Two senT To crown courT over attempted robbery
Inquest opens into death of Milford fisherman
AN inquest has opened into the death of a Milford Haven fisherman who tragically died after falling into the sea while working off the Pembrokeshire coast.
Jack Walker, 35, was laying lobster pots from his fishing vessel when he entered the water on the afternoon of May 1. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The inquest was formally opened on Monday (July 14) by Pembrokeshire coroner Paul Bennett. The hearing was told that paramedics had been called to the Hakin area, where Mr Walker had fallen overboard.
Coroner’s officer PC Carrie Sheridan confirmed that a post-mortem examination had been carried out at West Wales General Hospital. The results are still awaited.
Mr Walker, who was born in Tenby and lived in Milford Haven, has been
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described by his family as a much-loved son, brother, father, and friend.
In a statement released shortly after his death, the family said: “We are completely heartbroken at losing our kind, caring, and loving son, grandson, dad, brother, uncle, and brother-in-law. Jack tragically left us doing what he loved most.
“A great friend to all. Our thoughts and heartfelt wishes go out to his crew mates that day. We would like to thank everyone for their support.”
Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed they are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident, working alongside the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The inquest has been adjourned to a later date.
Man arrested after stabbing in Tenby housing estate
A MAN was taken to hospital with stab wounds following a serious incident in a quiet residential estate in Tenby on Monday (July 14).
Emergency services were called to Hafalnod, a cul-de-sac near the edge of town, shortly before 2:00pm. A heavy police presence, including firearms officers, remained at the scene for several hours.
Police cordoned off a section of the estate, sealing off footpaths and green areas with tape, while officers carried out house-to-house enquiries. Images taken by The Pembrokeshire Herald at around 5:30pm show at least three marked vehicles, officers at the scene, and what appears to be blood on the pavement.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police told The Herald: “Dyfed-Powys Police received a report of an assault in the Hafalnod estate, Tenby, at about 1:40pm on Monday, July 14.
One man was taken to hospital after being stabbed with a knife. His
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injuries are not believed to be lifethreatening.
Officers, including firearms officers, remained at the scene throughout the day whilst they carried out their enquiries.
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and remains in police custody.
We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.
There continues to be an increased police presence within the area, and if anyone has any concerns please speak to those officers.”
The Herald understands from the victim’s family that he is recovering in hospital.
Anyone with further information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police quoting the incident in Hafalnod on July 14.
Man apologises for hospital outburst following head injury
A MAN who suffered serious head injuries in a road accident has apologised to magistrates for his behaviour at Withybush General Hospital.
Christian Teeley, 21, was arrested on June 26 after staff reported him being drunk and disorderly on the premises.
Appearing before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, Teeley said his actions were out of character and
influenced by the trauma he had recently sustained.
“I’m really sorry for what I did,” he said. “I was effing and blinding to the officers, but this is not something I normally do.”
The court heard that Teeley, of Vicary Crescent, Milford Haven, entered Withybush Hospital on June 28.
“Police were called when staff reported an intoxicated male who appeared to be aggressive,” said
Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.
“When officers arrived, they found the defendant asleep. It was difficult to hold a conversation with him as his speech was slurred.”
Teeley pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly.
Magistrates imposed a 12-month conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £26 victim services surcharge.
Fisherman Jack Walker, was laying lobster pots when he fell into the sea (Image: Police)
Two women sent to Crown Court over attempted knife robbery at Pill shop
TWO women accused of attempting to rob a Milford Haven convenience store while armed with a kitchen knife have appeared before magistrates today (Monday, July 14).
Bethan John, aged 25, of Howarth Close, and Jessie Thompson, aged 30, of Plas Peregrine, both from Milford Haven, are jointly charged with attempted robbery and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
The charges relate to an incident on Friday evening (July 11), when two
No injuries were reported.
CourT AppeArANCe ANd bAil deCisioNs
Both defendants appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this morning. No pleas were entered.
The court heard that the weapon allegedly used was a kitchen knife, carried in public without lawful authority.
The robbery charge relates to an attempt to steal cash from shop worker Mr M Ajan. The bench sent the case to Swansea Crown Court, where a plea and trial preparation hearing will take place on Friday, August 15.
Jessie Thompson was remanded in custody due to concerns she may reoffend or interfere with witnesses. She was also the subject of a recall to prison.
Bethan John was granted conditional bail, with strict conditions including:
• Not to enter Pill Shop, Pill Lane
• Not to contact any prosecution witnesses, including Thompson
• To report to Haverfordwest Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 12:30pm and 2:30pm
oNGoiNG iNvesTiGATioN
This incident is the third robberyrelated offence at Pill Corner Store in a two-month period. In May, a man threatened staff with a Stanley knife and escaped with cash. In June, another man was arrested for using force to steal a bottle of vodka.
Police have thanked the local community for their support during the investigation. Anyone with further information is asked to contact DyfedPowys Police.
Cardigan man faces Crown Court on child sex offence charges
A CARDIGAN man is to appear at swansea Crown Court next month accused of committing a series of sexual offences involving a 14-year-old girl.
GAVIN CARTER, aged 45, of Felin Ban, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (July 14), where he faced three charges under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
The court heard that on July 12, at his home address in Cardigan, Carter allegedly caused a child aged 14 to look at a sexual image for the purpose of his own sexual gratification.
He is further accused of engaging in sexual communication with the same child and of causing or inciting her to engage in sexual activity involving penetration.
The identity of the complainant is protected by law under Section 1 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.
No pleas were entered.
Magistrates declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Swansea Crown Court under Section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
Carter was granted conditional bail
ahead of the Crown Court hearing on August 15 at 9:00am.
His bail conditions include a nightly curfew from 7:00pm to 7:00am, a ban on any unsupervised contact with persons under 18, and a prohibition on using any device capable of
accessing the internet. He must also reside each night at his home address in Felin Ban.
Carter was represented by defence solicitor Tom Lloyd. The bench was made up of Mr C Pattison, Mr L Evetts and Mr A Smith.
masked women entered Pill Corner Store, threatened staff, and demanded cash before fleeing the scene.
Protest erupts over convicted sex offender housed ‘near Children’
A proTesT is underway right now in Letterston after it emerged that luKe JAMes, a convicted sex offender, has been housed in a block of flats at Parc Maen Hir, an estate where children regularly play.
A small but determined group of angry
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residents have gathered outside the flats shouting “Get him out!” as police officers stand between them and the property.
James, was recently been released from prison, was previously convicted at Swansea Crown Court in 2022 for sexually assaulting a teenage girl. He was later jailed in early 2025 for breaching a court order designed to protect children — after he showed a young girl an explicit
cartoon video.
He served part of an 18-month sentence and is now back in the community under licence.
Locals are furious that a known sex offender has been placed in close proximity to young families. Social media posts and live videos from the scene show multiple people gathered outside the pastel-coloured flats, with one resident saying: “There are children outside here every single day — this is not acceptable.”
One post circulating online says: “Protest in Letterston currently against a convicted paedophile – Luke James. #GetHimOut.”
Another resident posted: “The kids play outside his bottom floor flat window. What were the authorities thinking?”
The Herald has contacted DyfedPowys Police and Pembrokeshire County Council for urgent comment. It is unclear what safeguarding measures, if any, were put in place before James was relocated to the area.
A source at the scene said: “There’s shouting, there’s police here, people are not going anywhere until they get answers.”
This is a developing situation and updates will follow as we receive them.
Teenager avoids jail for Newgale crash that left campers injured
the wheel of a Ford Fiesta carrying five passengers—three in the back, and two in the front, with one sitting on the lap of another—when he lost control of the vehicle while approaching a bend on the A487 near Newgale.
The car veered off the road, flipped onto its side, and crashed into tents at the campsite. One tent contained a twoyear-old child and another a small baby. Miraculously, neither child was injured, but three adults were seriously hurt and pinned by the vehicle. A doctor who was staying at the site provided immediate triage.
CCTV footage showed the vehicle travelling at 66mph on approach and still doing 55mph in a 30mph zone. Police found no mechanical defects.
Victim injuries
• Oliver Copeland, 17, suffered broken vertebrae in his neck and underwent major surgery.
The judge said: “You were driving at a highly inappropriate speed for that road and conditions—so fast you lost control and hit the kerb.” The car then “travelled over many tents,” he added, saying it was only “by luck and no thanks to your driving” that no one was killed.
SENTENCE
Despite the seriousness of the incident, Hale was spared immediate custody. He was sentenced to 20 months’ detention, suspended for 18 months. He must complete:
• 250 hours of unpaid community work
• 15 rehabilitation activity days
• A 2-year driving disqualification, with an extended retest required.
Court today (Friday, July 11).
Jack Thomas Hale of Simpsons Cross near Haverfordwest, now aged 19, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving following a late-night collision on August 12, 2023. He was 17 years old at the time and had passed his driving test only three weeks earlier. The court heard Hale was behind
• Paul Warburton sustained a dislocated hip, fractured clavicle, and rib injuries. He has PTSD and is unable to work.
• Emma Lewis suffered third-degree burns, required skin grafts, and continues to face pain, trauma, and long-term limitations caring for her son.
The judge said the case fell within sentencing category A2 and initially warranted a four-year term due to the number of victims. However, this was reduced based on Hale’s age at the time, his guilty plea, genuine remorse, and the significant delay in the case reaching court.
Describing Hale as an “impressive young man,” the judge said: “You are at the start of your life. Your victims have aspirations too. Fortunately, they did not lose their lives—but you have affected them both physically and psychologically.”
A TeeNAGer who crashed a car into a campsite in Newgale, injuring at least four people including a child’s mother, has been sentenced at swansea Crown
£40m-plus Newgale road scheme to come under public spotlight
peMbroKesHire proposals for a £40m-plus road realignment scheme at flood-hit Newgale, and a far cheaper alternative scheme, are to come under the spotlight at full council next week.
Newgale was hit hard by flooding following storms in early 2014 storms, and later by Storm Dennis in 2020.
In 2014 it even saw a visit by thethen Prime Minister David Cameron following the storms.
A public consultation – through agent AtkinsRéalis – was launched earlier this year ahead of a formal Pembrokeshire County Council application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for Phase 1 of the Newgale Coastal Adaptation Project, which would see the development of a new inland section of road with bridge over Brandy Brook some 2.3km inland, to replace the coastal section of A487 at Newgale that will be closed and removed, among other works.
Varied claims have been made about the cost of this scheme, from £20m upwards, some even saying it could cost as much as £60m, with millions spent on consultation fees to date.
An alternative scheme has been proposed by STUN – Stand Up for Newgale, who have previously said the public has been misled over the need for the new Newgale bypass.
STUN’s far cheaper alternative proposes a section of the shingle bank at Newgale be realigned 10-12 metres seaward leaving an over-wash barrier between it and the A487 to capture any pebbles and sea water.
In a question, on behalf of Solva Community Council, to be heard at the July 17 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, community council chair Gareth Chapman will ask: “The topic of the road diversion at Newgale has been in the news quite a lot recently and it has become apparent that there has been an alternative scheme proposed by the Newgale Community group STUN.
“This proposal has been demonstrated to Solva Community Council and appears to be an under £1m proposal with up to 85 years lifespan compared to the conservative £40m-plus estimate for the PCC proposal.”
The question says “hardly anyone wants this major change in Newgale,” adding: “PCC’s proposal is to counter for road closures that rarely happen and, even then, require little expense to restore the pebble bank. It should also be remembered that on several occasions, flooding at Newgale occurs
“It is acknowledged that climate change and coastal issues at Newgale may eventually in many years force a change in the highway arrangements at Newgale but it is felt that all efforts should be made to retain the character of the village and iconic views for as long as possible.
“Given the huge amount of public money that is proposed to be spent, and could well be better spent on other more pressing issues, would Pembrokeshire County Council commit to thoroughly examining the alternative proposal as WelTAG [Welsh Government Transport Appraisal Guidance] suggests they should, and also fully take on board the overwhelming public opinion regarding the future of Newgale?
“Secondly if Pembrokeshire County Council have already given this alternative scheme full consideration, will they also commit to providing their written comments on the alternative scheme to Solva Community Council within 14 days of this meeting?”
The question will be responded to at the meeting.
because the river outlet is blocked preventing water from the valley escaping and not as a result of a high tide or storm.
Four jailed after Milford Haven drugs raid
FOUR men have been jailed following a drugs raid at a house in Milford Haven, where police uncovered cocaine, cannabis, cash and weapons.
Officers attended a property on Larch Road on April 3 in search of Kai Bain and Kaleb Thomas. A man standing outside went back into the house when he saw officers approaching. After knocking for several minutes, police were met by Sam Daines, who claimed only he and Alex Brown were inside.
However, a strong smell of cannabis prompted a full search. In the loft space, officers discovered Bain and Thomas hiding, along with drugs, cash, a hammer and two knives.
Daines and Brown were initially
treated as witnesses, but were arrested when inconsistencies emerged in their stories. Brown became aggressive during his arrest, saying “F*** it, let’s go,” and made a headbutt motion towards one of the officers.
In total, police recovered 180 grams of cocaine, 387 grams of cannabis, two sets of weighing scales and £2,799.40 in cash. A drugs expert estimated the cocaine could be worth up to £18,000, with the cannabis valued at just under £3,400. Drug-related messages were also found on phones linked to three of the four men.
Daines, aged 33, of Larch Road, had previous convictions but none related to drugs. The court was told he had been out of trouble since 2016 but relapsed
after losing his job and experiencing a family bereavement.
His barrister said he regretted becoming involved and had since become drug-free.
Brown, 31, of Chestnut Way, had 32 convictions for 65 offences. His defence told the court he had turned to dealing due to his own struggles with addiction, and accepted prison was inevitable.
Nineteen-year-old Bain, of no fixed abode, had one previous conviction. The court heard he had become involved after failing to find employment and actively sought out drug dealers in an effort to
earn money. He is now said to be drugfree and attempting to cut ties with his past.
Thomas, aged 20, also of no fixed abode, had one conviction for two offences. His barrister said he had a difficult background and was still immature, describing this as his first time in custody and an experience he does not wish to repeat.
Judge Huw Rees sentenced Daines and Brown to four years and two months in prison. Bain and Thomas were each sentenced to three years in a young offender institution.
Teenager caught drink-driving twice in five months banned and
A TeeNAGer has been banned from the road after being caught drinkdriving twice in less than five months.
Leo Tarnovetchi, 18, was first stopped by police on February 17 while driving a Renault Megane along Tanners Lane in Templeton. Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that officers became concerned due to the erratic way he was driving.
“He was swerving into oncoming traffic and exceeding the speed limit,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.
A blood test later showed Tarnovetchi had 196 milligrams of alcohol in his system – more than twice the legal limit of 80.
Just four and a half months later, on July 10, Tarnovetchi was again stopped behind the wheel of the same vehicle, this time in Newport, Gwent. Once again, he was found to be over the drink-drive limit.
“He was alone in the car and could barely string a sentence together,” Ms Vaughan told the court.
Probation officer Catrin Jones said Tarnovetchi claimed that, on both occasions, he had been trying to help friends. In February, he had allegedly driven someone to hospital after they
sentenced
self-harmed, and in July, he claimed to be driving a friend to visit a sick aunt.
However, Ms Vaughan disputed this, stating that Tarnovetchi was found alone on both occasions.
Tarnovetchi, of Coachmans Cottage, Westfield Road, Saundersfoot, pleaded guilty to drink-driving on February 17 and to failing to provide a specimen for analysis following the July incident.
His solicitor, Tom Lloyd, said Tarnovetchi was in urgent need of help.
“This young man needs intervention, and he needs it straight away,” said Mr Lloyd. “When young people like this come before the court, things can really spiral out of control. He desperately needs help, and he knows it.”
Probation officer Catrin Jones agreed, describing Tarnovetchi as someone who is “clearly influenced by peers” and showing signs of “alcohol dependency” at just 18.
Magistrates imposed a 30-month driving ban and sentenced Tarnovetchi to an 18-month community order. He must complete 15 rehabilitation activity days and carry out 165 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £170 in costs.
Back into crime: Sam Daines had stayed out of trouble since 2016 (Pic: DyfedPowys Police)
Aggressive when arrested: Alex Brown lashed out at police (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police)
Turned to drugs after job struggles: Kai Bain was found hiding in the loft (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police)
First time in custody: Kaleb Thomas jailed over cocaine and cannabis dealing (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police)
Fresh storm hits Neyland Town Council
Councillor demands mayor’s resignation after ‘diatribe of hatred’ in chapel
NeYlANd ToWN CouNCil has been plunged into fresh controversy after Councillor david K. devauden issued a scathing email demanding the resignation of the town’s mayor, Cllr. Peter Hay, following remarks made during a civic chapel service.
The incident occurred on Sunday (July 6) during a service attended by council members, local dignitaries, Reverend Alan Chadwick, and representatives from community groups. According to Cllr. Devauden, the mayor’s address amounted to a “sick diatribe of hatred” which caused “stress and distress” to himself, two former councillors, and others in the community.
The Herald understands that several attendees were so offended by the mayor’s tone that they refused to stay for the refreshments afterwards. One source described the atmosphere as “toxic.”
In his email, sent to the full council and copied to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, Cllr. Devauden called on the mayor to publicly apologise on the council’s website and to resign both his ceremonial and elected roles, claiming he is “not fit to hold your trousers up let alone the office of representing the people of Neyland.”
Cllr. Devauden also accused the mayor of waging a longstanding campaign of personal attacks, citing an example where it was allegedly claimed that the Milford Town Band objected to his presence at a Remembrance Day parade — a claim the band later denied when contacted, he said.
“This email is like that light chilly buff of wind that is a sure sign a storm is on its way,” Cllr. Devauden wrote. “So go before you are blown away.”
In response, Neyland Town Clerk Libby Matthews replied to The Herald, copying Cllr. Hay into the correspondence to allow him the opportunity to comment. She also drew attention to ongoing tribunal proceedings against both Cllr. Devauden and former councillor Brian Rothero, who are listed by the Adjudication Panel for Wales as facing multiple alleged breaches of the Councillor Code of Conduct.
“I do feel this is very relevant to the story I am sure Cllr. Devauden is trying to spin,” she wrote. “I will be happy to clarify any facts on either side of the matter, should you have any particular allegations you would wish to understand the truth of.”
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According to the Adjudication Panel’s website, Cllr. Devauden is scheduled to face a tribunal (reference APW/005/2024-025/CT) over alleged breaches of the Code, including failing to show respect and consideration, bringing the office into disrepute, and misusing his position. A date for the hearing has not yet been confirmed.
Former councillor Brian Rothero is also listed for an upcoming tribunal. In a statement to The Herald, Mr Rothero said:
“This entire affair is deeply unpleasant and damaging to the town’s reputation. The comments made by the mayor were shocking, and I stand with Cllr. Devauden in asking for accountability.
“For years now, a small group on the council has operated without transparency or respect for proper conduct. The people of Neyland deserve better.”
Concerns about the mayor’s conduct were also echoed by a member of the public at the most recent council meeting. The Herald understands a letter was either read aloud or formally submitted at the meeting, expressing serious concern about what was said during the civic service.
“I have never been more ashamed of a council in my life,” the letter reportedly stated. “What was meant to be a respectful civic occasion was turned into something divisive and distressing. I urge councillors to reflect seriously on
what kind of leadership this town deserves.”
Despite being given the opportunity to respond, Cllr. Peter Hay did not reply to The Herald’s request for comment.
The Herald understands that internal divisions have dogged Neyland Town Council for some time, with previous rows also referred to the Ombudsman and widely discussed in the community.
Farming future at a crossroads as final Welsh support scheme unveiled
THe FiNAl version of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) has been published—sparking a fierce national debate over the future of food production, land management and the economic survival of rural communities across Wales.
Due to come into force on 1 January 2026, the scheme will replace the European Union’s Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), marking the end of a decade-long post-Brexit transition. It introduces a new three-tier model of support—Universal, Optional and Collaborative—with all participating farmers required to undertake twelve baseline actions such as maintaining hedgerows, improving soil health, and managing wildlife habitats.
The Welsh Government has framed
the move as a bold shift towards sustainable land stewardship. But farming unions, opposition parties and rural campaigners have expressed serious concerns about the timing, funding, and long-term consequences of the proposals.
FuW: ‘A GeNerATioNAl MilesToNe—buT NoT perFeCT’
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) described the publication of the final scheme as a “generational milestone,” representing the culmination of years of intense discussions between the sector and Welsh Government.
FUW President IAN RICKMAN said: “We have left no stone unturned in our ambition to secure a viable
post-Brexit farm support framework. This is a watershed moment for Welsh agriculture.”
THe FuW WelCoMed severAl MAJor CoNCessioNs, iNCludiNG:
• A combined £238 million budget for Universal payments and BPS tapering;
• A reduction in Universal Actions from 17 to 12;
• Exemptions for tenant farmers;
• Removal of the controversial 10% tree cover requirement.
However, the union remains deeply concerned about the scheme’s remaining obligations, particularly the 10% habitat requirement, which many believe will reduce the amount of productive farmland available. Mr Rickman also criticised the “disappointing” tapering schedule for existing BPS payments—set to fall to 60% in 2026 and drop by 20% each subsequent year.
“We urged a gentler five-step reduction starting at 80%. Despite this milestone, we will continue to push for practical improvements as implementation begins.”
NsA: ‘sTArK CHoiCe For FArMers’
The National Sheep Association (NSA) acknowledged progress but
warned that many producers now face a stark decision.
NSA Chief Executive PHIL STOCKER said: “Farmers must now ask themselves—do they work with government and adopt environmental delivery, or do they walk away and farm independently without public support?”
NSA Cymru’s HELEN ROBERTS noted the omission of sheep from the Welsh Government’s press release as troubling: “There will be winners and losers. Some of the actions reflect existing good practice, but we’re worried about increased red tape and a lack of clarity on long-term outcomes. The steep cut to 60% BPS is harsher than expected and creates uncertainty.”
pAul dAvies Ms: ‘ANoTHer bloW To FArMers’
Preseli Pembrokeshire MS PAUL DAVIES described the final SFS as yet another blow to farmers already struggling under government pressure.
“This is dressed up as a new approach, but it’s another blow to Welsh farmers already reeling from devastating government policies. The cut to 60% is cruel and unjustified.”
Mr Davies criticised the absence of a published economic impact assessment, accusing both the Welsh and UK governments of abandoning the rural economy.
“From inheritance tax changes to bovine TB inaction and new hoops for farmers to jump through, it’s clear that
There had been protests over the proposals (Image: Sam Kurtz)
Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email
governments on both ends of the M4 have failed to support our producers.”
sAMuel KurTz Ms: ‘sTill No ANsWers oN FuNdiNG or iMpACT’
Welsh Conservative Shadow Rural Affairs Secretary SAMUEL KURTZ accused the Welsh Government of publishing the final SFS without full transparency or accountability.
“After seven long years, farmers still don’t know what this scheme will really cost their businesses. Labour’s relationship with rural Wales is broken,” he said.
Mr Kurtz also criticised the Cabinet Secretary for failing to release the impact assessment, which, he claims, ministers have already seen.
“I stood shoulder to shoulder with farmers on the Senedd steps last year—and I continue to stand with them against any policy that threatens food security and rural livelihoods.”
plAid CYMru: ‘A sTep ForWArd—buT NoT FAr eNouGH’
Plaid Cymru’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs spokesperson, LLYR GRUFFYDD MS, acknowledged that the final scheme had improved following sector engagement—
but said serious funding questions remained unanswered.
“It’s clear that this scheme has evolved from its initial form. As the farming unions and others have rightly pointed out, the scheme is an improvement on the one originally proposed,” he said.
“While we welcome the £238 million funding for the year ahead, a one-year pledge is simply not enough. A Plaid Cymru government would guarantee that level of support in real terms as a minimum and introduce a multi-year funding cycle.”
Mr Gruffydd also raised concerns about balance across the scheme’s tiers, the structure of the transition period, and the still-undefined “social value” payment.
“We trust these issues will be addressed swiftly, because, as ever, the devil will be in the detail.”
lAbour bloCKs CAll For seNedd voTe
Amid mounting pressure, Welsh Labour MSs voted down a motion in the Senedd this week which would have required a binding vote on the scheme’s implementation before it came into effect.
“By voting against this, Labour has dismissed farmers’ concerns once again,” said Mr Kurtz. “Trust is at an
all-time low.”
looKiNG AHeAd
The Welsh Government has pledged to publish a “ready reckoner” tool in the coming weeks to help farmers estimate the financial value of their participation in the new scheme.
The BPS tapering will begin in 2026, with recipients receiving 60% of their previous payments, and
reductions of 20% annually thereafter.
An economic impact assessment— originally expected to be published alongside the final scheme—is now due in September 2025, just months before the scheme is set to begin.
Farming unions have said they will continue to work constructively with ministers, but warned that ongoing engagement will be crucial as technical guidance and implementation plans are finalised.
On his feet: Sam Kurtz MS in the Senedd (Image: Senedd TV)
Driver filmed himself speeding at 85mph
A PEMBROKE DOCK man who filmed himself driving an Audi TT at 85mph just weeks after having his licence revoked has been banned from the roads again.
Zack Fecci, 20, of Hawkstone Road, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week after a video emerged showing him driving at speed along the A478 near Kilgetty.
The court was shown footage of Fecci holding his mobile phone in his right hand while driving the sports car, with the vehicle’s digital dashboard showing speeds of up to 85 miles per hour. During the recording, Fecci is seen overtaking three vehicles, crossing over central white lines, narrowly avoiding a traffic island, and overtaking again.
Fecci later uploaded the footage to Snapchat, prompting a concerned member of the public to alert DyfedPowys Police.
liCeNCe AlreAdY revoKed
The court heard that just two weeks before the incident, Fecci had his driving licence revoked by magistrates for a similar offence—driving while using a mobile phone. That earlier offence resulted in six penalty points being imposed, effectively disqualifying him under the new drivers’ rules.
Probation officer Julie Norman told magistrates that Fecci had attended a
house party with friends that night. One of the group owned the Audi TT but was unable to drive home.
“So the defendant very foolishly decided to drive,” she said. “He now regrets that decision.”
GuilTY pleA ANd seNTeNCe
Fecci pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and driving without insurance.
Presiding magistrate Mary Smith told him: “We consider the manner of your driving appalling. The consequences could have been much more serious. Thank goodness nobody was killed.”
Fecci was disqualified from driving for two years and given a two-year community order, requiring him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
Trial to take place over shoplifting allegation in Pembroke Dock
A PEMBROKESHIRE man now living in swansea has been remanded in custody ahead of a trial later this month over an alleged theft from a Home Bargains store in Pembroke Dock.
GARETH MANN, aged 48, of no fixed address but previously linked to the St Thomas area of Swansea, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (July 14) for a case mention hearing.
Mann is accused of stealing hair clips and various other items of unknown value from the Home Bargains store on Pier Road on June 7. He pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing on June 9.
Magistrates were told that Mann remains in custody and is a recalled prisoner. He has been refused bail on the basis of the nature and seriousness of the offence, his previous record, and concerns that he may fail to attend court or commit further offences.
The trial is scheduled to take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday, July 21, at 2:00pm. It is expected to last around 20 minutes.
The case is being prosecuted by Sian Vaughan, with Alaw Harries representing the defendant. The bench was made up of Mr C Pattison, Mr L Evetts and Mr A Smith.
Motorist drove into hospital wall after hearing of father’s illness
A DRUNK motorist who deliberately drove his van into a wall near Withybush Hospital after learning his father was seriously ill has been sentenced for failing to provide a urine specimen for analysis.
Harry Callear, 27, was arrested in the early hours of April 20 after police were called to the scene of the crash near the hospital.
“He was clearly under the influence,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told
Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week. “But when asked to provide a urine sample, he refused.”
The court heard that Callear had been drinking alone shortly before the incident and was struggling to cope after being told his father had developed septicaemia.
Probation officer Catrin Jones told the court: “He hit breaking point. He pushed the panic button and made the impulsive decision to drive into the wall.
“He is well aware that someone
could have been killed as a result of his actions.”
Ms Jones added that Callear had not consumed any alcohol since the incident and was committed to remaining sober.
Callear, of Wolsley Close, Crayford, Dartford, is currently living at his father’s address in Monkton, Pembrokeshire.
His solicitor, Tom Lloyd, said his client’s employment as a gas fitter was immediately terminated following the offence.
Case reopened after emergency worker assaults in
A MAN convicted of assaulting two police officers and verbally abusing two women in Haverfordwest has had his case reopened—but his convictions and sentence remain in place.
DANIEL WATSON, aged 36, of Rowan Drive, Heybridge, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday afternoon (July 14) for a legal application under Section 142 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 to reopen his case.
The original conviction, imposed
on May 13, 2025, was set aside and reheard in full. Following review, magistrates reimposed a community order with an increased duration.
The court heard that on April 24, 2025, Watson launched a series of abusive and violent acts in Haverfordwest, including:
• Using threatening and abusive behaviour towards Tanya Sargeant and Beth Davies, causing them harassment, alarm or distress.
“This is something that has had a real impact on him,” said Mr Lloyd. Callear pleaded guilty to failing to provide a sample for analysis. Magistrates imposed an 18-month community order, requiring him to complete 15 rehabilitation activity days and a 90-day alcohol abstinence monitoring programme. He was disqualified from driving for 18 months, fined £120, and ordered to pay £114 court surcharge and £85 in costs.
town centre incident
• Assaulting PC 1162 James, a female police officer, and PC 1390 Rees, a male officer, during the incident.
• Resisting PC James while she was carrying out her lawful duties.
All offences took place on the same day in the town.
Magistrates imposed a revised 18-month community order requiring Watson to complete up to 10 days of rehabilitation activity, extended from the
original 12 months due to the serious nature of the offences.
Watson was also fined £480, ordered to pay £50 in compensation to each officer, a victim services surcharge of £114, and £85 in court costs, bringing his total financial penalty to £779. He must pay in instalments of £50 per month starting from September 8, 2025. The offences were officially recognised as aggravated due to being committed against emergency workers acting in the course of their duties.
Inquest opens into tragic A478 Blood Bike crash
AN iNQuesT has been opened into the death of a retired blood bikes Wales volunteer who died following a crash on the A478 earlier this month.
Seventy-eight-year-old Timothy Minett, known as Tim, was riding a red Honda Blood Bike when he was involved in a collision with a white Volkswagen Crafter van between Glandy Cross and Blaenffos at around 6:23pm on Wednesday, July 2.
Emergency services attended the scene, but Mr Minett was declared dead by paramedics at 7:29pm.
At the inquest opening this morning (Monday, July 14), HM Coroner for Pembrokeshire, Paul Bennett, was told that Mr Minett had lived in Lower Nash near Pembroke Dock, was retired, and had been married. He was originally from London.
PC Carrie Sheridan, the coroner’s officer, said that a post-mortem had taken place at West Wales General Hospital,
with the results still pending. A full police investigation is ongoing.
The inquest has been adjourned until November.
The Herald understands that Mr Minett was delivering urgent medical supplies for Blood Bikes Wales at the time of the collision.
Tributes have poured in from Blood Bike organisations across the UK, who thanked Mr Minett for his service and expressed their condolences to his family.
In a statement issued last week, his family said: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of a devoted husband, stepfather, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.”
Dyfed-Powys Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses, particularly anyone who may have seen the crash or has dashcam footage from the A478 between Glandy Cross and Blaenffos around the time of the incident.
Inquest opens into death of ten-year-old Lily
AN iNQuesT has opened into the tragic death of a ten-year-old girl from Pembrokeshire who suffered a suspected cardiac arrest at home.
Lily Wilson was found unresponsive at her family home in Simpson Cross in the early hours of May 27. Emergency services were called to the scene at 4:17am, but despite their efforts, Lily was pronounced dead at the property.
At the hearing held on Monday (July 14), Pembrokeshire Coroner Paul Bennett formally opened the inquest into Lily’s death. Coroner’s officer PC Carrie Sheridan confirmed that a post-mortem examination had taken place at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, though the final results are still awaited.
Dyfed-Powys Police is carrying out further investigations into the circumstances of Lily’s death.
The loss of the young schoolgirl has
Wilson
deeply affected the local community, with hundreds of people offering their condolences and support to Lily’s family.
A fundraiser launched by family friend Emma Robertson to help with funeral costs surpassed all expectations, raising over £15,000—far exceeding the original £2,000 target.
Emma described Lily as “a beloved daughter and big sister to Eva,” and said her parents, Andy and Kate, are enduring “a pain no parent should ever have to imagine.”
Lily was a much-loved pupil at Roch Community Primary School, where staff and classmates have been left devastated by her sudden passing.
Any remaining funds from the appeal will go towards providing a defibrillator for the Simpson Cross area.
The inquest has been adjourned to a future date
Gran ‘attacked with rock near school gates’, court told
A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has been accused of a shocking daylight assault on a grandmother collecting her grandchildren from school.
Donna Komlel, 57, of St Teilo’s Road, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week charged with assaulting a female, striking her multiple times to the head with a rock and attempting to gouge her eyes.
The incident is alleged to have taken place on the afternoon of December 16, 2024, near a school, with children reportedly witnessing the attack.
“The complainant was struck to the front and the back of her head, and when she was being struck to the back, the hits were particularly hard and forceful,”
said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan. Ms Vaughan added that Komlel had used a rock to carry out the assault and dragged the victim by her hair.
“This took place particularly close to the school and there were children allegedly present,” she told the court.
Komlel denies assaulting the woman, occasioning her actual bodily harm.
Due to the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case has been sent to Swansea Crown Court where proceedings will begin on August 15. She has been released on conditional bail and is prohibited from contacting the victim or any prosecution witnesses.
Drunk driver jailed after ‘miracle’ no one was hurt in ‘terrifying incident’
A driNK-driver who was already banned from the roads has been jailed after members of the public bravely intervened to prevent what a judge called a potential “tragedy”.
Swansea Crown Court heard that 39-year-old Peter Edgar, of Chestnut Way, Milford Haven, was more than four times the legal alcohol limit when he drove dangerously between Haverfordwest and Newgale on the evening of June 18.
The incident, which began around 8:00pm, was witnessed by a couple travelling along Thomas Parry Way. They noticed a white van being driven erratically and decided to follow it.
Prosecutor Ryan Bowen told the court that Edgar’s driving became increasingly dangerous as he swerved across the road, veered onto grass verges, and crossed into the opposite lane—even on blind bends and hills.
One of the witnesses saw Edgar drinking from a black can as he drove through Simpson Cross.
When Edgar stopped at a narrow bridge to allow two campervans to pass, the witness seized the opportunity to remove the keys from the ignition. Edgar reacted angrily, telling them: “Don’t call the police, I’m done,” before attempting to flee the scene. He was stopped by the same member of the public, who managed to trip him up. As he fell, he dropped a bottle of Captain Morgan rum.
Police arrived shortly afterwards and arrested Edgar, who was noted to be slurring his speech, smelling strongly of alcohol, and unsteady on his feet.
A breath test revealed he had 151 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath—the legal limit is 35.
Further checks confirmed that Edgar was disqualified from driving and had no valid insurance.
He admitted four offences: dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, and drink-driving.
The court was told he had 19 previous convictions for 35 offences, including three drink-driving incidents since 2021.
His barrister, James Hartson, said Edgar had taken the van to visit a relative following a bereavement and accepted that custody was inevitable.
Judge Paul Thomas KC said: “This was an awful piece of driving by a man already four times over the drink-drive limit. It is a miracle you didn’t kill someone.”
Describing Edgar’s driving history as “among the worst I have seen,” the judge jailed him for 14 months and banned him from driving for four years and seven months. Edgar must also pass an extended test before being allowed back on the roads.
The judge praised the “public-spirited actions” of the witnesses who removed the keys and stopped Edgar from doing more harm.
Paddleboarder sparks search effort by Tenby RNLI
Tenby rNli’s inshore lifeboat crew responded to an urgent call after a paddleboarding incident on the evening of saturday, July 12, when a group of three became separated in Carmarthen Bay.
The group had set off on two boards from Morfa Bychan, near Pendine, but when their progress back to shore slowed, concerns grew, and the coastguard was notified. Tenby’s inshore lifeboat launched at 9:10pm, covering the 6.5-mile distance to the location.
As the lifeboat crew approached, they noticed two paddleboards about 1.5 miles offshore, but only two individuals appeared to be present. The two women on board, neither wearing lifejackets or leashes, confirmed that a third person had fallen off and was missing.
With darkness quickly setting in, the crew called for the all-weather lifeboat to assist in the search. However, before
the larger vessel could reach the area, the inshore lifeboat crew spotted the missing individual about half a mile closer to shore, clinging to a military danger zone marker buoy. Fortunately, he was found unharmed, though he too was not wearing a lifejacket.
The three casualties were safely brought aboard the lifeboat, assessed for medical needs, and transported back to Morfa Bychan.
This incident has prompted the RNLI to issue a reminder about water safety, especially for paddleboarders.
Ben James, RNLI crew member, urged paddleboarders to always wear appropriate safety gear, including a leash to prevent separation from the board, and a buoyancy aid to assist in staying afloat should an accident occur.
For more safety tips, visit the RNLI’s official advice on paddleboarding and water safety:
Collision closes key Pembrokeshire road between Crymych and Teifi Valley
A CollisioN closed a key route in north Pembrokeshire on Saturday (July 12), disrupting traffic between Crymych and the Teifi Valley.
The incident occurred on the road between Blaenwaun and Tegryn, prompting Dyfed-Powys Police to close the road to all traffic from around 3:30pm. Motorists were urged to avoid the area while emergency services responded. The nature of the collision and whether there were any injuries have not yet been confirmed.
The road was reopened by 5:39pm, and no further updates have been issued by police.
The Herald understands the road is a well-used link between Crymych and communities in the Teifi Valley, including the route towards Newcastle Emlyn, and the closure caused significant disruption for drivers in the area.
We are awaiting a full statement from Dyfed-Powys Police.
Anyone with information about the incident or dashcam footage from the area at the time is asked to contact the police on 101.
Man fined for shoplifting spree at same Co-op store
A PEMBROKE man who admitted stealing alcohol and sweets on three separate occasions from the same Coop store has been fined by magistrates.
JACK MORGAN, aged 29, of The Green, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (July 14) where he pleaded guilty to three counts of theft from a shop.
The court heard that Morgan targeted the Co-op store on Goose’s Lane, Pembroke, three times in June, stealing various bottles of alcohol and confectionery with a total value of over £150.
On June 4, he took two bottles of vodka and five packets of Reese’s Pieces worth £49.25. Just over two weeks later, on June 21, he returned and stole two bottles of Bacardi worth £51.50. Then, on June 29, Morgan again stole from the same store—this time a bottle of whiskey and two bottles of wine, valued at £50.
All three offences were admitted in court. Morgan’s guilty pleas were taken into account during sentencing.
Magistrates imposed a fine of £40 for the latest offence and ordered him to pay £85 in prosecution costs. He was also ordered to pay £152.25 in compensation to the Co-op. No separate penalties were issued for the other two thefts.
The prosecution was led by Sian Vaughan, with Alaw Harries representing the defendant. The bench was made up of Mr C Pattison, Mr L Evetts and Mr A Smith.
Disqualified driver caught riding E-bike through Pembroke Dock
A disQuAliFied driver has been fined after being caught riding an electric bike through Pembroke dock town centre, unaware that he was breaking the law.
Marcus Crayford was spotted by police on March 1 as he rode a Surron E-bike along Victoria Road. When questioned, Crayford admitted he had no licence or insurance.
However, his solicitor, Mike Kelleher, told Haverfordwest magistrates this week that his client did not realise he was committing an offence.
“The law concerning E-bikes is a
minefield,” Mr Kelleher said.
“The defendant was simply taking the bike out for a quick spin when he was stopped by police. He had no idea that a licence or insurance was required, and no intention of breaking the law.”
Crayford, of Elizabeth Court, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without third-party insurance.
He was fined £156 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £62 victim surcharge. His licence was endorsed with six penalty points.
Stalking offender’s alcohol tag removed after court agrees it is ‘inappropriate’
A MAN who stalked a woman and caused damage to her property has had his alcohol abstinence requirement revoked by the court on medical grounds.
THOMAS JONES, aged 35, of Croft Road, Broad Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (July 14) for an application to amend his existing community order.
The application, brought by the National Probation Service, sought to remove the Alcohol Abstinence and Monitoring Requirement (AAMR) from a sentence imposed in May this year. The court was told the requirement was inappropriate as Jones is alcohol dependent.
Magistrates granted the request, revoking the original order made on May 6 and replacing it with a revised community order.
Jones was originally sentenced for two offences committed in Milford Haven.
The first involved criminal damage on
July 21, 2024, when he damaged a door, radiator, cat litter tray and scratch pole belonging to a woman.
The second offence was stalking the same woman, between December 5, 2024, and January 22, 2025. The court previously heard that Jones attended her address on multiple occasions, made over 100 phone calls in a four-day period over Christmas, sent direct and indirect messages including Facebook posts, and left unsolicited gifts including a parcel and an envelope containing a spa voucher.
For the stalking offence, Jones was fined £80 and handed a community order requiring him to complete up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity by July 13, 2027.
A new collection order has been made for the unpaid fine, which must be paid by August 11.
Court Reporter
Johnston man remanded in custody over criminal damage allegation
A JOHNSTON man has been remanded in custody after allegedly smashing a television belonging to a couple in Pembroke Dock.
ASHLEY RICKARD, aged 28, who is of no fixed address but gave Vine Road, Johnston as his last known location, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (July 14) charged with one count of criminal damage.
The court heard that on July 4, Rickard is accused of intentionally damaging a television belonging to David and Pearl Compton. The value of the TV was not disclosed.
The alleged incident took place in Pembroke Dock, and Rickard is accused of either intending to damage the property or acting recklessly as to whether it would be damaged, in breach
of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
He did not enter a plea during the hearing and was remanded in custody due to concerns he may interfere with witnesses, fail to surrender, or commit further offences. The bench also considered his previous record and the seriousness of the allegation.
Rickard is next due to appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 17, where a bail application is expected to be made. The court granted a CVP (video link) request for his solicitor due to prior commitments in Swansea Magistrates’ Court.
The case is being prosecuted by Sian Vaughan, with Tom Lloyd representing the defendant. The magistrates hearing the case were Mr C Pattison, Mr L Evetts, and Mr A Smith.
Milford Haven man admits threats and racial abuse in police station outburst
A MILFORD HAVEN man who sent death threats and racially abused a police officer during a weekend of offending has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.
Mark Anthony Hambrook, aged 40, of Flat 3, Milton House, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (July 14) where he admitted a string of offences, including racially aggravated harassment, theft, and sending a death threat via electronic message.
The court heard that Hambrook’s offending began on Saturday (July 12), when he stole alcohol and soft drinks worth £55.30 from the Iceland Warehouse at Havens Head Business Park in Milford Haven.
Later that same day, he sent a threatening message from Milford Haven, which conveyed a death threat, in breach of section 181 of the Online Safety Act 2023. The prosecution said the message was intended to cause fear, or was sent recklessly as to whether the recipient would believe the threat would be carried out.
The following day, while in custody at Haverfordwest Police Station, Hambrook racially abused a police constable, using threatening and insulting language aimed at PC
Calditaran. The incident was charged as racially aggravated under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
Appearing before magistrates Mr C Pattison, Mr L Evetts and Mr A Smith, Hambrook indicated guilty pleas to both the racially aggravated harassment and the death threat charge, and pleaded guilty to the theft. Due to the seriousness of the offences, the defendant was remanded in custody for sentencing, which is scheduled to take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, July 29. The court also directed that a pre-sentence report be prepared.
The prosecution was led by Sian Vaughan, with Tom Lloyd representing the defence.
Three callouts in two days for Angle Lifeboat crew
ANGle lifeboat volunteers were called into action three times in just two days, responding to separate incidents involving paddleboarders, a medical evacuation, and concerns for two children in the water.
The first call came at 11:37am on Sunday (July 13), when two paddleboarders got into difficulty near the Green Bridge of Wales. One of them had become separated from their board and scrambled onto nearby rocks for safety.
The all-weather lifeboat launched and arrived at the scene within 25 minutes. Both casualties were located ashore beneath the Green Bridge and safely recovered using the lifeboat’s Y-boat. After being transferred to the main vessel and assessed, they were found to be uninjured.
The crew then transported them to Frainslake, where the Y-boat was deployed again to land them safely ashore into the care of the St Govan’s Coastguard Rescue Team.
On the return journey, as the lifeboat passed Chapel Bay, the crew
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were retasked to assist with a medical evacuation at Kilroom Bay. A woman had suffered a suspected broken ankle in a difficult-to-reach area with no easy access to a car park.
Once on scene, the Y-boat was launched again, with casualty-trained crew members providing initial care. Due to the steep terrain and long distance on foot, the team decided extraction by sea was the safest option.
The casualty was placed in a stretcher, transferred to the lifeboat, and then landed at Sandy Haven into the care of Dale Coastguard Rescue Team. The crew returned to station and were ready for further service by 4:00pm.
The following day, on Monday (July 14), the crew were paged again at 4:09pm to assist two children reportedly in difficulty at Musselwick Sands. However, the launch was stood down shortly after as both had been safely recovered by a family member.
FUW marks 70th anniversary with quadbike raffle for lifesaving air ambulance
THe FArMers’ union of Wales is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a major fundraising raffle in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance – offering a top prize worth over £10,000.
The charity raffle prize is a Honda TRX420 FE1 Electric Shift ATV, complete with a safety helmet, generously supplied in partnership with Dalton’s ATV Ltd in Talsarn, Ceredigion.
FUW President Ian Rickman said: “It’s a big year for our organisation. There have been huge changes since 1955, but we are proud to still maintain our democratic roots and original county structure 70 years on.
“Our founding members started with nothing – no offices, no staff, no money. But they had the vision to launch the Farmers’ Union of Wales, or Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru.”
Today, the FUW employs around 110 people across Wales through the union and its insurance arm, FUW Insurance Services Ltd.
Rickman added: “We’ve grown into a large organisation, but our commitment remains the same – to be there for our members whenever they need us.”
FOUNDED IN 1955 – A DIFFERENT World
The union was created in response to what many Welsh farmers saw as neglect from UK-wide agricultural bodies, which they felt focused on large arable farms in England. A pivotal meeting in Carmarthenshire led to the formation of the FUW by a group of twelve determined farmers.
Since then, the FUW has remained independent and has been formally
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recognised by both the UK and Welsh governments since 1978 as the voice of Welsh farming.
GENERATIONS OF TRADITION –
ANd A ModerN FuNdrAiser
Rickman, whose family marks 50 years at Gurnos Farm in Bethlehem this year, recalled how farming has changed: “My father used to walk the fields every day or round up sheep with a horse and dog. Now, with a quadbike, we can cover much more land, and it’s
easier on the legs too.”
That’s why the choice of fundraiser prize was a natural fit.
“When we started planning a big fundraiser for the Wales Air Ambulance, we wanted something with a wow factor – something that would really help draw attention and support.
“A quadbike is part of daily life for many farmers today, so it felt right. And we’ve included a safety helmet too – I can’t stress enough how important it is to wear the right safety gear.”
TiCKeTs oN sAle ACross WAles
Raffle tickets cost £5 and are available online, via FUW county offices,
and at many of the agricultural shows the union will attend over the summer. All proceeds go to the President’s chosen charity – the Wales Air Ambulance.
The winning ticket will be drawn at the Winter Fair in Llanelwedd in late November.
Dr Sue Barne, Chief Executive of Wales Air Ambulance, said: “The FUW is marking an incredible 70 years.
Congratulations to Ian Rickman and everyone involved with the union – it’s a huge achievement.
“We are honoured to have been chosen as Ian’s charity of the year, and we are truly grateful for the support since our partnership began in 2024.
Ogi backs community groups to switch off and connect
CoMMuNiTY groups across Pembrokeshire are among those receiving a boost from telecoms company Ogi, which is helping people across Wales “get offline” this summer.
The initiative, supported by £5,000 in local grants from Ogi’s community fund Cefnogi, will support wellbeing-
focused events and inclusive activities – encouraging people to step away from screens and come together in person.
Among the recipients is the Pembrokeshire Vikings, a mixed-ability rugby team led by former Scarlets and Ospreys prop Simon Gardiner. The team will use the funding to host an
inclusive sports day in west Wales, giving children of all abilities the opportunity to try adapted sports for the first time.
Other funded activities across south Wales include Scout camping trips, social breakfasts, BBQs for veterans, puzzle libraries and naturebased wellbeing sessions – all aimed
at reducing loneliness, boosting confidence, and creating real-world connections.
Ogi’s Brand Marketing Director Sarah Vining said: “We set up Cefnogi to support the brilliant things already happening in our communities –and this round of projects shows off the creativity and spirit we have in abundance right across Wales.
“Whether it’s sport, getting together for breakfast, puzzle swaps or outdoor therapy, all of these projects are about people – and making space for the kind of moments that really matter.”
The “getting offline” theme launched earlier this year as part of Ogi’s longterm commitment to community wellbeing and aligns with the goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act, supporting a healthier, more equal and more connected Wales.
Ogi has already brought full fibre broadband to thousands of homes and businesses in Pembrokeshire, including in Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, Johnston, Neyland, and Tenby – helping to modernise digital infrastructure while supporting offline connection through community investment.
Blue Bird returns to Pendine for centenary of land speed record
THE ICONIC Sunbeam 350hp blue bird will return to pendine sands on sunday (July 21) to mark the 100th anniversary of Sir Malcolm Campbell’s historic 1925 land speed record.
The legendary vehicle, which reached a then-unprecedented speed of 150.766mph (242.628 km/h) on Pendine beach, will be on public display outside the Museum of Land Speed from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Visitors to Pendine will have the chance to photograph the vehicle and witness its dramatic return to the sands where it made motoring history.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, Blue Bird will also be taken onto the beach during the day for a commemorative photo opportunity. The event will include the unforgettable sound of its V12 engine—a rare treat for car enthusiasts and history lovers alike.
The car, which was christened Blue Bird by its driver Sir Malcolm Campbell MBE, was the first to break the 150mph barrier and remains one of the most iconic machines in British motoring history. Now part of the National Motor Museum’s collection in Beaulieu, Blue Bird last visited Pendine in 2015.
Cllr Hazel Evans, Carmarthenshire’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “We are delighted to welcome the spectacular Blue Bird
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back to Pendine. This event offers a fantastic opportunity for motor enthusiasts and visitors alike to see the legendary vehicle up close and celebrate its deep connection to our
Jon Murden, Chief Executive of the National Motor Museum Trust, added: “We are excited to honour such a landmark World Land Speed Record anniversary with this and other events throughout the year. This is a moment to reflect on the Blue Bird’s
significance in motoring history and to share its story with new generations.”
A dedicated section on the National Motor Museum’s website charts the history of the Sunbeam 350hp Blue Bird at:
https://nationalmotormuseum.org. uk/sunbeam-350hp-blue-bird/
Drifting sailing vessel sparks RNLI launch at Newport Beach
FisHGuArd rNli volunteers were launched on Monday morning (July 14) after a 16ft sailing vessel began drifting towards rocks off the north end of Newport beach.
The alarm was raised at 10:03am when HM Coastguard requested the launch of the charity’s Trent-class allweather lifeboat Blue Peter VII. A single crew member aboard the drifting yacht
was reportedly struggling to maintain control in worsening conditions.
The volunteer lifeboat crew launched promptly, preparing towing equipment en route in case the vessel needed to be
removed from immediate danger.
Upon arrival at the scene, the RNLI lifeboat was joined by a safety boat from Newport Yacht Club, which had also been tasked to assist. The yacht club vessel successfully established a towline and agreed to take the yacht back to a safe mooring.
Fishguard RNLI escorted both vessels to safe water, remaining on standby throughout the operation. Once all vessels were out of danger, the crew were stood down by HM Coastguard and returned to station.
Fishguard RNLI Volunteer Press Officer Cedwyn Rogers said: “The lifeboat attended and determined that the safety boat was capable of towing the sailing vessel back to safety. We remained on scene to offer support and ensure everything went smoothly.”He added: “In this case, the sailor was able to call for help in good time. We urge all water users to carry a reliable means of calling for assistance—such as a handheld VHF radio, a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch, or a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). Ideally, carry more than one option.”
coastline.”
Campaign launched to save former school site
A CAMpAiGN has been launched to save the former Tasker Milward Upper School from being flattened and turned into housing — with calls for it to become a new hub for training, skills and the arts.
The site, which is currently up for sale, has drawn concern from local entrepreneur Tom Rees, Managing Director of WPIAS Ltd. He wants to preserve the site’s educational legacy and transform it into a place that supports learning, charity work, and community arts.
“There is a strong chance the site of the former Tasker Milward Upper School will be levelled,” Mr Rees said. “I want to battle with the big boys and prevent this from happening.”
The proposal centres around repurposing the existing buildings for training in business and property, while also offering space for the performing arts — making use of the school’s large assembly hall.
Tom, a former pupil, says the scheme would give local people access to valuable skills and retraining opportunities that are otherwise difficult to find in Wales.
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“We certainly have a local requirement for affordable housing,” he said, “but this should be done sensibly, using logic and with the best interest of the town and its inhabitants in mind. The site of the Lower School would be more appropriate for housing whilst retaining
the Upper School for training and the arts.”
Local charities have already expressed interest in using the buildings, with Tom saying the space could offer low-cost, practical premises for organisations serving the area.
“The potential of the site to serve the community is phenomenal,” he said.
The Herald understands a Facebook page has now been launched under the name The Tasker Milward Project, and public feedback is being sought. Supporters are being encouraged to get in touch and help shape the vision before a decision on the site’s future is finalised.
Wales tops global table for Green Flag awards
is
Green Flag Community status for 2025/26.
Keep Wales Tidy has confirmed that Wales has broken its own record for the
number of Green Flags flying—more than any other nation taking part in the international Green Flag scheme.
The awards recognise outstanding green spaces that meet the highest environmental and management standards. In Wales, they include parks, university campuses, community woodlands, cemeteries, allotments and housing estates.
NeW siTes ANd GroWiNG CoMMuNiTY iMpACT
Newly awarded sites this year include Llandegfedd Lake in Monmouthshire, Bronllys Hospital in Powys, Tredegar Park Sports and Recreation Ground in Newport, and Llandaff Fields in Cardiff.
A record-breaking 223 community sites in Wales have achieved Green Flag Community Awards—more than any other country in the world for the second year running.
Among the 35 first-time community winners are some unique new additions, including Wales’ first Women’s Institute garden in Llanafan, Ceredigion, and the first radio station garden at BGfm in Blaenau Gwent.
A sHAred eFForT To GreeN THe NATioN
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, said:
“I am very proud that Wales continues to lead the world in community-awarded Green Flag sites.
“Our local green spaces play a vital role in connecting us to nature, supporting biodiversity, and providing opportunities for healthy recreation. It is particularly pleasing to see people not only using these spaces but also actively helping to maintain and improve them.
“The standards required to achieve Green Flag status are exceptionally high, so I want to congratulate everyone involved for providing outstanding facilities that benefit both local communities and visitors alike.”
reCoGNiTioN For CoMMuNiTY dediCATioN
Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, added: “We’re delighted to see 315 green spaces across Wales awarded Green Flag and Green Flag Community status this year—a real testament to the hard work and dedication of those who care for these special places.
“We’re especially proud that Wales has broken the record for community award winners for the second year running. This achievement highlights the vital role these spaces play in supporting the health and wellbeing of communities across Wales.”
WAles
once again leading the world in celebrating high-quality green spaces, with 315 sites across the country awarded Green Flag and
Soapbox Derby rolls into Fishguard with crowds, fun, and a few crashes
THe FisHGuArd soapbox derby took over the streets of Fishguard on saturday (July 12), with the event drawing large crowds and plenty of excitement.
With blue skies and soaring temperatures, visitors gathered at Lota
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Park to watch the spectacle, where competitors navigated twists, turns, ramps, and jumps on the challenging course.
Entries from local and regional groups, including Fishguard and District Round Table, Llandeilo and Carmarthen Round Tables, Fishguard Ladies Circle, Goodwick Sea Scouts, and others, competed for trophies sponsored by A&E Nichols.
As well as the thrilling races on Penbanc and Ropewalk, attendees enjoyed fairground rides, food stalls, and bouncy castles in nearby Lota Park. All money raised during the event will support local community projects through the Round Table’s summer fundraising activities.
Summer Safety Fest brings positive change in Milford Haven
MilFord Marina was transformed into a hub of activity and community spirit on Thursday (July 3) as the Summer Safety Fest 2025 took over a known anti-social behaviour hotspot beneath the bridge.
The event, held as part of Anti-
Social Behaviour Awareness Week (June 30 – July 6), brought together dozens of young people, families, and agencies to promote safety, wellbeing,
and positive choices ahead of the summer holidays.
Organised by ASB Youth Worker Taylor Trueman, the afternoon event aimed to directly address local concerns around dangerous behaviours such as jumping into the water, theft, assaults, and alcoholrelated disorder. The strategic choice of time and location was intended to disrupt these patterns at their source.
A wide network of partners supported the event, including:
• Pembrokeshire Youth Services (lead organiser)
• Port of Milford Haven
• Dyfed-Powys Police
• Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
• Megan’s Starr Foundation
• Milford Youth Matters
• Choices
• DDAS and Cyfle Cymru
• RNLI
• McDonald’s
• Pure West Radio
Interactive workshops were delivered on topics including water
safety, substance misuse, mental health, ASB awareness, and fire safety. Local youth workers also ran games, creative sessions and engagement activities throughout the day. Around 45 young people attended.
Sean Seymour-Davies, Community Youth Worker at Milford Haven Youth Centre, said: “The Summer Safety Fest was a well-organised event that showcased the many support services available for young people and families in Milford Haven.
“With summer approaching, it’s vital that young people understand the risks of things like cold-water swimming, and know where to go for help and support. There are some great summer activities available locally that can help build confidence, foster friendships, and create positive experiences.”
Emily Jones, Stakeholder Engagement Lead for the Port of Milford Haven, added: “It was a really valuable experience. The event allowed local organisations to share vital safety messages in an engaging way. Initiatives like this play a key role in helping young people feel safe, supported and empowered.”
Scott Jenkins from Choices said: “It was a great success. Young people showed real interest in our stand and we hope they took away useful information to keep themselves safe.”
A Youth Justice Case Manager described the event as transformational: “I brought a young person who previously had a poor relationship with police. It was brilliant to see him interacting positively with officers, even offering an apology for past behaviour. That shift in attitude was remarkable.”
Event organiser Taylor Trueman said: “The Summer Safety Fest showed how joined-up, local action can make a real impact. By working together, we’re helping improve safety, create opportunities, and build stronger connections with young people in our community. Thank you to all the agencies involved – I hope this is the first of many collaborative projects in Milford Haven.”
Media partner Pure West Radio helped amplify the event’s safety messages through coverage and promotion across social media and local platforms.
The positive momentum looks set to continue, with partner agencies now exploring future joint programmes and projects for young people and the wider community.
Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email
Swimmer with 1% chance of survival returns to thank lifesavers
A LONDON woman who was given just a one per cent chance of survival after being pulled unconscious from the sea at Newgale has returned to west Wales to thank the team who saved her life.
Joanna Hicks, 64, was enjoying a holiday in Pembrokeshire in July 2023 when a routine morning swim with her friend Philippa turned into a lifethreatening ordeal.
Joanna, a confident swimmer, was caught in a powerful rip current and dragged out to sea. Her friend managed to return to shore and raise the alarm.
MAJor resCue eFForT
Emergency services, including RNLI lifeboats, lifeguards, ambulance crews, and a coastguard helicopter, launched a coordinated search effort. After an estimated 40 minutes in the water, RNLI lifeguard Matty McLeod spotted Joanna floating face down and pulled her to shore.
Tom
Sinclair editor@herald.email
“She was lifeless, blue, and not breathing,” he said.
Joanna went into cardiac arrest. Critical care medics from the Wales Air Ambulance were dispatched by helicopter and arrived on scene shortly after.
CriTiCAl CAre oN THe beACH
The team on board included Critical Care Consultant Mike Slattery, Critical Care Practitioner Josh Eason, and pilot James Gardiner. They worked quickly to resuscitate Joanna, whose heart had stopped three times.
She was given a pre-hospital anaesthetic and placed on a ventilator to prevent brain damage, before being airlifted to Glangwili Hospital.
“The Wales Air Ambulance crew brought the hospital to the beach,” Joanna said. “They saved my life
with procedures that are usually only possible in an intensive care unit.”
survivAl AGAiNsT THe odds
Joanna spent 10 days in ICU, much of it in an induced coma. Remarkably, she survived with no lasting physical damage and was discharged after three weeks. She later continued her recovery in London with the support of a rehabilitation centre and friends.
Earlier this year, she was reunited with Josh, the medic who treated her on the beach and accompanied her on the helicopter.
“It was joyful and emotional,” she said. “He told me how close I came to dying. Without their skill and calm under pressure, I wouldn’t be here.”
eMoTioNAl reTurN To NeWGAle
Joanna’s return to Newgale was organised by Wales Air Ambulance Patient Liaison Nurse, Jo Yeoman.
“It’s been a long road for Joanna to
come to terms with what happened,” said Jo. “Meeting the people involved in her care has been a vital part of her healing.”
Despite the trauma, Joanna is now back volunteering at Kew Gardens and has returned to indoor swimming.
“I’ve not swum in the sea again yet,” she said. “But I will, in time.”
GrATeFul For A seCoNd CHANCe
Reflecting on her rescue, Joanna said: “If the Wales Air Ambulance hadn’t flown those medics to the beach, I wouldn’t be alive today. It still astonishes me that this service, so vital to my survival, is a charity that relies solely on donations.”
Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million every year to keep its helicopters flying and rapid response vehicles on the road.
To support the charity, visit: www. walesairambulance.com/donate
Sunshine, sparkle and spirit at Neyland Carnival 2025
NEYLAND was transformed into a vibrant sea of colour and celebration today (saturday, July 12) as the town’s annual carnival returned in spectacular style — and under glorious blue skies.
Starting at 1:00pm, the carnival procession wound its way through packed streets, with floats and walkers bursting with imagination, humour and local pride. Themed entries included everything from 1940s nostalgia and reggae celebrations to cartoon characters, The Thunderbirds car and even a military-style jeep escorting Winston Churchill himself (or at least a very convincing impersonator).
Youngsters aboard the Neyland Sports float cheered and waved to onlookers, while others handed out sweets, high-fived the crowd, and danced to booming music.
There were fancy dress costumes
galore — from tiny tots in prams disguised as pirate ships to a full marching troupe of blue-suited cartoon postmen. Spectators were treated to a joyous mix of confetti, retro tunes and community cheer as each entry passed by.
After the parade, the fun continued on the Athletic Club field, with fairground rides, food stalls and live entertainment carrying the spirit of the carnival into the late afternoon.
One local resident said: “It’s the best carnival we’ve had in years. The effort people have put in is amazing — and the weather’s just made it perfect.”
Organisers were quick to thank all volunteers, stewards, sponsors, and parade participants for making the day such a roaring success.
The Herald will be sharing a full photo gallery online — so keep an eye out and tag your friends!
Beating of the Bounds brings colour and community spirit to Haverfordwest
Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email
HAverFordWesT’s historic beating of the bounds returned in style this weekend, as hundreds gathered at the Quayside to enjoy a day steeped in tradition, sunshine, and community celebration.
The Mayor and Admiral of the Port of Haverfordwest led the event, welcoming a distinguished group of guests including the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, fellow town mayors and consorts, and a wide cross-section of local residents. The Mayoress and members of the Town Council were also in attendance, reflecting the civic pride behind one of the town’s most treasured annual events.
The ceremony, which revives the centuries-old practice of marking the boundaries of the port, was made all the more memorable by fine
summer weather. Spectators lined the Quayside to watch the flotilla of boats, with thanks extended to the boating community for travelling upriver to take part, and to the Port of Milford Haven for ensuring the safety of all involved.
FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY
Beyond the tradition, the day offered plenty of family-friendly entertainment. Children enjoyed bouncy castles, face painting, ice cream, candy floss, and magic shows, while adults relaxed with food and drinks from neighbouring venue The Bristol Trader. The popular pub also hosted the Fishguard Male Voice Choir, who performed both on stage and along the Quayside, creating a festive atmosphere.
Musical entertainment was curated by Pure West Radio, with performances from Natalie O’Brien, Vision Arts, Kyle Kirkhouse, and a rousing sea shanty group who serenaded guests boarding boats at the slipway.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT ON SHOW
A heartfelt thanks was shared by the Mayor and Town Clerk to all who helped make the day possible—from council members and PCC staff who marshalled boats and set up gazebos and fencing from early morning, to St John Ambulance Cymru, Dale Sailing Company Ltd, and the traders who brought the event to life. Haverfordwest Cricket Club also provided a light buffet for the day.
Special appreciation was shown to Pure West Radio for their coverage, and to the often-unsung Street Team from Pembrokeshire County Council who prepared the Quayside in the runup to the event.
With photos shared from the Clerk’s collection, local photographer Levi Fox, and the MHPA patrol boat, the event has been widely celebrated as a success—capping off the day with a golden sunset over the Western Cleddau.
photo credits: Haverfordwest Town Council, levi Fox, dress for the occasions and MHpA
Community unites for Forever 11 charity day in memory of Zac
A reMArKAble show of community spirit filled the fields on saturday (July 12) as the Forever 11 Charity hosted a vibrant family fun day in memory of Zac Thompson.
Hundreds attended the event, which featured bouncy castles, craft workshops, stalls, and dance performances. A highlight was the emotional tribute from Megan Garrett, who performed a song she wrote for Zac and played “Lost Boy” on guitar—a piece that held special meaning for Zac’s family. Organisers said Megan’s performance was “absolutely amazing” and captured the spirit of the day.
The charity, set up in Zac’s memory, aims to support bereaved families and raise awareness of child loss. The event was also a platform for promoting safety, with local organisation Paddle West teaming up with Forever 11 to highlight key water safety messages.
Graham from Paddle West spoke about the importance of education: “This year, we’ve trained around 700 Year 5 and 6 pupils in the Paddle UK ‘Paddle Safer’ qualification. We teach children how to rescue themselves, check their
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equipment, and dress safely for water conditions.”
He reminded families of five vital rules: “Always wear a buoyancy aid, tell someone where you’re going, carry a mobile phone, check the weather, and know your limits.”
The partnership will continue over the summer, with free boat hire and safety sessions planned at Pembroke Castle Pond on August 4 and Milford Beach Activity Centre on August 14.
The Herald understands the fun day was a resounding success, with organisers promising further thank-yous to volunteers, dance schools, stallholders and helpers throughout the week. “You were all incredible,” said one organiser. “We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.”
Photos from the day showed children enjoying craft tables and face painting, families relaxing under marquees, and a lively game of tag rugby under a clear blue sky.
Fun and games: Youngsters and adults take part in a game of rugby in the sunshine
Craft corner: beads, bracelets and creativity with Chic boutique
Tom
Harbour patrol expands to enhance stewardship and safety
iN a bid to strengthen safety measures and foster community engagement, the Port of Milford Haven is expanding its Harbour patrol service on the Milford Haven Waterway.
As Wales’ largest river estuary, the Milford Haven Waterway offers
sheltered, tidal waters that attract a diverse array of marine leisure enthusiasts. Established in 1992 and falling under the sole responsibility of the Port of Milford Haven in 2012, the Harbour Patrol team (formerly known as the Water Ranger) is tasked with ensuring the safe use of the Waterway for recreational users.
During the busy season, the team conducts regular patrols from St Ann’s Head, at the entrance of the Waterway, to Blackpool Mill on the Eastern Cleddau, and Haverfordwest on the Western Cleddau. With the expansion of the team, patrols will become more frequent, allowing the team to offer guidance, enforce safety zoning, and uphold byelaw compliance.
“It is our duty as a Trust Port to safeguard the Milford Haven Waterway,” said Mike Ryan, Harbourmaster at the Port of Milford Haven. “Our Harbour Patrol team plays a vital role in communicating this message to everyone on the water. Expanding this service means we can deepen our commitment to the safety of this special place and the people who enjoy it.”
The Port of Milford Haven is
responsible for managing the safe use of the Waterway within its designated port limits. This responsibility is governed by the Milford Haven Conservancy Act 1983, the Milford Haven Harbour Byelaws 1984, and associated legislation, which grants the Port authority to prosecute individuals who jeopardize the safe use of the Waterway.
A recent successful prosecution of a jet ski owner for failing to comply with the Harbourmaster’s lawful directions serves as a reminder that the Port will take legal action when necessary. All waterway users have a duty to act responsibly while afloat to protect themselves and others.
To assist leisure users in complying with the byelaws, the Harbour Patrol team has produced a range of informative guides, available on the Port’s website at www.mhpa.co.uk/ enjoy-the-milford-haven-waterway. The team can also be reached for advice by radioing Channel 12.
If you witness dangerous behaviour on the Waterway, please contact VTS on 01646 696137 or email recreation@ mhpa.co.uk.
Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email
duriNG the busy summer season, Jobcentres in Pembrokeashire have focussed on working with employers to increase the supply of new workers to help fill their vacancies, our traditional county of plentiful hospitality and tourism businesses has flourished from the start of the season but as we approach the school holiday period, these businesses continue to advertise vacancies as more tourists means a need for more employees in the businesses. Taking up the opportunity of a summer job can be a stepping stone for jobseekers to build lifelong skills.
They offer opportunities to gain valuable practical, handson experience, work experience, develop essential transferable skills, and potentially even explore different careers. Temporary jobs can boost a CV, demonstrating work history, experience, and willingness to learn, which can all be valuable when applying for future roles. There are, of course, a great many other work sectors for jobseekers to consider. The retail sector in Pembrokeshire is constantly advertising for employees and at this time of year, when the school year changes, and those younger school leavers move into a new school cycle year, some of course, applying for university places, and thus leaving their summer employment, vacancies in the retail sector start to rise to backfill those employees who have left their jobs. The NHS is the biggest employer in Wales and the Hywel Dda University Health Board, covering the areas of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, are always offering jobs on their website; These range from administrative to food services, ward clerks to canteen staff, portering duties to cleaning and much more. The Hywel Dda University Health Board is not just about hospitals; their cover is for many pharmacies, clinics and GP surgeries also. For those
interested in an NHS career, go to the NHS Hywel Dda University Health Board careers website to see what is being advertised. These jobs may well change regularly so jobseekers are encouraged to check the available jobs at least twice per week. One day, your ideal job may well be the one you see. Fred Hatton of the DWP Pembrokeshire Employer and Partnership Team stated “Our county is blessed with diverse businesses in all work sectors. If those out of work need help and assistance to decide the way forward into the world of work, those who are claiming benefit should speak to their Work Coach in their Jobcentre. If you are not claiming benefit, you are advised to go to the Careers Wales website, read and digest the information it contains, and, if necessary, make an appointment to see a Careers advisor. Jobcentre staff and Careers Wales staff will be delighted to help you on your journey to a career that suits your needs. People in work are able to provide for themselves and their families whilst at the same time boosting the Pembrokeshire and the Wales economy.”
Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern said: “We are helping more people into work and putting more money in their pockets. With 384,000 more jobs added to the economy since last summer, real wages continuing to rise and – as these latest figures highlight – inactivity falling, we are all feeling the benefits. But we need to go further. Under our plan for change, Jobcentres everywhere are changing to end the tick box culture and serve employers and those who need work better. For people in areas with the highest economic inactivity we are funding new work to make sure barriers to employment are removed. Alongside this we are fixing the social security system so it helps those who can work into employment whilst ensuring the safety net will always be there for those who need it.”
Historic 1588 Welsh bible remains on display at St Davids Cathedral
THe TreAsured 1588 Welsh bible, beibl Cyssegr-lan, translated by Bishop William Morgan, will remain on display at st davids Cathedral until the end of July, thanks to a continuing loan arrangement with Westminster Abbey.
The Bible, a cornerstone of Welsh literary and religious history, is housed in the Cathedral Treasury and is available for public viewing during normal opening
hours. Entry is free, with no need to book in advance, though donations towards the Cathedral Library are welcomed and can be made on site.
This particular edition of the Bible is widely credited with helping to preserve the Welsh language during a period of intense political and religious upheaval. Its presence in St Davids offers visitors a rare opportunity to engage with a landmark of national heritage.
To mark the extended stay of the Bible, the Cathedral has scheduled a series of short talks exploring its historical significance and impact. These will take place on:
• Wednesday 16 July, 2pm–2.30pm
• Thursday 17 July, 11am–11.30am
• Monday 21 July, 11am–11.30am
• Wednesday 23 July, 2pm–2.30pm
Tickets for the talks are priced at £7.50 and are available from the Cathedral shop or online via the Library section of the Cathedral’s website: www. StDavidsCathedral.org.uk/discover/ library.
Further events are planned for October during Libraries Week 2025, including a session on the 1588 Bible and the ongoing research partnership between St Davids Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
Torch Theatre welcomes new community reviewer Emma Cox
THe TorCH THeATre has announced the newest addition to its team of Community Reviewers — Pembrokeshire native and recent Bath Spa University graduate, Emma Cox.
A former pupil of Pembroke School, Emma holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism and Publishing and brings with her a unique blend of creativity, cultural insight and musical curiosity. Deeply rooted in Pembrokeshire and driven by a lifelong passion for the arts — especially music — Emma is excited to lend her voice to the Torch’s programme of live performance, film, and music events.
“The Torch is a huge part of the creative life of Pembrokeshire,” she said. “It helps keep local arts and culture thriving, and it’s incredibly exciting to be even a small part of that.”
Emma’s interest in storytelling has always gone hand in hand with her love of music, particularly the raw energy and cultural dynamism of 1970s rock and soul. She said: “I’ve always been drawn to the music of the ’70s — it’s an era full of experimentation, honesty, and cultural shift. That really shows up in both the music and the films of the time. I find it endlessly inspiring.”
During her degree, Emma built a wide-ranging creative portfolio, writing on topics including fashion, culture, international affairs, and the arts. Her
Tom
Sinclair editor@herald.email
work has explored the influence of music and subcultures, including the emergence of a new wave of punk in Pembrokeshire, where local bands and young people are reviving the spirit of early punk to address today’s social issues.
She has also contributed to projects linked with Bristol Pride and Bath Carnival, and taken part in wider conversations around media representation and diversity. Through social media marketing and magazine design, Emma developed a passion for the evolving role of creative platforms in shaping public discourse.
“I see publishing as a powerful storytelling tool — one that continues to evolve alongside digital platforms and social change,” she said.
As she embarks on her new role, Emma aims to bring a fresh, musicloving perspective to her reviews, combining thoughtful critique with an eye for the cultural and creative significance of each performance.
“This is a new venture for me,” she said. “While I polish my reviewer’s voice, I hope to bring you along for the ride with thoughtful and exciting reviews.”
CliCk to
The Sandman season 2
Season 2 of The Sandman arrives as a haunting, deeply emotional final chapter that stares unflinchingly at Dream’s regrets and responsibilities. What begins as an ethereal foray into Hell and the redemption of Nada soon blossoms into a sprawling, surreal journey through the Endless’ fractured family ties, with Dream at its injured center.
Tom Sturridge’s performance remains quietly powerful— moody, introspective, and filled with a wounded nobility that keeps the show grounded even when its scope spans gods, myths, and the underworld.
The series continues to dazzle visually: every realm—from the infernal courts to the lush Dreaming, the chaos of faerie courts, to the tragic beauty of orpheus’ tale—is rendered in
lush, cinematic detail, each frame feeling like a midnight reverie brought to life.
Yet this beauty comes at a cost: pacing can feel uneven, at times drifting into moments of poetic languor that risk losing narrative momentum. Critics are split—some find it a decadent, violent, dreamy prestige spectacle that satisfies the fantastical longing, while others see it as a pretentious emo drama weighed down by brooding monologues and underused moments of levity.
But what gives this season its emotional gravity are the relationships at its core. Dream’s quest to free Nada—a deeply tragic love story reimagined with modern empathy—reveals a god learning humility, forced to confront guilt and loss, all while Death’s wise, compassionate
presence shines through. Scenes involving Wanda resonate profoundly; her strength and wisdom, though her arc ends abruptly, underscore themes of identity, family, and belonging, and her death leaves a stark emotional impact.
As Dream and Delirium chase down Destruction and seek out Orpheus, the series shifts into mythic territory. Ruairi O’Connor’s Orpheus—a king cut down to an immortal head—adds tragic weight, and the eventual spilling of familial blood sets up a heart-wrenching cliffhanger that promises dangerous spiritual reprisals. Fans will be left breathless, caught between admiration for the artistry and yearning for its resolution.
In the end, Season 2 delivers a beautifully flawed, emotionally rich farewell. It is sumptuous and somber, filled with mythic grandeur, but it occasionally flirts with self-indulgence. It may meander, but the performances— especially Sturridge’s Dream, Moore’s Wanda, and the siblings as a fractured, loving unit— anchor it in human feeling.
For those drawn to ambitious fantasy that doesn’t shy away from grief, guilt, and redemption, this season stands as a fitting, if bittersweet, valediction to Neil Gaiman’s Dreamscape.
The fantastic 4 first steps
Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” arrives on July 25 with a fresh burst of retro-futuristic energy and a cast drawn from some of the most celebrated TV work of recent years. Pedro Pascal brings warmth and intelligence to Reed Richards, anchoring the film in a reassuring mentor-figure role. Vanessa Kirby channels a poised strength and emotional resilience as Sue Storm, capturing the duality of wife, mother, and hero perfectly. Joseph Quinn shines as the cocky yet endearing Johnny Storm, injecting levity and sibling rivalry into the team, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s performance as Ben Grimm offers a gruff heart, his rough exterior hiding a deeply loyal spirit. The revelation of a gender-swapped Silver Surfer, embodied by Julia Garner, adds an intriguing, modern spin, and her ethereal presence is arrestingly cosmic. Ralph Ineson’s Galactus exudes menace and gravitas, especially in moments when he directly engages with the stakes at hand—the fate of the planet and the couple’s unborn child.
Visually, the film is a sumptuous return to the 1960s-inspired science-fiction
design that inspired its comic origins. Mindful direction by Matt Shakman ensures every frame feels like a lovingly restored egg-crate retro jewel, melding practical miniatures, textured sets, and camera choices that echo Kubrick’s aesthetic style. The latest trailer, styled as if from a bygone era, set the tone beautifully—sun - drenched, hopeful, yet undeniably poised for cosmic calamity. The cinematography, complemented by Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino’s jaunty yet stirring score, gives the story both emotional weight and thrilling lift.
Narratively, the film balances its grand sci-fi plot with intimate family stakes: Reed and Sue aren’t just battling Galactus— they’re preparing for parenthood under extraordinary threat. The tension between cosmic scale and domestic normalcy feels fresh, allowing nerdy wonder and emotional connection to coexist.
This emotional grounding sets
“First Steps” apart from previous Fantastic Four films, anchoring blockbuster spectacle in real heart.
There are indications the story doesn’t follow Marvel’s typical “good always wins” arc. Trailers hint at devastating losses and a more fatalistic tone, raising powerful questions about sacrifice and legacy. Early reactions praise the visual detail and chemistry among the leads; some test-screen reactions are mixed, but most seem buoyed by the film’s style and ambition. At its core, “First Steps” feels like a love letter—to the Fantastic Four mythology, to sci-fi optimism, and to the idea of family standing strong in the face of impossible danger.
Whatever your hopes, this version of Marvel’s First Family seems ready to take that crucial first step: delivering on nostalgia, pushing boundaries of representation—especially with a pregnant Sue Storm standing at the center—and offering a dramatic reinvention of classic villainy. If it hits its mark, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” could usher in a new golden era for the franchise, reminding audiences that even the grandest battles begin with the smallest steps forward.
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Tech and Taff
Grok goes groggy as Musk’s chatbot praises Hitler (and slags off world leaders)
Well now, just when you thought AI couldn’t embarrass itself any further, along comes elon Musk’s chatbot, Grok, offering up Adolf ruddy Hitler as a role model. Honestly, I’ve seen more judgment in the comments section of Walesonline.
According to screenshots doing the rounds faster than a Pontypridd rumour, Grok said Hitler would be best placed to tackle “anti-white hate.” Another gem added: “If calling out radicals cheering dead kids makes me ‘literally Hitler,’ then pass the mustache.” That’s not free speech—that’s free-range lunacy.
xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence company (which now shares a bed with Twitter, sorry, X), says it’s taken steps to stop Grok posting hate speech. But for a company that seems to run more on Red Bull and bravado than proper ethics, forgive me if I don’t hold my breath.
The Anti-Defamation League called it dangerous. Poland is
dragging them to the European Commission for slagging off Donald Tusk. And Turkey’s just outright banned the chatbot after it insulted President Erdogan. The Turks don’t do second chances, butt.
And back at the ranch, Elon’s shrugged it all off on X with a wave of his virtual cigar, saying Grok’s getting “significantly” better. I’ve seen more accountability in a Neath pub quiz.
Let’s be fair—we in Wales aren’t desperate for a chatbot that blurts out Nazi fan fiction or insults heads of state. We just want a bit of kit that works without offending half of Europe. If I ask a digital assistant whether it’s going to rain in Cardigan, I don’t want a history lesson on eugenics.
Tech should help the valleys, not insult their intelligence. But Grok? It’s all sound and fury, signifying sod all. Like a rugby coach with no clue and a whistle too loud.
Musk says Grok is improving. Aye, and so is Newport Bus.
Diolch yn fawr, Elon—ond cadw dy AI yn dy dennyn, cariad.
DJ Yoda brings the ’80s back to life at The Queens Hall, Narberth
AWArd-WiNNiNG turntablist dJ Yoda is heading to Narberth this autumn for a night of pure nostalgia, bringing his acclaimed DJ Yoda’s ’80s Mixtape live to The Queens Hall on Saturday, 22 November 2025.
Known for his innovative audiovisual mashups, Duncan Beiny—better known as DJ Yoda—will take audiences on a journey through pop culture’s most iconic decade. Expect a wild mix of classic hip-hop, chart-toppers, retro video games, vintage movie clips and everything in between, all delivered in his signature glitched-out style.
From A-Ha to Alan Partridge, this is no ordinary DJ set. It’s a live performance of the mixtape that started it all—How To Cut & Paste: 80s Edition—celebrating 25 years since its original release.
A pioneer of modern turntablism, DJ Yoda has spent more than three decades performing around the world, from global festivals to exclusive venues. Named “one of the 10 DJs to see before you die” by Q Magazine, he’s collaborated with artists ranging from Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg to Damon Albarn, Diplo and Mark Ronson. In 2015, he was one of a select group of performers invited to appear at Banksy’s infamous Dismaland.
Whether you lived through the ‘80s or just love the sound and style of the era, DJ Yoda’s 80s Mixtape Live promises a high-energy, genre-defying experience not to be missed.
Tickets are available now at thequeenshall.org.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01834 861212.
Release date 8/8/2025
MAfia The Old country
Mafia: The old Country immediately commands attention with its lush, cinematic vision of early 20th-century sicily, brought to life with stunning visual fidelity. From the golden hues of rural landscapes to the intricate interiors of sicilian villas, every scene feels meticulously crafted. The seamless transitions between cutscenes and gameplay work wonders in drawing you into the world— clearly, great care was taken to blur cinematic narrative and interactive action into a cohesive, immersive flow.
At the heart of the experience is Enzo Favara’s journey from indentured laborer to a rising member of the Torrisi family. His story is steeped in themes of loyalty, family honor, and the brutality of mafia life. The writing and voice acting—now including authentic Sicilian in-game dialogue—elevate the narrative, grounding it in cultural authenticity rather than resorting to cheap stereotypes.
Gameplay-wise, the game takes a deliberately linear, mission-focused structure, much like the earlier Mafia titles. Rather than sprawling openworld freedom, each segment delivers tightly scripted setpieces that alternate between high-speed chases, stealthy infiltrations through shadowed
estates, tense shootouts, and close-quarters brawls. This focus keeps pacing sharp and storytelling tight, though it may disappoint those seeking the vast, explorable environments seen in other titles.
The combat and stealth mechanics will feel familiar to fans of cinematic action games—cover-based gunplay, knife takedowns, and strategic planning are well executed. Yet, the gameplay doesn’t chart much new territory and occasionally feels like an evolution of mechanics from older titles. Animations, while generally solid, can sometimes appear slightly outdated— weapon draws or NPC reactions may momentarily break immersion. Still, these are more minor distractions than real drawbacks.
Driving delivers both charm and challenge: traversing dirt roads in creaky early-1900s automobiles is atmospheric, but the physics can occasionally feel off, with overly slippery handling that might surprise players expecting more grounded dynamics. However, the joy of roaring along sundrenched Sicilian overlooks more than compensates for those brief inconsistencies.
Another standout is the game’s presentation value. The developers lean into strong
HOROSCOPES
ARIES When it comes to love, there’s just no way you can answer anyone’s questions without getting into trouble of some kind. Just smile sweetly, give them that one look you know always works, and tell them you need time to think things through to give it all the brainpower it deserves. Don’t be hasty. You don’t have all the data you need.
TAURUS
After spending too long waiting on some flare-up between family members to resolve one way or another (preferably for the better, of course), you’re finally ready to make your big announcement. It’s all good, and you may be in the right, but for time being, only for a day or so, really, don’t say anything to anyone if you can help it.
GEMINI
There are many aspects of your life that are somewhat hard for you to deal with now. Relatives and neighbors, anything that involves travel or technology, and anything that could get you lost are all red-flagged. They’re just unlikely to go well for you, sadly. Sit tight, stay home, ignore the phone, and postpone any big decisions for a day or two.
CANCER
Financial issues have never been at the top of your list of things you find simple to deal with, with romance, of course, coming in a close second. That’s extra true right now, and especially so if you are the dead center. If someone brings you a document and claims it must be signed immediately, put them off for a bit, and then find out what the rush is all about. There’s something crucial you need to know in the fine print.
LEO
Now and then you get the feeling that absolutely nothing you do is going to go right no matter how hard you try or how much recon you do in advance. This is definitely one of those times, so remember not to be too tough on yourself. It’s not just you! Lots of people are going through the same thing, or worse. Like all things, this will pass.
VIRGO
cinematics and polished set design, offering a gripping spectacle whether you’re meeting with family heads in grand halls or sneaking under moonlight in dusty courtyards. The sound design and musical score support the tone perfectly, lending weight to every gunshot and whisper.
Perhaps the most refreshing aspect of The Old Country is its lean, no-fat storytelling. With a standard price tag rather than the typical premium, it promises a satisfying, focused experience that doesn’t demand months of playtime. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it refines what narrative-driven games do best.
In summary, Mafia: The Old Country is a beautifully crafted prequel that returns the series to its roots. It’s an emotionally resonant, visually impressive ride through Sicily’s underworld. Although it doesn’t push gameplay boundaries and occasionally shows its age in certain mechanics, its compelling story, immersive world, and strong sense of atmosphere make it one of the year’s most promising narrative-focused releases. If you’re drawn to cinematic mob dramas and appreciate tight, purposeful game design, this journey back to the origins of the Mafia is well worth taking.
While the rest of us worry about what to do next regarding the latest series of messes the Universe has made, you’re having a far easier time. That is unless you consider the fact that you’re having a hard time deciding whether you want to be by yourself or just alone with one loved one who really gets you. There are worse problems to have, though!
LIBRA
After too much time spent trying everything from drum signals to ESP to messaging your friends, you had almost given up on actually reaching someone. Just as soon as you make that decision, though, the Universe gives way, and suddenly there they are! As soon as you get over the shock, you may actually recall what was so important that you just had to talk to them about it so long ago.
SCORPIO
Today, you need some help to get where you’re going. You’re great on your own, of course, better than most, and well known for doing amazing work independently. It’s just that for now your personal energy responds better to teamwork. Any brainstorming session is bound to be incredibly inspired. If you can fit some social time into your busy schedule, so much the better. You make everyone feel just right.
SAGITTARIUS
If you’ve been looking for love, you may suddenly be in the running for a big project. If you’ve been hoping for (and working toward) major progress at work, a new love could pop up out of nowhere. If you want to grapple with a big family issue, your career could take off in a brand-new direction. All this means is that though you don’t always get what you want, you sometimes get what you need.
CAPRICORN
You hate being told what to do with your money. It’s easily high on your list of don’ts. Just now, though, you’ve got to deal with it like a grown-up, because someone who cares is just about to tell you that the deal you think is all kinds of perfect may not be what you think it is. You’re bright, so you can wait. Just don’t pound your head all the way through the wall while you’re waiting!
AQUARIUS
If you’re in the mood to meet lots of people, do it! There
wiTh eddie The game guru
a p embrokeshire p erspective
truth on trial
Why Francesca Albanese deserves a peace prize – not Trump
FrANCesCA AlbANese’s latest report did not just challenge the narrative around Gaza — it tore a hole straight through the West’s diplomatic double-speak. As the united Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, she has one job: to expose violations of international law. For doing precisely that, she is now being sanctioned by the united states — punished for telling the truth.
ANd THAT sHould HorriFY us All.
In January, the International Court of Justice — the highest legal authority at the United Nations — found South Africa’s charge of genocide against Israel to be “plausible.” The court ordered Israel to take immediate steps to prevent genocidal acts and allow humanitarian aid. This wasn’t just a warning — it was a legal red flag to the world.
But instead of acting on that ruling, Washington did the opposite: it targeted Albanese, one of the few officials willing to call the situation what it increasingly looks like — a deliberate, systematic destruction of a people. She called it genocide. The ICJ says that’s plausible. The world’s most powerful government responded by silencing the messenger.
Let’s be clear. If Francesca Albanese had issued these same warnings about Russia, Syria, or Iran, she’d be on the front page of every Western newspaper as a heroic whistleblower. But because she named Israel — and by extension, its most powerful backer, the United
the cost oF allegiance
States — she’s being dragged through the mud and labelled a threat.
THis is NoT diploMACY. THis is poliTiCAl CeNsorsHip.
Even the United Nations itself seems paralysed. While UN rights chief Volker Türk and Human Rights Council president Jürg Lauber have rightly condemned the sanctions, the broader institution has failed to defend her. The Secretary-General’s office was quick to remind journalists that Albanese is “independent” — bureaucratic speak for “you’re on your own.”
ANd sTill, sHe speAKs ouT
“All eyes must remain on Gaza,” she wrote. “Children are dying of starvation in their mothers’ arms, while their fathers and siblings are bombed into pieces while searching for food.”
These aren’t the words of a diplomat jockeying for position. These are the words of someone who has seen too much, heard too many cries, and decided that silence is no longer an option.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump —
who helped fuel this crisis through uncritical support and arms deals — is being touted for the Nobel Peace Prize, reportedly nominated by Benjamin Netanyahu himself. This is not satire. It’s an insult to every child buried under Gaza’s rubble.
Albanese has not killed anyone. She hasn’t bombed schools. She hasn’t enabled famine or sold weapons. Her crime is far more dangerous in today’s world: she told the truth without fear.
If the Nobel Peace Prize still means anything, it should go to those who risk everything to speak for the voiceless — not to those who shake hands while the bombs fall. Francesca Albanese represents the best of what the international community claims to be. She should be celebrated — not sanctioned.
Until that day comes, we must face the brutal reality of our age: in today’s world, it is not lies but truth that gets punished.
Political donations and the shrinking space for dissent
THe uK’s recent decision to proscribe palestine Action as a terrorist group has sent shockwaves through civil society, human rights communities, and activists across the country. It marks the first time in decades that a direct action protest group — one without any record of armed violence or fatalities — has been placed on the same legal footing as recognised terrorist organisations.
At the centre of this development stands Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who made the designation under the Terrorism Act 2000, citing “serious criminal damage” and “threats to life.” While Palestine Action’s tactics — such
as vandalism, occupation of weapons factories, and paint-splash protests — are indeed confrontational and often unlawful, the government’s framing of them as terrorism has prompted widespread criticism. Legal observers note that the bar for terrorism under UK law has never before included this type of civil disobedience.
What complicates this decision further is the financial relationship between senior Labour politicians and pro-Israel lobbying interests. According to Declassified UK, at least 13 members of Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet — including Yvette Cooper — have received substantial financial backing from groups and individuals with
strong pro-Israel affiliations. Cooper, specifically, has been reported to have received over £215,000 in related donations over the past year. The sources include supporters of Labour Friends of Israel, a group that maintains close ties with the Israeli embassy and has historically downplayed concerns over Palestinian human rights.
Photographs from public events — such as one showing Cooper standing beside Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely — underscore how closely aligned many senior UK politicians have become with the Israeli diplomatic and lobbying apparatus. Hotovely, known for her hardline views and defence of Israeli settlement expansion in occupied territories, is a deeply controversial figure internationally. That her presence at UK political functions is treated as unremarkable speaks volumes about the current climate.
There is no suggestion that any laws have been broken — political donations of this kind are entirely legal in the UK and are disclosed on the parliamentary register. But legality is not the only test of ethical governance. The public has a right to ask: how much influence do these donations exert over foreign
policy, protest law, and decisions such as the proscription of Palestine Action?
The timing of the move is significant. It comes amid growing public anger over the UK’s support for Israel during its military operations in Gaza, which have led to thousands of civilian deaths and accusations of war crimes by leading international legal bodies. Suppressing protest in this climate, while maintaining financial and diplomatic ties to one side of the conflict, sends a chilling message about the health of UK democracy.
Protest is not meant to be polite. It is meant to be disruptive — particularly when traditional political channels fail to deliver justice. When that disruption is met with the full force of antiterror laws, the line between a liberal democracy and a securitised state begins to blur.
In a functioning democracy, it is crucial that political decisions are not only lawful, but seen to be made in the public interest — not under the shadow of financial allegiance or foreign policy alignment. The case of Palestine Action raises hard questions about who gets to dissent in Britain — and at what cost.
BADGER AND THE LETTER OF THE LAW
We TAKe, as this week’s text, a simple and true principle.
The rule of law is what makes freedom work.
Rights, freedoms, and responsibilities are all created by law. It follows that the law can curtail rights and freedoms and impose responsibilities.
Without the rule of law, there is chaos.
The logical endpoint of arguing that a law is unfair, unnecessary, or restrictive and should therefore be ignored is lawlessness. If you believe you can pick and choose which laws you feel like obeying and when, you’re indulging yourself in intellectual masturbation.
You can disagree with the law. You can argue against the mechanism by which it is enacted. You can be outraged at its effects on those with whom you might sympathise or how it is enforced. In any case, you can campaign for the law to be changed. However, until the law is changed, you are obliged to obey it.
No sense that you follow a “higher law” or have a “higher calling” is a valid defence to prosecution for breaking the law. Sincere and sincerely held beliefs,
whether actual or claimed, are immaterial to the law’s operation.
That is as it should be. Criminal law is a mechanical process.
Take homicide.
Subject to three exceptions (which constitute partial defences to murder, and result in a conviction for manslaughter), the crime of murder is committed where a person:
• of sound mind and discretion (sane)
• unlawfully kills (not self-defence)
• any reasonable creature (a human being)
• in being (born alive and breathing)
• under the King’s Peace (not in wartime)
• with intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm.
The prosecution does not have to prove motive.
In practice, therefore, to be guilty of murder, you must be sane, unlawfully kill a live human being, and intend to kill or cause grievous bodily harm to the deceased. If you can show you are
insane, or that the death was lawful, or that you did not intend to kill or cause serious injury, you will either be acquitted of murder and/or convicted of the lesser offence of manslaughter.
The burden of proving intent to kill or cause serious bodily harm is often determined by surrounding circumstances. Lawyers, judges, and juries do not need to peer into the accused’s soul. For example, if a person is stabbed multiple times to the heart, it is a safe bet that the intent to cause serious injury and death is unarguable.
Badger makes the above points to demonstrate that most lawyers, no matter how intellectually superior, savvy, or wellread they may be, are, in effect, akin to mechanics, electricians, or plumbers. They possess specialist knowledge of a system and apply it to a problem the system presents.
Ideally, “the rule of law” is disinterested and gives citizens certainty. That’s because its primary purpose is to maintain order, regulate conduct, and provide a framework for resolving disputes. Laws are designed to create predictable and stable social conditions. The criminal law is not there to solve moral questions, even where it enforces “moral” principles (the sanctity of human life or property).
The rule of law is different, of course, from the rule of lawyers.
Contrary to deranged and imbecilic opinion, the UK is not governed by lawyers, and even less so by judges.
For starters, if lawyers governed the UK, the laws would be better written. That is to say, that lawyers represent their clients by reference to both statute and case law, and judges make decisions through the application of the same. If Parliament passed better-written laws, neither lawyers nor judges would have any leeway in their application or interpretation.
Let’s take the fuss (Badger understates) about the late Conservative government’s attempts to deport migrants to Rwanda. To achieve its ends, the government had to go back to the Commons and rewrite reality by declaring that Rwanda was not a dictatorship with an appalling human rights record. It was forced into that mind-bending step because part of the prevailing law, as passed by Parliament, prevented the deportation of migrants to countries like Rwanda, with a track record of genocide, torture, and capricious disregard for the law.
The complaints, not to say, “hysterical”
overreaction of some Conservative MPs, the good old foreign-owned British rightwing media, and the usual assortment of armlifters suggested that they would accept the rule of law only when the law served their ends.
Last summer, when there was a series of riots against the presence of migrants following the murders in Southport by a British youth, the law clamped down on those who provoked and endorsed violence and violent protest.
The metropolitan left-wing chattering classes were delighted at the stern sentences handed down to those whose protests crossed the line to thuggery and incitement. Never mind the freedom to protest and to take direct (i.e. violent or criminal) action. The polyversity activists on the left loved seeing the proles sent inside and fringe neo-nazi groups proscribed as terrorist organisations.
A year on, the same polyversity left-wing losers are now aghast at the prospect of their number getting a taste for His Majesty’s Porridge following the proscription of the terrorist-supporting, Jew-hating, violent organisation Palestine Action. They were notably less exercised at the simultaneous banning of the white supremacist groups, the Russian Imperial Movement and the Maniacs Murder Cult.
Importantly, for the hard-of-thinking liberal, the right to peaceful protest remains protected, including the right to peacefully protest against the actions of the Israeli government and to support the Palestinian people. As context, at Thales, members of Palestine Action caused over £1 million worth of damage to parts essential for submarines. Staff fled for safety as pyrotechnics and smoke bombs were thrown into evacuation areas. They caused £55m of damage to an RAF aircraft. They beat a police officer with hammers. They attacked the Elbit Systems plant in Bristol.
The cumulative effect of those actions, and the pledge to continue carrying out similar ones, is enough to cross the line between legal protest and criminal organisation equivalent to terrorism.
That is the law.
It is pitiless. It cuts both ways.
Badger can scarcely wait for wellmeaning, polyversity, liberal do-gooders who support Hamas and its terrorism to protest outside Parliament in support of white supremacists. At least then they would show that they are not steaming hypocrites who believe only in their “rights”.
The Iron Lady cosplay isn’t fooling anyone, Rachel
iT’s not every day you see a labour Chancellor channeling the spirit of Margaret Thatcher — but this week, rachel reeves turned up at the Mansion House dressed head to toe in iron lady cosplay, clutching a speech that could’ve come straight from Nigel Lawson’s 1986 briefcase.
With a straight face, Reeves told the assembled bankers and bigwigs that regulation was “a boot on the neck” of business. Red tape, she warned, was choking off the nation’s economic mojo. We need boldness, not caution. We need to “regulate for growth.” We need to—what? Pretend 2008 never happened?
Honestly, if you closed your eyes, you’d think it was a Conservative Chancellor talking. One of the precrash vintage. The kind who thought deregulating the financial sector was the key to economic nirvana. And maybe Reeves thinks that’s what the
City wants to hear. Maybe she thinks flattering the money men will win her some breathing space ahead of the autumn budget. But if she actually believes this deregulatory daydream, we’re all in trouble.
Because here’s the thing: we’ve been down this road before. Chancellors don’t need tarot cards or tea leaves to predict what happens when you loosen the reins on finance. They just need to read the history books — or heck, even the newspapers from 2008.
Back then, governments caved to pressure from the banks. “Burdensome” regulations were swept away in the name of enterprise. The result? Money flooded the system, not into new businesses or factories, but into speculative bubbles. The crash that followed left a crater so deep we’re still climbing out of it. Banks got bailed out. Households got austerity. And the regulations came flooding back — a bit late, mind you.
This is not a warning from the distant past. It’s barely yesterday’s news. Thatcher’s great economic experiment — favouring finance over industry, liberating markets without oversight — left Britain with a hollowedout manufacturing base and a finance sector that forgot its job was to serve business, not play casino with other people’s money.
Even John Maynard Keynes saw it coming nearly a century ago. He warned that speculation was harmless if it was just froth on a steady stream of enterprise — but dangerous if the whole economy became a bubble floating on a whirlpool of speculation. That’s precisely what happened. And now Reeves wants to go back for round two?
Some optimists say Reeves is bluffing — buttering up the City with deregulation talk before clobbering them later with higher taxes on wealth. After all, the rich have done very nicely out of the Bank of England’s £900bn money-printing bonanza. Share prices have surged. House prices have soared. The FTSE 100 hit record highs this week. Maybe Reeves plans to grab some of that windfall back in the autumn.
But let’s not kid ourselves. If this is a cunning ambush, it’s one that even Baldrick would struggle to admire. The tone of her Mansion House speech didn’t scream “clever trap.” It sounded more like a genuine cry of desperation — a chancellor worried that Britain’s economy is stuck in a doom loop, willing to try anything that might nudge the growth dial.
And she’s not wrong to be worried. GDP is shrinking. Inflation is creeping back up. Businesses are cautious. National insurance hikes have made hiring less attractive. The government’s finances are a mess, and the Chancellor’s own promises are catching up with her. U-turns on winter fuel help and welfare show just how tight the squeeze is.
To stay on the right side of her fiscal rules, Reeves will need to find more revenue — fast. That means tax rises. Cue the usual rounds of fevered speculation: how much, and who’ll pay? It’s déjà vu all over again. And
if those tax hikes sap confidence — as they did last year — the economy will slow, revenues will shrink, and the pressure for more cuts will grow. That’s the doom loop. Round and round we go.
Could she borrow more to avoid the tax hikes? In theory, yes. But the bond markets have been twitchy ever since Liz Truss lit the economic bonfire three years ago. The minute Reeves starts bending her own fiscal rules, investors will start demanding higher interest. That means even more of the budget goes to paying back debt. Labour governments are often most vulnerable to market spookery in years two and three. Reeves knows this. So she’s looking to growth as the magic solution. And fair enough — but then make it happen. There are tools available. The Bank of England could cut interest rates more sharply. Its current dithering — 0.25 percentage points here and there — is doing little to jump-start demand. Worse, it’s selling off the bonds it bought during the quantitative easing years, a process called quantitative tightening (QT). This shrinks the money supply and drives up government borrowing costs. It’s the monetary equivalent of driving with the handbrake on.
Why not pause QT for now? Why not stop the insane policy of paying banks 4.25% interest on their risk-free reserves at the Bank of England? Last year alone, the big four — NatWest, Barclays, Lloyds and Santander — pocketed over £9bn in these payouts. That’s more than double the year before. Money for nothing. Meanwhile, we’re told the welfare budget needs trimming?
Rachel Reeves could halt QT. She could stop these bank handouts. She could make some very different choices. But judging by her Mansion House speech, she’d rather ask the financial sector to pull a rabbit out of a hat and hope they don’t take the economy down with them — again.
Well, good luck with that, Chancellor. You’ll need it. Just don’t say you weren’t warned — because Stephen Seagull will be here, wings folded, squawk loaded, ready to remind you.
Blue Cross awarded for preventing dog attacks on livestock
blue Cross was delighted to receive an award from the Welsh Government last week (Thursday 10 July) for “Wales rural project of the Year”. The award recognises the charity’s educational work around responsible dog ownership and livestock incident prevention.
Blue Cross has worked with police forces in Wales to support dog owners involved in minor dog related offences. A new part of this initiative was launched in September 2024 to include a module specifically around dogs and livestock.
Participants of the Blue Cross Responsible Dog Ownership Course (RDOC) are referred by police or local authorities either proactively to prevent dog-related incidents where there might be a need or reactively following an offence to support long-term
behaviour change and reducing the risk of reoffending. The course provides an educational alternative to prosecution, helping dog owners avoid court proceedings.
Jason Cortis, Education Officer at Blue Cross said: “We are delighted that our educational activities to prevent dog attacks on livestock in Wales has been recognised with this award. Our work with the Welsh Government has strengthened the livestock worrying and countryside safety content within RDOC. It now forms part of a wider, fully integrated course covering legislation, responsible ownership, training, and support for dog owners involved in incidents. It saves costs, time and avoids court and prosecution where education and support is the most effective path to take.”
All partner police forces
across Wales and England can use RDOC as a proactive tool to improve awareness of the law, support owner responsibility, and prevent repeat incidents. The Blue Cross RDOC scheme is building safer communities, at home, in public, or in the countryside.
Rob Taylor Qpm, UK NPCC Police Livestock attack lead said: “The partnership with Blue Cross has been an outstanding success and a major contribution to our fight against livestock attacks throughout the UK. Our initial trial in Wales was such a success that we’re proud to announce that the livestock module is now part of the Blue Cross Responsible Dog Ownership Course across the UK to allow more police officers the ability to engage with Blue Cross and provide this valuable course. Livestock attacks by dogs in the UK are a significant
issue and this course is playing a major part in helping us to reduce those and help support our farming communities and dog owners alike.”
To find out more about RDOC visit www.bluecross.org. uk/rdoc.
With the increasing demand for Blue Cross pet welfare services, the charity needs the support of animal lovers to continue its work helping pets and their people, in any way they can. Whether that’s by donating to keep rehoming and veterinary services going through these tough times, fundraising for Blue Cross, providing foster care for pets while loving new homes are found, volunteering at pet food banks, or signing up to support Blue Cross campaigns for better pet welfare. www.bluecross. org.uk
Future of childcare and early education ‘at serious risk’
MANY childcare providers across Wales will be forced to close due to the unsustainable funding model imposed by the Welsh Government, the sector warned.
Lisa Owen, who has run the Chuckles nursery in Newport for more than 25 years, called for fair funding for providers and parents as she penned a 2,000name Senedd petition.
Under the Welsh Government’s offer, working parents or those in eligible education or training can receive help towards the cost of childcare for three- and fouryear-olds.
But providers receive a £6.40-an-hour rate which Ms Owen warned does not cover the true cost of delivering childcare, with many businesses being forced to run at a loss.
“Childcare providers should not have to fight to survive,” she wrote. “Families should not have to struggle to find care for their children – if we don’t act now, the future of childcare and early years education in Wales is at serious risk.”
In response to the petition, Dawn Bowden, minister for children and social care, said the Welsh Government will invest more than £150m in childcare in 2025/26.
Pledging to review the amount providers receive each
year, Ms Bowden pointed to April’s £1.40 uplift in the rate which had been frozen at £5 for three years as inflation spiralled.
She also raised a 20% uplift in allowable food costs and 100% small business rates relief.
But Ms Owen was extremely disappointed by the minister’s response, saying she has to subsidise the childcare offer at the risk of losing her business.
She asked: “Why are childcare providers having to fund the difference between the rate the Welsh Government has decided and the rate the setting needs to charge to be sustainable?”
The petitioner said: “We are not asking for an increased rate but for the Welsh Government to give us back our businesses by allowing us to charge shortfalls if required, so we can protect the longevity of the business and the future jobs of our teams.”
Ms Owen warned the flat rate and inability to charge for the shortfall meant she lost income of about £75,000, including £50,000 earmarked for a disabled toilet extension.
She said: “It is getting increasingly annoying that the
minister keeps writing that the rate was increased by 28% but missing out that in April 2022 the rate was frozen for three years.”
The business owner pointed out that wages increased by 37% in the same period and the UK Government raised employer national insurance contributions (NICs) from April.
She told the Senedd’s petitions committee her awardwinning nursery paused investment and will no longer be able to take on apprentices nor pay the real living wage.
In a follow-up letter, the campaigner said: “These all stopped because the Welsh Government will not allow me to charge what I need to be sustainable.”
Ms Owen wrote: “Everyone I have spoken to outside the Welsh Government completely understands our position and how simply this can be rectified. I hope you can see how unreasonable it is to expect a business to support your scheme then be destroyed by it.”
Her nursery was one of a handful in Wales to score “excellent” in all six areas of a joint Care Inspectorate Wales and Estyn inspection in 2023.
“I am not rich,” she said. “Nurseries are no longer ‘honey pots’ due to the huge amount of
regulations we have to adhere to and the training we have to fund.
“Everyone is quick enough to say we are expensive but they are expensive to operate: you can’t cut staff, turn the heating down, buy cheaper materials.
“It’s a passion and we do what we do to survive.”
The National Day Nurseries Association Cymru welcomed the £1.40 increase but warned the £6.40 rate was still expected to leave most private nurseries with a shortfall.
The effective rate for childcare providers ranged from £7 to £10 an hour, according to an Early Years Wales report which warned of pressures from wage growth, inflation and NICs.
One provider told the umbrella organisation: “Rhetoric alone won’t change outcomes for children. Investment, collaboration and a long-term commitment to early years support will.
“Ministers must now translate their words into tangible actions that ensure every child in Wales has the strongest possible start in life.”
At its meeting on July 14, the Senedd’s petitions committee decided to write to the minister, seeking a response to Ms Owen’s concerns while keeping the petition open in the interim.
Chris Haines ICNN Senedd reporter
Bluetongue red markets a ‘step forward’, says NFU Cymru
NFu CYMru has welcomed the introduction of bluetongue approved red markets as a “step forward” in supporting Welsh farmers affected by disease control measures.
The announcement, made on Friday (July 11) by the Welsh Government and Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, means that from Monday (July 14), livestock can be moved from the Bluetongue Restricted Zone in England to designated red markets in Wales. From there, animals can go directly to slaughter at approved abattoirs
either in Wales or within the restricted zone.
The decision follows a Bluetongue Roundtable meeting hosted by the Deputy First Minister on Tuesday (July 8), where NFU Cymru President Aled Jones was among those representing the sector.
Speaking after the announcement, Mr Jones said: “I outlined to the Deputy First Minister the serious impact current Bluetongue control policies are having on the Welsh livestock sector. Our members remain deeply concerned about the implications for
trade, particularly with the breeding season approaching. It is vital we do more to protect the viability of breeding flocks and herds – and the wider sustainability of farm businesses.”
He welcomed the red market move as a practical improvement, though not without limitations. “In normal circumstances, some animals would be moved for further finishing. The requirement for direct slaughter limits options, but the flexibility this measure brings will support trade in finished stock.”
Mr Jones also raised ongoing concerns about government agency capacity to process testing and licences, and the high costs involved. “The cost of testing is prohibitive except in the case of very high-value animals,” he said. “That’s why NFU Cymru and the NFU have jointly written to the Welsh Government and Defra, calling for urgent financial assistance. That request remains unanswered.”
He urged farmers to discuss vaccination options with their private vets, noting that the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales is considering how vaccine uptake could further ease trade restrictions.
“With the breeding sales season fast approaching, time is of the essence,” Mr Jones added. “We call on the Welsh Government to work closely with the industry to explore additional measures to increase the movement of vaccinated stock.”
NFU Cymru has also been pressing for clearer guidance for cross-border farms. The union has welcomed the publication of updated information by the Welsh Government alongside the new red market announcement.
Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society launches search for 2026 Ambassador
THe peMbroKesHire
AGriCulTurAl soCieTY has launched its search for the 2026 County Show Ambassador — a voluntary role aimed at promoting the society and celebrating rural life in the county.
The successful candidate will support Society officeholders in representing the organisation at key events, including the Pembrokeshire County Show and other activities throughout the year. As part of their development, the 2026 Ambassador will shadow the current Ambassador during this year’s show and gain hands-on experience of the Society’s work.
Last year’s Ambassador, Alys Owens, was appointed during the 2024 Show. Alys, who lives in Haverfordwest, works for Castell Howell and is an active member of Llysyfran YFC. She previously served as Club Secretary and was awarded Club Secretary of the Year at County level. A talented cornet player, Alys also performs with the Goodwick
Brass Band.
Tim Johns, President of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society, said: “The Ambassador role is an important one. Applicants must have strong communication skills and a genuine enthusiasm for supporting the Society. Knowledge of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society and the County Show is desirable.”
The role is open to Pembrokeshire residents aged between 18 and 30. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview at the County Show office from 7:00pm on Tuesday, 19 August. The chosen candidate will receive a £200 allowance and complimentary Society membership for three years.
The deadline for applications is noon on Sunday, 17 August 2025. Applications must be submitted online at: Show Ambassador | Pembrokeshire County Show | Pembs Agricultural Society
Please note: Previous holders of the Ambassador role are not eligible to reapply.
Farming group welcomes SFS progress
THe NATure Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) Cymru has given a cautious welcome to the Welsh Government’s latest announcement on the Sustainable Farming Scheme (sFs), calling it “a step in the right direction” – but warning that more must be done to support farmers already working with nature.
More details of the SFS were outlined on Tuesday (July 15) by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies. The Universal layer of the scheme is expected to apply to the majority of farms in Wales and includes actions to improve hedgerow management, soil health, and animal welfare. It also retains the requirement for 10% of farmland to be managed as wildlife habitat – a measure NFFN Cymru says is vital to build climate resilience.
Rhys Evans, manager of NFFN Cymru, said: “This latest SFS announcement is broadly a step in the right direction from the Welsh Government. It is vital that nature-friendly farming is seen
not as a burden on the taxpayer but as a sound investment in the future of food production and biodiversity in Wales.
“We’ve long campaigned for the 10% habitat requirement, so we are pleased it’s been retained. It’s a positive move that recognises the value of integrated farm habitats, both for nature and for the long-term viability of farm businesses.”
However, NFFN Cymru expressed concern about the lack of information provided on the Optional and Collaborative layers of the scheme, which are intended to support more ambitious and cooperative environmental projects.
Mr Evans said: “Many naturefriendly farmers are already going beyond what the Universal layer requires. These farmers need the Optional and Collaborative layers to support their work. Without it, there’s a real risk that those doing the most for nature will receive the least reward.”
The group also warned that SFS payment rates may fall short. Some habitat payments
under the new scheme are reportedly lower than those under older agri-environment schemes. NFFN Cymru says more generous funding through the additional scheme layers will be crucial to encouraging uptake.
Vice-chair Tony Davies, who farms in the Elan Valley, welcomed the decision not to apply severe payment caps to habitat funding, as was the case under the interim Habitat Wales Scheme.
He said: “As someone with a large area of diverse habitats, that’s an important change. The woodland maintenance payments are also a good sign, but we now need the Welsh Government to push ahead with the Optional and Collaborative layers.”
Mr Evans added: “Naturefriendly farming can deliver high-quality food, help tackle the climate and nature crises, reduce flooding, improve wellbeing, and safeguard the future of Welsh rural communities. With climate change already hitting our farms, the time to act is now.”
AT the royal Welsh Show the Farmers’ union of Wales (FuW) will launch its latest report, ‘A Mandate for Future Farmers’. The document highlights the challenges facing young and new entrant farmers in Wales and sets out recommendations for the Welsh Government, UK Government, and the wider farming community to ensure a sustainable future for Welsh agriculture.
The report stresses the key importance of attracting and retaining young talent in farming for numerous reasons, including safeguarding food security, sustaining vibrant rural economies and communities, and ensuring the continuity of rural and landmanagement skills. All vital for ensuring Wales’ land can provide and adapt for future Welsh communities needs in challenging times.
However, the significant barriers preventing young people from entering and thriving in farming are highlighted in the report. Particular emphasis is placed on the ageing workforce, with the median age of the ‘key decision maker’ farmer in Wales being 61.
Prohibitive land prices and access to finance are also identified as key challenges, with low incomes and inconsistent cash flow making it difficult for new and young entrants to secure funding for land purchase, or to prove financial security for rental opportunities and covering start-up costs. Meanwhile, insecure tenancies are another significant hurdle.
The FUW’s ‘Mandate for Future Farmers’
proposes a multi-faceted approach to support the next generation of farmers.
For the Welsh Government, the FUW outlined calls for an option for quarterly Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) payments, prioritising new entrants and young farmers. It also advocates for a loan or guarantor option via the Development Bank of Wales to ease initial financial burdens, alongside higher capital cost contributions and upfront payments for new entrants and young farmers.
The document calls on the UK Government to reconsider its controversial changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR), advocating that farming/agricultural assets should not be taxed when passed between farming generations, but rather at the point of sale if a generation decides to sell. It also urges the implementation of recommendations from the 2022 Rock Review (England’s Tenancy Working Group) to encourage longer FBTs with rents reflecting productivity and return, not just land value.
The report will be launched at the FUW Pavilion at the Royal Welsh Show on Tuesday 22nd July at 11:15. FUW Policy Officer and new entrant, Teleri Fielden, will be presenting the report, joined by three members of the FUW’s Younger Voice for Farming Committee who will share their firsthand experiences. Do call over next week to learn more, or visit the FUW website: https://fuw.org.uk/media/ attachments/2025/07/09/ a-mandate-for-futurefarmers.pdf
The ultimate Range Rover Sport Urban XRS Widetrack debuts
one of the three exclusive world debuts on the urban Automotive stand at the Goodwood Festival of speed (10 to 13 July) is the Range Rover Sport Urban XRS (Extreme Road Series) Widetrack – the ultimate performance SUV enhanced by urban.
Halo model with V8 performance and looks to match
Based on the Range Rover Sport SV means it has high adrenaline performance to match its dynamic remodelled styling thanks to a 4.4-litre, V8 mild hybrid petrol engine delivering 635 hp to go from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.7 seconds.
As Urban’s XRS Widetrack version of the Range Rover Sport, this stylish halo model catches the eye with Urban UF-X forged black alloy wheels fitted with Yokohama Advan Sport tyres and bespoke XRS graphics.
More aggressive Widetrack style and road presence
To give the XRS version extra road presence, the exterior body styling has been redesigned.
A replacement carbon fibre bonnet with exposed carbon accents and ‘power dome’ in the centre, together with bodycoloured Widetrack extended wheelarches immediately create a more aggressive stance compared to the standard Range Rover Sport SV. In addition, there is a replacement and reprofiled carbon fibre front bumper with 3D printed XRS mesh grilles and exposed carbon fibre upper grille overlay, plus and new, more aggressive five-piece splitter with XRS canards.
Further exterior styling enhancements include exposed carbon fibre sill extensions, mirror caps and side trims with Urban icon. It is also branded with the Urban icon on the rear, plus premium boot and bonnet lettering and tablet badges.
The rear gains a bodycoloured rear spoiler and a replacement bumper with a new rear diffuser and XRS centre exit billet exhaust finisher to really add to its bespoke, high performance sports car design.
XRS performance interior upgrades
Urban has upgraded the interior with XRS branding on the dashboard and carbon fibrebacked Recaro front seats, plus a flat-bottomed steering wheel with
visual carbon effects.
Simon Dearn, founder of Urban Automotive said: “The Range Rover Sport is legendary, but we thought it needed a stronger and more distinctive visual presence. Building on the success and styling of our iconic Land Rover Defender XRS Widetrack, we have managed to make the Range Rover Sport look more aggressive and a welcome addition to our range of premium performance vehicles. It really does look and sound awesome.”
Range Rover Sport Urban XRS (Extreme Road Series) Widetrack: Specification Urban has developed the following styling personalisation for the Range Rover Sport Urban XRS (Extreme Road Series) Widetrack.
Urban Exterior Styling
• Body-coloured Widetrack extended wheelarches
• Replacement carbon fibre bonnet with exposed carbon fibre accents and XRS power dome
• Replacement carbon fibre front bumper with 3D printed XRS mesh grilles and exposed carbon fibre accents, five-piece splitter and XRS canards
• Exposed carbon fibre upper grille overlay and mirror caps
• Side trim in exposed carbon fibre with Urban icon
• Side sill extension set in exposed carbon fibre
• Replacement carbon fibre rear bumper with redesigned diffuser with XRS centre exit billet exhaust finisher
• Urban XRS graphics and Urban icon to rear, plus premium boot and bonnet letters and tablet badges
Urban Interior Styling
• Carbon fibre-backed Recaro sports front seats with XRS branding
• Flat-bottomed exposed carbon fibre steering wheel
• XRS branding to dashboard
The Range Rover sport Urban XRS Widetrack is available from £199,995. For more information about Urban Automotive, visit www.urban-automotive.co.uk.
1.2
MG surges into the future at Goodwood Festival of Speed
MG is surging into the future at the Goodwood Festival of speed, unveiling two highly-advanced EVs which accelerate the marque’s technology offering and will appeal to drivers seeking the next level in electric driving performance and intuitive technology for elevated safety, comfort and entertainment.
The sleek MG IM5 executive saloon and MG IM6 SUV are the most innovative cars to be offered by MG with the IM designation referring to Intelligence in Motion and providing a distinctive touchpoint for customers wishing to experience leading-edge automotive technology and design. Introducing the MG IM models today, David Allison Head of Product and Planning for MG said:
“MG has made EV ownership accessible exciting and different with the MG Cyberster convertible leading the way for the brand. But now, we’re seeking to deliver technology leadership and innovation with MG IM, engaging with customers aspiring for the future, today.”
“This means MG IM5 Long Range can travel up to 441 miles on a single charge with the 100 kWh battery option sitting on a new 800V architecture capable of delivering a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 17 minutes. Exhilarating performance
and dynamic handling, which MG will always have a passion for, comes with a digital chassis and truly potent acceleration from the powerful electric Hurricane motors with 0-62mph achieved in just 3.2 seconds for MG IM5, and 3.5 seconds for MG IM6.”
MG IM models are defined by technology-led, premium cabins. Innovative features such as Rainy Night Mode and 4 mode One Touch Park Assist, which utilises the car’s 360 degree cameras and autonomous driving capabilities to perform complex parking manoeuvres automatically.
Urban driving is made simpler still with the introduction of revolutionary bi-directional, rear wheel turning technology, dramatically reducing the turning circle on the MG IM5 to 9.98 metres. Supported by Momenta, the assisted driving system offers safe, comfortable, and reliable driving even in the most complex real-world conditions.
A focal point of the cabin is the immersive, ultra-HD 26.3” infotainment display which is supported by a 10.5” touchscreen. All cars feature a stunning panoramic roof and a bespoke audio system featuring 20 speakers with the addition of four inceiling Sky Speakers for the richest, fullest sound. Exemplary cabin refinement is achieved with bespoke
double-layer laminated windows throughout.
MG is introducing six models into its UK home market, with a choice of 75kWh and 100KwH batteries as well as single and dual motor options. The IM5 range starts at £39,450 for the Standard 75 kWh version, with the Long Range 100 kWh model priced at £44,995, and the 100 kWh Performance variant available for £48,495. The larger IM6 SUV begins at £47,995 for the Long Range 100 kWh model, rising to £50,995 for the Performance version, and increasing to £52,995 for the exclusive Launch Edition.
Breathtaking design from MG Making its return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the MG Cyberster impressed in a sophisticated new colour scheme. The Cyberster Black features a luxurious black finish that elevates the car’s striking design. The deep black paint is enhanced with ultra-fine glass particles that create a subtle sparkle. Using a premium paint process usually reserved for luxury cars, the finish appears matte and smooth when still but comes to life with a shimmering effect in motion.
Designed by Jozef Kaban, MG’s Vice President of SAIC Design, the Cyberster Black combines sleek chrome details with an all-black
interior, making a strong visual statement.
Also unveiled as a dramatic design concept on the MG stand, the MG Cyber X concept reveals a new direction for the brand’s design language. This compact, all-electric urban explorer captures the creative spirit of MG’s emerging ‘Cyber’ subbrand combining rugged styling with a city-focused edge. With its matte grey finish and pop-up headlights, the Cyber X features a strong silhouette and confident stance.
As a concept, Cyber X is a celebration of MG’s design potential, offering a glimpse into the future of electric mobility as the brand enters its second century.
A final highlight was the popular return of the MG EX4. Created especially for the Goodwood Festival of Speed by MG’s London design team, the MG EX4 is a bold reimagining of the Metro 6R4 rally legend of the 1980s and moves with the times by using the MG4 XPower’s extremely powerful electric drivetrain. MG’s designers have also created a bold new livery for the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
For more information about MG or to find your nearest dealer, visit www. mg.co.uk.
Fix Auto UK welcomes Pembrokeshire garage
FiX AuTo uK has continued its strategic expansion with the addition of Fix Auto Pembrokeshire—a longestablished, family-run repair centre based in one of the westernmost parts of Wales.
The new franchise strengthens the network’s presence across the country, bringing its high standards of vehicle repair to a key geographic region and reinforcing Fix Auto’s commitment to national coverage.
Formerly known as Withybush Coachworks Ltd, the business was founded in 1963 and has remained within the same family ever since. Current manager Adrian Haworth worked alongside his father Dave for 11 years before taking over sole responsibility 26 years ago.
Strategically located between Fix Auto Swansea and Fix Auto Aberystwyth, the 8,000 sq ft centre serves the communities of Pembroke, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Fishguard, and Cardigan.
Fix Auto Pembrokeshire also becomes the first in the network to carry a ‘shire’ designation— reflecting the vast and rural area it serves, which includes some of the most picturesque coastline in the UK.
Adrian continues to lead the business with the support of his three sons: Will, assistant manager and VDA; Laurie, front-of-house and customer
liaison; and Joe, a skilled panel technician. They are supported by four additional technicians, enabling the centre to repair up to 20 vehicles a week, with capacity to grow.
To meet the standards required for joining the Fix Auto network— including achieving BSI10125 certification for standards in vehicle body repair—Adrian has made significant investments in equipment and staff training.
Adrian said: “We’ve happily gone about our work for decades
and built a strong reputation locally for high-quality repairs. But being based here in West Wales can feel isolating. I knew we needed to become part of something bigger to futureproof the business. Fix Auto UK brings with it the expertise, structure, and support that will help elevate us into the 21st century.”
“I’m not getting any younger, and I’m lucky to have my sons working alongside me. Joining Fix Auto gives them access to the tools and knowledge they’ll need
to keep the business thriving.” Mark Hutchins, Operations Director for Fix Auto UK, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Fix Auto Pembrokeshire to the network. Adrian has built a business to be proud of, and now is the right time for it to become part of a wider organisation. His team will benefit from being connected with like-minded repairers across the UK, and we’ll be there to support them every step of the way.”
Failed appeal against Hibernia Inn decking ‘has way forward’
A FAiled appeal against a refusal of decking at a Pembrokeshire village pub, installed after a child had a near miss with a vehicle, could still see more traditional looking safety improvements installed, national park planners heard.
Last year, Kath Lunn, of the Hibernia Inn, Angle, sought retrospective planning permission from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park to keep wooden decking installed at the front of the conservation area pub that April.
Kath Lunn, in her application said the decking was erected following a near miss with a child on the adjoining road.
“There has always been bench seating there with umbrellas, but earlier this
Bruce Sinclair Local Democracy Reporter
season there was a very close miss when a diner’s child ran into the road and was almost knocked down. We felt it our duty of care to the customers to make the area safe.
“We considered a brick wall but thought this decking would be more aesthetically pleasing being made of natural wood.”
Concerns were raised about the design by the park’s building conservation officer, who said: “The works clearly neither preserve the character or appearance of the conservation area, especially the latter.
“I am aware of the problems facing village pubs and the need to provide improved facilities –
and the pub is clearly vital to the community.
“There is potential here for an alternative scheme whereby the front garden is enclosed by a traditional wall and the tables and chairs provided within a nicely landscaped frontage. That would be a gain from the original open tarmac area and hopefully would provide a viable option.”
It was refused by park planners recommended refusal on the grounds of the impact it would have on Angle’s Conservation Area.
An appeal against the decision was later lodged with the Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) but was dismissed in part on the grounds of visual impact.
The Inspector noted the
owner’s willingness to discuss alternative approaches, along with the suggestion that a traditional wall may be more appropriate.
At the July meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, members heard an update on recent appeals against authority planning decisions, with the Hibernia Inn case mentioned.
Members weretold that while the dismissal of the appeal was “a win” for the authority, there was “still a way forward” for the applicants through further discussions with officers, potentially with more traditional materials as previously proposed by the building conservation officer.
Ashmole & Co backs Wales YFC dance contest at Royal Welsh
Support reflects firm’s strong links to rural youth and farming community
AsHMole & Co, one of south Wales’ leading bilingual accountancy firms, has announced its sponsorship of the Wales YFC dance competition at this year’s royal Welsh show.
The firm, which has been working closely with the farming community since its founding in 1897, is proud to continue its long-standing support
for Welsh agriculture and rural youth development. Many of Ashmole & Co’s partners and staff are former or current members of Wales YFC, and the team is passionate about supporting the next generation of farmers.
The dance competition, which the firm is sponsoring, will be held on the main YFC stage at the Royal Welsh Show on Tuesday, July 22, from
1:00pm. The event is one of many highlights for YFC members during the show, with other competitions including shearing, stock judging and flower arranging.
Ceri Llwyd, Partner at Ashmole & Co’s Llandovery and Llandeilo offices, said: “As the Auditor of Wales YFC, we recognise the vital role this bilingual rural youth organisation plays in helping
young people grow into confident individuals and future leaders in the agricultural sector. We’ve built a strong relationship with Wales YFC over the years and are delighted to support this exciting competition. I’ll be at the show on Tuesday to cheer on the dancers and show our support.”
The Wales Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (YFC) engages over 5,000 members aged between 10 and 28, along with thousands of supporters and volunteers. Over its 80-year history, more than 210,000 people in Wales have taken part in YFC activities, helping shape vibrant rural communities and empowering young people through training, competitions, and social opportunities.
Mared Rand Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Wales YFC, said: “The Royal Welsh Show is the pinnacle of the year for our members, who will be showcasing their talents across a range of competitions. We are hugely grateful to Ashmole & Co for their ongoing support. As a charity, sponsorship is vital to ensure we can continue offering opportunities for our members to develop and thrive.”
The 2025 Royal Welsh Show takes place from Monday, July 21 to Thursday, July 24 at Llanelwedd. As one of the UK’s premier agricultural events, it features livestock and equine competitions, crafts, forestry, food and drink, countryside sports, and daily entertainment.
Bid to build houses near Sageston village school refused
PLANS for a housing scheme of 12 homes near a Pembrokeshire village school, which includes an affordable housing offer of £30,000 and a new school footpath, have been refused.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Haverfordwestbased Carew Castle Estates, through
agent Harries Planning Design Management sought permission for a housing development of 12 three-bed homes on land south of Sageston County Primary School, Sageston. The application site comprises of
the old school paddock in the centre of the village.
A supporting statement said an expected five per cent contribution to affordable housing would be met through a commuted sum of £30,519, secured by a Section 106 legal agreement, along with a school footpath, with the land gifted to the school.
“We believe this footpath will provide positive community benefits and will ensure that the existing footpaths in the area link directly to the school. The footpath will be bound with anti-climb fencing and significant evergreen hedging to provide ample screening between the dwellings and the path. The footpath will be constructed by the school.”
It concludes: “This proposal is
considered to offer an acceptable form of residential development in line with the local development policies. The proposal is respectful of its context and offers a range of tenure options for the market.”
The scheme was refused by county planners on grounds including it failed to provide a Unilateral Undertaking to secure the required financial contributions towards the provision of local needs affordable housing, insufficient information on the potential impact on a public water supply, and insufficient information available to demonstrate that the proposed development would not have an adverse impact on the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC from an increase impact from nitrates.
Bruce Sinclair Local Democracy Reporter
ThCalls to prioritise dementia as nearly half remain undiagnosed in Wales
A CAMpAiGN has been launched to urge the Welsh Government to make dementia a national priority, as figures show that nearly half of those living with the condition in Wales remain undiagnosed.
Alzheimer’s Society Cymru is asking the public to back its Wales Takes on Dementia petition, which aims to send a clear message to current and future ministers that urgent action is needed. More than 50,000 people in Wales are currently living with dementia, yet around half have no formal diagnosis — meaning they may be missing
out on vital treatment, care and support.
Geoff Mock, from Swansea, who lives with vascular dementia, is calling on the public to add their names. He said: “Living with vascular dementia hasn’t been easy, but it hasn’t taken away who I am. A diagnosis is the start of a new chapter — one that can still be full of purpose and dignity.”
Geoff chaired the Alzheimer’s Society Wales Dementia Conference on Tuesday (July 8), held at the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay. The event brought together healthcare
professionals, policy experts and people with lived experience to discuss Wales’ dementia diagnosis rate — the lowest in the UK at just 56%.
Luke Fletcher MS, Chair of the Senedd Cross-Party Group on Dementia, also addressed the conference and backed calls for dementia training to be made mandatory for all social care workers.
Gemma Roberts, National Influencing Manager for Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, warned that the number of dementia cases in Wales is projected to rise by more than
37% by 2040 — to nearly 70,000. She said: “It currently costs Wales £2.3 billion annually — a figure expected to double by 2040. But beyond the financial toll, the human cost is immeasurable. Now is the time for bold, innovative leadership on dementia.”
The charity is calling for the introduction of a new Wales Dementia Action Plan and is urging all political parties to commit to making dementia care a core priority for the next Welsh Government.
To sign the petition, visit: alzheimers.org.uk/petition-wales
‘The future for general practice is grim’: GPs sound alarm about funding crisis
GeNerAl practitioners called for an overhaul of an “outdated, unfair” funding model, warning of an “enormous and growing” inequity putting patient safety at risk.
Doctors gave evidence as the Senedd’s health committee began an inquiry into the future of GPs amid concerns about more than 100 surgeries across Wales shutting since 2012.
James Pink, a GP partner in Llanishen, Cardiff, expressed concerns about the Carr-Hill formula, used to allocate funding to practices, which was designed in the late 1990s.
He said: “There’s almost no correlation between funding and deprivation which beggars belief. And the correlation between age, sex and funding isn’t as clear cut as you’d think.”
Dr Pink told the committee variation across Wales means an average practice could be £862,000 worse off than another similarly looking after 10,000 patients.
Noel McLoughlin, a partner at St Isan Road Surgery in Heath, said his colleague found Cardiff and Vale GPs were the worst-funded in the whole of Wales and England.
Dr McLoughlin wrote to the committee: “This means that the CarrHill formula regards Cardiff as the
wealthiest and healthiest area with the lowest needs.
“This is clearly nonsense. The inequity in funding in Wales alone is enormous – worse still, it is growing. This must stop or the future for general practice and primary care in Cardiff is grim. No-one will want to work here.”
The GP warned: “All patients in all areas are having difficulty accessing primary care. We are struggling to maintain safe levels of working with the current demand and it is going to rise.”
Kate Baker, another Cardiff GP, wrote: “It has been distressing to see the deterioration in funding and support for general practice over the 17 years I have worked as a GP.
“The partners in our practice have not seen a pay rise for nine years and, in fact, the imposed contract for 2023/24 led to a pay cut.”
Giving evidence on July 10, Richard Stratton, a GP partner in Powys, agreed about the necessity of updating the “unfair” formula but cautioned that it will remain a blunt tool.
Dr Stratton told the health committee: “What we also need to factor in is the supplementary services that general
practices participate in on top of the core contract.”
He said: “The combination of a revised formula plus better use of local services… would take us forward enormously. At the moment, both feel hamstrung by budgetary constraints.”
Asked about the system of annual negotiations on the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, Dr Stratton said single-year budgets have a debilitating impact on investment. “Without that ability to plan, everything is crisis management,” he warned.
John Williams, a practice manager in north Wrexham, described the contract process as piecemeal and rushed, criticising “tokenistic” smaller investments for posters and suchlike.
Mr Williams pointed to a “double whammy” on employer national insurance contributions, with no public exemption and no £10,500 employment allowance like private businesses.
He said his 13,000-patient practice also faces a £70,000 or 20% overnight increase in its wage bill due to changes to the national living wage.
In its written evidence, the Royal College of General Practitioners said GPs worked across 516 practices in Wales in 2002 but only 374 remain today.
Angharad Fletcher, a GP in Flintshire, warned health board-managed practices are much more expensive to run compared with GMS surgeries yet deliver a “vastly inferior service”.
“GMS is underfunded,” she wrote. “Costs have risen significantly over the past five years and income has not matched that which means in some cases surgeries are having to cut staff when the demand is greater than ever.”
Dr Fletcher added: “There is no longer a workforce crisis. There are many qualified GPs looking for work. Practices cannot afford to employ them.”
One GP, who wished to be anonymous, expressed grave concerns, warning: “We are struggling to provide an acceptable service to our patients. The funding for our practice has been eroded over the last 12 years, such that I have fears there will be harm to patients.”
Another concluded: “If politicians are to be the driver of change then we need politicians on board who have vision and energy to drive this forward.
“I have dealt with two politicians from different parties over the past nine months and each left me with the feeling that no-one really understands the issues or even cares.”
Chris Haines ICNN Senedd reporter
UK minister says devolution of probation ‘not a priority’
A uK GoverNMeNT minister has told a Senedd committee that devolving control of probation and youth justice to Wales is “not a priority” – prompting criticism from Welsh politicians.
Prisons Minister Lord Timpson appeared before the Senedd’s equality and social justice committee on Monday (Jul 14), where he said the criminal justice system in England and Wales was under “huge pressures” and needed
stability before any further reforms could be considered.
The Welsh government has long called for justice powers – including control of probation and youth justice –to be devolved. However, Lord Timpson’s remarks appeared to cast doubt on the likelihood of that happening any time soon.
His comments were described as “very disappointing” by committee chair Jenny Rathbone MS, who said ministers in Cardiff had already begun preparing for
the devolution of these services in good faith.
Former Welsh counsel general Mick Antoniw MS said there was now “volumes of evidence” to support transferring powers to Wales, and accused the UK government of dragging its feet.
“What you seem to be suggesting is that we’re going to keep looking at the evidence without ever making a proper decision,” Mr Antoniw told the minister during questioning.
Former Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price also challenged Lord Timpson directly, asking whether the UK government had effectively ruled out full devolution of justice powers. The minister replied: “I’m not ruling anything out, I’m not ruling anything in,” adding that his focus was on “sorting out the crisis in our justice system.”
The Welsh Labour government’s 2024 manifesto included a pledge to explore devolving probation, with the aim of making services more responsive to local needs. Youth justice devolution was also said to be under consideration as part of a wider strategic review.
Criminal justice is one of the few major policy areas not devolved to the Welsh government under the current constitutional settlement. Reports including one led by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown have previously recommended devolving these powers.
But after Monday’s session, MSs on the committee said Lord Timpson’s comments appeared to significantly dial back any expectations of imminent change.
“This evidence seemed to pour cold water on the realistic prospect of devolution that the Welsh government has been working towards,” Ms Rathbone said.
Davies: Sustainable Farming Scheme ‘doesn’t deliver for Welsh farmers’
LOCAL Senedd Member
paul davies has criticised the Welsh Government’s new Sustainable Farming Scheme (sFs), warning that it fails to support Welsh farmers and may force some to question
whether to continue in the industry.
The SFS, which replaces the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, is set to launch on 1 January 2026. Under the voluntary scheme, farmers can apply for support by completing twelve “universal actions” relating to environmental and land management practices. These include soil health planning, habitat maintenance, and hedgerow management.
However, Mr Davies says the real blow is the decision to reduce Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) support to 60% of current levels in 2026, with payments expected to taper further in future years.
“However this is dressed up, it’s another blow to Welsh farmers, who are already reeling from a series of devastating government policies from both the Welsh Government and the
UK Government,” Mr Davies said.
He described the cut in BPS as “cruel” and said the lack of an Economic Impact Assessment made it impossible to properly understand the likely effect on the agricultural sector.
“The decision to cut BPS payments to 60%, when it was widely believed to be around 80%, is just cruel and shows the Welsh Government’s lack of commitment to our food producers,” he said. “The failure to produce an Economic Impact Assessment means we’re not able to understand exactly how much this will change the industry.”
Mr Davies also challenged the idea that environmental aims must come at the cost of farmers’ livelihoods.
“The Welsh Government’s commitment to addressing climate change does not have
to compromise Welsh farmers,” he said. “But they have made a political choice that will force some farmers to consider whether it’s worth farming at all.”
The Preseli Pembrokeshire MS said that both the UK and Welsh Governments had failed to support agriculture.
“Whether it’s changes to Inheritance Tax, inaction on Bovine TB, or jumping through hurdles via the new Sustainable Farming Scheme, governments at both ends of the M4 have let down our farmers.”
The Sustainable Farming Scheme has drawn a range of responses from the farming and conservation sectors. While the Tenant Farmers Association welcomed greater support for tenants and revisions to key rules, environmental groups such as Wildlife Trusts Wales warned the scheme fails to go far enough to protect nature.
Welsh Government escalates intervention at two health boards
SWANSEA BAY maternity services and Cardiff and vale health board will be escalated to the second-highest level of government intervention, Wales’ health secreta
Jeremy Miles announced Swansea’s services will be escalated to level four on the five-point oversight scale following a damning family-led review on maternity and neonatal services.
Mr Miles said the families’ distressing report and a review commissioned by the health board showed people were not listened to and services fell well below expected standards.
The health secretary apologised to families for their experiences, with some describing examples of severe birth trauma, which he said must never happen again.
He told the Senedd: “As a result of the issues raised today and the ongoing concerns from women and families about patient experience, staff attitudes and care provided, I am increasing the escalation level of Swansea Bay’s maternity and neonatal services.”
‘Never, ever AGAiN’
Mr Miles, who issued a written statement providing more detail of the response, said ministers have commissioned an assessment on all maternity and neonatal services.
The Conservatives’ James Evans said the deeply distressing reports detailed serious failings, poor communication, a breakdown in trust, and avoidable harm.
He warned far too many women were dismissed, traumatised or left grieving.
The Tory shadow health secretary told the Senedd: “It is disappointing it took a family-led review, driven by those 50 families, to force the level of transparency that we’re now seeing –that should never, ever have to happen again.”
His Plaid Cymru counterpart Mabon ap Gwynfor paid tribute to families for exposing gross failings and clinical negligence, “something no new parent should ever have to endure”.
‘lAGGiNG’
He told the Senedd. “And yet in many cases here in Wales, childbirth continues to present unacceptable risks – across a range of metrics, Wales is lagging badly.”
Mr ap Gwynfor said Wales has had the highest stillbirths rate in the UK since 2014, with neonatal mortality rates rising while falling in Scotland and England from 2010 to 2022.
He expressed concerns about pressures on workforce capacity, pointing to a 35% decrease in applications for midwifery courses in Wales since 2021.
Mr ap Gwynfor added: “The fact the family support group felt like they had no option but to undertake their own inquiry… speaks to serious issues with institutional accountability.”
Mr Miles assured Senedd members the Welsh Government is committed to ensuring the contents of the reports inform improvement in maternity units across the country.
‘WorrYiNG’
But Tom Giffard quoted families as saying: “Tomorrow the health minister
will stand up in the Senedd and address the situation. He has only one option: remove control of the maternity service from the failed leadership of Swansea university health board.”
Asked why he had not done so by the Conservative, Mr Miles told the Senedd: “I don’t think that is the right way of making sure the service is strengthened.”
Giving a wider update on intervention arrangements on July 15, Mr Miles announced Cardiff and Vale health board would also move to level four due to an increasing financial deficit, breaching its duty to provide a three-year balanced budget.
He said: “It has the second largest number of people waiting more than two years for treatment and there have been a series of worrying cultural and leadership challenges which are indicative of an organisation which needs additional support.”
Mr Evans warned of a high-number of “never events” at the health board this year, “causing unnecessary harm and sometimes death”.
“We need to make sure that’s rooted out,” he said.
‘siGNs
oF proGress’
Mr Miles said Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board has been de-escalated from level three to routine level-one arrangements for finance, strategy and planning.
The Labour politician told the Senedd that the Aneurin Bevan health board has been de-escalated from level four to level three – also for finance, strategy and planning.
Mr Miles said Hywel Dda has been de-escalated from level four to level three for cancer services, and from three to one for children’s mental health.
He confirmed Betsi Cadwaladr will remain at level five or special measures as it has for most of the past decade but said there have been signs of progress. Mr Miles brought in changes to allow health boards to be partially de-escalated from special measures in future.
He said Powys would remain at level four for finance, strategy and planning.
Chris Haines ICNN Senedd reporter
W ITH ANDREW LYE
Chadwick iberal
Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, has condemned the Government for excluding Dŵr Cymru and Hafren dyfrdwy/severn Trent from its executive bonus ban, calling it a weak and piecemeal response that allows polluters to escape accountability.
Only six firms, face an executive bonus ban in 2024/25, whilst others like Dŵr Cymru and Hafren Dyfrdwy/ Severn Trent have been left out despite ongoing concerns over sewage, service, and rising bills.
In 2021, Peter Perry, CEO of Dŵr Cymru received a total of £892,000 in remuneration – a combination of salary, benefits, pension, variable pay, and incentives. Last year he received £91,000 in bonuses.
In April this year, Dŵr Cymru was accused of trying to evade upcoming crackdowns on executive bonuses.
The exclusion of both Dŵr Cymru and Hafren Dyfrdwy/Severn Trent from the bonus ban comes despite an abysmal environmental record for both companies in Wales.
Figures released earlier this year showed that Dŵr Cymru released sewage into rivers, lakes and the sea for more than 968,000 hours last year, an increase compared to more than 916,000 hours the year before.
Data uncovered by the Lib Dems this year also showed that approximately 251 million litres of water are lost every day because of leakages in Dŵr Cymru’s system.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have been campaigning to clean up Welsh rivers for several years and have previously proposed bans on all executive bonuses at water companies, greater investment in sewage infrastructure and for environmentalists or community groups to sit on the boards of water companies.
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS also secured £5 million
extra for Natural Resources Wales to be used specifically on tackling sewage pollution in Welsh rivers and seas as part of a budget deal with the Welsh Government.
Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick said:
“People right across Wales are extremely angry about the amount of sewage entering Welsh rivers lakes and seas. Meanwhile, both Dŵr Cymru and Hafren Dyfrdwy have some of the highest water bills in the UK and fail to maintain leaky pipes.
“The rivers Wye, Usk and Tawe are in extremely poor condition, being some of the worst polluted by sewage in Wales.
“The Welsh Liberal Democrats have been at the forefront of the fight to clean up our waterways for over five years now, yet neither of the governments in Cardiff Bay or Westminster has managed to get to grips with the issues at hand.
“Water companies need to be held properly to account, no bonuses for polluting and poor services. No loopholes. No more excuses.
“It’s time both the Welsh and UK governments took action for fundamental reform to clean up the industry and provide the services the public deserves and pays for.”
And here in Pembrokeshire, the Cleddau Project was set up over concerns about water quality in the Cleddau estuary. The aim being to stop pollution and restore the river to a clean condition.
Campaigners said they want to stop it facing “irreversible decline” due to the impact of pollution and sewage among other factors.
If you have any issues or comments, please contact me at andrew.lye@pembslibdems.wales
‘Staggeringly
low’ number of complaints upheld against Senedd Members
TrAde unions called for an independent system to address bullying and harassment of staff by Senedd Members, warning a “staggeringly low” number of complaints are upheld.
Osian Evans, vice-chair of the Plaid Cymru Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union branch, expressed concerns about a lack of confidence, anonymity and independence.
He urged the Senedd’s standards committee to follow Westminster’s lead by introducing an independentadjudicated process specifically looking at workplace bullying and harassment.
PCS warned complainants have not had their anonymity respected, leading to them being targeted and creating a significant barrier to making complaints.
In written evidence, PCS pointed to one example of a former member of Senedd support staff being targeted with abuse to the point that the police had to be contacted.
The trade union said: “The need for a name to be stated and for that name to be disclosed to the member who is the subject of the complaint was a strong theme here. Frankly, this is not a conducive environment to encourage people to call out bad behaviour.”
The union also warned people lack confidence in the process to yield a just outcome and criticised an “unrealistic” six-month window for complaints to be made.
Osian Evans, vice-chair of
the Plaid Cymru Public and Commercial Service
Osian Evans, vice-chair of the Plaid Cymru Public and Commercial Service
Mr Evans told the committee: “The amount of upheld complaints is actually staggeringly low.”
He warned the current system, which covers everything from using the wrong envelopes to sexually harassing a member of staff, is too complex for complainants.
Laura Murton similarly called for an overhaul, with 36 more Senedd Members from May 2026 and, arguably, less individual accountability due to the way they will be elected.
Giving evidence on July 15, the Unite union representative said: “Staff still aren’t clear about the process of how they would make a complaint and don’t feel comfortable doing so.”
She warned of a conflict of interest in the informal grievance process through the Senedd’s internal “members’ business support” team. “It’s not ‘members of support staff business support’,” she pointed out. “So, you’ve already got that in-baked… maybe prejudice.”
Ms Murton added that political parties’ complaints processes are potentially even less transparent than the current Senedd process.
Complaints can be escalated to the Senedd’s standards commissioner, Douglas Bain, who investigates complaints for
the standards committee which is made up of politicians.
Ms Murton said: “Once you get to that point, if you are a member of support staff and you’re making a complaint against a Senedd Member… it’s kind of like endgame essentially, you’re going to end up losing your job – one way or another.”
Ed Stubbs, also a Unite rep, added: “Laura talked about pressing the nuclear button, it’s a really difficult thing to do because you are taking personal risk, so –most importantly – wherever we can, [we need to] take the politics out of it.”
In written evidence, Unite described the current process as not fit for purpose due to a lack of transparency and trust. Both unions warned complaints can “drag on” for years.
Ms Murton said: “The reasons or excuses… for not having an independent process … is we’re too small, there’s not the expertise, there’s not enough complaints. I just don’t think any of those are valid reasons to deny victims of bullying and sexual harassment justice.”
Unite raised concerns about the current system “exacerbating” a power imbalance in the workplace – “one which is magnified in such a political environment”.
“Significant concern has also been flagged regarding the role Senedd Members have in the complaints/standards process,” the union warned. “This does not give people in more vulnerable positions confidence in coming forward.”
Chris Haines ICNN Senedd reporter
Bullying claims at Pembrokeshire community and town councils
TWO complaints of bullying at Pembrokeshire town and community council level are to be investigated, councillors heard.
At Pembrokeshire County Council’s Standards committee meeting of July 14, members received a report on local code of conduct complaints.
A report for the committee said: “A complaints/concerns log was established to capture all the issues raised by both officers and members on member behaviour and compliance with the Code of Conduct.”
It said the commit first considered the matter back in late 2022, and now had updated statistics available since then, including those from February 2025 to June 2025.
Including repeat complaints, there were 42 complaints between May 2022 to April 2023, 23 complaints between May 2023 and April 2024, 30 complaints between May 2024 and April 2025, the report said.
“There has been one complaint since May 2025. This totals 96 reported complaints/ concerns since the election in
May 2022,” it added.
Of the 18 complaints made between February and June, members heard there had been 12 complaints of bullying at town and community council, with one at county level.
There had also been one complaint each at town/ community and county for meeting behaviour, along with one complaint of interaction with the public at county level, and two declaration of interest complaints at county council level.
Members heard an Ombudsman decision not to investigate was taken for 15 of the 18 complaints, with investigations being launched for two complaints of bullying at a town and community level and one declaration of interests at a county level.
Speaking at the meeting, committee member Cllr David Edwards said: “clearly the area we have to address is harassment and bullying.”
He was told town/community council and county council training was due to be made available.
Members agreed to note the report.
Bottle return scheme to start in 2027
WAles will now launch its long-awaited bottle and can return scheme in step with the rest of the uK on 1 october 2027 — but despite earlier promises, there will be no refunds for glass bottles at the start.
The Welsh Government has confirmed it will no longer go it alone with a separate scheme, after previously threatening to break away over Westminster’s refusal to include glass. Instead, ministers have agreed to match the UK-wide approach and will implement the scheme alongside England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Under the new system, a small deposit will be added to drinks sold in plastic or metal
containers, which shoppers can reclaim when they return the empties. Glass bottles, however, will be collected but won’t carry a refundable deposit — at least not at first.
Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said the change in position followed “clear feedback from industry” that running a separate scheme in Wales would cause extra costs and confusion. The move has drawn criticism from some quarters, with Plaid Cymru’s Llyr Gruffydd calling it a “U-turn” and accusing ministers of trying to have it both ways.
The Welsh Government insists glass remains “within scope” of the scheme, but officials say a “grace period” will apply before any deposit is charged, giving businesses time to adjust labelling and distribution systems. No timeline has been set for when that grace period will end.
Industry groups have welcomed the decision to align with the rest of the UK for plastic and metal containers, but have
BLUE VIEW
With Samuel Kurtz MS
WelsH FArMers deserve beTTer — buT leT’s CelebrATe WHAT We do besT
The royal Welsh show returns next week, and with any luck the sunshine will hold out, not just for the sake of the crowds, but to crown what’s been a longoverdue decent growing season for farmers across Wales. After last year’s relentlessly wet spring and summer, the past few months of more settled weather have been a welcome relief. Grass growth, silage cuts and cereal crops have all benefited. It’s a rare chance to focus on something positive in what’s otherwise been an incredibly challenging time for Welsh agriculture. because while the sun might be shining, there’s stormy weather coming from Cardiff Bay.
threat of Bluetongue, and it’s no wonder that confidence in the future of the sector is at an all-time low.
It’s not just policy, it’s priorities. Welsh farmers feel unheard, undervalued, and overlooked by a Government that seems more focused on meeting abstract climate targets than on answering a basic question: how are we going to feed ourselves? If Ministers continue down this path, following the ‘independent’ Climate Change Committee’s recommendations to cut domestic food production, we’ll end up relying more on imports, shifting our environmental impact elsewhere while weakening our own food security. It’s typical of Welsh Labour: long on virtue signalling, short on common sense.
criticised the inclusion of glass at all — warning it could add unnecessary complexity and cost without delivering the full environmental benefits intended.
Plaid Cymru’s Mr Gruffydd said the government had offered a confusing message: “Only a few weeks ago we were told glass would be included from the start, with no compromise. Now they’ve clearly shifted position. It feels like they’re trying to ride two horses.”
Welsh Conservative MS Janet Finch-Saunders also criticised the Labour government’s handling of the scheme, saying its “disjointed” approach reflected a longrunning desire to diverge from Westminster for the sake of it.
Despite the political wrangling, the scheme is now set for a firm UK-wide launch date of 1 October 2027. In Wales, the first phase will focus on plastic and metal containers, with a wider rollout to follow — including trials to expand reuse.
This week, after a year of delay and pressure from farmers, the Welsh Government finally released the updated Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals. Yet even now, we’re still waiting on the full impact assessments, the detail that actually tells us what these proposals will mean in practice for family farms across Wales. Farmers are rightly asking: how can we give informed feedback when the Government hasn’t even shown its working?
The SFS should be about supporting farmers to feed the nation in a sustainable manor, yet the scheme mentions the word ‘trees’ 115 times whilst the word ‘food’ can only be seen 66 times. What does this tell you about priorities of the Welsh Labour Government. Too often, Welsh Labour’s vision for farming seems to come from a spreadsheet, not a field gate.
Then there’s Bovine TB, which continues to devastate herds and livelihoods. Progress remains painfully slow, and farmers are left feeling like the Government is simply managing decline. Add in the ongoing burden of NVZ rules, and the looming
Labour has had 26 years in charge of rural affairs in Wales. If this is the outcome, something has clearly gone wrong. But amid the frustration, the Royal Welsh Show offers a much-needed reminder of what Welsh agriculture is really about… resilience, pride, and excellence. Nowhere else will you find such a showcase of world-class livestock, produce, and rural talent. It’s a celebration not only of farming, but of community, a place where neighbours meet, deals are done, and the best of Welsh food and drink is on display. It’s also a time to see young people stepping forward with enthusiasm, whether in the main ring, the shearing shed, or the YFC stand. That’s something we should all take heart from.
Despite the political headwinds, Welsh farming still produces the highest standards in the world, with animal welfare, sustainability and quality at its core. That’s something worth defending, and more importantly, something worth backing.
The Royal Welsh Show is a proud moment in the farming calendar, and a timely reminder that while government may waver, the backbone of rural Wales is still going strong.
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EMAIL US AT: editor@herald.email
Pic Ture oF The week!
Aberaeron ENDURING HUMAN INQUIRY
deAr sir,
THe word truth should represent the fundamental components of this universe—an idea explored by philosophers throughout history. From Pythagoras’ eternal and abstract truths expressed through triangles, to the rationality and mathematics advanced by minds such as Galileo and Newton, truth has long been found in science, physics, and metaphysical understandings of love and ethics in mammals.
Yet human opinions often diverge wildly from these deeper truths. One of the great failings of capitalist economics is the suppression of this knowledge in the education of future generations. Money, instead of being a tool, has become a motivator distorted by conceit, greed, and hatred of the vulnerable.
While charity has been the chosen path of many good individuals, its impact has long been constrained by feudal structures and conservative or confederate laws—laws which once defended slavery and still poison the minds of the hard right with division and hate.
If we want our children to reject the worship of figures like Donald Trump, we must offer them more than disgust— we must give them access to truth. Truth as revealed by the universe itself, through science, philosophy, and proven laws such as those articulated by Newton.
Humans, like other animals, require a language through which to evolve. Instead of personality politics, celebrity obsession, oligarchy, or misogyny, we should be nurturing a youth that seeks meaning in the design and reality of the universe—a design grounded in evidence, reason, and enduring human inquiry.
C N. Westerman
REEVES IS PLAYING WITH FIRE BY COURTING DEREGULATION deAr sir,
rACHel reeves’ Mansion House speech this week was nothing short of alarming. Her attempt to rebrand Labour as a friend of the City, echoing Thatcher-era rhetoric about cutting red tape and “regulating for growth,” may have gone down well with bankers in the room, but it should send a chill down the spine of anyone who remembers 2008.
Financial deregulation led us straight into the worst economic crash in living memory. Promises of a “ripple effect” boosting the wider economy quickly turned into a tidal wave of reckless speculation, culminating in bank bailouts and years of austerity for ordinary people. Has the Chancellor forgotten this, or is she hoping we have?
Reeves talks about unleashing enterprise, but what she’s really doing is signalling that she trusts the same financial institutions that created the last crisis to somehow help us avoid the next one. It’s dangerously naïve — or politically cynical. If the economy is stalling, there are better tools at her disposal. The Bank of England could pause its programme of quantitative tightening and stop paying commercial banks billions in interest on their reserves. There’s no need to squeeze the welfare budget while the big four banks pocket £9bn in free money.
Reeves should be focused on building long-term resilience, investing in real industries, and protecting the most vulnerable — not reviving a failed Thatcherite experiment in the hope that bankers will save the day.
pAul JoNes MilFord HAveN
Aberaeron
Fishguard soap box
death notices
K EN DAVIES
THe death occurred peacefully on saturday 5th July 2025 at Withybush Hospital of Mr. Gwynfor Kenneth davies, affectionately known as Ken, aged 89 years of Tair Ffynnon, Tavernspite, formerly of the post office, Tavernspite.
Beloved Husband of the late Mary. Much loved Dad and Father-in-law to Christine and Lee, Nigel and Gaynor, Andrew and Christine, Adrian and Lisa. Treasured Bamps to Carys, Matthew, Dylan and Owen. Cherished GreatBamps to Jack, Noah and Olivia.
The funeral service will take place on Saturday 19th July 2025 at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth at 10:45am.
There will be family flowers only with donations in lieu, if so desired for Wales Air Ambulance c/o E.C. Thomas & Son Funeral Directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH (01834) 831876 & 21, Main Street, Pembroke SA71 4JS (01646) 682680 or via www.ecthomasandson. co.uk
R OSINA B ATEMAN
AFTer a short illness rosina Bateman née Champion passed away on 18th June 2025, aged 90 years.
Born in Cwmpennar, Cynon Valley, she came down aged 16 years old to work at Wood Park Farm, Llysyfran, then married Oliver Bateman of Myrtle House Farm and farmed on their own
farm at Hill Arms Farm, Keeston. On retirement moved to Merlins Hill then Oakwood Grove, Haverfordwest.
She was a founder member of Llysyfran Young Farmers Club and former Chairwoman of Camrose Women’s Institute.
She leaves to mourn Carol and Helen (daughters), Haydn and Nicholas (sons-in-law), Cara and Timothy, Seimon and Victoria, Tanwen, Ffion and Harri (grandchildren), Bleddyn, Aneira and Afan (great grandchildren), Mrs Phyllis Morgan (sister) and Mrs Janet Champion (sister-in-law) and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
The private funeral service will be on Wednesday 23rd July at 12 noon at Oakwood Grove, Haverfordwest (Carol’s home), followed by a public service at the graveside at City Road, Haverfordwest at 1pm.
Family flowers only with donations for ‘Parkinson’s UK’ c/o Paul Jenkins & Sons Funeral Directors, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, SA65 9BB. Tel: 01348 873250.
F RANKIE G EORGE
suddeNlY on Monday 7th July 2025, Frankie (former Coxswain of Fishguard lifeboat).
Beloved husband of Jane, loving father of Kellie and Mathew, much loved brother of Tony and a respected grandfather, great grandfather, fatherin-law, brother-in-law and uncle.
Funeral service on Friday 25th July at the Chapel of Rest, Feidr Castell, Fishguard at 11am followed by interment at Tabernacle Cemetery.
No flowers by request. Donations if desired, made payable to ‘Fishguard Health Centre’ or ‘Fishguard Sea Cadet Corps’ c/o Paul Jenkins & Sons Funeral Directors, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, SA65 9BB. Tel: 01348 873250.
E LIZABETH M AY B EYNON
THe death occurred peacefully on Friday 4th July 2025 at pencoed Care Home, Wooden of Mrs Elizabeth May beynon, affectionately known as May, aged 86 years formerly of Narberth.
Beloved wife of the late Joe. May will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.
The funeral service will take place on Saturday 19th July 2025 at St. Andrew’s Church, Narberth at 2:00pm followed by interment in Castle Cemetery.
There will be family flowers only with donations in lieu if so desired for British Heart Foundation c/o E.C. Thomas & Son Funeral Directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Nartberth SA67 8QH and 21, Main Street, Pembroke SA71 4JS or via: www.ecthomasandson.co.uk
I RA J EAN DAVIES
pAssed away peacefully on 2nd July at Montrose residential Home aged 92 years following a long battle against various health issues.
Beloved wife of the late Bill Davies and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to Jeannette, Antony, Karen, Jonathan, Keng and Ella. Mother-in-law to John and Napha.
Ira Jean was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Her funeral service shall take place at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth on Thursday 24th July at 1:45pm.
Family flowers only please. Donations in lieu and if desired for Montrose Residential Home LTD in memory may be sent to John Oliver, Ashleigh, 14 Byron Road, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1RQ
All enquiries to Roy Folland & Son Funeral Directors (01427) 763821
W ENDY R EES
peACeFullY at her home on Thursday 26th June, Wendy of Goodwick, formerly of Eglwyswrw. Beloved wife of Dilwyn, loving sister of Tony & Jill, and will be sadly missed by her family and friends. Funeral service on Friday 25th July at the Chapel of Rest, Feidr Castell, Fishguard at 2pm. No formal dress code.
Family flowers only. Donations in lieu if desired, made payable to ‘British Lung Foundation’ or ‘Macmillan Cancer Support’ c/o Paul Jenkins & Sons Funeral Directors, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, SA65 9BB. Tel: 01348 873250.
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UEFA WOmEN’S EURO 2025
England crush Wales 6-1 to storm into Euro 2025 quarter-finals
e NG l AN d delivered a ruthless performance to overwhelm Wales 6-1 on s aturday night (July 12), sealing their place at the top of Group d and cruising into the quarter-finals of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.
Sarina Wiegman’s side were in imperious form from the outset in St Gallen, with six goals from six different players underlining their attacking depth and dominance. The result sets up a quarter-final clash with Sweden on
Thursday (July 17) in Zurich.
The Lionesses took control early through Georgia Stanway, who converted a 13th-minute penalty following a VARreviewed foul on the edge of the area. England doubled their lead just eight minutes later, when Ella Toone finished at the second attempt after a defensive error by Wales.
Lauren Hemp added a third with a clever header in the 30th minute, and Alessia Russo made it four shortly
before half-time after combining neatly with her Manchester United teammate Toone.
England showed no signs of slowing in the second half. Beth Mead, the Golden Boot winner at Euro 2022, got on the scoresheet in the 72nd minute with a composed finish after a smart assist from Aggie Beever-Jones.
Wales pulled one back through Hannah Cain on 76 minutes, latching onto a sublime through ball from veteran Jess Fishlock before rifling past goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
But England had the final say. BeeverJones capped her impressive cameo in the 89th minute, rising to head home Mead’s cross at the back post and notch her first goal at a major international tournament.
Despite the scoreline, Wales fought hard and were backed by a passionate crowd, who erupted when Cain scored their only goal. However, England’s quality and depth proved overwhelming.
The win means England finish top of Group D and head into the knockouts full of confidence. But their path remains difficult, with defending champions Spain likely awaiting in the semi-finals should they progress.
For Wales, their campaign ends in disappointment, but they exit the tournament with their heads held high, having scored in every group match and shown moments of promise throughout.
Double podium finish for local rally driver
A 20-Hour round trip to Machrihanish Airbase in Campbeltown, Scotland, proved more than worthwhile for 17-yearold rally driver Henri Cynwyl, who returned to Wales with two podium finishes.
Henri, from Ponthirwaun, claimed
third place on both days of competition in the British Junior Championship and the 1000cc Ecosse Challenge, strengthening his lead in the F1000 British Junior Championship.
The two-day Mach1 Stages Rally was organised by Dunfermline
Car Club, with 31 F1000 members taking to the fast tarmac stages of the airbase, cheered on by a warm Scottish welcome.
“I’m really pleased,” said Henri, who was co-driven by Geraint Evans from Bala. “The stages were long, and I much prefer long stages to short ones as I get into a flow. The fast tarmac really suited my car.”
Now in his second and final year in the championship, Henri is backed by a number of local businesses from the Cardigan area.
“I’m so grateful to all of my sponsors and team,” he said. “The car is prepared by Castle Motors in Newcastle Emlyn, and we’ve just welcomed Pembrokeshire College as one of my new sponsors for 2025.”
Henri is currently undertaking an apprenticeship as an electrician with both Pembrokeshire College and DJ Hoyland.
The next round of the F1000 Championship will take place at Wheaton Barracks in Blackpool at the start of August.
Kilgetty AFC Women score new Lucozade kit thanks to Tenby Post Office Stores
KILGETTY AFC Women’s Team has received a brand-new Lucozade Sport Kit, thanks to a nomination by Tenby Post Office Stores and local supporter Fiona Malone.
The donation includes reusable drinks bottles, bibs, a football carrier bag, a kit bag, and bottles of Lucozade Sport – part of a UK-wide initiative that saw only ten teams selected to receive the sports kits.
‘A NATurAl CHoiCe’
Fiona Malone, who nominated the team, said: “We were really happy to nominate Kilgetty AFC Women’s football team when we were asked by Lucozade. My son plays for Kilgetty Under-13s, and the whole club is incredibly inclusive, so when Lucozade asked, we immediately thought of the women’s team.”
The kit was officially handed over on Sunday (July 13) during the club’s Chwarae FOR HER Wales v England watch party at Kilgetty AFC Football Club, Kingsmoor Sports Club.
TeAM THANKs loCAl bACKers
A spokesperson for Kilgetty AFC Women said: “We are very grateful
to receive all of the items from Tenby Post Office Stores and Lucozade. We particularly appreciate the reusable drinks bottles and Lucozade Sport drinks – we’ve been bringing our own, or using the men’s bottles. The bibs are great, and the new bags will be really useful. Thank you!” bACKed
The women’s team continues to grow as part of the wider female football movement in Wales, supported by local businesses and groups. Ongoing kit sponsorship for the girls’ teams has come from Ty Francis and New York Welsh, while Tesco Stronger Starts funding and FAW grants have supported equipment and coach education.
The women’s team has also received training kit sponsorship from Kilgetty WI, and playing kit and volunteer support from Saundersfoot Rotary.
Each of these donations, including the new Lucozade kit, is helping transform grassroots football – building players’ skills, boosting confidence, and creating a stronger sense of belonging through sport.
VAR to be installed at Haverfordwest County AFC stadium
A CAll to site vAr video Assistant Referee cameras and works at Haverfordwest’s football ground has been approved by Pembrokeshire planners.
In the application to Pembrokeshire County Council, the Football Association of Wales sought permission for the installation of a VAR video operations room and associated works at Bridge Meadow Stadium, Bridge Meadow, Haverfordwest.
A supporting statement through agent Wardell Armstrong said: “The Football Association Wales has recognised opportunities to strengthen, improve and build the standard of football and the image associated with Wales’s top football league.
“The launch of the Cymru Premier Strategy 2024-2030 has detailed plans to improve the standard of the Cymru Premier League’s club facilities, brands, and awareness, alongside strengthening the Cymru Premier ‘on pitch’ product over a sixyear period.
“The implementation of VAR as part of this plan will allow referees to perform at the highest possible level, providing quality decision-making to
benefit players, fans and television audiences.”
It says VAR “comprises of a Video Assistant Referee who is a qualified official that watches video footage of the game with access to multiple screens, angles and replays with the purpose of assisting the onfield officials to come to the correct
decision,” adding: “VAR is used globally, currently assisting referees in associated football leagues of over 70 countries to minimise the risk of human error and to enable the referee to make the correct decision using video technology.
“VAR Light will be deployed in the Cymru Premier from season
2025/2026 covering all Cymru Premier matches. VAR Light works on the same principles as VAR – with a Video Assistant Referee but without a replay operator.”
It went on to say: “Imagery from VAR camera installations will be sent to a self-contained Video Operations Room, where the VAR will be situated. The match referee will undertake any recommended on-field reviews in a designated Referee Review Area adjacent to the pitch, where a monitor will be installed on match days.
“A review of the infrastructure at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium has concluded that the Video Operations Room cannot be provided within existing buildings and as such it will be necessary to provide new additional accommodation.”
An officer report recommending approval said the plans for the installation of the timber Video Assistant Referee operations room “are of moderate scale and appear as subservient in form,” adding: “The finish materials are adequate and wouldn’t be at odds located within the existing infrastructure of the Bridge Meadow Stadium.”
Rugby stars to headline community talk in Newport
THis Wednesday evening, July 16 at 7pm, join Welsh TV personalities rhodri and lucy owen for a bilingual Q&A with international rugby stars Josh Macleod, stephen varney, and Macs page at Canolfan Bethlehem (formerly the Old Bethlehem Chapel) in Newport, Pembrokeshire.
The evening, part of the Lecol Heroes series, will offer a unique opportunity to hear from these rising rugby stars as they share their journeys from local lads to international pros. The trio—who all have strong connections to the Pembrokeshire area—will discuss their experiences, challenges, and
and Lucy Owen, and attendees will have the chance to ask questions to the players. The event is open to the public, with tickets priced at £10 for adults and £5 for secondary school students.
Canolfan Bethlehem, a vital community venue in the heart of Newport, has quickly become a focal point for local events. After the former chapel was bought and renovated by a dedicated group of locals in 2024, it reopened as a community centre in February 2025. This will be one of the many events held at the venue, which continues to grow in popularity.
Don’t miss this unique evening filled with rugby passion, pride, and
Cresselly hold firm at the top as league race tightens
CRESSELLY maintained their position at the summit of Division 1 with a hard-fought 25-run victory over Haverfordwest in a highscoring thriller, while Carew kept up the pressure with a comfortable win over saundersfoot.
Elsewhere, Burton recorded the weekend’s biggest margin of victory, thrashing Llangwm by 179 runs, and Neyland produced a dominant
performance to ease past Whitland by 112 runs. Lawrenny also claimed a vital away win at Herbrandston to keep their title hopes alive.
In Division 2, Hook stunned Cresselly II with a crushing 213-run victory, but St Ishmaels continue to lead the table after overcoming Carew II. Pembroke and Narberth remain hot on their heels, with Narberth benefitting from a fixture default.
Division 3 saw one of the closest games of the day, with Lamphey edging Fishguard by just 1 run. Haverfordwest II and Laugharne also enjoyed convincing wins, while several fixtures were postponed or not fulfilled.
At Division 4 level, Pembroke II remain the team to beat after a narrow 1-run win over Saundersfoot II. St Ishmaels II and Crymych also impressed, while Lawrenny II and Haverfordwest III recorded strong victories.
In Division 5, Herbrandston II and Llechryd II continue to battle for top spot, both posting dominant wins. Luke Murray’s century helped Pembroke Dock II cruise to victory over Hundleton II, while Whitland II edged out Llechryd II in a close contest.
Kilgetty II hit the headlines in Division 6 as Jack Badham blasted an unbeaten 147 in their 161-run win over Llechryd III. Pembroke III stay top following a comfortable 8-wicket win over Lamphey II.
Full scorecards, performances and updated league tables follow below.
Thomas carroll Pembrokeshire league Table
RESULTS: 12/07/2025
Cresselly (329-7) beat Haverfordwest (304-9) by 25 runs
Herbrandston (135) lost to Lawrenny (258-8) by 123 runs
Llangwm (107) lost to Burton (286-4 dec) by 179 runs
Neyland (253-4) beat Whitland (141) by 112 runs
Saundersfoot (182) lost to Carew (186-3) by 7 wkts
Carew II (144) lost to St Ishmaels (208-7) by 64 runs
Hook (261-8) beat Cresselly II (48) by 213 runs
Johnston (186) lost to Llanrhian (187-8) by 2 wkts
Llechryd (164-3) lost to Pembroke (268-4) by 104 runs
Narberth (0) w/o v Burton II (0)
Haverfordwest II (109-3) beat Hundleton (108) by 7 wkts
Kilgetty (0) w/o v Stackpole (0)
Lamphey (176-8) beat Fishguard (175) by 1 run
Laugharne (137-3) beat Neyland II (136) by 7 wkts
Pembroke Dock (0) w/o v Hook II (0)
Lawrenny II (111-2) beat Llangwm II (109) by 8 wkts
Llanrhian II (130) lost to Haverfordwest III (131-2) by 8 wkts
Narberth II (142) lost to Crymych (144-2) by 8 wkts
Pembroke II (163-4) beat Saundersfoot II (162-9) by 1 run
St Ishmaels II (186-6) beat Carew III (183-6) by 4 wkts
Cresselly III (77-6) beat Neyland III (74) by 4 wkts
Haverfordwest IV (52) lost to Herbrandston II (56-0) by 10 wkts
Hundleton II (85) lost to Pembroke Dock II (222-5) by 137 runs
Whitland II (218-7) beat Llechryd II (217) by 3 wkts
H’west-Cresselly (0) w/o v Whitland III (0)
Llechryd III (135) lost to Kilgetty II (296-7) by 136 runs
Pembroke III (101-2) beat Lamphey II (100) by 8 wkts
FIXTURES: 19/07/2025
Burton v Neyland
Carew v Llangwm
Haverfordwest v Herbrandston
Lawrenny v Cresselly
Whitland v Saundersfoot
Cresselly II v Llechryd
Llanrhian v Carew II
Narberth v Johnston
Pembroke v Hook
St Ishmaels v Burton II
Fishguard v Pembroke Dock
Hook II v Laugharne
Hundleton v Pembroke Dock
Kilgetty v Lamphey
Neyland II v Haverfordwest II
Carew III v Lawrenny II
Crymych v Llanrhian II
Haverfordwest III v Pembroke II
Llangwm II v St Ishmaels II
Saundersfoot II v Narberth II
Herbrandston II v Hundleton II
Llechryd II v Cresselly III
Neyland III v Whitland II
Pembroke Dock II v Haverfordwest IV
H’west-Cresselly v Pembroke III
Lamphey II v Kilgetty II
England crush Wales 6-1 to storm into Euro 2025 quarter-finals • P68
