Upcoming: Wine & Food Week and a Fancy Steak Night

Wine & Food Week returns to The Woodlands Monday, June 1 through Sunday, June 7 with a lineup of wine tastings, chef showcases, cocktail competitions and educational se…
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https://www.diningandcooking.com/2661632/upcoming-wine-food-week-and-a-fancy-steak-night/

Upcoming: Wine & Food Week and a Fancy Steak Night

Wine & Food Week returns to The Woodlands Monday, June 1 through Sunday, June 7 with a lineup of wine tastings, chef showcases, cocktail competit…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Wine #2026 #chefcollaborations #drink #eat #events #festival #homepage #may #pop-up #restaurantnews #specials #spring #tastings #thingstodothismonth #upcomingeventsinHouston #winter
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2661632/upcoming-wine-food-week-and-a-fancy-steak-night/

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PONTYATES: The four-month fight to save Meddygfa’r Sarn — and the questions Hywel Dda still hasn’t answered as the board prepares to vote

When members of Hywel Dda University Health Board gather at Yr Egin in Carmarthen at 9.30am on Thursday 28 May, they will not be asked to do what they were asked to do in January.

The Vacant Practice Panel’s original recommendation — that all 4,350 patients of Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates be dispersed across neighbouring practices and the surgery closed — still exists. It has not been withdrawn. But thanks to four months of sustained campaign pressure and a string of damaging disclosures about the evidence base, the board will instead be asked to begin a procurement process to test whether an independent contractor will take on the GP contract.

It is a significant shift. But it is not a reprieve. If procurement fails to find a viable bidder, the original closure recommendation is still in the room.

The story that almost happened in silence

When Swansea Bay News first reported on 22 January that the future of Meddygfa’r Sarn was in doubt, the proposal to close the surgery had attracted no significant public attention. Most of the surgery’s patients had no idea their GP service was about to be dispersed.

Jane Nicholas, speaking on behalf of the Save Meddygfa’r Sarn Working Group, reflected this week that the closure could have gone ahead largely unnoticed had it not been for that initial report.

What followed has been one of the most sustained and detailed community campaigns this part of west Wales has seen in years. Patients launched petitions. Councillors demanded action. The board agreed an eight-week consultation. Lee Waters, then Llanelli MS, raised the alarm over fears the surgery was being wound down. The campaign petition to the Senedd passed 1,000 signatures in under three weeks — and patients formed a human chain around the surgery building in a ‘Cwtsho’r Sarn’ solidarity event, drawing hundreds of protestors.

What the board was told — and what the evidence showed

Through it all, the working group was doing something else: it was lodging Freedom of Information requests. And what those requests uncovered became the most uncomfortable part of the entire process for Hywel Dda.

The group’s 12-point analysis, published in May, set out a consistent pattern: a board that had been given a selective and incomplete picture before being asked to approve closure. The issue, the analysis concluded, was not that the information presented was false — it was that key context had been omitted, alternatives had not been explored, and risks had not been fully assessed.

On the building. The board was told the premises were not fit for purpose, citing flood risk and space limitations. The FOI documents showed 82% of the building had been rated satisfactory or better, with a projected lifespan of around 40 years and backlog maintenance costs of approximately £94,000 over ten years. No alternative premises had been explored. No relocation feasibility assessment had been carried out. No comparison had been made between upgrade and closure costs.

On the workforce. The board was told the practice was entirely locum-dependent with no Clinical Lead and no salaried GPs. The FOI documents showed that the same locums had been working at Meddygfa’r Sarn for years, providing what the health board’s own records described as continuity of care. The surgery has been without a salaried GP since February 2025 — but no targeted recruitment campaign had been run for the surgery specifically in nine years. The case was framed around symptoms, not the absence of effort to address them.

On the finances. The board was told closure would cost an estimated £131,000 plus IT and support payments. What it was not told was the cost of any alternative — because none had been calculated. No comparison with other practices. No cost-per-patient benchmarking. No financial modelling of a merger, a refurbishment, or sustained recruitment.

On performance. The board heard about governance concerns and prescribing risks. It did not hear that patient satisfaction stood at 8.02 out of 10, that 74% of patients were satisfied with access, that staff appraisal compliance was 100% and core training compliance 95.3%.

On patient impact. The board was not given a travel time analysis. No equality impact assessment. No rural deprivation analysis. No safeguarding plan for vulnerable patients. The full Equality Impact Assessment was only completed in April 2026, three months after the original recommendation — and only after patients at the Pontyberem drop-in event in March explicitly demanded one.

On clinical risk. The Clinical Assurance Framework inspection — the formal governance review — had not been completed at the time the closure recommendation was made.

On strategy. While the board was being asked to close Meddygfa’r Sarn, Hywel Dda’s own new strategy, “A Healthier Mid and West Wales”, was telling patients it would deliver “more care closer to where you live by providing services in the community first” and that where services changed location, the board would “make sure they remain safe, sustainable and based on clinical standards.”

On alternatives. Hybrid models — retaining Meddygfa’r Sarn with a shared workforce. Targeted investment. Phased improvement. Enhanced recruitment. Community-based redesign. None of these had been meaningfully explored in the case presented to the board in January.

Hywel Dda’s own April 2026 Equality Impact Assessment — produced after the FOI material had become public — scored the impact of dispersal on older people, disabled patients and those facing socio-economic deprivation at -9 out of a possible -25. That is a moderate negative impact, rated as likely to occur.

The six questions Hywel Dda has not answered

On 12 May, Swansea Bay News put six detailed questions to the health board based on the FOI analysis. The questions asked whether the correct process had been followed, whether equality assessments and travel time modelling had been completed before January’s meeting, and whether the board had a full and balanced picture of the evidence before it.

The health board asked for an extension until its board paper was published on 21 May. The response, when it arrived this afternoon, pointed us to the published board paper and to a corporate press release in which Chief Operating Officer Andrew Carruthers thanked everyone who had shared their views during the engagement period.

None of our six questions were answered directly.

957 voices

The engagement period that followed the board’s January decision was extensive. By the time it closed on 6 April, 957 patients had completed the questionnaire — supplemented by six emails, four telephone calls and three letters. More than 350 people attended three public drop-in events held in Pontyates, Pontyberem and Carway.

The feedback was overwhelmingly negative. Transport was the dominant concern at every event. Of those who responded to the questionnaire, 21% currently walk to Meddygfa’r Sarn. Around one in three respondents identified as disabled. A return taxi from Pontyates to Pontyberem was quoted at around £15. Some patients described bus journeys that would require travelling first into Carmarthen and then back out — a process that could mean waits of up to 90 minutes at the bus stop.

The Pontyates event, on 24 February, attracted 215 people. Carway, added only after councillors pushed for a third event, drew 89.

The health board has costed a community transport service through Dolen Teifi at between £19,000 and £85,000 a year, depending on hours and vehicle type. What it has not costed, despite repeated campaign requests, is the alternative — investment in the existing surgery and a sustained recruitment campaign for a salaried GP.

The campaigners’ view

Clare Treharne, who leads the working group, said this week that the FOI evidence raised serious concerns about whether the original closure recommendation was fair, balanced, or fully informed. The case for closing the surgery, she said, was built on selective information with key evidence missing or incomplete.

The working group has submitted a 52-page report and a separate sustainability document to the health board ahead of Thursday’s meeting. A clinical team — understood to comprise a GP and a pharmacist — has separately submitted a bid to take over the running of the surgery.

The group’s other prominent spokesperson, retired nurse Janet Knott, served the NHS for 52 years, much of it in the Gwendraeth valley. She has warned that the dispersal plan would place enormous strain on receiving practices that are already overstretched.

The political dimension

The story has crossed every party line. Independent Senedd candidate Carl Peters-Bond joined the campaign in April. In May, the independent candidate and surgery patient called on Hywel Dda to scrap the closure plan following the FOI revelations. The Green Party candidate called for an independent review of the process, citing the missing equality assessment.

Local councillors have issued a joint statement calling for any decision to be postponed, saying that, as local representatives, they have no confidence in the process Hywel Dda has conducted. They have called on the board to put patients before savings.

Campaigners have also written to the six newly elected Senedd Members for the Caerfyrddin constituency, requesting a meeting to put last-minute pressure on the board. First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, interviewed on the BBC the day after being sworn in, pledged that his government would prioritise primary care and redress the funding imbalance that has grown in recent years.

What the board will be asked to do on Thursday

If members agree to the procurement route, a new Vacant Practice Panel will eventually be convened to consider the outcome of that process and make a fresh recommendation. The board paper proposes skipping reconvening a Vacant Practice Panel before procurement begins, in the interests of expediency.

Hywel Dda’s recommendation is that board members:

— note the feedback from the public engagement period
— note the informal expressions of interest received during the engagement period
— agree that a procurement process should be undertaken to test the feasibility of an independent contractor taking on a GMS or APMS contract for Meddygfa’r Sarn

What the recommendation does not propose is the option many in the community have been asking for from the beginning: a proper, targeted, sustained recruitment campaign for a salaried GP at Meddygfa’r Sarn, supported by investment in the existing building.

The Public Board meeting takes place at Yr Egin, Carmarthen, from 9.30am on Thursday 28 May. It will be broadcast live on Hywel Dda’s YouTube channel. Campaigners are urging supporters to attend in person. Further information is available from the Save Meddygfa’r Sarn Working Group at [email protected].

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

FOI reveals no specific recruitment attempts for Sarn surgery GP in 9 years as decision day looms
The Freedom of Information disclosures that reshaped the campaign — and the questions they raised.

Pontyates residents form human chain around surgery in ‘Cwtsho’r Sarn’ solidarity event
Hundreds turned out to wrap the building in a show of community support.

MS raises alarm over Pontyates GP closure as fears grow surgery is being ‘wound down’
Lee Waters MS wrote to Hywel Dda demanding answers in February.

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt as health board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients
Our original report from 22 January 2026, when the closure threat first emerged.

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GOWER: ‘My daughter could be sentenced as a terrorist for damaging drones’ — Pennard mum speaks out ahead of June sentencing

A Gower mother says she is frightened for her daughter’s future after learning she could be sentenced as a terrorist next month — despite never having been charged with a terrorism offence.

Emma Kamio, from Pennard, says her daughter Leona — known as Ellie — was convicted of criminal damage at the Filton, Bristol plant of Elbit Systems, an Israeli-owned defence technology company. Ellie Kamio, 30, is one of four people due to be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on 12 June.

The case has drawn significant attention after reporting restrictions, which had prevented the details from being publicly known, were lifted by a judge at Woolwich Crown Court.

The four defendants were convicted of damaging quadcopter drones inside Elbit Systems’ Bristol research and development facility. Under Section 69 of the Sentencing Act 2020, a judge can apply a “terrorist connection” as an aggravating factor at sentencing — even where defendants have not been convicted of a terrorism offence.

Supporters of the four say the jury was not told this would apply when they returned their verdicts, and that had they known, they might have reached different conclusions.

A spokesperson for campaign group Defend Our Juries said: “The public will be astonished to learn that in the British justice system a protester can now be convicted of criminal damage for disrupting an arms factory, and then be sentenced as a ‘terrorist’ without having been convicted of terror charges and with this having been kept secret from the jury.”

The practical consequences of a terrorist connection finding at sentencing could be significant. The four defendants have already spent 18 months on remand — equivalent to nearly four years under standard sentencing guidelines, the upper limit for criminal damage.

With a terrorist connection applied, they would be required to serve their full sentence and could only be released early if a parole board was satisfied they had renounced their beliefs. Upon release, they could be placed on a terrorism licence for up to 15 years, requiring them to register new devices, bank accounts, emails and relationships with police.

Anti-war activist Angie Zelter, from Knucklas in Powys, who has previously been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, said the case was “of the utmost importance for the general public to be aware of.”

Mr Justice Johnson, who presided over the trial, ruled that the terrorist connection provision applied because the defendants were seeking to influence the Israeli government by restricting its access to weapons. The ruling has been disputed by the defendants’ supporters, who argue that a conscientious motive would normally be considered a mitigating factor rather than an aggravating one.

The judge also restricted what defence barristers could say to the jury during the trial. Five of the six defence barristers withdrew before closing speeches following those restrictions. A court order has now lifted the reporting ban on those events.

All defences on the charge of criminal damage were ruled inadmissible before evidence was heard, meaning the defendants were not permitted to argue that their actions were legally justified. Following the guilty verdicts, the prosecution did not apply to revoke bail — but the judge did so anyway, returning the defendants to prison, where they remain.

Elbit Systems describes itself as one of Israel’s largest defence electronics companies. The Filton facility is a research and development hub. The company has been the subject of sustained protest activity in the UK in recent years. The action for which the four were convicted took place before Palestine Action — a group associated with protests at Elbit facilities — was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.

The case is not the first time the conflict in Gaza has brought legal proceedings to the UK courts with a Wales connection. An Irish man living in Burry Port was detained by the Israeli navy on his 75th birthday after a Gaza aid ship was seized in international waters, while a Swansea humanitarian was among Britons aboard a Gaza flotilla that prompted MPs including Gower’s Tonia Antoniazzi to raise safety concerns.

The sentencing is due to take place on 12 June.

Related coverage

Burry Port man detained by Israeli navy after Gaza aid ship seized in international waters
An Irish man living in West Wales was held on his 75th birthday after the vessel was intercepted.

Swansea humanitarian among Britons on Gaza flotilla as MPs raise safety concerns
A Swansea resident was aboard the aid vessel as politicians called for action.

Gower MP issues update on Swansea humanitarian detained with Gaza flotilla
Tonia Antoniazzi’s intervention after the flotilla was intercepted.

SWANSEA: She started with £20 and a mop at 18 — now Rachael Flanagan has been named Wales Director of the Year

Rachael Flanagan was 18 years old, had just failed her Business Studies A-level, and had £20 to her name. She spent it printing flyers, picked up a mop, and started cleaning houses in south Wales.

Twenty years later, she has been named Medium to Large Business Director of the Year at the IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards 2026 — one of the most prestigious business leadership prizes in Wales.

Mrs Buckét, which has its headquarters in Swansea, is now on track to achieve a projected £11.5 million turnover in 2026, employing almost 500 staff and serving 185 commercial clients across Wales and Bristol.

The name itself is a nod to the classic BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances — a wink at Hyacinth Bucket, who always insisted her surname was pronounced “Bouquet.” The business started as a domestic cleaning service before Rachael sold that side in 2018 and pivoted entirely to commercial cleaning, where clients now include the Wales Millennium Centre, Sony UK Technology Centre and GE Wales Aviation.

Rachael is also known for her commitment to paying at least the Real Living Wage and challenging outdated perceptions of the cleaning industry. “There is a mistaken belief that cleaners are poorly educated, poorly paid and forced to work antisocial hours,” she has previously said. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”

The IoD judges praised her strategic focus, strong governance and people-first culture, highlighting her entrepreneurial leadership and disciplined approach to growth. Mrs Buckét achieved a 30% increase in business performance in 2025, securing 30 new clients including major education sector contracts with Bassaleg High School and the RCT Education Framework.

Last month, Rachael moved into the CEO role while Kate Ablett — herself shortlisted for the IoD Skills Development Award — was promoted to Managing Director, allowing Rachael to focus on the strategic direction of the business.

Speaking after receiving the award, Rachael said: “I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award and incredibly proud of what we have achieved as a business. This recognition reflects the hard work, commitment and passion of our entire team, who consistently go above and beyond for our clients every single day.”

The ceremony at ICC Wales in Newport on 8 May also saw Swansea Bay represented by Cherrie Bija, CEO of Faith in Families, who took the Public and Third Sector prize.

Faith in Families is a Swansea Bay charity supporting children and families facing poverty, trauma and crisis through its network of Community Cwtches and the Cwtch Mawr Multibank — Wales’s first multibank, which redistributes surplus goods from businesses to families in need. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey visited the project earlier this year to hear how rising costs are affecting children across the region.

The wider ceremony brought together more than 300 directors, CEOs and senior leaders from across Wales. It was hosted by broadcaster Mariclare Carey-Jones in collaboration with headline sponsor Cardiff Business School, with 38 finalists shortlisted across 10 categories.

The evening also included a Chair’s Award for Excellence in Director and Board Practice, presented to Professor Simon Gibson CBE DL for his exceptional contribution to the technology sector, entrepreneurship and public service in Wales. A co-founder and CEO of Ubiquity Software and Chief Executive of Wesley Clover Corporation, he continues to support innovation and startup growth in Wales as Chairman of the Alacrity Foundation.

This year’s chosen charity partner was The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2026.

Richard Selby MBE DL, National Chair of IoD Wales, said the awards were an opportunity to recognise exceptional leaders driving change across the Welsh economy. “Every finalist and winner has demonstrated the impact that strong leadership can have, not only within their own organisation, but across communities, industries and the wider Welsh economy,” he said.

He added: “At a time of continued challenge and change, it is inspiring to see so many leaders committed to innovation, inclusion, sustainability and developing future talent.”