea-weed ’midst the

rocks of sheltered Bracelet Bay . . .

It was Mrs L who insisted on the outing, remarking that the last time I visited ‘Bracelet Bay’ was when I was a patient in part of the Cyril Evans ward in Morriston Hospital last summer.

Of the two places, I know which one I prefer.

It was good to see the car park litter free and the hardy souls enjoying the views adopting the display board motto of ‘Enjoy, Respect, Protect’.

Finally, a word of praise for Swansea City Council – the verges of the A4216 out of Swansea towards Cockett are blooming marvellous. The road is lined by a host of golden daffodils – perhaps our civic leaders should temporarily rename it Daffodil Way?

Twitter: @rlloydpr