THE PORT of Milford Haven is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Siân George as its new Chair. Appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport, Siân took over the role on 22nd June 2024.

Siân brings a wealth of Board level experience, with a notable maritime, energy and safety focus. She is particularly recognised for her experience and knowledge of the marine renewables sector, where she has been a strong voice for UK and European policy and regulatory reform, working with stakeholders to help secure over €300m of public funding initiatives for the sector and overseeing an award winning strategic vision for developing Europe’s marine energy resources. Siân has a strong reputation for fostering constructive stakeholder relationships, and extensive experience working in safety-critical and highly regulated sectors.

Siân succeeds Dr Chris Martin who joined the Port as Vice-Chair in 2012 and became Chair in 2017 overseeing key steps in the Port’s development.

Dr Siân George, Chair at the Port of Milford Haven said “I am delighted to join the Port of Milford Haven and look forward to working with the team to achieve our goals for the business and for the region. I am very much looking forward to building on the great work undertaken during Dr Chris Martin’s tenure and continuing to ensure the Port plays its part in creating a wealth of new opportunities for current and future generations.”

Tom Sawyer, Chief Executive at the Port of Milford Haven said “Siân joins us at an exciting time. We are making significant investments in our pilotage operations to ensure we keep delivering our Waterway customer’s needs, safely and effectively. We are also focused on expanding the influence Pembroke Port has within the FLOW, wave and tidal industries to become a key hub for green industrial growth. And, through our investment in Milford Waterfront and other areas of hospitality and tourism, we are strengthening Pembrokeshire’s reputation as a must visit destination for UK holidaymakers.”

A PERSON in danger in the water off a popular local beach has been plucked to safety by a coastguard helicopter in a multi-agency rescue involving coastguards and local lifeboats.

Just before 7.16pm yesterday, Thursday, June 27, a member of the public contacted coastguards, reporting a person in difficulty in the water off Llangrannog.

Coastguard rescue teams from New Quay, Cardigan, and Fishguard were tasked to the incident, as well as both New Quay lifeboats and the coastguard rescue helicopter.

The New Quay Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) and All Weather Lifeboat (ALB), which were out on a training exercise, quickly arrived on the scene. The casualty had managed to get onto a rocky outcrop and was swiftly located.

Due to the precarious position, the ILB could not safely reach the casualty, and the coastguard rescue teams were unable to access the outcrop for a rope rescue. It was determined that a helicopter winch rescue was the only viable option.

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 187 lowered a winch person onto the outcrop. Meanwhile, coastguard rescue teams prepared a helicopter landing site on Llangrannog Beach.

The casualty was safely winched to the beach and reunited with their family.

“This was a great example of emergency services working together,” said a spokesperson for New Quay Coastguard Rescue Team.

HM Coastguard Cardigan added, “It was great working with all the other services this evening and an excellent result with the person safe and well and back on shore with their family. Well done to all.

“If you see anyone in trouble around the coast, please dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.”

PARC Prison in Bridgend, Wales, has been struck by yet another sad event, marking the latest in a series of inmate deaths that have plagued the institution this year. This most recent death, which occurred on 5 June 2024, involves Pembrokeshire inmate Robert Royan, who was 71-years-old. Royan’s death is the eleventh this year, and has worried families and friends of those in the prison, who are assuming that the death was probably avoidable.

It remains to be seen if the death is linked to natural causes or drug use, however this newspaper understands that Royan died in hospital following admission, and not at the prison itself. The prison said he had been in hospital since April.

From Pembroke Dock, Royan was a known drug user. Had a criminal record for amphetamines, which The Herald reported on in 2017. He was jailed in 2018 for his fourth arson offence – setting fire to a flat. Although he had previously confessed to setting hundreds of fires over the years – many of them were in the Tenby area.

The prison, run by private security firm G4S, has been under intense scrutiny following a spate of deaths linked to drug misuse, particularly synthetic opioids like Spice and Nitazene. The situation inside the prison appears to remain critical, with another protest scheduled outside the prison on July 29.

In recent weeks, the prison has also experienced significant unrest. Just last month, on 31 May 2024, a riot involving around twenty inmates erupted, leading to several prisoners requiring hospital treatment. The unrest, centered on the B3 wing of the prison, saw emergency services, including riot vans and police, deployed to restore order.

G4S denies this was a riot, and calls what happened ‘two separate incidents’. G4S also said that anyone injured was the result of a fight, which was an altercation between three prisoners and not in the ‘separate’ incident, as they call it, involving 20 prisoners.

It clearly was – requiring the assistance of specialist officers from outside the prison to put it down, something we previously reported on.

The management of Parc Prison has come under fire, with calls for the UK government to intervene and take control from G4S. Heather Whitehead, the former director of the prison, stepped down earlier this month amid the ongoing crisis. Will Styles, who has a long tenure in the prison service, has been appointed as her replacement.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is currently investigating the deaths at Parc Prison, aiming to uncover the root causes and prevent further tragedies. Meanwhile, the families of deceased inmates continue to demand justice and better conditions for those still incarcerated, protesting outside the prison and calling for urgent reforms.

This report marks the first confirmation of the death of Robert Royan at Parc Prison, highlighting the urgent need for transparency and action to address the ongoing issues within the facility.

A HMP Parc spokesperson told The Pembrokeshire Herald on Friday: “Mr Robert Royan passed away on Wednesday 05 June 2024. His next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with his family and friends.

“As with all deaths in custody, this will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and the cause of death is for the Coroner to determine.”

Regards the disturbance last month, the G4S said: “On Friday 31 May, two separate, short-lived incidents were resolved by onsite G4S staff.”

“All 20 prisoners involved were in their cells, locked up and compliant by the time the requested mutual aid arrived and were deployed to the unit.

“No prisoners or staff were injured in this incident

“The second incident was unrelated and involved an altercation between three prisoners, who required hospital treatment.”

As the investigation continues, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on Parc, hoping for swift and effective measures to bring an end to these tragic events.