The latest podcast from Phil Evans and Robert Lloyd.

The Big Cwtsh (Episode 34) is now on Soundcloud.

The Business Network International (BNI) Annual Awards Dinner at the Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli, was a big hit.

For the third year in a row, the event was well supported by West Wales businesses and community leaders.

The evening was hosted by comedian and newspaper columnist Phil Evans.

It featured the singing talents of Jimi Webb, the Welsh King of Swing.

Worthy members of the Llanelli BNI Group (The Endeavour Chapter) were recognised for their outstanding contributions to the team’s success.

BNI in Llanelli has been established for more than 12 years.

The very worthy winners were:

Graeme Fox, of Davies Craddock Insurance Brokers, Llanelli. 

John Dray, of Cloud Genius, Llanelli.

Steffan Thomas, of Property Maintenance, Llangennech.

The awards were presented by Nick Romanello.

Business makes the world go round and the BNI members do their best to keep business ‘local’ and keep the West Wales economy moving and growing.

The event was supported by Llanelli councillors and other VIPs, including Ms Suzy Curry (Deputy Mayor of Llanelli), Miss Molly Curry and Mr John Prosser.

Check out video clips from the night – http://rlloydpr.co.uk/2018/11/20/video-clips-from-the-llanelli-bni-business-awards-evening/

There was an emotional start to the Advent Christmas period with the annual Festival of Light at St Elli Shopping Centre, Llanelli.

The evening is organised as a fundraiser for the Ty Bryngwyn Hospice Appeal – and it also serves as an opportunity for people to remember relatives and friends.

The service was led by the Rev Euryl Howells and the Rev David Jones.

There was a reading from the Leader of Carmarthenshire Council, Cllr Emlyn Dole.

The lights were officially turned on by Mrs Linda Williams, former county director of the Hywel Dda University Health Board.

Cor Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir anchored the evening with an emotional rendition of Anfonaf Angel (soloist Anthony Bowen) and Can You Feel The Love Tonight (from the musical The Lion King).

The ‘stars’ of the evening were the children of Ysgol y Felin Primary School in Felinfoel, who sang a rousing This Is Me, from the musical The Greatest Showman.

The Phil Harmonics ladies choir from Llanelli also performed, along with the Salvation Army Band.

The congregational hymns Calon Lan and Cwm Rhondda added to the emotion of the evening.

There was also a touch of drama with the lights being switched on during the anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Link to video clips of the night – http://rlloydpr.co.uk/2018/11/20/emotional-evening-at-llanelli-festival-of-light/

Link to Ty Bryngwyn Hospice – https://www.tybryngwyn.org.uk

Carmarthenshire County Council is once again showing its support for the White Ribbon campaign – which aims to end male violence against women.

White Ribbon Day takes place annually on November 25.

White Ribbons are available to buy at Council reception areas at County Hall; Building 2, St David’s Park; town halls in Ammanford and Llanelli; Ty Elwyn, Llanelli and Spilman Street from Monday, November 19. All donations made will go towards services for local victims and survivors.

This year the local authority has been awarded White Ribbon UK accredited status. Achieving the status shows an organisation’s commitment to The White Ribbon Campaign.

For the first time this year, the council has been working together with partners more to spread the word that you don’t have to suffer in silence, and there is help available. Partners include: Dyfed Powys Police; Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue service; Wales Ambulance Service; University of Wales Trinity Saint David; Hafan Cymru; Citizens Advice; Threshold Llanelli; Calan Domestic Violence Service (Calan DVS); Women Survivors Support Project; Carmarthen Domestic Abuse Service (CDAS); Carmarthenshire Federation of Women’s Institute and more.

This year residents in the county will be made aware of the campaign in a number of ways, including animation information videos which will be played on screens in locations such as leisure centres, libraries, hospitals and more; posters in licenced premises across the county as well as in leisure centres, sports clubs and within police and fire brigade stations as well as posting information and signposting to help available on the council’s social media pages.
Carmarthenshire County Council staff have been encouraged to wear white on Friday, November 23, in a bid to raise awareness of the White Ribbon Campaign.

A Candlelight Walk will take place in Carmarthen once again on Thursday, November 22. The silent procession by men and women coming together to end violence against women, will leave the Vue cinema in St Catherine’s Walk at 5.15pm. The event will end with refreshments, music and speeches at St Peter’s Civic Hall.

Cllr Cefin Campbell, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Community Safety, said: “As a council we have supported the White Ribbon campaign for a number of years, and are proud to have achieved White Ribbon UK accredited status this year. By working with partners our aim is to gain more awareness of the campaign and the help available county-wide.

“I am very proud of my role as a White Ribbon Ambassador for Carmarthenshire County Council and will do my upmost to raise more awareness of the campaign amongst my fellow councillors, council staff and residents in the county.”

Council staff have also been encouraged to sign the online pledge “never to commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women.” You can do this by visiting www.whiteribbon.org.uk/pledge

An account from a survivor of domestic abuse who has received support from CDAS:
I was 29 when I met him. I’d just got divorced and I felt raw.

I didn’t stop him moving in and by the time he’d set foot through the door for good I really really wished I had but it was already too late.

I’d only just decorated my house but within a fortnight it was redecorated to his taste. Pictures were removed, furniture thrown and furnishings changed. It didn’t feel like my home anymore.

I had given him the control he wanted.

My family stopped calling and my friends disappeared whilst all the while he said he was the only person I needed.

I was stopped from using the internet, the telephone, writing letters or accessing a post box. We did everything together.

I was told what to eat, wear, watch on TV – everything. He took over my bank account and paid off all of his extensive debts.

We were together for 17 years and in that time I managed to convince myself that it was “normal”. Normal to feel self-hate, disgusting, for someone to be controlled totally.
So 17 years later I found my inner courage and the ability to say “No, No more am I doing this”.

I will honesty tell you I do not know how I managed to get away. Something inside me, somewhere, made it happen.

I found Carmarthen Domestic Abuse Services (CDAS). They saved me to be honest. I found their number and contacted them only to nearly persuade myself I was wasting their time! 
I can honestly say that there are no words that can explain how I got into this situation and no realistic way of saying why you stay in a relationship like I was in. It’s complicated and complex and if you’ve never been in that situation you will never understand how you are tangled and tied up with so many emotional knots that it’s impossible to leave. 
But it can happen to anyone – I mean anyone.

It’s been a long hard stressful journey but I’m getting there….slowly becoming more alive day by day. But I’m free. I’m me and I’m still here.

Although the White Ribbon Campaign aims to end male violence against women, domestic abuse affects both sexes and support is available to everyone.

Local support contact details:
Calan DVS Amman Valley – 01269 597474
Carmarthen Domestic Abuse Services – 01267 238 410
Threshold Domestic Abuse Services, Llanelli – 01554 752 422
National support contact details:
Live Fear Free – confidential 24-hour all Wales telephone helpline 0808 80 10 800
www.livefearfree.gov.wales

The Llandeilo Festival of the Senses attracted record crowds over the weekend.

Christoph Fisher, of the organising committee, has issued the following thank-you letter –

The festival would like to thank everyone who attended our festival this weekend.

The glorious sunshine drew in record figures. Judging by the Park and Ride attendance it was the biggest yet.

The festival doubled the bus capacity, had to open another Park and Ride location and then upgraded the buses during the day on Saturday to two 70 seaters and it was still running on full capacity at busy times.

Friday town got busy as children watched Santa (Sion Corn) being brought through town on his sleigh by the Round Table of Llandeilo.

The Town Band of Llandeilo then led children from the Llandeilo primary schools carrying lantern through town until they met Santa again on King Street where snow machines added to the magical atmosphere.

Ffion Haf enchanted the crowd with hymns in Welsh and English, until the Mayor Edward Thomas switched on the Christmas Lights.

Local singer / songwriter Harry Luke delighted the crowd with his tunes and also presented his new single “Summer Eighteen” on stage until the Fireworks went off.

Lots of local singers populated the stage on King Street over the weekend, performing both in Welsh and English.

We would like to thank Menter Bro Dinefwr for their support for the Welsh language entertainment.

Local businesses pulled out all the stops with inviting discounts and special offers and called it the best Saturday they have had.

Edward Friend from Carreg Law transformed his office into a Grotto for Santa, who is temporarily homeless while the Shire Hall is being converted into a Heritage Centre.

There are so many individuals and businesses to thank for their contributions to the festival:

The Llandeilo Town Band, the school children, choirs and artists who performed on stage, the Round Table Llandeilo, the Girl Guides, St John’s Ambulance, and LAS Waste for their free or drastically discounted services, the Cawdor Hotel, the Civic Hall and the Ebenezer Chapel for providing such great locations and Carmarthenshire County Council for arranging free parking during the festival and for their advice and support.

Llandeilo Town Council for the financial and other support. The Carmarthenshire Tourism Association for their help with publicity and also for the sound advice they gave us. Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, The Hangout and Tregib Sports Facilities for allowing us to use their car parks for Park and Ride as well as Coracle Coaches who responded so quickly to the increased demand by offering us larger buses within less than half an hour.

The businesses who pledged and / or provided moral support for the festival and showed great community spirit and last but not least the hard working volunteers and the committee members who all worked tirelessly nonstop for free to make the event happen and make it a success.

And a success is was judging by the positive feedback on the social media pages. 

The deadline is approaching for nominations for the popular Carmarthen Town Sports Awards for 2018.

The awards are organised annually by Carmarthen Town Council, with a special presentation evening taking place at the Carmarthen Quins Rugby Club.

The search is on for nominations for the 2018 awards. Monday, November 26, is the closing date for nominations.

If anyone would like a nomination form (individuals can nominate not just via a club), then please e-mail Eleri James at Carmarthen Town Council’s offices at St Peter’s Civic Hall in Carmarthen – eleri@carmarthentowncouncil.gov.uk

Evan Davies (Ifan JCB) and Malcom Morse of J H Morse and Sons Ltd have agreed to sponsor again this year. 

The guest speakers at the 2017 awards were British Lions, Wales and Scarlets hooker Ken Owens and Wales and Scarlets flanker James Davies. The awards were presented by the then Carmarthen Town Mayor, Coun Alun Lenny, and members of the Mayoral party.

The main 11 award categories for 2018 are:

Senior Male

Senior Female

U13s Junior Male

U13s Junior Female

U16s Intermediate Male

U16s Intermediate Female

U19s Youth Male

U19s Youth Female

Junior Team

Senior Team

Coach/Organiser/Volunteer

2017 Carmarthen Town Sports Awards winner of the Special Award was Dr Peter Herbert