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Award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership have scooped another prestigious award this time for a project in Banwen.
The Dove Workshop plays a prominent role in supporting the community in the Dulais Valley.
Architects from the Lewis Partnership have been involved with a number of improvements to the workshops, including a new cafeteria area.
Our role in developing the Dove Workshop has been hugely rewarding for the benefits the project brings to the local community, said David Ward, associate director of the Lewis Partnership.
Now, we have picked up a prestigious Neath Port Talbot Borough Council Building Control award for our work at Dove.
The award is the icing on the cake for project which does a huge amount to develop community spirit in the Dulais Valley.
The award was presented when the cream of the construction industry in Neath Port Talbot gathered at The Towers Hotel for a special ceremony.
This year was the ninth year for Neath Port Talbot to host the awards. The leader of the council, Councillor Ali Thomas was in attendance to present certificates and commemorative plaques to the successful builders and contractors.
The winners of each category will now represent Neath Port Talbot at the South Wales Regional Awards.
Councillor Thomas said: It is a great achievement for everyone who attended to be nominated for these awards and it all goes to demonstrate their commitment to produce quality buildings for the citizens of Neath Port Talbot.
Paul Davis, Building Control Manager for the council, said: The awards serve to promote the Building Control service provided by the authority and encourage high standards of construction.
Lewis Partnership associate director Mr Ward said: It was a great honour to pick up the award for the Dove project and we were delighted to see the high standards of our work recognised.
The Dove Workshop was first established during the Miners Strike of 1984 - 85 by a group of women from the Miners Support Group in the Dulais Valley.
The role of the Dove Workshop today is to identify and support adults in the community seeking education, training and advice on business start-up.
The Workshop established a Social Enterprise in 1989 to further develop child care provision, offer office services and more recently a community caf and catering service.
The brief for the project was to provide a larger area of cafe accommodation and associated kitchen areas in response to the success of the old Sarn Helen Caf which had outgrown its part of the building.
The project is of great benefit to the community in providing an improved facility and further employment.
The community centre has gained contracts for hospitality with Land Rover and BMW in relation to the off-road centre, which is adjacent to the site, and also with the Ford World Rally Team during Rally GB.
The extension to the cafe area was crucial for the continued success and further growth and sustainability of the centre.
The accommodation provides for approximately 180sq.m. of cafe seating accommodation and 76sq.m. of kitchen preparation, storage and cooking areas with ancillary areas.
The project was completed in March 2011 and was subsequently nominated by the Building Control Team of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council for their Built in Quality Awards.
Weblinks
http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk
http://www.npt.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=2482&pr_id=4599
http://www.doveworkshopuk.org/
On Facebook, search Lewis Partnership Ltd.
On Twitter, look for @Lewis_Architect
The company is based at No13 Park Crescent, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA15 3AE. Telephone 01554 777998.
South Wales architects help makeover at Lampeter campus of University of Wales Trinity St David
By Robert Lloyd, 2012-02-22
South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership are helping to bring one of the most historic university sites in Wales bang up-to-date with a major makeover.
The Lampeter campus of the University of Wales Trinity St David contains a mixture of historic buildings and more contemporary structures which need renovation.
Even the biggest fan of the Lampeter university campus would have to admit that some of the more modern buildings on site have been in need of a makeover, said Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership Ltd, of Llanelli.
There has been an university on the Lampeter site since the early part of the 19th century, so we considered ourselves very privileged to help bring a new, modern and vibrant look to buildings which were looking a little sad.
The 800,000 project is in the hands of WRW Construction, with all the design work carried out by the Llanelli-based Lewis Partnership.
Its been challenging and interesting project for us as architects and it has cemented a growing partnership with the University of Wales Trinity St David, said Mr Lewis.
In recent years, we have worked with the university administrators on improvements to the Carmarthen campus at the old Trinity College.
Now, weve had the chance to develop and improve the Lampeter campus and we hope it makes a big difference to the lives of the academics and students working on the campus.
The work on the current sports hall has involved new cladding, painting and further improvements such as new heating and flooring.
One of the old squash courts has been put to different use with the construction of a gym and a first floor dance studio.
The first phase of the work is due for completion at the end of this month.
The second part of the project sees the refurbishment of the arts building.
The front faade gets a makeover and classrooms are being given a major facelift. As always, the watchword has been on sustainability and the environment with sun louvres added to the building.
The project also includes improvements to the concourse in front of the arts building.
The refurbished buildings will meet all the universitys requirements for accessibility and we hope they meet with the approval of all who use them.
Weblinks
http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk
http://www.trinitysaintdavid.ac.uk
http://www.wrw.co.uk
On Facebook, search Lewis Partnership Ltd.
On Twitter, look for @Lewis_Architect
Photos above: Two artistic impressions of revamped sports hall.Below, a visualisation of the arts building.
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The latest South Wales Evening Post gardening column by Aberglasney Head Gardener Joseph Atkin -
This mild weather we are enjoying seems like an apology for last years hard winter and it is much appreciated.
Lilies are a real garden favourite and have been available for a long time in a wide choice of cultivars but less so as species.
Recently many more species are becoming readily available. In fact if you look through old catalogues you often only found a few white species, the speciosum type and the tigridium type. All these species are good plants but there is a huge variety of species lily coming in a great range of colour and size and flower shape.
One of the advantages of species lily is they can be grown from seed it often takes between three and five years but it saves money and can be great fun.
Some of the species will settle in and behave like true herbaceous plants and form large clumps unlike many of cultivars which dwindle without dividing the offsets.
Lilium Black Beauty is a notable exception which has formed a three meter wide clump at Aberglasney with literally hundreds of blooms.
Seed grown species also reduce the chance of getting virus in your plants which is often hard to spot until you see one without virus and realise how much more vigorous they are.
The species Lilies have not been bred for the garden and need to be treated a little differently. In the wild many are hedgerow plants or grow in shrub thickets.
What this means is they are much taller and need staking. Instantly you think more work but rather than stake them if they are placed between tightly planted shrubs the shrubs will give the support. This is a really good way of growing them as you get too sets of interest one from the Lily and one from the shrub. This can also be done with Thalictrum which combine well with Lily colour wise.
So where is a good position to grow them?
They enjoy very moist free draining soil they are prone to winter rot but enjoy the high rainfall we get.
Other than full shade or full sun they are happy and will take full sun if the roots are kept cool. They really enjoy good mulch and are pretty hardy. The two pest problems are slugs and Lily beetle.
I have successfully removed Lily Beetle by picking them off all season but it was a pain a staking process.
Growing them from seed stops you bringing them to the garden and there are some chemicals available that help control them.
So which ones are good to grow?
Welsh gardens are ideal for species lilies as they enjoy our rainfall, the Martagon type Lilies are excellent garden plants.
Tips for the Week
Plant early vegetables
Make the most of the dry weather to prepare seed beds for direct sowing
Dahlia can be potted up
Check your glasshouse for pests and deal with them now before the glasshouse gets full
Use fleece or carpet to cover the soil before planting it makes a big difference
There is still time to divide perennials but be careful of new buds
Bare root plants can be planted now
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Popular Carmarthen comedy entertainer Phil Doyle will be staging a fund-raising evening at the Carmarthen Town AFC clubhouse and community centre on Saturday, May 26.
The show starts at 7pm. Tickets are 12 per person, including buffet.
Phil has appeared on many TV shows including New Comedians and Talking Telephone Numbers.
Phil has won the Jersey Variety Club Award for Best Comedian for three years running.
Phil will be supported by the talented young vocalist Natasha Doyle.
To book: Telephone, Allan, 07976 973693, or Jeff, 07813 697774.
The Carmarthen Town AFC 2012 Sportsmans Dinner will be held at the The Ivy Bush Royal Hotel on Friday 18th May.
BBC TV pundit Steve Claridge will be the guest speaker.
Steve is one of a very select few players who have amassed 1000 career appearances. He scored more than 250 goals during a 22 year career that saw him playing for more than 20 clubs.
His appointment as manager of Millwall, a club for whom he is regarded as a legend by their fans at The Den, came after previous successful Player Manager roles at Portsmouth in 2000/2001 and Weymouth in 2003/2004. However, he was sacked as Manager of Millwall in July 2006 after less than four weeks in the job.
Steve is now the leading face of The Football League Show, which follows Match of The Day every Saturday evening, and is a regular pundit for Football Focus, Live Championship matches on BBC1 & BBC2, Score and Radio 5 Live including the iconic Monday Night Club.
Steve is a high profile after dinner speaker with humorous stories about his on and off field trials and tribulations of a 20 year football career, his gambling addictions and the roller coaster ride that is his life.
Llanelli Rotarians raise £900 for 'Thanks for Life - End Polio Now' appeal
By Robert Lloyd, 2012-02-22
Members of Llanelli Rotary Club carried out bucket collections at Llanelli's Tesco superstore last week as part of the service organisation's 'Thanks for Life - End Polio Now' appeal.
Over two days, the Rotarians raised 900.
Pictured are: Monro Walters, Gordon Battersby, Dennis Wooley and Richard Thomas.
The collections were timed to mark 'Rotary Day-Thanks for Life', an annual RIBI project set up to highlight and celebrate the humanitarian work of Rotarians. Its number one aim is to help eradicate polio throughout the world.Now in its third year, Thanks for Life saw clubs and members across Great Britain and Ireland organising activities on and around 23rd February (Rotary Day) - the anniversary of the first Rotary meeting in Chicago more than 100 years ago - to raise awareness and understanding of Rotary in their community and maximise donations to The Rotary Foundation to assist polio eradication.
Weblink-
http://www.ribi.org/thanks-for-life
Cr Meibion Llanelli Concert at the Gravells Subaru Showroom in Kidwelly. Soloist: soprano Joy Cornock. The posters on the wall were all about precision engineering and powerful gearboxes but there was nothing mechanical about Cr Meibion Llanellis performance at the Gravells Subaru showroom in Kidwelly.
Yes, they were precise.
Yes, they provided some interesting musical gear-changes.
Yes, there was plenty of power.
But there was much, much more and , as always, it was all served up with a passion which has become a hallmark of one of the finest choirs in Wales.
The concert was a fund-raiser for the Llanelli Sea Cadet Corps (TS Echo) to commemorate their 70th anniversary and the Warship Week (1942) adoption by Llanelly of the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Echo.
The President of TS Echo, Lt Col David Mathias, provided the military background to the occasion in an illuminating opening address.
And there were reference points to World War Two in the choirs programme most notably Y Tangnefeddwyr (about the Swansea Blitz) and the Requiem, a piece first performed by the choir on their recent visit to sHertogenbosch to mark the liberation of the Netherlands city by Welsh soldiers during the war.
It wasnt all war, though, as the choir served up some old favourites.
Myfanwy, Nant y Mynydd, Anthem, Swing Low, Amen and Ride The Chariot were all warmly-received.
Under music director D Eifion Thomas, the choir pulled out all the stops on Verdis La Vergine Degli Angeli from la Forza del Destino, which featured guest soprano soloist Joy Cornock.
The soprano was a big hit with the audience with her solo spots, including Ivor Novellos Waltz of my heart and a dramatic rendition of Puccinis O mio babbino caro (Oh My Beloved Father).
The accompanist for the concert was Joy Amman Davies, musical director of the Morriston Orpheus Choir.
Pictures: Choir members in full voice; David Gravell and the Llanelli Sea Cadets guard of honour welcoming the audience to the concert; soprano soloist Joy Cornock.
St Davids Day (Dydd Gyl Dewi Sant) is the feast day for Waless patron saint, so Llanellis biggest bakery marking the occasion in style.
Jenkins the Bakers will be rolling out patriotic products to make March 1st a real feast.
There will be a proper Welsh theme to our products before, during and immediately after St Davids Day, said Russell Jenkins (above), a director at the bakery.
We are already well known for helping to put the accent on all things Welsh at our bakery and our shops, but this year we will be making an extra special effort.
Among the products hitting the shops later this week (February 20) will be
Welsh Beef Pie, the Welsh Pastie, Welsh Cakes, Wholemeal Welsh Cakes, Bara Brith, Teisin Lap (cake on a plate) and even Welsh Cakes without fruit as the bakery likes to cater for all tastes!
A new Jenkins Bakery product to mark St Davids Day this year will be a rustic bakestone made with an addition of malted brown flour and kibbled wheat to add to the plain and fruited bakestone range.
We pride ourselves as being a bakery business which knows its customers and we know how people love to celebrate St Davids Day, added Mr Jenkins.
The Welsh-themed products will be available until March 12.
The Jenkins bakery employs 300 people, full and part-time, across 25 different stores in South Wales.
The company has the Gold Standard Welsh Food Hygiene Award and the Investors in People award.
The business employs 70 people at its Trostre HQ, while the Jenkins shop network stretches from Carmarthen to Bridgend. There are 13 shops in Carmarthenshire and even one as far afield as Powys.
Llandeilo businessman and brewery owner Simon Buckley says traders in Llandeilo will be sorry to see the Welsh Game Fair leave its traditional home at Gelli Aur in the Tywi Valley.
"In the past, the game fair has been an important part of the list of annual summer events.
"We are sorry to see it go, but there are new events planned for Llandeilo that will more than adequately replace it.
"We wish them well for their new site and their plans for the future.
"Somehow, the Nantyci showground in Carmarthen will not have the same feel that the Tywi Valley and Gelli Aur has. It will be interesting to see what they do.
"I remain confident that it will have little economic impact on Llandeilo, as this is a bustling, thriving and charismatic town with a charm of its own.
The switch to Nantyci has beendescribed as a major coup for Carmarthen.
Carmarthen business leaders said they are relishing welcoming the show to the town over the weekend of June 16 and 17.
They hope the town can capitalise on the move, with the thousands who head to the fair in turn spending their money in local shops and businesses.
Carmarthen Chamber of Trade and Commerce discussed the move at last weeks meeting.
Treasurer John Nash said: This is a great move for the show ground to be hosting the fair.
As a chamber we should be making sure the town benefits from the Game Fair coming here.
Mr Nash added: We need to ensure that visitors to the Game Fair, know that the town is within easy reach.
Whether that means coming up with a marketing plan to advertise the town in the coming months or simply us as traders being on the gate with flyers and copies of the town map.
Either way we have to make sure Carmarthen town centre sees the benefits of the game fair coming to Nantyci.
Ellis Davies, treasurer of the United Counties Agricultural Society, which runs the showground said: Being able to host the game fair at Nantyci proves that the showground is attracting top events over the coming months.
It is in a prime location on the edge of Carmarthen and served by the A40 dual carriageway.
He added: We have close links with the countys tourism association and are going to be in talks with them about marketing the event.
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Game-fair-coup-showground-event-switches-Gelli/story-15233513-detail/story.html
Stagecoach Carmarthen theatre arts school gives a boost to the Welsh language
By Robert Lloyd, 2012-02-22
Carmarthens leading theatre arts school has picked St Davids Day (Thursday, March 1) to announce a boost for the Welsh language.
Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen will soon launch new bilingual classes for early years pupils at the school.
Weve had lots of requests for Welsh in our early years classes, said Stagecoach Carmarthen principal Liane Davies.
We already have the resources as I am a fluent Welsh speaker, along with two of my early stages staff, so it was just a question of testing the opinion of our students and their mums and dads.
Everyone seems very keen on the idea, so, from the start of the April term, one of the early years classes for four to six-year-olds will be a bilingual class.
I am a passionate supporter of the Welsh language and think that everyone deserves the best possible start in life by being bilingual.
I think Stagecoach as a national organisation will be considering whether it wants to roll out the idea across Wales eventually.
For now, though, we will be in the vanguard helping to increase the use of Welsh.
Dance, drama and singing is all very much based around self-confidence and many of the pupils that come to us at a young age have that confidence in the Welsh language from using it at home or at nursery schools.
The skills they will be taught at the school will be just the same, but for those who want it we will now be able to do so through the medium of Welsh. We will, of course, also be continuing to hold a specifically English language early years class.
Thinking long-term, there are great opportunities out there in the arts and the media in Wales. Helping our pupils get the opportunity to read a script in Welsh, to work in Welsh TV and theatre is one of our key aims.
Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen has its base at the Model Church in Wales School.
The school opened in May 2009 and became an instant success. The school now attracts students from the three counties of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.
In recent years, Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen has staged the musicals Billy Elliot and Oliver.
Liane added: Our aim is always to nurture and develop four to 18-year-olds to fulfil their potential through dance, drama and singing.
Its not all about treading the boards on stage. Early stages classes focus on allowing the children to express themselves, while at the same time building up confidence, poise and self-esteem. Above all, we make sure the experience is fun! The children love it.
If you want to find out more about Stagecoach Carmarthen, contact Principal Liane Davies, phone: 0845 604 1422. Email - carmarthen@stagecoach.co.uk.
Website - http://www.stagecoach.co.uk/carmarthen
Pictured above: Sam Bolton, currently a Stage 1 student at Stagecoach Theatre Arts Carmarthen.
