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Creative writing flourishes in Pembrokeshire

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writerThere are many published writers with links to Pembrokeshire including Brian John, Robert Nisbet, Phil Carradice and Sarah Waters. So it’s perhaps no surprise that Creative Writing is more widely recognised as a serious subject within education and the community in West Wales. 

Creative writing workshops are available for school children aged 5-18 with an aim to encourage creativity and storytelling. Some of those offered include comic and poet Ian billings and children’s author Alan Durant. This September will see the first Creative Writing A level become available in UK schools and more courses have also appeared for adults throughout Universities and educational establishments due to increased demand. Pembrokeshire College in Haverfordwest offer an 8 week beginners course on Creative Writing for just £60. While Pembrokeshire county council provide Creative Writing classes in Pembroke Dock, Tenby, Fishguard and Haverfordwest. At the centre of this hive of creativity, are a number of community run writing groups. Sian Walker, a poet from Pembroke Dock, set up the Narberth poetry in August 2012. She says she chose the Queens hall as a venue because it is in the heart of Pembrokeshire and appeals to a wider catchment area. The poetry group averages 12 people each meeting, from a range of backgrounds. They meet from 7.30-8.30 on the last Thursday of every month. There is no charge but members are asked to kindly leave a donation. The aim of the group is to provide a relaxed atmosphere in which people can share their work and gain support from fellow writers. ‘Although we call it a poetry group, short story writers, scriptwriters…anyone is welcome. We also welcome guest writers, who come along to share their work with us.’ Some of the writers that have visited, include travel writer Tom Anderson and Irish poet Kevin Connelly. Connelly visited as part of the WISPA tour (Welsh/Irish poetry spoken word and poetry appreciation), an event which began earlier this year to promote and connect Welsh and Irish writers. Connelly said of Narbeth, ‘It reminded me of my own group in Duncannon, County Wexford. The atmosphere was completely relaxed and the people so welcoming and supportive.’ Jackie Wilson currently runs the Fishguard Acorn writers’ support group which offers ‘inspirational support for Pembrokshire writers’ and has its own website and monthly newsletter. In 2009 Jackie, along with fellow members of the group, set up Acorns publishing, in order to independently publish the groups work. They currently have 8 titles available through their website and Amazon. The group was originally set up in 1994 by the Royal Oak landlord, Dai Crowther, a former miner and teacher from Fishguard. Dai was known as an author, poet and singer songwriter. He finished his first novel just before he died and also published Dragon tales, his version of a group of traditional stories based on the Mabinogion. The acorns meet on a Monday evening from 7pm, offering a ‘warm, friendly environment with support and encouragement for anyone who write whether professionally or for pleasure.’ They share work for constructive feedback, discussions and writing exercises. They occasionally hold workshops and attend literary festivals as well as holding performance evenings. They aim to keep in contact with other groups in West Wales to share their experiences. Their members, affectionately called ‘acorns,’ write everything from short stories and poetry to songs and memoirs. It costs just £1 to become a member. There are also community led writing groups in Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest, details of which can be found on the Literature Wales website. For more information you can contacts: www.literaturewales.co.uk www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk www.acornswriterssupportgroup.org. uk

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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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