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

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.

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

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.

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

Carmarthen Town (3)  Connah’s Quay Nomads (2)   

Carmarthen turned the “form book” upside down with this sensational victory over a strong Connah’s Quay side that went into this match at the top of the Welsh Premier League, having won five of their last six matches and scoring 22 goals in the process – after this result they drop to third place.

And the Old Gold achieved this success the hard way, having twice come back from being a goal down and then scoring the winning goal in the 4^thminute of added time at the end of the match.

Yet in the opening stages of the match the Nomads looked like a team that had spent all season at or close to the League summit as they largely monopolised possession and continually probed the Town defence with a series of well-crafted attacks.  However manager Neil Smothers had clearly planned for this eventuality by setting up a formidable five-man defence which, with frequent support from industrious midfielders Greg Walters and Ceri Morgan, initially dealt comfortably with that pressure.

Indeed it was not until the 7^thminute that the visitors managed a scoring effort of any significance – following a corner-kick the ball reached Callum Morris who, from the edge of the penalty area, struck an angled drive that ‘keeper Lee Idzi carefully watched fly just wide of the near post. 

Gradually the Old Gold began showing a little more adventure with some occasional counter-attacks but all too often striker Luke Bowen was an isolated figure upfield and unable to make any real impression on the visitors’ defence – certainly no notable scoring opportunities emerged. 

Meanwhile Town’s defence was coming under increasing pressure as Connah’s Quay continued with a series of penetrating attacks.  And, at last, in the 19^thminute they took the lead when Michael Bakare, from wide on the right flank, fired a free-kick low into the packed goalmouth where Idzi and several defenders seemed slow to react to the danger and allowed the ball to slip into the goal at the near post. 

Then on 23 minutes the Nomads went close to increasing their lead when Rob Hughes, on the left-wing, sent an inviting cross into the crowded penalty area only for George Horan to direct his close-range header narrowly over the bar.

But shortly afterwards Carmarthen at long last managed a meaningful attack when a slick series of passes along the left flank finished with Aidan O’Kelly sprinting dangerously into the opposition penalty area and while that move eventually broke down, it heralded a spell of more positive attacking play from the hosts.

After 35 minutes Luke Cummings, from near the right touchline, delivered a free-kick into the goalmouth and although the ball was cleared by a defender, it went straight to Walters who instantly dispatched a smart 20 yard volley that ‘keeper John Danby was well-placed to claim.

Then on 41 minutes Cummings himself went close to scoring a remarkable goal – from deep inside his own half he burst forward beyond the half-way line then, noticing that Danby was standing well out of his goal area, Town’s adventurous defender launched an audacious 40 yard shot that sailed over the ‘keeper as he anxiously raced back towards his goal only for the ball to land on the roof of the net.

After the interval Connah’s Quay once more took the early initiative and kept the home defence under pressure with a stream of rapid attacks – but on 54 minutes the Old Gold produced a delightful sweeping counter-attack that ended with an equalising goal.  The ball was cleared from the Town penalty area and reached Morgan who threaded a sublime pass through to Walters – he sprinted forward from the half-way line to reach the edge of the penalty area before finishing in clinical fashion with a rasping drive that flew past Danby and into the back of the net.

Yet, sadly, that recovery was fairly short-lived.  After 70 minutes Bakare, who throughout the match had been a constant threat with his strong running and smart footwork, raced powerfully along the left-wing then sent a searching cross into the into the goalmouth where Callum Morris stabbed the ball beyond Idzi’s reach and into the home goal.

But Carmarthen reacted positively to this crushing setback and once again counter-attacked with urgency and a refreshing freedom as they sought to get back on level terms.  Initially there was an evenly-balanced period of fast end-to-end play – but gradually, and for the first time in the match, the Nomads defence came under noticeable pressure as Town intensified their efforts.

And in the 83^rdminute they deservedly achieved their aim.  Having won a free-kick just outside the penalty area, Cummings demonstrated impressive accuracy in firing the ball over the defensive ‘wall’ and into the corner of the net to leave Danby well beaten. 

Connah’s Quay, stung by that setback, immediately swarmed upfield in search of the goal that would preserve their place at the top of the WPL.  Now the Old Gold defence was again under considerable pressure and their prospects of resisting that outcome were seriously weakened on 87 minutes when central defender Lewis Baldwin was sent-off after having been shown two yellow cards in the space of just 2 minutes.

Shortly after that incident the 4^thOfficial indicated that 5 minutes of added time would be played – the home crowd almost certainly regarded that as a further setback to Town’s prospects of safeguarding the precious point they had worked hard to secure.

Their players, however, evidently held a different view – they saw it more as an opportunity.

In the 4^thminute of added time, having been forced to defend deep inside their penalty area, Lee Surman’s headed clearance was claimed by Liam Thomas who sprinted forward to the half-way line, passing two opponents in the process, then played the ball on to Dwayne Coultress – he raced further onwards before sliding a delightful pass across the face of the penalty area where Thomas, typically alert to the unfolding scoring opportunity, had continued his run to make a timely arrival. He then moved into the penalty area and was promptly brought down by defender George Horan.

Town’s all-time top goal-scorer, almost certainly the only calm and confident person at Richmond Park at that particular moment, stepped up and with his usual accuracy drove the spot-kick past Danby and into the back of the net to secure a stunning victory over the WPL leaders.  Additionally, these vital three points take the Old Gold a little further away from the clubs currently occupying the relegation places.

This concludes the WPL first-phase programme.  The second-phase fixtures commence on the first week-end of February but in the meantime Carmarthen’s next fixture is a Welsh Cup tie at Richmond Park on Saturday January 26^th(k/o 2.30pm) against Connah’s Quay!  Town have no match next week-end.     

Team:

Lee Idzi;  Luke Cummings;  Lewis Baldwin;  Dave Vincent (sub Jay Woodford 68);  Lee Surman; Aidan O’Kelly (sub Craig Hanford 76); Greg Walters;  Ceri Morgan;  Jordan Vickers (sub Dwayne Coultress 74);  Luke Bowen;  Liam Thomas;  

Unused Subs:  Sean Hanbury;   Danny Thomas;

Goals:  Greg Walters (54);  Luke Cummings (83);  Liam Thomas (pen) (90+4);     

Cards:  (R)  Lewis Baldwin (87);  

(Y)  Greg Walters (45+1);  Dave Vincent (49);  Ceri Morgan (72);  

Liam Thomas (90+5);  Lee Idzi (90+6)