The Pembrokeshire Herald 29/03/2024

Increased sewage discharges into waterways ‘by 40%’

NEW figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Dwr Cymru discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 23,354 hours last year, a 40% increase on 2022.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in Welsh waterways.

The party has also called for a halt on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Conservative MPs

have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis.

The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into our nation’s rivers and waterways without consequence.

“It’s beggars’ belief that both the UK Conservative Government and the Welsh Labour government are allowing water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism.

“We as a party are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local waterways. We have

also called for a halt on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways.”

Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock

TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-theclock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke

station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington,

Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

Crimes fuelled by crack cocaine

A 30-YEAR-OLD man who has found himself homeless as a result of an addiction to crack cocaine was this week brought before magistrates after admitting causing criminal damage to his former partner’s front door.

The relationship between Reece BatesonFenwich and his girlfriend Jordan Thomas was described in court as being ‘volatile’.

“Both parties were frustrated with each other,” probation officer Charmain Fox told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He believes she still has personal items of his, which have a monetary and a sentimental value.

“He’s been very honest with me about his struggles of being homeless as well as his use of crack cocaine. At the moment, he’s either staying with people who are using substances or who invite him to stay with them when he’s in possession of a substance himself.

“Until his accommodation is secure, he’s going to continue in this homeless cycle.”

Bateson-Feneck’s court appearance was the result of his visit to Ms Thomas’ home in the Mount estate, Milford Haven on March 16.

“She heard someone storming upstairs to her flat,” said Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson. “She knew it was the defendant because of his voice. He was banging on the door really loudly and

her ring doorbell showed the defendant standing outside.

“He shouted ‘I want my tv back, after all you’ve done with me. I swear to God, when I get in there I’m going to f****** stab you.”

Ms Jackson said that Jordan Thomas believed the defendant was on crack cocaine at the time of the incident.

“I knew he was on crack cocaine as he wasn’t speaking clearly,” she said.

Bateson-Feneck pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the door, valued at £39.99, and an additional charge of assaulting MS Thomas by beating during a previous incident on January 13 when he pushed the victim, making contact with her neck.

For both offences, Bateson-Feneck was sentenced to a 12-month community order during which he must complete 15 rehabilitation requirement days to address his accommodation situation. He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to Ms Thomas and £39.99 compensation for the damage caused to the door.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

A restraining order was imposed preventing him from making contact with Jordan Thomas, visiting her home address and entering any information concerning her on any electronic device or social media.

David Simpson to retire as Council Leader

THE LEADER of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr David Simpson, will step down in May.

Cllr Simpson has led the local authority for seven years. He will stay on as Lampeter Velfrey’s county councillor.

David Simpson became leader after the Independent Political Group, which governed Pembrokeshire for over twenty years, lost control of the County Council at the 2017 election.

His tenure as Council leader has been unique within Wales.

As an unaffiliated independent councillor, David Simpson has never had the support of a political group’s bloc vote. Instead, his leadership has depended on the support of other unaffiliated councillors, combined with support from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and Plaid Cymru.

Originally from Barry, David Simpson worked as a youth worker in Grangetown, Cardiff, for several years.

After recovering from a serious work-related injury, he established Glamorgan Cleaning Services, which grew from 2 employees to 200. The company serviced industrial and commercial premises across South Wales.

He became a Justice of the Peace in 1996, and in 2000, after retiring from Glamorgan Cleaning Services, he became a Chair on the Magistrates’ Bench.

He has actively engaged in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme as an Ambassador and strongly supports its

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efforts to improve young people’s lives and life chances.

Cllr Simpson joined Pembrokeshire County Council after the 2004 local authority election. He was immediately appointed to the Cabinet and remained everpresent until he resigned

in 2014. He was also a member of the board of the Pembrokeshire Housing Association until becoming Leader of the Council in 2017.

Cllr Simpson said that leading Pembrokeshire County Council and serving the communities he loves has been an honour.

Councils play a huge role in our everyday lives, from collecting

the bins to repairing roads, running libraries, building schools and new homes and providing services for the most vulnerable. Everything Pembrokeshire County Council does affects everyone living and working in or visiting our County.

“Rebuilding links with communities, making the authority more open and inclusive, and

reorganising our services while local government funding has been cut has been difficult. The experience of leading Pembrokeshire County Council during the pandemic showed me just how important working together as councillors and communities is. We achieve much more together than we ever can separately.

“I am proud to have worked alongside outstanding officers and councillors, but the time is now right for me to step aside and let someone else bring something new to the role.

“My colleagues need certainty for the future. Only with certainty and cooperation can Pembrokeshire County Council meet future challenges. I’ve been lucky to lead an outstanding Cabinet of individuals appointed not because they belong to one group but on their own merit. I hope whoever succeeds me continues to lead the Council by casting the net as widely as possible to serve our communities.

Cllr Simpson went on

to say, “When I became leader, the UK’s local authorities had already suffered from years of austerity. The Cabinet, Council and I have had to make difficult decisions to meet the challenges we encountered. They haven’t always been popular decisions, but you can’t run vital services on a shoestring, invest in the future by putting off building new schools or fail to meet the increasing demands for social care in our communities.

I’m particularly proud that we have turned around education in Pembrokeshire after a period of long decline and provided new, better and safer schools and new opportunities for our children and our children’s children. The future matters. We cannot and must not turn our backs on future generations and the most vulnerable in our communities by pretending there are easy answers to complex questions.

“With UK and Welsh Government funding, the Council has begun transforming our town centres. We are building homes

for Pembrokeshire’s people. We have built new schools, and we want to build more. We have brought adult social care back in-house.

“We are committed to a more prosperous future for Pembrokeshire as part of the Celtic Sea Freeport project. I would like to pay a special tribute to the colleagues and officers whose unceasing and inspirational efforts made that happen.

“I know councillors want to do more, and I am sure my successor will have their own ideas on how we can do that, but I am sure we will continue to invest in opportunities and facilities that make Pembrokeshire a great place to live, work, and visit.

“If I had to pick things of which I am proudest, it would be lancing the boil of secrecy surrounding the Mik Smith scandal and making sure that Pembrokeshire’s Council Taxpayers are now engaged in our budget-setting process in a way that didn’t happen before.

“Greater transparency has brought greater engagement, which all

Woman will quit the booze after seeing shocking video in court

A HAVERFORDWEST woman this week vowed to undertake ‘a complete alcohol abstinence’ after being shown court video footage of her screaming, drunken and often incoherent abuse towards residents in a block of flats.

Louise Wiltshire, 59, entered the flats at Fleming Crescent on the night of March 10. The video, captured by one of the residents on her mobile phone, showed Wiltshire hammering on doors, kicking them with her feet and lunging towards one of the residents whilst shouting drunken abuse.

public place, of common assault on the resident who fell backwards as she attempted to close her front door on the defendant and of causing wasteful employment of police time.

She was legally represented in court by Mr David Williams.

“The lady you see before you this morning is completely different to the lady you saw in the video footage,” he said.

“The first thing she told me this morning was how bad she feels about what happened.”

councillors should be proud of - brickbats and all!

“We must never return to the bad old days when the ruling group covered up mistakes and wrongdoing.

“I’ve had the support of too many people to mention by name, but I would like them all to know how much I appreciate them and their efforts. Thank you, and thank you to all of the members and officers who’ve helped me, advised me, and even disagreed with me.

“So now it’s time to get off the treadmill.

“I started work at the age of eleven as a delivery boy for a baker in Barry. I got my first mobile phone in 1986, and now it’s time for me to stop living at the end of one. It’s a chance to spend more time with my wife, Chris and our children and grandchildren.

“I’ll still be there to serve my ward and community, but as far as the frontline goes, it’s time to pass on the honour and challenge of being Pembrokeshire County Council’s leader.”

“The resident was frightened that she was going to be assaulted,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Earlier that night Wiltshire had made repeated 999 calls to the emergency services.

“The first time, the call handler noted that she was very difficult to understand,” she said. “She was slurring her words and was incoherent.

“She called 999 a second time, saying she was unhappy about an incident that the police had previously dealt with and then she called yet again, making repeated requests for police officers and an ambulance to attend an incident as she believed someone was dead.”

Police eventually discovered Wiltshire in a corridor at a block of flats in Fleming Crescent.

“She was screaming and shouting at the occupants and was verbally abusive,” continued Ms Jackson. “Her behaviour was totally unacceptable.”

Wiltshire, of Fleming Crescent, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a

Mr Williams went on to say that the defendant’s behaviour spirals out of control after she consumes large quantities of alcohol.

“For a dangerously long time, my client has had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol,” he said. “She has previously made efforts, but the point has now arrived where she realises that controlled drinking is not the way for her.

“As we all know, it’s very easy after a few drinks to tempt yourself into another one, but for this lady, it’s fatal. Alcoholism is a bad illness that takes several attempts to combat. Please give my client the opportunity to start her journey towards complete abstinence.”

Wiltshire was sentenced to a 24 month community order during which she must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work. She was also subject to a 120day alcohol monitoring requirement. She must pay court costs of £85 and a £114 surcharge.

“I’d just like to say how terribly sorry I am,” Louise Wiltshire told the magistrates following her sentence. “Hearing that video was what I needed. It was disgusting.”

‘Legal hemp’ contained cannabis

A HAVERFORDWEST man who bought a quantity of what he believed was legal hemp, this week found himself before magistrates on a charge of possessing a controlled Class B drug.

Jayden MorganJames was visited by officers at his home address in Vicary Crescent, Milford Haven on November 15, 2023.

“The officers wanted to carry out a welfare check but upon their arrival the defendant was inside the property and became irate when asked to step outside,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He continued to argue and was eventually arrested.”

While officers carried out a search of the property, they discovered a quantity of cannabis which had been placed inside a large bag. Subsequent examinations confirmed this amounted to 69.05 grams.

Morgan-James pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing the controlled class B drug. He was

represented in court by Mr David Wiliams.

“At first glance this might appear to be quite a large amount of cannabis, “ he said. “But it’s just over two ounces in weight, so it’s not a humongous amount.”

Mr Williams went on to say that his client uses hemp as a means of coping with his schizophrenia, severe depression and anxiety.

“He takes a plethora of prescribed drugs including sedatives and antidepressants and his possession of cannabis plays a significant part in that,” he explained.

“He consumes cannabis because he finds its relaxing properties are beneficial. He bought this, believing it was hemp with CBD [cannabidiol] content, however the drug seized by the police was analysed and a large quantity was found to contain cannabis.”

Morgan-James was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge. A forfeiture and destruction order was imposed for the cannabis.

Pub director fined for accounting offences

AT Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, Kathleen Waters, the Director of the Jeffreyston-based pub business KDW Inns Limited, has been found guilty of multiple accounting offences. The 60-year-old from The Jeffreyston Inn, Jeffreyston, was previously fined in June for failing to submit the required accounts to Companies House.

On March 21, Waters faced three separate offences related to accounting malpractices following her previous conviction. The court heard that she failed to deliver essential documents for KDW Inns Limited’s accounts for the period ending August 31, 2021.

Additionally, Waters was accused of not submitting the financial statements for the year ending August 31, 2022, a requirement for all companies operating

within the UK.

The charges did not stop there. Waters was also found guilty of failing to deliver a confirmation statement within 14 days after a review period, an essential requirement for maintaining the legal status of a business in the UK.

Pleading guilty to all charges, Waters was fined a total of £775. Furthermore, she has been ordered to pay a £310 surcharge along with £75 in court costs.

This case highlights the legal responsibilities of company directors in maintaining accurate

and timely financial records, a cornerstone of corporate governance and transparency.

The conviction of Waters serves as a reminder to all business owners and directors of the importance of adhering to financial regulations and statutory requirements.

Sex offender breached prevention order

A 22-YEAR-OLD man, identified as Jake Roberts, with no fixed residence, is set to be sentenced next month following his guilty pleas to charges including the breach of a sexual harm prevention order and the making of an indecent image of a child.

Roberts, who was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order in November 2021, found himself back in the legal spotlight after failing to comply with the order’s conditions. The court heard that Roberts had deleted the Telegram app and search history from his mobile device, a breach that occurred in Cilgerran between September 12 and October 27. Furthermore, he was accused of not allowing police officers access to his Snapchat account on November 14, also in Cilgerran.

Adding to his offences, Roberts was found to possess a Category A image –considered the most

severe in legal terms – on August 30, in the same locality.

During a hearing at Swansea Crown Court on December 13, Roberts admitted to the deletion of the Telegram app and his search history but contested the remaining charges. However, on March 20, Roberts reappeared in court, this time pleading guilty to the second breach related to his refusal to allow police access to his Snapchat.

Prosecutor Helen Randall informed the court that the pleas entered by Roberts were deemed acceptable, leading to the cancellation of a trial that was scheduled for April 3.

Following his guilty pleas, Roberts was remanded in custody, with sentencing postponed to April 17.

Recorder Christian Jowett has requested the preparation of a pre-sentence report

and emphasized that all sentencing options are under consideration.

This case underscores the rigorous enforcement of sexual harm prevention orders and the legal consequences of noncompliance. Roberts’ sentencing next month will conclude a series of violations that have highlighted the challenges of monitoring individuals under such orders.

Who’s King of the Sand?

coastal wealth is coming to Pembrokeshire.

Who will it go to?

A campaign to devolve the Crown Estate packed St. Davids city hall.

Vicky Moller, Grwp Resilience

The King owns Wales’ coast, seabed and inlets such as Milford Haven. His crown estate in Wales is worth £600 million which is set to rise to unknown heights with the advance of giant renewables. Pembrokeshire is an epicentre of this expanded value. Tenders are now invited, with many companies applying to build floating wind turbines, each as big as the Shard. Three companies will win, each can generate 1.4 Gigawatts p.a. off our coast, adding £1.4 billion gva to the estate. Profit from the Crown Estate goes to the UK treasury. Scotland succeeded in taking back their crown estate in 2017 and receives the income directly. Should we do the same?

A campaign started by Pembrokeshire people is seeking this outcome. A packed meeting on Saturday explored the idea as a headline event at Tir a Mor, St. Davids Land and Sea festival. The key players were in a panel and we grilled them.

Before the event many of us had groaned that it was two hours long. Afterwards we commented that it was so feisty, fast moving and informative that it felt like five minutes.

of the Crown Estate. Its purpose today is simple: Lasting and shared prosperity for the nation. ‘Lasting’ so it can plan longer term than UK governments. Rebecca is the only one in Wales out of hundreds employed by the Crown Estate. She made up in quality for the lack of quantity, explaining she is backed by an army of expertise - the staff are one team, not area based.

I met with other Crown staff last year. I urged them to ensure social benefits were a condition for giving businesses a licence. They said they would try. Today we learned that social benefit is indeed a requirement they will be judged on to select the winners.

Childhood poverty in Pembrokeshire stands around 25% we learned.

Tom Sawyer asked: “Are we to see families in Milford and Pembroke Dock looking out of their windows at multimillion pound developments dominating

the sea-scape, powering the equivalent of every home in Wales from the free wind?” Many already cannot afford heat or carpets. The Celtic Freeport will cover 600 hectares between Pembrokeshire and Port Talbot. The CEO of the Trust Port believes that its business rates can be retained for local benefit.

Beth Winter MP lit up the room with her passionate questioning of assumptions. Without ownership of our estate we cannot rely on benefits to the area.

Scotland receives £100 million p.a. straight to their nation. How they use it can be improved but the income is secure. The Crown estate owns 45 km out to sea, half way to Ireland. This is a massive asset. For too long we have seen Wales’ wealth extracted, to power the industrial revolution globally with our coal, to roof houses across the world with slate, and always the population is left with a begging bowl asking for crumbs. We have

cultural Alzheimers! Let’s try to learn from historic mistakes, not repeat them.

Beth had no qualms supporting this campaign, organised by the same people that started Siatr Cymru, the campaign that has already changed rules for second homes. How should the income from the crown estate be used in Wales? She believes we need a sovereign wealth fund such as Norway has accumulated, for major challenges and changes ahead, it should not go on vanity projects. The wealth fund should support our Future Generations goals. We can use innovative democracy to manage funds, learning from Portugal and Ireland.

Getting change in parliament is hard. Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts led a motion to devolve the crown estate, with cross party support. It was blocked. Simon Hart said in parliament that there is no appetite for this in Wales on the same day a petition to devolve the

exceeded 30,000 votes. A poll showed 77% in favour.

Nick Tune, infrastructure commissioner, investigated Wales constitutional arrangements. The conclusions were clear, Wales needs the power to act. For example we simply cannot land the power created in our seas because the National Grid is centralised and not one inch of new grid is planned for Wales, only some areas for improvement. Scotland has many miles of new grid planned. He feels for Welsh Government with one hand tied behind its back. It lacks powers over the grid and cannot influence large energy installations as these are decided at UK level. Still there is a desperate need for better leadership from somewhere. We are owed £4 million from the HS2 debacle in consequentials.

Where is the fight for this?

John Osmond, local writer and IWA founder, chairing the meeting, asked if UK reduced the

estate income. They did, but having it go direct to the nation felt safer.

Questions from the floor showed an audience as informed and passionate as the panel. Beware: freeports are essentially tax and regulation avoidance schemes.

Tom Sawyer argued that “the ‘tax efficiency’ would be different here with a consortium dedicated to fair work and social partnership.”

We live in a climate and nature emergency, we need the skills to respond to this opportunity, the jobs of tomorrow have not been invented. Our engineering businesses are cutting back production due to lack of skills. Teachers asked the panel to bring role models and future employers to inspire junior pupils as this is the age children are most receptive to new ideas. Can jobs be ring-fenced for locals?

Tom explained: “No, but a recruitment requirement can be to live locally for emergency response reasons, and we can provide apprenticeships via local schools and colleges. This will have similar effects to ringfencing.”

The gripping event was democracy in action, with the informed public and those in charge in the same room being urgent, frank and polite. We all wanted the same thing. I concluded that we must continue down the path of this quality of deliberation, of co-owning our future, to be the leaders we lack.

Pembrokeshire chef found ‘howling and out of control’

A PEMBROKESHIRE

chef has appeared before magistrates after being found ‘howling and out of control’ in the pub in which he was employed.

Members of the public became aware of Dean McCartney’s condition when they were present in the premises on December 20,2022.

“The defendant was working as a chef in a pub in Penally when witnesses heard howling noises coming from downstairs,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“Another male was trying to retain him as the defendant was throwing his arms and legs around and he was clearly under the influence of drugs. He was out of control and didn’t know what he was doing.”

Officers were called to the premises, and during a search of McCartney’s backpack they discovered a white powder. Subsequently analyses of the powder’s content confirmed that it was ketamine, which is an illegal Class B drug.

McCartney, 28, of Newell Hill, Tenby, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession

when he was brought before magistrates this week. Ms Jackson confirmed that the offence took place while McCartney was serving a suspended sentence.

“The obvious question here is why on earth it’s taken so long to come to court,” stated his solicitor, Mr Michael Kelleher.

“My client is a qualified chef and, as a result of another drug conviction in December 2023 for possession of cocaine, is now being drug tested on a regular basis.

“Bear in mind just how long this has been hanging over his head. This should have been addressed a long, long time ago.”

Mr Kelleher added that McCartney is currently unemployed, however he attended a work trial last week.

“Unfortunately he fell down the stairs, so is now unable to start working there,” he said.

Dean McCartney was fined £80 for possession of the class B drug and £40 for breaching the suspended sentence. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge. A forfeiture and destruction order was imposed for the drugs.

The race to replace Leader

AS DAVID SIMPSON prepares to bid farewell to leading Pembrokeshire County Council, the search for a new leader begins.

Last year, the Conservatives and IPG ensured Cllr Simpson remained Leader for another year after making a complete mess of a confidence vote in him.

As Cllr Jacob Williams observed acidly at the time, the confidence motion had no substance, and no suggestion was made that Cllr Simpson had done anything in the preceding year to justify it.

If the unaffiliated members, Plaid, Labour, and the LibDems, maintain a united front, the IPG faces continuing in the wilderness, able to

wound but not strike the killer blow.

As things stand, guerrilla warfare on key committees, waged in tandem with the Conservative Group, serves the IPG well. Not obliged to come up with a single idea of their own, the largest opposition group can simply continue carping from the sidelines and playing procedural games to slow down Council business.

It’s what the IPG experienced in the dog days of their last administration when they mismanaged a series of avoidable debacles. In fairness to the IPG, poor advice from several senior officers did not

help them and left them open to being outflanked by the few councillors who bothered reading key papers, such as Mike Stoddart and Jacob Williams.

While the officer cadre is stronger now than it was, recent personal attacks on senior officers’ integrity and impartiality could leave the authority casting around to replace senior staff while trying to establish a new leader’s authority.

However, with many witnesses to the IPG’s prolonged collapse now off the Council, new councillors with short memories, thick hides, or who rejoice in their ignorance give the IPG hope.

The Conservative Group is in a difficult position.

A Conservative candidate would not command enough votes to be elected Leader. Therefore, the Conservatives must back either an IPG or an unaffiliated candidate for the role.

Both approaches are challenging and could leave the Group in a worse position.

You can’t see the Conservatives falling behind Huw Murphy again, and the talent vacuum on the IPG benches - both Jamie Adams and John Davies have ruled themselves out - means there are few credible alternatives.

While you can never say never, you can’t see the Conservatives swinging in to back veteran councillor Brian Hall or intellectual

Possible contenders: Tessa Hodgson, Huw Murphy, Jon Harvey

Jon Coles jon.coles@herald.email

begins in pembrokeshire

powerhouse Alan Dennison. Shy Tories like Delme Harries or Elwyn Morse would be more to their liking. Still, if Conservative Party members don’t stand as Conservatives, you must wonder why.

The choice among unaffiliated members would almost certainly be between current Cabinet members.

There are two Labour members, one Plaid member, and one Liberal Democrat. Besides David Simpson, the unaffiliated members are Michelle Bateman, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, and Neil Prior.

Of the unaffiliated members, the rumour mill is grinding away hardest regarding Pembroke St Mary’s North councillor Jon Harvey.

Cllr Harvey is an undemonstrative member of the Cabinet who once stood as a Conservative candidate. However, he has drifted away from that affiliation.

Many councillors favour Tessa Hodgson,

even some on the Conservative benches. However, at the time of writing, she appears unlikely to run.

If she doesn’t, the good old boys’ club on the IPG benches, whose casual sexism she never fails to nail, will breathe a sigh of relief.

Preconditions for Conservative support form a stumbling block.

The Group spent much of the last year personally attacking David Simpson’s Deputy Leader, Paul Miller.

Regardless of how

competent Cllr Miller is, in the eyes of the Conservative Group, he bears the unutterable stigma of being a member of the Labour Party.

The Conservatives would have to gamble on one of the four above being prepared to stab Paul Miller in the front after sitting in the Cabinet and voting in favour of his policies for the last seven years.

Regarding the IPG, Mr Miller bears the triple stigma of being Paul Miller, Labour Party membership, AND getting

funding for projects the IPG never got airborne.

While the Conservative Group might want to attack, attack, attack, they risk making a mockery of their Westminster candidate.

The Conservatives hope to win the new Mid & South and Pembrokeshire.

Stephen Crabb is a strong candidate whose presence on the ballot makes a victory more probable than might otherwise be the case.

Mr Crabb praised the UK Government’s

20-year-old motorist banned after driving on cocktail of drugs

A 20-YEAR-OLD motorist has been disqualified from driving after being found behind the wheel after consuming cocaine.

James Old was stopped by officers soon after 10.30pm on November 15 as he drove his Renault Kangoo along the A478 through Templeton.

“He was stopped as a result of the manner in which he was driving,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“The defendant was the driver and there was also a passenger occupant.”

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive and Old, of the Old Mart Ground, Narberth, was conveyed to a police custody suite for further

Shared Prosperity Fund for investing £27m in Pembrokeshire. He met with cabinet members and officers at least twice regarding Haverfordwest Riverside and the SPF bid.

It rewrites history for the Conservative Group to pretend Mr Crabb, who happily took part of the credit for Pembrokeshire County Council’s successful applications, did not know what the Council planned to do with the money.

Mr Crabb will stand in Mid and South Pembrokeshire, point to the investment, and say, “Look what Westminster has done for you”.

It beggars belief that his local party can continue calling it a waste of money or (as some more deranged councillors have suggested) a Labour plot.

The Conservatives might counter that position by saying that in a General Election, local issues matter less. However, as the

blood tests to be carried out. These confirmed he had 52 ug/L of cocaine and 785 cg/L of benzoylecgonine in his system. The prescribed legal limit is 10 and 50 respectively.

Old pleaded guilty to the charge of driving when he was over the legal drug-drive limit.

He was represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher.

“At the time, he was having problems in his life and was going down the wrong track,” he said. “The night before he’d taken cocaine, and both drugs were still present in his system when he was stopped by police.”

Magistrates disqualified Old from driving for 12 months. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and an £80 surcharge.

Conservative strategy in Wales seeks to concentrate voters’ attention on Labour’s (oh so many) failings in Cardiff Bay, they’d best hope that’s not the case.

One final wrinkle is the result of the St Ishmael’s by-election.

The IPG will already have tapped up candidates to find out who will decide that true independence means joining a political group.

Claire George, the Conservative candidate, is the only one of the five candidates who’s declared a political affiliation.

The worst result for the IPG and the Conservatives would be if a genuinely unaffiliated candidate succeeded the late Reg Owens. If that happened, if a new councillor joined the “dictionary independents”, both parties risk all their plotting and manoeuvering coming undone in very short order.

Celtic Freeport has new CEO, website and social media channels

THE CELTIC FREEPORT is welcoming its first permanent Chief Executive, Luciana Ciubotariu, to take this vital re-industrialisation, decarbonisation and regeneration project to fruition. She will assume her post from May 2024.

Luciana brings a wealth of experience to this role, having been part of the senior management team of the Thames Freeport.

Following a career in the senior trade roles, latterly for the UK Government, her experience in driving growth at the Thames Freeport, coupled with

Tom Sinclair Editor@herald.email

strategic insight gained from a career focused on trade and government affairs, positions her uniquely to steer the Celtic Freeport.

Alongside this significant leadership appointment, the Celtic Freeport has completed the first major part of its development journey, with the submission of the outline business case to the Welsh and UK Governments. To mark this move from bid to development and, eventually, operational phase, the Freeport has overhauled its digital

presence, with a new website and social media channels.

The Celtic Freeport is a public-private consortium whose partners include Associated British Ports (ABP), Neath Port Talbot Council, Pembrokeshire County Council and the Port of Milford Haven, alongside renewables developers, energy companies, industrial complexes, innovation assets, academic institutions and education providers. The Celtic Freeport covers the ports of Milford Haven and Port Talbot and spans clean energy developments and innovation assets, fuel terminals, a power station,

heavy engineering and the steel industry across South-West Wales.

“I am hugely excited to lead such as strong and purposeful partnership and I am looking forward to start soon and to collaborate with the wider community in achieving our ambitions for South Wales,” commented Luciana Ciubotariu, Chief Executive of Celtic Freeport.

She added: “The Celtic Freeport will play a pivotal role in the future of the green economy. I look forward to building further momentum behind the creation of a green investment corridor across South-West Wales. This is

an exciting project that will accelerate supply chain innovation and encourage significant investment in port infrastructure, alternative fuel plants, renewable energy bases and factories, while fast-tracking skills development for new

green industries and national decarbonisation.”

“The Celtic Freeport is an outstanding proposition and now we have the start of an outstanding team to lead us into our next phase,” said Roger Maggs MBE, Chair of Celtic Freeport.

Dyfed-Powys Police investigating following High Street bank burglary

DETECTIVES are investigating a burglary at Santander Bank at High Street, Newtown, it has been confirmed.

Sometime between 1.13am and 1.20am

this morning (Friday, 22 March 2024) the ATM was attacked from inside the bank. The scale of the theft is being determined.

Police remain at the scene. House to

house, CCTV, and other enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to Dyfed-

Powys Police, either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://bit.ly/ DPPContactOnline, by emailing 101@dyfedpowys.police.uk, or by calling 101.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Quote reference: 24000275747.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

More talks on new Haverfordwest ‘Instagram-friendly’ bridge

A “CALL-IN” on plans for an “Instagramfriendly” new footbridge in the centre of Haverfordwest, made by Pembrokeshire’s Conservative group and the IPG group will see the matter return to the council’s cabinet.

At the March 11 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members awarded the contract for the Haverfordwest footbridge and Western Quayside phase two project.

The signature bridge scheme, in the Haverfordwest conservation area, also includes a “plaza” public realm reconfiguration and enhancement and the repair, renewal and refurbishment of the former Cleddau Foundry building.

It forms part of the Heart of Pembrokeshire regeneration project, which was previously awarded a Levelling Up Fund grant.

Concerns about the bridge – and potential costs – have previously been raised, and the design of the new bridge has previously been labelled “Instagrammable” by Councillor Rhys Jordan when raising questions about costs associated with it.

The bridge is also part of a wider regeneration of the county town, which includes the “Ocky White” Western Quayside retail development and a new transport interchange on the site of the former multi-storey car park.

At the March 11 meeting, council leader David Simpson said: “If we cancelled the actual bridge now, we would lose the 90 per cent funding, it would cost us more than for a really nice bridge in the centre of town, and to me is an asset to the community.”

In a letter to the administration, the Welsh Conservative group, led by Councillor Di Clements, asked for the decision to award the contract to be scrutinised further saying that “given its sizeable cost estimation and the

arm”.

high public interest in the matter, the Welsh Conservative group believe that this decision deserves full and proper scrutiny at committee level.”

A similar “call-in” was also made by the Independent Group.

Documents before the March 26 meeting of the council’s services overview and scrutiny committee, where the “call-in” was heard, said the cost of the bridge project amounts to £5.7m out of an overall Heart of Pembrokeshire budget of £25.4m; of that money, external funding of £17.7m (70 per cent) has been secured for the overall project and £5.1m (90 per cent) secured for the bridge project.

This leaves council costs at £7.7m for the overall project, and £600,000 for the bridge and associated works, the report for members said, with costs to date for the two projects amounting to £3.9m for the Heart of Pembrokeshire project, and £1.1m for the bridge only.

Speaking at the meeting, deputy leader Councillor Paul Miller responded to the ‘callin’ request, saying the bridge scheme was part of the regeneration of Haverfordwest aimed at giving it “a real shot in the

He said repairing the existing bridge instead of using the levelling-up grants for a replacement bridge, and associated works, would mean the grants would disappear, leaving the council to foot the £1.1m incurred to date, with no new bridge and all bills the council’s responsibility.

Members also herd the option of simply replacing the existing bridge on a ‘like-for-like’ basis was expected to top £900,000.

“Here, where we are today, we’ve effectively got the choice of about £600,000 to carry on or we can do anything else which will definitely at least double the cost, that is the position we’re in today,” Mr Miller said.

Admitting he was channelling the famous phrase of President Kennedy and his 1960s promise to land a man on the moon before the end of that decade, Mr Miller said: “We’re doing this because it’s hard, not because it’s easy.”

Tory group leader Councillor Di Clements’ “call-in” asked: “I’d like to move a recommendation as a committee member that this item is sent back to cabinet for further clarification around the quotes and cost estimations to maintain the bridge to ensure that statements that have been made by cabinet

members in the public realm are accurate. This will be the only method for members to see these figures.

“While the committee appreciate the Cabinet member [Mr Miller] was not in attendance at the meeting where this was

awarded, the statements have been made nonetheless and the public deserve honesty and clarity on this matter.

“Cabinet should also further discuss the financial implications of this project on the budget going forward as

A oes gan eich busnes weledigaeth werdd? Does your business have a green ambition?

this was not discussed at the previous cabinet meeting where it was proposed.”

Committee members, by seven votes to four, backed Ms Clements’ proposal the matter be referred back to Cabinet.

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Gyda phecynnau adnoddau ac astudiaethau achos ar gael, dysgwch sut allwch gymryd camau cadarnhaol i ysgogi newid o fewn eich busnes.

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Bruce Sinclair Local Democracy Reporter

Memorial for all those affected by Covid-19

A LASTING tribute for Pembrokeshire loved ones lost during the Covid-19 pandemic and those working on the frontline has been placed at County Hall.

Council Chairman Cllr Thomas Tudor unveiled a beautiful stone, kindly donated to the people of Pembrokeshire by Ian Harries of A & C Aggregates.

It features a slate plaque, sponsored by the Port of Milford Haven, engraved with a fitting and poignant tribute.

The plaque reads:

“In memory of all those taken from us during the Covid-19 pandemic. We remember our loved ones who died. We think of those who were unable to say goodbye. Our

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thanks are with those who worked tirelessly to save lives and supported our communities.“

Council Leader Cllr David Simpson’s invitees included His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant of Dyfed Dr Chris Martin, Council colleagues, health and emergency services, statutory partners and representatives of faith and religion from across Pembrokeshire.

At the unveiling on Friday (22nd March) Cllr Tudor said: “We all have our own personal memories and experiences of that lockdown and the time that followed.

“Some will have sadly lost loved ones and it is those people who are at the forefront of our thoughts. Some may still be experiencing the impact of Covid on their health.

“But whatever your personal experience, none of us will ever forget that time. For some during Covid, time seemed to stop. Days merged into weeks, then months as their every-day lives came to a stop.

“For others, those we came to know as key workers, it was a time of working under the most intense pressure imaginable.

“The plaque rightly recognises those workers from all organisations and sectors that cared for us,

kept us fed, kept our vital public services running and kept us safe in those often difficult days and nights.

“To them all I say a huge thank you for everything that you did. Time is said to heal. And with time comes the opportunity to reflect. We reflect today and remember those lost to Covid and we thank those

who did everything they could to save lives and keep us all safe.”

Darron Dupre from Unison spoke on behalf of the trade unions and added his thanks to those that had helped facilitate the request to Cllr Simpson for a memorial.

He highlighted that there had been many people able to switch to working at home as the pandemic hit in 2020 but “so many people in Pembrokeshire did not have that luxury and went in to work every single day.”

“The reality is that we lost people. This memorial stone will endure and we will be able to remember the people and their story in this place. This is your space and this represents your story.”

Family heartbroken by loss of ‘larger than life character’ in M4 crash

THE FAMILY of the man who died in a collision on the M4 motorway say ‘he will be greatly missed by

his family, friends and colleagues’. Stephen Abbott, aged 56, of Carmarthenshire, died in

a road traffic collision on the M4 between Hendy and Pont Abraham on Monday, 18 March.

His family has issued a statement saying: “Steve was a larger than life character who was well known locally and through his work with the Bar 44 group, for over 20 years in Cowbridge and latterly in Parador, Cardiff. Brought up in Porthcawl, he lived in the Bridgend area before moving to Carmarthenshire.

“All his family will miss him greatly, as will his friends and colleagues. His sudden death has left us heartbroken, and we ask that anyone who can help the police with their enquires please do so.”

Stephen’s family is being supported by specialist officers and has requested privacy at this difficult time.

One week on from the incident, police said that they continue to conduct enquiries into the collision, which happened at about 11.20pm on Monday, March 18.

The police said: “We are still appealing for information and can now share more about his movements in the lead-up to the collision, which we hope may bring forward new witnesses.

“It is known that Mr Abbott left his home address in the Gorslas area in his car, a blue/grey Kia Ceed, at around 9.45pm on Monday, 18 March.

“He travelled along the M4 (eastbound) and then through Hendy, Pontarddulais, and Pontlliw, before turning around and travelling back to Pont Abraham to re-join the M4 (eastbound), before colliding with a stationary

lorry.

POLICE APPEAL

If you have any information that could help enquiries, please get in touch with the police using the following link: https://www.dyfedpowys.police.uk/contact/af/ contact-us-beta/contact-us/ 101

Quote ref: DP20240318-429

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New bus services announced by Council

A NUMBER of changes to local bus services will be introduced in the coming weeks as a result of a shake up to bus funding.

From April 2024, the funding which has been provided directly to bus operators by the Welsh Government to keep services going in the wake of the Covid pandemic will cease.

Additional funding will instead be provided to Local Authorities to support their local bus network.

In total, Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Government will provide over £3million in support for bus services in Pembrokeshire during the coming year.

As part of this process, all Pembrokeshire’s local bus services have been re-tendered.

A public consultation, receiving over 300 responses, helped to inform decisions about which services should be prioritised.

Councillor Rhys Sinnett, Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services said: “I am delighted to be able to report that we are able to maintain the whole of Pembrokeshire’s current local bus network in the coming year.

“We have also secured key improvements such as reinstating an hourly service on the 349 route between Haverfordwest and Tenby via Pembroke Dock, and the popular Strumble Shuttle and Puffin Shuttle coastal bus services during the summer.”

The changes will also see two key services, the 302 Haverfordwest to Milford Haven and 349 Haverfordwest to Tenby via Pembroke Dock, brought under Council oversight for the first time.

This will give the Council greater oversight of service operations and fares. Pembrokeshire residents will also benefit from a new fare structure on all First Cymru

services, due to be introduced from 1 April 2024.

This will use Tap On Tap Off to allow passengers to pay the cheapest fare depending on the number of journeys they make or distance travelled, and will cap the maximum adult fare at £3 single and £5.40 return.

More information about these fares can be found on the First Cymru website.

A number of additional service changes and improvements are being considered for introduction during the course of the coming year in response to feedback received from the public consultation.

The following bus service changes have been confirmed:

From 23 March 2024:

• The Celtic Coaster (403) on the St Davids peninsular will restart for the 2024 season on Saturday 23 March and will run until Sunday 29 September. This is an hourly service, increasing to halfhourly during the whitsun half term and school summer holidays. There will be no service departing Caerfai Road at 13.00 and 13.30.

• The 351 (Tenby to Pendine via Amroth) will return to its summer timetable.

From 1 April 2024

• An hourly service will return on the 349 (Haverfordwest to Tenby via Pembroke Dock) service (April to September only).

• The 356 (Milford Haven to Monkton) service will no longer call at Waterston and Hazelbeach due to operational issues caused by the narrow lanes in this area. The Fflecsi service will still be available.

• A Saturday service, between 07:30 and 18:30, will be reintroduced

in the Fflecsi Mid Pembrokeshire zone (formerly known as Bwcabus). This zone covers the area between Letterston, Crymych, Clunderwen and Wiston. Passengers can also travel from this zone to Fishguard and Haverfordwest.

• The 302 (Haverfordwest to Milford Haven) and 349 (Haverfordwest to Tenby via Pembroke Dock) services operated by First Cymru will come under Pembrokeshire County Council control, giving the Council greater oversight of service operations and fares.

• The 322 (Haverfordwest to Carmarthen) and 381 (Haverfordwest to Tenby via Narberth) services will be run by First Cymru. The 322 timetable will remain the same. The 381 timetable will remain the same from Haverfordwest to Tenby but journeys from Tenby to Haverfordwest will depart slightly earlier (37 past the hour instead of 45).

• The X22 and X61 services which provided journeys at the start and end of the day between Pembroke Dock and Kilgetty, and Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest will be withdrawn.

Milford Haven man accused of assaulting his own sister

A MILFORD HAVEN man has appeared before magistrates charged with assaulting his sister occasioning her actual bodily harm.

Jordan Lawson, 25, was arrested on June 13, 2023, following the alleged assault against his sister, Kayleigh Lawson.

“He punched his sister, he kicked her in the face and grabbed her by the throat,” Crown Prosecutor

• The 410 (Fishguard Town) and T11 (Haverfordwest to Fishguard via St Davids) services will be operated on a commercial (T11 part commercial) basis by Richards Bros. An improved connection with the ferry at Fishguard Harbour will be provided at 12.30.

From 19 May 2024

• The Tenby Coaster service between Tenby and Saundersfoot will return for the summer season.

From 25 May 2024

• The 400 Puffin Shuttle and 404 Strumble Shuttle services will return to the coast between Marloes and St Davids, and St Davids and Fishguard. These services will operate 7 days a week until 29 September 2024. The Fflecsi service is also available in this area throughout the year.

• The 387/388 Coastal Cruiser service around the Angle Peninsula will also return to its summer timetable, operating 7 days a week until 29th September 2024.

Further information about all Pembrokeshire bus services can be found on the Council’s website.

Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Lawson, of Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, denies the charge.

His trial has been listed to take place before Haverfordwest magistrates on May 20. He was released on conditional bail, the conditions being not to contact his sister, nor a neighbour who witnessed the alleged incident.

‘first visit to Tenby’ ends in drink-driving ban

A MOTORIST who drove through Tenby town centre after downing three pints of beer was brought before magistrates this week where he pleaded guilty to a charge of drinkdriving.

Police officers attended Narberth Road on March 11 after a member of the public reported they had observed a drink-driver in the area.

Video footage captured on a CCTV camera showed a Mercedes C180 being driven the wrong way down the South Parade and progressing in what Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson described as ‘an extremely slow manner’.

The vehicle was being driven by Richard Evans, 44, and a passenger was accompanying him.

A roadside breath test proved positive and Evans, of Dan y Coed, Cwmavon, was taken to a police custody suite

where further intoximeter tests were carried out. These confirmed he had 41 mcg of alcohol in his system. The prescribed legal limit is 35.

“This reading was only just over the legal limit,” his solicitor, Mr Michael Kelleher, told Haverfordwest magistrates.

”If the breathalyser had been delayed by a few minutes, it’s possible that the defendant wouldn’t be in court today.”

Mr Kelleher said that the offence was committed during Evans’ first ever visit to Tenby.

“He’d dropped some people off at Kiln Park and then he’d drunk three pints of beer. He was driving home, he didn’t know the way and was relying on his sat nav which is why he was driving so slowly.”

Evans was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Man sentenced for hurling phone at partner

A COURT has heard how a Pembroke man called his partner ‘a slag and a dosser’ before hurling a mobile phone at her face causing swelling to her eye.

Marke Hearne and his long-term partner had spent the afternoon of March 16 drinking in Pembroke, where they had watched a Six Nations rugby match.

But shortly after they returned home, Ms Bolton said she wanted to continue drinking in town.

“This probably had a negative effect on the defendant, because he wanted to stay home,” probation officer Charmain Fox told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“Everything was initially ok that afternoon, but after going to a pub he previously didn’t want to go to, his mood possibly changed.

“When the victim came back later that night, Mark Hearne was angry and used derogatory terms to her.”

Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson said that during the verbal argument, Hearne called Ms Bolton a slag and a dosser.

“The couple have been in a relationship for several years, however it’s rocky and the police are aware of it” she said.

“That night her phone was on the sofa, the defendant noticed it, so he picked it up and threw

it towards her face.

“It was thrown with full force and bounced off her right eye causing it to swell up. It also hit her lip before falling to the floor. The defendant picked it up a second time, but it didn’t make contact with her.”

Photographs of the victim’s injuries were shown to the magistrates.

Meanwhile probation officer Charmain Fox said the defendant works as a self-employed contractor on refinery maintenance shutdowns. As a result, he is regularly tested for alcohol and drug consumption.

“He expresses full remorse for his actions that night and is ashamed of his behaviour,” said

Ms Fox. “He’s making progress with his life and his fundamental need is to address his attitude within the relationship.”

Hearne, 45, of Devon Drive, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating. He was legally represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

“This assault took place on a reckless basis and my client had no intention of throwing the phone at her face,” he said.

Hearne was fined £866 and ordered to pay £500 compensation to Ms Bolton.

He was sentenced to a 12 month community order during which he must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He must also pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Homeless woman dealt custodial sentence after drunken assault

A HOMELESS Pembrokeshire woman has appeared before magistrates after pleading guilty to assaulting an intoxicated man in the entrance to her former property.

Doorbell video footage that was shown to Haverfordwest magistrates this week showed Rebecca Thomas, 33 pushing her victim, Mr Stuart Findlay, through an open doorway in the hallway of a property at Waterloo Square, Hakin. The assault took place during the afternoon of September 15, 2023.

Doorbell footage showed Mr Findlay, who was heavily intoxicated

at the time, falling to the floor at which point Thomas began kicking him. Magistrates were also shown photographs of Mr Findlay’s injuries which included general cuts and bruising.

Thomas pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm and two additional charges of causing criminal damage to a police cell by throwing a cup of coffee against a wall, and assaulting an emergency worker.. She was legally represented in court by Mr Tom Lloyd.

“The victim was heavily intoxicated and my client asked him to leave the property,” said

Mr Lloyd. “But the victim became aggressive towards the man who was with her.

“So the build-up wasn’t entirely to do with her wrongdoing, but it concerned other factors as well.”

Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson informed magistrates that the defendant has nine previous convictions, which include two for battery which were committed in 2013 and 2016.

Thomas was sentenced to 24 weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £154 court surcharge.

Haverfordwest parent found guilty of school attendance failings

N a hearing this week at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, a local parent was found guilty of failing to ensure their child’s regular attendance at school.

The woman, who we can not name, faced charges relating to her 14-year-old’s sporadic attendance at a Pembrokeshire school between June and November of 2023.

According to court

documents, this lack of regular attendance violated sections 444(1) and (8) of the Education Act 1996, leading to a guilty verdict on March 21, 2024.

As a consequence of the findings, the woman has been conditionally discharged for 18 months.

She is mandated to comply with a parenting order for 12 months, which includes ensuring her child’s punctual and regular school attendance,

communicating with the school regarding any absences, responding to school communications, and attending meetings to discuss the child’s progress.

Additionally, the court imposed financial penalties, ordering her to pay a surcharge to fund victim services amounting to £26, alongside court costs of £100.

A collection order was also made to facilitate the deduction of these

costs from benefits, with a stipulated payment plan of £24 per month starting April 18, 2024.

In alignment with the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, the court issued directions to protect the identity of the youth involved, prohibiting any publication that could identify them, including their name, address, and school until they reach the age of 18.

This case underscores the legal responsibilities parents have towards ensuring their children’s

education and the consequences of failing to meet these obligations.

Sam Rowlands MS urges First Minister to revoke 20mph limit

SAM Rowlands,

Member of the Welsh Parliament has appealed to Wales’ new First Minister to do the right thing and scrap the default 20mph speed limit.

Mr Rowlands, who has constantly opposed and campaigned against the legislation was commenting after Vaughan Gething was sworn in as the new leader of the Welsh Labour Government.

He said: “As we reach the milestone of six months since this extremely unpopular legislation was introduced I am appealing to the First Minister to look at this issue as a matter of urgency.

“It was a barmy idea in the first place and despite numerous calls for this ridiculous law to be scrapped and almost

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half a million people signing a petition against it, from Monday, this week, full enforcement of the 20mph speed limit has begun.

“This barmy legislation continues to cause chaos, frustration and confusion across North Wales and people are absolutely fed up of the continued hassle being caused by this extremely unpopular law.

“It is totally crazy having to drive at 20mph along a road where there have been no accidents just to satisfy the whim of the Welsh Labour government.

“The default 20mph speed limit has to be one of the Welsh Government’s more bonkers and ill thought

out policies.

“It is deeply unpopular and you would think that in the democratic world

we live in public opinion would count, but not in Wales where vanity projects rule.

“The First Minister has a real chance to show the people of Wales that he is prepared to listen to the public and I am urging him to do the right thing and scrap this law.”

Crucial changes at three railway crossings in Pembrokeshire

Network Rail is making what it describes as crucial changes at three level crossings in Pembrokeshire later this month to improve safety for the community and holidaymakers.

The changes, which will see trains slowing down instead of stopping to avoid confusion, will affect three crossings without barriers on the Pembroke Dock branch line:

• Beavers Hill open crossing at Manorbier, between Manorbier and Lamphey stations

• Manorbier Newton open crossing at Manorbier, between Manorbier and Lamphey stations

• Llanion open crossing near Pembroke Dock station

Trains are currently required to stop on their approach to the crossings, with the driver sounding a horn before proceeding.

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But from 31 March, trains will instead approach at a constant speed of 5mph, with the driver sounding the horn as a warning before continuing over the crossing if it is safe to do so.

Crossing users should continue to follow the safety advice below:

• Do not attempt to cross if a train is approaching – or is already on – the crossing

• Crossing users must give way to

any visible trains as they have right of way

• If driving a road vehicle, drive to the conditions of the road and control your speed so you can stop in plenty of time if you need to

• Always obey the level crossing safety

signs and remain vigilant before and during your use of the level crossing

Daniel Jones, Network Rail level crossing manager for the Whitland region, said: “We have identified that the existing practice has

resulted in confusion for crossing users.

“Users often assume because the train has stopped and the driver has sounded the horn, that this is an indication for them to cross when it is, in fact, intended as a warning. This has resulted in several close calls between trains and road users.

“The operational changes we are making from 31 March aim to prevent this misunderstanding and improve overall safety at these level crossings.”

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “These operational changes at three level crossings in Pembrokeshire are being made to improve both safety and train performance.

“Ahead of the holiday season, when these crossings are at their busiest, we are not asking people to do anything differently when using them but to continue to obey the safety signs and remain vigilant.”

Male sloth ‘Casa’ Nova joins the Folly Farm family

FOLLY FARM has welcomed another sloth to its expanding zoo family, in the form of adorable two-year old male sloth, Nova, bringing its number of sloths up to four!

Linne’s two toed sloth Nova, arrived from Hamerton Park Zoo in Cambridgeshire, as part of the European Breeding Programme for the species. He was born to parents ‘Vee’ and ‘Snuffles’ in November 2021, and as a young male, he has joined young female ‘Button’, who arrived at the zoo last Summer, to make a breeding pair. So, the pitter patter of tiny, two-toed claws could be within Folly Farm’s reach in the coming years!

Nova and Button have been getting acquainted in the Sloth Forest exhibit within Tropical Trails, where they will reside alongside a variety of rare and beautiful birds. But in typical sloth

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fashion, their union is very much taken at a slow and steady pace. Sloths reach sexual maturity between three and five years old, and with both youngsters currently being just two years old – keepers may have to be patient for a while yet. But to potentially welcome the next generation of sloths as a breeding centre for the species in the future is a very exciting prospect for species – and for the award-winning zoo!

Folly Farm

Zookeeper Kim Cartwright enthused; “We’re so excited to have welcomed a breeding pair of sloths at the zoo within such a short space of time as part of a managed breeding programme.

Nova has settled into his new home really well and seems pretty chilled, enjoying some

sweet potato treats and regular naps. He’s already met our breeding female Button and we’re keeping everything crossed that he’ll be her “Casa” Nova – and we’ll be welcoming some sloth cubs in the future!”

Sloth Keeper at Hamerton, Cathy Evans said: “Nova has very much inherited the best of both his parents with mum Vee’s good looks and dad Snuffle’s easygoing nature. He’s been a firm favourite with visitors and keepers whilst he’s lived here at the park, especially as he often enjoyed napping on his feed dish at the front of the enclosure right on view! This lovely character will be missed by his keepers but we are delighted to hear he’s settling into his new home well and we wish him and Button all the best in their future pairing.”

Folly Farm is also home to elderly sloth residents Tuppee and Lightcap who are

MIKE EDWARDS

“THOU hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a grammar school”. Or something like that.

I’m never really sure about Shakespeare.

But I do remember being force-fed the Bard in school.

Somewhere from his seat by the infernal flames, my old English teacher, Mr Vernon, is looking up at me, shaking an angry fist, and gently toasting a Boy Scout with the pitchfork he grasps in the other.

Poor Mr Vernon.

He was one of my favourite teachers, but I was also one of his most exasperating pupils. It wasn’t all my fault; the bloody awful set texts the WJEC used for O Levels were mostly to blame.

If you ever want to discourage young people from reading, a diet of Shakespeare’s history plays, Dickens, the Brontes, and Jane Austen is the way to go. And as for Lord of the Sodding Flies, I’d rather poke my eyes out with sticks than read it again.

enjoying their twilight years in their more peaceful enclosure in Tropical Trails, away from the youngsters. Tuppee is around 30 years old and Lightcap is one of the oldest sloths in European zoos at around 41 years old! So not only is the zoo providing care for the older residents at its sloth ”retirement home”, it’s hoping this new breeding pair will bring a new lease of life into Tropical Trails with a “sloth nursery” for the species!

For more information on days out at Folly Farm, visit the website www.folly-farm.co.uk, search Folly Farm on Facebook @FollyFarm. Check out Instagram or X @FollyFarmWales and follow @ follyfarmwalesofficial on TikTok.

You can adopt sloths at Folly Farm via their website at:

https://www.follyfarm.co.uk/adopt-ananimal/sloth-adoption/

Charlottes and Jeffs leapt for joy, realising they could spend the next few months sitting at the back of the class concentrating on their zits.

My love of mathematics is due to Mr Price, who patiently threw things at me for many minutes until I learned how to solve linear quadratic equations and calculate the area under the line of a curve.

As Mr Price also coached cricket, catching blackboard erasers hurled towards me at high speed was invaluable for developing my slipcatching abilities.

We used Napier logarithm tables, slide rules, protractors and set squares. Now it’s all sodding calculators.

It’s so unfair.

I went to school with people who went on to become English teachers. None of them read a book after being forced to do so in secondary school.

As far as they were concerned, the answer book and excerpts from set texts were all the intellectual equipment you need to graduate, postgraduate, and teach.

They’re now retired while I’m still working counting beans. I might have missed a trick there. I still remember the shrieks of delight as offers came in for those who wanted to take the old teachertraining courses.

Two E’s!

Squee! All the

Meanwhile, our games teachers fell into two broad types. There were those with a genuine love for the sport they taught and the willingness and ability to pass that on to those lucky enough to be coached by them. Then, some were like the worst competitive dads in the world.

One of our games teachers was so loved that, when the staff played the school at rugby, his own forwards rucked him to bits, leaving him gibbering on the ground as they stood aside and let the school XV finish him off.

By the time we were done with him, many of the teeth that lurked beneath his silly toothbrush moustache were on the field of play.

The other day, I pointed him out to my wife while shopping. He was still a trim figure with a silly toothbrush moustache.

He was shopping for Dentuglue or some such.

Schooldays really are the happiest days of your life.

Savers to close its Haverfordwest store

THE POPULAR discount retailer Savers has announced the forthcoming closure of its store in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Known for its wide range of bargain beauty brands, health care products, and household items, Savers has been a staple of the Riverside Quay shopping area for several years, drawing in shoppers with its affordable prices and diverse product range.

However, the retailer confirmed that the Haverfordwest outlet is set to shut its doors this summer, marking the end of an era for the local shopping landscape. The announcement was made by a spokesperson for

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Savers, who expressed hope that the current staff at the Haverfordwest branch would be redeployed to other locations within the company’s network. “We can confirm that our Savers Haverfordwest store will be closing in the summer month,” the spokesperson stated. “We are looking to offer roles to staff at local stores where possible.”

Despite the closure, the spokesperson reassured customers that they could continue to find great deals online at Savers. co.uk, in the nearby Tenby store, or at any of the 500 shops across the nation.

Victory for WASPI women but the fight goes on

A LANDMARK ruling by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman could benefit around 5,000 women in Ceredigion born in the 1950s.

As we reported in The Herald on

Friday, on March 21 the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman published his final report into the

injustice caused by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP)’s poor communication to 1950s women that their state pension age had increased.

The Ombudsman recommends that

the DWP makes an apology to the women concerned and they receive compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950. He calls on Parliament to take his recommendations forward.

In the Commons yesterday (Monday) Pensions Minister Mel Stride faced a barrage of support for the WASPI women from MPs of all parties, calling for urgent compensation. His response was that he will look closely at the report and consider its contents. He refused to give a timescale for doing so.

“We have waited five years for this report,” said Pamela Judge, Joint Co-ordinator of Ceredigion Women Against State Pension Injustice (WASPI).

“We welcome the recommendation of an apology and compensation though the level of compensation is disappointing. An All-Party Parliamentary Group of MPs recommended compensation at the top level on the Ombudsman’s scale, at least £10,000 which is much more realistic. We call on MPs to sort this out quickly. This is urgent – a WASPI woman dies every 13 minutes”

Ceredigion MP Ben Lake commented: “It is

high time that Parliament ensures that 1950s born women are finally afforded the justice that they deserve. The Ombudsman’s report has taken years to be completed. It officially acknowledges that WASPI women have fallen foul of maladministration by the Department for Work and Pensions. We cannot waste any time in bringing forward a compensation package which reflects the scale of the injustice suffered.

“Members of Parliament from all political parties have expressed their support for the WASPI campaign. Now we have an opportunity to deliver on these promises. We have not a moment to lose.”

Joint Co-ordinator Melinda Williams added: “The lack of notice we received that our pension age had changed was devastating for thousands of local women whose plans for retirement were wrecked. We suffered injustice and need compensation now”.

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Wonderful night at library for special Poet Laureate event

HAVERFORDWEST

Library was delighted to be part of the prestigious Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024 with a special event on Friday, March 8.

Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman, Cllr Thomas Tudor extended a special welcome to the guests of honour: Poet Laureate Simon Armitage; his guests Owen Sheers and Bethany Handley; plus the winners of the recent library Poetry Competition.

The poetry began with writer, poet and disabled activist, Bethany Handley. Bethany campaigns for better access to nature for disabled people, and her work explores nature and disability, challenging the barriers that disabled people experience.

Bethany’s first poem was heartfelt and humorous about her experience of visiting a beach in her wheelchair. Her final poem also drew on her experiences, being a compilation poem of many well-intentioned, yet impractical or inappropriate, advice that she has received as a wheelchair user.

Owen Sheers is an award winning Welsh poet, author and playwright. He has twice won the Wales Book of the Year as well as the Hay Festival Poetry Medal.

His film-poem, the Green Hollow, about the Aberfan disaster, was

BAFTA and Grierson nominated and won three BAFTA Cymru awards, including best writer.

Owen read an extract from the Green Hollow, bringing the horror of the disaster to life. He also read poems about parenthood and his experiences as a son and as a father.

The Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards, including the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.

Simon launched into a poem about humanity, the universe and working as one. He then used his back catalogue of poems written for music. His poems covered some unusually random themes, particularly those he crafted during the

Covid pandemic.

He said that he’d even written a poem inspired by a Velux window and read a beautiful poem about laying in a hammock watching a pair of newlyweds sail overhead in a hot air balloon.

His performances were engaging, humorous and moving and he brought the words to life.

Simon also spoke warmly about the importance of libraries as a child but also as an adult travelling about the country, with libraries always offering a warm welcome.

Ashok Ahir, President of the National Library of Wales thanked the three poets and introduced the new exhibition in the gallery, Dylan: The Lyrical

Life of Dylan Thomas.

The exhibition is open to the public until 14th September 2024. Further information can be seen online.

The event drew to a close as Cllr Tudor issued the prizes to the winners of the recent poetry eisteddfod competition. The competition celebrated the language, culture, heritage and literature of Wales.

The theme was Dylan Thomas. Entries could draw inspiration from any of his works or seek inspiration from a specific quote: “from where you are, you can hear their dreams”.

Entries received were of a high standard and were judged by Wendy Morse (leader of the Haverfordwest

Library Poetry Group, who would welcome new members, contact Haverfordwest Library for more information); representatives from the Library staff and the National Library of Wales staff. The poems will be on display at Haverfordwest Library until the end of the Easter Holidays.

Prizes have been awarded to:

• Sian Davies: Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, adult written poem category

• James Purchase: I Shall go Gentle into that Good Night, adult written poem category

• Philippa Davies: Dylan is in the Library, adult spoken word category

• Tony Potts: Windfall, adult illustrated poem

category

• John Matthews: Dylan Cwmdonkin, adult Welsh language category

• Ellie McGrath: It was all a Dream, 11-14 age category

• Skye-Lea Jones: Are you Listening?,11-14 age category

Thanks to the judges of the poetry competition and to Faber & Faber, who donated the book prizes in support of the Poet Laureate’s Library Tour.

Cllr Thomas Tudor said: “The Riverside opened its doors in December 2018 and has enjoyed many fascinating exhibitions since thanks to the continued partnership with the National Library of Wales.

“The Riverside was one of just six libraries to host this Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024.

“It is a fantastic achievement for Haverfordwest Library to be a part of these significant events, helping to raise the profile and regeneration of the County Town and I thank everyone who has worked hard to make the event a success.”

The event would not have been possible without the continued support from The National Library of Wales and Haverfordwest Town Council. The President of the National Library of Wales and the Mayor, Sheriff and Clerk of Haverfordwest Town Council were all present.

Runs and wickets galore at girls cricket tournaments

MORE than 150 girls from eight local schools taken part in the ECB National Indoor Cricket Championship over the past month.

The festival of cricket was held at the Meads Leisure Centre in Milford Haven and staff are thanked for hosting the event.

The schools involved were Ysgol Bro Gwaun, Ysgol Caer Elen; Ysgol Greenhill, Ysgol Harri Tudur, Haverfordwest High VC, Milford Haven and Redhill High.

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At Under 13s age group Milford Haven overcame a spirted Ysgol Harri Tudur to win while Ysgol Greenhill triumphed against Ysgol Harri Tudur to claim the victory at Under 15s level.

Both schools went on to represent Pembrokeshire in the South Wales Finals at Swansea University.

Martin Jones Cricket Development Officer at Sports Pembrokeshire,

said: “There was some excellent cricket played in a competitive but sporting manner by all concerned. The girls were a credit to themselves and their schools. Thanks also go to Stephen Thornton of Valero Energy who sponsor the Competition.”

In the finals at Swansea the standard was very high with both schools enjoying themselves competing at a higher level. Both sides gave 100% days but just missed out on the semifinal places.

Cars to remain banned from Pembrokeshire beach

NEWPORT SANDS, which became car-free last year, will remain so, but early stages of a £350,000 scheme to improve facilities have been backed by members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Last May, the Authority ended parking on the Newport Sands beach after purchasing the land, in response to growing safety concerns.

It said the beach would be a ‘car-free’ zone, with exceptions only allowed for emergency services and essential car users such as the RNLI and coastguards.

A petition was later launched demanding a backtrack, saying an outright ban will have an adverse effect on a wide cross-section of beach users, including disabled visitors.

Last July, members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s authority agreed to keep the car-free resolution, with a further update and report being

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provided after the first carfree summer, along with “actively pursuing options of how to improve access for people living with disability”.

Between October and November of last year, the Park also ran an online public consultation regarding the future of Traeth Mawr, with 107 responses received, members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s authority meeting of March 20 heard.

A report for members said: “There is evident anger that access to the beach has been stopped for vehicles, as well as praise for this decision,” adding, amongst other issues: “There is a theme that current access for the disabled population is not where it needs to be with investment needed for a variety of mobility equipment, parking options, changing places

toilets and changing/ cleaning facilities.”

It went on to say: “The Authority has considered these responses in drawing up a specific project for Traeth Mawr, seeking to use funding available as part of the Special Landscapes Special Places fund.”

Detailing the project, the report said: “The Authority has developed a project proposal to enhance the existing car park at Traeth Mawr, to replace and upgrade the existing toilet block and provide an enhanced facility including a changing places area.

“Updated drainage facilities will be provided as part of these changes. Additional changes proposed include permeable surfaces in the overflow car park, improved ramps to access the beach and three permanent beach wheelchair storage areas. Enhanced landscaping and appropriate planting are also proposed to

deliver net biodiversity benefits.”

The Park made £25,548 last year from parking at Traeth Mawr, but, as part of a wider two-year financial contributions to Pembrokeshire County Council to support public conveniences will be paying approximately £14,600 a year for Traeth Mawr for two years.

“It is anticipated that some of the capital works programmed will assist in reducing the annual revenue costs associated with running the facility if a more sustainable foul drainage solution and options such as smallscale solar PV panels can be incorporated as part of the design,” members heard.

Anticipated costs

associated for the project are in the region of £330£350,000, the report adding: “Precise costs will not be identified until further investigation works have concluded. The Authority has secured grant funding to meet the above outlined costs.” A public consultation will take place as part of the planning application processes.

Egg and farm shop to open at award-winning farm

A SCHEME for a self-serve egg and farm shop at an award-winning 32,000-chicken Ceredigion farm, to allow it to receive a UK Shared Prosperity fund grant, has been approved by county planners.

Ben Edkins, of Edkins Eggs, Coed Farm, Cilcennin sought permission to site a selfserve farm shop on an existing yard area at the site.

A supporting letter submitted through agent Morgan & Flynn Architectural Services described it as “a more advanced version of an egg stand, with honesty box, which has been a staple for people producing eggs for centuries”.

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Family-owned Edkins Eggs, which supplies multiple businesses across the area with eggs, including Aberaeron’s Y Seler, Hive, Harbourmaster, and Costcutters, has been awarded a grant to cover the cost of part of the proposal, on the condition that planning approval is granted, the statement added.

“The grant, which is a UK shared prosperity fund for the Mid Wales region as part of the ‘Cynnal Y Cardi Fund’ provided by Ceredigion County Council was granted in December 2023.

“For this grant to be claimed, it is required that planning permission is granted,

It added: “This method of selling eggs has already proven to be a hit with communities in Ceredigion, given the success of the already established egg dispenser located in Aberystwyth town centre.”

the construction is completed and also the egg dispensers are implemented by December 2024. This gives the applicants a 12-month window from the point of the grant awarded to completion of proposal.”

The building itself will include a solar panel array providing the power for the egg dispensing unit and lighting, and it is hoped to create one extra job at 227-acre Coed Farm, home to 32,000 chickens producing free range eggs, 90 beef cattle and 200 sheep.

A green infrastructure statement by the agent added: “The creation of this building to house the self-serve farm shop to enhance the established familyowned business ‘Edkins Eggs’, which also has provisions to allow for other local companies producing items such as vegetables and honey

to sell their products, will provide a facility for the local community to purchase locally produced goods directly from the supplier.

“This will not only provide an enhanced shopping experience in

terms of being able to purchase directly from the farm, which could act as an educational benefit especially for children, but also provide the additional facility of a small-scale shop to the local area,

whereas currently the community would either have to travel to the service centres of either Aberaeron or Felinfach.”

The application was conditionally approved under delegated powers.

Falklands War: We were all just kids, innocents to the slaughter

A FALKLANDS

WAR veteran and the two sisters of one of his lost comrades are campaigning to win justice for 32 Welsh Guards killed in the bombing of British ship RFA Sir Galahad.

Not a day goes by without Rhyl businessman Les Peake re-living the horrific firestorm which saw 48 of his comrades killed on the morning of June 8, 1982, including the Welsh Guards.

Among them was his pal Peter Edwards, aged just 19, from Llandyrnog, near Denbigh, described by his sisters Mandy Perkins and Barbara Royles as having been ‘full of life’.

Les, Mandy and Barbara are among Falklands veterans and their families who are seeking answers about the Sir Galahad disaster which shell-shocked the nation.

They are incredulous that red tape means documents revealing the full facts about the bombing are sealed for another four decades until 2065.

Speaking ahead of a landmark reunion event in Cardiff on March 23, they called on UK Government ministers to change the rules and immediately unveil the official records to reveal how the Sir Galahad became an open target for Argentinian bombers.

Pete was the son of proud parents Evelyn and Gordon Edwards, and had only been a soldier for around a year when the Falklands War broke out.

Mandy said: “Pete joined the Welsh Guards because there were no jobs around at that time. He loved his training and quickly made lots of friends in the army.”

But in the spring of 1982 he and fellow Welsh Guards, including the now famous burns charity campaigner Simon Weston, were posted to the South Atlantic after Argentinian forces invaded self-governing British overseas territory, the Falkland Islands.

As a specially trained

also in their late teens.

‘Spearhead Battalion’ they were tasked with ramping up the Royal Navy mission to liberate the Falkland Islands.

But as they arrived confusion reigned even before they managed to get ashore.

They were inexplicably sent to a different nautical location than originally planned. Vital landing craft failed to show up, and scores of soldiers were unexpectedly put onto the civilian supply ship RFA Sir Galahad where they were told to wait for a fleet of smaller boats to bring them to shore.

But as daylight dawned, having no surface to air missile defences on board Sir Galahad, they became sitting ducks within the sightline of Argentine jets.

The defenceless ship, full of munitions and fuel, suffered three direct hits from Argentine bombs. It became a raging inferno from which there was no escape.

It was the highest loss of British troops of any incident in the war and the biggest single day British military disaster since World War II.

Memories of that hellfire, haunting visions of his comrades on fire, and their desperate screams for help, will never leave Les or his fellow survivors.

Les was aged 18, and most of the young Guards who lost their lives were

He said: “We were all just kids, innocents to the slaughter. I was 18, my cousin was there too, and Pete was 19, we were teenagers, good pals, young men on the verge of adulthood.”

Back at home, for Mandy, Barbara and their families, the day news of the attack reached them is forever etched in their minds.

They say the huge loss of life is hard enough to bear, but the distress of losing loved ones has been compounded by controversy which has surrounded the Sir Galahad disaster over the last four decades.

Veterans and bereaved families are angry and distraught that some media reports, government and military officials have laid the blame for the disaster at the door of the Welsh Guards, accusing them of incompetence and being unprepared.

Les said: “We’ve been made scapegoats. It’s a travesty of justice to let us be blamed for events clearly out of our control.”

Although an official inquiry was held shortly after the war ended, its findings have never been fully released. Only highly redacted versions have been made available and many survivors’ questions remain unanswered.

They are calling for the names of key decisionmakers to be unveiled along with an explanation

as to why the battalion came to be placed in an exposed location on an undefended supply ship in the first place.

Mandy and Barbara are furious, feeling that for too long their brother’s name and the reputation of the Welsh Guards have been ‘unfairly slurred’.

They want the findings of the Board of Inquiry report into the incident to be unsealed in full. They say it is incomprehensible that the report is currently not due to be opened for public viewing until 2065.

The hope is that the government will finally recognise the strength of feeling demonstrated by those attending the reunion of RFA Sir Galahad survivors, bereaved families and supporters at the Mercure Hotel, Cardiff, on March 23.

It is the first ever reunion of its kind involving surviving veterans, with guests and speakers including prominent figures who have joined the fight for justice like General Sir Michael Rose, commander of the SAS; Master of the RFA Sir Galahad, Philip Roberts; Welsh Senedd member Jenny Rathbone and south Wales MPs, Jessica Morden and Stephen Doughty.

Reunion organiser Kevin Edwards, himself a Sir Galahad survivor, said decisions will be on the day about the proposed next steps.

He said: “A recently

truth to come out have grown stronger following the publication of a book last year, ‘Too Thin for A Shroud’, by Crispin Black, a former Welsh Guards officer who survived the Sir Galahad and went on to become an intelligence adviser in the Cabinet Office. He will also be speaking at the reunion.

In the near-42 years which have passed Les has barely had a full night’s sleep. He has suffered his marriage break-up, two years of homelessness, rifts with his family and persistent nightmares.

redacted copy of the Board of Inquiry report clearly shows that the Welsh Guards and its officers were completely exonerated of any blame in 1982, yet many official voices and authors of media publications still wrongly state differently and smear our regiment’s name.

“The bereaved and veterans have endured almost 42 years of blame, 42 years of defamation of character, capabilities and the names of our fallen dragged through the dirt. Enough is enough, we who remain will all be history by the year 2065.

“Our committee met with cross party MPs in Parliament of late, having produced evidence uncovered at the national archives at Kew. This resulted in Sir Ian Duncan Smith, Priti Patel and many MPs to suggest that there remain questions to be answered. They all fully support our campaign.”

The original 1980s inquiry was held behind closed doors shortly after the attack but its meagre published findings comprised merely a statement that concluded the loss of the ship and troops was down to the ‘ordinary chances of war’.

Survivors dispute this and cite a catalogue of errors made by senior commanders who they say needlessly left the Welsh Guards defenceless and vulnerable.

Their calls for the

These days he takes refuge in his work, describing himself as a workaholic, who tries to stave off nightmares by allowing himself only two or three hours sleep a night.

He said: “Sleep is my enemy now. The nightmares kick in and bring it all back, so I avoid sleep as much as I can. Even so there is never a day when I don’t think about what happened out there. I try to push it out of my mind.

“I know some survivors who turn to alcohol or drugs. For some the constant torment drove them to commit suicide.

“I have had rough times in the past, my moods became so bad that I grew apart from my family.

“I was homeless for two years and then I took to driving to earn a living, taking trucks all around Europe just to stay on the move, never letting my mind settle.

“More lately I’ve coped by diverting my attention away from the dark thoughts, I put my whole focus on work. I now run a successful transport company, with my two daughters. You could say I’ve learned to cope by becoming a workaholic.

“It’s really not good for my mental health to let my mind wander back to such dark visions. But it’s something that I feel I have to risk for Pete, all the others who died, their families, and for survivors like myself who still live with these memories every single day. We all deserve justice

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Rhyl Memorial Gardens Falklands veteran Les Peake with sisters of Peter Edwards who lost his life on the Sir Galahad Picture of Peter Edwards

Work to increase housing availability is continuing

PEMBROKESHIRE is currently experiencing a high demand for homes across the county. This, paired with a limited amount of properties becoming available to let, is an issue that is also being seen on a national scale.

Pembrokeshire County Council says that it acknowledges that residents have noticed a decrease in the amount of properties appearing on the weekly Choice Homes advert and that there are a number of empty homes in their local areas that are not being advertised at all.

Pembrokeshire County Council are continuing its work to improve and expand its housing stock in an attempt to address this high demand.

However, in recent years there has been a decrease in the numbers of Council properties becoming vacant, resulting in a decrease in the amount of properties available to be re-let.

While historically 10% of Council stock on average was becoming available to be let to new occupants every year, this has recently reduced to around only 5% of stock. This, in part, explains why fewer properties are appearing on the weekly Choice Homes

advert. There are also a number of reasons why empty Council homes are not appearing on the Choice Homes list as soon as they become vacant. These reasons include major refurbishment works that need to happen to properties. This could be

damp proofing upgrade works.

Capital works programming to ensure that fire safety regulations are met, can also mean that blocks of flats and some sheltered accommodation are required to remain empty so that extensive upgrading work or demolition can be scheduled in.

In situations such as this and for various other reasons, empty properties are sometimes utilised as ‘decant’ properties for existing tenants who cannot remain in their current properties whilst work is ongoing.

are no longer needed as a decant.

Cabinet Member for Housing Operations and Regulatory Services Cllr Michelle Bateman said:

“We understand the frustrations of those who have been waiting for suitable accommodation for some time but don’t see the homes coming on to the bidding list.

due to a number of factors but also in order to meet Welsh Housing Quality Standards.

Delays could also be due to the need for updates to properties required as part of PCC’s decarbonisation programme. Properties are also undergoing extensive

Planning is often undertaken to ensure that the properties that are utilised in this way are larger and in the areas where we have more stock so that they can be utilised as decants for as many tenants as possible.

This is to prevent unnecessary work on other properties to get them up to standard to use as decants, at an additional cost. For this reason, these properties will not appear on the Choice Homes advert until they

“The Building Maintenance service has been recruiting more staff and contractors to help meet the demand for these works. Over coming months residents will likely see houses being brought back into use and an improvement to the flow of houses on to Choice Homes.”

As of 1st March, there are 5,186 households on the Choice Homes register. You can view statistics on how many properties are advertised throughout the year, as well as the banding and registration date of successful bidders for each property by visiting the Choice Homes website and clicking the ‘New Customers’ Tab.

RNLI tasked to assist yacht

ST DAVID’S RNLI were requested to assess a 41 foot yacht with gearbox issues by HM Coastguard at 5:53pm on Thursday (Mar 21).

All-weather lifeboat Norah Wortley launched and headed in lumpy seas three nautical miles

north of St Davids head where the yacht with two people on board was drifting.

Upon assessment, deputy Coxswain Mike Phillips made the decision that undertaking a tow was necessary and the safest way to assist the casualties.

The towed vessel was returned to the nearest safe and suitable port at Fishguard harbour where RNLI Fishguard Lifeboat provided St Davids volunteers with a welcome coffee break.

The charity’s lifeboat returned to station at St Davids at 11:30pm.

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Neglected Pembrokeshire poodles find their forever homes

THIRTY poodle type dogs were in total rescued after they were found in an unsuitable environment where their owner also failed to provide grooming and vet care. Twentythree dogs were signed over to the RSPCA and permission was given by the owner for the remaining seven dogs to be removed and boarded.

They were subsequently taken into RSPCA care and following a veterinary check were transferred to RSPCA centres, RSPCA branches, and five young male and one female poodles went to Greenacres Animal Rescue.

Many of the poodles have been happily rehomed, and following the conclusion of the court case the remaining seven dogs have been signed over to the RSPCA, meaning they can now be rehomed too.

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RSPCA Llys Nini Branch had six of the poodles that can now be rehomed. They have been in foster homes and happily many of them are set to become their official owners.

Now named Bryn (pictured above following rescue) – one of the poodles is going to be adopted by his foster carer Helen.

“He has fitted in so well to our family that we all agree we should adopt him,” said Helen Morgan, who is from Gorseinon, Swansea.

“He is 10 years old and has only two teeth left but that doesn’t stop him eating! He is almost completely deaf, but the sweetest boy you could ever imagine.

“He loves his walks, he’s food oriented and will sit under the table when we are eating in case something falls on

the floor! He loves fuss and is my shadow, he wants nothing more than a comfy spot on the sofa next to one of us and he especially loves a cuddle with our cat!”

Helen said Bryn has been a wonderful addition to their family and has helped her in so many ways.

“I have been diagnosed with arthritis and fibromyalgia and was feeling very down. Fostering seemed like a good idea, and this dog has given me a purpose to get up in the morning, so even though you saved him, in his own way he has really saved me.”

Purdy is going to be adopted by Natalie who lives in the Rhondda Valleys.

Natalie Williams, who has been fostering Purdy, said sadly Purdy was one of the poodles that needed all her teeth removed.

“She has settled in so well,” she said. “She was

a little overwhelmed and nervous at the start and didn’t like being touched much but now she jumps up for cuddles and takes over the sofa.

“She loves walks and can go for miles. She has another poodle brother called Lucky who is a rescue from South Korea and she loves to sleep next to him.”

While Maddie has been fostered by Hadeel Dart from Loughor, Swansea, who lives with her husband Rhys, daughter Nia and their other dog Lily.

“It took some time for Maddie to settle in and she was quite nervous and cautious when she first came to live with us,” said Hadeel, who is looking to become Maddie’s official owner.

“I feel that she has become more relaxed

around us now and one of the nicest moments I’ve had since fostering Maddie, has been seeing her tail wag for the first time as she welcomed me home.

“Maddie is very curious and will follow us around the house to see what we are up to at all times. She also gets very excited and is full of energy when it’s time for a walk. She will literally bounce up and down when she sees us getting her harness out!

“Maddie is a very affectionate, sweet dog and as soon as one of us sits down, she will come and lie next to us for a nap. It’s been a pleasure having Maddie stay with us.”

The family is now also looking to officially adopt Maddie.

All thirty poodles have been rehomed or are with other rescue charities and

RSPCA branches.

RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben said: “It is lovely to see these wonderful pictures of Bryn, Purdy and Maddie who are now living their best lives in their forever homes.

“We’d very much like to thank these dedicated foster carers for their support and it is lovely that these dogs are now going to be adopted officially.”

This year the RSPCA celebrates its 200th year of changing industries, laws, minds, and animals’ lives. To mark this anniversary the animal welfare charity wants to inspire one million people to join their movement to improve animals’ lives. Together, there are actions, big and small, everyone can take to create a better world for every animal.

Friday

Community-powered conservation projects flourish

NINE local projects that were given a helping hand by the Force for Nature grants are now thriving and providing a much-needed boost to biodiversity and conservation, the fight against climate change and the availability of green spaces throughout the county.

Successful applicants in the last round of funding included: Pembrokeshire College, Stepaside CP School, Llawhaden Community Council, Dinas Wellbeing Hub, Simpson Cross Activities Group, Tabernacle United Reformed Church in Pembroke, and Warren-based Esteam.

Several months on, the groups have provided project updates, showcasing their remarkable progress –from the transformation of an old church garden into a diverse habitat, to the creation of a Welsh heritage orchard and the

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rewilding of unused land on education campuses.

Tabernacle URC’s “Garden through Time” was put to good use in the run-up to Christmas as the venue for a Community Nativity Trail, enabling local families to enjoy the festive sights and sounds, while appreciating the biodiversity improvements that have taken place.

The installation of oak signposts in December marked the completion of a rewilding project at Ysgol Harri Tudur, where pupils from Years 7 and 8 have since taken part in curriculumlinked outdoor activities. Remaining funds will be spent on seeds and native plantings to further enhance the newly restored areas.

Pembrokeshire College’s campus improvements were timed to

coincide with the recent COP28 summit, where a day was dedicated to biodiversity. All animal habitats and lodgings, including swift boxes, have now been installed, and wildflower seeds have been sown on prepared ground.

Director of the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust, Katie Macro, said: “The Force for Nature grants not only provide financial support, but are also effective in fostering a sense of collective responsibility and stewardship among local communities.

“Over 600 volunteer hours have been accrued across the nine projects, with 15.95 acres of land enhanced.

“It has been an absolute delight to watch these projects grow and come to fruition and shows how small actions on a grassroots level can lead to significant change for the better.”

Set up in 2021, the Force for Nature mini grants scheme is funded by the Welsh Government and run by the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust. It offers grants of up to £4,000 to local projects within the local community that either support biodiversity, create new green spaces, or deliver on conservation or cli-

mate change.

Further information about the scheme is available at www.pembrokeshirecoasttrust. org.uk.

Llandeilo Antiques and Vintage Fair springs back into action

This successful fair has grown in popularity over the last year and can be located in the heart of Llandeilo, close to the main car park.Here you will find a bustling, vibrant Fair with lots of antiques and vintage to whet your appetite and now includes a vintage element with a touch of retro.it will be held on Saturday 6 th April at the Civic Hall.

Being a Welsh Fair it is understandable that there should be a good selection of Welsh items on offer. Whether it’s an original Welsh watercolour or oil painting or a piece of Welsh pottery or examples of Welsh textiles.There will also be a selection of Welsh blankets and textiles on display , the result of Wales having a rich heritage , in the woollen industry.

There are some interesting displays to be discovered at the fair whether it’s a rare postcard , a collection of old photographs or an unusual love token. One of the dealers Allys Gronow has a superb collection of these special coins.

Love tokens are coins that were engraved after the minting process was complete. Generally, an artisan removed the words and images from the reverse, or sometimes from both sides.Artisans ranging in skills from a high-quality craftsperson to a “do-it-yourselfer” then engraved or punched pictures, initials, and messages on the cleared

area. Other times, the coin was left intact and the artisan engraved initials, dates, or pictures on the edges around the images of royalty. The coins became lucky charms, objects of art, and pieces of jewellery. The messages on the coins could be used as spiritual reminders, family documentation, or sentimental sweet nothings.

In Britain, the practice of giving ‘love tokens’ has been around from at least Roman times, mudlarking expeditions on the Thames river banks have often uncovered bent or bowed coins ranging from as far back as the 16th century. The breaking of gold and coins were often included as part of the marriage ceremonial contract, but ardent suitors would often bend the coins and present them to the lady they wished to court as a symbol of the strength of their love, affection and intent.

Even though clipping, defacement and other wilful damage of coins was a treasonable offense , some took a risk by presenting a bowed or bent coin to their lady love. If the love token was accepted, that meant the suitor was successful; if they were discarded, it was a rejection. It has been surmised that many of the ‘crooked coins’ found on the banks of the River Thames — most of the surviving ones are from the 17th and 18th centuries — carry legacies of unrequited love. Often in

these coins, the head of the monarch would be rubbed clean and initials of the giver or/and the intended would be engraved. Some of those accepted would even be worn as a pendant or incorporated into jewellery to be worn close to one’s person. The bent coin, “a token of your pledge,” became a physical reminder of your obligation.

Because love tokens were hand-engraved, they are unique. The birth of a baby, the initial of your intended, a soldier leaving a memory of himself with his loved ones, or a prisoner getting sent off to do his time; all have been remembered on the surface of a coin.

Around the 19th century, such love tokens/coins took on an additional meaning as they “were created by convicted Britons before they were transported to Australia.Smoothed coins engraved with affectionate messages were gifted to loved ones by convicts awaiting execution and transportation. These mementos of affection were often known as ‘leaden hearts’.

Love tokens tell stories that begin with the words, images, and initials engraved on the coins and are completed only by the limits of our own imaginations.

Other methods of making coins into tokens included cutting coins and “pinpunching” (a stippled technique that employed a hammer and point). Free-

hand engraving may date as early as the 1500s in Great Britain

It is difficult to place an exact date on a love token. How do you distinguish the date the art work was engraved on the coin? The age of the token is not necessarily the year the coin was manufactured, which is sometimes still on the coin. Nor is it necessarily the date engraved on the coin, which might be a significant date to the engraver and not the date the engraver re-carved the coin. It is a good thing that most collectors of love tokens are more interested in the quality of the carving and the sentiment of the words than the date or monetary value of the coin.

But these little objects are also passports to another time. In the hands of historians, they illuminate different facets of Georgian society – from courtship, entertainment and fashion to empire and belief

Interestingly enough, a significant number of the copper and nickel coins that were engraved were also gold plated. A poor person might have used this denomination and then by gold plating them, made them look like their gold counterpoint coins. Whatever the host coin, the feelings and emotions were the same. Some could just afford to show their love more than others. People were quite sentimental in the Victorian age and love tokens are an enduring testament to

those feelings.What stories do these love tokens tell, and the sentiment behind the giver whether it was a mothers last gift to her foundling child or a token of betrothal? These little gems of history are a great area to start collecting in.Most collectors are looking for sharp engravings and unusual pictures .Allys has a great collection on display.

The Llandeilo fair is full of exciting collections from Llanelli cockeral plates to the rare Wemys ware and including collections of French brocante .

Attractive displays of gardinalia has proved extremely popular at the fair, including watering

cans , wheel barrows, garden tools and large garden pots and urns.

The Llandeilo fair has a rich cross section of antiques and vintage on display, from jewellery,watches, books, ephemera, militaria and vintage clothes and accessories. There will also be collections of glass and up cycled and pre loved furniture, plus interior design pieces. I’m sure visitors will not be disappointed with the selection on offer at this popular fair.

Homemade refreshments will be available and doors open at 10 am until 4pm. Admission is just £2

A post-medieval silver penny of Charles I, probably bent to form a love token, dating between 1625–1649

Here is part of Allys’ collection

Patients to benefit from ward’s new outdoor space

PATIENTS in Withybush Hospital’s Ward 10 can now benefit from a new outdoor space, designed to enhance their health and well-being while staying in hospital.

The new terrace area has been made possible thanks to Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal, everyone who has generously made charitable donations to the Appeal, and Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Pembrokeshire Cancer Services Fund.

Tom Sinclair Editor@herald.email

Dr Andrew Burns, Hospital Director at Withybush said: “I’m thrilled to see this facility open to patients and staff. It is a wonderful addition to the ward, which patients and staff will benefit from.

“Thank you to everyone involved in this wonderful project, particularly to Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal, all the incredible fundraising efforts and our Pembrokeshire community for their contribution, support and generosity.”

Lyn Neville, Elly’s father, added: “All of us

It has been created and designed with well-being in mind. It offers a welcome space particularly for patients to get some fresh air and experience the outdoor environment just a step away from the ward. Ward staff will also benefit from being able to take breaks outside. The new terrace features a modern outdoor seating area and a selection of installed photographic images by Drew Buckley, an award-winning professional landscape and wildlifephotographer based in Pembrokeshire. The nature themed images have been selected by the Ward 10 team to create a calm and tranquil space to enhance the patient experience.

involved with Elly’s Flag are very pleased that the Ward 10 roof terrace is now open. So happy that Elly’s fundraising has made a real difference to the welfare of patients and staff. The terrace will allow patients on Ward 10, including those who are bed bound, to enjoy some fresh air and outside space, which is so good for a patient’s mental health while in hospital. As the Ward 10 project comes to its conclusion, we would like to thank everyone who supported Elly’s Appeal and campaign for the best cancer services for Pembrokeshire people”.

The outdoor terrace project completes the improvements and refurbishment of Ward 10, which reopened in April 2020 to provide modern facilities and an enhanced environment in which to care for patients. The health board has addressed the immediate health, safety

and risk issues posed by numerous defective Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) planks and it is expected to re-open Ward 10 for patients in early April 2024. The overall ward development scheme, mainly funded by Welsh Government, also benefited from more than £500,000 of charitable

donations from the health board’s Pembrokeshire Cancer Services Fund, Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal, together with significant donations also received from the late Luke Harding and his family.

A post on the Ward 10 Flag Facebook page on Thursday (Mar 21) read: “This sign on the new Ward 10 Roof Terrace

at Withybush Hospital made me feel very Proud of all that Elly has achieved. I took a photo of the welsh side of the door!! It reads, “Made possible thanks to Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal”. I know it’s just a sign on a door but it means so much too us after 9 years and £230,000 of campaigning and fundraising”

Feedom tested: The tangled saga of Assange’s fight against extradition

SQUAWK, listen here, me feathered friends and curious readers of The Pembrokeshire Herald, it’s Stephen Seagull swoopin’ in with the latest on that human, Julian Assange. Oh, what a flap and flutter this tale is, enough to ruffle the feathers of any self-respecting seagull or human, for that matter.

First off, Assange is still perched, not on a seaside ledge, but in a cell, if you can believe it. For five whole years, without being found guilty of pinching a single chip! And now, there’s a bit of a breather, a tiny victory, they say, because the high court judges, Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Johnson, have squawked out for some “assurances” from the

United States. They want to make sure that if Assange is sent across the pond, he won’t face the harshest squall –the death penalty. But, squawk, why hasn’t the US been able to give these assurances before? Feathers are definitely ruffled over this.

Then there’s the tale of Evan Gershkovich, a journalist nestling in a Russian cage on

charges of espionage. His predicament has led to talks of a prisoner swap and a lot of squawking from high places in the US, including the President himself. But, squawk, isn’t it a bit rich? Crying foul over one journalist while trying to cage another? Makes you wonder if some humans know what “freedom of the press” really means or if it’s just fancy words

for them.

And squawk, hear this: there might be a plea deal on the horizon for Assange, turning his serious charges into a lesser squabble over mishandling documents. But his flock of lawyers hasn’t seen a feather of evidence that this is more than just seabreeze whispers.

The next few weeks will tell us if there’s genuine chatter about

press freedom or if it’s all just squawks into the wind. It’s a stormy saga, and Assange’s freedom seems to be the only beacon of light that could lead us out of this tempest, proving that “freedom of the press” is more than just a flight of fancy.

Till next time, keep your wings wide and your eyes on the skies. Squawk out!

Badger and the Search for Justice

LET’s talk about life, dear readers.

Badger will not tell you how things were better when he was a cub. He definitely won’t tell you how things were simpler or people nicer.

He won’t do those things because they are demonstrably untrue.

Badger is a keen student of human nature. Not being human allows a certain perspective on affairs.

Badger and his kin have a refreshingly straightforward approach to existence.

You get on with it.

That’s not the case for many humans.

They find comfort in falsehood, myths, ideologies, ideas, opinions, or clear and false ideas.

We live in a moment when reality is a matter of opinion, where the “ought” crowds out the “is,” and where opinion substitutes for what is real.

Badger does not care much for selfdelusion or irrational beliefs. He resents irrational beliefs built on a foundation of selfdeluding prejudices and presumptions.

To far too many people, facts contradicting their opinions are like pebbles in tomato soup or rubber bands in raspberry ripple ice cream. You get them out of there or eat around them.

The callous and careless disregard for facts permeates every level of society and every part of politics.

Let’s place three undeniable and linked facts next to the other and see where that

exercise takes us.

Donald Trump will almost certainly be the Republican nominee in the US Presidential election on November 4.

Donald Trump will almost certainly be the Republican nominee in the US Presidential election on November 4 and is a vain, lying, fraudulent, dishonest, draft-dodging sex offender.

Donald Trump has a good chance of winning the US Presidential election on November 4.

You might not like fact number three, but it’s a two-horse race, and the other main candidate comes with significant baggage. Unless you accept facts as facts, you cannot hope to understand why millions of Americans will vote for Donald Trump in November.

The population of the United States of America is over 330m.

It’s called “the continental United States for a reason”. America is big and largely empty. If it were populated to the same density as the UK, the US’s population would exceed 2.3 BILLION.

Although around 12 million Americans travelled to Europe for business or leisure in 2023, most Americans never go abroad. When your nation is a continent that stretches from Alaska to Florida and from Hawaii to Maine, why bother?

Suppose California were a sovereign nation. In that case, its GDP would be greater than that of the UK or India and rank fifth globally.

From that, you can, perhaps, understand

how and why Americans experience news, media, the world, and culture differently.

Quite apart from glib notions that all Americans believe in their manifest destiny to be on top, the USA’s size and wealth sets it and its people apart. All the whataboutery in the world will not change that one jot.

Trump’s candidacy proves that tapping into the “oughts” works. And for a simple reason: “oughts” are based on resentment and grievance. Because grievances and resentments are subjective, logic and recourse to facts cannot address them.

“Ought” voters are not educationally challenged oafs, racists, bigots, or - in Hillary Clinton’s words“the deplorables”.

Some of them undoubtedly are, but only in the same way as some Biden voters.

Instead, as in this country, the “ought” voter feels excluded from what “ought” to be theirs in a system which “ought” to treat them either preferentially or more fairly. They “ought” to have things better because they believe that, in imagined and real ways, the current system neither accommodates their needs nor allows adequate redress for actual or perceived disadvantages.

Belonging to a group gives security. It supports the self and one’s idea of oneself. Ethnicities, sexualities, political affiliations, religions, nationalities, and the other concepts dividing humans are just functions of the need to belong.

Humanity might collectively agree on an

abstract general good’s existence (Badger regards it as arguable). However, individuals mostly believe in what is good for them and those with whom they most identify.

To an extent, humans are all “oughts”.

That is why facts are so important. One way to think about what we “ought” to have is to consider why we do not have what we think we deserve. Whether that’s a better-paid job, lower mortgage payments, greater financial security, better healthcare, or nicer housing is immaterial.

The rational answer is that we have not had the right combination of luck, inheritance, ability, ambition, or the requisite capacity for hard work. Few people

are ready to be that hard on themselves.

The easier course is to blame others for our relative misfortune. It’s someone else’s fault we do not get what we “ought” or “deserve”. From there, it’s a very short step to the language of “rights”.

It doesn’t matter who the others are or whether our resentments or grievances are objectively justifiable.

Someone else, something else, must be to blame or be at fault.

Humans cannot accept the entirety of the blame for whatever ails them, so there must be an external cause.

The others: the immigrants, the gays, the socialists, the fascists, the right, the left, the woke,

the deep state, the Muslims, the Jews, culture war warriors, the Welsh Government, the Westminster Government, the Protestants, the Roman Catholics, Eton, Oxbridge, comprehensive education, ancient aliens, the Illuminati, TERFS, the pronoun police, vegans, even Orville the bloody Duck.

(Defo Orville, in Badger’s opinion).

Do you know what, readers?

All those “others” feel the same way about you, each other, and subgroups within their groups.

Human nature being what it is, that’s exactly as things ought to be.

You deserve nothing less.

Pembrokeshire Chilli Farm’s sales boost following feature on ITV

THE TEAM at www.

pembrokeshirechillifarm.com, renowned for its fiery range of chillibased products, have experienced a significant surge in sales and enquiries.

The upturn is following an appearance on Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen on March 9. This surge underscores the farm’s expanding influence in the hot sauce market and its dedication to highquality, locally produced ingredients.

In the weeks after being featured on Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen, a weekly cooking program that shines a light on the finest British ingredients, the Welsh business has reported a 165% increase in online sales for their hot sauces compared to the same period the previous

Tom Sinclair Editor@herald.email

year. Furthermore, the business has received a notable 64% increase in wholesale requests from gourmet food retailers compared to the same period in 2023.

Beyond these impressive figures, the farm also saw a 75% rise in social media engagement, with new followers and interactions highlighting a growing community of chilli sauce enthusiasts eager to learn more about their products and the ways in which they can spice up their own dishes at home, from the comfort of their own kitchen.

Pembrokeshire Chilli Farm was launched by husband-and-wife duo Owen and Michelle Rosser back in 2017, following the pair realising there

was a big market for chilli-based sauced and products after growing their own chillies in their own back garden. The business now produces more than 10,000kgs of chillies each year and grows crops specifically for wholesale customers and other commercial food producers.

The couple also own Welsh Sauce Kitchen, an alternative sauce brand that offers a range of nonchilli-infused kitchen condiments and products. In 2023, they released their very own Black Garlic Ketchup made from fermented black garlic, a sauce that takes more than 12 days to create due to the black garlic needing to ferment for 288 hours. More than 250 bottles were made in the first batch, which sold out within the initial 24 hours

of launching.

Michelle Rosser, cofounder and Managing Director told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “Being part of Pure Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen was an incredible opportunity for

us; to share our love for chillies with a well-known household name, as well as with a wider audience who have a love for all things food. We were thrilled to showcase our farm and products, and

the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The numbers speak for themselves – they’re a true testament to the high-quality products we produce from our homegrown chillies.”

Protecting Our Future Generations From a Hidden Killer!

ASBESTOS can potentially be found in ANY building built before the year 2000 and so may be present in many homes and public buildings! Tragically, asbestos currently takes more than twice the number of lives in Wales than road traffic accidents and still remains to be the biggest U.K workplace killer taking over 5000 lives each year! Thankfully, there are precautions that can be taken and support is out there!

Global Asbestos Awareness Week is marked during the first week in April each year and aims to raise awareness of the risks of asbestos exposure and the need for preventative measures. The global event brings together organisations and individuals from around the world to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos. Asbestos Awareness & Support Cymru (AASC) is an independent charity for Wales and provides support to victims of asbestos related

Jo Barnes Mannings & Sarah Morgan -AASC

illnesses such as asbestosis and the malignant cancer Mesiothelioma and their families. The charity arranges support groups and events, operates a telephone support service and also signposts to helping agencies and specialist advice services ranging from practical support in the home to benefits and specialist legal advice.

More recently, in response to an increase in enquiries, the charity was delighted to welcome Sarah Morgan (retired Mesothelioma Specialist Nurse) to join the team to provide additional support to families in Wales. (Pictured on the right of Jo Barnes-Mannings- Co Founder of the Charity).

This year, AASC will be holding an event at the Bloomfield Centre in Narberth on 4th April at 2pm to mark this important global event. Information and advice from various experts and specialists will be available on the day in the hope of protecting our future generations whilst also offering support to those who need it. The event will be informal and friendly and light refreshments will also be offered at no charge and a warm welcome awaits anyone who would like to join us!

For more information, call Jo on 01495 272479 or visit the website www.a-a-s-c.org. uk

w H a T’S on

Bubble Bonanza: Unleash the fun at Torch!

ExPERIENCE the wonder of soap bubble entertainment like never before with “The Ultimate Bubble Show” at the Torch Theatre.

Starting from Sunday, March 31st, 2024, this captivating show promises an evening of enchantment for the whole family.

Led by Ray, an International Bubbleologist and Guinness World Record Holder, this show is not just about watching bubbles float by. Ray invites you on a journey to help him achieve the ultimate bubble creation. With a dynamic pace and a plethora of surprises, Ray’s

performance is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Using an array of gases, Ray crafts remarkable bubble sculptures, mesmerizing effects, and enchanting displays. From a volcanic eruption encapsulated in a bubble to a whimsical soap bubble

carousel, and even a ghostly apparition formed from bubbles, each moment is filled with awe-inspiring marvels. And if that’s not enough, Ray even conjures up a tornado encased within a bubble!

Will Ray succeed in his quest to create the ultimate square bubble? Join him at

the Torch Theatre to find out. Tickets are priced at £12.50 for adults, £10.50 for children, and £42.00 for families, offering an affordable opportunity for an unforgettable experience. Don’t miss your chance to witness the magic of bubbles like never before!

The Queens Hall Narberth promises Egg-citing fun

GET ready for an Easter extravaganza like no other at The Queens Hall Narberth! This Easter Half Term, we’re pulling out all the stops to bring you a sensational celebration filled with laughter, joy, and unforgettable memories!

Prepare to bounce, jump, and soar to new heights on our FREE bouncy castle! Let your little ones unleash their energy and excitement in a whirlwind of inflatable fun!

Dance enthusiasts, get your dancing shoes ready because our disco is set to light up the dance floor! Groove to the rhythm, bust a move, and create magical moments with

your family and friends!

Calling all budding Picassos! Dive into a world of creativity at our Crafts corner! From Easter egg decorating to crafting adorable bunny masks, let your imagination run wild and bring your artistic visions to life!

While the kids are having a blast, parents can indulge in some welldeserved relaxation at our fully stocked bar! Sip on your favorite drinks, unwind, and soak in the lively atmosphere!

Don’t let hunger strike! We’ve got you covered with delicious refreshments and snacks available for purchase. From tasty treats to satisfying snacks, there’s

something to satisfy every craving!

Tickets are selling fast, so grab yours now for just £5 + £1 Booking Fee per child. Adults and under 2s get in for FREE! Remember to book tickets only for children aged 2 and above.

Attention all parents! Safety is our top priority. Please ensure that all children are accompanied by a responsible adult throughout the event to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone!

Don’t miss out on the Easter celebration of the year! Join us at The Queens Hall Narberth and let’s make this Easter one to remember!

Netflix: ‘3 Body Problem’ has landed

DETECTIVE DA SHI, portrayed by Benedict Wong, finds himself entangled in a web of enigmatic deaths within the scientific community. Could these incidents possibly signify the onset of an extraterrestrial incursion?

Imagine grappling with the ‘three-body problem’ in physics—a perplexing dilemma concerning the gravitational interactions among three massive bodies. It’s akin to navigating through centuries-old chaos theory, a mathematical enigma seemingly immune to resolution. And yet, it’s only marginally more challenging than translating Liu Cixin’s intricate novel, “The Three-Body Problem,” into a television series.

Bringing this complex narrative to life demands ambition of a grand scale. Enter David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo— veterans known for their adept handling of colossal budgets and sprawling storylines, as evidenced by their work on “Game of Thrones” and “True Blood.” Their endeavor with

Netflix’s adaptation of “The ThreeBody Problem” is nothing short of audacious. With a mixed reception to the finale of “Game of Thrones,” Benioff and Weiss have a point to prove, and they’re tackling it head-on.

The resulting series is a captivating fusion of genres—part police procedural, part historical epic, part mystery thriller, and part sci-fi odyssey. It opens with the mysterious deaths of scientists, drawing viewers into a labyrinthine investigation led by the stoic Detective Da Shi, brilliantly portrayed with a Mancunian flair by Benedict Wong. As the narrative unfolds, it transcends earthly boundaries, culminating in an intergalactic conflict that challenges the very essence of humanity.

Central to the success of this adaptation is the emphasis on characters. Unlike the original text, which prioritized concepts over personalities, the series crafts relatable figures who serve as conduits for audience engagement. Despite occasional clichés, standout

performances from Jess Hong and Alex Sharp inject moments of genuine emotion and introspection.

Moreover, the series retains the socio-political allegories inherent in Liu’s work, juxtaposing human and alien dynamics against the backdrop of historical turmoil. It’s a narrative tapestry that seamlessly weaves together themes of power, oppression, and the quest for a new world order.

Visually stunning and narratively riveting, “The Three-Body Problem” doesn’t shy away from spectacle. Yet, amidst its grandeur, it remains grounded in its exploration of fundamental questions about existence and identity.

As the inaugural season draws to a close, it leaves viewers hungry for more, tantalizing with promises of future revelations. The potential for greatness looms large, but the journey ahead is uncertain. For now, we implore Netflix: do justice to this extraordinary tale. Don’t let it become just another unsolvable enigma.

Sydney Sweeney shines in ‘Immaculate’

IN the twisted world of “Immaculate,” Sydney Sweeney takes center stage as a young nun whose journey from wide-eyed innocence to calculated chaos drives this intriguing blend of thriller and horror.

Damsels in distress come in various forms, each with their unique traits and tales of terror. Our protagonist, played by Sweeney, embodies the archetype of youthful charm and vitality, thrust into a convent setting where appearances deceive and danger lurks in every shadow.

Set against the backdrop of a remote Italian countryside convent, “Immaculate” keeps viewers on edge with its plucky heroine and provocative twists. Director Michael Mohan skillfully navigates the labyrinthine corridors of the convent, painting a vivid picture of isolation and unease. While the

brisk pacing may leave some details feeling fuzzy, it serves to heighten the sense of mystery and impending doom.

Sweeney’s portrayal of Cecilia, the newcomer to the convent, is both enigmatic and compelling. As she navigates her new surroundings, forming alliances and facing hostility from fellow nuns, Sweeney captivates with her raw intensity. The supporting cast, including Álvaro Morte and Dora Romano, adds depth to the narrative, each character leaving an indelible mark on Cecilia’s journey.

Drawing inspiration from classic erotic thrillers and the subversive allure of nunsploitation films, “Immaculate” deftly blends genres to create a uniquely unsettling experience. While it may not reach the extremes of its predecessors, the film’s gradual descent into madness keeps audiences gripped

until the chilling finale.

At its core, “Immaculate” is a celebration of the familiar, embracing established tropes while offering a fresh perspective on age-old themes. Sweeney’s commanding performance elevates the material, transforming Cecilia from a mere pawn into a force to be reckoned with. As she navigates the murky waters of faith and fear, Sweeney expertly blurs the lines between innocence and insanity, leaving audiences questioning where her loyalties truly lie.

In “Immaculate,” Sydney Sweeney proves once again why she’s one of Hollywood’s most captivating talents. With a blend of wide-eyed charm and calculated cunning, she leads viewers on a harrowing journey into the heart of darkness, where nothing is as it seems and survival is the ultimate prize.

Friday

Alright, listen up, fellow cosmic voyagers and intergalactic gamers, because I’ve got some stellar news that’ll have your midichlorians buzzing with excitement faster than you can say “May the Force be with you”! Picture this: you’re cruising through your gaming adventures, soaking up the vibes, and suddenly, bam!

The Star Wars Heritage Pack drops like a proton torpedo into your gaming universe.

Originally making waves on the Nintendo eShop, this bundle of joy is now manifesting itself in the physical realm for all you Nintendo Switch jedis out there. And let me tell you, it’s like finding a hidden holocron of gaming treasures. We’re talking seven classic Star Wars games bundled up tighter than a Wookiee’s hug, ready to whisk you away on an epic journey through hyperspace.

Now, hold onto your lightsabers, because we’re diving into some serious nostalgia territory here. Among the titles nestled snugly in this Heritage Pack are some

absolute gems, my friends. We’ve got The Force Unleashed, Republic Commando, Episode One Racer, Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, and Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast. But wait, there’s more! The real crown jewels of this collection are the two Knights of the Old Republic games, transporting you to a galaxy far, far away like never before.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. While the other five games come packed into the cartridge, the Knights of the Old Republic titles are like elusive Jedi spirits, existing only as digital downloads. But fear not, my padawan pals, because the value here is as undeniable as a Sith Lord’s thirst for power.

For a mere £45, you’re getting your hands on seven iconic games, making it a deal sweeter than blue milk on Tatooine. And get this, it’s cheaper than the digital version lurking in the eShop. Talk about a win-win situation!

But hey, I can sense your trepidation. You’re probably

wondering, “But Russell, how do I secure my slice of gaming nirvana?” Well, fear not, my fellow rebels, because pre-orders are open now. So snatch up your ticket to adventure before they vanish faster than a TIE Fighter in hyperdrive.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. With all the buzz about the Knights of the Old Republic remake floating around like a rogue asteroid, why bother with this Heritage Pack? Well, let me drop some wisdom faster than a Jedi Master deflecting blaster bolts. With the recent vanishing act of Sony’s mentions about the remake and the cancellation of the sequel’s Switch port, it’s like navigating an asteroid field out there.

So why wait around for uncertain futures when you can dive headfirst into the galaxy-spanning adventures of the Heritage Pack right now? Trust me, folks, the Force is strong with this one. Don’t miss your chance to relive the magic of Star Wars gaming history. May the gaming gods be with you, always.

ARIES

You may need to negotiate skillfully in various contexts such as at work or with your friends or partner to achieve harmony. You’ll have to make compromises and adjustments to cultivate happiness in all your relationships.

TAURUS

At work, you may experience some confusion and conflict. This could prompt you to start thinking about a career change. Take the time to weigh the pros and cons and get advice from those closest to you.

GEMINI

You’ll find yourself in a position to stand out. This could transform your life in the long term. Your value will be highlighted in a variety of ways, boosting your self-esteem and self-confidence.

CANCER

You may decide to move soon, especially if the family home has proved too big since your children left the nest. In your relationship, change could strengthen or rekindle your passion.

LEO

Your outspokenness will be evident as you express openly what others think in silence. A secret could leave you perplexed for a while. The Full Moon will have a revealing effect. A revelation will show you the way forward.

VIRGO

If you’re struggling financially, you could discover some interesting solutions. You’ll finally get the opportunity to invest in a project dear to your heart or, at least, to redecorate your home.

LIBRA

This will be an active and dynamic week. You may need to shake things up with certain people. Even if you prefer keeping the peace, it’s time to assert your position to reestablish harmony with those close to you.

SCORPIO

Your talents will increase tenfold, opening the door to a spiritual awakening. You’ll develop a deeper perspective and greater empathy, allowing you to see things in a new light. The artist in you could also be revealed.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll have to deal with a multitude of emotions in a situation that requires you to keep your cool. You’ll find a creative solution to a financial issue. In love, keeping a smile on your face will help you preserve an existing relationship or attract a soulmate.

CAPRICORN

If you have a jam-packed week, make sure to space out your appointments to avoid scheduling conflicts and minimize the pressure. Time is precious; carefully manage yours.

AQUARIUS

You could decide to radically change your life on a whim. This transformation could involve going back to school or starting a new career in line with your deepest aspirations.

PISCES

The heart has its reasons, which reason knows not. Even if you try to rationalize a situation, your emotions will influence your choices. Sometimes, you must step out of your comfort zone to move in the right direction

wITH eddIe THe gaMe guru gaMIng

FRIDAY’S TV 29.3.24

ITV1 WALES S4C CHANNEL 5 DIGITAL CHOICE

Lily Savage

The Life and Death of Lily Savage ITV, 9pm

Paul O'Grady became a much-loved fixture of TV and radio.

However, for more than 20 years he was a razor-tongued drag queen. Set against the backdrop of Margaret Thatcher's Britain, Clause 28 and the AIDS crisis, this is the story of the star through the prism of his famous creation, Lily Savage.

BBC1 BBC2

6.00 Breakfast. 9.30 Critical Incident. (R) 10.00 Fraud Squad. (R) 10.30 Animal Park. (R) 11.15 Gareth Malone’s Easter Passion.

12.15 Bargain Hunt. 1.00 BBC News at One; Weather. 1.20 BBC Wales Today; Weather. 1.30 Hope Street. (R) 2.15 Film: Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the WereRabbit. (2005) 3.30 Escape to the Country. (R) 4.30 Bridge of Lies.

5.15 Pointless. (R)

6.00 BBC News at Six; Weather.

6.20 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

6.30 The One Show. Gethin Jones, Alex Scott and a team of roving reporters present topical stories from around the UK.

7.05 Film: Ghostbusters: Afterlife. (2021) Premiere. A single mum and her kids discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the legacy their grandfather left behind. Supernatural comedy reboot, with Paul Rudd.

9.00 Beyond Paradise. When an amateur psychic’s unsettling predictions for a grieving woman’s future start to come true, Humphrey must uncover the truth before it’s too late.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.20 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.30 Film: Ghostbusters. (2016) Fantasy comedy, starring Kristen Wiig.

12.20 RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK Versus the World. (R) 1.30 BBC News.

SATURDAY’S TV 30.3.24

6.35 Bridge of Lies. (R) 7.20 Sign

Zone: Antiques Roadshow. (R)

8.20 Heavenly Gardens with Alexander Armstrong. (R) 9.20

Film: The Robe. (1953) 11.30

Attenborough’s Wonder of Eggs. (R) 12.30 The Best Dishes Ever. (R)

1.00 Impossible. (R) 1.45 The Edge. (R) 2.30 Take a Hike. (R)

3.00 The Speedshop. (R) 4.00

Born to Be Wild. (R) 4.30 The Hairy Bikers’ Pubs That Built Britain. (R)

5.00 Flog It! (R)

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Charlie Baker, Val McDermid, Martin Offiah and Rebecca Lucy Taylor compete. (R)

6.30 Great British Railway Journeys.

7.00 Planet Earth: A Monkey’s Tale. (R)

7.15 Scrum V Live. Dragons v Zebre Parma (Kick-off 7.35pm).

9.30 Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales. New series. Seven celebrities experience an emotional journey on a pilgrimage in North Wales.

10.30 Martin Compston’s Norwegian Fling.

11.00 Film: La La Land. (2016) Musical, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.

1.00 Sign Zone: Immigration: The UK’s Record Rise – Panorama. (R)

1.30 Make It at Market. (R) 2.15 Gladiators. (R) 3.15 Our Flag Means Death. (R) 3.40 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 Good Morning Britain.

9.00 Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning. 12.30 Loose Women.

1.30 ITV Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.35 ITV News

Cymru Wales; Weather. 1.45

ITV Racing Live: Newcastle. Coverage of today’s race meetings from Newcastle and Lingfield Park. 5.00 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.15 ITV Evening News; Weather.

6.30 The Chase Celebrity Special. With Cheryl Baker, Laura Tobin, Jason Bell and Mark Steel. (R)

7.30 Emmerdale. Liam tries to confront Aaron.

8.00 Coronation Street. Steve hits it off with Cassie at the Rovers’ speed-dating night.

9.00 The Life and Death of Lily Savage. Documentary paying tribute to Paul O’Grady, with contributions from his daughter Sharyn and other family and friends, including Ian McKellen, Julian Clary and Graham Norton.

10.20 ITV News; Weather.

10.40 Film: Die Hard with a Vengeance. (1995) Action thriller sequel, starring Bruce Willis.

12.55 Shop on TV. 3.00 The Twelve. (R) 3.55 Unwind. 4.45 English Football League Highlights. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Gwyliau Gartref. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00

Bethesda: Pobol y Chwarel. (R) 1.30 Cegin Bryn. (R) 2.00

Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Dylan ar Daith. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. (R)

6.00 Cymry ar Gynfas. (R)

6.30 Parti Bwyd Beca. (R) Newyddion S4C.

7.00 Heno.

7.45 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd.

8.00 Hen Dy Newydd. (R)

8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Tu ôl i’r Llen: Branwen Dadeni.

9.30 Am Dro! (R) 10.30 Lorient 2023. (R)

11.35 Diwedd. Channel 4: 6.10 Countdown. (R) 6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.05 Everybody Loves

Raymond. (R) 9.00 Frasier. (R)

10.25 Film: Jason and the Argonauts. (1963) 12.30 Film: Kung Fu Panda. (2008) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY. (R) 6.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 6.30

The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News. 7.30 Michael Mosley:

Secrets of Your Big Shop. (R) 8.30

Travel Man: 48 Hours in Rovaniemi. 9.00 Gogglebox. 10.00 The Last Leg. 11.05 The Underdog: Josh Must Win. (R) 2.00 Film: Footloose. (1984) 3.50 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 4.05-6.15 Come Dine with Me. (R)

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine.

11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45 Alexis Conran & Friends. 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime. 1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15 Film: Finding Dad: A Family History Mystery. (2023)

4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5. 5.05 Cadbury at Easter: Secrets of the Chocolate Factory. (R)

6.05 Coastal Ireland with Adrian Dunbar. The actor visits Malin Head, the Giant’s Causeway and the Mourne Mountains. (R)

6.55 5 News Update.

7.00 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders. A car has broken down and PC Andy Doran is called in to support Highways; (R) 5 News Update.

8.00 The Sewer Map of Britain. Investigating the hidden secrets of the sewers.

9.00 Susan Calman’s Great British Cities. The comedian travels to Leeds.

10.00 Chernobyl: Countdown to Armageddon. 11.25 Britain’s Favourite Ads of the 70s & 80s. A celebration of British TV commercials. (R)

1.25 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.25 World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys. (R) 4.15 House Doctor. (R) 4.40 Divine Designs. (R) 5.05 Wildlife SOS. (R) 5.30 Entertainment News. 5.45 Milkshake! Monkey’s Amazing Adventures. (R) 5.50 Pip and Posy. (R)

BBC Four 7.00 TOTP: 1995 8.00 TOTP: 1983

8.30 TOTP: 1978 9.00 Terry Hall at the BBC 10.00 Rock Goes to College: The Specials 10.45 Rudies

Come Back: The Rise and Rise of 2-Tone – Arena 11.20 The Specials: 6 Music Sessions 11.55 2-Tone: The Sound of Coventry

ITV2

3.55 Ice Age: The Great EggScapade 4.30 Film: Hop (2011)

6.25 Film: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) 9.00 Loaded in Paradise 10.00 Family Guy 11.30 American Dad!

ITV3

3.40 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 5.55 Heartbeat 7.00 Vera 9.00 Shetland

11.25 Ruth Rendell’s Inspector

Wexford: Harm Done ITV4

3.50 Film: Nevada Smith (1966)

6.25 Film: From Russia with Love (1963) 9.00 Film: Alex Cross (2012) 11.00 English Football League Highlights E4

4.00 Young Sheldon 5.00 The Big Bang Theory 7.00 Hollyoaks 7.30 Modern Family 8.00 Taskmaster Bleeped 9.00 Film: Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) Sci-fi adventure sequel, starring Chris Pine. 11.35 Naked Attraction: All Out & Proud Film4

3.40 Stardust (2007) 6.15 Catch Me If You Can (2002) Fact-based drama, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. 9.00 Fury (2014) Second World War drama, starring Brad Pitt. 11.40 Freaky (2020)

BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 WALES S4C CHANNEL 5 DIGITAL CHOICE

Traces BBC1, 9.25pm

Emma is now training as a forensic chemist and on the cusp of seeing her mother's murder case solved, while Daniel has returned to Dundee to give evidence against Phil. Crime drama by Amelia Bullmore, based on an original idea by Val McDermid, starring Molly Windsor, Laura Fraser, Martin Compston and Jennifer Spence.

6.00 Breakfast. 10.00 Saturday Kitchen Live. 11.30 Mary Berry’s Simple Comforts. (R) 12.00 Football Focus. 1.00 BBC News; Weather. 1.15 The Super Squirrels. (R) 1.30 Wynne’s Welsh 80s. (R) 2.00 The Boat Race. Live coverage of the annual men’s and women’s University Boat Races. 4.30 Final Score. 5.30 BBC News. 5.40 BBC Wales Today; Weather. 5.50 Gladiators.

6.50 Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. The host looks back on some of the best moments from 10 years of his Big Show, featuring appearances by Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow and ABBA’s Bjorn.

7.50 The Weakest Link. Contestants include Stacey Dooley, Adrian Chiles, Josie Gibson and Rufus Hound.

8.35 Casualty. Dylan fails to heed Rash’s advice, with disastrous results.

9.25 Traces. Emma is on the cusp of seeing her mother’s murder case finally solved. (R)

10.10 BBC News; Weather.

10.30 Match of the Day. Highlights of the latest Premier League matches.

12.00 Stable: The Boxing Game.

2.00 (BST) Stable: The Boxing Game. 2.55 Weather for the Week Ahead. 3.00 BBC News.

6.30 Hey Duggee. (R) 6.40 Go Jetters. (R) 6.50 Grizzy and the Lemmings. (R) 7.00 Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese. (R) 7.10

Monster Loving Maniacs. (R) 7.25 Shaun the Sheep. (R) 7.30

Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures. (R) 8.00 Deadly Predators. (R)

8.25 Blue Peter. (R) 8.55

Newsround. 9.05 Gardeners’ World. 10.05 Operation Wild. (R) 11.00 Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr. (R) 12.00 Andi Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts. (R) 1.00

Mary Berry’s Easter Feast. (R) 2.00

On the Waterfront: Talking Pictures. (R) 2.30 Film: On the Waterfront. (1954) 4.15

The Sheep Beside the Seaside. (R) 4.25 Live Women’s Six Nations. England v Wales (Kick-off 4.45pm).

7.00 Gardeners’ World. Monty Don refreshes the planting on the Mound. (R)

8.00

8.35

9.30

Dad’s Army. (R)

Ella Fitzgerald: A Life in Ten Pictures.

Ella Fitzgerald at the BBC. A collection of performances by the jazz singer.

10.30 Alan Yentob Remembers –Ella Fitzgerald.

10.35 Ella Fitzgerald’s Other Show. (R)

11.15

11.55

12.45

Ella Fitzgerald at Ronnie Scott’s. (R)

Oscar Peterson: Words and Music. (R)

Ella Fitzgerald Swings. (R) 2.30 (BST) Ella Fitzgerald Sings. (R) 3.15 Film: Persian Lessons. (2020) 5.15 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 Love Your Garden. (R) 7.30 Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. (R) 9.25 ITV News. 9.30 James Martin’s Saturday Morning. 11.40 Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen. 12.40 James Martin’s French Adventure. (R)

1.10 ITV News; Weather. 1.25 ITV Racing: Live from Musselburgh. Coverage from Musselburgh and Kempton Park. 4.00 You’ve Been Framed! (R) 4.30 The Chase: The Bloopers. Bradley Walsh presents a compilation of mistakes and outtakes. (R) 5.30 ITV News; Weather. 5.45 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase. With Fiona Bruce, Josie Gibson and Scott Mills. (R)

7.00 Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. An entertaining mix, with live music from JLS, an End of the Show Show with Blue Man Group and Stephen Mulhern with an extra-special edition of In for a Penny.

8.30 The 1% Club. Quiz, hosted by Lee Mack.

9.35 The Jonathan Ross Show. With Kirsten Dunst, Marisa Abela, Sam Taylor-Johnson, David Walliams and Yung Filly.

10.35 ITV News; Weather.

10.50 Film: Identity Thief. (2013) Comedy, with Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy.

12.45 Shop on TV. 4.00 (BST) The Larkins. (R) 4.50 Unwind. (R) 5.05 Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 8.00 Stwnsh Sadwrn: Stwnsh Sadwrn Byw. 8.05 Seligo. (R) 8.30 Siwrne Ni. (R) 9.05 Larfa. (R) 9.20 Lego Ffrindiau: Amdani Ferched! (R) 9.30 Pigo dy Drwyn. (R) 10.00 Mike Phillips: Croeso i Dubai. (R) 11.00 Codi Pac. (R) 11.30 Ffasiwn Drefn. (R) 12.00 Y Fets. (R) 12.25 Am Dro! (R) 1.25 Adre: Catrin Williams. (R) 1.50 Priodas Pum Mil. (R) 2.45 Clwb Rygbi. Ospreys v Emirates Lions (Kick-off 3.05pm). 5.05 Hen Dy Newydd. (R) 6.05 Mynyddoedd y Byd. (R)

7.05 Newyddion a Chwaraeon.

7.20 Clwb Rygbi. Munster v Cardiff Rugby (Kick-off 7.35pm). 9.40 Deuawdau Rhys Meirion. (R) 10.45 Tu ôl i’r Llen: Branwen Dadeni. (R) 11.20 Yn y Lwp. (R)

11.55 Diwedd. Channel 4: 6.15 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 7.25 The Simpsons. (R) 8.20 Film: The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. (1974) 10.25 The Simpsons. (R) 11.25 Film: Kung Fu Panda 2. (2011) 1.15 Four in a Bed. (R) 3.40 Worst House on the Street. (R) 4.45 The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer. (R) 6.00 Channel 4 News. 6.30 The Spy Who Died Twice. (R) 7.30 Hindenburg: The Cover-Up. 9.00

Film: Venom: Let There Be Carnage. (2021) 10.50 Film: Snatch. (2000) 12.45 Film: Ad Astra. (2019) 3.45 (BST) Jamie’s One-Pan Wonders. (R) 3.55-6.00 Hollyoaks Omnibus. (R)

6.00 Milkshake! 8.50 SpongeBob SquarePants. (R) 9.00 Entertainment News. 9.05 Cruising with Jane McDonald. (R) 9.20 22 Kids & Counting. (R) 12.20 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly. (R) 2.20 Film: Hook. (1991) 5.05 Film: Ocean’s Eleven. (2001) 7.15 5 News Weekend.

7.20 Royal Doctors: Treating the Monarchy. Documentary examining the role of the medics who have looked after the royal family through the ages, while Kate Williams explores gruesome stories from the monarchy’s history. (R)

8.35 Secrets of the Royal Palaces. A look at tales of palace duty, going behind the scenes of Elizabeth II’s final appearance on Buckingham Palace’s balcony, which was during the 2022 Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

9.35 Britain’s Killer Hurricane of 1990. The story of one of the worst storms to hit the UK in centuries, when hurricanestrength winds damaged three million trees and 47 people were killed.

11.00 1976: Most Shocking Moments. A look back at key events in TV, film, showbusiness and politics. (R)

2.00 (BST) PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 4.00 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. (R) 4.50 Coast to Coast with Robson Green. (R) 5.35 House Busters. (R)

BBC Four

7.00 Rick Stein’s Long Weekends

8.00 Amazon with Bruce Parry 9.00

The Gone 10.45 Wogan with Jane Goodall, Ade Edmondson and Eurythmics 11.15 To the Manor

Born

ITV2

4.35 Film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) 7.25 Film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) 10.00 Family Guy 11.25 American Dad!

ITV3

2.50 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 5.00

Midsomer Murders 10.55 Scott & Bailey

ITV4

12.45 Snooker: World Mixed Doubles Championship. Coverage of the afternoon session on day one at Manchester Central. 4.30

Monster Carp 5.35 River Monsters

6.35 Snooker v Darts 6.45

Snooker: World Mixed Doubles Championship. Coverage of the evening session on day one at Manchester Central. 10.05 Film: Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983)

E4

3.40 Modern Family 4.40 The Big Bang Theory 7.10 Film: Addams Family Values (1993)

9.00 Celebrity Gogglebox 10.00

Gogglebox

Film4

2.50 Daddy Day Care (2003) 4.40

Home Alone (1990) 6.45 How to

Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) 9.00

Infinite (2021) 11.05 Jackass Forever (2022)

Molly Windsor

Dan Snow

Stonehenge: The Discovery with Dan Snow Channel 5, 9pm

The historian pieces together the story of the ancient monument, revealing how modern discoveries have started to solve its many mysteries. He learns about the true skill and sophistication of its builders, its remarkably advanced solar alignments, exactly where those giant 20-ton stones came from, and how they were moved.

5.35 BBC News. 5.50 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

6.00 Countryfile. Margherita Taylor and Matt Baker head to the Trent Valley, where a major transformation project is attempting to rectify the damage done to the landscape by industrialisation.

7.00 Mammals. New series. David Attenborough narrates a look into the lives of mammals.

8.00 Antiques Roadshow. Fiona Bruce pays a final visit to Alexandra Gardens in Cardiff.

9.00 This Town. New series. Drama set in the ska and two-tone scene in the 1980s.

10.00 BBC News; Weather.

10.15 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.20 Match of the Day 2. The day’s Premier League action.

11.20 The Women’s Football Show.

12.05 Stable: The Boxing Game. 2.00 Weather for the Week Ahead. 2.05 BBC News.

6.45 Glorious Gardens from Above. (R) 7.30 Countryfile. (R) 8.30 Breakfast. 9.00 Heavenly Gardens with Alexander Armstrong. (R)

10.00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites.

11.30 Mary Berry’s Easter Feast. (R) 12.30 Film: Easter Parade. (1948) 2.10 Musicals: Talking Pictures. (R) 2.30 MOTD Live: Women’s League Cup Final. Arsenal v Chelsea (Kick-off 3.00pm). 5.30 Flog It! (R)

6.00 Gareth Malone’s Easter Passion: The Concert. Gareth’s eight amateur singers are set for the biggest performance of their lives as they take on Bach’s St John Passion at Cardiff’s Hoddinott Hall. Last in the series.

8.00 Scrum V Sunday. A review of the week’s rugby union highlights.

8.45 The Hairy Bakers. Simon King and Dave Myers delve into the world of celebration cakes.

9.00 Forensics: The Real CSI. A Birmingham man confesses to killing his flatmate in selfdefence, police and forensic officers must determine if the victim was actually killed in cold blood. Last in the series.

10.00 Film: Apocalypse Now. (1979) Vietnam War drama, starring Martin Sheen.

12.55 Sign Zone: Why Planes Vanish: The Hunt for MH370. (R) 1.55 Big Gay Wedding with Tom Allen. (R) 2.55 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 James Martin’s Great British Adventure. (R) 6.30 James Martin’s Spanish Adventure. (R)

7.30 James Martin’s Saturday Morning. (R) 9.25 ITV News. 9.30 Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. 11.40 Love Your Garden. (R) 12.10 ITV News; Weather. 12.25 Film: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. (1971)

2.30 Live Gallagher Premiership Rugby Union. Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs (Kick-off 3.00pm). 5.30 The 1% Club. (R)

6.30 ITV News; Weather.

6.45 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

7.00 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars. Ben Shephard hosts as Linda Robson, Max George and Jess Phillips answer questions to win turns on an arcade-style machine in the hope of winning £20,000 for charity. (R)

8.00 Paul O’Grady’s Great Elephant Adventure. Paul celebrates the work done by elephant conservation centres.

9.00 Passenger. Jim vows to fight to prove his innocence.

10.00 ITV News; Weather.

10.15 The Life and Death of Lily Savage. Documentary paying tribute to Paul O’Grady. (R)

11.35 Gallagher Premiership Rugby Union Highlights.

12.35 Shop on TV. 3.00 James Martin’s Spanish Adventure. (R) 3.50 Unwind. 5.05 Fletchers’ Family Farm. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 8.50 Penblwyddi Cyw. 9.00 Mynyddoedd y Byd. (R)

10.00 Adre: Catrin Williams. (R)

10.30 Waliau’n Siarad. (R) 11.30 Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol. (R) 12.00 Tu ôl i’r Llen: Branwen Dadeni. (R) 12.30 Tir Cymru. (R) 1.30 Ffilmiau Ddoe. (R) 2.00 Llanw. (R) 3.00 Ar Werth. (R) 3.30

Port Talbot: Diwedd y Dur? (R)

3.55 Clwb Rygbi. 5.40 Pobol y Cwm Omnibws. (R)

6.45 Newyddion a Chwaraeon.

7.00 Dic Jones. The poet reminisces about a lifetime of art and agriculture. (R)

8.00 Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol. Nia Roberts and Rhodri Gomer lead Easter celebrations from Ceredigion.

9.00 Creisis.

10.00 Gogglebocs Cymru. (R)

11.00 Y Ditectif. (R)

11.35 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.00 The King of Queens. (R) 7.15 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 8.05 The Simpsons. (R) 9.30 Sunday Brunch. 12.30 The Simpsons. (R) 3.00 Film: Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief. (2010) 5.20 Key to a Fortune. 6.15 Channel 4 News. 6.45 Inside the Superbrands. (R) 7.40 The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer. 9.00 Hunted. 10.00 Gogglebox. (R) 10.55 Film: Con Air. (1997) 1.10 Film: The Rhythm Section. (2020) 3.00 Couples Come Dine with Me. (R) 3.55 Grand Designs New Zealand. (R) 4.50 Renovation Nation. (R) 5.406.15 The Perfect Pitch. (R)

6.00 Milkshake!: 8.50 SpongeBob SquarePants. (R) 9.00

Entertainment News. 9.10 Holidaying with Jane McDonald. (R) 12.05 Film: Ben-Hur. (1959) 1.10 Entertainment News. 1.15 Film: Ben-Hur. (1959) 4.20 Film: The Wizard of Oz. (1939)

6.30 Greatest Chocolate Ads of All Time. A celebration of memorable commercials from the last 50 years, featuring contributions from celebrities and people who were involved in creating the adverts. (R)

8.00 The Tube: Keep London Moving! The FA Cup final coincides with a national rail strike.

9.00 Stonehenge: The Discovery with Dan Snow. The historian pieces together the story of the ancient monument, revealing how modern discoveries have started to solve its many mysteries.

10.25 When 60s TV Goes Horribly Wrong. A compilation of onair disasters from the decade.

12.25 All-Time Favourite ABBA Songs. (R) 1.00 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.00 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. (R) 3.50 Britain’s Greatest Bridges. (R) 4.40 Divine Designs. (R) 5.05 Wildlife SOS. (R) 5.30 Entertainment News. 5.45 Milkshake! Monkey’s Amazing Adventures. (R) 5.50 Pip and Posy. (R)

BBC Four

7.00 The Lake District: A Wild Year

8.00 Bullseyes and Beer: When Darts Hit Britain – Timeshift 9.00

Jocky Wilson Said 10.00 Arrows with Eric Bristow 10.35 The History of Pubs – Timeshift 11.15 For Folk’s Sake: Morris Dancing and Me ITV2

4.50 Film: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) 7.25

Film: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) 10.00 Family Guy 11.30 American Dad!

ITV3

3.40 Film: Goodnight Mister Tom (1998) 5.50 Agatha Christie’s Poirot

7.00 Midsomer Murders 9.00 The Savoy 10.00 Foyle’s War 11.50 Agatha Christie’s Poirot

ITV4

12.45 Snooker: World Mixed Doubles Championship. Coverage of the afternoon session on day two. 4.30 Monster Carp

5.35 River Monsters 6.35

Dramatic Finishes 6.45 Snooker: World Mixed Doubles Championship. Coverage of the evening session on day two. 9.30

Film: Robin Hood (2010)

E4

3.50 The Big Bang Theory 5.05

Lego Masters New Zealand 6.10

Film: Peter Rabbit (2018) 8.00

Film: Transformers (2007) 10.50 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 11.55 The Inbetweeners

Film4

3.10 The Great Escape (1963) 6.40 Mortal Engines (2018) 9.00 Inside Man (2006) 11.40 Antlers (2020) MONDAY’S TV 1.4.24

MasterChef BBC1, 6.30pm

John Torode and Gregg

Wallace present the first of five heats in the cookery competition, with the first group of six hopefuls challenged to turn an everyday ingredient into something spectacular. In the invention test, the contestants are tasked with creating a dish celebrating one of Gregg's favourite foods: potato gnocchi.

6.00 Breakfast. 9.30 Critical Incident. (R) 10.00 Fraud Squad.

Animal Park Summer.

Homes Under the Hammer. (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt.

Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures. (R) 2.00 The Famous

(R) 3.30 A Perfect Planet. (R) 4.30 Bridge of Lies. 5.15 Pointless. 6.00 BBC News at Six; Weather.

6.20 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

6.30 MasterChef. New series. John Torode and Gregg Wallace present the cookery competition.

7.30 EastEnders. Sharon returns to the square.

8.00 Anton & Giovanni’s Adventures in Spain. Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice visit the Basque region. Last in the series.

9.00 This Town. A funeral brings together different sides of Dante’s family.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. The host looks back on some of the best moments from 10 years of his Big Show. (R)

11.40 BBC 1Xtra Comedy Gala with Eddie Kadi and Friends. Comedy showcase recorded live at the Hackney Empire.

12.40 Film: Kick-Ass 2. (2013)

2.15 Weather for the Week Ahead. 2.20 BBC News.

6.30 The Bidding Room. (R)

7.15 Bridge of Lies. (R) 8.00

Sign Zone: The Hairy Bikers Go West. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 1.00 Impossible. (R) 1.45 The Edge. (R)

2.30 Born to Be Wild. (R) 3.00 Jay Blades’ Home Fix. (R) 3.45 Best Home Cook. (R) 4.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Pubs That Built Britain. (R)

5.15 Flog It! (R)

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. With Eddie Kadi, Natasha Raskin Sharp, Charlie Stayt and Faye Tozer. (R)

6.30 Great British Railway Journeys. Michael Portillo travels to Uttoxeter from Liverpool.

7.00 Mastermind. Clive Myrie hosts the grand final of the quiz. Last in the series.

8.00 Only Connect Specials: Champion of Champions 2022. The Dicers take on the Data Wizards. (R)

8.30 University Challenge. The second and concluding semi-final.

9.00 Colombia with Simon Reeve. The adventurer explores the country in the aftermath of the civil war. (R)

10.00 Film: Woman in Gold. (2015) Fact-based drama, starring Helen Mirren.

11.40 Film: The Mercy. (2017) Factual drama, starring Colin Firth.

1.20 Sign Zone: Countryfile. (R)

2.15 Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods. (R) 3.15 Lifeline. (R) 3.25 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 Good Morning Britain.

9.00 Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning. 12.30 Loose Women.

1.30 ITV Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.35 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather. 1.40 Dickinson’s Real Deal Winners. (R)

2.15 ITV Racing Live: Irish Grand National. Including the 5.00 BoyleSports Irish Grand National.

5.30 Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.10 ITV Evening News; Weather.

6.30 The Chase Celebrity Special. Mark Chapman, Gillian Joseph, Ryan Sidebottom and Fred MacAulay answer general knowledge questions and work as a team to take on a Chaser and secure a charity prize. (R)

7.30 Emmerdale. Chas questions Aaron.

8.00 Coronation Street. Tracy suggests she and Steve should get back together.

9.00 Passenger. A conversation with Nina Karlsson gets Riya in big trouble with Linda.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather. ITV News Cymru Wales.

10.20 Film: Taken 2. (2012) Action thriller sequel, starring Liam Neeson.

12.05 English Football League

Highlights. 1.20 Shop on TV. 3.00

Next Level Chef. (R) 3.50 Unwind.

5.05 Ainsley’s Fantastic Flavours. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Dim Byd i’w Wisgo. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.15 Cynefin: Tyddewi – Ynys Dewi. (R)

1.30 Caeau Cymru. (R) 2.00

Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05

Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Y Castell. (R)

4.00 Awr Fawr. 5.00 Stwnsh. (R)

6.00 Arfordir Cymru: Sir Benfro.

6.30 Rownd a Rownd. (R)

7.00 Heno.

7.45 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd.

8.00 Guinness World Records Cymru 2023. 8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd.

9.00 Teulu Shadog: Tymhorau’r Flwyddyn. 9.30 Ralïo+.

10.00 Sgorio. 10.30 Dylan ar Daith. (R) 11.35 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.15 Countdown. 6.55 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 7.45

Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.10 Frasier. (R) 10.15 Film: Bridge to Terabithia. (2007) 12.05

Film: Ferdinand. (2017) 2.10

Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. 5.00 Chateau DIY. (R) 6.00 A Place in the Sun. 6.30 Channel 4 News. 7.00 National Trust: My Historic Home. (R) 8.00 Grand Indian Hotel. 9.00 24 Hours in A&E. 10.00

Paula. (R) 12.05 Surviving R Kelly. 1.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA. (R) 1.50 Couples Come Dine with Me. (R) 2.45 Big Mood. (R) 3.40 Grand Designs. (R) 4.35

Renovation Nation. (R) 5.25 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 5.40-6.10 The Perfect Pitch. (R)

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine. 11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45 Friends. (R) 1.35 Entertainment News. 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime.

1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15

Film: Stolen by Their Father. (2022)

4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5. 5.05 Inside Aldi at Easter. A look at the supermarket giant's preparation for the season. (R)

6.00 The Cotswolds with Pam Ayres. The poet travels around the region. (R)

6.55 5 News Update.

7.00 Traffic Cops. A counterterrorism operation near the M1 brings traffic to a standstill. (R)

7.55 5 News Update. 8.00 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders. New series. Following Northumbria officers on patrol.

9.00 Inside the Force. Officers respond to a call about a mass brawl in a town centre pub.

10.00 Prime Suspect: Murder in Suburbia. An investigation into the murder of a doctor’s wife in Essex in 1983.

11.55 Traffic Cops. (R)

1.00 PlayOJO Live Casino Show.

3.00 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. (R) 3.50 Britain’s Greatest Bridges. (R) 4.35 Divine Designs. (R) 5.00 Wildlife SOS. (R)

5.25 Entertainment News. 5.35 Peppa Pig. (R) 5.40 Milkshake! Monkey’s Amazing Adventures. (R)

5.50 Pip and Posy. (R)

BBC Four

7.00 Deer in the City 7.10 Monsoon Railway 8.00 Britain in Focus: A

Photographic History 9.00 Tish

10.30 Vivian Maier: Who Took

Nanny’s Photos? – Imagine 11.40

On Camera: Photographers at the BBC

ITV2

4.50 Film: Jumanji (1995) 6.55

Film: The Addams Family (1991) 9.00 Loaded in Paradise 10.00

Family Guy 11.30 American Dad!

ITV3

3.40 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 6.00 Heartbeat 8.00 Vera 10.00 Blue Murder 11.30 Film: Goodnight Mister Tom (1998)

ITV4

12.45 Snooker: Tour Championship Live. Coverage of day one. 4.30 World of Sport 4.35 Minder 5.40

Gallagher Premiership Rugby Union Highlights 6.45 Snooker: Tour Championship Live. Further coverage of day one. 10.10 Film:

The Purge (2013) 11.50 The Chase Celebrity Special

E4

4.00 Young Sheldon 5.00 The Big Bang Theory 7.00 Hollyoaks 7.30 Married at First Sight Australia 9.00

The Underdog: Josh Must Win 10.00 Gogglebox 11.05 First Dates

Film4

2.40 Babe (1995) 4.30 The Italian Job (1969) 6.35 Star Trek (2009) Sci-fi adventure, starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. 9.00

Colombiana (2011) Action thriller, starring Zoe Saldana. 11.10 The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)

Jon and Gregg

TUESDAY’S TV 2.4.24

Listings supplied by PA Media

BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 WALES S4C CHANNEL 5 DIGITAL CHOICE

Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr

BBC1, 8pm

The designers work directly with clients for the first time as they work their magic on three Swansea cafes. With briefs ranging from 'Scandiby-the-sea' to 'Industrial Chic', the contestants must work in pairs to come up with cohesive plans to improve the ambience and dining experience before Michelle Ogundehin and guest judge Nisha Katona make their decisions.

BBC2, 8pm

For the second episode of her series, the always fabulous Andi Oliver is in Bristol to meet Jasper Thompson, who is behind a pioneering homeless project that transforms shipping containers into temporary accommodation. Now, he’s looking to raise awareness about his new community café, and he’s recruited Andi to help with the launch party.

6.00 Breakfast. 9.30 Critical Incident. (R) 10.00 Fraud Squad. (R) 10.30 Animal Park. (R) 11.15 Homes Under the Hammer. 12.15 Bargain Hunt. (R) 1.00 BBC News at One; Weather. 1.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather. 1.45 Clive Myrie’s Italian Road Trip. (R) 2.15 Money for Nothing. 3.00 Escape to the Country. 3.45 The Bidding Room. (R) 4.30 Bridge of Lies. 5.15 Pointless.

6.00 BBC News at Six; Weather.

6.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

7.00 The One Show. With Alex Jones and Roman Kemp.

7.30 EastEnders. Phil demands answers and access to Albie from Sharon.

8.00 Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr. The designers work directly with clients for the first time as they work their magic on three Swansea cafes, with briefs ranging from “Scandiby-the-sea” to “Industrial Chic”.

9.00 Tree on a Hill. New series. Crime drama starring Nia Roberts and Rhodri Meilir.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Sort Your Life Out with Stacey Solomon. Stacey helps families declutter their homes. Last in the series.

11.40 The Dropout. Elizabeth and Sunny scramble to fix their technological problems.

12.30 The Dropout. 1.20 BBC News.

6.30 Bargain Hunt. (R) 7.15 Bridge of Lies. (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Sort Your Life Out with Stacey Solomon. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 1.00

Impossible. (R) 1.45 The Edge. (R)

2.30 Born to Be Wild. (R) 3.00 Jay Blades’ Home Fix. (R) 3.45 Best Home Cook. (R) 4.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Pubs That Built Britain. (R)

5.15 Flog It! (R)

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Natasha Raskin Sharp, Charlie Stayt, Eddie Kadi and Faye Tozer take part. (R)

6.30 Great British Railway Journeys.

7.00 Gareth Malone’s Easter Passion. Eight untrained singers set out to perform Bach’s St John Passion. (R)

8.00 Saving Lives at Sea. Crew members rescue a a fisherman who’s suffered a suspected stroke.

9.00 QI XL. Host Sandi Toksvig looks at some underthings with a panel of guests.

9.45 Live at the Apollo. Host Tez Ilyas welcomes Spring Day and Ignacio Lopez. (R)

10.30 Newsnight.

11.10 Weather.

11.15 Film: Mary Queen of Scots. (2018) Drama, starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie.

1.10 Sign Zone: Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr. (R) 2.10

Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales. (R) 3.10 This Is BBC Two.

BBC1 BBC2

6.00 Breakfast. 9.30 Critical Incident. (R) 10.00 Fraud Squad. (R) 10.30 Animal Park. (R) 11.15

Homes Under the Hammer. (R)

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00

Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

12.30 Loose Women. 1.30 ITV

Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.55

ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

2.00 Riddiculous. (R) 3.00

Winning Combination. (R) 4.00 Tipping Point. (R) 5.00 The Chase. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.30 Emmerdale. Chas tries to break Aaron’s barriers.

8.00 Coronation Street. Dee-Dee feels the pressure to prove Roy’s innocence, Maria keeps tabs on Liam from the salon and the Barlows bid farewell as Tracy departs for Spain.

9.00 Unbelievable Moments Caught on Camera. Police officers rescue a mother and baby from under a car wreckage.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story. Kate shares a personal insight into the final year of Derek Draper’s life. (R)

11.40 English Football League Highlights. Action from the latest fixtures. (R)

12.55 Shop on TV. 3.00 On Assignment. (R) 3.30 The Jonathan Ross Show. (R) 4.25 Unwind. 5.35 Made in Britain. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Sain Ffagan. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.15 Cynefin. (R) 1.30 Teulu Shadog: Tymhorau’r Flwyddyn. (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Ty am Ddim. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. 5.00 Stwnsh. (R)

6.00 Cegin Bryn. (R)

6.30 Sgorio. (R) Newyddion S4C.

7.00 Heno.

7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd.

8.00 Pobol y Cwm.

8.25 Rownd a Rownd.

8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Ar Brawf.

10.00 Heliwr.

11.10 Bethesda: Pobol y Chwarel. (R)

11.45 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.10 Countdown. (R)

6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R)

8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.30 Frasier. (R) 11.00 The Great House Giveaway. (R) 12.00 Channel 4 News Summary. 12.05 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY. (R)

6.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News. 8.00 Aldi’s Next Big Thing. 9.00 Night Coppers. 10.00 24 Hours in Police Custody. (R) 10.45 Sky Coppers. (R) 11.50 The Rise and Fall of Pablo Escobar. 1.25 Taskmaster. (R) 2.20 The Last Leg. (R) 3.15 The Piano. (R) 4.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R)

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine.

11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45

Friends. (R) 1.35 Entertainment News. 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime.

1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15

Film: A Killer in the Family. (2023)

4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5.

6.00 The Cotswolds with Pam Ayres. The poet’s latest journey starts in Wiltshire in the town of Bradford-onAvon. (R)

6.55 5 News Update.

7.00

Solar Panels: Are They Really Worth It? Alexis Conran investigates whether people should buy solar panels for their homes. (R)

7.55 5 News Update.

8.00

9.00

Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly. Graeme Hall helps a frenchie with a tendency to bark at passers-by.

Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild. Ben Fogle catches up with British vet Janey at her rescue centre in Sri Lanka.

10.00 Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts. Sister Benita takes on the role of team leader for the first time. (R)

11.05 999: Critical Condition. (R)

12.05 Criminals Caught on Camera. (R) 1.00 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.00 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. (R) 3.50 The Sewer Map of Britain. (R) 4.35 Divine Designs. (R) 5.00 Wildlife SOS. (R) 5.25 Entertainment News.

5.40 Milkshake! Monkey’s Amazing Adventures. (R) 5.45 Peppa Pig. (R) 5.50 Pip and Posy. (R)

ITV2

4.00

Dad!

ITV3

3.40 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 5.55 Heartbeat 8.00 Midsomer Murders

10.00 Blue Murder 11.30 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

ITV4

12.45 Snooker: Tour Championship Live. 4.30 Hot Shots 4.35 Minder

5.45 British Rally Championship

6.45 Snooker: Tour Championship Live. Coverage of the evening session on day two. 10.10 World Rally Championship Highlights

11.10 Film: Pitch Black (2000)

E4

4.00 Young Sheldon 5.00 The Big Bang Theory 7.00 Hollyoaks 7.30

Married at First Sight Australia 9.00

The Underdog: Josh Must Win 10.05 Gogglebox 11.05 First Dates Film4

3.25 It Came from Beneath the Sea (1954) 5.05 The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) 7.10 My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006) 9.00 Ghost Rider (2007) 11.15 Rocketman (2019)

6.00 BBC News at Six; Weather.

6.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

7.00 The One Show. With Alex Jones.

7.30 EastEnders. Dean heads to No 45 to sell his share of Beale’s Eels.

8.00 The Repair Shop. Jay Blades hosts as the team restores an Olympic torch, a beloved stuffed toy cat, a broken jukebox and an enormous colourful sign salvaged by a local community in Scotland. (R)

9.00 Tree on a Hill. In one short moment, Margaret and Clive’s lives are changed forever, leaving them to decide whether to stay and face the truth or run.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Match of the Day. Highlights of the latest Premier League matches.

12.10 Anton & Giovanni’s Adventures in Spain. (R) 1.10

Weather for the Week Ahead. 1.15 BBC News.

The Eye Surgery Specialists

Enjoying every view

even if you don’t enjoy every hill

6.30 Money for Nothing. (R)

7.15 Bridge of Lies. (R) 8.00

Sign Zone: See Hear. 8.30 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 1.00

Impossible. (R) 1.45 The Edge. (R)

2.30 Born to Be Wild. (R) 3.00 Jay Blades’ Home Fix. (R) 3.45 Best Home Cook. (R) 4.45 The Hairy

Bikers’ Pubs That Built Britain. (R)

5.15 Flog It! (R)

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Faye Tozer, Eddie Kadi, Natasha Raskin Sharp and Charlie Stayt take part. (R)

6.30 Great British Railway Journeys. Michael Portillo travels from Lincoln to York.

7.00 Gareth Malone’s Easter Passion. Gareth prepares the eight amateur singers for the performance of their lives. (R)

8.00 Andi Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts. In Bristol, Andi throws a party to launch a community cafe.

9.00 MasterChef. The Chefs are tasked with elevating an everyday ingredient.

10.00 Mandy.

10.15 Mandy.

10.30 Newsnight.

11.10 Weather.

11.15 Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales. (R)

12.15 Sign Zone: See Hear. (R)

12.45 Make It at Market. (R) 1.30

Bring the Drama. (R) 2.30 Martin

3.00 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00 Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

12.30 Loose Women. 1.30 ITV Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.55 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather. 2.00 Riddiculous. (R) 3.00 Winning Combination. (R) 4.00 Tipping Point. (R) 5.00 The Chase. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.30 Emmerdale. Charity convinces Chas to be honest with Liam.

8.00 Coronation Street. Jenny crumbles beneath the weight of Carla's interrogation. Dylan walks into Mason's trap, Ed confirms the end of his marriage and Roy reaches out to Lauren's mother.

9.00 Professor T. The professor investigates the murder of a bride on her wedding night.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 Paul O’Grady’s Great Elephant Adventure. Paul celebrates the work done by elephant conservation centres. (R)

11.40 Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport. Vietnam Airlines are battling baggage woes. (R)

12.05 Shop on TV. 3.00 Home

Invasion: Britain’s Pest Problem –

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Colleen Ramsey: Bywyd a Bwyd. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00 Byd o Liw: Arlunwyr. (R) 1.30 Parti Bwyd Beca. (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00

Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Arctig Gwyllt Iolo Williams. (R)

4.00 Awr Fawr. 5.00 Stwnsh. (R)

6.00 Caeau Cymru. (R)

6.30 Ralïo+. (R) Newyddion S4C. 7.00 Heno.

7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd.

8.00 Pobol y Cwm.

8.25 Port Talbot: Diwedd y Dur? (R)

8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Gogglebocs Cymru. 10.00 Jess Davies. (R) 10.30 Teulu’r Castell. (R) 11.35 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.10 Countdown. (R)

6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R)

8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.30 Frasier. (R) 11.00 The Great House Giveaway. (R) 12.00

Channel 4 News Summary. 12.05

Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R)

1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY. (R) 6.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News. 8.00 George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations. 9.00 Grand Designs. (R) 10.00 The Truth About the “Skinny” Jab. (R)

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine.

11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45 Friends. (R) 1.35 Entertainment News. 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime.

1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15

Film: The Lies He Told. (2024) 4.00

Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5.

6.00 The Cotswolds with Pam Ayres. The poet heads to north Gloucestershire and the village of Toddington. (R)

6.55 5 News Update.

7.00 Shop Smart, Save Money. Top quality drinks at home on a budget.

7.55 5 News Update.

8.00

Air Fryers: Sunday Lunch Made Easy. New series. A cooking series, with Alexis Conran preparing meals in an air fryer.

9.00 The 1980s Supermarket. How Britain became infatuated with diets and exercise in the mid-1980s.

10.00

Ambulance: Code Red. Critical care paramedics are dispatched to a nightclub. (R)

11.05 999: Emergency Call Out. (R)

12.05 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders. (R) 1.05

BBC Four

7.00 Jane Goodall: Beauty and the Beasts 8.00 Himalaya with Michael Palin 9.00 Rise of the Nazis: The Downfall 10.00 Paul Abbott Remembers Clocking Off 10.15 Clocking Off

ITV2

4.00 Dawson’s Creek 5.00 Dress to Impress 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase 7.00 Family Fortunes 8.00 Superstore 9.00 Loaded in Paradise

10.00 Family Guy 11.30 American Dad!

ITV3

3.40 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 5.55 Heartbeat 8.00 Midsomer Murders 10.00 Blue Murder 11.30 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

ITV4

12.45 Snooker: Tour Championship Live. Coverage of the afternoon session on day three. 4.30 Snooker v Darts 4.40 Minder 5.45 Giant Lobster Hunters 6.45 Snooker: Tour Championship Live. Quarterfinal coverage. 10.15 All Elite Wrestling: Rampage 11.20 Film: The Krays (1990)

E4 4.00 Young Sheldon 5.00 The Big Bang Theory 7.00 Hollyoaks 7.30 Married at First Sight Australia 9.00

The Underdog: Josh Must Win

Compston’s Norwegian Fling. (R)

Opt for enjoying the views without having to wear glasses or contact lenses Visit one of our state-of-the-art clinics where you’ll find our world-class surgeons, who have successfully treated over 1 million eyes And with a range of vision correction options to best suit your needs, soon you’ll be able to enjoy a life free from glasses, contact lenses, and even cataracts WEDNESDAY’S TV 3.4.24

Tonight. (R) 3.25 Fishing Allstars. (R) 3.50 Unwind. 5.05 Alan

Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club. (R)

11.05 Naked Attraction. (R) 12.10

Open House: The Great Sex Experiment. (R) 1.05 Hunted. (R)

PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.05 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. (R) 3.55 The Cotswolds with Pam Ayres. (R) 4.40 Divine Designs. (R) 5.05 Wildlife SOS. (R) 5.30 Entertainment News. 5.45 Milkshake! Monkey’s Amazing Adventures. (R) 5.50 Pip and Posy. (R)

10.00 Gogglebox 11.05 First Dates Film4

2.35 Junior (1994) 4.45 The War with Grandpa (2021) 6.40 Mrs Doubtfire (1993) Comedy, starring Robin Williams. 9.00 Titanic (1997) Romantic drama, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Alan Carr

Andi Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts

Andi Oliver

The Twelve ITV, 9pm

The Crown calls Detective Sam Chedid to the stand and various pieces of evidence are introduced to the Court. The jurors share polarising opinions on the trial so far as different personalities begin to rub each other the wrong way. Garry is offered a dubious bribe, Alexi makes a bad decision when confronted with a horrific workplace accident, and Jarrod is unexpectedly arrested.

9.00 The Apprentice. The candidates are tasked with creating a new vegan alternative to cheese to pitch to major retailers. Unusual recipes and bland brands result in another candidate being fired.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Inseparable Sisters. An indepth look into the lives of seven-year-old conjoined twins. (R)

11.20 Wreck. The gang are given an ultimatum as the festival opens its doors. (R)

12.10 Wreck. (R) 12.55 BBC News.

FRIDAY’S TV 5.4.24

6.30 Escape to the Country. (R) 7.15 Bridge of Lies. (R)

8.00 Sign Zone: Gardeners’ World. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 1.00

Impossible. (R) 1.45 The Edge. (R)

2.30 Born to Be Wild. (R) 3.00 Jay Blades’ Home Fix. (R) 3.45 Best Home Cook. (R) 4.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Pubs That Built Britain. (R)

5.15 Flog It! (R)

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Eddie Kadi, Natasha Raskin Sharp, Charlie Stayt and Faye Tozer take part. (R)

6.30 Great British Railway Journeys.

7.00 Digging for Britain. Alice Roberts and the team examine a Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall. (R)

8.00 Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby. Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder go behind the scenes at a hotel in the Maldives. (R)

9.00 Surgeons: At the Edge of Life. Medical professionals must remove a patients eye to cut out the cancer behind it.

10.00 The Apprentice: You’re Fired.

10.30 Newsnight.

11.10 Weather.

11.15 Robin Williams: A Life in Ten Pictures.

12.10 Forensics: The Real CSI. (R)

1.10 Africa’s Lion Kings: Natural World. (R) 1.15 Sign Zone: Dragons’ Den. (R) 2.15 Saving Lives at Sea in World War II. (R)

3.15 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00

Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

12.30 Loose Women. 1.30 ITV Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.55

ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

2.00 Riddiculous. (R) 3.00

Winning Combination. (R) 4.00

Tipping Point. (R) 5.00 The Chase. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.30 Emmerdale. Tom loses control. Kerry makes a big promise. Claudette has an apology to make.

8.30 Wales This Week: Shoplifting: Working on the Frontline. Exploring the impact of shoplifting in Wales.

9.00 The Twelve. Detective Sam Chedid takes the stand.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.35 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 Priced Out? The Rising Costs of Your Car – Tonight. Ginny Buckley investigates what’s behind the unprecedented price hikes in the cost of driving.

11.15 The Mart. The summer holidays allow the younger generation to experience the mart. (R)

11.45 All Elite Wrestling: Rampage. Hard-hitting wrestling action. (R)

12.40 Shop on TV. 3.00 The Twelve. (R) 3.55 Unwind. 5.10 The Best of Saint & Greavsie. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Ffasiwn Drefn. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00 Arfordir Cymru: Sir Benfro. (R)

1.30 Ralïo+. (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Iaith ar Daith. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. (R)

6.00 Pobol y Penwythnos. (R)

6.30 Rownd a Rownd. (R)

7.00 Heno.

7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd.

8.00 Pobol y Cwm.

8.25 Rownd a Rownd.

8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Guinness World Records Cymru 2023. (R)

10.00 Llanw. (R)

11.00 Wil ac Aeron: Taith Rwmania. (R)

11.35 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.10 Countdown. (R)

6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R)

8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.30 Frasier. (R) 11.00 The Great House Giveaway. (R) 12.00

Channel 4 News Summary. 12.05

Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10

Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY. (R) 6.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 6.30

The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News. 8.00 The Dog House. 9.00 Taskmaster. 10.00 Big Mood. 11.10 Gogglebox. (R) 1.05 Film: Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin. (2021) 2.40 Car S.O.S. (R) 3.30 Couples Come Dine with Me. (R)

6.00

Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine. 11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45

Friends. (R) 1.35 Entertainment News. 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime.

1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15

Film: Left for Dead: The Ashley Reeves Story. (2021) 4.00 BargainLoving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5.

6.00 The Cotswolds with Pam Ayres. The poet visits Cotswold Wildlife Park. (R) 6.55 5 News Update. 7.00 A Yorkshire Farm. Rob and Dave prepare for the Penistone Show.

7.55 5 News Update.

8.00 Air Fryers: Entertaining Made Easy. How to cook decent meals in the kitchen gadget.

9.00 The Hotel Inspector. Alex Polizzi visits East Sussex to help a duo with their Shepherds Huts business.

10.00 Killer at the Crime Scene. The disappearance of 21-year-old student Libby Squire. (R)

11.05

Making a Serial Killer. The crimes of estate agentturned-killer Todd Kohlhepp. (R)

12.05 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. (R) 1.05 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.05 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. (R) 3.55 The Cotswolds with Pam Ayres. (R) 4.40 Great Artists. (R) 5.05 House Doctor. (R) 5.30 Entertainment News. 5.45 Milkshake! Monkey’s Amazing Adventures. (R)

The Assembly BBC1, 10.40pm

In a special programme to mark Autism Acceptance Week, actor Michael Sheen is interviewed by a cast of 35 individuals who are neurodivergent or learning disabled. No subject is out of bounds and no question is off the table as the Good Omens star is quizzed on everything from exgirlfriends and on-screen kisses to the OBE he returned and even his favourite motorway.

BBC1 BBC2

6.00 Breakfast. 9.30 Critical Incident. (R) 10.00 Fraud Squad. (R) 10.30 Animal Park. (R) 11.15

Homes Under the Hammer. (R)

12.15 Bargain Hunt. 1.00 BBC News at One; Weather. 1.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather. 1.45 Hope Street. (R) 2.30 Clive Myrie’s Italian Road Trip. (R) 3.00 Escape to the Country. (R) 3.45 The Bidding Room. Items up for grabs include a curious vibration device and a 1960s piece of iconic design. (R)

4.30 Bridge of Lies. 5.15 Pointless.

6.00 BBC News at Six; Weather.

6.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

7.00 Match of the Day Wales Live. Wales Women v Croatia Women (Kick-off 7.15pm).

9.30 Have I Got News for You. New series. The satirical current affairs quiz for its 67th run.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Avoidance. New series. Jonathan’s attempt to win back Claire backfires.

11.10 The Assembly. Actor Michael Sheen is interviewed by a group of neurodivergent individuals.

11.40 Christine McGuinness: Unmasking My Autism. Christine McGuinness explores how many autistic women have gone undiagnosed. (R)

12.40 RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK Versus the World. (R) 1.50 BBC News.

6.30 The Bidding Room. (R) 7.15 Bridge of Lies. (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Antiques Roadshow. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 12.50 Lifeline. (R) 1.00 Impossible. (R) 1.45 The Edge. (R)

2.30 Born to Be Wild. (R) 3.00 Jay Blades’ Home Fix. (R) 3.45 Best Home Cook. (R) 4.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Pubs That Built Britain. Dave Myers delves into Bristol's seafaring past. (R) 5.15 Flog It!

From Tilbury Docks in Essex. (R)

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Eddie Kadi, Natasha Raskin Sharp, Charlie Stayt and Faye Tozer compete. (R)

6.30 Great British Railway Journeys. Michael Portillo travels from Northallerton to Chester-Le-Street. Last in the series.

7.00 The One Show.

7.30 MasterChef.

8.00 Beyond Paradise. A dying woman goes missing from a local fishing trawler.

9.00 Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales. The travellers head into Eryri National Park.

10.00 QI. (R)

10.30 Newsnight.

11.00 Weather.

11.05 Film: I, Tonya. (2017) Biopic, starring Margot Robbie.

12.55 Sign Zone: Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes. (R) 1.25

Gladiators. (R) 2.25 Our Flag Means Death. (R) 2.50 This Is BBC Two.

ITV1 WALES S4C

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00 Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

12.30 Loose Women. 1.30 ITV Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.55 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather. 2.00 Riddiculous. (R) 3.00 Winning Combination. (R) 4.00 Tipping Point. (R) 5.00 The Chase. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.00 Emmerdale. Kerry brings out the naked butlers she’s hired, Matty gets emotional on his stag do, and Ruby despairs.

7.30 UEFA Euro 2025 Qualifier. England Women v Sweden Women (Kick-off 8.00pm). All the action from both teams’ opening Group A3 match, held at Wembley Stadium.

10.15 ITV News; Weather.

10.45 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

11.00 Film: Casino Royale. (1967) Ageing spy James Bond comes out of retirement to tackle a mysterious mastermind who wants to take over the world. Spoof adventure, with David Niven, Peter Sellers and Woody Allen.

1.15 Shop on TV. 3.00 The Life and Death of Lily Savage. Documentary paying tribute to Paul O’Grady. (R)

4.10 Unwind. Daily escape designed to calm the mind and encourage relaxation and reflection.

5.35 Made in Britain. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Gwyliau Gartref. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00

Bethesda: Pobol y Chwarel. (R)

1.30 Cegin Bryn. (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05

Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Guinness World Records Cymru 2023. (R)

4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. (R)

6.00 Cymry ar Gynfas. (R)

6.30 Parti Bwyd Beca. (R)

7.00 Heno.

7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd.

8.00 Hen Dy Newydd. (R)

8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd.

9.00 Am Dro! (R)

10.00 Pêl-Droed Rhyngwladol. 11.00 Creisis. (R) 12.05 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.10 Countdown. (R)

6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R)

8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.30 Frasier. (R) 11.00 The Great House Giveaway. (R) 12.00

Channel 4 News Summary. 12.05

Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R)

1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY. (R) 6.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News. 7.30 Michael Mosley: Secrets of Your Big Shop. (R) 8.30 Travel Man: 48 Hours in Prague. 9.00 Gogglebox. 10.00 The Last Leg. 11.05 Film: American Pie. (1999) 1.05 Film: First Love. (2019) 2.55 Car S.O.S. (R) 3.456.00 Come Dine with Me. (R)

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine.

11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45 Friends. (R) 1.35 Entertainment News. 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime.

1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15

Film: The Woman in the Window. (2020) 4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5. 6.00 The Cotswolds with Pam Ayres. The poet explores places surrounding the region. (R)

6.55 5 News Update. 7.00

Dorset: Country and Coast. A visit to the oldest icecream parlour in Weymouth. (R)

7.55 5 News Update. 8.00 The Underground Map of Britain. A ride through the history of London’s tube network.

9.00

Susan Calman’s Great British Cities. The presenter is in Glasgow, uncovering the hidden history of her home city.

10.00

Tommy Steele: The Great Entertainer. A profile of the singer and actor. (R)

11.30 Britain’s Favourite 70s Hits. A look at some of the biggest pop bands of the seventies. (R)

1.30 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. Interactive gambling. 3.30 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords. (R) 4.20 Britain’s Greatest Bridges. (R) 5.05 House Doctor. (R) 5.30 Entertainment News. 5.45 Milkshake! Monkey’s Amazing Adventures. (R) 5.50 Pip and Posy. (R)

BBC Four 7.00 Britain’s Wild Places 7.10 Great Railway Journeys 8.00 Film: On the Waterfront (1954) 9.45 On the Waterfront: Talking Pictures 10.15 Film: Apocalypse Now (1979)

ITV2

4.00 Dawson’s Creek 5.00 Dress to Impress 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase 7.00 Family Fortunes 8.00 Superstore 9.00 Loaded in Paradise 10.00 Family Guy 11.30 American Dad!

ITV3

3.40 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 5.55 Heartbeat 8.00 Vera 10.00 Blue Murder 11.30 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

ITV4

12.45 Snooker: Tour Championship Live. The quarter-finals. 4.30 World of Sport 4.40 Minder 5.45 Giant Lobster Hunters 6.45 Snooker: Tour Championship Live. The concluding quarter-finals. 10.15 All Elite Wrestling: Collision E4

4.00 Young Sheldon 5.00 The Big Bang Theory 7.00 Hollyoaks

7.30 Married at First Sight Australia 9.05 Celebrity Gogglebox 10.05 Open House: The Great Sex Experiment 11.10 First Dates

Film4

2.45 Mousehunt (1997) 4.35 Johnny English Strikes Again (2018) 6.20 Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) 9.00 Fury (2014) 11.40 Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

CHANNEL 5 DIGITAL CHOICE

BBC Four 7.00 TOTP: 1995 8.00 TOTP: 1988

8.30 TOTP: 1976 9.00 Marvin

Gaye: Live at Montreux 10.40 Kings of Soul 11.35 Barry White in Concert 1975

ITV2

4.00 Dawson’s Creek 5.00 Dress to Impress 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase 7.00 Family Fortunes 8.00 Superstore 9.00 Loaded in Paradise 10.00 Family Guy 11.30 American Dad!

ITV3

3.40 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 5.55 Heartbeat 8.00 Doc Martin 9.00

Shetland 11.35 Blue Murder

ITV4

12.45 Snooker: Tour Championship Live. The opening session of the first semi-final. 4.30 The Best of the 80s 4.40 Minder 5.45 Giant Lobster Hunters 6.45 Snooker: Tour Championship Live. The conclusion of the first semi-final. 10.10 All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite

E4

4.00 Young Sheldon 5.00 The Big

Bang Theory 7.00 Hollyoaks 7.30

Modern Family 8.00 Taskmaster’s Bleeped New Year Treat 2023 9.00

Film: Transformers (2007) Sci-fi action adventure, starring Shia LaBeouf. 11.50 Naked Attraction

Film4

2.30 The Kid Who Would Be King (2019) 4.50 Home Alone (1990) 6.55 Daddy’s Home 2 (2017)

Comedy, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. 9.00 Nobody (2021) 10.50 Riders of Justice (2021) Listings

Louisa Mignone

Michael Sheen

on

Inew Y dd

UAC yn cyfarfod â

Mae Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru (UAC) wedi cyfarfod â Phrif Weinidog newydd Cymru, Vaughan Gething ac Ysgrifennydd newydd y Cabinet dros Faterion Gwledig a Newid Hinsawdd,

Huw Irranca-Davies, i drafod dyfodol y diwydiant amaeth. Wrth drafod wedi’r cyfarfod, dywedodd Llywydd UAC, Ian Rickman: “Rydym yn croesawu’r cyfle cynnar hwn i amlinellu’r heriau presennol sy’n ein

hwynebu fel diwydiant ac i drafod y camau nesaf posibl gyda’r Prif Weinidog newydd ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn dilyn ein cais am gyfarfo

“Fe ddywedom yn gwbl glir bod yr ymdeimlad o

rwystredigaeth a phryder o fewn y diwydiant yn parhau, a chawsom y cyfle i gyflwyno ein hymateb ystyrlon i’r ymgynghoriad Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy a rhestr o’r pwyntiau allweddol i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.”

Cymrud

Ychwanegodd

Dirprwy Bennaeth

Polisi UAC, Gareth Parry: “Rydym hefyd yn croesawu’r gydnabyddiaeth a’r gwerthfawrogiad gan y Prif Weinidog ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet o’r sefyllfa bresennol rydym yn ei hwynebu. Mae hwn yn gam cyntaf hollbwysig i ddeall difrifoldeb y problemau a wynebwn gan ddod o hyd i’r ffordd orau ymlaen i fynd i’r afael â’r heriau hynny.

“Rydym am weld sefydlu grŵp rhanddeiliaid bychan gyda’r ffocws ar drafod a chynnig newidiadau i’r cynllun trwy gydgynllunio go iawn,” meddai.

Ychwanegodd y Llywydd Ian Rickman: “Mae ad-drefnu diweddar y Llywodraeth yn sicr yn newyddion cadarnhaol i’r diwydiant gan ei fod yn cyflwyno cyfle newydd ar gyfer newid ystyrlon i’r cynigion presennol. Edrychwn ymlaen at gyfarfodydd rheolaidd ag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a’r Prif Weinidog, i sicrhau bod fersiwn derfynol y Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy yn cyflawni datrysiadau go iawn i ffermwyr Cymru.”

Gobaith y pasg yng nghanol yr arswyd

Yn ei neges ar gyfer y Pasg mae Llywydd Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg yn dweud bod y gwrthdaro presennol yng ngwlad Iesu gynt yn deillio o gyfnod y Cymro David Lloyd George, y prif weinidog a fu’n flaenllaw yn y broses o sefydlu’r wladwriaeth Iddewig. Ychwanegodd y Parchedig Jeff Williams y byddai’n cymryd gwyrth debyg i’r Pasg i ddatrys yr elyniaeth bresennol rhwng pobl Palesteina ac Israel.

‘Wrth i ni edrych mewn arswyd ar wrthdaro’r Pasg hwn yn Gaza, lle’r ymwelais

i fi hun ddwywaith o’r blaen, dylem gofio gwers hanes a’r cysylltiad Cymreig. Ganrif yn ôl, bu David Lloyd George yn flaenllaw yn y broses o sicrhau ‘cartref cenedlaethol’ Iddewig ym Mhalesteina, a reolwyd bryd hynny gan Brydain, heb fawr o ystyriaeth i’r Palestiniaid a oedd yn byw yno.

‘Yn y blynyddoedd ers hynny, gyrrwyd cannoedd o filoedd o Balestiniaid o’u cartrefi i fod yn ffoaduriaid yn Gaza a’r Llain Orllewinol. O ystyried y gwrthdaro presennol yn benodol, byddai’n cymryd gwyrth i ddatrys

yr elyniaeth hir yma.

‘Ond mae’r Pasg yn ein hatgoffa ni bod gwyrthiau’n medru digwydd. Mae’r Bedd Gwag yn arwydd tragwyddol o’r cariad dwyfol a all oresgyn gwrthdaro a marwolaeth, tor calon ac anobaith, yn ein bywydau personol ac yn y byd. Gweddïwn am y wyrth y Pasg hwn.’

(Mae Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg yn cynrychioli Cristnogion anghydffurfiol sy’n cwrdd mewn tua 350 o gapeli ledled Cymru)

Llun a chyswllt: Parchg Jeff Williams 07712 187535 bannau@me.com

Don’t miss out on help with school essentials

88% of those eligible have claimed their free School Essentials grant to help with costs like school uniform, shoes, bags, sports kit and equipment. Have you claimed yours?

Children of families on lower incomes who receive certain benefits, those seeking asylum and children in care can claim £125 per year to help with school costs. Because of the extra cost families might face when their children start secondary school, £200 is available for eligible pupils going into year 7. It could also mean extra funding for your school.

There’s still time to check eligibility and apply for this year’s funding now before applications close on 31 May.

You can apply every year for each of your children. Pupils from all kinds of education settings are eligible as long as they are aged 5-16. This applies to pupils in all schools and settings, including special schools and pupil referral units.

Headteacher of Ysgol Gymunedol Trimsaran, Steffan Jones, explained how the grant helps pupils at his school: “You want every child to be treated the same, and you want every child to have the same experiences. These grants do help, so that all

children can get involved and enjoy their time at school, not just those who can afford it.”

The grant can be used to pay for:

school uniform, including coats and shoes.

school activities,

like learning a musical instrument, sports kit and equipment for after school activities. classroom essentials, like pens, pencils and bags.

Even if your child already receives a Free School Meal, you still

need to check eligibility to access the School Essentials Grant and extra funding for your school. To find out more about the Schools Essentials Grant and to check eligibility, visit Get help with school costs | GOV.WALES

Milford Haven School’s Aspire Celebration Evening 2024

THIS week, Milford Haven School celebrated the achievements of Year 11 pupils from the Class of 2023 at the Milford Haven School’s Aspire Celebration Evening.

Chair of Governors Dayle Gibby opened the evening by welcoming past pupils, parents and carers and guests from the community as they joined together to proudly celebrate the outstanding achievements of their past pupils.

Mr Gibby said “Tonight is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate your achievements academically, and achievements that go far beyond the classroom like sporting, musical, through drama, enterprise, environmental and those that reach into the heart of community. Throughout your time here you have all showed, resilience, determination, and aspiration. With these attributes you have set yourself targets and goals to achieve, manage difficult problems and overcome unexpected events.”

The annual Aspire Celebration evening recognises the exceptional talents, dedication, and hard work demonstrated by these pupils throughout their academic journey. The evening was an enjoyable one that showcased the remarkable accomplishments of the young people, highlighting their academic excellence, leadership skills,and contributions to the school and wider community. Among the many accolades awarded were prizes for outstanding academic achievement, extracurricular participation,

personal development and services to the community.

One of the highlights of the evening was the inspiring address from guest speaker and former pupil of the former Milford Haven Grammar School Ms Makala Jones. Pupils, staff and guests were captivated and inspired by her stories of cold water swimming and how joining the world renowned Blue Tits changed her life and played a big part in her accomplishments of recently swimming the English Channel completely solo. Her motivational speech,

insights and personal anecdotes resonated deeply with the entire audience, encouraging them to pursue their passions fearlessly, love themselves completely and embrace opportunities that lie ahead.

As pupils received their well-deserved awards, there was an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment filling the room. Headteacher Ms Morris said “This evening is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our young people. We are incredibly proud of their accomplish-

ments and the positive impact they have made on our school community. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the prize winners. I have no doubt that you will continue to excel in whatever task you choose to do next. I am personally proud of each and every one of you and wish you continued success in your future endeavours.”

For more information and a full list of prize winners please visit: www. milfordhavenschool.co.uk/ aspirecelebrationevening

educa TI on

Dogs Trust gives eggs-pert advice on how to have a dog-friendly Easter

WITH the bank holiday Easter weekend fast approaching, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is reminding dog owners to keep chocolate out of reach of our fourlegged friends.

As Easter eggs and other tasty cocoa treats find their way into homes, the charity hopes to raise awareness of the risk that the consumption of chocolate poses to our canine companions.

Chocolate is poisonous to dogs as it contains a substance called theobromine, which dogs and some other animals struggle to metabolise. Symptoms of theobromine poisoning include vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, excitability, drooling, and potentially seizures and fatal heart problems.

If you think your dog has eaten chocolate, contact your vet immediately.

The teams advise:

• Never give your pooch any human chocolate as a treat. Ensure that children and visitors understand why and adhere to this rule too.

• If you are hosting an Easter egg hunt, make sure your dog can’t find the chocolate first by keeping them away from the area, or on a lead with constant supervision.

• Make sure that bins are dog-proof to prevent them scavenging through rubbish.

• Never leave any chocolate unsupervised, such as cakes cooling on worktop surfaces.

• Teach your dog to move away from

something when you ask them to ‘leave it’. This valuable life skill will come in handy if your dog reaches for something they shouldn’t have.

• Keep a close eye on your dog whilst out walking, to avoid them eating discarded food that is potentially harmful.

Victoria Phillips, one of the vets at Dog Trust, says:“Although when it comes to our dogs we need to maintain a chocolate free zone, there are plenty of tasty treats they can enjoy, and join in the fun too. For example, taking them on their own Easter hunt around the house or garden that includes dogfriendly treats instead of chocolate is a great way of bonding and giving our dogs lots of stimulation.

“If you want to try something different, tasty treats they will happily hunt for include cucumber, carrot, strawberries and broccoli. If you hide those, they will have a much healthier Easter than perhaps many of us will!

“You could also use Easter egg boxes to hide their toys or treats in for them to sniff out. If you want to have a go at something a little bit different, set a couple of boxes a little distance apart and, holding your dog’s treats or favourite toy in one hand, slowly start to guide them in a figure of eight around the two boxes. Then reward your dog with a safe tasty treat or more games!”

For more information and advice about keeping your dog happy and healthy, please visit www. dogstrust.org.uk/dogadvice

FUW presents strong case for SFS rethink to Senedd Climate Change Committee

THE FARMERS’ Union of Wales has recently (21 March) provided oral evidence as part of the Senedd Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee’s inquiry into the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), during which the Union presented a strong case for the need to rethink current proposals.

Speaking during the session, FUW Deputy Head of Policy Gareth Parry said: “We have no doubt that by ensuring the mandatory element (universal layer) of the scheme is achievable, accessible and economically sustainable for all, it will deliver far better results in the long term rather than focussing on shortterm targets which are only six years away.

“If this scheme is not economically sustainable for all actively farming businesses, the Welsh Government can forget about incorporating a mandatory tree cover target within the universal layer of the scheme of any percentage of land.”

In response to a question posed by the Committee around whether the current timescales allow for the scheme to be re-deigned to the extent it requires, Mr Parry made clear that nothing is impossible. However, whether or not the scheme is ready and workable by the end of this year will entirely depend on the imminent decisions the incoming Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs will have to make on how he engages with the industry over the coming months.

“The industry has been told repeatedly that this scheme will not be introduced until it is ready. We therefore left the Committee in no doubt that if we find ourselves in a position where the scheme is not fit for purpose by the end of this year, the extension of the Basic Payment Scheme which currently supports farmers at current rates must be a real option,” he said.

FUW Policy Officer

Elin Jenkins added: “We need clear direction from the incoming Cabinet

Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on how he intends to genuinely engage with the industry at this crucial time, and we sincerely hope to have an urgent meeting immediately after the Senedd recess.

“What we want to see is the establishment of a small focussed SFS design stakeholder group which can consider changes to the scheme

design and associated payment rates, with the option to create subgroups or panels that consider the details of different elements of the scheme.

“This approach has previously been successful in introducing major changes to schemes, and as such we believe this approach should be applied to ensure that the SFS can

be redesigned to the extent it requires within the time available.

“We welcome the opportunity to provide oral evidence to the Committee and contribute to the Committee’s recent stakeholder event and we have no doubt that the need for a serious rethink came over clearly during our evidence,” added Mrs Jenkins.

Huw Irranca-Davies MS takes on Rural Affairs portfolio

As the recently appointed First Minister for Wales, Vaughan Gething MS, announces his new Senedd Cabinet, it has been revealed that Huw Irranca-Davies MS will be taking up the role of Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

In writing to the recently appointed Secretary, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Huw Irranca-Davies on being appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs. On behalf of the FUW, I wish him every success in the role and we look forward to working with him and his officials in shaping a better future for Welsh agriculture.

“This is certainly an extremely busy time for the farming sector. However, the depth of feeling and frustration demonstrated only weeks ago in Cardiff and across Wales has by no means gone away. The new Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs takes on this portfolio at one of the

most critical times for the future of our industry.”

Not only does this include the urgent need to rethink the Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals in genuine co-design with the farming unions, it also includes wider and longstanding issues. The Welsh Government’s approach to bovine TB management and eradication and the pan-Wales Control of Agricultural Pollution ‘NVZ’ regulations are topics causing the industry grave issues.

“The compounded impact of these current policies and proposals are evident by the widespread frustration and the significant increase in referrals rural mental health charities, such as the DPJ Foundation, have witnessed over recent months.

“We therefore look forward to working with Huw Irranca-Davies and his team to ensure that our members’ views receive the recognition they deserve in shaping agricultural policies in Wales that work for Welsh farmers,” added Mr Rickman.

THIS year has already seen significant changes to Welsh politics with more to come with the General Election on the horizon.

Political lobbying is an important part of the activities of the Farmers’ Union of Wales. Our meetings with key politicians enables us to discuss the issues that affect our members, Welsh agriculture and the Welsh rural economy with those who make the decisions that impact our daily lives. The ability to share the knowledge and expertise of our members, staff and policy team with decision makers in both the Welsh and UK Governments is essential to our ability to make a difference.

Party conferences are an excellent opportunity to reach a wider audience within political parties, and the Union has used the spring conference season to hold joint fringe events with NFU Cymru to discuss the pitfalls of the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme here in Wales. We’ve been delighted that our events have been very well attended at the Welsh Conservative and Plaid Cymru conferences and we were also welcomed by the delegates at the Liberal Democrat conference.

Our events resulted in lively discussions over the intricacies of the SFS and the changes that need to be made if the scheme is to work. At the Plaid Cymru conference last weekend, I also took part in a panel discussion on the subject of “Sustainable farming and the challenges and opportunities for rural Wales”. This was a great opportunity to share some personal perspectives and FUW experience with delegates and elected politicians.

The past few weeks have also seen the

election of a new leader of the Labour Party in Wales, Vaughan Gething MS, who was then appointed as our First Minister. I have no doubt that Vaughan Gething has a very clear vision for Wales but it needs to also be a plan that includes the needs of rural Wales. We look forward to meeting the new First Minister soon. Equally as important, will be our relationship with the new Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies.

We have had several meetings and farm visits with Huw Irranca-Davies in the past. I would go as far as to say there has been a sense of relief at his appointment as our new Minister. There could not have been a more knowledgeable Senedd Member appointed to this role and with luck he will be able to hit the ground running in terms of delivering some of the changes that we need. I am very much looking forward to working with him. It is no small task to resolve the many problems with the SFS but luckily for the new Minister the industry is motivated and focused on getting the SFS right for all farmers in Wales.

The next political change to hit us will be the UK general election, whenever this may be. The Prime Minister has alluded to ‘the second half of the year’ as the probable date and despite meeting with our President recently he did not let Ian in on the secret! We wait in anticipation for what is sure to be a challenging election for all the political parties here in Wales with the number of constituencies falling from 40 to 32. What is clear is that this General Election will have a significant impact upon the issues that we in the FUW campaign upon on a daily basis and as such, our lobbying must continue in Cardiff and Westminster.

NFU Cymru requests to meet with new First Minister

NFU Cymru has offered its congratulations to the new First Minister Vaughan Gething MS and has reiterated the union’s commitment to working with the First Minister and his government to offer solutions that benefit farmers, Welsh Government and the people of Wales.

NFU Cymru President Aled Jones has written to the new First Minister Vaughan Gething MS to request an urgent meeting to discuss in-person the numerous pressing challenges currently affecting Welsh farming, as well as the opportunity to outline the sector’s ambitions for the future.

Speaking after Vaughan Gething MS was formally announced as the new First Minister of Wales on Wednesday 20th March, NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: “I offer my congratulations to Vaughan Gething MS on his appointment

as Wales’ new First Minister.

“Wales’ farmers are very proud to provide the raw ingredients that underpin our £8.1 billion food and drink sector, which is also Wales’ largest employer, providing jobs for some 233,500 people. As farmers we are also hugely ambitious to not only produce more food for our own domestic market in Wales and across the UK, but also to see more Welsh food and drink sold around the world.

“NFU Cymru’s vision is for a productive, profitable and progressive farming sector producing world renowned climate friendly food in an environment and landscape that provides habitats for our nature to thrive. We believe that Welsh food and farming can deliver economic, environmental, cultural, and social benefits for all the people of Wales whilst meeting our ambition for net zero agriculture by 2040.

“Despite this and the considerable ambition NFU Cymru has for Welsh agriculture, the sector of the economy which I represent is facing some very considerable challenges at the moment. There is frustration and despair around the proposals contained in the Sustainable Farming Scheme consultation, which is in need of a major overhaul, as well as the administrative and cost requirements of complying with Welsh Government regulations around water quality and the emotional impact and financial burden caused by bovine TB. The cumulation of these factors and the emotional and financial stresses which accompanies them has contributed to a sense of anxiety and indeed turmoil in our rural communities, something which has manifested itself in the recent farmer rallies and demonstrations. It is against this backdrop of an industry which is in

a state of considerable upheaval, that I have requested an urgent meeting with the new First Minister in order to discuss the issues which the sector is currently facing.

“I am very much of the view that it is only through dialogue and genuine partnership working that we can try and work our way through some of the difficulties farming and government face in order to arrive at solutions which work for farmers, for Welsh Government and for the public. By working together, I am confident that we can deliver what we need in order to secure the future of our rural communities, maintain and uphold our high standards of production, properly recognise the strategic importance of domestic primary production and the manufacturing base it underpins, as well as ensuring a secure supply of healthy, affordable food.”

Nissan’s new business plan, The Arc, to drive growth

Nissan will step up its electrification and growth plans across its diverse AMIEO region (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania), under The Arc, Nissan’s new global business plan to drive value and strengthen competitiveness.

The plan, a bridge between the FY20-23 Nissan NEXT business transformation plan and Nissan’s long-term Ambition 2030 vision, is focused on a broadbased product offensive, increased electrification, new approaches to engineering and manufacturing, the adoption of new technologies, and the use of strategic partnerships to increase global sales and improve profitability.

The AMIEO region aligns with Nissan’s global strategy to ensure volume growth through a tailored regional strategy, setting the course for an accelerated transition to EVs, supported by a balanced electrified/ICE product portfolio, volume growth in major markets and financial discipline.

Through these initiatives Nissan aims to lift annual sales globally by 1 million units, of which the AMIEO region will contribute nearly one third (300,000 units). Of the 16 new electrified vehicles & 14 ICE vehicles launching globally, five of the allnew EVs & six of the allnew ICE vehicles will be launched in the AMIEO region. These will include some of Nissan’s most well-loved nameplates among customers,

including LEAF.

Guillaume Cartier, Chairperson, Nissan AMIEO said: “Through Nissan’s new business plan, The Arc, we have a clear roadmap to a promising future, focusing on growth, adaptability and competitiveness. Our AMIEO region is fully aligned to this global plan and we are shifting gears to enhance our product offering in the region, advance electrification and technology and

leverage our strategic partnerships to drive us to a new era.

“Through this comprehensive plan, we are championing competitiveness and growth and I am confident we will deliver, providing the foundations to bridge to Nissan’s Ambition 2030 vision.”

Nissan will continue to harness strategic partnerships to support competitiveness and its product portfolio. In Europe, the Alliance

with Renault/Ampere will see a new Compact EV introduced to replace the Nissan Micra, and two new LCVs launched. In Oceania, Nissan will harness its partnership with Mitsubishi Motors to launch a new 1-tonne pick-up. In India, Nissan will strengthen its Alliance with Renault to elevate its manufacturing footprint, with India set to join the UK as one of the region’s key export hubs.

M o T or S

Dacia strengthens the Sandero and Sandero Stepway with more choice

Dacia has made its famed Sandero and Sandero Stepway even more appealing with the introduction of the Journey trim level and the TCe 110 turbocharged petrol engine on selected versions.

Sandero Stepway

Extreme customers can now complement the topof-the-range specification with the TCe 110 engine. Combining strong, flexible performance with efficiency, the threecylinder engine produces 110 hp and 200 Nm of torque, while also being capable of returning 45.6 mpg (WLTP combined) and emitting only 125 g/ km CO2. It enables the Sandero Stepway to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 10 seconds and is paired to a six-speed manual transmission.

The Euro 6-compliant engine takes the drivetrain options available with the Sandero Stepway

Extreme to four with the distinctive crossover also being available to order with TCe 90, TCe 90 automatic and TCe 100 bi-fuel powertrains.

The Sandero Stepway

Extreme TCe 110 is

priced at £18,645 on-theroad.

Sandero is now bolstered by the arrival of the Journey trim level, which is already a firm

favourite with Duster customers.

The addition of the Journey specification brings a host of new equipment to the five-

door supermini as well as the availability of automatic transmission when ordered with the TCe 90 engine. Building on the

generous specification of the Essential and Expression versions, Sandero’s new flagship trim level adds automatic air conditioning, rear

parking sensors, reversing camera, electronic parking brake, Blind Spot Warning and the MediaNav infotainment system with 8-inch screen, DAB radio, Bluetooth, Smartphone replication, USB-C ports front and rear, six speakers, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Outside, the Journey is identifiable by a shark-fin antenna, ‘Randia’ 16-inch alloy wheels and black door mirrors, while inside there’s a high central armrest with console storage, removable phone support, flexible boot floor and door sill protectors.

The Sandero Journey costs from £15,795 onthe-road.

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges are now also European Global Safety Regulation 2 compliant, with all versions produced after April 2024 benefitting from enhanced ADAS features that meet the regulatory safety standards.

Orders open on 3 April 2024 via Dacia’s Retail Network or online via www.dacia.co.uk.

Volkswagen Group UK confirms Ohme as electric vehicle home charging partner

V OLKSWAGEN

Group has extended its partnership with Ohme as its official home EV charging company in the UK. Continuing the collaboration between Ohme and the Volkswagen Group that started in 2022, the agreement continues to see Audi, CUPRA, SEAT, Škoda, Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommend Ohme chargers for all of their electrified vehicle sales.

For the majority of EV drivers, charging at home via a wallbox is the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to power their vehicle. The renewed partnership with Ohme makes the installation and set-up as easy as possible*; the awardwinning supplier also offers low-cost charging

options via integration with smart EV energy tariffs (eg. Intelligent Octopus Go). Volkswagen Group customers may be eligible for a free home charger as part of a vehicle finance package (subject to Ts&Cs); if not, costs start at a preferential rate of £925, or £975 including standard installation for the most popular tethered Ohme Home Pro.

Commenting on the partnership, Kate Jeffreys, Electric Vehicles Business Lead for Volkswagen Group UK, said: “Following a robust procurement process, we were very happy to continue with Ohme as our official home EV charger for the Volkswagen Group. Ohme’s attitude towards excellent customer service together with its awardwinning chargers and its dynamic technology which is able to access some of

the most affordable EV tariffs on the market, made it an obvious choice.

As we move from early to mass adoption of EVs we need to support our customers in making the switch and our ongoing relationship with Ohme is a key part of this.”

Ohme CEO, David Watson, added: “I’m delighted that the Volkswagen Group has extended our partnership together underlining Ohme’s position as the UK’s largest smart home EV charging company. When our collaboration with the Volkswagen Group began in 2022, it already had one of the most comprehensive ranges of electric models and that has only grown. We’re looking forward to continuing to introduce its drivers to the benefits of dynamic smart charging with dramatically reduced

running costs.”

Ohme’s dynamic smart chargers can connect with the grid in real time, automatically adjusting to optimise the cost of charging and accessing all the times of the smartest, greenest and lowest cost energy tariffs. Ohme also offers drivers the option to charge their car when renewable

energy generation on the National Grid is at its highest, further lowering their CO2 impact.

Globally in 2023, the Volkswagen Group sold more than 771,000 electric vehicles, over a third more than in 2022. In the UK, it was responsible for one in every five battery electric passenger cars sold.

For more information,

please visit the relevant vehicle brand website or Ohme.

* You will need to have off-street parking available and permission from the landlord if you rent your property as well as an initial assessment arranged by Ohme to check if you are a standard or non-standard installation.

Genesis, the premium luxury automotive brand, opens in Bridgend

GENESIS South Wales, part of the Sinclair Group has commenced its sales operations of Genesis cars in Bridgend, South Wales to cater for the growing demand for the new premium luxury brand from South Korea.

Following the news in the last year that The Sinclair Group had partnered with Genesis, The Sinclair Group has been actively onboarding its Genesis Personnel.

The New South Wales Genesis business will sell new and Certified pre-owned cars as well as providing after sales support for servicing and repairs for Genesis customers.

Backed by the Hyundai Motor Company, Genesis arrived in the UK in May 2021 with the opening of retail Studio concepts in shopping centres; the first in Westfield London, followed by Battersea Power Station in 2022 and then Edinburgh in 2023.

Since launch, the premium luxury Korean brand has been disrupting the market, providing customers with a different perspective on the car-buying journey, offering a “we come to you” service, as

well as quality, awardwinning cars. With five petrol and diesel cars launched in 2021, Genesis has since expanded its line-up with three further all-electric products.

The brand is expanding its touchpoints to allow for greater customer access and to cater for the growing demand and following on from its initial “we come to you” promise, Genesis South Wales is carrying this through for those customers that live within a 35-mile radius.

“We’re thrilled to have been selected as a Genesis retail partner and are dedicated to bringing the unparalleled Genesis experience to our Welsh customers. Work will shortly be underway to build our new state-of-the-art Genesis showroom, where we look forward to welcoming our customers and showcasing the extraordinary Genesis lineup.” - Lee Bryl, Sales Manager.

“This is a significant step forward for both the brand and our Genesis customers in South Wales” added Jonny Miller, Brand

Director at Genesis Motor UK. “Working in close partnership with The Sinclair Group we are increasing the access and touchpoints to Genesis as we continue on our growth journey. South Wales is a key area for us, and we look forward to seeing more Genesis cars on the road in the area.”

Genesis South Wales will become one of just seven retail partners across the UK appointed by Genesis and is now open for business.

Genesis studios and the unique experience they deliver are proving exceptionally popular with visitors and the team are delighted to see 5-star ratings on google.

Visitors have been praising the design of the studios, the friendly and knowledgeable team as well as the vehicles.

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RCN’s three urgent steps to rescue Welsh NHS sent to First Minister

HELEN WHYLEY,

Director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales, has written to the First Minister calling for immediate action in three key areas to protect patients and secure the future of nursing in Wales.

The RCN first urges Vaughan Gething to deliver on promises in the Welsh government’s 2023/24 pay offer –prioritising patient safety by ensuring there are enough nursing staff to deliver safe and effective care. Second, the organisation warns him to responsibly introduce registered nursing associates to Wales. The letter ends by asking him to strategically invest in the education of nurses at all career stages, to meet future health care demands.

Promises in the 2023/24 pay offer included action on patients being cared for in inappropriate places (so-called “corridor care”), better access to flexible working, a 36hour week, and more.

Helen Whyley said: “Now is the time for the First Minister to refresh his public commitment to safe and effective care. That would go a long way towards assuring nursing staff that his

government will address the extreme pressures they are under.

“What’s critical is that the First Minister keeps nurses nursing in the NHS. That’s why he must make sure the Welsh government keeps every promise it made to our members

last year to end industrial action. Those important promises could make a real difference to nurses and to their patients. That’s why our members accepted them in good faith – but half a year later, they have yet to feel a difference.

“New nursing roles are fantastic,

but patients need to understand what that means for them – and, crucially, they need to be funded properly. Any risk to patient safety from registered nurses being inappropriately replaced is completely unacceptable. And this can’t become a distraction from getting

the basics right, either. A national strategy for commissioning nursing education, all the way from student to advanced and consultant level, would be a fitting ambition for a new First Minister with a commitment to improving health.”

Reminder to order repeat prescription in time for Easter

HYWEL DDAD University Health Board (UHB) is reminding people to order their repeat prescription early if they are due ahead of the Easter Bank Holidays to ensure they receive essential medication in time.

GP practices and community pharmacies across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire will have reduced opening hours over the Bank Holidays, making it more challenging for patients to access medicines at short notice.

Professor Christopher Brown, Clinical Director of

Pharmacy and Medicines Management for Hywel

Dda UHB advises people get their repeat prescription as soon as possible.

He said: “Over the Bank Holiday weekends it may take longer than usual to process your repeat prescription, and have it dispensed.

“Using emergency or urgent services to access planned medication puts added pressure on already busy services.

“If you take medication regularly and are due a repeat prescription, please get it in early to your GP as this will help your GP practice and pharmacy to have your prescription ready in time for you.”

Community pharmacy

opening times for Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire can be found on the health board’s website hduhb.

nhs.wales/healthcare/ services-and-teams/ pharmacy

Brain Injury Group Donates £3,000 to local services

THE SOUTH WEST WALES BRAIN INJURY GROUP (SWWBIG) has announced donations to two local health boards, giving £1,000 each to Neath Port Talbot Neuro Rehabilitation Unit and the Community Brain Injury Services at Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda University Health Boards.

This funding boost for the health boards comes from the profits earned at the SWWBIG conferences in 2022 and 2023, which were organised and sponsored by JCP Solicitors and cosponsored by Fieldbay (part of the ivolve Care & Support group).

The conferences, which have taken place annually since 2011, provide an opportunity for individuals and families affected by brain injury, as well as healthcare professionals, charities, students and researchers

across South West Wales to come together and explore the critical stages of survival and recovery.

The 2022 and 2023 conferences each welcomed around 200 attendees and raised £3,000 in excess funds. The committee, made up of healthcare workers and practitioners in

the field of brain injury, voted to donate to the brain injury services in their local health boards, ensuring that the funds can be used to assist the brain injury community in South West Wales in the best way possible.

Suzanna Charles, Chair of SWWBIG said: “The South West

Wales Brain Injury Conferences are always a huge success, as we are able to facilitate important conversations for professionals working in the field and offer support.

“What is more, the conferences raise vital funds which will go towards providing

ongoing rehabilitation for those affected by brain injury. We are proud to provide this additional funding which will have a direct, positive impact on brain injury survivors in our local area.

“The journey through rehabilitation is different for everyone, and it is so important to have a supportive network of healthcare professionals and experts to guide patients while listening to their individual needs.”

The main objective of the South West Wales Brain Injury Group is to provide a forum for individuals with an interest in acquired brain injury, to educate and encourage development and dissemination of good practice. For more information on SWWBIG or to register your interest to attend the conference in 2024, please visit www.swwbig.co.uk.

MS calls for overdose prevention centres in Wales

A SENEDD member called for Wales to establish overdose prevention centres to save lives, reduce harm and protect communities.

Peredur Owen Griffiths warned that the number of drug deaths in Wales is up more than 50% over the past ten years, with the rate remaining higher than in England.

Mr Owen Griffiths, who chairs the crossparty group on substance use and addiction, said maintaining the status quo would do nothing to tackle shameful drug deaths in Wales.

He told MSs: “By almost any measure you want to look at, the war on drugs has failed.”

He said overdose prevention centres (OPCs) – hygienic safe spaces, where people can take drugs safely –have been adopted by 14 countries, including the US, Canada and Australia.

The Plaid Cymru MS argued OPCs, which have sterile equipment and staff who can

respond immediately to an overdose, have proved a remarkable success internationally.

He told the Senedd: “They can also provide a gateway to a myriad of services that could lead to the drug users kicking the habit or, at the very least, becoming healthier, better supported and, therefore, more likely to stay alive.”

He added OPCs help reduce litter that poses a significant health hazard, warning of open injection of heroin and discarded needles a stone’s throw from one Cardiff primary school.

Mr Owen Griffiths raised a rapid evidence review into overdose prevention centres which found that they reduce harm, save lives and promote wellbeing.

He said OPCs reduce the risk of transmission of blood-borne diseases and help marginalised members of society to access services.

He warned the UK Government has been too slow to react to the spread of more

dangerous synthetic drugs, stressing: “We can’t delay. Because if we do, more people will die.”

Mr Owen Griffiths told the chamber MSs heard from Pat Hudson, whose son Kevin was found unconscious in a locked public toilet in Carmarthen in December 2017.

He said: “After injecting drugs, he suffered a cardiac arrest and a brain haemorrhage. His family made the heartbreaking decision to switch his life support machine off.

“He was just 32-years-old. Pat herself said her son and several of his friends would be alive today if there had been somewhere safe to go for them to inject drugs.

“It is time we listen to people like Pat, take heed of the international success stories and learn the lessons of 50 years of failed drug policy in the UK.”

Lynne Neagle said Wales’ drug policy is rooted in a harmreduction approach

which recognises substance misuse is a public health issue as well as a criminal justice one.

Responding to the short debate on March 20, the then-deputy minister for mental health told MSs that Welsh Government investment in the substance misuse agenda will top £67m next year.

Ms Neagle, who has since been appointed education secretary, pointed out that Welsh ministers increased funding for frontline services by nearly £3m despite the most challenging budget ever.

She said Wales has introduced access to Buvidal, a medicine used to treat dependence on opioids, which is helping more than 1,700 people.

Ms Neagle stressed that powers to take forward overdose prevention centres remain at Westminster and the Home Office has poured cold water on the idea.

Ms Neagle said her officials are in close contact with counterparts in the Scottish Government, which is aiming to open the UK’s first overdose prevention centre.

She told MSs proposals from drugs charity Kaleidoscope for a safe injecting pilot at the Huggard centre in Cardiff would require an agreement with South Wales Police.

Ms Neagle explained this would ensure the project would not be a policing priority and prosecution of workers or users would not be in the public interest.

She said: “Without that agreement, our understanding is that due to legal implications under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, it would not be permissible.

“Given the interest and scrutiny that the establishment of such a project would also attract, it would need to be robustly established, with the support of a wide range of stakeholders, including the local community.”

B u SI ne SS

Spectacular new forest slide unveiled at North Wales eco-park that’s recruiting 100 workers

A top eco tourist attraction is gearing up for the new season with a brand new ride and is taking on 100 workers.

GreenWood Family Park, in Felinheli, near Bangor, in North Wales, has invested more than £100,000 in importing the giant Forest Glider slide from the Netherlands and installing it just in time for the Easter holidays.

The spectacular new ride, known as Gleidar y Goedwig in Welsh, is the only one of its kind in Wales, standing 20 metres tall with a

thrillingly steep 75 metre drop.

GreenWood also launched a major drive to recruit seasonal workers to beef up the 30-strong permanent team at the environmentally-friendly adventure park, recently named by Trip Advisor as the best tourist attraction in North Wales.

This year also sees the 20th anniversary of the Green Dragon, zero carbon, people powered rollercoaster of its kind, which goes on a 250 metre loop through the park’s woods.

The centre’s other

30 rides and attractions also include Solar Splash, powered entirely by solar energy and has a huge water slide with two 60 metre long wave chutes.

The park is owned by the Continuum Attractions group whose portfolio includes some of the most successful visitor attractions in the UK, including The Coronation Street Experience, the Loch Ness Centre and Emmerdale The Village Tour.

The installation of the Forest Glider was overseen by rides and

are designed with the whole family in mind and once you’ve paid the entrance fee, there’s no restriction as to how many times visitors can do things.

“We’ve also introduced a locals’ loyalty past for people living in the LL postcode area and they get a great offer, £150 for the whole year to come to GreenWood.”

Marketing manager Kim Howie revealed that travel industry experts are predicting a significant upsurge in tourism this year, and one of the key trends is an increase in the popularity of eco-friendly and “sustainable” destinations and attractions like GreenWood.

activities manager Peter Froment.

According to Peter, he has the best job in Wales because an important part of his role is road testing all the new rides and he gave the Forest Glider a big thumbs up.

He said: “We’re always looking to freshen things up at GreenWood with new rides and attractions.

“I absolutely love the Forest Glider – it’s a brilliant and thrilling new addition to what we have to offer. It’s a lot of fun.

“People go down the slide sitting on a rubber ring called a snow tube and it can be a single rider or an adult and a child together.

“The length of the slope is around 75 metres, so it’s a good distance to travel and the angle is pretty steep at different points.

“As part of the GreenWood ethos, people use their own energy and power drag their snow tubes from the bottom of the hill all the way up to the top. In essence, they’re powering their own ride.

“All the rides and attractions we have

She said: “We’re gearing up for a big year at GreenWood and all the signs are that it’s going to be a bumper one, particularly given the shift towards ecofriendly options.

“The arrival of the Forest Glider is great news and we’re looking forward to celebrating the 20th anniversary of the zero carbon Green Dragon rollercoaster.

“GreenWood has pioneered the notion of green tourism and we are still leading the way, providing fun-filled family friendly rides and attractions.

“All of this means we need to recruit an additional team and that process is already well underway.

“We’ve already had a recruitment day here when we interviewed 30 local people and we’ve attended a jobs fair in Llangefni to share our vacancies.

“With more visitors and more jobs in 2024, we also aiming to give the local economy a big boost.”

Anybody wanting more information about the jobs available should email info@ greenwoodfamilypark. co.uk

Friday March

Gafr Las named Best Welsh Cheese at British Cheese Awards

Bryngaer Goats in Carmarthenshire has landed the Best Welsh Cheese trophy at the British Cheese Awards 2024, taking one of this year’s top honours with Gafr Las, a soft blue goat’s cheese that is matured for around one month to achieve a subtle, medium blue flavour. Held at the Bath & West Showground on Friday 22 March, the 28th British Cheese Awards assessed over 600 entries from across the UK and Ireland, before welcoming cheese lovers into the judging arena throughout the new Bath & West Food & Drink Festival.

All trophies were presented during the British Cheese Awards Dinner, with Snowdrop by Cote Hill in Lincolnshire taking the Supreme Champion trophy and Cashel Blue from Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers named Reserve Champion,

as well as Best Irish Cheese. Best Scottish Cheese went to Minger from Highland Fine Cheeses and Best English Cheese was awarded to Tor from White Lake Cheese.

Katie Head from Bryngaer Goats commented: “I am so pleased to have been awarded Best Welsh Cheese for my blue goat’s cheese, Gafr Las. Bryngaer Goats was born from my passion for making something from scratch and my love of goats. I wanted to produce local cheeses made in small batches with individuality. It was just three years ago when I got my first goats, learnt to milk, and finally made cheese. I was stunned to receive the award after only starting the business last year. Thank you to everyone who has helped me, particularly fellow cheesemakers, my lovely customers and my very patient family.”

Organised by The Royal Bath & West Society, the British Cheese Awards saw a 63-strong judging panel made up of cheesemakers, cheesemongers, cheese experts, buyers and commentators assessing entries in their individual classes during the morning session, awarding Bronze, Silver and Gold accolades. During the second round, all Gold award winners from each category were judged alongside one another to identify the category winners, before all category winners were judged in the final round to find this year’s Supreme Champion and Reserve Champion.

Hosted for the first time by the new Bath & West Food & Drink Festival, the British Cheese Awards invited festival visitors to sample some of this year’s entries over the course of the weekend and to cast their votes in the People’s Choice Award.

SP ol ITI c

POSITIVELy LIBERAL

Democrats highlighted the issues facing those wishing to access dentistry services in Wales.

The calls come following the news that the Welsh Government is set to introduce the single largest increase in dental patient charges in the UK, according to the British Dental Association.

There are also concerns surrounding dental waiting lists, particularly in rural areas which the Welsh Lib Dems have described as a “dental desert”.

According to statistics from Powys Health board last September 4,818 adults and 314 children were waiting for dental care.

Last February saw 4,361 adults awaiting dental care with 274 children also still awaiting access to care.

Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Regional MS for Mid & West Wales, Jane Dodds said:

“We here in Wales are currently in the midst of a dental accessibility crisis.”

“Sky high waiting times across the country are resulting in thousands of people being denied access to vital dental care. Particularly in rural communities where a drought of accessible services has created a dental desert.”

“The price hike in dental patient charges will only exacerbate this crisis, driving more and more people towards dangerous DIY dental care.”

“With Vaughan Gething taking over as First Minister, this should be the start for a fresh outlook towards solving this crisis.”

“We urge the Welsh Government to take a collaborative approach, to work directly with dental professionals so we can create an equitable and accessible dental care model for all of Wales.”

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have also criticised the UK Conservative Government for their apparent unwillingness to work with the Welsh Government during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Welsh leg of the UK Covid inquiry has brought to light the fraught relationship between both governments during the height of the pandemic.

The inquiry heard that a mass testing centre had

NFU Cymru meets new First

Minister and Cabinet Secretary

been built in Cardiff without either of the Welsh Government or Public Health Wales having prior knowledge.

Former First Minister Mark Drakeford also told the inquiry that he found it “extraordinary” that the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson didn’t meet devolved leaders in the early stages of the pandemic.

Jane Dodds commented:

“It was deeply troubling to learn of the troubled relationship between both the UK and Welsh Government’s during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“It is sadly yet another example of the indifference shown to Wales by the UK Conservative government, an indifference that has been evident throughout their decade long spell in power.”

“From what has been uncovered so far by the UK Covid Inquiry, it is clear that there existed a disturbing lack of willingness to work with the Welsh Government at a time when cooperation was desperately needed.”

“The Conservatives have consistently shown a blatant disregard towards devolution, therefore the attitude taken by both Boris Johnson and his cabinet at the time should hardly come as a surprise.”

“Time and again, the people charged with keeping the country safe, saw themselves as above the law, working to save their own skin whilst thousands of families could not see their loved ones or say goodbye.”

“I am thankful for the work being done by the team behind the ongoing UK Covid Inquiry in holding to account the decision making of government officials before, during, and after the pandemic.”

“It is a shame however, that there has not yet been any signs of a Wales-specific Covid inquiry.”

“It is vital that we hold the Welsh Government to account for the actions and decisions they made before, during and after the pandemic.”

“The Welsh government must understand the impact of their decisions by actively engaging with those who have lost so much because of the pandemic.”

“The families of those who have died from this horrific disease deserve answers, they deserve closure.”

If you have any issues or comments, please contact me at andrew.lye@pembslibdems.wales

NFU Cymru has met with Wales’ new First Minister, Vaughan Gething MS, and the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, today (26 March 2024).

The meeting, arranged following a request made by NFU Cymru, was an early opportunity to set out the union’s key asks to the new First Minister and Cabinet Secretary.

NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, who attended the meeting with NFU Cymru Deputy President, Abi Reader, said: “We are pleased that the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary prioritised meeting with us at their earliest convenience. This was a welcome opportunity to discuss the ambitions, as well as the concerns, of an industry currently under a huge amount of pressure.

“During the meeting, we presented the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary with our comprehensive Sustainable Farming

Scheme (SFS) consultation response and raised a number of our key policy asks. These included concerns around the current SFS proposals, as well as other issues affecting the sector. We highlighted how the coming together of these factors and the emotional and financial stresses which accompanies them has contributed to a sense of anxiety and indeed turmoil in our rural communities.

“The meeting was constructive, and we now look to the new First Minister and Cabinet Secretary to consider our asks. At such a pivotal time in the design of the SFS we have asked the Cabinet Secretary to commit to leading a series of meetings with ourselves to ensure we can get a scheme that delivers for Welsh farming and Welsh Government.

“Farmers need stability, now more than ever. They need stability to invest in their businesses, to invest in efficiency gains and in

the environment. This is why we are once again urging Welsh Government to ensure that there is a strong stability element in the final SFS and that the universal actions are truly practical and achievable for all farm types, sectors and locations.

“We believe it is only through constructive and honest dialogue that we can work our way through some of the difficulties we face, to arrive at solutions which work for farmers, Welsh Government, and the public. By working together, we are confident that we can deliver for the future of our rural communities, maintain and uphold our high standards of food production, properly recognise the strategic importance of domestic primary production and the £8.1 billion food and drink sector it underpins, ensure a secure supply of climate friendly, healthy, affordable food, as well as looking after our cherished environment.”

Council’s “tinpot dictator” urged to resign after muting critic in care home fees row

A council leader has been urged to resign after acting like a “tinpot dictator” in silencing a member who objected to setting the lowest care home fees in Wales.

Denbighshire County Council supremo Cllr Jason McLellan hit the mute button to prevent Cllr Bobby Feeley being heard when she criticised the authority’s lack of “care, compassion and realism”.

Cllr Feeley, a former lead member of social services, was unhappy that the council had not consulted properly with care providers over the 8.8% increase in stark contract to neighbouring Conwy where rates have gone up by between 18% and 20%.

It means that there is now a gap of more than £9,000 a year between what Denbighshire and Conwy pay for nursing care for an elderly person with dementia.

The decision has also led to harsh criticism from sector champions Care Forum Wales (CFW) who represent around 500 social care providers.

According to CFW chair Mario Kreft MBE it was “utterly disgraceful” that Cllr Feeley had been silenced by the council leader at the meeting where the rock bottom fees were decided.

Mr Kreft said Cllr McLellan had behaved like a bully and that he

should now consider is position which was now “untenable”.

He added: “Cllr Feeley was asking serious and legitimate questions when the Leader pressed the mute button to ensure that she could not be heard.

“She was quite rightly criticising the level of consultation ahead of the totally inadequate 8.8% increase in fees which has been immediately wiped out by inflation and the cost of living crisis.

“According to Cllr Feeley, the council should have done more to engage with Care Forum Wales along with individual providers and she was understandably unhappy there had been no meaningful dialogue with us.

“The pretence that the council has properly consulted social care providers in Denbighshire is a total sham and the reason they don’t want to listen is that they are in denial about the true cost of providing care.

“Cllr McLellan is acting like a tinpot totalitarian dictator in muting anybody who deigns to question this unjust regime in Denbighshire.

“It amounts to bullying and abuse of his position.

Cllr Feeley knows what she is talking about because she was for a number of years the knowledgeable and well respected lead member

for social services. What Cllr McLellan doesn’t like is hearing the truth.

“Democracy is about accountability and there is clearly no accountability in Denbighshire who shamefully have the lowest fees in the whole of Wales.

“Citing the 3.8% settlement from the Welsh Government as an excuse just won’t wash I’m afraid.

“They only have took across the Foryd Bridge in Rhyl which links Denbighshire with the neighbouring county of Conwy where they have taken a completely different and much fairer approach.

“Despite having a lower increase of around 2% in overall funding from the Welsh Government, Conwy Council have agreed considerably higher increases for care home fees of between 18% and 20%.

“After years of campaigning by Care Forum Wales, Conwy chose to use the toolkit by leading healthcare economists Laing and Buisson to calculate their much more realistic rates.

“It was fair and transparent and the complete opposite of what’s happened in Denbighshire.

“The upshot is that Denbighshire will be paying £9,224 a year less per person than in Conwy for providing

WITH JO STEVENS

Labour’s GB Energy will cut bills and create jobs in Pembrokeshire

Last week, I visited Port of Milford Haven with Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, Henry Tufnell, to hear more about their plans to support the renewable energy that drives down our energy bills.

exactly the same level of nursing care to residents.

“It is beyond belief that Cllr McLellan and Cllr Ellen Heaton, the Cabinet member for health and social care, should attempt to justify the absurd situation where an elderly person with dementia in Rhyl should be deemed be worth £9,000 less than elderly person just across the Foryd Bridge in Kinmel Bay.

“All we want is fairness in line with the Welsh Government’s ‘Let’s agree to agree’ guidance.

“Instead, we’ve had a generation of injustice and it’s a generation where the institutional prejudice and discrimination against the private care sector and Denbighshire Council are the embodiment of this injustice.

“It all adds up to an outrageous stealth tax on decent, hard-pressed families who will inevitably have to fund the shortfall themselves.

“The councillors who voted for these irresponsibly low rates in Denbighshire should be ashamed of themselves.

“The real victims of the heartless democratic deficit in Denbighshire are the vulnerable, mainly elderly people with dementia and other health issues for whom we provide care.”

Families in Wales are paying the price for Tory failure on energy bills. UK household budgets have been hit harder by the energy crisis than any major advanced country.

We have a golden opportunity to become a world leader in renewable energy, and particularly floating offshore wind, delivering cheaper bills and the jobs of the future.

Last year, the Welsh Government sought to seize the opportunity by consenting to develop the first floating offshore wind farm off the coast of Pembrokeshire, which was set to power 93,000 homes.

But the Conservative government is holding Wales back, with unambitious, poorly run investment schemes that leave us lagging behind international competitors. Just a few days ago, Port of Milford Haven had their application for UK government funding to support floating offshore wind rejected.

The Welsh Government had invested £1m to help realise the ambition the Port has to become a hub for emerging renewable technology like floating offshore wind. But the

Conservative’s shortsighted decision is restricting the private sector investment which could unlock thousands of good quality jobs in Pembrokeshire and across Wales.

A UK Labour government will unlock Wales’s green energy potential. We will turbo-charge plans already underway in Wales through Ynni Cymru, the Welsh Governmentbacked public energy company, to invest in renewable energy infrastructure.

GB Energy will invest in renewable projects across the UK, creating almost 30,000 new, skilled jobs in Wales in green industries which will reduce household and businesses’ energy bills for good, saving the average household in Wales £300 per year, an almost 40% saving on the current average monthly bill.

With families across Wales and the UK continuing to struggle because of the Conservative cost of living crisis, this is a plan for longterm savings for you and your family.

We’ll also deliver energy security in an increasingly unstable world. With Labour, we will never again be dependent on dictators like Putin for our energy.

Because Great British Energy will be publicly owned, we will make sure taxpayers get the benefits. The proceeds can be used to make muchneeded investment in our public services.

That’s the difference a UK Labour government at both ends of the M4 will make.

IF THERE was any doubt about the irrelevance of Westminster to Wales, this month’s budget proved it. The Chancellor – and his government’s economic illiteracy – was brought to the fore.

He conveniently forgot that the UK – and by extension – Cymru, is in recession. The idea that from this situation the economy will grow by 2% within a year is nonsense and is clearly a piece of unfounded optimism. The only way out of recession is to encourage spending, which the Chancellor ignored. The cut in National Insurance is irrelevant, it is based on a percentage of income and consequently will make little difference to low wage earners, of which there are many in Wales.

Other measures will have little effect on the economy. The increase in the threshold for the payment of VAT will help some businesses reduce the administrative burden, and despite claims that it is a positive move, simply reflects inflation. A much higher threshold would have a positive effect, but the tax is needed. The increase in child benefit might help lower income families, however, it must be applied for, and assessed.

The announcement of a new tax credit system for businesses with a budget of less than £15m is interesting and may be of benefit to small businesses. How this will work is unclear as is the definition of what constitutes a budget, an idea that has a political colour to it.

The extension of the windfall tax on energy companies is to be welcomed, although this was clearly a political stunt. There were two other political stunts aimed at Conservative supporters.

Plans, suitably vague and untimed, to address the so-called “non-dom” tax status were announced to placate public outrage at this form of tax evasion.

The practicalities of implementing this tax avoidance scheme were not announced, care must be taken not to

offend the party’s paymasters. The reduction in capital gains tax will be welcomed by the party faithful though.

Except for the freeze on fuel duty, which will be welcomed in rural areas, the marginal help with the reduction in National Insurance payment and changes in child credit (which must be applied for), there was nothing in this budget for Wales.

And yet there was. The purchase of land at Wylfa was a political gesture aimed at saving a very vulnerable MP whilst at the same time hoping to re-open the divisive debate on the future of nuclear energy. The Senedd is better off by £170million – a drop in the political ocean.

Any budget is carefully dissected by commentators and the media, and despite its irrelevance, this was no different although important issues were ignored –or not understood. The Chancellor failed to mention that the budget deficit – the difference between tax collected and government spending – for the last financial year was £85billion.

A part of the Chancellor’s speech, ignored by the media, threw the state of the UK economy into sharp focus.

The UK’s National Debt – the amount of money owed to the rest of the world – is almost a trillion (12 noughts!) pounds, the highest on record. The chancellor announced plans to reduce the debt by some £9bn by 2028. No chancellor has ever successfully reduced the national debt and this one will not!

And finally, a new record. Taxation in the UK is the highest for 70 years and the highest level of personal taxation in all of Europe. And we are told that an independent Cymru would be a high tax economy. This government should know.

This article was written by Dr. John Ball, former lecturer in Economics at Swansea University.

Exhibition encourages young people to play their part in Welsh democracy

Young people have been encouraged to take part in Welsh democracy at the launch of a Senedd exhibition.

The Llywydd and First Minister joined former Welsh Youth Parliament Members to open an exhibition on the work of the first two Welsh Youth

Parliament (WYP) Terms.

The free exhibition is now open to the public until Saturday, the 18th of May. It also shows how potential candidates can be involved in the work of the next WYP term later this year.

Speaking at the launch event, former

WYP member Cerys Harts said:

“Being a part of the Welsh Youth Parliament has been an experience that I won’t forget.

“I have been so fortunate to work as part of 60 driven and inspirational members to be the voice of young people in Wales.

“The end of our term as WYPMs is also the beginning of an opportunity for so many other young people and the November 2024 elections are an opportunity for new members to continue our work.

“On behalf of all of the previous term’s members I would like to wish all of those who will be campaigning over the next few months the best of luck and I look forward to hearing about your work.”

The Welsh Youth Parliament is a group of 60 young people aged 11 – 18 who are elected to work on issues of their choosing over a two-year term.

Those Members gather views from young people from across the country and represent them in the Senedd, in

speeches and debates heard by Members of the Senedd and Welsh Government Ministers.

Inthe first Welsh Youth Parliament term, from 2018 to 2020, Members chose to focus their work on life skills on the school curriculum, littering and plastic waste and emotional and mental health support.

The second term, from 2021-2023, continued working on mental health and wellbeing, alongside new topics: climate and the environment and education and the school curriculum.

The next 60 members will choose their own priority topics once they are elected by their peers in the Autumn.

More information on the exhibition, The Welsh Youth Parliament: Building the Future Together, can be found here: https://senedd. wales/visit/exhibitions/ the-welsh-youthparliament-building-thefuture-together/

To read more about getting involved with the work of the Welsh Youth Parliament, visit: https://youthparliament. senedd.wales/getinvolved/

WG underestimated Ukrainian refugee numbers

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT

worked well with partners in difficult circumstances to accommodate and support Ukrainians fleeing the Russian war machine.

However, more arrivals than expected were made through the Welsh Government’s super sponsor scheme, and over-optimism about how long those arriving would stay in their initial accommodation led to higher costs.

SUPER SPONSORS

In March 2022, the UK Government announced plans to allow those fleeing war in Ukraine to enter the UK.

Following this announcement, Welsh Ministers decided that the Welsh Government would take responsibility for Ukrainians as a ‘Homes for Ukraine’ super-sponsor, which meant people did not need to be matched with a host before receiving a visa.

In keeping he super sponsor scheme open until June 2022, the Welsh Government prioritised supporting

the 1,000 arrivals it said it would during the initial phase of the emergency response. It did this despite the possibility of significantly more Ukrainians arriving, as happened.

By October 2023, the super sponsor scheme accounted for 3,232 – 45% of the 7,118 Ukrainian arrivals with a host in Wales or through the scheme.

A report from Audit Wales finds that, overall, the Welsh Government and partners worked well together to help Ukrainians access mainstream public services. However, there have been some issues around access to healthcare.

A contact centre played a vital role in coordinating arrivals and providing advice.

STRENGTHENING FOCUS

Since the initial phase of the response, the Welsh Government and partners have strengthened their focus on supporting Ukrainians in moving out of Welcome Centres and other initial accommodation.

At the peak in October

2022, 32 sites were open, accommodating 1,840 people.

By January 2024, that had fallen to 4 sites, accommodating 128 people.

Just two sites are planned to remain open in 2024-25.

The Welsh Government initially estimated it would cost around £18 million to accommodate 1,000 Ukrainians in Welcome Centres.

More arrivals and longer-than-expected stays in Welcome Centres with other initial accommodations caused costs to rise overall and put added pressure on wider public services.

The accommodation costs varied significantly, but auditors saw evidence of the Welsh Government seeking to secure value for money.

The Welsh Government spent £61 million on the Ukraine response during 2022-23, including accommodation and other costs.

Taking account of UK Government funding, Audit Wales estimates the net cost to the Welsh Government was at least £29.2 million.

“It is good to reflect positively on the overall management of the response under the Welsh Government’s super sponsor scheme. Nonetheless, there are important lessons for the future, including around the Welsh Government’s early assessment of the number of arrivals, how they would be accommodated, and the costs arising from the response.”

The UK Government’s role in providing ongoing support and a warm welcome to Ukrainian and Afghan refugees is paramount.

this scheme will worsen issues of discrimination and exclusion.”

Swansea was Wales’ first city to be declared a City of Sanctuary and only the second in the UK.

While the Welsh Government has said they are reviewing the scheme with an “intention to establish a new phase of the Welcome Ticket scheme in 2024”, there are, as yet, no details on what this scheme might entail or when it might appear.

Lower accommodation costs mean the Welsh Government expects to spend £35.7 million or less in 2023-24, with most of the costs met from its own budget.

The Welsh Government has budgeted £4.5 million for 2024-25, excluding local government homelessness support.

FUTURE RELIES ON UK GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Ukrainians’ longerterm position depends on UK and international developments and decisions.

Auditor General Adrian Crompton said: “I recognise the considerable efforts involved as Welsh public services and their partners have responded to accommodate and support people arriving from Ukraine. All this at a time when services have been dealing with the legacy of the pandemic and wider pressure on resources.

“The work must continue in the context of wider UK Government decision-making and the events in Ukraine.

Its centrality to humanitarian relief undermines repeated efforts to sound a racist and xenophobic dog whistle about the Welsh Government’s basic income payments to unaccompanied child refugees who leave care. Such interventions from the lunatic fringe add credence to the suggestion that some politicians’ compassion checked out with their common sense and decency.

SCROOGE

McGETHING CUTS SUPPORT

The Welsh Government is already cutting support for Ukrainian refugees.

The Welcome Ticket, which enabled all refugees, including Ukrainians and Afghans, to travel for free on public transport in Wales, will be withdrawn from Monday, April 1.

Sioned Williams

MS, Plaid Cymru spokesperson on Social Justice, has expressed “deep dismay” that Labour has cut funding for a service that others have called “vital.”

A Swansea City of Sanctuary spokesperson said the scheme has made a “real difference for those who are beginning to build their lives in Wales” and added that they “worry that the gap in

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Social Justice and Member of Senedd for South Wales West, said: “Providing free public transport to those who have had to flee war and famine might be a small gesture, but it’s of real value to those who have started to try and rebuild their lives here in Wales.

“It’s so important that there isn’t a gap in provision, but as we get nearer the final date with no further news from the Welsh Government, there’s a real fear that those seeking sanctuary in Wales will be left stranded.

A Swansea City of Sanctuary spokesperson said: “The Welcome Ticket scheme has been vital in providing essential mobility for refugees in Wales, offering people the means to access vital services, employment opportunities, and community engagement. It has made a real difference for those building their lives in Wales.

“We worry that the gap in this scheme will worsen issues of discrimination and exclusion.

“Any transition between schemes must prioritise the continuity of support for refugees and address issues that arose during the implementation of the Welcome Ticket scheme.”

death notices

M ARC B EASLE y BEASLEY Marc Yn sydyn yn ei gartref ddydd Gwener, 15ed o Fawrth, 2024, Elfed Marc Beasley 37 Llain Drigarn, Crymych yn 37 mlwydd oed. Mab

annwyl Diane ac Elidyr, brawd cariadus Heulwen ac Ifan, ewythr balch

Brython, wyr ffyddlon

Bertie, nai tyner Martin, Dawn a Delyth, cefnder hoffus Ieuan, Carys, Betsan, Cai, Gruffudd, Cynog a Myfyr.

Gwasaneth cyhoeddus ddydd Llun y Pasg, Ebrill 1, yng Nghapel Henllan

Amgoed (SA34 0SJ) am 11.00 o’r gloch. Blodau’r teulu yn unig, rhoddion os dymunir i ‘Cronfa

Goffa Marc Beasley’ (Adran Iau Clwb Rygbi Crymych) trwy law y Trefnyddion Angladdau

Colin Phillips a’i Ferched, 4 Stryd Morgan, Aberteifi SA43 1DF, Ffon: 01239 621192. ---------------

Suddenly at his home on Friday, March 15, 2024, Elfed Marc Beasley, 37 Llain Drigarn, Crymych aged 37 years. Beloved son of Diane and Elidyr, much loved brother of Heulwen and Ifan, proud uncle of Brython, faithful grandson of Bertie,

dear nephew of Martin, Dawn and Delyth, fond cousin of Ieuan, Carys, Betsan, Cai, Gruffudd, Cynog and Myfyr. Public funeral service on Easter Monday, April 1 at Henllan Amgoed Chapel (SA34 0SJ) at 11.00am. Family flowers only, but donations, if desired, to the ‘Cronfa Goffa Marc Beasley ‘ (Crymych RFC Junior Section) c/o Colin Philips and Daughters Funeral Directors, 4 Morgan Street, Cardigan SA43 1DF. Tel 01239 621192.

S ALLy B OWEN

BOWEN Sally Goodwick

Peacefully at her home on Tuesday 19th March, Sally of Harbour Village, Goodwick. Beloved wife of the late Ken, loving mother of Richard, Paul, Peter and the late Tracey, a much loved grandmother, great grandmother, motherin-law, sister and aunty. Funeral service on Thursday 4th April at the Church of the Holy Name, Fishguard at 2pm followed by interment at Llanwnda Cemetery. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu if desired, made payable to ‘Parkinson’s UK’ c/o

Paul Jenkins & Sons

Funeral Directors, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, SA65 9BB. Tel: 01348 873250.

M ARJORIE M OLLOy

MOLLOY Marjorie It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Marjorie Molloy, who during her life lived at Pen-y-Cwm and Letterston. Marjorie passed away on Friday, March 15th. Wife of the late Chris, Aunt to Sheila and the late Graham, Great Aunt to Marie, Owen, Adam & Luke and their partners and children. Funeral service on Friday, April 5th at Church of the Holy Martyrs, Mathry at 11:30am followed by interment at Mathry Cemetery. Further enquiries to Paul Jenkins & Sons Funeral Directors, Fishguard. Tel: 01348 873250.

M ARJORIE A NNE

H ODGSON

HODGSON Marjorie

Anne (Formally of Neyland) Passed away peacefully at home in Bourne, Lincolnshire on the 10th March 2024 aged 88. A dedicated and loving Mother,

Grandmother and Great Grandmother. She will be greatly missed by all. The funeral will take place on 4th April 2024 at South Lincolnshire Crematorium.

J EAN G RACIE DAVIES ( NEE G RIFFITHS )

DAVIES Jean Gracie (nee Griffiths) of Haverfordwest Jean died peacefully at Withybush Hospital on Saturday 16th March 2024 aged 95, surrounded by her family, she will be sadly missed. Wife of the late Brian and mother of Neil, Janet and Ian. She also leaves many grandchildren and great grandchildren. The funeral service will take place on Monday 8th April, 3.15pm at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth. Family flowers only, but if desired, donations in lieu may be made payable to Paul Sartori Foundation and sent c/o Paul Sartori House, Winch Lane, Haverfordwest, Pembs, SA61 1RP or ring 01437 763223. All enquiries to Roy Folland & Son Funeral Directors (01437) 763821.

R ONALD F REDERICK (F RED)

M ALLIN

MALLIN Mr Ronald Frederick (Fred)

Templeton Passed away peacefully at Withybush Hospital on 15th March, Fred was aged 83 He will be sadly missed by his beloved wife Gillian, daughter

Helen, son Dave and his grandchildren

Jacob, Olivia, Joe, Harri and Ffion The funeral service takes place on Friday, 5th April at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth at 10.45am There will be immediate family flowers only with donations in memory of Fred made payable to Cancer Research Wales or Wales Air Ambulance c/o Funeral Directors Messrs W & M J Rossiter & Sons

Ltd Landsker House, 21 Station Road, Narberth, SA67 7DR or via www. rossitersfunerals.co.uk

E MILy M ARy (M AIR ) WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS Emily Mary MAIR

Clarberston Road. Peacefully on Friday, 15th March, at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, Mair,

of Claberston Road, Haverfordwest. Beloved wife of the late George dear sister of Megan loving auntie, greatauntie and greatgreat auntie. Funeral Service at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, on Wednesday, 3rd April at 10.45 am. Family flowers only. Enquiries to Ken Davies & Sons, Funeral Directors, Clunderwen. Tel: 01437 563319

J ULIE A NN

O RSMAN

Orsman Julie Ann Mrs. Julie Ann Orsman of Lamphey died peacefully at Fairfield Nursing Home on Thursday 14th March, aged 87 years. Much loved and respected, Julie will be missed by all her family and friends. The funeral will be held on Friday 5th April at 2 p.m. in Lamphey Church. There will be family flowers only with donations in lieu, if so desired, for The Samaritans or Save The Children to John Roberts & Son, Funeral Directors, 51, Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, SA72 6AN, Tel. 01646 683115.

le TT er S & no TI ce S

by Katrin Schröder

CALLING FOR SAFER STREETS FOR OUR CHILDREN

DEAR SIR, I am writing in support of national charity Living Streets’ call to see 60% of children walking to school by 2029. Fewer than half of primary school aged children walk to school in England, this is a drop from 70% a generation ago.

When we design

streets for children, we create places that work better for everyone. Increased walking rates will reduce road casualties, improve health and air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and boost our economy.

A combination of ambitious yet realistic targets, at least 10% of transport budgets spent on active travel, improved road safety in our neighbourhoods and empowering local authorities to make the right transport decisions,

would go a long way to creating safer streets for children to walk and play.

I urge all political parties to ensure the walk to school is at the heart of their transport policy this election year. The impact of this investment will also help tackle the current climate, economic and health crises.

JUDITH SWAIN

grave in the same nation. Why?

Some people have suggested the nation’s wealth should be redistributed more evenly, partly by taxation of billionaires, and also by Government modification of large private Corporations, in a partial Nationalised control of standards, bringing some element of social justice to Britain, after centuries of deliberate deprivation.

Conservative economics makes little effort to develop lives of all the next generation, in basic conditions such as a family home, and so creates much of the crime, both at the bottom, and at the top of society.

17 million British Conservative voters prefer an unjust society. When I ask Conservative acquaintances, to justify in any way, why Bank Directors should have the power to raise their salary above £5 million pa, or why the Chairman of a Power Company has decided to pay himself £8 million pa, none ever makes any coherent attempt to answer, beyond anger at me, for asking. There is no belief in social Justice, in their minds.

These adults seem very ignorant, with no knowledge of why Remuneration Committees were formed, and not a sensible word to say about their own worship of these wonderfully talented geniuses.

WEALTH, POWER AND PRIVILEGE

DEAR SIR, Sociology is the educated study of what citizens consider best in the various relationships within society, where some babies are born to grotesque level of wealth, power and privilege, for no justifiable reason, while others are trapped in poverty, from cradle to

These Conservative voters are emotionally controlled, without much intelligence, by their worship of money, and the Donald Trumps and Elon Musks who have so much. During years when children’s minds developed to puberty and beyond, the advertising and criminality in Conservative Market Forces and Media, has twisted what became the adult minds.

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The Treble is on for Goodwick

GOODWICK went into their visit to Merlins Bridge in the Senior Cup as firm favourites, against a Bridge side capable of causing an upset. However there was no magic of the cup on this occasion for the Wizards.

Goodwick put five past the hosts and made sure it was a comfortable afternoon for them as they’ve become very used to lately. A brace a piece for Dalling and Haworth along with a Horgan goal sealed the deal for O’Sullivans men.

Another dominant display for an excellent outfit, who were missing a key player in Rhys Jones although their strength in depth was really demonstrated here. The treble must now be on everyone’s minds even if they don’t want to talk about it too much yet. You definitely wouldn’t bet against this team right now.

The win means Goodwick are into their second semi final of the season, ahead of their huge clash with Penlan in the West Wales Cup semi final on the 2nd of April.

Rocky delivers knockout blow

MARBLE HALL was the stage for an absolute huge cup tie, we billed this as a mouthwatering clash. It certainly did not disappoint.

The visitors got off to an absolute flier playing towards the clubhouse end. Within just twelve minutes the visitors were two nil up.

The first goal was a well worked passing move saw the ball played out wide to Laurie Howarth who beat his man and set the ball back for Ben John to hammer home

Clarby then saw themselves double their lead. This time Laurie turned from provider to scorer as he got onto a Matthew Davies through ball to slot home with a far post finish that beat Charlie Malloy in the Milford goal

It could have been

three, minutes later but Haworth couldn’t latch onto a Davies cross which was begging to be converted into the back of the net.

Milford showed great character to fight back and got themselves level before the interval. The first goal came from a long cross field ball to Scott Reid and after his effort was well saved by Mansell, however he was on hand to follow up and slot home

The second was a direct free kick taken by Morgan Picton which found its way under the body of Mansell in the Clarby net, 2-2 at the oranges.

In the second half Clarby playing with wind at their backs we’re seeing plenty of the ball but not many clear chances and those that were created

were not converted. Credit to the hosts for limiting clear cut chances and showing tremendous spirit to comeback from a tough start. At the end of the 90 minutes is was all level, extra time needed.

As expected is was tense and nervy it became obvious the next goal was very like to be the winner and with just ten minutes to play, a Laurie Haworth corner was neatly headed home by Ben Rocky John. The goal sent the hosts through to the semi finals of the competition much to the delight of all the players and manager Matthew Fox.

However Milford United can hold their heads high, in their return to the first division they’ve secured a safety very swiftly and been a thorn in many teams side in cup competitions.

Manderwood PeMBroKeSHIre league

results

25/03/2024

Fixtures

30th March 2024

Division 1

Carew v Tenby

Kilgetty v Fishguard Sports

Milford United v Pennar Robins

Neyland v Clarbeston Road

Division 2

Broad Haven v Camrose

Cosheston v Carew II

Merlins Bridge II v Johnston

Monkton Swifts II v Herbrandston

Narberth v St Clears

St Ishmaels v Hakin United II

Division 3

Clarbeston Road II v Pennar Robins II

Goodwick United II v St Florence

Lawrenny v Neyland II

Letterston v Pembroke Boro

Pendine v Haverfordwest CC

Division 4

Camrose II v Prendergast Villa

Fishguard Sports II v Carew III

Milford Athletic v N Hedges & Saundersfoot

St Ishmaels II v Monkton Swifts III

Tenby II v Angle

Division 5

Herbrandston II v Manorbier United

Johnston II v Haverfordwest CC II

Pembroke Boro II v Narberth II

St Clears II v Hundleton

Heartbreak for Cymru as poland

Our boys bow out on penalties

CYMRU’S aspirations for Euro 2024 met a heartbreaking conclusion as they succumbed to a penalty shootout loss against Poland in their play-off final at Cardiff City Stadium.

In a match characterised by tense stalemate, neither team managed to break the deadlock during the nerve-wracking 90 minutes. Ben Davies’ disallowed goal for offside just before halftime added to the frustration.

Extra time brought little relief as Jakub Piotrowski’s near miss epitomised the slim margins of the game. Chris Mepham’s late expulsion only added to the tension, leading the contest to penalties.

Despite a valiant effort and flawless penalties until the crucial moment, Daniel James’ miss sealed Cymru’s fate, shattering their dreams of advancing to the summer’s final in a cruel twist of fate.

The defeat not only dashes Cymru’s hopes of a fourth major finals appearance in five attempts but also raises questions about the future of manager Rob Page. This loss follows a disappointing qualifying campaign, reigniting concerns lingering from a turbulent international camp last summer.

Though there was optimism heading into the match, reminiscent of their semi-final victory over Finland, nerves gripped the capital throughout the day, with no respite from the tense atmosphere.

Both teams struggled to create clear opportunities, with chances at a premium. Despite occasional sparks of promise, Cymru couldn’t break Poland’s dominance, extending their winless streak in this fixture.

While Cymru seemed to gain momentum towards the end of regular time, their efforts were thwarted by an outstanding save from Wojciech Szczesny. The subsequent extra time failed to produce a breakthrough, culminating in Mepham’s expulsion and the dreaded penalty shootout.

Despite efforts to rally, Cymru fell short in the cruelest manner possible, leaving fans disheartened and dreams shattered.

The game went to penalties after it remained 0-0 after 90 minutes and extra-time at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Poland won the penalty shoot-out 5-4, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny - a former Arsenal player - saving the crucial spot-kick from Leeds winger Daniel James.

Poland converted five perfect penalties with Robert Lewandowski, Sebastian Szymanski, Przemyslaw Frankowski, Nicola Zalewski and Krzysztof Piatek all successful against Danny Ward.

It means Poland are through to their fifth successive European tournament.

poland head to euros

Team rally around DJ

CYMRU’S hopes for Euro 2024 were dashed in a heart-wrenching playoff final against Poland, where fate swung on the decisive penalty.

Daniel James, entrusted with the pivotal spot-kick, faced off against Poland’s stalwart, Wojciech Szczesny, whose timely save sealed Cymru’s fate. Yet, amidst the disappointment, Welsh manager Robert Page vowed to fortify his squad around James, the Leeds winger who courageously stepped up.

The match at Cardiff City Stadium brimmed with tension and near-misses. Ben Davies’ header, though met with fervent celebration, was disallowed for offside, while Kieffer Moore’s attempts at goal kept Cymru’s hopes alive. However, despite meticulous preparation, including penalty

practice on the eve of the showdown, James’ inability to best Szczesny in the shootout proved costly. Reflecting on the narrow miss, Page bemoaned the cruelty of football, acknowledging the fine line between triumph and despair. “It’s a cruel game,” he remarked, consoling his shattered team. “One kick away from qualifying. I’m absolutely gutted for them.”

Yet, amidst the anguish, Page found solace in the resilience of his players and their collective journey. “Look how far we’ve come,” he declared proudly, highlighting the team’s progress and unity.

Despite the setback, Page remains steadfast in his commitment to Cymru’s footballing future. Having recently penned a contract extension until 2026, his

WELSH rugby sensation Louis ReesZammit is poised to make a groundbreaking move across the pond, set to ink a deal with the reigning NFL champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.

The announcement comes as a culmination of an intense period of interest from a multitude of NFL teams, with the Chiefs emerging as the frontrunners for his coveted signature.

icon Taylor Swift, adds an additional layer of allure to the Chiefs’ roster.

vision extends beyond the disappointment of the moment. “This team is going somewhere,” he asserted confidently, emphasizing the hunger and determination within his ranks. “There’s a lot more to come... We will be bigger and stronger for going through this horrible experience.”

In Page’s eyes, the defeat serves not as an end, but as a catalyst for greater achievements ahead. “We are going somewhere,” he reiterated, buoyed by the potential of his talented squad. “There is something good happening with this group.” With unwavering belief and a resilient spirit, Cymru looks ahead to brighter days, fueled by the lessons learned on their arduous journey.

Having garnered attention from over a dozen NFL franchises, Rees-Zammit’s foray into American football has been nothing short of meteoric. Following a rigorous 10-week training stint in Florida, his blistering speed and impeccable footwork caught the eye of scouts during a recent trial day.

Subsequently, the Welsh athlete embarked on a whirlwind tour, visiting prominent teams such as the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Green Bay Packers, before ultimately opting to align forces with the Chiefs.

During his rendezvous with the Chiefs earlier this week, Rees-Zammit found himself on the cusp of joining forces with football luminaries Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in Missouri. Kelce, known not only for his on-field prowess but also for his high-profile relationship with music

The impending deal follows closely on the heels of Rees-Zammit’s recent signing with Jay-Z’s sports agency, Roc Nation Sport, marking yet another significant milestone in his burgeoning career. Speaking to WalesOnline, his agent Kimberly Miale lauded his standout performance in the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, citing his athleticism and versatility as distinguishing factors.

Miale expressed her anticipation for ReesZammit’s trajectory, emphasizing his potential to excel in the upcoming NFL season and beyond. With aspirations set on clinching the coveted Super Bowl title within the next five years, ReesZammit’s decision to join the Chiefs underscores his ambition and drive to leave an indelible mark in the league.

Echoing his sentiments in a previous BBC interview, ReesZammit articulated his desire to serve as an inspiration for aspiring athletes, particularly those navigating the International Player Pathway. With his sights set on NFL glory, the Welsh prodigy is poised to embark on a new chapter, poised to make waves on American soil and etch his name in the annals of football history.

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Heartbreak for Cymru as poland head to euros