The second, and final, pre-season friendly of the summer will take place at The Rec ground on Friday evening, 24^th August, with Scarlets taking on Todd Blackadder’s Bath Rugby side.

A victory over Bristol Bears at Carmarthen Park last weekend secured a winning start to the season for the Scarlets and Friday night’s clash will be a final opportunity for Wayne Pivac and his coaches to see the boys in action, and work on new plays, before the Guinness PRO14 starts in earnest next weekend.

The star-studded starting XV includes no less than 12 internationally capped players with British and Irish Lions Man of the Series 2017, Jonathan Davies, captaining the side.

Club captain Ken Owens is named on the replacements bench and is one of two additional international replacements named alongside Werner Kruger.

Davies makes a long-awaited return to action after suffering a foot injury against Australia during last year’s Autumn Series.

Kieron Fonotia, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Uzair Cassiem will make their first starts for the region while newcomer Blade Thomson, who arrived in Wales only a few weeks ago, will make his Scarlets debut.

Looking ahead to the game head coach Wayne Pivac said; “We learned a lot from the performance against Bristol last week, despite the terrible conditions, and we’ll hopefully be able to build on that against Bath on Friday.

“Last weekend’s game was more of a trial whilst the second of our two friendlies is more of a dress rehearsal.”

Scarlets team to take on Bath Rugby at The Rec, Friday 24^th August, KO 19:30;

15 Leigh Halfpenny*, 14 Tom Prydie*, 13 Jonathan Davies* ©, 12 Kieron Fonotia*, 11 Steff Evans*, 10 Rhys Patchell*, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyde*, 1 Rob Evans*, 2 Ryan Elias*, 3 Samson Lee*, 4 David Bulbring, 5 Steve Cummins, 6 Blade Thomson, 7 James Davies*, 8 Uzair Cassiem*

Replacements; 16 Ken Owens*, 17 Phil Price, 18 Werner Kruger*, 19 Ed Kennedy, 20 Josh Macleod, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Clayton Blommetjies, 24 Tom Price, 25 Steff Hughes

Car parking charges for patients at Glangwili and Prince Philip hospitals are coming to an end on 31 August and the Health Board wishes to work with both staff and patients to continue to manage safe and smooth access to the hospitals.

As a guiding principle parking will be prioritised for those patients, staff and visitors with the greatest of need.

From 1 September 2018 the Health Board will be putting in place a staged car park management system, based on validation of tickets to ensure car parking facilities are not abused by those who do not have a genuine reason to park at the hospitals.

To ensure this, we will be engaging with our staff on how best to oversee the allocation of spaces and how we can utilise Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to include the potential for maximum stays on site.

The Health Board needs to strike a balance between ensuring effective access for patients, whilst at the same time giving sufficient space to staff to enable the smooth running of hospital services. Over the next few weeks ANPR cameras will be installed at both sites and will initially be used for monitoring and data collection purposes until a process can be agreed. The health board will retain parking attendants to manage capacity and demand during the immediate period.

Joe Teape, Director of Operations and Deputy Chief Executive at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “Parking has long been an issue at our hospital sites and I’d firstly like to acknowledge the frustrations that this has caused our staff, patients and visitors. We will soon be coming to the end of our existing arrangements and we want to take this opportunity to put a new and improved system in place to make it easier for people to park.

“We’re engaging with staff and the public to ensure a fairer deal for everyone, by protecting designated patient and visitor car parks and improving access for emergency vehicles. We will continue to work with the Staff Partnership Forum in relation to any potential alterations to staff parking, and further updates will be communicated soon.”

Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. Website – www.philevans.co.uk

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Boris Johnson recently got into hot water (his hair needed washing) accused of making a racist joke.

But, from an objective viewpoint, it wasn’t really a ‘joke’ in the accepted sense.

(Trust me; I’m a comedian and I know a thing or two about jokes)

It was more of a throwaway comment or off-hand remark.

We occasionally get told things about ourselves that we disagree with, but most of us brush them off and move on.

That Boris’s comment offended so many, shows certain sections of society are very sensitive.

But . . . that wasn’t always the case . . .

I watched a Channel Five programme last year that featured a bunch of ‘experts’ viewing clips from 1970s TV comedy shows.

Looking ‘shocked’ and ‘appalled’ they said things like “Did people reallywatch this 40 years ago?” and “When do I get my fee for pretending to be shocked and appalled?”

Being just a lad when “Love Thy Neighbour”, “Mind Your Language” and “It Ain’t ‘Alf  Hot Mum” entertained millions, I don’t know whether people were more tolerant in the 70s or less choosy about what they watched.

Although those shows are considered too non-P.C. to repeat, “Are You Being Served?” which features John Inman’s outrageously camp Mr Humphries and constant references to Mrs. Slocombe’s pussy, is being repeated on one of the digital channels during daytime – and nobody’s complained!

In 2018, people – not just the ‘professionally offended’ who demand their five minutes of airtime to complain about whatever’s got up their nose that morning –  appear more sensitive, not only regarding what’s said about them,but about other people.

Which makes a comedian’s job doubly difficult.

Audiences expect comedians to be edgy (and funny, too!) but that doesn’t mean they’ll accept every line you throw at them.

An audience is both one unit andseveral individuals.

Upset too many individuals and the unit will fall apart.

A bit like society in general.

Keep smiling!

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Having just returned from what has been described as the biggest street party in Europe, I’m pleased to report that I still have the time and energy to fill this newspaper column.

Although, I must admit, I only just made the deadline.

At the start of August, the greatest show on earth geared up for its 70^thanniversary and the streets of Edinburgh came alive with performers and tourists from the four corners of the world.

For a whole month, the city doesn’t sleep, while more than 3,000 shows take place, with something to suit everyone.

In a few weeks’ time, many of the shows that appeared in Edinburgh will be traveling the length and breadth of the UK to perform.

I have already noticed that Swansea, Llanelli and Carmarthen have pre-booked Edinburgh shows – and you can take it from me that the standard is exceptionally high.

The performing arts and live shows help our economy and instil a feeling of wellbeing among both artists and the audience members.

Creative arts are part of the joy of humanity.

But they can so often be overlooked in our current education system in favour of more ‘useful’ subjects such as science and maths.

Undoubtedly, there is increasing pressure on young children and schools to achieve outstanding exam results, but, unfortunately, only a few schools see the value of creativity.

Somehow, we need to get the message out there, and to start with, we could all support live entertainment, in all its forms.

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

Please again include www.philevans.co.uk

Burry Port Male Voice Choir will hold their 55^thannual concert next month.

St Mary’s Church in Burry Port will be the venue for the concert at 7pm on Saturday, September 8.

The guest artists will be –

Soprano Mary-Jean O’Doherty, baritone Ben Anthony, Adrian Williams on trumpet and Caradog Williams on piano.

Tickets are £10 and are available from Sewards the grocer on Llanelli Market, Barry Lewis at Llanelli Market and all choir members.

Burry Port Male Choir has a proud history.

The rebirth of the Burry Port Male Choir took place in September, 1962, when a meeting was called at the Memorial Hall inviting any persons interested in reforming the old choir.

Some 30 people attended.

The meeting concluded with Raymond Morris being appointed conductor.

The objectives and aims of the present choir are still founded on the foundations set more than 50 years ago.

The current conductor is the multi-talented Ryan Lee.

He is only the seventh conductor in more than 50 years.

The reputation of the Burry Port Male Choir extended under Mr Lee’s leadership to many parts of the British Isles, Europe and the United States of America.

Over the years, the choir has supported local charitable events and competed at eisteddfodau at both National and International levels.

The choir has twice visited Holland, Canada once, and has been to America on three occasions.

The choir has also visited and performed in Paris and at The Albert Hall, London in the Thousand Voices Concerts.

Mr Lee is a native of Llangennech.

Before his retirement, he was a headmaster by profession and had been teaching for more than 15 years in English schools, where he gained valuable experience as a conductor of choirs and operatic societies.

Mr Lee has arranged many of the songs sung by the choir – the music set to Psalm 121 was composed by him and part of the current repertoire was arranged by him.

Many other choirs have benefitted by receiving copies of his arrangements.

He is also the Musical Director of the Burry Port Operatic Society, one of the very few Operatic Groups performing grand Opera in Wales.

Over the last few years he has been in great demand as a conductor of Hymn singing festivals known in Wales as “Cymanfaoedd Canu” and requests for his services are increasing every year.

Choir rehearsals take place every Monday and Thursday nights (except Bank Holidays and the month of August) between 7.00pm and 8.45pm at the Burry Port Memorial Hall.

Meanwhile, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi Male Voice choir members are looking forward to events in September and October.

On Sunday, September 30 (7pm), Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi will be staging a special concert at St Maelog’s Church in Llandyfaelog.

The choir will perform alongside a guest choir from Cornwall, the Tamar Valley Male Choir.

Other guest artists include soprano Llio Evans, with guest accompanist Kim Lloyd Jones.

The President for the evening will be Tinopolis TV company boss and founder Ron Jones.

Tickets are £7 and are available from telephone number 01269860996.

Proceeds from the evening will go towards St Maelog Church and the chemotherapy unit at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen.

On Saturday, October 13, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi will join Carmarthen Male Voice Choir for their 60^thanniversary celebration concert at the Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen.

In other news, Côr Meibion Dinefwr Male Voice Choir will be holding their annual concert at Capel Newydd, Llandeilo, on Saturday, October 27 (7.30pm).

The special guests will be Côr Meibion Llandybie Male Voice Choir.

The conductor will be John Williams, the accompanist will be Sara Morgan and the chairman for the evening will be Eifion Davies.

Other special guests include tenor Osian Wyn Bowen, soloist Martha Harries and accompanist Gareth Wyn Thomas.

Admission is £8 and £3 for children and students.

Proceeds will go towards the choir’s funds.

Welsh tenor Osian Wyn Bowen is from Burry Port.

Currently he is an undergraduate student, studying under English National Opera Tenor Jeff Stewart at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

Osian has already performed in concert with Sir Bryn Terfel, Soprano Rebecca Evans, Soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, Baritone Gary Griffiths, Tenors Aled Hall and Rhys Meirion.

Venues include the RWCMD Dora Stoutzker Hall, St. David’s Hall, The Principality Stadium, Wales Millennium Centre, Llandaff Cathedral, Venue Cymru, The O2 Arena, The Queen’s Theatre, London, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the Milford Haven Music Festival.

He has worked with some of Wales and the world’s best coaches and accompanists including, Jeff Howard, Simon Lepper, Joseph Middleton, Kathryn Harries and Dr. Laura Osgood Brown.

Choral performances and concerts include ‘Gloria – Vivaldi’, ‘Beethoven’s 9th Symphony’, ‘Mozart’s Requiem’, and ‘Stabat Mater – Szymanowski’.

Osian is also a popular soloist for various concerts and oratorios under the baton of Edward Rhys Harry, the most recent being Saint Sëan Christmas Oratorio, Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes De Confessore.

Television appearances include S4C’s ‘Heno’,‘Les Mis – Y Daith’, Cyngerdd y 10 Tenor, Noson Lawen and BBC’s Songs of Praise.

Recent highlights include performing as part of trio in a live broadcast on BBC1 to mark the Passchendaele Centenary at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium. The tribute to Welsh poet Hedd Wyn was performed in the presence of members Royal Family and European Ministers.

Other highlights include playing the lead role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables as part of the Urdd’s National Theatre company’s 10 Year Anniversary production at the WMC, Cardiff.

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.

His list of awards includes – 2017 & 2018 – Minnie Morgan Scholarship Recipient. 2018 – Douglas Rees Young Opera Singer of the Year – Finalist.

Carmarthen baritone Mark Llewelyn Evans will be hosting ‘An Afternoon of Music at The Orangery’ at Margam Park on Sunday, September 2.

The event will feature the young up-and-coming members of the Llanelli-based Loud Applause Rising Stars group.

Youngsters performing at the Orangery will include Callum Howells, Lauren Fisher, Neve Summers, Jack Owens, Sydney Richards, Thomas Bytheway, Daisy Owens and Osian Clarke.

The special guests will be violin virtuoso Charlie Lovell-Jones and the Kenfig Hill youth choir Crescendo.

The concert starts at 3pm.

In September, at Ffwrnes Theatre, the famous Llanelli-based Academy Amateur Company will celebrate 35 years of performing great musicals.

They will be staging ‘Thank you for the Memories’ at Ffwrnes on Saturday, September 8.

This special celebratory concert will feature songs from their favourite productions over the years, promising a musical journey down memory lane that will leave you singing all the way home.

There will be songs from shows such as Singin’ In The Rain, Guys And Dolls, Anything Goes, The Full Monty and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Looking further ahead, to October, one of Carmarthenshire’s finest will be returning ‘home’ for two special concerts.

John Owen-Jones is a Burry Port boy who has gone on to be an award-winning West End and Broadway star.

He will play Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, on Wednesday, October 3 and the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, on Sunday, October 7.

In October, Carmarthen will also see another big name singer roll into town.

Russell Watson will be performing his new show, Canzoni d’Amore, at the Lyric on October 19.

Having sold more than seven million albums worldwide, Russell Watson is firmly established as the UK’s best-selling classical crossover artist of all time.

To date, his illustrious career has included performances for Her Majesty The Queen, The Pope and two US Presidents.

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

Hywel Dda University Health Board is working with Ashleigh Surgery in Cardigan to ensure the continued provision of GP services in the area following the resignation of their General Medical Services contract.

The GP Partners have taken the difficult decision to terminate their contract with the Health Board following the inability to attract new GPs over the last few years.

This decision by the Practice was not taken lightly. The best interests of registered the patients remains paramount, alongside the continued sustainability of the future of General Medical Services in Cardigan and surrounding areas.

For patients this means that care will continue to be provided by the same doctors, nurses and reception staff currently within the practice for the next few months, but the Practice and Health Board will now look to work with the community and neighbouring Ppractices to find a longer-term future that secures this important service for the Cardigan area population. Patients registered with Ashleigh Surgery can be assured that services will continue to be delivered as normal for now, and patients are asked to remain registered with the practice while longer-term plans are developed.

The Health Board will be writing shortly to the patients registered at Ashleigh Surgery to inform them of the situation and inviting them to feedback their views on how these services can continue to be delivered. Both the Practice and the Health Board are working closely together to ensure that patients are affected as little as possible by any changes that need to be made in the short-term or longer-term.

The Health Board’s assistance at this time will ensure continued delivery of services and provide  reassurance to local people and staff, whilst a solution is sought. The opinion of the local community and patients will be gathered prior to any decision about long term provision of the service, and the Health Board will be working closely with the Community Health Council with that in mind. The Health Board appreciates the continuing support given by the community to the team at Ashleigh Surgery.

A public engagement drop-in event will be held in Cardigan on Tuesday 20th November at The Guildhall, Cardigan at 1.30 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.  The Health Board will keep patients informed about developments, and invitations will be sent to registered patients closer to the time.

Rhian Bond, Assistant Director of Primary Care for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “The Health Board is committed to maintaining the high standards of care that are currently provided at Ashleigh Surgery and would like to reassure patients that the provision of these important services will continue in this area.

“We have agreed to work together with Ashleigh Surgery and neighbouring practices to find the best way to secure services for the patients. We will now work with the existing team and stakeholders to develop plans for delivery of future services.”

For further information your queries can be directed to the Health Board’s Patient Services Department 0300 0200 159, the Locality Development Manager for South Ceredigion Carys Davison on 07773 384876, or email Carys.Davison@wales.nhs.uk