Community

The long history of The Tiddly

Published

12 years ago

November 27, 2013

Thomas Jenkins opened a pub in ‘Low Freystrop. in 1811 and ran it for a couple of years. It was called the New Inn, and the landlady from 1813 to 1827 was Martha Cozens; the address was sometimes given as ‘Mutton Hall’. Joseph Phillips took over, but nothing more is known about this pub. It appears that when she left the New Inn, Martha Cozens opened the Lamb and Flag nearby and she carried on running this wayside inn until 1841. Coalminer Owen Jenkins was landlord from 1851 to 1861 and James Yea was in charge in 1867. The pub, which was in Lower Freystrop near the junction with the lane to Little Milford. was converted into a grocery shop shortly afterwards. It may have been the building now much modernised and called ‘The Old Manse’.

The closure of the Lamb and Flag left a gap in the market which was filled by the Travellers’ Rest at the foot of the hill; quite possibly the licence was transferred. This pub was up and running by 1869 when it was kept by William Gwilliam, a mariner, and his wife Martha. lowever she died that year, aged 26, and coal miner and publican Absalom James ran the Weary Traveller (sic) in 1871 — presumably an error in the census. George Russell was landlord of the Travellers’ Rest in 1874 and John Russell was in charge.

In 1880. George Morgan held the licence from 1891 to 1917 when the pub was better known as ‘the Tiddley’, which it still is — perhaps a throwback to the days when beer- houses were known as `Kiddleywinks’.

George Morgan was followed by William Cousins and his wife Sarah who were there for 40 years – he was always known as ‘Billy the Tiddley’. Thomas Maxted was landlord in the early 1960s followed by Freddie Holder who later ran the New Anchor in Hook. Former navy man Ron Pitt, who was there in the 1970s, played host to the pub’s most famous visitor when Prince Charles dropped in for a drink one evening with a few naval officers while he was staying at Brawdy. The Pitts were succeeded by Neville and Jane Lewis, and when they left to run the Cottage Inn at Llangwm the `Tiddley’ was taken over by Brian James.

John Fry & Adrian Price both had periods in charge before licensee, Angela Jarvis took over in 2001. The new millennium brought it’s fair share of landlords and ladies, working hard to keep the quaint, country pub alive during a stifling recession and a country being consumed by a commercial market.

On 16 November 2013, The Tiddly will re-open in the hands of husband and wife, Matt & Ang Baker. The ambitious couple plan to bring life back into the pub and the community with delicious home-made food, an array of drinks and live entertainment that will be offered every week. Come and make history at the Tiddly.

Community

Welsh hymn singing celebration to be held in Newport this Sunday

Published

9 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SPECIAL afternoon celebrating Wales’ rich tradition of hymn singing and sacred music will take place at Canolfan Bethlehem on Sunday (Feb 15) at 3:00pm.

Organisers say the event, titled Caniadaeth y Cysegr, will honour a musical heritage that has shaped Welsh life for generations. Hymn singing has long echoed beyond chapels and churches, heard on rugby terraces, at community gatherings and in village halls – a living tradition woven into the fabric of Welsh identity.

Central to that tradition is the Cymanfa Ganu, the much-loved hymn festival which has played a vital role across Wales, particularly in north Pembrokeshire. While attendance has declined in recent decades, supporters say the spirit of congregational singing remains strong and deserves renewed celebration.

The afternoon will feature a talk by broadcaster and academic Ceri Wyn Richards, who will explore the poets, composers and musicians from Pembrokeshire whose work has made a lasting contribution to Welsh hymnody and sacred song.

During her distinguished career in television and radio, Richards produced Caniadaeth y Cysegr, the BBC’s longest-running religious programme, first aired in 1942 and widely regarded as the forerunner to Songs of Praise. Before retiring, she undertook an ambitious nationwide project to record every hymn in the Welsh hymn book with chapels, choirs and musicians throughout the country.

The event will also explore the strong links between hymn writing and places such as St Davids and Blaenwern, while reflecting on the legacy of influential figures including W. Rhys Nicholas, Waldo Williams and Eirwyn George. Organisers will also highlight the surprising connections between traditional hymn tunes and modern popular music.

A simultaneous translation service will be available, and the event is open to all.

Organisers added: “Everyone is welcome to join us for an afternoon of song, history and community as we celebrate one of Wales’ most treasured cultural traditions.”

Community

Festival of the Sea to return with free family day at Milford Waterfront

Published

10 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Coastal groups, artists and charities unite at Sybil House to celebrate Pembrokeshire’s marine life and community spirit

MILFORD HAVEN is set for a splash of colour, music and marine discovery next month as the Festival of the Sea returns with a full day of free activities for families.

Organised by Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, the event will take place at Sybil House on Sunday, March 1, from 10:00am to 4:00pm, bringing together conservation groups, artists, performers and community organisations to celebrate the county’s coastline and the people whose lives are tied to it.

The Herald understands the festival proved popular last year and has been expanded for 2026, with organisers moving into the larger indoor venue to allow more stalls, workshops and performances.

Visitors can expect a packed programme of hands-on activities and entertainment aimed at all ages. Highlights include a marine wildlife touch tank hosted by the Field Studies Council, children’s art and clay workshops at the Waterfront Gallery, live music and sea shanties, and walkabout pirate performers bringing a bit of theatre to the waterfront.

Throughout the day, local choirs and musicians will perform, creating what organisers hope will feel like a relaxed, community celebration rather than a formal exhibition.

Sue Burton, Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation Officer, said: “The Festival of the Sea was really popular last year, and I’m really pleased it’s coming back in the bigger venue of Sybil House.

“The marine environment of Pembrokeshire is internationally important for wildlife as well as for employment and energy. The festival is a fun way to celebrate all the great work being done for our seas, and it’s a great opportunity to engage young people through art workshops, face painting and street theatre.”

A wide range of organisations will host information stands and activities, including the RNLI, Sea Trust, Project Seagrass, The Crown Estate, Car-y-Môr, Marine Conservation Society, Marine Energy Wales and the Port of Milford Haven.

Together, they will showcase projects ranging from marine wildlife protection and habitat restoration to renewable energy and sustainable seafood, highlighting the economic and environmental importance of the Haven and surrounding coastline.

Food and refreshments will also be available, including local produce from Pembrokeshire Beach Food, giving visitors a taste of Pembrokeshire’s growing reputation for coastal cuisine.

Entry is free, and organisers say people are welcome to drop in for a single activity or spend the whole day exploring what is on offer. A full schedule of talks and workshops will be released closer to the date.

For more information, visit www.pembrokeshirecoastalforum.org.uk/festival-of-the-sea.

Community

Angle lifeboat crew celebrate 13 new qualifications after intensive assessment week

Published

11 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THIRTEEN volunteer crew members at Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Angle Lifeboat Station have successfully completed a demanding week of assessments, marking the culmination of months of training and preparation.

The pass-outs strengthen the station’s operational capability and ensure the all-weather lifeboat remains fully crewed and ready to respond to emergencies across the Milford Haven Waterway and the wider Pembrokeshire coast.

Three crew members – Anthony Thomas, Gareth Thomas and Nathen Houston – qualified as All-weather Lifeboat (ALB) Navigators after completing a four-hour practical and theory assessment.

https://rnli.org/-/media/news-centre/2018/mar/12/angle_rnli_lifeboat_launched_after_emergency_call_from_rib.jpg?hash=EA208F018100CC2EEF7E08D5BD31B7D8&rev=3a22650a4f044fa0a1e0c03fa9883c3a

Their test covered a range of search and rescue scenarios, including simulated taskings, radar work, position fixing and traditional paper chart navigation – all skills vital during poor visibility and challenging sea conditions.

A further ten volunteers – Phil Jones, Tom Meehan, Nick Gale, Rob Davies, Finn Frost, James Findlay, Allen Price, Seymore Phillips, Graham Booth and Matt Nicholas – passed their Tier 2 ALB Crew assessments.

The qualification tests every aspect of lifeboat operations, from man overboard recovery and towing to mooring, berthing, helming and anchoring. Candidates were put through their paces by an RNLI assessor in realistic scenarios designed to mirror live shouts.

Station representatives said the results reflect the commitment and professionalism of the volunteer crew, many of whom balance training with full-time jobs and family life.

The latest qualifications come as the Angle crew continue to play a crucial role in rescues around Milford Haven and the south Pembrokeshire coastline, one of the busiest and most complex maritime areas in Wales.

A spokesperson said the achievements “demonstrate the dedication of our volunteers and the continued strength of lifeboat operations from the town of Milford Haven.”