The Mayor's Blog
Edward Thomas
May 2008 to May 2009
23rd May - 27May 2008
My first official function was to travel with members of
the Town Twinning Group on their Bi-Annual Visit to Le Conquet
in Brittany. I attended the Annual Joint Committee Meeting
prior to a very enjoyable welcome party. This was my first
official speech and seemed to go down well. The next few
days the rest of the party and I were well and truly royally
entertained and we left Le Conquet on Tuesday morning with
many fond memories and new friendships. I am sure the people
of Le Conquet are still talking about my attempts to give
a speech in French!
30 May 2008
The Official Handover Dinner was attended by 120 people
including various Civic Dignitaries. A most enjoyable evening
and a credit to the Cawdor Arms Hotel.
1st June 2008
I attended, with Mrs Clare Mansel Lewis High Sheriff of
Dyfed, a graduation ceremony at Llandeilo Fire station for
the Dinefwr Firefighters. A great bunch of youngsters who
are a credit to their parents.
13 June 2008
Prize Giving for Talbot Rice Academy at Newton House. Local
pupils from Tregib School did very well. Well done pupils
and staff.
14 June 2008
The Penlan Park Centenary Celebrations 1908-2008. After
a great deal of organisation and co-operation from a number
of organisations, a tremendous day for the town occurred.
On a beautiful sunny day, one of the best of the summer,
the Burry Port Silver Band led the procession to the park.
From the band to the singers, school pupils, and all the
Edwardian styled stalls it was a marvellous occasion.
The park and the renovated bandstand looked
splendid and everyone of the hundreds who attended, many
in period costume, thoroughly enjoyed the day. To top it
all, a great deal of money was raised for charity. I returned
home that evening "A Very Happy Town Mayor".
14 June 2008
Tenovus Fund Raising Event at Civic Hall - a fun night which
celebrated 25 years of Tenovus.
19 June 2008
I was honored to represent the town at the High Sheriff
Garden party – a very special event in magnificent
grounds.
21 June 2008
Aweltwyi Fete followed by Macmillan Cancer Relief Barbeque
– both events very enjoyable. The later event held
in High Sheriff Ground.
22 June 2008
Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council Civic service held
at Felinfoel. I was accompanied by Councillor Colin Jenkins.
25 June 2008
Council Meeting (The previous night Penlan Park Debrief
Meeting)
27 June 2008
Rotary Club Handover Dinner – Accompanied by Cllr
Chris Parish - an enjoyable night held at White Hart .
12th July 2008
Llandeilo Music Festival Opening Night sponsored by Llandeilo
Town Council. A packed church were entertained by the famous
King Singers.
13 July 2008
Ammanford Town Civic Service.
15 July 2008
Attended Sheep Dog Sub Committee and Llandeilo Town Twinning
Meeting.
17th, 18th and 19th June 2008
I attended in a personal capacity 3 concerts and on the
final night presented the prize for the best dressed window.
23rd July 2008
Full Council Meeting.
7th August 2008
Opened Llandeilo Gardening Club Members' Night – very
enjoyable.
16 August 2008
Regrettably Llandeilo Show was cancelled due to the bad
weather – let’s hope next year we will have
a better summer.
3rd and 4th September 2008
We entertained Visitors from Llandilo New South Wales -
Grant and Collen Bellamy. A charming couple who visited
the local schools and presented gifts. They were looked
after by the Councillors and myself and given a tour of
the area by Des Davies Technical Officer.
10th September 2008
A tremendous crowd of people gathered to watch the procession
of competitors and dogs on a very wet night. The Council
had organised for the town to be decorated with the flags
of the nations (22) and the procession was led by the Fife
and Drums of the Royal Welsh Fusilliers with Siencyn the
Goat, the regimental mascot, the Welsh Yeomenry and all
the Town Counci. We were honoured that The Chair of Carmarthenshire
Council and his Deputy was present. Also marching with us
and once again giving support to Llandeilo was Mrs C Mansel
Lewis, High Sheriff. The competitors were given a Welsh
High Tea, there were some short speeches and each team Capitan
was given a Llandeilo Town Council Plate.
11th -14th September 2008
Four days of the world Sheepdog Trials. The organisers believe
over 50,000 visited the competition and I am sure they were
impressed with Llandeilo and area.
19 September 2008
I attended Dyffryn Cennen Council Annual Dinner at the Torbay
Inn, Ffairfach. Good meal and good company.
24 September 2008
Full Council Meeting
17/12/08
Attended the Xmas Party for residents, staff & committee
of Abbey Field Residential Home . A lovely light buffet
with entertainment. I attended last year as deputy Mayor
and once again enjoyed the night.
Met Llandeilo Round Table on their Traditional Santa Run
around Llandeilo collecting for Charity - a suitable donation
made
20/12/08
The Plough Rhosmaen was the scene of the 80th Anniversary
of the Welsh Weightlifting Federation and I as Mayor welcomed
the various representatives of the federation and civic
guests to Llandeilo
24/12/08
Made a surprise Xmas visit to Abbeyfield to wish the residents
well -many of whom were visiting relatives on Xmas day
25/12/08
Together with Father Xmas I attended Aweltwyi Home in Ffairfach
met a number of Llandeilo residents who now make Aweltwyi
their home
Just before Lunch I visited St Teilo Church
where the Church hosts a Xmas Lunch for
A great deal of people who are alone over Xmas It looked
as if they were going to have a lovely lunch with friendly
company
14/1/09
Planning & Finance sub committees
27/1/09
Poems & Pints at the Angel Llandeilo fund raising event
for the Town Twinning Committee- an interesting event !
28/1/09
Full Council Meeting
11/2/09
Planning & Finance sub Committees
20/2/09
Llandeilo Town Council hosted a meeting in the Shire Hall
where representatives from Llandeilo Town Council , Dyffryn
Cennen Community Council were able to meet our AM Rhodri
Glyn Thomas & MP Adam Price A Question & answer
Session was very interesting
22/2/09
Opened the Cymdiathas Y Dalar { Allotment Society } meeting
at the Civic Hall and symbolically cut thro the red tape
. The society will be moving on to their new allotment at
Dinefwr Home Farm and I offer all the success in the world
24/2/09
Attended The Round Table Shrove Tuesday Concert and was
able to make small donations to Llandeilo Round Table and
Llandeilo Ladies Circle and helped serve tea & pancakes
to the senior Citizens who attended this free concert organised
every year by The Round Table
25/2/09
Full council
26/2/09
Together with Clr C lead beater Deputy Mayor & Clr C
Parish attended a Public Meeting at Tregib School to discuss
the future of secondary schools in the area. This meeting
had been postponed due the bad weather and regrettably the
closing date for an official response from Llandeilo Town
Council had passed
11/3/09
Tenovus Wine tasting at the Plough yet
another successful event for this hard working committee
Prior to the event attended the Planning Meeting in the
Shire Hall
12/3/09
Representatives from CCC came to the Shire Hall to discuss
Disclosure of Members Interest. Llandeilo Town Council were
represented in good numbers with a couple of representatives
from Dyffryn Cennen
20/3/09
Opened The Coffee Morning for the Inner Wheel In the church
Hall
25/3/09
Away on holiday so the full council was run by the Deputy
Mayor the only meeting I had missed – good experience
for Charlotte
4/4/09
Attended a concert at St Teilo Church to support the outgoing
High Sheriff. Clare Mansel Lewis had organised a super concert
in aid of her charity Plant Dewi this was followed by a
Buffet in the Civic Hall organised and in aid of Tenovus
. Clr R Bellamy accompanied me and Clr Colin Jenkins was
also in attendance.
Claire Mansel Lewis being presented with a Town Plate
to commerate her year as High Sheriff
8/4/09
Planning & Finance sub Committee
13th-17th April 09
A very busy few days hosting the visitors
from Le Conquet. It is unusually for a Mayor to visit Le
Conquet and host their return in the same year but it was
my happy lot to do so.
The town hosted the Joint Committee Meeting in the Shire
Hall followed by a Reception in the St Teilo Church Hall.
This part was ably organised by Deputy Mayor Charlottte
Leadbeater .
The rest of the week was full of various events including
a Beetle Drive , Formal Dinner and a Traditional Breton
Night. A busy fun packed time.
18/4/09
Opened the Bowls Season for Llandeilo Bowls Club
22/4/09
Full Council
24/4/09
Attended fund raising dinner at the RFC ground where ex
Wales Coach Clive Rowlands was the guest speaker- an excellent
event
28/4/09
Attended a tea party celebration at Ebenezer Baptist Chapel
for Mr & Mrs Allen who were celebrating 60years of marriage
2/5/09
Attended a service of dedication for the new Trinity College
University I felt very privileged to be attending the event
5/5/09
Buffet at the Half Way Nantgaredig for Mayors of the county
organised by the outgoing Chair Of Carmarthenshire Country
Council Huw Richards
6/5/09
Tenovus Presentation Night at the White Hart
8/5/09
Final game of Llandeilo RFC most successful season at Brynamman
– over 200 supporters from Llandeilo attended together
with a very proud Mayor
9/5/09
Concert in Ammanford in aid of Prostrate Cancer organised
by Ammanford Rotary
Mayor Elect Charlotte Leadbeater accompanied me The Morriston
Orpheus Choir were brilliant
10/5/09
The mayor acted as MC in a celebration lunch for Mr &
Mrs Allen who are celebrating 60 years of marriage . a pleasure
for the old residents of the town
13/5/09
Planning & Finance meeting
14/5/09
Opened the WI Tea Party & Fete at the Civic Hall
21/5/09
I hosted a reception for Llandeilo RFC and presented a town
plate and plague to commerate winning the league and SA
Brain West Wales Plate and an unbeaten record in the league
– their best ever.
Llandeilo RFC - champions winning league and SA Brains
Plate
24/5/09
An excellent turn out the Mayor Thanksgiving service at
Ebenezer Chapel this afternoon. The collection will be shared
between Tenovus and ARC
27/5/09
Full Council – my last prior to handover My thanks
go to all Councillors & Staff for their support in what
has been a busy yet enjoyable year.
The Champions
Cymraeg