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Harriet Davis suffered from a rare degenerative metabolic disease, and lived for just 11 years. Seaside holidays, in the company of family and friends, were a source of great joy and enrichment to her and thus to all who knew her, and in 1992 the Harriet Davis Seaside Holiday Trust for Disabled Children was established as a tribute to her shining and indomitable spirit.

This year marks an important anniversary for the Trust; it is twenty years since Harriets parents, Kit and John Davis, established the charity as a tribute to her memory. To mark the occasion they will be launching a book, From Harriet with Love, which tells Harriets story and how Kit and John came to form the Trust, and includes contributions by a selection of those who also loved and cared for her, and the fun they had along the way.

The thirty years since Harriet was born have included a lot of stress and anxious times, says Kit and John, but overall we remember the fun, laughter and good times, and have been constantly grateful for the kindness of strangers.

As the principal carers of an increasingly frail child, Kit and John were constantly reminded of the lack of suitable holiday accommodation which would allow a severely disabled child to take part in a real family holiday. Therefore, they founded a registered charity in Harriets name that aimed to provide properties in seaside locations that are suitably constructed to offer families with disabled children the opportunity to enjoy seaside holidays. The needs of these families for rest and recreation have been provided for in remarkably creative and imaginative ways through the four houses owned by the Trust.

Harriets wish was that everyone should have a holiday as she was able to enjoy, adds Kit and John, and we suppose that what the book illustrates is that, whatever the disability, a holiday at the seaside can be uplifting and a healing place for all the family, and this underlines all that we have tried to provide since Harriet died.

From Harriet with Love is a remarkable story, one the authors believe should be told for the benefit of others as well as to provide a suitable tribute to their daughters life. All proceeds from the publication will be donated to the Harriet Davis Seaside Holiday Trust for Disabled Children (Registered Charity No. 1015096).

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With England kicking off their Euro 2012 campaign at the Donbass arena in Donetsk against France on Monday a few will realise that the host city was originally called Hughesovka and was created by Welsh capitalist John Hughes and his team of seventy Welsh miners and steelworkers. Its transition from Hughesovka in Russia, to Stalino in the Soviet Union, and then to Donetsk in the newly-independe nt Ukrainian nation, is a story of Russia, Ukraine and the Soviet Union in microcosm.

Welsh publishers Y Lolfa recently released a book Dreaming a City: The Story of Hughesovks/Stalino/Donetsk that traces the towns growth from patriarchal beginnings through the Russian revolutions, Bolshevism, Stalinism, Nazi occupation and the collapse of Communism, Nineties rising Ukraine nationalism, to Ukraine post-independence in the present market economy. Partly a revisiting of the making of the television series Hughesovka and the New Russia , this book is Russian and Welsh social and political history; travel journalism, and a tribute to Welsh historian Gwyn Alf Williams. Above all, though, it explores the tensions between a belief in social change and the danger implicit in utopian visions. Probing important themes such as capitalism and communism; internationalism and nationalism, in addition to freedom and exploitation, the author uses the city as a metaphor to explore a retreat from political idealism, and the nature of hope and disillusion. It also includes a DVD of the award winning documentary.

Dreaming a City  is available on www.ylolfa.com for 9.95

A preview of the documentary can be seen here:-

"The name of Colin Thomas...a guarantee of intelligence and scrupulous integrity" (The Financial Times)

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Clay Shaw Butler's Donna Jones is celebrating gaining the AAT qualification with the professional body for accounting technicians.
The AAT is the UKs leading qualification and membership body for accounting staff.
Donna is 28 and from Lampeter.
She is a former pupil of Lampeter Comprehensive School.
She gained a Business Management Degree from Aberystwyth University.
Donna is keen to add to her list of accountancy qualifications and is planning to start her ACCA qualifications in September.
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. ACCA aims to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.
The association currently supports 140,000 members and 404,000 students throughout their careers, providing services through a network of 83 offices and active centres.
You can contact Donna at Clay Shaw Butler, chartered accountants and business consultants, of Lammas Street, Carmarthen, on 01267 228500.
Email -
donnajones@clayshawbutler.com
Website -
www.clayshawbutler.com

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Burry Port firm Amcanu has joined the social media networks of Facebook and Twitter.
You can find them on Facebook by looking for Amcanu Ltd.
You can find them on Twitter by searching for @AmcanuLtd
Check them out dont forget to Like the Facebook page and Follow the Twitter feed.

About Amcanu -

Amcanu is a design and manufacturing business.
We provide tailored sheet metal solutions, with the emphasis on quality, attention to detail and precision.
We have more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Based in West Wales, we produce tailored sheet metal solutions which are used around the world.

Website -
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In the news today . . .


By Robert Lloyd, 2012-06-08

The Llanelli Rotary Club website has just been updated with latest news - http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=936
Pictures from the Carmarthen Town AFC Youth Presentation Evening at Richmond Park are now up on the club website - http://www.carmarthentownafc.com
Want to work at the National Botanic Garden of Wales? We are looking for an Assistant Horticulturist http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/support-us/job-vacancies/ #GardenOfWales
Beer tasters ready to get down to work for the Evan-Evans Brewery #beer #realale - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/beer-tasters-ready-to-get-down-to-work.html
Carmarthen artist Mark Cox starts a new exhibition run at Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/mark-cox-starts-new-exhibition-at.html
Lee Trundle mulls legal action against Neath on 'substantial' unpaid wages http://ow.ly/brxNZ
Retweeted by Robert Lloyd Expand
Catch up on news about the latest events at Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley - http://www.aberglasney.org/index.php?page=events
Euros Childs at St Peters Hall,Carmarthen 23rd June Tickets here:- http://www.wegottickets.com/event/171418
Congratulations to Radio Glangwili ( @RG_GarAng ), celebrating 20 years of broadcasting. #carmarthen
Llanelli's MP ryou.co.uk/t/8Nw3ql
Melin Consultants @melinconsult looking for a new team member for Llanelli - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/melin-consultants-looking-for-new-team.html
Posters are out for the Llandeilo Jazz Festival (July 6-8) - http://sirgarblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/posters-are-out-for-llandeilo-jazz.html
Time Machine has kicked in again - we are back in February! Can't hear myself think for the wind and the rain on the attic office roof!

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Two new members for Llanelli Rotary Club


By Robert Lloyd, 2012-06-08


Two new members were inducted into membership of Llanelli Rotary Club at the weekly meeting at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli.
Dr Kevin Jones (left) and Mr Simon Rowley (right) were welcomed into the club by President Graham Williams.
The two new Rotarians were proposed as members by Rotarian Jeff Wheeler.
Dr Jones was born in Llanelli and attended Llanelli Boys Grammar School before receiving his medical training at Cardiff University and St Andrews in Scotland.
He returned to Llanelli in 1982 to join the Ty Elli medical practice.
He is a senior partner in the practice.
Mr Rowley is a retired surgeon. Born in Leeds, he was brought up in Zambia.
He was educated at Shrewsbury and at Birmingham and Heidelberg universities.
The next meeting of Llanelli Rotary Club is the annual Club Assembly meeting on Wednesday, June 13, 7.30pm at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli.
Website -
http://llanellirotary.com/
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Mark Cox starts new exhibition at Aberglasney


By Robert Lloyd, 2012-06-08


Carmarthen artist Mark Cox has a new exhibition at Aberglasney House and Gardens.
The exhibition started today and runs through to 21st June.
The show is made up of more than60 original paintings, mainly of West Wales, together with prints and cards.
Below, is Mark's view of Druidstone Beach.


Mark's own website describes him as 'an eclectic artist who enjoys working on a variety of subjects, producing landscapes, marine and coastal paintings. He works in both oils and watercolours'.
Mark, who has been painting all his life, gained an honours degree in fine art at Trinity College Carmarthen.
Mark has exhibited widely in Carmarthenshire, Bristol, Brecon, Dublin, Mid and South-West Wales, including Cardiff and the National Assembly for Wales.
His work has been sent as far as Australia and USA.
Mark can be seen working on his latest paintings most Wednesdays in the Lounge Gallery, Waverley, Carmarthen.
Mark is well known to visitors to Aberglasney House and Gardens as he exhibits there on a regular basis.
For more on Mark Cox, see -
http://carmarthenartist.blogspot.com/
www.markcoxpaintings.co.uk
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It has been billed as the best job opportunity ever - Official Beer Taster!
In December of last year, Evan-Evans started the search for a group of beer tasters to help the award-winning brewery with the development of its new beer range for the summer of 2012.
The company received more than 250 applications for what was described as the best job in brewing.
The first 25 successful tasters met last month for a training session headed by Evan-Evans brewery Chief Executive Simon Buckley and Ian Swanson of The Beer Academy.
Now, tomorrow (June 9), a second batch of tasters are to be put through their paces on a specially-designed beer tasting course.
The course, being held at The Cricketers in Cathedral Road, Cardiff, will cover a variety of topics and include the tasting of a series of beer styles and the skills required to become a professional beer taster.
The course culminates in an exam and a final tasting session at the bar of The Cricketers, the top food pub in Wales.
Mr Buckley said: This will be the second training session for our new beer tasters.
Once it is complete, we can get down to the serious work of brand building with their help.
On the first training course, it was a delight to see so many genuinely enthusiastic tasters determined to grasp the complex subject of beer production and the intricate flavours we produce.
We can now move forward with our plans for the development of new cask and bottled beers, knowing that the tasters will give us their considered opinions.
We are the only brewery in Wales and probably in the UK to have our own tasting team and we feel confident that with the feedback from the tasters we will continue our expansion as a major drinks brand company.
We hope to launch a new range of cask beers in July and follow that with a new range of bottle beers for the autumn.
I am grateful to the tasters for coming to the training and to The Beer Academy for their help.
Picture above: The Evan-Evans Brewery tasters at the first training course at The Cricketers Cardiff, Simon Buckley is pictured centre.
The Beer Academy
The Beer Academy is an educational body that was founded by a small group of beer enthusiasts in 2003 to help people understand, appreciate and enjoy beer sensibly.
To date more than 10,000 people have attended Beer Academy courses and tasting events such as the BBC Good Food Show, the Great British Beer Festival and the British Museum as well as in pubs and bars up and down the country.
The Academy offers a range of courses and qualifications ranging from a 90-minute tutored introduction to beer through to the two day Advanced Course for serious beer connoisseurs. Full details of all Beer Academy Courses and events can be found www.beeracademy.co.uk or on Twitter @TheBeerAcademy

Weblink
http://www.evanevansbrewery.com
Evan-Evans Brewery
Evan-Evans has a reputation for brewing the highest quality cask-conditioned beers. Evan-Evans is Waless largest specialist brewer of cask ale. The company started brewing in 2004 to produce specialist cask ales for the Welsh and national guest ale market.
The brewing heritage of the Buckley family stretches back to the early 19th century after the Rev James Buckley married the eldest daughter of Henry Child who had founded Childs Brewery in Llanelli. It was set up to slake the thirst of the towns tinworkers, who were rapidly increasing in numbers.
Evan-Evans was founded in Llandeilo in 2003 and began brewing in 2004. It is named after William Evan-Evans who married into the family four generations ago

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A gala dinner is being planned in Carmarthenshire for the Help For Heroes charity.

Dena Lloyd Waterfordis theCounty Coordinator for the Help for Heroes.
She writes -
As a coordinator, I cover the whole of Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
Every year I hold a gala dinner for the charity.
It is being held on Saturday July 14 at The Ashburnham Hotel, Pembrey.
Guests will start to arrive around 6pm. We have in attendance the Mayor and Consort of Royal Wotton Bassett again this year.
The ticket price is 25 per person, where you will have a drink on arrival, a three course meal which includes, Vegetable soup, Turkey Dinner, Strawberry Cheesecake or Ice Cream then Tea or Coffee. There is also a vegetarian dish available, if required.
During the evening there will be a raffle and an auction.
This is a Black tie event.
We have individual tickets available or tables of 8 or 10 if anyone would like to make a table..
Contact -
Dena Lloyd Waterford
75 Station Road
Kidwelly
Carmarthenshire
SA174UT
01554890583
Visit the Website: www.helpforheroes.org.uk
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The Dan Collins Memorial Rugby Match raised a staggering 11,078 for Healing The Wounds, the Welsh PTSD charity.
The event was organised by soldier's mumDeana Collins.
Deana's son Dan tragically lost his life on New Year's Day 2012.
With the help of Deana's friends and Dan's mates from the Welsh Guards, the Dan Collins Memorial Rugby Match kicked off at Cardigan Rugby Club, with the Healing The Wounds charity's Patron, Nigel Owens, giving his time to kindly referee the match.
The day turned out to be very warm and sunny with lots of supporters young and old joining the fun and a fabulous day was had by everyone.
A delicious barbecue was available and Healing the Wounds Mascot 'Dylan Draig' made a welcome appearance that added to the fun theme of the day. A fund-raising auction was also held.
Healing the Wounds would like thank everyone involved -
All at Cardigan Rugby Club for providing the venue, the Male Voice Choir who entertained pre-match, the local businesses in the area including donations from Dewi James Butchers, Aldi and Fedwen Bakery, The Ladies Committee and the Ferwig Ladies for preparing the meals, Lisa Lewis, Ferwig, for flower arrangements, and everyone who worked extremely hard to support this event.
Many veterans will be helped and supported through the efforts of everyone involved in this fund raising event and perhaps it is worth remembering that out of something tragic can come something good.
Healing the Wounds wish to thank Deana Collins for all the kind support given in her own hours of need and will remember Lance Sergeant Dan Collins as a brave soldier who suffered through doing his duty as a true hero of our Welsh Guards.
Photographs by Carol Richards
Weblink -
Pictured: Alun Richards, Deana Colins and Nigel Owens (Referee) and Dylan Draig.

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