There’s a familiar friendly face back at Arthur Cambrey Funeral Directors Ltd, Llanelli’s longest-established, independent, family-run funeral company.

Karl Jenkins has returned to the company after 17 years.

Karl started his career with one of Llanelli’s local heroes, the man known to one and all as Mr (Arthur) Cambrey.

Karl was 20 when he studied all aspects of the funeral trade under Mr Cambrey’s expert guidance. Karl gained his Diploma in Funeral Directing in 1988.

Karl said on his return to the business:

“Mr Cambrey was an enormous source of inspiration to me and did so much to guide me and allow me to make my own path, in my own right, as a Funeral Director.

“Returning to the company at this time was an easy decision as this is a highly-respected and admired family-run business which reaches out to those who need empathy and support during the sad loss of a loved one. This caring and personal approach is of great importance to me.

“I am very much looking forward to continuing the highest standards of care and quality of service offered by Arthur Cambrey Ltd. I hope that I can share the wealth of experience that I have gained through many years of service to the community as a Funeral Director.”

Also joining Karl on his return to the business is Funeral Arranger Amanda Lloyd, who has worked with Karl in the funeral profession for many years.

Karl and Amanda will be joining a strong team which has been led by Alison Cambrey since her father, Mr Cambrey, died in 2012.

Arthur Cambrey Ltd business director Alison Cambrey said:

“We are delighted at Karl’s homecoming to the place where his career began. Karl’s career has gone from strength to strength and together (Karl and myself and all our loyal staff) will continue to provide families in Llanelli and beyond with the highest class of empathy, care and support during their sad time of loss.

“I know that my father would have welcomed Karl back to the business and would be delighted in this latest development at Arthur Cambrey Ltd, a name synonymous with providing caring, dignified and quality funeral services for more than 70 years in Llanelli and West Wales.”

Photos:

Alison Cambrey and Karl Jenkins (selected photos).

Alison Cambrey pictured with her late father Mr Arthur Cambrey. Photo by Peter Owen Jones Photography.

Karl Jenkins pictured with Mr Arthur Cambrey when he first joined the firm. Photo by Peter Owen Jones Photography.

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 Llanelli Rural Council invited Hywel Dda University Health Board representatives to one of its council meetings as the council gears up to scrutinise the Health Board’s ‘Transforming Clinical Services Health and Care Strategy’. 

The health strategy was approved by the Health Board in late November 2018 and going forward it will be translated into a suite of services designed to meet the needs of the public and key groups in a major overhaul of health care services across the health board region. 

Council Leader, Cllr Tegwen Devichand commented: “The Council has been keeping its powder dry up to this point because of the uncertainty over the preferred model to be adopted by the Health Board in regard to the extent of services to be retained at Prince Philip Hospital. 

“Now that we know what the preferred option is, the council has been keen to impress upon the Health Board how it intends to hold it to account by proactively scrutinising the rolling out of the strategy – a process which is likely to take many years to achieve. 

“During the council meeting, members made representations to Health Board officials for the council to serve on its project board overseeing the transformation agenda and in a similar role to that served previously when the council sat on the Front of House Project Board overseeing the transformation of the A&E service at Prince Philip. 

“The council believes this will be the most effective mechanism to hold the Health Board to account with it providing the local community with the peace of mind knowing it will have a strong local voice representing their interests when it comes to scrutinising the transformation programme. 

“The council’s work will also look to establish close collaboration with other important stakeholders. To this end the council intends inviting back Community Health Council officials to a council meeting in the New Year in order to find common ground on how best we can work together to safeguard important hospital services.”

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A man caught fly-tipping in Llanelli has eventually had his day in court – six months after his father was found guilty of the same offence.

Renny Price, 22, of Edgemore Close, Upper Killay, Swansea, must pay over £770 in fines and costs for fly-tipping and not having a waste carriers licence.

He admitted dumping bags of waste, a mattress and household items at land to the rear of the Shell Garage in Dafen Road on August 27, 2017.

Carmarthenshire County Council enforcement officers noted the registration of the white Ford Transit Tipper seen driving past the forecourt CCTV camera loaded with waste items, and returning empty just three minutes later.

Just a few days later, by chance, the officers saw the van being driven near Trostre in Llanelli, and followed it to the Queensway in Swansea where they approached the driver, Renny Price.

He admitted dumping the rubbish in Dafen, stating he thought the area was a ‘tip’ for waste. He also admitted not having a waste carriers licence, saying he believed he was covered by his father’s, despite not being employed by him.

His father, Rennie Price, was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the offence.

The council sent letters to the address provided, only to find out later from the landlord that they no longer lived there.

Officers then enlisted the help of Dyfed Powys Police and a warrant was issued for their arrest.

His father was brought to court in July 2018 where he admitted fly-tipping and was fined £745, plus £430 costs and victim surcharge.

Price junior took longer to bring to justice, but appeared at Llanelli Magistrates Court on January 4, 2019, where he was fined £360 for the fly-tipping offence, £50 for having not having a waste carriers licence, and ordered to pay £360.24 costs.

Price told the court he was sorry for his actions.

Cllr Philip Hughes, Executive Board Member for Enforcement and Public Protection, said: “It took over a year to bring this man to court, but the persistence of our officers, with help from Dyfed Powys Police, meant that we have finally brought him to justice.

“There is never an excuse for fly-tipping – it is unsightly, dangerous, and costly to clear. There are proper means for everyone to dispose of their waste responsibly, it’s a shame that some people choose not to use these facilities.”

 Related links:

• Fly tipping
• Report fly tipping

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A free tool to find out all the available community facilities on offer in the county has been launched by Carmarthenshire County Council.

The council’s Property Division has contacted the county’s public sector, town and community councils, third sector and local businesses, to create a ‘one-stop-shop’ of all the locations in Carmarthenshire which provide venues for meetings, events and more.

The project is supported by One Voice Wales.

Cllr David Jenkins, executive board member responsible for resources, said: “This is a great free service to promote many venues in the county, which will hopefully increase business and provide additional income to them. It will also make it easier for those who are searching for meeting or venue locations in the county to find them all with one click of a button.”

 Related link:

• Find a venue

 Contact:

For more information on how to provide your details please contact the Property Records Team.

 01267 246222 

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The busy ladies of Côr Curiad Choir in Llanelli are looking forward to another big year of charity fundraising.

The choir’s main event this year will be on Saturday, April 6, at Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli.

Their special guest will be TV star and X Factor winner Sam Bailey and her band.

The evening will also feature Ysgol y Strade pupil Martha Morgan and Angharad Elise Thomas, who runs her own drama company called The Hive in Llanelli.

Sam Bailey was born in Bexley, East London. Growing up, she enjoyed singing for her friends and family but never believed she was destined for stardom.

When she was younger, Sam entered talent competitions but always wanted to impress people by herself, rather than being talked up by family and friends.

However, her family did have a major influence on her musical career – her grandfather was a singer in a group called ‘The Four Vinos’ and her father was also in a band, so she was often in the company of musicians.

One of her earliest success stories was winning a ‘Search For A Star’ talent competition in Crayford Town Hall, Bexley as a 16-year-old. She went on to attend Bexley Arts College and Dartford’s Miskin Theatre to further develop her talent. 

Though singing was a passion, Sam admits that her first love in life was football. She played professionally for a number of clubs including Millwall Lionesses, West Ham, Crystal Palace and London Women.

Before she stole the hearts of the nation by winning the 10th series of The X Factor at Christmas 2013, Sam worked as a prison officer at HM Prison Gartree, as well as performing on cruise ships, in clubs and at music festivals for several years.

Despite her obvious nervousness during her first X Factor audition, she blew the judges away with her rendition of Beyoncé’s ‘Listen’, receiving a standing ovation and leading Gary Barlow to describe her voice as “incredible”. 

Under the mentorship of Sharon Osborne, Sam became a clear favourite on the show, dazzling audiences and judges alike with her stunning voice and natural stage presence.

She received more than a million votes over the course of the final weekend and was crowned winner of the show.

Following her triumph, her debut single, ‘Skyscraper’, reached Christmas number one and her debut album, The Power of Love stormed to the top of the UK album charts in 2014.

Sam is one of the most talented performers in the music business and her first headline tour in 2015 received rave reviews.

Sam lives in Leicester with her husband Craig, and their three children – Tommy, Brooke, and Miley. 

All proceeds from the Llanelli Côr Curiad concert will go to Marie Curie Wales.

The compere will be TV and radio personality and ‘local hero’ Kev Johns MBE. Tickets are £32 and £28.

Côr Curiad musical director Alex Esney said: “It’s the first time Sam has performed in Llanelli, so we are very excited.

“We are hoping to smash our charity fundraising target of £20,000 by the end of this year.

“We are also organising a Halloween themed ball for Marie Curie Wales, with the date and venue to be confirmed. 

“We are also planning our usual Stradey Castle Christmas events, dates to be announced later in the year. 2019 will also see a new Christmas concert at St Elli Parish Church in Llanelli.

“Our Christmas craft fayre at The Diplomat Hotel in Llanelli will be in November, plus we have an Autumn Leaves service in Burry Port on December 5.

“Côr Curiad will be celebrating 25 years in 2020, so, by popular demand, we will be having another Côr Curiad Calender Girls calender ready for 2020!”

In Llandyfaelog, the ‘boys’ of Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi have been hatching their plans for 2019.

Concert dates include – 

February 1, Llandybie Church.

October 12, Annual concert at the Gwenllian Centre, Kidwelly. The choir will be joined by Mynydd Mawr Choir and guests Trio and Piantel, with compere Eirian Wyn.

November 17, National Botanical Gardens of Wales, Llanarthne.

In other news, 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.

April sees the spotlight fall on local theatre group Curtain Up at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.

They will be performing Broadway and Beyond on Wednesday and Thursday, April 3 and 4 (7pm start).

Broadway and Beyond will be an evening of musical songs from the wonderful world of the stage and your favourite movie films – from La la land, Les Miserables, Chess, Avenue Q, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and many more.

Tickets will be £12 and in aid of Alzheimer’s.

April will also see 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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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

…………………………

I thought I’d give you the benefit of my meticulously-researched analysis of the current Brexit situation.

Just kidding!

While the ‘B’ word isn’t the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning, I’m reminded of it as soon as I start feeding my pet pooch his kibble – they’re both dog’s breakfasts.

Talking of food, as one of my hip and trendy readers with your finger on the pulse of what’s happening, you’ll be aware we’re well into ‘Veganuary’ the month, when we’re encouraged to give up meat, dairy and fish.

If we give up drinking tea next month, will it be referred to as ‘Feb-No-Brew-Up-Ary’?  

Maybe not…

I was staggered to hear that a well-known chain of High Street bakers (I’m not allowed to name them, but it rhymes with ‘eggs’) have started selling vegan sausage rolls. 

Presumably, made with real vegans. Yum!

I was double-staggeredto hear on the very same daythat a fast food chain famous for their burgers and fries has started serving children’s vegetarian ‘Happy Meals’ containing yellow split peas, rice, sun-dried tomato pesto and herbs.

It’s a great idea, but how many children will be ‘Happy’ to hear that?

Again, I can’t name the company in question but it’s the same as the old man who had a farm in the children’s song.

I’ve never understood why that song hasn’t been banned by teachers.

Because every time the word ‘FARM’ is mentioned, it’s spelt out as ‘E.I.E.I.O’. which must cause confusion among kids struggling with the complexities of English grammar

However, I was treble-staggeredto learn the ‘Vegetarian Happy Meal’ contains 209 calories while the normal chicken nugget ‘Happy Meal’ only has 173!

That fact got my mental wheels turning (luckily they’ve recently been steam cleaned!) and a load of thoughts came to me.

The main one being . . . “What part of a chicken is a nugget?”

I’d ask Old MacDonald but he can’t even spell ‘FARM’…

…………………. 

Operation Snap:

I was amazed to read this week that the police road safety campaign, Operation Snap, has received 2,300 items of dashcam footage of video or pictures relating to driving offences, all taken by members of the public.

This has apparently led to action being taken in more than 650 cases in Wales over the last year, including 100 fixed penalty fines, 83 court prosecutions and 90 drivers sent on awareness courses.

I know, from speaking to friends and family that this way of catching these drivers out has a very mixed reaction.

I have seen friends get very irate on social media when a speed camera is lying in wait in a lay-by to catch unsuspecting drivers speeding.

Personally, I do like speed, but am reminded that the speed limit is there for a reason!

Being unable to handle a car or motorcycle at high speed is known to cause so many accidents and surely any measure that will slow drivers down is a good thing, if it means our loved ones are getting home safely every day? 

Not a week goes by when there is not a bump on the M4, so I’m all for backing anything that makes our roads a safer place.

This topic is not everyone’s cup of tea, but do let me know what you think…

—————-

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

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