CLLR DELME HARRIES has been elected chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council for the coming municipal year.

Cllr Harries, who was elected in 2022 to represent the Bro Gwaun ward, is a member of the Independent Group.

He has worked for the NFU for many years and has extensive experience in agriculture, governance and community leadership.

Within the council, he has held several key roles, including chairman of the Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee. He is also the council’s Members’ Champion for the Welsh Language and for Children and Young People.

Cllr Harries is deeply involved in education and youth development. He serves as a local authority governor at Ysgol Ger y Llan and Ysgol Casmael a Llychllwydog, and is club leader of Llysyfran Young Farmers Club.

He also chairs the POINT Youth Project in Fishguard, where he is a trustee.

Young Farmers background

Cllr Harries has held numerous senior leadership roles within the Young Farmers’ movement at county, national and international level.

These include chair of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs from 2019 to 2024, chair of Wales Young Farmers Clubs, chair of European Young Farmers, and chair of Pembrokeshire YFC.

In recognition of his contribution, he has been awarded honorary life memberships and vice-presidencies within Young Farmers organisations at county, national and UK level.

He is also a director and trustee of Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society.

Upon taking the chains, Cllr Harries thanked outgoing chairman Cllr Maureen Bowen.

He said: “I am truly humbled and honoured to have your support in appointing me as Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council for the coming year.

“When I was elected to represent the Bro Gwaun ward in 2022, this role was certainly not on my list of expectations. To now stand before you as your Chair is something I feel deeply privileged to do, and I am extremely grateful for the confidence you have placed in me to serve as the civic leader of this authority.

“I am particularly proud to serve as Chair in a year when Pembrokeshire will welcome the National Eisteddfod. This is a moment of huge significance for our county, and I hope we will all embrace this wonderful event, which promises to be one of the very best.

“I look forward to seeing many of you in Llantood this August as we celebrate our language, culture and heritage together.”

Cllr Nick Neumann was elected vice-chairman for the coming year. He was nominated by Cllr Di Clements and seconded by Cllr Mark Carter.

Caption:

New chairman: Cllr Delme Harries with new vice-chairman Cllr Nick Neumann, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed Meurig Raymond, High Sheriff of Dyfed Andrew Phillips, Presiding Member Cllr Simon Hancock and outgoing chairman Cllr Maureen Bowen.

Late councillor Mike Stoddart helped hold power to account for decades — now his daughter Tessa Hodgson leads the council he scrutinised

CLLR TESSA HODGSON’S election as Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council is historic for more than one reason.

Not only has the Lamphey councillor become the first woman to lead the authority, but her appointment also represents a remarkable full-circle moment in Pembrokeshire public life.

Cllr Hodgson is the daughter of the late Cllr Mike Stoddart — known to many readers as Old Grumpy — the fiercely independent councillor, campaigner and former journalist who spent years holding County Hall to account.

For decades, Mike Stoddart became one of the most recognisable and uncompromising figures in Pembrokeshire politics. Through forensic scrutiny of council spending, persistent Freedom of Information requests, and an unrelenting willingness to ask difficult questions, he built a reputation for challenging administrations of every political stripe.

Yet politics was only part of the family story.

Long before County Hall, the Stoddarts were newspaper people.

During the 1990s, Mike and his wife, Cllr Viv Stoddart — who still serves as a county councillor — were involved in running The Milford Mercury, the family newspaper business, where local journalism and public accountability went hand in hand.

The family earned a reputation for shining a light on local issues and asking awkward questions of those in power — an approach Mike later carried into council chambers with trademark determination.

In a twist few could have predicted, the daughter of one of Pembrokeshire County Council’s sharpest critics now finds herself leading the authority.

Cllr Hodgson was elected leader at the council’s Annual General Meeting on Friday (May 15), succeeding Cllr Jon Harvey, who did not seek re-election.

Following her appointment, she said: “It is a great honour to have been elected Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council.

“It is an important moment for the Council to elect the first woman to this position, but now the hard work begins.”

First elected in 2012, Cllr Hodgson has previously held Cabinet responsibility for social services, adult social care and safeguarding, and is expected to unveil her Cabinet in the coming days.

Her leadership will ultimately be judged on results rather than heritage.

But for many who remember the days of The Milford Mercury, and Mike Stoddart’s relentless battles with authority, there is something striking about the moment.

Pembrokeshire’s first female council leader comes from a family that spent decades questioning the people in charge.

Now, one of their own is in the hot seat.

A FREE community festival celebrating the sea, local food, seaweed and Pembrokeshire’s coastal environment will take place at Saundersfoot Harbour this summer.

Saundersfoot Seafest will be held on Saturday, July 11, offering a full day of activities, entertainment and hands-on experiences for residents and visitors.

The event will celebrate the area’s connection with the sea, coastal heritage and locally sourced food, with live cooking demonstrations, food sampling and interactive activities exploring Pembrokeshire’s shoreline.

There will be plenty for all ages, including guided seashore safaris, sandcastle building competitions, crabbing contests, and “seaweed and chips” sessions.

The festival will also feature pirate and dog fancy dress competitions, along with interactive exhibits, retail stalls, local produce, crafts and coastal-themed displays.

Boat trips and kayaking experiences will also be available, although a small charge will apply for these activities.

Sue Latham, Coordinator of Pembrokeshire Local Food Partnership, said: “Saundersfoot Seafest is a celebration of our coastline, our communities, and the incredible food and culture that comes from living so closely connected to the sea.

“We are delighted to welcome people of all ages to join us for a free, fun-filled day by the harbour.”

The event is supported by the Welsh Government, Pembrokeshire Local Food Partnership, Pobl Tir Môr, Saundersfoot Harbour, Saundersfoot Rotary Club, WWF Cymru and Wales Festival of Seaweed.

The Wales Festival of Seaweed will also take place in St Davids from September 10 to 13.