Archive
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, June 2, 1983. A war of words has broken out in the run-up to the local council elections with each political party sniping at the others' records
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Pause for thought
Going in the right direction would be an apt title this week when we hear these words from John 14: 6 "Jesus answered - I am the way..." Driving down a one-way street in the wrong direction is a frustrating experience. I recall when it happened to me
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, July 7, 1983. A draft design was submitted to the College of Arms by Llandeilo Town Council for a town Coat of Arms. Elements of symbolic significance
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Sidelines
I'm annoyed with BT. A letter arrived this week with 'good news' from BT. 'Your call charges are going down.' Initially, it did look that way. From June 1, daytime national calls will be 3p per minute instead of 4p; although, if you phone for only one
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Pause for thought
James - the Lord's brother takes centre stage this week. When we read Acts 15 12-21 we learn that James was a very important individual in New Testament times because he was the leader of the Church of Jerusalem. But his fame lies in another direction
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Past Times
This week's old picture shows 'A Company', who were based at the Drill Hall, Ammanford, during their two week 1953 training session at the TA Stanford Camp, Norfolk. The picture was brought in by Mr D Davies, who lives in Ammanford.
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Sidelines
I know I shouldn't have watched that programme about the 100 Best Movie Stars. I got so cross with all the talking heads and the mediocre actors who the 'voting public' decided deserved inclusion in the list. (Did any of you vote? How did you know about
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, April 28, 1983. After 60 years of providing recreational facilities for local children, Llandybie's Memorial Hall Committee have said they
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Past Times
This week's old picture has been submitted by Andrew Roberts, c/o Lloyds TSB, Ammanford. The picture features Gwauncaegurwen Junior School rugby team in 1958.
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, May 26, 1983. An independent councillor stormed out of Lliw Valley council's annual meeting in protest at the number of committees and outside
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Past Times
THIS week's old picture shows Dyffryn Road, Ammanford, in 1916, with Dyffryn House in the background. It is taken from a book by WTH Locksmith.
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Sidelines
So what am I, a cat owner, doing with a book entitled Breaking Bad Habits in Dogs? I've been transported into another world: I keep saying "I had no idea..." and then reading out snippets from the chapters (whose headings conjure up pictures of desperate
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Sidelines
I'm always delighted when, as happened last week, two people came up to me in the supermarket and said 'I always read your column'. Over the years, people have written or phoned the newspaper, or stopped me to comment... and it really is a help to know
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Sidelines
I'm so sorry Katherine Hepburn's dead. She was one of the few film stars I wanted to meet and now there's no chance of that (there never was, Nicola!) Since she was 96 when she died, I wonder how many people under 40 have even heard of her. She wasn't
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Pause for thought
The Emmaus Road experience. Luke is the only one who records the drama in detail. The 7-mile journey from Jerusalem was nearly over; yet Cleopas and his wife could not have cared less. Their hearts were singing. They could have walked with the Stranger
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, June 23, 1983. Lilian Russ of Tirydail Lane, Ammanford, was awarded the BEM in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. Mrs Russ was a Girl Guide
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Past Times
THIS week's old picture is taken from Ammanford - Origin of Street Names and Notable Historical Records. It shows employees of the former chemical works near the Amman Bridge in 1900.
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, June 16, 1983. * Conservatives surged forward to oust Plaid Cymru from second place in the Carmarthen constituency in last week's general election
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Pause for thought
Good Friday. It was no place to be, watching an execution, particularly one like this. For death was not to come swiftly, but as the result of a slow, agonising, barbaric form of torture. Certainly no place for a woman. Much better if they were kept away
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Pause for thought
Mark chapter 5 describes how Jesus healed a demon-possessed man. This is one of the strangest stories in the Gospels. A poor, demented man living among the tombs in a burial place near the lake was obviously quite a well-known character locally. People
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Sidelines
A stranger comes up to you in the street and says: "I am going to give you an award of atleast £50 but it could be as much as £25,000. Guaranteed". What's your reaction? You probably decide the stranger is bonkers or else there's a catch to it. Why then
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, June 30, 1983. A 300-acre opencast site at Garnant has been given the green light by Dyfed County Council, despite fears over noise, dust and
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Sidelines
Coming home late one night was like driving in another world: empty streets, hardly another car on the road. You seem to be surrounded by echoes. Not a person anywhere, but there are animals who thrive on darkness. We sighted several prowling cats, glimpsed
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Pause for thought
By the lake... in a house... sitting at a table... in the Synagogue, or up the mountain. Jesus moved here and there in the early days of his public ministry, making himself available to people. This week, as Luke unfolds the story, the spotlight falls
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Pause for thought
Have you heard of Festus? Read Acts 25 (13-22). Little is known about this man except that he was very different from his predecessor Felix, in that his governorship was neither corrupt nor oppressive and he seems to have had a real concern for Roman
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Past Times
THIS week's old picture has been submitted by Alan Jones, of Leyshon Road, Gwauncaegur-wen. The picture was taken in the early 1900s and features Gate Street and Carmel Street, Gwauncaegurwen.
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Pause for thought
'Aheart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." (Proverbs 14: 30). Envy and jealousy are identical twins. They walk hand in hand through our lives. Few of us escape its clutches. It creeps into our relationships and destroys our confidence
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Past Times
THIS week's old picture has been submitted by historian Tony Lee, of High Street, Ammanford. It shows Pontaman Post Office before its closure in the 1970s.
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, April 14, 1983. The deadline for this May's election drew to a close this week, with only 13 Dinefwr Borough Council wards shaping up for a
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Past Times
THIS week's old picture is from Ammanford - Origin of Street Names and Notable Historical Records, by W T H Locksmith. Ammanford RFC pose proudly for a group shot outside the newly-completed Ammanford YMCA, in Iscennen Road, in 1912.
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, April 28, 1983. After 60 years of providing recreational facilities for local children, Llandybie's Memorial Hall Committee have said they
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, May 5, 1983. Betws Colliery, Britain's most successful anthracite mine, has received a much-needed lifeline of £12m from the National Coal
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Pause for thought
'Jesus replied: I assure you, unless a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can never see the kingdom of God" (John 3: 5). Can I suggest this title: Passport to the Kingdom. In order to travel from one country to another, every person - no matter
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Sidelines
Some weeks, I'm spoiled for choice: there are so many things happening and so many gripes to air. This is not one of those weeks! Three hundred words doesn't seem a lot . . . unless you have little to say. The only noteworthy event was my effect on a
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, May 19, 1983. Tycroes residents have declared war on a National Coal Board plan to tip colliery waste in the centre of their village until
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Pause for thought
"I have seen the Lord", says Mary Magdalene, on that first Easter Day. We know why the tomb was empty, but Mary, Peter and John did not. They were still living with the awful memory of Good Friday. That was the day their world came to a full stop. They
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are just some of the stories making the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, April 21, 1983. PEOPLE power prevailed in Llandovery this week after Dinefwr Council opted against moving the local mart to a new site. The
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For your benefit
QUESTION I am a pensioner and I need to talk to someone about what will happen to my pension if I go abroad for a period. I understand that the Social Security office doesn't deal with pensioners any more. Where should I go? ANSWER The Pension Service
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Sidelines
I've been meaning to join the Soil Association for years; they care about organic farming methods and so do I. So last week, after inadvertently buying some of those dreadful tasteless apples and wondering (as usual) where the local varieties have gone
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Pause for thought
'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you" (John 14: 27). What a person normally leaves behind in their last will and testament is their accumulated wealth and possessions to be distributed as they direct. But Jesus left behind no material possessions
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Past Times
This week's picture was taken in 1994 and shows pupils, staff and civic leaders celebrating Garnswllt Primary School's 100th anniversary with the presentation of commemorative mugs. Local councillor Ioan Richard is on the right.
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, May 12, 1983. This week's Dinefwr Borough Council elections produced mixed reactions with Plaid Cymru gaining seats from Labour and Labour
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Sidelines
Among my many faults are my inability to throw things out and not being able to remember where I've put the things I keep. Usually, it's a matter of 'well, yes, I do have a prevaricator screw-driver, but I've no idea where it is.' Then there was that
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Sidelines
My daughter's been down for the weekend and begged me to let her use the strimmer. She never usually has the time nor the inclination to potter about in the garden and she seemed to think that the strimmer would be pleasant to use (nothing like as taxing
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Past Times
THIS week's old picture has been submitted by Mr Anthony, of Garnant. The photograph was taken on September 29, 1934, when the Haig Memorial Hall was officially opened.
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Past Times
Do you recognise anyone in this week's old picture, which shows Ammanford Secondary Modern School's rugby team in 1949-50. It was brought in by Roy Evans, of Wern Road, Garnant.
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Sidelines
Most small boys idolise footballers, many small girls idolise pop stars... but my heroes have always been writers, in particular, journalists. When my school friends wanted to be nurses, actresses, singers or air hostesses, I secretly dreamed of being
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Pause for thought
I am very fond of this J B Phillips translation of 2 Corinthians 4:9 "We are persecuted, but are never deserted; we may be knocked down, but we are never knocked out". Some people at Corinth did not like Paul. They were infuriated by his insistence on
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Past Times
THIS week's old picture has been submitted by Neil Pearce, of The Pines, Derwydd. The picture is a copy of a postcard of Llanelli Pier, which dates back to the 1920s. Mr Pearce is curious to discover whether anyone may know who the man in the picture
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20 Years Ago . . .
THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, July 14, 1983. Carmarthen District Council put forward plans to build small factories at Gorslas. Finance for the project was from the new
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Past Times
This week's old picture shows pupils at Alltwen Primary School, Pontardawe, in 1958. It is taken from the book Images of Wales - Around Pontardawe, compiled by the Pontardawe Historians.
