Modern slavery is real, and it’s happening in our communities.
It is on the rise in Wales. It’s an unseen crime, where the victims can be men, women and children of all ages, and it preys on the most vulnerable.
Due to the hidden nature of slavery and the reluctance or inability of victims to seek help, we may not always realise we’ve come into contact with a victim.
Dyfed-Powys Police is determined to do all it can to tackle modern slavery, and play its part in making Wales hostile to slavery.
As part of this commitment Dyfed-Powys Police hosted the first Modern Day Slavery Investigator course in Wales, in order to ensure that officers have the knowledge and are properly equipped to deal with slavery head on.
Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police, Gwent Police and Border Force have come together for a course delivered by the College of Policing in Carmarthen.
Paul Carroll from the College of Policing Modern Slavery Transformation Unit, delivered the four day course, designed to prepare those in attendance for the role of modern slavery investigator and develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary to understand and deal with it effectively.
Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Evans said:
“We are committed to tackling all forms of exploitation and modern slavery, and were therefore keen to be the first to bring this specialised training to the Southern Wales region, and to share the opportunity with our colleagues in Gwent and Border Force. I’m grateful to DS Dale Scriven and DC Ceri Williams for organising this and ensuring we made it happen as soon as possible.
“To reinforce our victim focussed approach to these crimes, it’s important we have officers who are well versed on the signs of slavery and that they can undertake slavery investigations confidently. Victims are vulnerable people who need help but are frightened, and none of these jobs are easy. During the course they will learn about the international and national profile, relevant offences and common factors associated with slavery.
“We know that men, women and children may be forced into various types of slavery, including forced prostitution, child trafficking, criminal exploitation, domestic servitude, forced labour and sexual exploitation. We all have a part to play in helping these vulnerable victims, and I urge anyone who suspects slavery or exploitation to report it to the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121700. In an emergency call 999.”
Phase two of the works to stabilise a landslide in Cwmduad has begun following recovery of a lorry from the river below.
Carmarthenshire County Council is leading the operation to clear the site and re-open the A484 for traffic travelling between Carmarthen and Newcastle Emlyn, following the landslide in October.
Phase one, which commenced before Christmas, created a safe zone for the recovery of a lorry that was swept in to the river during the storm.
That recovery took place earlier today (Monday, January 14, 2019).
Phase two, to permanently stabilise the embankment, involves complex drainage and geotechnical works.
The highway structure will then be assessed before any indication can be given as to when the road will re-open.
The council has thanked the community, and affected commuters, for their patience whilst site assessments and works have been underway.
Ruth Mullen, Director of Environment for Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “We are now making progress in what has been a highly complex operation and legal process between the council, partner agencies and the landowner.
“We fully appreciate the impact this has had on the community, and we wish to reiterate that we have worked without delay to undertake site investigations in the immediate aftermath of the landslide, along with clearance and construction works to make the area safe.
“We are working as quickly as we can to re-open the road as soon as possible, and would like to thank those affected most sincerely for their patience.”
Until the road is re-opened, traffic will continue to be diverted along the B4333 Carmarthen – Newcastle Emlyn.
Additional bus services remain in place:
A shuttle service currently runs from Cwmduad to Tycoch to catch the 460 service at 7.25am, 9.35am and 10.55am. Return journeys are at 2.25pm and 4.45pm.
The 460 service is currently operating on a diversion route
A parasitologist at Aberystwyth University is one of a worldwide team of researchers that has used a gene-editing tool to limit the impact of schistosomiasis, an illness that affects more than a quarter of a billion people in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.
Professor Karl Hoffmann from the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) has been working with researchers at the George Washington University (GW) and colleagues at institutes in Thailand, Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, and others.
For the first time CRISPR/Cas9 has been successfully used to limit the impact of parasitic worms responsible for schistosomiasis and for liver fluke infection, which can cause a diverse spectrum of human disease including liver fibrosis and bile duct cancer.
Professor Hoffmann’s work at Aberystwyth University focuses on tackling schistosomiasis.
Professor Hoffmann said: “With funding provided by the Wellcome Trust and working with colleagues at GW, we have been able to apply, for the first time in flukes, genome editing to knock-out an important schistosome gene product involved in human disease. Application of this technology to other schistosome genes or flukes will revolutionise our ability to develop new and urgently-needed control strategies.”
“The genes we ‘knocked out’ using CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in markedly diminished symptoms of infection in our animal models,” said Paul Brindley, PhD, professor of microbiology, immunology, and tropical medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and lead author.
“Our research also showed that this revolutionary new biomedical procedure — CRISPR/Cas9 — can be adapted to study helminth parasites, which are a major public health problem in tropical climates.”
CRISPR/Cas9 is a new technology that allows researchers to precisely target and deactivate the genetic information needed to produce a particular protein. While the tool has been used in other species before, it was unknown if it could be applied toSchistosoma mansoni and Opisthorchis viverrini, the parasites responsible for schistosomiasis and liver fluke infection.
Schistosomiasiscan cause serious health problems, including damage to the liver and kidneys, infertility and bladder cancer. The freshwater worms S. mansoni enter the human body by burrowing into the skin; once in the bloodstream, they move to various organs where they rapidly start to reproduce and produce pathogenic eggs.
These eggs release several molecules, including a protein known as omega-1 ribonuclease, which can damage the surrounding tissues. Brindley and his research team “knocked out” this protein using CRISPR/Cas9 and found that it greatly reduced the impact of the disease.
“This neglected tropical disease affects more than a quarter of a billion people primarily living in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America,” said Brindley. “CRISPR/Cas9 is a tool that may be used to limit the impact of these infections. As we work to better understand how these parasites invade and damage our bodies through this new technology, we will find new ideas for treatment and disease control.”
Key collaborators include Karl Hoffmann, PhD at the Aberystwyth University; Thewarach Laha, PhD at Khon Kaen University, Thailand; and Alex Loukas, PhD at James Cook University, Australia.
The papers, entitled “Programmed genome editing of the omega-1 ribonuclease of the blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni” and“Programmed knockout mutation of liver fluke granulin attenuates virulence of infection-induced hepatobiliary morbidity,” are available at eLife.
Photo: Using CRISPR/Cas9 to ‘knock-out’ omega-1 from schistosome eggs. The left panel represents a wild-type schistosome egg secreting pathogenic proteins (including omega-1; red stars) into host tissues. Eggs subjected to CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in this study do not secrete omega-1 (right panel) into host tissues and are not pathogenic to the host.
It promises to be a unique mash-up of Welsh romance and Scottish grit, featuring a ‘Magnificent Seven’ band of comics.
The date will be Friday, January 25 – a day which marks St Dwynwen’s Day (the Welsh St Valentine’s) and Burns Night (the occasion which celebrates Scottish heritage).
The two events fall on the same day – but events which manage to mark both occasions are as rare as hen’s teeth.
Comedian Phil Evans came up with the idea of stirring ‘Love, Laughter and Scottish Grit’ into the same magical melting pot of mirth.
“It’s quite a collision, putting St Dwynwen’s Day and Burns Night together in the same event,” said Phil.
“But we know it won’t be a comedy car crash. In fact, it’ll be a very unusual evening, unique, in truth. What better than asking some of the leading comedians in Wales to perform their own mash-up of the two occasions to celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day and Burns Night? Laughs are guaranteed.”
The venue will be Llanelli’s Best Western Diplomat Hotel in Felinfoel Road, Llanelli. Curtain up is at 8pm.
Phil will be bringing his ‘Friends’ along for the occasion – six of the best funny folk in Wales.
They are – Gary Slaymaker, Rob Hughes, Karen Sherrard, Steffan Evans, Aled Richards and Stefan Pejic.
Phil added: “January 25 is a special day in the Welsh and Scottish calendars. The ‘Phil Evans and Friends’ evening at The Diplomat gives you seven comedians under one roof.
“They will make you cry with laughter and get 2019 off to a great start. There is no better way to kick off the new year.
“To add to the occasion, food will be available from 7pm.
“It promises to be a wonderful evening and we are looking forward to welcoming romantic couples to the evening. It would make our night if someone ‘popped the question’ during the evening.
“Romance and raucous laughter will definitely be on the agenda for the evening.”
If you wish to take advantage of the fantastic hotel menu, please be sure to turn up no later than 7pm. Tickets are £10 and advance booking is recommended. You can get tickets online on the following links.
Phil Evans is a much sought-after comedian, writer, newspaper columnist and conference host from the heart of South Wales.
With multiple TV and radio credits to his name at home in the UK, Phil has also performed far and wide, including Oslo, America and Canada.
Phil has recently performed and hosted events in Dublin and Cork for corporate organisations and keeps getting asked back. He is renowned for his warmth, humour and likeability.
Phil started his comedy career many years back as a TV warm-up artist for the BBC, S4C and HTV/ITV and continues to perform alongside many of the most talented people in entertainment.
With more than 20 years of experience, Phil isn’t just a comic; he’s a force of nature.
Phil is the man who has put the ‘Cwtsh’ back into Welsh comedy.
He is sometimes known as the ‘Hugmeister of Wales’ for his devotion to his favourite topic – the Welsh cwtsh (hug).
If you can spare the time (possibly a week or so), he will explain why a cwtsh should always be spelt as ‘cwtsh’ and not ‘cwtch’.
Press him for further information about how his comedy career started and he will tell you how he left school with 10 GCSEs . . . before the headmaster told him to put them back!
Cheeky, but never crude or offensive, Evans produces a very Welsh brand of humour.
He writes a popular weekly column in the South Wales Evening Post, the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star newspapers.
He also has a weekly podcast called “The Big Cwtsh’, available now on SoundCloud.
Gary Slaymaker is a BBC Radio Wales film reviewer, author, comedy writer, and broadcaster . . . which means he’s either quite talented, or can’t keep hold of a single job.
With more than 25 years of experience as a stand-up comedian, he’s managed to upset people all over Britain . . . but mainly his mam.
Gary is completely toilet trained, but does sometimes have trouble with his aiming.
The same is true for his humour.
About Rob Hughes
An accomplished opener or middle spot at weekend club level as well as an MC, Rob has been working for the likes of Jongleurs, The Glee Club and Mirth Control as well as numerous independent promoters.
He provides a solid set packed with laughs and whilst he’s not squeaky clean he’s a million miles from being offensive. He’s regularly asked to return to promoters for repeat performances and plays a big room or a theatre as easily as he does a more intimate venue.
“Wicked sense of humour, a pure joy.” – Lee Sigerson (Manager of Cardiff Glee Club)
“Had the audience eating out his hand within seconds.” Martin Brown (Moonrakers Comedy)
“Sometimes bleak, sometimes silly, always very funny.” Paul James (Clowns Pocket)
“One of the funniest comedians currently on the circuit.” Charlie Smith (Comedy Den)
“A definite highlight” -South Wales Evening Post
About Karen Sherrard:
Karen Sherrard was the winner of The Last Mic Standing comedy competition in 2014. She specialises in ‘character’ comedy. She trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in London and also works as a comedy writer and a voice-over artist.
About Steffan Evans:
Steffan Evans may have been seen working behind the bars in Cardiff, but these days he’s more at home on the stage. He’s from Crymych, but he asks people not to hold that against him. He’s performed at Neath and Cardiff Comedy Festivals and is building a growing reputation on the Wales comedy circuit.
About Aled Richards:
‘Shit’ happens. And every cloud has a silver lining, apparently.
So indeed, a major health scare can spawn a whole new comedy routine.
Aled Richards is known for musing over the latest ‘shit’ things that have happened in his life. You may have seen him on S4C. You may have heard him on Radio Cymru. Or you may not have. You will, however, be able to hear him at The Diplomat. So, go along. You may laugh.
Aled Richards has been in the news lately taking part in a special Radio Wales programme to celebrate World Heart Day. If anybody can make a heart attack sound funny, then he can! His stage act does ‘celebrate’ the strange things that happen in Aled’s life.
About Stefan Pejic
Stefan has recently completed a nationwide tour of The Invisible Man playing the lead. Prior to this he also starred in the one-man play The Other Jolson playing the roles of Larry Parks and Al Jolson for which he was highy acclaimed. Other recent stage roles include Kyle in A Sleight of Mind and Roy Brown in The Bard of Margate.
Stefan began his acting career at the age of seven, appearing in a string of TV adverts and Children’s TV shows which include WHSmith, McDonald’s, Nickelodeon and Kelloggs, Mad For It, Jungle Run. There followed minor roles in the Gormenghast trilogy, About A Boy and can even be seen if you look hard enough as a student in the Harry Potter films.
At age 13 Stefan was privileged to work as the youngest Redcoat at Butlins Minehead thanks to a connection with Stephen Mulhern. He enjoyed three consecutive summers there honing his entertainment skills.
It is Stefan’s versatility that has given him a varied and interesting career to date as he then went on to perform comedy and magic at West End theatres including The Criterion and Polish theatre.
He has also been hired to promote brands such as Disney, Sony, Coke, Hamleys and Harrods.
Stefan had further TV roles including Spikey in series 3 of HTV soap Nuts and Bolts; Simon in the BAFTA award winning drama Con Passionate; Davey Campbell in BBC Doctors; Andy Belden in BBC Casualty and also enjoyed a minor role in series 1 of Sherlock.
Recent films include The Rezort (now on Netflix), Kamikaze and as a motion capture stunt artist for the Emmy award winning Fox series Da Vinci’s Demons.
Other screen productions include Re-Run, BFI shorts, Everyone Loves A Welsh Girl, Internal Bleeding, Dance Me Outside, So What’s Next and playing himself in a series of Adverts for 188BET, Penderyn Whiskey, and as Captain Jack Sparrow for Barti Ddu Rum.
Theatre credits include
Dan in Closer; Ethan in The Full Monty; Alfie in Swansea Women and Jeff Scott in The Musician; Slender in the Merry Wives of Windsor; Clark, Young Dogsborough, Ragg in the Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui; King Pandion, Itis, Captain on The Love of The Nightingale and young Cliff Richard 1958-1970s in Bachelor Boy.
Comic roles for Imagine Theatre Pantomimes include:
Willy Do It in Beauty And The Beast; Simple Simon in Jack and The Beanstalk; Buttons in Cinderella; Josh The Jester in Sleeping Beauty and Jingles The Jester in Snow White.
Stefan is in his 4th consecutive season for Qdos having previously played the role of Fleshcreep at The Grand Theatre Swansea in 2015/16.
He has also played Abanazar at the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton 2016/17 and last year reprised the role of Abanazar at Grand Theatre Swansea which saw him nominated for best male baddie at The Great British Panto Awards.
Stefan has been manager and regular MC for many comedy clubs over the years as well as performing as character comedy acts, most notably DONOVAN The Worst Comedian In Wales and in the double act le122.
For several years Stefan has been a character performer as part of the Fluellen Theatre Company at Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo, most recently as both Glyn Jr and Barti Ddu in Barti Ddu Pirate Show.
Stefan has recently been writer and consultant for various comedians for BBC, Comedy Central and Channel 4 and also BBC Sesh for BBC Wales.
He has been co writer, consultant and director to Matt Edwards for Matt’s live show FOURTH.
Stefan has also been collaborator and inventor of magic effects for various magicians both in UK and Europe.
He also co-wrote the innovative, interactive award winning musical The Musician in which he played the lead role of Jeff Scott. He has also recently co-written and created a new TV comedy in development with Richard Mylan and another brand new musical Life Happened Kid.
What they say . . .
“Phil Evans is true showbiz royalty – not only the Clown Prince of Comedy, but also the King of the Cwtsh. As a comedian, no-one can touch Phil . . . which sounds a lot nicer than saying he’s the subject of a number of restraining orders at present. With over 20 years’ experience, Phil isn’t so much a comic, but more like a force of nature. Warm, cheeky, and with an incredible gift for working an audience; the first time you see Phil Evans, you’ll never forget him. The second time you see him…run!”
Gary Slaymaker
“Phil Evans – the resident ‘Hug-meister’ of Wales . . . the one man who knows how to spell ‘cwtsh’ properly . . .a free-wheeling fun merchant who is close to being a national Welsh treasure.”
Robert Lloyd, media consultant and former newspaper editor.
There’ll be plenty of music to lift the spirit at the Llanelli and District Fairtrade Party, which is being held at the Lliedi Suite of the Selwyn Samuel Centre on Saturday (January 19) from 3 to 5.30pm.
Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir will be the star attraction and will perform two ‘sets’ during the afternoon.
The event will also feature the Llanelli-based ladies choir The Phil Harmonics and three young members of the Loud Applause Rising Stars team – Osian Clarke, Lauren Fisher and Nikkila Thomas.
The event will help promote Llanelli and Carmarthenshire as Fairtrade shopping zones.
On Saturday evening in Llanelli there will be a special ‘Light Up The Night’ concert with the Tenovus Cancer Care charity Sing With Us choir.
It is being held between 6.30pm and 8.30pm at The Athenaeum Room at Llanelli Library.
The event celebrates the fourth anniversary of the formation of the Sing With Us Llanelli choir.
On Saturday, January 26, Welsh folk legend Dafydd Iwan will be in Llanelli.
Dafydd Iwan and his band will be the star attraction at an evening to celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day (7pm start at The Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli).
The evening will also feature a new band from the Gwendraeth Valley, Cahwt.
Meanwhile, the members of Côr Merched Tybie Ladies Choir are looking for a new musical director.
The hard-working Elen Millns has stepped down as MD of the choir because of an increasing number of commitments.
Côr Merched Tybie Ladies Choir was formed in 1989. The choristers have a well-established, varied repertoire, embracing a wide range of songs, both classical and contemporary. They uphold a strong Welsh tradition and also perform in Welsh as well as other languages.
The choir currently has 32 members who enjoy being involved in performances within the local community and beyond. The choristers are available for both public, charity and private events, such as weddings.
The weekly rehearsal sessions are held every Wednesday 7 – 9pm at Llandybie RFC.
The popular annual concerts are held at the Public Memorial Hall in Llandybie.
A spokesman for the choir said:
“We are keen to work with an enthusiastic and committed individual with excellent communication skills, who is able to build a good relationship and work amicably with the members, in order to get the best out of our choir and make singing an enjoyable experience for us and our audiences, with the potential to help attract new members.
“The musical director will be supported by committed choir members and a very supportive, pro-active choir committee.
“We would expect the MD/Accompanist to be able to play the piano to a high standard, preferably with previous experience as an accompanist and/or conductor.”
Those wishing to apply will need to send a letter of application and a CV to the following email address:
cmtybie@yahoo.co.uk
Côr Merched Tybie’s next big concert is one being arranged in memory of Elyth Morris, who sadly died last year.
Elyth lived in Llandybie for more than 60 years after marrying Idris Morris (Morris Bakers).
She was very active in the community, being a member of the WI and the Mothers’ Union.
She was the organist at Llandybie Church for 60 years and was also a member of Côr Merched Tybie.
Dorothy Singh came up with the idea of a concert for Elyth, knowing her love of music and her musical contribution to the community over many years.
Dorothy’s amazingly talented pupils will be playing at the concert. Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi will also perform.
The concert will raise funds to set up a programme that will run from St Tybie Church in Llandybie.
The idea is to reach out and make music accessible to all – “making music – changing lives”.
The new venture will be run by a local musician and music teacher Dorothy Singh. The idea is to give local children the opportunity to learn and enjoy music.
The concert will be held on Friday, February 1, 7pm.
February will see The Opera Boys back at The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen.
The boys are back with a brand new show, full of opera, classical, West End and crossover music, as well as their unique on-stage banter.
Combining four big voices with four big personalities, The Opera Boys promise a fabulous show full of music and laughter!
Operatic arias and classical favourites from ‘Nessun Dorma’ to ‘Time to say goodbye’ are mixed with showstoppers from ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera’ right through to ‘Jersey Boys’.
The show also features brand new classical arrangements of modern day pop hits, all performed in The Opera Boys’ inimitable style.
The Opera Boys have been delighting audiences all over the world with their unique show combining beautiful, powerful and emotional music with funny, engaging and light-hearted entertainment.
They are at The Lyric at 7.30pm on Friday, February 8.
Mid Wales Opera return to Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli at 7.30pm on Wednesday, February 27.
They will sing Puccini’s Tosca.
Power and passion collide in this breathtaking masterpiece.
Trapped in a life and death struggle against the corrupt police chief Scarpia, the diva Tosca and her artist lover face the ultimate sacrifice.
Puccini’s lavish score takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster ride from tender love story through powerful brutality to ultimate tragedy. The opera will be performed in English.
The Miners’ Theatre in Ammanford will be staging a St David’s Day Concert on Friday, March 1 (7pm).
The popular Cor Meibion Dyffryn Amman will share the stage with three highly-talented young musicians from the Ammanford area – clarinettist Catrin Soons and the beautiful voices of Neve Summers and Osian Clarke. The guest accompanist will be Joseph Cavalli-Price.
Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli always stages a hugely-popular St David’s Day concert. This year it will be held on Saturday, March 2.
The concert will feature the world-famous Morriston Orpheus Choir, conducted by Joy Amman Davies, and Côr Lleisiau’r Cwm, under the baton of Llanelli’s Catrin Hughes.
Sharing the spotlight will be two highly-talented young singers from the Loud Applause Rising Stars stable – mezzo soprano Nikkila Thomas, from Llanelli, and tenor Osian Clarke, from Tycroes.
Wednesday, March 6 (7.30pm) will see the appearance of Gruffydd Wyn at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.
Gruffydd is a talented Classical crossover artist who hails from Anglesey, North Wales.
A singer from an early age, he has dedicated his life to following his dream of becoming a world class vocal performer.
Gruffydd has recently seen success as a finalist on the talent show ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, where he received Amanda Holden’s Golden Buzzer.
During the series, he received widespread acclaim for his big voice and professional performances under pressure, with judges’ comments such as ‘Epic, phenomenal and outrageously good’ and Simon Cowell calling him ‘The musical version of Rocky’.
If your taste veers to pop and folk, then you’ll enjoy Barbara Dickson in concert at The Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, on Friday, March 8 (7.30pm).
Barbara will perform a wonderful range of material, drawing on her folk roots as well as performing globally known hits such as The Caravan Song, Another Suitcase in Another Hall plus lots more.
The Lyric will also be the venue for one of the UK’s longest-running musical theatre concert tours – Beyond the Barricade (Saturday, March 23, 7.30pm).
The show features past principal performers from Les Miserables.
It will deliver more than two hours of the best of Broadway and the West End and, of course, end with a stunning finale from Les Mis.
The concert features David Fawcett (Valjean) Andy Reiss (Enjolras and Resident Director for the National Tour of Les Miserables) Katie Leeming (Eponine) and Poppy Tierney (Cosette), together with a live band who capture the feel of the original orchestrations of the chosen musicals.
To this day every musical note is still played and sung live – very rare indeed.
Beyond the Barricade gives musical theatre songs a bold concert format treatment – but with the conviction and intention to deliver the material as if the audience are watching the original performance. This incredible concert is now in its 19th successive year.
Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. This column appears in the South Wales Evening Post, Carmarthen Journal and Llanelli Star. Website – www.philevans.co.uk
It won’t have escaped you that there’s a new film on release about Laurel and Hardy’s British theatre tours of the late 40s/early 50s. It’s called “Stan and Ollie”.
They came over here when the Hollywood studios, which had made pots of money out of the duo in their heyday, turned their back on them.
Here’s a warning to anyone thinking of entering showbiz.
Buy yourself a warm overcoat, because there’ll be times when it can get terribly cold, even if you’re a comedy genius.
The two actors who play Stan (Steve Coogan) and Ollie (John.C. Reilly) have been tirelessly plugging the film all over the media.
In fact, they seem to have popped-up on almost every TV show in the schedules apart from Dancing On Ice– and that’s only because they had a prior commitment on the other side of London to bake a cake for Mary Berry.
Hats off to them for sounding so unflaggingly enthusiastic about the film, with no sign of ‘anecdote fatigue’ which can easily set in by the second day of back-to-back press junkets in a London hotel, with PR people timing each allotted 10-minute chat with a stop watch.
Although I – and I’m sure you, too – knew that Stan Laurel was born in Ulverston, Cumbria, some interviewers hadn’t realised that he was British until they’d seen a preview of the film.
Which makes me wonder if their knowledge of cinema history only goes back to Star Wars.
Until he went out of favour with studio bosses, Stan was one of the three most popular and influential comedians in Hollywood.
The other two were Charlie Chaplin and Bob Hope.
All British.
Bob famously said, “I left England at the age of four when I realised I’d never be King”.
He was wrong.
Hope, Chaplin and Stan Laurel all became Kings of Comedy.
Right. Clear off! You’ve had your 10 minutes with me.
Who’s next?
And get me some fresh coffee!
………………….
Pet therapy:
These days, it’s not unusual to open the newspaper and see the NHS getting a bashing over something or other.
Social media is awash with negative stories, but how often do we see the absolutely amazing things that NHS staff do 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
I came across one such story this week that wouldn’t fail to melt even the coldest of hearts!
Morriston Hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Officer Nicci Evans and health care scrub support worker Kelly Elt came up with the fantastic idea of introducing a ‘Pets as Therapy’ dog, Jax, to the patients and staff at the hospital.
Jax is Kelly’s cockerpoo, known for his gentle nature.
After a chance meeting in the hospital, Nicci and Kelly came up with the idea of bringing Jax into the hospital as a therapy dog.
Jax was assessed by charity Pets as Therapy and passed with flying colours.
His visit went down so well with patients and staff alike, that the girls are now hoping to make it a regular event in the hospital.
It’s well known that our pets have a healing and therapeutic effect on us humans, and here is the proof. Well done!
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You can follow Phil Evans on Twitter @philevanswales and www.philevans.co.uk
