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Llanelli AFC (The Reds of Llanelli Town) have announced that their kit sponsors from last season, the Jenkins Bakery, have decided to continue their sponsorship for the coming season.
In the picture above are Reds players Craig Richards, Jordan Follows and Craig Williams, receiving the new kit from David Jenkins, director and company secretary of the Jenkins Bakery.
The picture was taken outside Jenkins shop in the Market Precinct in Llanelli with the Welsh Cup Trophy also on show.
Reds General Manager Nigel Richards said: We are extremely grateful to David and Russell Jenkins and all the staff at Jenkins Bakers for their continued shirt sponsorship.
"With them on the front of our shirts, we had a successful season last time out, so lets hope that continues this year.
The Reds face a massive match on Monday, August 8, when they take on Manchester United Reserves at Parc y Scarlets.
Mr David Jenkins commented: Being a local business established 90 years ago this year we are delighted to sponsor our local football team and wish them every success this season.
http://www.llanelliafc.org/
Carmarthen Town bring their pre-season to an end on Saturday with an attractive home fixture against Welsh League champions, Bryntirion Athletic.
Bryntirion finished five points clear at the top of the table from Afan Lido last season.
Lido, of course, had applied to join the Welsh Premier League and their application was successful.
Therefore this should prove to be a very good test for Tomi Morgans squad.
Morgan has completed some more signings over the weekend.
Both Richard Hughes and Nicky Palmer, from last seasons squad, put pen to paper, while defender Craig Hanford returns after a season with Afan Lido.
Central defender Steve Berry also joins the club having spent last season playing in Sweden
The Old Gold are also in discussions with last seasons keeper Michael Lewis.
Lewis has been training and playing with Newport County during the summer but has suggested that he would appreciate a return to Richmond Park.
The keeper was the Player of the Year and Supporters Player of the Year for last season.
Lewiss back-up and coach for last season, Shane Earp, has also committed himself to the E H Factors and Clothing-sponsored Carmarthen Town side for this season.
Town were also proud to announce that Gavin Rees (above), a central defender for the Youth side, had been selected for the Welsh Semi-Pro Under-18 Squad.
They will play the Republic of Ireland at Holyhead on Wednesday.
Towns proposed friendly against Caersws had to be cancelled in very sad circumstances.
A 12-year-old boy, Casey Breese, died while playing at the Recreation Ground in Caersws when a goal fell on him during a kick about with his friends.
Vice-Chairman Robert Lloyd, on behalf of Carmarthen Town, extended the clubs condolences to Caseys family and to the club at Caersws.
The Llanelli-based Jenkins Bakery business has proved yet again that it knows that people are at the heart of every good business.
It may sound like a bit of a clich, but it is a proven fact that investment in people pays dividends, said Russell Jenkins, the operations director of the Jenkins Bakery.
One of the key planks in the companys philosophy is rewarding long service employees with an annual lunch at the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli.
This year, our 90th in business, we have more than 40 people who are celebrating 10 years or more service with the company.
I think thats quite an achievement in this modern-day world when many businesses struggle to retain staff.
Out of our long service employees, a total of 34 were able to attend our lunch and its just one way in which we like to thank staff for their loyal service.
Mr Jenkins added: We view people as our prime assets and are fortunate to have a relatively stable workforce thus giving the business a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Our success relies on the fact that our people are very open to change, able to adopt new methods of working and be enthusiastic about the development of the company.
We pride ourselves on being a family business. As in all families, we offer people the chance to grow and develop in a safe, friendly environment. Staff turnover is low, with full-time positions seldom becoming vacant.
Mr Jenkins continued: This year is also an extra special one for us at Jenkins, as we are a third generation family business currently celebrating 90 years in business.
During the course of the year, we are marking our anniversary in a number of ways. For example, at the start of the year we played host to a conference for the British Confectioners Association, the leading forum in the national bakery industry.
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.
Books & music from Cymru/Wales plus selections from the following artistes: Meic Stevens (including his autobiography); Dafyd Iwan; Mary Hopkin; Bryn Terfel; Katherine Jenkins; Shirley Bassey; Tom Jones; Petula Clark (mother's from Merthyr); Cr Meibion Dowlais Male Voice; Manic Street Preachers; & Stereophonics can be bought through Amazon from the following sites: http://crwtynrhifnaw.blogspot.com/ ; http://taffechannantmorlais.blogspot.com/;http://mymiscellaneous-bynbrynman.blogspot.com/
Tâf Fawr/Nant Morlais, Growing up in Merthyr Tydfil: my first 28 years.
By Byn (Bynbrynman)Tavarn Ty Elise, 2011-08-01
I'm going to go deep today and talk about Mr Right. Mr Right Man to marry, I mean.
There's some book going the rounds with a title somethinglike: 'Mr Almost Right, is Right Enough'.
It's written by someone whose mother told her not to be too fussy about who she marries because no-one is perfect.
There is sometruth in that but there are also a numberof flaws, the main onebeingthat, when you fall in love with someone, although you may know theirfaultsyou are prepared to overlook them.
(You know, love is blind, that old one). Sometimes, though, no matter how well you think you know your beloved, some things come to light after you are married. Yeah.
Let'sget personal. I knew my husband was a methodical man before I married him. He doubled checked everything,liked to get his facts right, did not attempt to do anything until he understood exactlywhat was involved andthen, quite often, he would decide not to do it, anyway. Iliked him even more for these traits, found them endearing, even.
He put things away immediately, in the proper place, filed things, could retrievethem at a moment's notice. Just let's sayI often didn't do things like that.
There were one or two little habits he had that didnot come to light until after we were married, however. The first night we got into a bed I had made, he ran his toeacross the bottom of the mattress.I wondered what he was doing. Checkingthe sheets and blankets were tucked in properly, because he did not like bedclothes coming adrift in the middle of the night, it turned out.
Then there was the question of his underwear. I was very careful with his clothes, ironing, folding them, putting clean shirts on hangers.
One day he held a vest up to the fire beforegoing to the mirror on the wall and pressing the vest on it. I enquired what he was doing. Looking for moisture on the mirror, which would show the vest was not properly aired. Mmmh.
Because marriage is a relationship in which you have little room to manoeuvre, it's very easy to get on each other's nerves.I like to gnaw the stone of a mango behind what I think is the privacy of the kitchen door. I expect I have some other faults, but I really can't think of them at the moment.
'Aml bai lle ni charer', translates: 'There's many a fault where there is no love'.
If you can say 'Madly, Truly, Deeply', hand on your heart, look each other in the eye and hold it, then marry. It's not a guarantee that things won't go wrong but, if they do, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you were madly, deeply, truly in love with the one you thought, at the time, was not just 'Mr Just Right' but 'Mr Just Perfect'.
The Lamphey Court Hotel & Spa in Pembrokeshire has announced a special membership offer for its new 2million leisure complex.
This is a stunning new centre which we want the people of Pembrokeshire to enjoy, said Phil Thomas, general manager at the Lamphey Court Hotel & Spa near Pembroke.
Yes, it caters for visitors to Pembrokeshire, but we also want it to be very much a part of the local community.
We have a major new asset here at the Lamphey Court Hotel & Spa and we want the people of Pembroke Dock, Pembroke and the rest of Pembrokeshire to be a part of it.
That is why, for a limited period, we are offering a special deal for our Pembrokeshire customers if you sign up for membership of the spa and leisure centre quickly there will be no joining fee.
Thats a saving of 150 on a single membership and 250 on joint membership. On a family membership (two adults and up to four children, under 16), you will save a massive 300.
Mr Thomas said: We are ring-fencing this membership offer for our Pembrokeshire customers only, so its a great opportunity for our friends out there in the local community to spoil themselves by signing up to our brand new spa centre.
Membership benefits include
- 10 per cent off food and beverage and accommodation at the Lamphey Court Hotel & Spa;
- five guest passes annually per member;
- priority notification of events, product and treatment launches;
- 20 per cent off normal treatment prices;
- Complimentary towels.
Facilities at the spa centre include
- 14-metre swimming pool
- Herbal sauna and aromatic steam room
- Fitness suite with state-of-the-art gym equipment and integrated television system
- All-weather tennis courts (bookable)
- Four therapy rooms to enjoy a range of therapies and unique signature treatments
- Lounge area
- Sun terrace
- Hair dressing
Mr Thomas added: Costing up to 2 million and using exclusive products such as Cinq Mondes and Aromatherapy Associates, Lamphey Court will put Pembrokeshire on the map when it comes to luxury and relaxation.
The new spa centre will be managed by Kristal Wright, 26, who arrives with an extensive CV which includes working at The Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, a Five Star Luxury hotel retreat based in Dogmersfield, Hampshire.
Website
If you want to find out more about membership opportunities at the spa, then ring the centre on 01646 672273.
When youve got nearly 245 years of brewing experience behind you, it pays to keep things in the family.
The Buckley name is synonymous with award-winning brewing in Wales, so it is no surprise to find that the latest recruit to the familys Evan-Evans business has the famous surname.
James Buckley, 22, has joined the Llandeilo-based brewery as a seventh generation member of the longest-surviving brewing dynasty in Wales.
He is following in the footsteps of his father Simon, 53, who heads up operations at Llandeilo and holds the treasure chest of his familys secret recipes.
James is joining head brewer Iven Kelleher at Evan-Evans.
Iven has built up a great reputation as an award-winning brewer so its a great opportunity for me to build on the brewing skills I have already acquired, said James.
This is his second stint at the brewery.
After I left Llandovery College, I spent about a year and a half working for Evan-Evans before leaving in April, 2009, to take a brewing job at Oxfordshire Ales.
There, I was taught and mentored by head brewer Steve Goryll, who helped me get to grips with the finer details of brewing and bottling.
Oxfordshire Ales taught me the meaning of proper hard work. It is this and the technical skills I picked up there that are standing me in good stead now that I am back at Evan-Evans.
Over the last four years, I have been lucky to be part of brewing teams that have won the following awards - second in the True Taste of Wales 08; first with Cwrw at the GWBF 08 Great Welsh Beer Festival; and first in Best Golden beer in the World (voted by readers of Beers of World Magazine), beating established names like Hook Norton.
We were also successful in winning a lucrative contract to export Oxfordshire Ales bottled beers to America in 2009. As well as a bronze medal with Evan-Evans at the International Brewing awards this year.
I am an active member of SIBA, the Small Independent Brewers Association, and The Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD), where I am currently studying for my brewing diploma.
Being a member of the Buckley family means upholding a great and proud tradition of brewing quality ales in Wales and I am looking forward immensely to the challenges ahead as we look to grow the Evan-Evans business and leading brand names such as our Cwrw.
James Buckley, left, with Evan-Evans head brewer Iven Kelleher.
James Buckleys family have brewed in Wales since 1767.
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.
Simon Buckley was the last Buckley to brew at Llanelli before moving to London in 1984. Buckleys Brewery had the distinction of being the only Welsh brewer to hold a royal warrant. In 1991 it became Crown Buckley when it was taken over by a subsidiary of Guinness. It was sold to Brains in 1997 and the Llanelli Brewery closed a year later.
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.
Weblink -
http://www.evan-evans.com
Sir Ranulph Fiennes, described by The Guinness Book of Records as the worlds greatest living explorer, is lending a hand to Healing The Wounds, the Welsh charity which helps treat sufferers of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).
Sir Ranulph took time out this week to help record a promotional film for the Bridgend-based charity.
It was an honour to meet such an inspirational gentleman with such amazing achievements to his name, said Healing The Wounds executive director Kevin Richards.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes has been named the UK's top celebrity fundraiser by Justgiving.com. Hes raised a whopping 2.5million for Marie Curie Cancer Care in just two years.
With achievements like that, we are so very grateful that he agreed to help us out with our promotional film.
The film work was carried out at The Celtic Manor Hotel in Newport and the final edited version is likely to be broadcast as a TV advertisement for the charitys work.
Sir Ranulph took the time to talk to us about the charity. He has a wonderful charitable nature. Sir Ranulph thanked the charity for looking after the guys. He was extremely nice and very supportive of the charitys work to help PTSD sufferers.
Sir Ranulph was the first person to visit both the North and South Poles by surface means and the first to completely cross Antarctica on foot. In May 2009, at the age of 65, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest.
Sir Ranulph has written numerous books about his army service and his expeditions.
Mr Richards added: The man is a living, walking legend and I am sure the work he has been able to contribute to the charity will do us a power of good in raising our profile.
We are the only charity working to make sure that veterans and members of the civilian services get treatment for PTSD where they need it, close to their homes in Wales.
The work we do is hugely valuable and important for the brave men and women who serve our country. To see the transformation in PTSD victims after they have attended one of our treatment courses is to appreciate what the term life-changing really means.
A popular Llanelli business breakfast club has strengthened its line-up with the addition of some new key players.
The trio of new members at the Business Network International (BNI) Chapter in Llanelli is led by Llanelli Reds football club defender Chris Thomas.
And the line-up is completed by Llanelli solicitor Michael Davey and finance and mortgage specialist Nigel Wain.
Membership of the BNI business network is all about being part of a bigger team, said visitor host Paul Thomas.
Everyone comes to a BNI meeting with their own individual skills and talents, but the power of the meeting comes through the way members work together.
Reds star Chris Thomas, of John F Harvey chartered accountants, agreed.
He added: Joining the BNI breakfast club in Llanelli has been a great help. We can all learn from each other as the meeting contains people from such varied backgrounds.
These are challenging times in business and the club is really useful as a support mechanism. You know that fellow members are there to support you and to encourage you to do better in business.
The BNI Chapter in Llanelli is still looking for new members for the Thursday morning club at The Diplomat Hotel in Llanelli.
Kick off is 7am, said visitor host Paul Thomas.
Yes, its an early start. But it does help you get some quality time at the start of the day to give your business a lift and, lets face it, nowadays everyone needs help and support to meet the challenges posed by the state of the economy.
One of the things new members are always impressed with is the fact that the meetings create a real buzz in the morning. We start the day energised as theres a lot of enthusiasm in our meetings.
It is estimated that each seat around the Llanelli BNI breakfast table is worth more than 12,000 in business.
The key to this is in the make-up of the BNI membership. No two businesses in the BNI are allowed to be in the same category, so you get a mix which can be as varied as the proverbial butcher, baker and candlestick maker.
In Llanelli, the membership includes a plasterer, electrician, builder, web designer, IT support consultant and an environmental auditor.
It really is a great mix, said Mr Thomas.
As well as the networking and the support BNI provides, the meeting also enables members to pass business referrals to each other, which can vary from firm orders from one business to the next or an introduction to a potential client.
The business between the BNI members is monitored and in money terms we know that the BNI members have done more than 200,000 worth of business between each other since September, 2009.
BNI details: Endeavour BNI (Llanelli), Director Nick Romanello. Email address nicholas@bni-southwales.com. Venue: Diplomat Hotel, Felinfoel, Llanelli, SA15 3PJ. Meeting time: Thursday 0700am - 0830am
If you are interested in joining the Llanelli BNI, then ring Phil Evans for an informal chat on 07796 990493
Website
www.bni-southwales.com