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Full steam ahead with local beers

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Something different: A steam engine rally stopped many people in their tracks!

Something different: A steam engine rally stopped many people in their tracks!

A NORTH Pembrokeshire pub is flying the flag for locally produced beers. The Bridge End in Llanychaer, known to its locals as the Bont, has recently re-opened with new landlords Mark and Lesley. They have wasted no time in turning the popular pub into a showcase for some of the great beers from the microbreweries that have sprung up in recent years, putting North Pembrokeshire firmly on the beer map of Wales.

Indeed, the Bont has just become the most recent Pembrokeshire pub to win the accolade of an entry in the Good Beer Guide published by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale). To achieve recognition in the ‘Bible of British Beers’ means serving ‘real’ ales in top condition, and ideally in a friendly, welcoming pub atmosphere.

The Bont succeeds in ticking all these boxes. As you arrive in the picturesque village of Llanychaer, you can simply follow your nose, as the wonderful smell of a log fire drifts down the road. And for visitors from further afield, directions can be found in the Good Beer Guide, whether in book form, online or as a phone app. Local pubs serving local beers may seem the most natural thing in the world but, surprisingly, very few pubs in the area do actually take the initiative and choose to offer something other than the usual familiar names from big national breweries.

So members of CAMRA’s Pembrokeshire branch were impressed to find that the hand pumps in the cosy bar permanently offer at least two different beers from Bluestone Brewery, near Newport and another two from Gwaun Valley Brewery. Both breweries are a mere 3 to 5 miles from the Bont, so it makes good environmental sense as well as supporting the local economy.

Other notable additions to the beer brewing scene in North Pembrokeshire include the award-winning Seren brewery at Rosebush, and Caffle Brewery, based in the Old School, Llawhaden, which scooped a Silver medal at Pembrokeshire Tourism’s awards this year. Close links between pubs and our local breweries are good for everyone.

And as if to prove the point, it will soon be possible to enjoy a pint (or two) of ‘Bont Ale’, brewed and specially labelled by Len and Sarah Davies at Gwaun Valley Brewery – the perfect accompaniment to an excellent home-cooked lunch or evening meal from Lesleys’ kitchen.

In the words of Mark and Lesley: “This is a lovely old pub with a history stretching back 150 years or more, and still has the huge water-wheel that used to power the smithy that once operated in the same building. The whole of the Gwaun Valley has a long tradition of farmhouse brewing, so it only seems right that we should be serving beers brewed virtually on the doorstep.” During the Fishguard & Goodwick Autumn Festival, on the weekend of October 31 – November 1, Mark and Lesley showed that they have another passion, apart from great beer.

They helped to organise the memorable steam engine rally, which saw magnificent vintage machines on display around the twin towns, they certainly stopped plenty of people in their tracks. As regular contestants in the annual Cawl Crawl, and indeed winners of 1st prize for ‘Best Cawl’ last year, they were busy in the kitchen to be ready to receive the many cawl tasters who arrived in memorable fashion aboard one of the Foden steam lorries. Let us hope that many other Pembrokehsire pubs will follow the example set by the Bont and choose to ‘go local’!

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Community

Mayor of Bergen visits Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre

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IT was a Mayoral gathering when the Burgermeisterin of Bergen, in Germany, paid a visit to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre in the company of Councillor Aden Brinn, the Mayor of Bergen’s twin town, Pembroke.

There to meet Burgermeisterin Claudia Dettmar-Muller and her colleague Silvia Bothe were two former Mayors of Pembroke Dock, Councillors Pam George and Maureen Colgan, and trustees and volunteers who run the Centre. Joining them was Pembroke’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ann Mortenson.

Trustee Peter Mitchell and colleagues gave a guided town of the Centre which has extensive displays on Pembroke Dock’s rich maritime and military history spanning just over two centuries, and its connections with RAF flying boats.

Pic By Martin Cavaney.

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Community

Wonderful night at Haverfordwest Library for special Poet Laureate event

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HAVERFORDWEST Library was delighted to be part of the prestigious Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024 with a special event on Friday, March 8.
Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman, Cllr Thomas Tudor extended a special welcome to the guests of honour: Poet Laureate Simon Armitage; his guests Owen Sheers and Bethany Handley; plus the winners of the recent library Poetry Competition.
The poetry began with writer, poet and disabled activist, Bethany Handley. Bethany campaigns for better access to nature for disabled people, and her work explores nature and disability, challenging the barriers that disabled people experience.
Bethany’s first poem was heartfelt and humorous about her experience of visiting a beach in her wheelchair. Her final poem also drew on her experiences, being a compilation poem of many well-intentioned, yet impractical or inappropriate, advice that she has received as a wheelchair user.
Owen Sheers is an award winning Welsh poet, author and playwright. He has twice won the Wales Book of the Year as well as the Hay Festival Poetry Medal.
His film-poem, the Green Hollow, about the Aberfan disaster, was BAFTA and Grierson nominated and won three BAFTA Cymru awards, including best writer.
Owen read an extract from the Green Hollow, bringing the horror of the disaster to life. He also read poems about parenthood and his experiences as a son and as a father.
The Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards, including the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.
Simon launched into a poem about humanity, the universe and working as one. He then used his back catalogue of poems written for music. His poems covered some unusually random themes, particularly those he crafted during the Covid pandemic.
He said that he’d even written a poem inspired by a Velux window and read a beautiful poem about laying in a hammock watching a pair of newly-weds sail overhead in a hot air balloon.
His performances were engaging, humorous and moving and he brought the words to life.
Simon also spoke warmly about the importance of libraries as a child but also as an adult travelling about the country, with libraries always offering a warm welcome.
Ashok Ahir, President of the National Library of Wales thanked the three poets and introduced the new exhibition in the gallery, Dylan: The Lyrical Life of Dylan Thomas.
The exhibition is open to the public until 14th September 2024. Further information can be seen online.
The event drew to a close as Cllr Tudor issued the prizes to the winners of the recent poetry eisteddfod competition. The competition celebrated the language, culture, heritage and literature of Wales.
The theme was Dylan Thomas. Entries could draw inspiration from any of his works or seek inspiration from a specific quote: “from where you are, you can hear their dreams”.
Entries received were of a high standard and were judged by Wendy Morse (leader of the Haverfordwest Library Poetry Group, who would welcome new members, contact Haverfordwest Library for more information); representatives from the Library staff and the National Library of Wales staff. The poems will be on display at Haverfordwest Library until the end of the Easter Holidays.

Prizes have been awarded to:
• Sian Davies: Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, adult written poem category
• James Purchase: I Shall go Gentle into that Good Night, adult written poem category
• Philippa Davies: Dylan is in the Library, adult spoken word category
• Tony Potts: Windfall, adult illustrated poem category
• John Matthews: Dylan Cwmdonkin, adult Welsh language category
• Ellie McGrath: It was all a Dream, 11-14 age category
• Skye-Lea Jones: Are you Listening?,11-14 age category
Thanks to the judges of the poetry competition and to Faber & Faber, who donated the book prizes in support of the Poet Laureate’s Library Tour.
Cllr Thomas Tudor said: “The Riverside opened its doors in December 2018 and has enjoyed many fascinating exhibitions since thanks to the continued partnership with the National Library of Wales.
“The Riverside was one of just six libraries to host this Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024.
“It is a fantastic achievement for Haverfordwest Library to be a part of these significant events, helping to raise the profile and regeneration of the County Town and I thank everyone who has worked hard to make the event a success.”
The event would not have been possible without the continued support from The National Library of Wales and Haverfordwest Town Council. The President of the National Library of Wales and the Mayor, Sheriff and Clerk of Haverfordwest Town Council were all present.

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Charity

Bags of Books returns to Milford Haven and surrounding areas this Easter

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THE INFAMOUS Bags of Books is set to return to Milford Haven and surrounding areas over the Easter holidays.

Milford Haven School who launched the project with Milford Youth Matters over 3 years ago are continuing in their bid to improve literacy skills and encourage a love of reading for pleasure by giving away over 700 books.

Thanks to funding from the South Hook LNG Community grant they have purchased books for young people of all ages and reading abilities and will be hanging them on the fences of the schools in their catchment area.

The community are invited to come and choose a book from the following locations over the Easter holidays:

  • Neyland Community Primary School – Monday 25th March
  • Johnston Community Primary School – Tuesday 26th March
  • Coastlands Primary School – Wednesday 27th March
  • Gelliswick Primary School – Tuesday 2nd April
  • Milford Haven Community Primary – Wednesday 3rd April
  • St Francis Community Primary – Wednesday 3rd April

Milford Haven Secondary School will also hang over 150 books on their fence after the Easter Holidays on Wednesday 10th April for those in our community who cannot attend the other locations.

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