Stradey Park's final whistle - a year on

Phew! What a year since Bristol RFC arrived at Stradey Park to help bring down the curtain on 129 years of history at one of world rugby's most famous arenas.
There's been a move to a new stadium, a change of senior management at the club, a radical re-think of how the Scarlets connect with their fanbase - and lots of highs and lows on the playing side.
Of course, there had been a big media build-up to that still, black night of Friday, October 24, 2008. Two weeks before the final whistle there had been Heineken Cup defeat in Llanelli as Harlequins produced a stirring second-half display to win 29-22. A week before the West Countrymen arrived there had been more jitters as Llanelli RFC - the "originals" some will insist - lost 16-10 to Pontypridd on a bright Saturday afternoon of Principality Welsh Premiership rugby.
But now the scene was set for the last rip of the studs on the Stradey turf. And the Scarlets were in no mood to let the occasion pass quietly, quaintly or submissively. There would be pride, there would be flair, there would be a win.
In advance of the 7.10pm kick-off came a hurried and scurried few hours of activity.
The media were there early - more than 250 media personnel would rush in and out through the course of the day. The BBC were broadcasting from breakfast time and the story would move up the Beeb's news agenda as time went on. Eventually BBC News 24 were running hourly updates.
The Scarlets staff were there hours ahead of usual, checking ticket allocation, health and safety measures, food and drink supplies, marquee requirements, sound systems, the pitch, programme deliveries and stewarding levels.
Former captains gathered in one marquee, chatting, laughing, backslapping, reminiscing. Names included Leigh Davies, Scott Quinnell, Wayne Proctor, Robin McBryde, Ieuan Evans and Rupert Moon. There was Phil Davies, Phil May, Derek Quinnell, Phil Bennett and many more. They were eventually paraded onto the pitch escorted by Llanelli Schoolboys U11s.
There was a special presentation to former coach Gareth Jenkins, presentations to past chairmen and presidents, half-time music from Caryl Parry Jones and a final team photo of past captains, chairmen and presidents on the half-way line.
The Scarlets Choir and Cor Meibion Llanelli sang Sosban Fach and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. There were fireworks.
You know what? There was a match too! The EDF Energy Cup challenge of Bristol was swept aside by waves of emotion and passion. Former Bristol centre Rob Higgitt scuttled over for Stradey's last try; Stephen Jones kicked the last points.
The teams remained together on the pitch after the final whistle in a thrilling moment of sporting camaraderie. The Scarlets gave a warmly applauded lap of honour, wing Mark Jones carrying around his tiny baby son.
A few beers later it was all over. It was time to move on. Artefacts were sold as the stadium was stripped by men with screwdrivers and stepladders, the keys for Parc y Scarlets were handed over ... and a new chapter began.
It still feels like it's just beginning, of course. There are plenty of stories waiting to be written about Scarlets rugby.
Few, however, will match the power of that single autumn night when Bristol came to town.

Making journalism pay - Wales listens

The Wales Council of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists) meets tomorrow and one item under discussion will be an effort by the Swansea branch to explore new ways of making journalism pay.
The background is diminishing employment opportunities in the traditional media; the opportunity is the fast-evolving new media landscape and technology. Wherever it's leading, we want to reach that destination.
Working at Parc y Scarlets as a rugby PR guy, I won't make the Cardiff meeting - but good people in the form of Ken Smith and Mike Burrows will be there fighting our branch's corner. It'd be good to get positive feedback and offers of support and guidance from the council as the Swansea case won't be an isolated one. Newspapers, radio stations and TV channels all over the UK are shedding jobs so something needs to be done to retain and use the skills these jettisoned journos have.
Things are changing dramatically and many regions, cities and towns may soon find themselves in a professional journalism desert. The powers that be and the holders of our public purse strings will find themselves protected by a clogged up information filtration system. Worse, the public will lose a lively tier of entertainment and independent news.
Swansea are looking at the possibility of being a catalyst in the creation of a multi-media thoroughly modern news agency. A working party is looking at key areas such as governmental aid for young businesses, partnerships with academia, tie-ups and with cooperative and development trust movements and, of course, links with like-minded union groups and activists.
I hope the union's Wales Council give a great deal of honest and open thought to what Ken and Mike have to report.