St Peters’ Probus
ON November 8, St Peter’s Probus held its monthly meeting at the Royal Ivy Bush Hotel, Carmarthen.
The chairman Alan opened the meeting and read the remembrance exhortation and all members stood for two minutes in silent memory of those who lost their lives in war. Alan then took apologies for absence.
Secretary Roger P reported that the hotel had been provisionally booked for the celebratory annual lunch on Tuesday, January 10, and hopefully with some musical entertainment. Members need to say if they are willing to support the event. The cost is expected to be between £25-£30 each.
Treasurer Martin reported there were no bills outstanding.
Welfare secretary Arthur spoke of those members who were not in the best of health and told the meeting how their fellow members were progressing.
Trailblazer outings and summer holiday: Roger D reported that he had booked two lanes at the Excel Bowling Rink for November 25 from 11am till noon. Also, that he was contacting the other Carmarthen Probus Clubs to ask if their members would be interested in joining with St Peter’s Probus in a week’s summer holiday in 2023.
Bowls: Eric reported that there was a lane booked from 10-11 am each Wednesday. A hundred copies of a club information leaflet had been printed and were for display at suitable venues to help attract new members. Speakers secretary Guy said he had speakers available for well into next year.
The meeting’s speaker was Dafydd Llewellyn, Dyfed-powys police and crime commissioner.
After a 13-year career with Dyfed Powys Police, rising to be principal intelligence analysist, he then spent two years as lecturer in criminology at Aberystwyth University. He was elected to his current post in May 2016 post and re-elected in 2021. Dafydd explained that the commissioner is responsible for, amongst other things, overseeing the appointment of the chief constable, the strategic direction of the force, liaison with public and local bodies and organisations, overseeing scrutiny and quality assurance within the force, setting the yearly precept and responsibility for all the force’s buildings.
The police precept is presently about £120m a year of which about 95% goes to the chief constable to maintain the force with the remaining 5% to the commissioner for ancillary services.
Previously the budget for the police was cut by about 5% with a detrimental effect in officer numbers and detection aids such as CCTV cameras. Dafydd said his policy is to seek proportionate funding through the precept to allow the force to meet the changing needs for effective enforcement and counter the effects of inflation.
Dafydd is an enthralling speaker and his presentation went far beyond the limits of this brief report. He was very warmly thanks by Malcolm and to great applause.
In February this year St Peter’s Probus also had the good future of having had the chief constable, D. Richard Lewis as a speaker and the abiding impression from both speakers is that we are very fortunate in having our police force in such capable hands. Following the close of the meeting Dafydd joined members for a most agreeable lunch at the hotel.