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.

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

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

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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

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!

—————-

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

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Leading pet food company Burns Pet Nutrition is set to improve the health and wellbeing of UK and Ireland rescue animals by providing pet food and donations to animal charities across the country.

The Kidwelly-based family-run firm, which already regularly donates its specialist line of natural pet food to over 40 rescue centres across the UK and Ireland, has announced that it will this year offer vital support to three chosen charities as part of its ongoing Charity of the Year Programme.

Blue Cross, Yorkshire Cat Rescue and Galway SPCA have all been selected by Burns to receive a year’s worth of financial assistance and food amounting to more than £100k in value.

The three charities were chosen following an application and interview process which saw over 25 animal welfare organisations apply in total. The collaboration marks the fourth consecutive year that Burns has run its Charity of the Year Programme as part of an ongoing initiative to give back to charity.

Burns Business Owner, Philanthropist and Veterinary Surgeon, John Burns hit the headlines last year after donating £1M to charity to mark the company’s 25^th anniversary and commented: “I have decided that Burns should be a force for good. I want the company to not only be known for our natural pet food, but also for establishing and maintaining a legacy of good causes in the community.”

In addition to financial support, animal rescue charity Blue Cross, which has been running since 1897, will receive food at five of its rescue centres: Bromsgrove, Lewknor, Southampton, Burford and Tiverton.

Speaking about the partnership Joanna Bronziet, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Blue Cross, said: “There is a very natural fit between the ethos and objectives of Blue Cross and Burns which gives us lots of opportunities to work together in a very meaningful and impactful way. Burns will be providing its high-quality dog food to dedicated Blue Cross rehoming centres throughout the year and will also be raising funds towards our work across all of our services with pets.”

Yorkshire Cat Rescue finds homes for unwanted cats in the region and cares for around 90 animals per night. Burns’ support will help to provide around 2,000 meals for cats and dogs in January alone. 

Yorkshire Cat Rescue founder Sara Atkinson said, “We are pleased and proud to have been chosen to work alongside Burns in 2019. It’s refreshing to see a pet food company recognising the work that regional charities do and offering its support by sponsoring our adoption and resident cats.”

The third organisation to receive support from Burns is GalwaySPCA, which rehabilitates and rehomes rescue cats and dogs in Galway with the view for them to find a second chance at happiness. As well as offering food and financial support to the organisation, Burns will also help GalwaySPCA to promote its services in Ireland through Burns’ own charity, The Burns Pet Nutrition Foundation.

Anita Broadmor of Galway SPCA said, “We are really looking forward to working with Burns as a company whose passion for animal welfare is evident in their continuous development of high-quality nutritional diets and leaders in educating the importance and benefits of diets in companion animals. We share a mutual respect for the animals and the environment around us.”

In addition to its Charity of the Year Programme, Burns runs a number of grassroots projects including The Better Tomorrow Programme, which aims to engage and help young people to develop valuable life skills, and The Burns by Your Side reading to dogs’ programme, designed to help children struggling with literacy and communication. The company takes a proactive approach to giving back and has 10 full-time members of staff working in its community department.

Burns was founded in 1993 on the principle that feeding pets a healthy, natural diet is key to helping them thrive. Today, John Burns wants to use the success of the business as a vehicle for positive change. He is calling on companies of all sizes to support and engage with their local communities and charitable organisations as much as possible, stressing that it’s integral to maintaining and securing customer trust.

About Burns Pet Nutrition

Burns Pet Nutrition is a family run business based in Kidwelly, South Wales. The natural pet food company has been feeding healthy and happy cats, dogs and rabbits since 1993 and is helmed by Veterinary Surgeon and business owner, John Burns.

All Burns products are natural, hypoallergenic and designed to suit all dog breeds and ages. Mr Burns is an advocate of healthy eating and believes that many of the health problems affecting pets are diet related and can be avoided by correct nutrition.

www.burnspet.co.uk.

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A new study by an Aberystwyth University historian is set to look at why disparate parts of Europe came up with common narratives over 800 years ago.

Working from texts produced across Europe over a 200-year period, Professor Björn Weiler from the Department of History and Welsh History will explore a phenomenon that saw communities write their stories and tell of the superior attributes which they saw as setting them apart from their immediate neighbours.

A historian of medieval Europe, Professor Weiler’s sources will include letters, chronicles, saints lives as well as architecture and archaeological finds. 

The project is funded by a Major Research Fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust.

“During three distinct periods – the years 1100 to 1130, 1180 to 1210 and 1250 to 1280 – different regions in Europe set about writing their histories and what made them stand out,” said Professor Weiler. 

“These stories were developed independently of each other, yet their authors came up with similar mechanisms and ideals for writing about the distinctiveness of their communities.”

“Why was it that people in Denmark, Poland or Norway all started writing the history of their communities in pretty much the same way, at pretty much the same time, and for whom?”

“What is intriguing about is that all these writings link back to Rome, or at least to Antiquity, to the same ideas and the same expectations as to what a community should be.”

“The ideals are both political and cultural, and to some extent always conform to a Europe-wide idea. So the Danes are distinctive because they are the best Christians, the most war-like, superior even to the Romans. The Poles are the best Christians because they are the most war-like, the most educated, and so on.”

At each stage, writers also refashioned, rewrote and reimagined this history of origins. New themes were introduced, and new information was added, reflecting broader cultural, political and religious changes. 

Professor Weiler will also look at what both these myths and their rewriting tell us about how communities dealt with rapid and often profound change.

Professor Weiler added: “How change was incorporated, in turn, also sheds light on an important tension between common European norms and practices, and the desire to be distinctive. This tension is a recurring theme in European history, but the period between 1100 and 1300 is also the first time that we have sufficient evidence to be able to trace it.

“What makes these medieval texts even more important is, of course, that they were taken up and incorporated into modern narratives of nationhood in the nineteenth century. They continue to shape how modern nations see themselves, and how modern nationalism justifies itself.

“This work is relevant because of its trans-European perspective. In the age of Brexit and the rise of populist nationalist movements over the last 10-15 years with the election of Trump, Modi in India, Bolsonaro in Brazil and Orbán and the Fidesz-KDNP alliance in Hungary, it has clear contemporary resonances and will help place these into a broader historical context.”

The project has emerged from a forthcoming book by Professor Weiler on the idea of kingship in medieval Europe, and how political power functioned between the years 950 and 1250.

Professor Weiler is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and has held visiting fellowships at the universities of Harvard, Cambridge, Bergen (Norway), and Freiburg (Germany), as well as the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

He has been awarded £155,000 by the Leverhulme Trust for the three year study which begins in September 2019.

Photo:  Professor Björn Weiler from Department of History and Welsh History is a historian of medieval Europe.

Links:
Department of History and Welsh History
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/history/

Professor Björn Weiler
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/history/staff-profiles/listing/profile/bkw/

The Leverhulme Trust
https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/The Leverhulme Trust Major Research Fellowships
https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/major-research-fellowships

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Those who have given the most hours, days and years to serving the local NHS across different professions across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire were recognised in long service awards by Hywel Dda University Health Board.

It was a chance to bring together many different people varying from carers to a member of the maintenance team and to theatre staff to celebrate the one thing they all have in common, serving for their local NHS for over 40 years.

Dyfrig Sharp from Carmarthenshire was just one of those recognised. Dyfrig started his career with the NHS on a 6 month trial through the NHS job creation scheme within the maintenance team.

He then went on to become a fully-fledged NHS employee in 1978 taking up the role of a semi-skilled fitter. Just over a decade after beginning his career he took an opportunity and became a power house operator. 

His colleagues shared their kind words noting, “The knowledge and experience that he has developed over the 40 years is irreplaceable and is regarded as an integral member to the maintenance team.”

Gwenfair Pearson, was just one of the staff from Ceredigion recognised for her hard work and commitment to the health board. Working at Bronglais Hospital over the past four decades has seen Gwenfair working in the day surgery unit and in orthopaedics.

Her colleagues commented on how blessed they were having worked with Gwenfair over the years. Adding that she brought much support to many patients and families which made her well-known, much loved and recognised wherever she goes.  

They also added, “I have only ever witnessed kindness, compassion and care, delivered through her bright smile and warm personality.  A truly hard working, reliable and diligent nurse, Gwen continues to bring a positivity to her role that benefits not only those for whom she cares, but also her colleagues.”

Stephanie Nicholas who is based Pembrokeshire was recognised for her dedication in an event before Christmas. Over her 43 years in service she has worked in South Pembs Hospital, district nursing service, out of hours doctors service and ART team. 

Her colleagues had lovely words to describe her including, “she is a very professional nurse and is reliable, honest and dedicated.”

Health Board Chair Bernardine Rees said: “It’s been a privilege and humbling to present long service awards to staff across Hywel Dda, the experience demonstrated by the individuals both clinical and non-clinical has been immense. 

“It has been a pleasure to thank them all for the commitment you have given to the NHS in mid and west Wales over the years.”

The ceremony was held last week in the Cambrian Room at Glangwili Hospital. The ceremony saw the nominees receive their award along with a personal card with messages from colleagues they have worked long side.

The day was filled with great emotion and it was an honour for us to celebrate the care and loyalty given to the health board by these humble people. 

Director of Workforce and Organisational Development Lisa Gostling added: “It’s wonderful to be part of the special event, 40 years service is truly a remarkable achievement and we are delighted to be able to thank staff for their dedication to our patients over this time. 

“This event was the second of our long service events and plans are already underway for the third in to be held in the spring. 
“Once we have thanked our longest serving staff we will be begin to recognise others who have also dedicated significant periods of their lives to our local health service.”

Staff who were recognised at the event were: 

Angela Finan, Junior Theatre Sister

Wendy Goodwin, Paediatric Staff Nurse

Hazel Hullock, Hotel services

Annette James, CMHT Co-ordinator

Hilary James, Hotel Facilities Assistant

Iona Jones, Theatre Personnel

Jacqueline McConville, SCBU Sister

Gwenfair Pearson, Registered Nurse, Theatres

Dyfrig Sharp, Estates

The health board looks forward to celebrating many more staff members who have served 40 years in the local NHS and will be taking nominations from staff ahead of the next event.

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As influenza is now circulating in communities in West Wales, health professionals are reminding people that they can still protect themselves through vaccination. Of high concern locally is the fact that more people are beginning to be admitted to hospitals in the region with complications resulting from catching the flu.

Dr Joanne McCarthy, Consultant in Public Health Microbiology at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen said:

‘We are now seeing cases of flu in our hospitals and in the community across Hywel Dda. While most people are aware of the horrible symptoms flu itself can bring, many are not aware of the potentially fatal complications of flu. 

During or following a bout of flu, secondary bacterial pneumonia can develop. We often see people becoming very unwell with pneumonia, with some requiring intensive care and sadly some not recovering. Additionally, the risk of having a heart attack is six times higher when a patient has flu compared to when they do not have the virus, a shocking statistic that really highlights just how serious flu can be.

Older people and those with chronic conditions are more likely to be affected by flu complications, and it is therefore essential that these individuals do all they can to protect themselves.’ 

Rhys Sinnett, from the Hywel Dda Public Health Team said:

‘The main type of flu circulating in Wales currently is influenza A(H1N1). The latest information suggests that it is well-matched to the vaccine strain and therefore significant protection is expected from the vaccine. 

We know there have been supply issues of vaccine this year, but you can still obtain your vaccine from local pharmacies and in a number of areas direct from your GP. We are just at the start of the flu season and it is definitely not too late to get yourself protected!’

The following groups are eligible for a free flu vaccination in the community. Those who:

• are aged 65 and over
• have a chronic heart condition
• have a chronic chest complaint, including asthma which requires regular medication
• have chronic kidney disease
• have chronic liver disease
• have a chronic neurological condition
• have diabetes
• have lowered immunity due to disease or treatment such as steroid medication or cancer treatment
• have no spleen, or your spleen doesn’t work fully
• are a morbidly obese adult (BMI of 40 or above)
• are pregnant
• are living in long-term residential or nursing home

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