A group of young people have spent the past four months volunteering to transform the area around the reservoir in Tanerdy, Carmarthen.

Up to 20 young people have turned the area into a Fairy Garden especially for young children in the community.

Since September, the young people who attend activity sessions at the reservoir and classroom at Rathbone Training Centre, have been clearing the pathways and area around the reservoir as well as cleaning and painting the bridges.

To date up to 30 unique fairy doors have been created and placed around the reservoir, as well as bilingual signs.

The project, which has been organised by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Youth Support Service Post 16 Team, is set to continue into Spring – with plans to add to the Fairy Garden as well as creating birdboxes, bat boxes, bug houses and picnic benches.

Everyone who has taken part will receive a certificate for their achievements to support their job prospects in the future.

All young people have volunteered their free time to participate in active citizenship which has had a huge impact on their own skills development and self-esteem and confidence- making them feel more included in the society in which they live.

Nia Meredith, aged 18 and from Carmarthen, has been involved in the project since the beginning. She said: “It’s been fun and has been good to meet new people. I’ve been trying new things and have learnt a lot.”

Executive board member responsible for education and children’s services, Cllr Glynog Davies, said: “I would like to congratulate this group of young people for all their hard work and for giving up their time to volunteer and transform the area, especially for the benefit of the younger people in the community. I’m sure that this has been a valuable experience for them and that they have been able to learn new skills in the process.”

Jewsons in Carmarthen have supported the project with a donation of timber for benches which the group will be working on in the next part of the project.

The group is now looking for donations of solar fairy lights to make the area more enchanting. If any businesses are able to help, please contact Katie Morgan 07825402507 or email kmorgan@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

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Dozens of families will soon benefit from a new affordable housing development in Llanelli.

The Planning Committee at Carmarthenshire County Council has given the green light to a 34-house scheme on land close to the Dylan housing estate in Bryn. 

Made up of 28 two-bedroom homes and six four-bedroom homes, the development is part of the council’s ongoing drive to deliver 1,000 more affordable homes across the county by 2021.

Accompanied by a detailed drainage strategy to dispose of surface water run-off, the plans also include an extensive programme of access, parking and landscaping improvements.

A new wetland pond feature will be introduced nearby, as well as a new park with children’s play equipment.  

Led by the council, the plans also include a £64,560 contribution to improve educational facilities at Ysgol Bryn Teg and Bryngwyn School.

Cllr Linda Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Housing, said: “This is a terrific scheme that will help further meet the need for affordable homes across the county, while providing improved educational facilities for nearby schools, landscaped spaces for recreation, and play equipment for children.

“Expert analysis has also shown the scheme will be in keeping with the character of the area, while not having an adverse impact on traffic flows.

“In 2016, we launched our multi-million pound Affordable Homes Commitment to provide more, high-quality, low cost homes throughout Carmarthenshire. We’re now over the half-way mark in our drive to deliver 1,000 more affordable homes by 2021, which shows how seriously we’re taking this commitment.”

Proposals for additional plans to deliver even more affordable homes are due to be announced in the New Year.

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Colleagues from the world of newspapers will be congregating today to say farewell to Jill Hayden, a former colleague at The South Wales Evening Post.

Here is the notice of death as it appeared in the Evening Post . . .

HAYDEN Daphne Jill Peacefully after a short illness bravely borne at Singleton Hospital, Daphne Jill Hayden also known as Jill Forwood, wife of Brian and sister of Ruth, John, Howard and Lorna. Funeral service at Swansea Crematorium on Thursday 20th December 2018 at 2.30pm. Family flowers only please but donations in lieu if desired (cheques only please) made payable to Cancer Research UK c/o Graham Sullivan Funeral Directors, Ty Hedd Mynydd Garnlwyd Road, Morriston, Swansea, SA6 7QG Tel 01792 775262.

Here is a tribute published in the news column of the Evening Post –

Here is a something I wrote for the South Wales Evening.

Robert Lloyd, former deputy editor of the South Wales Evening Post and former editor of the Carmarthen Journal and Llanelli, said: “It was my privilege and pleasure to work alongside Jill at the Evening Post.”With her husband (Brian Hayden), who was chief sub-editor at the paper, she was part of a formidable double act playing a key role in the Evening Post’s daily production schedule – in those days we produced several editions of the paper ‘live and on the day’, all printed on a juggernaut press housed in Adelaide Street.

“The deadlines and the production schedule were demanding, but Jill remained unflappable throughout the mayhem and industrial language that characterised newspapers back in the days of hot metal production and then, later, computerised typesetting.

“She was a highly respected writer and had honed her craft (for it was a craft in Jill’s book) at the coalface of working as a reporter.

“Accuracy was everything in Jill’s book and woe betide a junior reporter who’d played fast and loose with their ‘copy’, quotes and the facts and figures.

“Always professional, Jill expected high standards in the newsroom and there are many journalists out there who appreciated and benefitted from Jill’s advice and encouragement to sharper their skills as wordsmiths.

“Many may not recognise her from her married name of Hayden, for she carved out her early career as a journalist under the maiden name of Forwood. Jill Forwood’s name was synonymous with quality writing.

“She was a classic ‘old school journalist’ in an age when these things mattered. Her focus on good grammar and accuracy certainly stood me in good stead as a journalist.”

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The Scarlets get back to Guinness PRO14 action this weekend taking on Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.
 
The West Wales region will be keen to get back on track in the championship after a disappointing showing in the opening four rounds of the Heineken Champions Cup and head coach Wayne Pivac says ‘there’s no better way than a derby to move on’.
 
Speaking ahead of the first of three festive derbies Pivac said; “The PRO14 is the focus now, as much as we would have liked to perform better in Europe we haven’t, that’s the stark reality and we have to move forward. 
 
“It’s all about the Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and Dragons and we need to perform well in those three matches to get ourselves set to do what we did last year and get in to the play-offs.”
 
The Scarlets secured victory over the Ospreys at Parc y Scarlets back in October and will be keen to try and get a derby-double over our nearest rivals. 
 
Pivac went on to say; “The last few years there have only been a few points separating us. There’s never a lot in them as we all know. We’re all excited by the opportunity. 
 
“This is what the boys love. Putting yourself up against the best players in Wales. We’ve been lucky enough to come out on the right side of the ledger over the last couple of years. 
 
“Those results haven’t been easy we’ve always had to work very hard. We don’t expect it to be any different this year, we expect it to be an even bigger challenge as teams see us as not quite the team of old. 
 
“The Ospreys will back themselves to have a good old crack at us, we welcome those challenges. If you look at the form-book you’d probably go with the home team.”
 
Scarlets return to Parc y Scarlets to take on Cardiff Blues on Saturday 29^thDecember, kick-off 17:15. 

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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

…………………………

FOR PETA . . . FOR WORSE?

As we’re approaching December 25^th, I thought I’d ‘talk turkey’.

But I ‘chickened out’ . . .  in case it incurred the wrath of ‘The People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals’ – better known as PETA.

Recently these ‘Vegan-gelists’ pressed the inhabitants of the Dorset village of Wool to change the name of the place to ‘Vegan Wool’ to‘Promote kindness to sheep’!

Had PETA done some research before making themselves look silly, they’d have discovered ‘Wool’ is an ‘Olde English’ variation of ‘Well’ and has nothing to do with sheep.

Unable to keep their paws (can I say that?) off our language, PETA now want to remove many long-established everyday phrases and sayings which, they say, ‘Perpetuate violence against animals’.

Really?

Generations of people have said “There’s more than one way to skin a cat” and “You’re flogging a dead horse”, without causing stress to any hyper-sensitive members of the animal kingdom who happen to be within earshot.

I loathe cruelty to animals.

I’ve been all over the world (and Prestatyn!) and I’ve never onceencountered anyone removing a feline’s fur coat or taking a rolled-up copy of Horse and Hound to a deceased Dobbin.

Soon, PETA will start accusing anyone who says “I’ve let the cat out of the bag” of a hate crime . . . even though putting a catintoa bag is much more cruel.

Especially if you’re taking a Tom Cat to the vets to be snipped.

‘Helpfully’, PETA have come up with alternative phrases, which they’d prefer us to use.  

But those of us with common sense must refuse to use their daft new sayings.

They include “You can’t feed a fed horse” (!) and “There’s more than one way to peel a potato”.

Where will their infuriating interfering end?

Laurel and Hardy brought joy and laughter into the world, while PETA seems determined to extinguish it.

If they ever try to ban Stan and Ollie’s classic comedy “Way Out West” (which contains the line “You can take a horse to water . . . but a pencil must be lead”) that’ll definitely put the cat amongst the pigeons!

Oops!

…………………. 

THE REALITY OF CHRISTMAS SHOPPING:

Why don’t Christmas shoppers reallylook like they do in the adverts on TV? 

Smiling families, matching jumpers and scarves, calmly strolling around the shops, snow gently falling around the town (they never seem to carry ANY bags though, have you noticed?)

Now, here is the reality . . . 

The city centre is packed, people all walking in different directions (always the opposite way to me). There are men being dragged around shops they obviously don’t want to be in. Children are screaming . . . all surrounded by the same jolly Christmas music in every shop.

Then we have department stores doubling up as saunas.

It’s freezing outside so you have to wrap up, but as soon as you walk into a shop it hits you like one of the other half’s midlife flushes!

Oh yes – you can relate to this, can’t you?

It’s the children I feel most sorry for, strapped firmly into their pushchairs with only a Jenkins pastie for company (other pastie providers are available!), so many shopping bags hanging on the back of the pushchair, both child and pastie are in danger of tipping backwards and being catapulted across Debenhams.

Happy shopping, my friends!

—————-

You can follow Phil Evans on Twitter @philevanswales and www.philevans.co.uk

Please again include www.philevans.co.uk

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As one year comes to a close, it’s time to start looking at what’s in store for 2019.

There will be plenty of concerts scheduled around St David’s Day, March 1, and details of events will appear here, in this newspaper, as and when they land on the ‘On Song’ desk.

It’s timely, to insert a reminder here to all concert organisers – please send news of your concert dates to the following email address – rlloydpr@btinternet.com

Advance notice of concerts helps other concert organisers avoid embarrassing clashes and helps readers to plan their concert-going calendars.

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. 

The host for the evening will be radio and television personality Garry Owen.

Tickets are on sale now from the Ffwrnes Theatre box office and on the Theatrau Sir Gar website.

The Morriston Orpheus hardly need an introduction . . . 

But, for the benefit of those of you who don’t known their history and reputation . . .

The choir was formed on April 23, 1935, by Ivor E Sims and in its early days concentrated primarily on competitions and local concerts.

In 1937, the choir achieved its first success at the Royal National Eisteddfod in Machynlleth, going on to win at the ‘National’ on six further occasions. The choir does not presently sing in competitions, preferring to concentrate on concert performances.

Over the years, successive Musical Directors have developed and broadened the repertoire.

Variety is now the hallmark of the choir’s performances, which include arrangements by Alwyn Humphreys MBE, Musical Director from 1979 to January 2005 and now the Choir’s Conductor Emeritus.

The choir enjoys an international reputation as a leading exponent of male choral singing.

Within the UK, the choir is in constant demand, with around 25 engagements a year, including concerts, TV and after-dinner performances.

The choir regularly undertakes concert tours overseas and in 2004 undertook two tours to Taiwan and to Abu Dhabi and Oman.

In April 2007, the choir returned to the UAE, performing in Dubai en route to a concert tour of Australia and New Zealand.

In October 2008 the Choir visited Geneva to perform a charity concert. During their stay they also visited and sang in the control room of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).

Highlights of previous overseas tours have included four appearances at British Military Tattoos and Concerts in the former West Berlin, participating at the International Choral Festivals in Nancy, France, and Toronto in Canada, representing Wales at Expo ’92 in Seville, Spain, and becoming in 1996, the first British choir to perform at the International Choral Festival in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

The choir has performed in all the major cities of Australia and New Zealand and received standing ovations at their appearances at the world-famous Sydney Opera House.

In October 2001, the choir received five standing ovations at the Carnegie Hall in New York City.

In the spring of 2018, the choir conducted a week-long tour of Vienna and Krakow, singing in St Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna, among other venues.

The choir features regularly on TV. It has produced more than 50 recordings and has featured in more than 100 compilation albums. Successful ventures into the pop world have included recordings with T’Pau, the Welsh group The Alarm and, most recently, Howard Jones.

In 2005, the choir appointed its first female Musical Director Sian Pearce to replace Alwyn Humphreys, who had decided to retire after serving the choir since 1979.

Sian left the choir in 2007 and Joy Amman Davies (who, in 2004, had been made a Life Member of the choir in recognition of her outstanding contribution and commitment as accompanist) was appointed Musical Director.

The big concert this weekend is the Christmas By Candlelight special being held at St Mary’s Church, Burry Port, on Saturday, December 22 (7pm).

The concert will raise funds for Burry Port Lifeboat Station.

It will feature acclaimed soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, Gary Griffiths and Osian Wyn Bowen.

Tickets are £15 and are available from Cadno Travel or from the following phone numbers – 07795415411 and 07900893150.

Elin Manahan Thomas is one of the most exceptional sopranos of her generation.

Since releasing her début album ‘Eternal Light’ in 2007, with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, she has performed at many of the world’s most prestigious venues and festivals, and with leading orchestras and conductors.

Perhaps most famously known for her performances of baroque masterpieces – such as Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine at the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony – Elin is equally at home performing classical and contemporary works.

Elin has performed across Europe at major venues and festivals, including: the Edinburgh, Canterbury, Three Choirs, Llangollen, Mostly Mozart and Lufthansa festivals, St John’s Smith Square, Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Casa de Musica in Porto, Zurich Tonhalle, and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

In May 2018 she was honoured to perform at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Baritone Gary Griffiths is a Burry Port boy.

He made his Royal Opera House stage debut in 2017 singing the role of Solanio in Keith Warner’s WNO production of The Merchant of Venice. He also made his Teatro di San Carlo (Naples) debut in concert, singing Arthus in Le Rois Arthus.

The winner of the Welsh Singers Competition in 2012, Gary Griffiths was a finalist representing Wales in the 2013 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where, in 2009, he won the prestigious Gold Medal Competition.

A committed recitalist, appearances include the Oxford Lieder Festival with Joan Rodgers and Sholto Kynoch in a recital of Russian Song, the Cowbridge Music Festival with Joseph Middleton, King’s Place with Iain Burnside, the Ludlow English Song Weekend with Simon Lepper and the Wigmore Hall with Malcolm Martineau.

Tenor Osian Wyn Bowen is also a Burry Port boy.

Currently Osian is an undergraduate student, studying under the tutelage of renowned tenor Adrian Thompson at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

Osian has already performed in concert with Sir Bryn Terfel, soprano Rebecca Evans and tenors Aled Hall and Rhys Meirion.

In addition to his busy schedule, Osian is a patron of the charity Welsh Hearts and is an active volunteer crew member of Burry Port Lifeboat Station.

During the course of his short singing career, he already has a number of awards to his name – 2017 and 2018 – Minnie Morgan Scholarship Recipient; 2018 – Douglas Rees Young Opera Singer of the Year – Finalist; 2018 – Geraint Morris Memorial Award – Winner.

In other concert news, here are two more events coming up before Christmas– 

• Llandyfaelog-based Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi are looking forward to their Christmas events. They include – Thursday 20th December, Gwernllwyn Care Home, 6.30pm.
• The West End At Christmas will be at The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen on December 18.

Finally, a diary date for next year . . . 

There’s early notification of performances of The Passion Of The Christ, to be performed on Good Friday, April 19, and Easter Saturday, April 20.

The acclaimed voices of the Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers, Angelicus Celtis and friends will present The Passion of The Christ, a blend of varied choral and vocal works, blended with narration and theatre to be held in South Wales over Easter weekend 2019.

This unique performance will present a dramatic retelling of the story of the life and crucifixion of Christ bringing together associated choir and vocal ensembles blending music and poetry from Bach, Barber, Jenkins, Mozart, Webber, Telemann, Dylan Thomas, Elizabeth Browning, Emily Dickson, Langston Hughes and Mary Oliver to name but a few.

The passion will include opportunities for solo singers, duet, trios, small group chorale and main choir and different roles associated with the life and crucifixion of Christ.

Auditions for these singing opportunities will be held in in the Llanelli area during the weekend of January 19.

Singing auditions for will be open to the general public, both young and adult voices (soprano, alto tenor, bass) and open to both choristers of the Hywel choir and singers beyond.

If you are interested in learning more about the auditions for The Passion of the Christ, please register your interest by contacting Jeremy Williams at jeremywilliams@me.com

Robert Lloyd works as a media consultant – www.rlloydpr.co.uk

If you have any news about the choral scene in Llanelli, the please contact him on 07777 683637 or email rlloydpr@btinternet.com

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