News

Village of the Year Competition
Llandeilo is through to the final round of the Calor Village of the Year competition for the Mid and West Wales region. Judges will be visiting Llandeilo in early July to see for themselves why this is a special place to live and work. Town Councillors Ros Bellamy and Fran Murphy are looking forward to the chance to show off their community. “We are thrilled to get this far,” they said, “as this is the first time Llandeilo has entered the competition. It’s a wonderful place with a marvellous community spirit and excellent quality of life, so it will be great for Llandeilo to gain national recognition.” The judges are looking at four categories – community, business, sustainability and communications, and they want to see how Llandeilo has met any challenges through the community working together. Llandeilo is competing against Llanwrtyd Wells and Knighton for the regional prize of £2000 and the chance to get through to the all-Wales final. Sponsored by Calor, the competition is also supported by many organisations including the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales and One Voice Wales.

Revels in the Park - Penlan Park 20th June 2009
Quote from County Councillor Ieuan Jones from a song which the schoolchildren used to sing:

‘Slowly the evening sun is setting
O'er the banks of Penlan Park
Showing all the land with beauty
O'er Llandeilo and Ffairfach’

This was a great day-out in Llandeilo, enjoying the flags, sampling the goods and shop fronts and taking part in our ‘Revels in the Park’ on Midsummer Eve Saturday June 20th and the weather held!!

This magical, free event started with storytelling for children in the centre of Llandeilo by John Bilsborough in the special story-telling chair made by Jonathan Garrard. This was followed by a Grand Parade from King Street, led by Llandovery’s Town Cryer Joe Beard and wife Sandra, brave civic dignatories and children in amazing medieval costumes with Guy Smith juggling skillfully for us prior to his circus skills workshop.

Burry Port Silver Band were blowing well and giving wonderful substance to the event. All the town shop keepers that came out to cheer and lend their support.

‘Revels’ was opened by Elinor Jones, the well known S4C presenter, who came up with some hilarious quotes about the first party in the park from the late Lord Dynevor.

She awarded the prizes for the best medieval costumes – 1st prize, Elves & Fairies, Bizzy Bees; 2nd prize, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Guides and Brownies; 3rd prize, Horses and Riders, Morgan Williams and Llewellyn Davies.

Individual prize - Fion Davies looking lovely in crimson wimple and red dress.

The window competition was won by ‘In Stitches’ run by Ann Loynton and Ailsa Proctor who had wrought their usual magic by knitting a mouse army, complete with castle. Reepicheep rides again!

In Penlan Park there was a free climbing wall and circus skills workshop; Llandeilo Town Council put on a display of 150 years of town history; the St Teilo Singers and Cor Sain Teilo choirs performed beautifully in English and Welsh, led by Richard Whitehead and Owain Gruffydd; the Llandeilo CP School Samba Band electrified the audience; and there was a ballet performance, sublimely danced by the Moya Vahey School of Classical Ballet from Cowbridge. This is the first time that ballet has been performed here in the Park.

There were fairground rides and inflatables for all ages; the fortune-teller, telling runes (momentous happenings for the deputy mayor!) as well as delicious Tenovus cream teas, ice creams and stalls for Civic Organisations to raise their profiles.

The bucket collection by Tre-gib School pupils for the Mayor’s Charities raised over £130.

Other stalls were raising between £60 and £70 for charities.

This park event was supported and sponsored by Carmarthenshire County Council and Llandeilo Town Council and the Mayor of Llandeilo, Charlotte Leadbeater wishes to thank Huw Parsons, Sian Evans and their staff, and Town Councillors and staff for a most memorable collaboration, especially Edward Thomas and Peter Emms for MC-ing and Elinor for opening it!

Thanks also go to St John’s Ambulance and the inflatable doll!, Nigel Williams for the printing of posters and flyers, the Civic Hall for chairs and tables and Fortune Teller; Captain Pugwash of RLNI! and Andrew Evans for the generator.

Thanks to G Hughes for these photographs, and you can see more on the website http://www.photoboxgallery.com/3003036 where you can order copies.

Mayor's Blog - Cllr Charlotte Leadbeater
14th May to 11 June 2009

The Mayoral Dinner
The Mayoral Dinner at the Cawdor Hotel was attended by 115 people comprising distinguished guests, speaker William Wilkins CBE, and his wife Lynne, County Coucillor Tysul Evans and his Consort Delyth Dunsford, the Mayor Charlotte Leadbeater and Consort Tim ap Hywel, fellow Councillor, outgoing Mayor Edward Thomas, Town Clerk Roger Phillips and wife Miriam, family, Demian, Lucy, Emily, Rhiwallon, and Thomas, friends, Grand Theatre manager Gary Iles and wife Mary, Nigel Lowson, Deputy Head of Worcester Grammar School and his wife Gilly, the mayors of Llandovery,Ammanford and Glanaman town organisations.

Mary Evans our harpist from the choir, The St Teilo Singers played beautifully while we had our sparkling wine before the meal. Pinc and Susan Morgan-Jones had done the flowers, Nigel Thomas printers, the lovely pink menus – filled in most ably by outgoing Mayor Cllr Edward Thomas and Deputy Mayor Cllr Chris Parish.

There was a lovely atmosphere and photos had been taken of the previous Mayors and family and friends of the incoming Mayor Cllr Charlotte Leadbeater and her husband Tim ap Hywel.

Toasts were given to the town, guests, fellow councillors, and her Majesty the Queen, by Roger Phillips, our Town Clerk, Councillors Ieuan Gwyn and Colin Jenkins.

William Wilkins CBE made a marvellous speech saying he had ‘come home’ to his home town, and was delighted to have a mayor as an artist. He spoke about the regeneration of Llandeilo, the Civic Hall, the culture in Llandeilo, of the Eisteddfod, of ‘Swansea’s Ballet Russe’, taking ballet nationwide, the festivals of Music and Flowers, and the Senses. He praised the Town for having raised so much money for Charity - £23,700 this year for Tenovus, and the Town Council for their hard work and the new noticeboards on Llandeilo’s history.

The mayor thanked him warmly and gave her speech, congratulating him on his latest global arts project, now in it’s fourth year Artes Mundi, in Cardiff and gave her speech.

Also she gave the details of our next big event – the ‘Revels in the Park’ on Saturday June 20th.

The staff and cooks at the Cawdor Hotel provided a lovely meal for everyone, brought swiftly and with efficient service. The mayor is enjoying her duties and hopes to serve the Town and Fellow Councillors to the best of her ability. She thanks everyone for all the lovely cards and messages.
Cllr Charlotte Leadbeater

Mayor's Blog - Cllr Edward Thomas
Dec 2008 to May 2009

November 2009

Diabetic Walk and Tea

We all had a lovely day, and raised £3,019 in the process. Many, many thanks to all the walkers who came from as far as Swansea, including Julie Oaten, our own diabetic nurse from Llandeilo, and to Llandeilo Town Council and the Civic Hall for sponsoring this walk. Our wonderful committee walked too, as well as doing months of work.

Prayers for a rain free walk had been answered! Geoff Williams from the Ramblers had done stirling work putting up signs, doing risk assessments and getting the walkers organised with his stewards both from the Ramblers, Rotary and Round Table, so many thanks to all of them and their organisations. Cllr Roy Davies entertained us with pithy and interesting talks on the making of Dinefwr Park. Jones International bus very kindly took the less able walkers to the Civic Hall to do the table flowers with Susan Morgan Jones who had done a massive amount of work on the committee with Popty Bach y Wlad, CK & Co-op for sponsorship, food and water.

Many thanks to Alan Stevenson and Bethan Williams from St Johns Ambulance who were actively on hand to see there were no accidents. The rest of us enjoyed our walk through the beautiful Dinefwr Park with its ‘keyhole views’ and thence past ancient Llandyfeisant church and through castle woods with Ken Day wonderfully photographing the occasion. Thank you to the Woodland Trust and the National Trust for their co-operation.

Community policeman Rob Smith, on hand entering Bridge Street enjoyed his ‘operatic’ experience in the Civic Hall, Puccini arias beautifully sung by world famous tenor and artist Andrew Douglas Forbes and well accompanied by Gerald Jones on the keyboard kindly lent by St Teilo’s Church.

Julia Jones and Liz Godber had publicised the event well and we had 55 walkers and 48 people for a very substantial tea by Enfys of Popty Bach, including fruit and low fat cakes and a variety of sandwiches, pancakes. Low sugar jam was supplied by Barita’s. Raffle prizes had been kindly donated by Peppercorn, Heel Appeal, and members of the comittee. Janet Thomas the senior NHS diabetic nurse from Glangwili gave us a very good presentation on the dangers of diabetes, and some excellent advice. Wales has the highest rate of diabetes in Britain which is a bit worrying!

Finally many many thanks to Lee Calladine of the Diabetic Research and Wellness Foundation, without whose leaflets, calendars, advice and encouragement this would not have happened, also to Diabetes Cymru for sending encouragement, forms and waterproof ponchos.

Anyone wanting to support this cause can do so on line at www.justgiving.com/charlotteleadbeater or ring Cllr. Charlotte Leadbeater on 01558 822045.

September 2008

World Sheepdog Trials at Dinefwr Park

The World Sheepdog Trials (www.worldsheepdogtrials.org/new/index.php) held at Dinefwr Park were very successful, with the weather improving daily and thousands of people enjoying the event.
On a very wet Wednesday evening a large crowd turned out to greet the Welcome Parade with the band of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (www.royalwelshband.com), Siencyn the goat, and lancers on horseback leading the competitors with their sheepdogs.
Flags of all nations were put up on Rhosmaen Street and children from the local schools were encouraged to make small flags to wave at the parade.
Llandeilo Town Council provided a Buffet Reception for competitors in the Civic Hall. The Mayor welcomed the guests and presented commemorative Town plates to a representative of every country.
All the competitors and organisers were delighted with the warmth of their welcome to Llandeilo. Many visitors enjoyed the Food and Country Fair, with plenty of good food and high quality articles on sale from local businesses.
The crowning achievement was that the Welsh team won overall and Aled Owen became the World Champion for the next 3 years.

August 2008

Llandeilo Show
This year for the first time the Mayor was invited to present some prizes at the Show, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to the terrible weather. Everyone hopes that 2009 will bring a better summer.

July 2008

Llandeilo Festival of Music and Flowers

The Kings Singers

The Mayor and other Councillors were delighted to attend the opening concert with the Kings Singers. Llandeilo Town Council sponsor this event, and this was a marvellous performance by the world famous group.

June 2008

Penlan Park Centenary

The Centenary of Penlan Park was celebrated in fine style on Saturday 14 June, one of the sunniest days of the summer. A working group of councillors, staff and others had worked hard to organise the day’s events.
A booklet giving details, and a facsimile of the original 1908 programme, was delivered to every house in Llandeilo as a historic souvenir, and was very well received.
A parade led by Burry Port Town Band, and including many people in Victorian or Edwardian clothing, marched up to the Park to be met by Lord Dynevor. He officially let the Mayor and townspeople into the Park, which was originally given to Llandeilo by his grandfather. The High Sheriff Claire Mansel Lewiswas present representing the Queen.
The Park was filled with activities, games and stalls run by many local charities. Circus La Fong entertained the children with a circus skills workshop, while the crowds heard performances from the Teilo Singers and choirs from Llandeilo County Primary School and Ysgol Teilo Sant. It was wonderful to hear an excellent band play in the bandstand again. Peter Emerson Thomas acted as a very jovial Master of Ceremonies.
The Town Council displayed a selection of D C Harries photographs of Llandeilo, and knowledgeable councillors were on hand to discuss planning and other issues concerning the future of our town.
Jones International provided their old bus to shuttle people up and down during the day, making the event accessible for all.
Lorna Rideout from the Tenovus stall won the Best Dressed Competition, and the day was rounded off well with a Jazz Evening in the Civic Hall, organised by Tenovus.

May 2008

Town and Community Council Elections
Out of the 12 seats in Llandeilo’s Tywi and Castle Wards, eleven councillors were returned unopposed. Due to an error on her nomination papers, Julia Jones missed out on the election but her fellow councillors unanimously voted to co-opt her back on to the council. The council term of office will last for 4 years to May 2012.

Mayor Making
Councillors elected Edward Thomas to serve as Mayor for 2008-9, with Charlotte Leadbeater as Deputy Mayor.
The Annual Dinner was held at the Cawdor Hotel and was much enjoyed by a large number of guests from a range of local organisations, other councils, family and friends. A charity raffle and auction raised over £700 for Arthritis Research and Tenovus.

Town Twinning Trip

At May Bank Holiday weekend the Llandeilo Town Twinning made their biennial trip to Le Conquet in Brittany. Mayor Edward Thomas and Councillor Ros Bellamy went along for the first time, and thoroughly enjoyed a delightful visit, in spite of rather poor weather. The hosts gave a very warm welcome, and appreciated the Mayor’s best efforts including a memorable speech at the formal dinner. Four languages were heard at the dinner - Welsh, English, Breton and French – and it was lovely to sing the Welsh and Breton anthems which share the same melody.

Mayor's News

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

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