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Aflie Boe with Adele ONeill, the Llanelli Choral Society, Hywel Girls Choir and Hywel Boy Singers at Tabernacle Chapel, Llanelli.
Alfie Boe came, saw and conquered when he ventured into Llanelli, one of the heartlands of the Welsh choral tradition.
There was something of the rock star about Boes appearance cruising up to the chapel vestry at Tabernacle in a shiny blue Bentley limousine and taking the stage in T-shirt and cloth waistcoat.
Well, it wasnt so much of a stage it was a case of the first time Ive sung in a pulpit for the Lancashire singer who is the current holder of the unofficial Britains Most Popular Tenor title.
A pulpit may not be the best canvas to display years of stagecraft (even if Boe did attempt a tap dance at one stage!), but this concert wasnt about showmanship; it was all about the voice.
And, boy, what a voice.
There was a Neapolitan air to Boes first-half appearance with Tostis A Vuccella and Marchiare and Parlami dAmore by Bixio and Ghitarrra Romano by Lazzaro.
After the interval, Boe pulled out the guaranteed crowd-pleasers Some Enchanted Evening, On The Street Where You Live, If I Loved You, Hushabye Mountain and a wonderful duet with soprano Adele ONeill of Tonight from West Side Story.
Inevitably, the show finished with excerpts from Les Miserables. In Llanelli, Boe is known as the second most famous man to have played Jean Valjean: the first being Burry Ports John Owen Jones, of course.
Boes version of Bring Him Home was wonderfully expressive. But better than the John Owen Jones treatment? Its a close run thing.
On the choral side of the evening, it was no contest: The youngsters representing the Hywel Girls Choir and the Hywel Boys Singers comfortably put their older colleagues in the Llanelli Choral Society in the shade.
But on a night of many voices, one soared above them all to the heights of the Emmanuel on the ceiling of Tabernacle Chapel that of one Alfie Boe.
Jenkins the Bakers will be taking centre stage at a prestigious national Bakers Fair next month (October).
The South Wales bakers, based in Llanelli and with shops across the area, will be up against the crme de la crme of British talent at The Autumn Bakers Fair in the Bolton Arena in Lancashire.
The Jenkins team will be taking part in the Richemont Club competition, an event which has status in the baking and confectionery business equal to that of footballs Premier League.
Its difficult to explain to people not in the industry how important the Richemont Club competition is to us bakers, said the Jenkins Bakerys Operations Director Russell Jenkins.
Its right up there as our Premier League and just taking part in the Richemont Club is an honour for any business.
The Richemont Club has an international reputation, with clubs across the globe, so it really is something which is on everyones aims and aspirations within the baking and confectionery industry.
Mr Jenkins added: The team here at the Jenkins Bakery is really looking forward to the Bolton Bakers Fair, particularly as we took a prize at the UK Spring fair event at Newbury Racecourse.
It is great for us to be challenging for awards and recognition at a national level, particularly as this is our 90th year in business.
Wed like to think that the high standards which helped establish the business back in 1921 and still being carried on here at the Jenkins Bakery. We are, after all, a family firm, with great family values.
Jenkins Bakery Factfile . . .
The business employs 70 people at the 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.
Jenkins the Bakers produce 50,000 corned beef pasties a week.
The company serves 60,000 customers per week
7,500 custard slices are produced in a week.
The business uses 15 tons of flour a week
The flour silo at the Trostre HQ sees an 18-ton delivery every 10 days.
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue . . . theres a wonderfully varied line-up at The George Hotel during the Brecon Jazz Festival.
The hotel is staging a significant Fringe programme during the three-day festival which starts on August 12.
The programme is being presented by the owners of The George Hotel, the award-winning Evan-Evans brewery of Llandeilo.
Headlining on Saturday, August 13, will be the legendary Mike Harries Root Doctors.
The veteran Welsh musician is 78 years young and is living proof that music is always the best medicine.
Saturday also sees the spotlight fall on Li Harding (above), whose powerful, gospel-tinged vocal style wins over crowds wherever she performs. She will perform with The Gary (Amigos) Phillips Trio.
Last up on Saturday will be one of the Rhondda Valleys favourite sons, Morty (Gareth Mortimer of Racing Cars fame), who will take the stage with The Frantics.
The weekend programme has been assembled by music promoter David Brockwell.
The 2011 Fringe programme includes something for all music lovers over the course of the weekend, Mr Brockwell said.
The George has a wonderful line-up this year with a strong emphasis on Welsh favourites and rising stars with Steely Scam (UK Steely Dan tribute band), Gypsy Jazz guitar sensation Remi Harris and 10-piece party showstoppers She Tasted Good among the 17 weekend acts, with further events continuing on Monday and Tuesday.
Its also a fabulous venue in its own right, slap bang in the middle of the town, with indoor and outdoor stages, so it will be at the centre of the action
The best bit of it all is that The George and many fringe events are free, running alongside a terrific Brecon Jazz Festival programme. If you love music, then come to beautiful Brecon!
Pictures attached of Mike Harries Root Doctors, Li Harding, The Remi Harris Trio and She Tasted Good.
Full line-up
Friday 12th
7.00pm Tasha
7.30 The Sunshine Band
9.30 Call Me Albert
Saturday 13th
12.00noon Just Harrie
1.00 Li Harding & The Gary (Amigos) Philips Trio
2.45 Wonderbrass
3.30 Mike Harries Root Doctors
6.00 The Numbers Racket
8.00 Loose Change
10.00 Blue Traffic
11.00 Morty (Racing Cars) & The Frantics
Sunday 14th
12.00 Sarah & H Quartet
2.00 The Remi Harris Trio
4.00 Steely Scam (UK Steely Dan Tribute) with The Division Horns, featuring Odette Adams
6.30 The Albino Frogs
8.30 She Tasted Good
10.30 Nik Turner Project 9
Weblinks
http://www.breconfringe.co.uk/
http://www.hayfestival.com/breconjazz/index.aspx?skinid=13
http://www.george-hotel.com/
http://www.evan-evans.com/
http://www.rootdoctors.co.uk/
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.
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
