Living In: Community News

Carmarthen

Ian Lewis 07790 591150 ian.lewis@mediawales.co.uk

Y Priordy Eglwys Annibynnol Caerfyrddin. Gweinidog: Y Parchedig Beti-Wyn James, BD. Y capel ar gau ond oedfa ar Dudalenau Wepryd yr Eglwys am 10 y bore gyda’n Gweinidog.

Ysgol Farddol Caerfyrddin Gwersi ar gyfer dechreuwyr. Mae’n arferol bellach i Ysgol Farddol Caerfyrddin drefnu gwersi ar y gynghanedd ar gyfer dechreuwyr yn ystod misoedd yr haf. Bydd y gwersi hyn yn digwydd yn rhithiol drwy gyfrwg Zoom eleni ac felly maent yn rhad ac am ddim i bawb yn y byd! Cynhelir y gwersi rhwng 7.30yh a 9yh ar y dyddiadau canlynol – Mehefin 3, 10, 17, 24 a Gorffennaf 1 a’r 8. Edrychwn ymlaen at gyfarfod ag aelodau newydd ar nos Fercher, Mehefin 3 am 7.30yh. Am fanylion pellach ac i gofrestru, cysyllter gyda Geraint ar 07814701079 neu geraintroberts@ btinternet.com

Bancyfelin

Capeli Cana a Bancyfelin Dydd Sul, Mai 31. Dim oedfa yng Nghana na Bancyfelin. Darlledir Oedfa yn fyw dros dudalennau Facebook Cana a Bancyfelin gan ein gweinidog Y Parchg Beti-Wyn James am 10 o’r gloch fore Sul. Bydd yr oedfa yn ymddangos ar dudalen YouTube yr Ofalaeth hefyd. Croeso i bawb ymuno. Cadwch yn ddiogel.

Brechfa Forest

Caroline Evans

Gwylfa, Gwernogle. 01267 202305 cothivoice@yahoo.co.uk

Brechfa Community Shop/Bryn Stores is continuing to keep open with adjusted opening hours from weekdays 7am to noon, Saturdays 7am to 1pm. Anyone self-isolating/shielding locally can arrange for doorstep delivery or shop-door pick-up by ringing 01267 202333 between 10am and noon or email Brechfashop@aol.com or by dropping in a list with their requirements and contact details. The Ty Mawr Hotel is baking bread daily and bringing it to the shop to sell and the regular delivery of local milk continues. Customers to the shop are asked to conform to two customers inside the shop at any one time and to maintain social distance and hygiene behaviour at all times. Many thanks to all the stalwart volunteers and offers of help coming in! The shop Facebook page has up-to-date info, requests and helpers.

Local pubs and hotels may be operating a meal takeaway service and might be able to home-deliver – contact them and ask or check out their websites or Facebook pages. This includes the Forest Arms and the Ty Mawr Hotel, Brechfa.

Thursday is quiz night The Forest Arms in Brechfa is organising a weekly lockdown quiz online using Zoom on Thursdays at 8.15pm – check out the

Forest Arms Facebook page.

Brechfa IT Hub Cancelled until further notice – open sessions normally run in Brechfa Church Hall on Wednesdays from 6-8pm. Info from Lorna Bradley on 07765 497930.

Church in Wales services All services cancelled and churches closed until further notice at the churches of St Teilo, Brechfa, and St Michael’s Llanfihangel Rhos y corn in accordance with government guidelines. In the meantime, the outside bell at St Teilo’s will be rung daily at 10am and 4pm so you might want to pause and say a prayer or think about your loved ones – stay safe! Info from the Rev Roger Nock on 01267 202347.

Abergorlech

Knitting Class Cancelled until further notice – normally Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm in Abergorlech Church Hall – info from Kath McKenzie on 07973 122939. Lunch Clubs Cancelled until further notice – normally the last Wednesday of the month in Abergorlech Church Hall – bookings/info from Mary Thomas on 01558 685474.

Whist drives Cancelled until further notice – normally held on the second Wednesday of the month. Info from Elizabeth Griffiths on 01558 685436. Meals Many local public houses and hotels are offering a takeaway service for meals and some will deliver to those in shielded or self-isolation. Ring them to find out or check their Facebook pages. Bro Dyfri Local Ministry Area All services are cancelled and church buildings closed until further notice at the churches of Abergorlech, Caio, Llansawel and Talley following government guidelines. Info from the Rev Viv Sayer on 01550 777200.

Llansteffan

Kay Anthony

2 Ferry Point, Llansteffan. canthony225@btinternet.com 01267 241677

Auction of promises You can now view details of some of the promises already donated by visiting auctionofpromises.com/Glansteffan and you can also contribute a promise on this site. Or if you wish you can contact lesjones.01@gmail.com. The auction has been organised to raise funds with a target of £5,000 to ensure the ferry can survive the current lockdown and continue to give pleasure throughout 2021 and beyond. It is recognised that some of the promises cannot be redeemed until the lockdown is over but give yourselves something to look forward to and start bidding. The auction started at the weekend and will run on line until mid June. Payment details are available on the website.

Church news Next Sunday is Whit Sunday and although our churches remain in lockdown it is possible to appreciate and enjoy a regular service by viewing on the AWL Bro Sancler Facebook page. This is shared with the Friends of Llansteffan Facebook page. We continue to keep in touch with parishioners through our virtual phone visiting and of course the churchwardens are also available to give advice and support. If you know of anyone who would like to avail themselves of this help please contact Canon Ann Howells on 01267 468136.

Penygroes

Calfaria Our website is (hopefully) ready now. There will be some sections which are not finished, but it will be updated regularly. We have a section for historical photos. If you have any photographs which involve Calfaria, especially photographs of previous members or events held at Calfaria, we would be delighted to have a copy. Please email them, or if you email or telephone, I can pick up original photographs (using social distancing, of course), scan them onto computer and return them to you. The website, when it is complete, will be www.calfariapenygroes.cymru. It will open in Welsh. There will be an English version accessed by a small union jack on the top right hand side of the page. Phil Owen, Deacon, Calfaria Penygroes. Telephone 01269 844369, email phil@ calfariapenygroes.cymru

Ammanford

Byron Evans

25 Cwmamman Road, Ammanford. byronevans1@hotmail.com

Cydymdeimlad Cydyndeimlwn a theulu’r diweddar Huw Thomas, o Dy Dyffryn, Rhydaman (ond yn gynt o Benygroes a Glanaman), a bu farw, yn dawel ar Mai 1 yn Ysbyty Tywysog Philip, Llanelli, yn 77 mlwydd oed. Hoff frawd Al a Renee, brawd yng nghyfraith, wncwl a hen-wncwl annwyl hefyd. ‘Roedd yr angladd yn Amlosgfa Llanelli Dydd Mercher, Mai 20.

Ammanford Royal British Legion The branch asks that, if any ex-service personnel and their families who are in current lockdown need assistance, to please contact our branch community officer Luke Toms on 07855 363938. Meals on Wheels Ammanford residents can now access the Cwmamman Meals on Wheels service which has been restarted in view of the current coronavirus pandemic, available to deliver hot meals to the elderly, housebound and self-isolating in our community over the coming weeks and months. The meals will be prepared at Garnant Day Centre’s kitchens and will cost £4.80 per meal. If you or anyone you know could benefit, please contact the Day Centre on 01269 826059 or Meals on Wheels chairman, county councillor Kevin Madge, on 01269 825438. Meals on Wheels is also available if you live in the Penygroes locality and are elderly, shielding, alone or self-isolating at this difficult time and need a hot meal, and also provides a welcome check that you are okay. Please get in touch with Amanda on 07932 305707 or 07976 910634 for more details.

Food parcels The phone numbers you need for registering for a food parcel coming out of Betws RFC, for anyone in the Betws area, are 01554 783933 or 01554 783922; distributing was due to begin the week beginning April 20.This service is for anyone elderly or unable to leave their home, or indeed any family that is finding it hard to make ends meet at this time. Please pass the word to anyone you think might benefit in the Betws area.

Yn y capeli Capel y Gwynfryn, Rhydaman: Ni fydd oedfa yn y Gwynfryn tan gwybodaeth pellach. GellimanwyddNi fydd gwasanaeth yng Ngellimanwydd hyd nes y daw’r argyfwng hwn i ben. Cewch mwy o fanylion bryd hynny.Os oes angen siopa a.y.y.b. ar unrhyw aelod, cysyltwch a’r Gweinidog,y Parchedig Ryan Isaac-Thomas (01269 825254), a all eich cyfeirio at aelodau sydd eisoes wedi gwirfoddoli i helpu; pob bendith. Ebeneser: Ni fydd gwasanaethau yn Ebeneser tan gwybodaeth pellach. Grateful thanks from Ammanford Town Council to A-Z Convenience Store, and also to LIDL, Ammanford, for their very generous donations towards their goody boxes appeal and to Ammanford Foodbank. Many thanks also to Corgi Hosiery for their generous donation for the goody boxes. All donations are greatly appreciated.

Cwmaman

Byron Evans

25 Cwmamman Road, Ammanford. byronevans1@hotmail.com

Foodbank donation The local foodbank serving Glanamman and Garnant, run out of the Community Centre, Glanamman, is extremely grateful to Admiral Insurance for their very generous donation of £400, enabling us to buy more essential supplies.

Recent bereavement Our deepest condolences are expressed to all the family on the recent passing away of a well-known and much-liked Glanamman lady, Jean Carol Ann Davies. Ann, of High Street, died at the Amman Valley Hospital on April 20. Born and bred in Glanamman, and from a well-known local family (“Yr Angel”), Ann served in the police force for many years, and later worked as a store detective. She was the sister of Wyn (“the Angel”), and also had sisters Nesta and Marion who also lived in Glanamman. Our condolences are extended to husband Ieuan, their children Anthony and Jayne, the grandchildren and all the family on their sad loss. The funeral took place on Tuesday, May 5.

Meals on Wheels The Cwmamman Meals on Wheels service has been brought back to help the community in light of of the current coronavirus pandemic, and is available to deliver hot meals to the elderly, housebound and self-isolating in our community over the coming weeks and months. Although Garnant Day Centre is closed, the meals will still be prepared in the day centre’s kitchens and will cost £4.80 per meal. If you or anyone you know could benefit, please contact the day centre on 01269 826059 or Meals on Wheels chairman, county councillor Kevin Madge, on 01269 825438.

Collection points Essential donations of non-perishable food items towards the Glanamman/Garnant Foodbank at the Community Centre can now be made at Siop y Pentre, Cwmamman Road, Glanamman, and also at the Premier store, Cwmamman Road, Garnant; many thanks to owner Jay for his kind cooperation.

Food parcels Last Friday, a further 20 food parcels were distributed out to families in Glanamman and Garnant from the Glanamman Foodbank situated at Y Ganolfan, Community Centre, to those in need, supported by the volunteers in the community who packed and delivered the items. Thank you so much to all who have donated money so far, otherwise it would be not possible. Diolch yn fawr. Mayoral changeover Cwmamman Town Council has appointed its new Mayor of Cwmamman for the 2020-21 term, namely councillor Tori Sparano; Tori lives with her husband Marco and family at Tircoed Road, Glanamman, and we wish her every success in this, her first appointment as mayor; unfortunately, due to current coronavirus restrictions, it was not possible to have a conventional handover of the chain of office, but look forward to marking the occasion appropriately when safe to do so. The council has thanked outgoing mayor, councillor Yvonne Evans, for her year of service through 2019-20; Yvonne has served on the council as a member of Pistyllwyd Ward for numerous years,and held the role of chair three times to date, which shows her dedication and commitment to our community. She has over the year represented Cwmamman at many civic events, accompanied by fellow councillor Pauline Barker, the most recent the 25th anniversary celebration of Garnant Day Centre. It has been a challenging year, but Yvonne has always supported the council’s endeavours despite these turbulent times. Condolences Cwmamman United has joined in the community in offering its condolences to two of their ex-players, Dewi and Ioan Jenkins and their families, following the sad passing away of their mother Betty; a truly lovely lady, and the club’s thoughts are with you all. Bereavement Marian King, of “Sunnymead”, Neuadd Road, Garnant, sadly passed away on April 30 at Singleton Hospital, Swansea, at the age of 88. Marian was the widow of the late Russell Henry King, a loving mother of Ann, mother-in-law of Michael and proud grandmother of Mark and John. The funeral, private in the current restricted circumstances, took place at Morriston Hospital on May 21. Deepest sympathy to Ann and all the family on their loss. Birthday news Warmest birthday wishes to Mary Griffiths, of Arcade Terrace, Garnant, who celebrates her 82nd birthday today; penblwydd hapus, Mary. Very best wishes to another Garnant lady, Val Phillips, of Cowell Road, who will be 86 years young on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ann Jones, of Ceidrim Road, is wished well as she attains her 82nd birthday on Sunday.

Wedding anniversary Best wishes to a very well-known local couple, Jean and

Ronald James, of Cwmamman Road, Glanamman, who mark 62 years of marriage on Sunday; pob bendith i’ch dau.

Condolences Deepest sympathy is expressed to Muriel Hanham, of Cwmamman Road, Glanamman, and all the family, following the sad passing away of her sister Christine Thomas (née Morris), formerly of Lower Brynamman, at the age of 66. Christine died at Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, following recent surgery. Our thoughts are with the family on their sad loss.

Hospital news It is good to hear that Keith Hughes, of Tircoed Road, Glanamman, is now back home after some three months or more in hospital, having been hospitalised at Prince Philip, Glangwili, Morriston and Amman Valley hospitals during that time; all the best, Keith.

Gwaun-cae-Gurwen

Byron Evans

25 Cwmamman Road, Ammanford. byronevans1@hotmail.com

Da iawn, Dillan! Well done to Ysgol Gwaun cae Gurwen pupil Dillan Morris, who has raised money for the NHS last week, after running 18 kilometres. Da iawn i ti, a llongyfarchiadau am godi arian i’r G.I.G.

Alzheimer’s Society cycle Cwmgors RFC is supporting Nathan Mogs, who is doing a fundraising cycle to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society. The coming months are going to be tough for many charities, and Covid-19 is starting to hit people with dementia particularly hard. So, to support Nathan’s effort, you can donate via the JustGiving.com page. NHS shirts boost Cwmgors Rugby Club is delighted that up until last week, £605 had been raised for the NHS in Wales via their “Diolch NHS” T-shirt sales.

Meals on Wheels Residents in the GCG and Cwmgors areas are informed that they can now access the Cwmamman Meals on Wheels service which has resumed in view of the current coronavirus pandemic; they are available to deliver hot meals to the elderly, housebound and self-isolating in our community over the coming weeks and months. The meals will be prepared at Garnant Day Centre’s kitchens and will cost £4.80 per meal. If you or anyone you know could benefit, please contact the day centre on 01269 826059 or Meals on Wheels chairman, county councillor Kevin Madge, on 01269 825438. We must all stick together and hopefully will get through this tough time as a community. Amman Valley Foodbank has had another incredibly busy week, and with lockdown still in place. If you are able to spare a few tins this week, please drop them in to us at Gwaun cae Gurwen Community Centre at New Road, GCG, on Friday between 10am and 12.30pm; alternatively, if you wish to make an online cash donation, please get in touch. We will be taking phone calls and messages this week for food parcels; please call 07394 904324 between 10am and noon on Friday, or drop us a message.