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Historian and author dies

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roscoe howellsA WELL-KNOWN local historian and author Roscoe Howells, of Amroth, has passed away at the age of 94.

Roscoe started his working life as a dairy farmer, but made a career as a prolific and passionate writer, with the Pembrokeshire countryside and landscape at the heart of his books, newspaper and magazine articles.

Roscoe’s work has its roots in the community and countryside around Saundersfoot, Tenby and Amroth, and he became the first member in Wales of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists.

His most recent book, There ‘Tis Then was a rural miscellany compiled from his writings, and named after the trademark phrase that he would use to finish his articles.

Roscoe’s mother died when he was three weeks old and his father remarried and he was brought up during the depression. He witnessed the harshness of the depression with Bonville’s Court Colliery closing down, leaving families in utter poverty.

Roscoe was a former pupil of Christ College Brecon as well as vice-president and former chairman of the Pembrokeshire Historical Society, of which he was a founder member. He was also a founder member and chairman of the old Pembrokeshire Records Society.

His many books include Woodreef From Amroth to Utah. Pembrokeshire’s Islands, Old Saundersfoot: From Monkstone To Marros, Crickdam , and Roseanna, and he also wrote numerous articles on farming and agriculture in Wales.

Roscoe was outwardly emotional when relating some of his many stories. One could feel his passion for writing, the people and countryside of west Wales. Roscoe also had an exceptional memory.

Mr Howells died on Monday of last week at Park House Court Nursing Home, Tenby, where he had been a resident for over 12 months. His funeral took place on Thursday when a service at St Bride’s Catholic Church, Saundersfoot was followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn.

 

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Farming

£236,000 farm veterinary practice opens at Pembrokeshire Showground

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New purpose-built facility will provide round-the-clock livestock care, faster diagnostics and expanded services for farmers

Pembrokeshire Farm Vets has opened a new £236,000 veterinary practice at the Pembrokeshire County Showground in Haverfordwest.

The purpose-built, 2,000-square-foot facility replaces the practice’s former portacabin at the site and has been designed exclusively for livestock and farm veterinary work.

The investment will allow the practice to expand its services while continuing to provide 24-hour emergency care to farmers across Pembrokeshire and neighbouring areas.

Facilities include dedicated clinical and diagnostic spaces, a specialist laboratory, a medicines store and a purpose-built lambing room.

The laboratory is equipped with an Ovacyte system for carrying out faecal worm and fluke egg counts, a Mastatest machine for analysing milk samples and equipment for in-house blood testing.

Faecal egg count results can be available within 15 minutes, allowing farmers to receive prompt advice on whether treatment is required.

An on-site Registered Animal Medicines Adviser can also help farmers select appropriate treatments and reduce unnecessary medicine use.

The new lambing room includes a hydraulic lambing table, holding pens and a roller shutter entrance, providing improved facilities for both routine and emergency lambing work.

Services offered by the practice include dairy herd visits, flock and herd health planning, bull fertility testing, pregnancy diagnosis, mastitis investigations, youngstock management, nutritional advice, TB testing and export certification.

The team also provides veterinary support for goats and smallholders, as well as a number of farmer-focused schemes including its Flock Health Club, Smallholder Club, Spring Fertility Package and Growing Calf Package.

A comprehensive range of medicines and agricultural products will be stocked at the site, including vaccines, wormers, fly repellents, oral fluid therapy products, marker sprays and other everyday farm supplies.

The practice said products would be competitively priced, with a price-matching service also available. An online shop offers delivery across the UK.

The Haverfordwest facility will be staffed by a seven-strong farm team, including vets Alex, Alice, Rose and Ruben.

They will be supported by Mark, who oversees medicines and special offers, and reception staff Emma and Melanie.

Pembrokeshire Farm Vets currently works with almost 200 farms and is accepting new clients, including dairy businesses, sheep farms and smallholders.

Clinical director Alice Davies said: “We are incredibly proud to open this new facility for the Pembrokeshire farming community.

“This building represents a major investment in local agriculture and allows us to deliver the standard of care our clients deserve, with better equipment, faster diagnostics and more space for practical support.

“Our team is passionate about helping farmers meet the challenges of modern livestock production, and this new practice will enable us to support even more farms, 24 hours a day, across the county.”

Pembrokeshire Farm Vets launched in April 2023 and provides livestock veterinary services across Pembrokeshire and other parts of south-west Wales.

The practice is based at Unit 15, Pembrokeshire County Showground, Withybush Road, Haverfordwest, and is open from 8:00am until 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

 

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international news

Trump ordered to hand over financial records in $10bn BBC lawsuit

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US judge rules information about the President’s businesses is relevant to his claim that a Panorama documentary damaged his reputation

DONALD TRUMP has been ordered to provide detailed financial information about his business interests as part of his $10bn legal action against the BBC.

US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ruled during a discovery hearing in Miami that the financial performance of Trump’s businesses remained relevant to the case as it is currently pleaded.

The ruling means lawyers representing the BBC can continue seeking records relating to businesses held through the Trump family trust. The documents will be disclosed as part of the court proceedings and will not necessarily become publicly available.

Trump launched the case in December 2025 over the way his speech on January 6, 2021, was edited for the Panorama documentary Trump: A Second Chance?, which was broadcast shortly before the 2024 US presidential election.

The programme combined remarks delivered at different points in the speech, including Trump telling supporters they would walk to the Capitol and a later statement in which he said they should “fight like hell”.

The BBC subsequently apologised, accepting that the edit had unintentionally made the separate extracts appear to form one continuous passage and had created the mistaken impression that Trump made a direct call for violent action.

However, the corporation has rejected Trump’s allegation that the programme was defamatory and has said it will defend the proceedings.

Trump’s original complaint claimed the broadcast had caused substantial damage to his personal reputation, commercial standing and businesses. His lawyers are now seeking to amend the case so that it focuses on reputational harm rather than direct financial losses.

Judge Lett ruled that until the complaint is formally changed, the business-related allegations remain part of the case and the BBC is entitled to seek financial evidence.

The broadcaster is expected to argue that Trump’s business success and increasing wealth since the documentary was shown are inconsistent with his claim that the programme caused serious commercial damage.

Trump’s legal team is expected to challenge the disclosure decision before the district judge overseeing the case.

The BBC is also seeking to have the wider action dismissed. It argues that the Florida court does not have jurisdiction because the Panorama programme was produced and broadcast in Britain and was not distributed in Florida.

Trump recently withdrew his claims against two BBC Studios subsidiaries but is continuing his action against the British Broadcasting Corporation itself.

The lawsuit seeks $5bn for alleged defamation and a further $5bn under Florida’s law covering deceptive and unfair trade practices.

A provisional two-week trial has been scheduled to begin in Miami on February 15, 2027, although the case could still be dismissed or substantially changed before it reaches a jury.

 

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Entertainment

S4C commissions 60-part TikTok drama set to begin filming at Royal Welsh Show

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New vertical drama Signal will follow a romance between a Cardiff teenager and a girl from rural Wales

S4C has commissioned a new 60-episode drama created specifically for TikTok, with filming beginning at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells this week.

The Welsh-language series, titled Signal, will be released through S4C’s Hansh social media channel and will tell the story of a developing relationship between a boy from Cardiff and a girl from rural Wales.

Produced by Mojo Productions, the drama will be filmed vertically to fit mobile phone screens, with each short episode lasting just a few minutes.

The format has grown rapidly in popularity internationally, with tightly scripted episodes designed to be watched and shared on platforms such as TikTok.

The commission follows the success of S4C’s first vertical drama, Yr Alwad, which was also produced by Mojo Productions.

The series received nominations in the Best Vertical Series category at the National Film Awards and the Best Short-Form Scripted category at the Broadcast Digital Awards.

S4C said the new production would also be used to develop emerging Welsh writing and acting talent.

Four writers will work on the series, including Brynach Higginson, Mari Izzard, Rhiannon Williams and Yr Alwad writer and director Alexander Williams.

The writing team will be led by Gwenno Hughes, whose previous credits include Hafiach and Fflam.

A number of new performers have also been selected following an open casting call.

Gwenan Lloyd, Gabriel Owen and Joshua Romain will play Elliw, Alffi and Tom respectively.

Siriol Ousey, known for Hafiach, will appear as Angie, while Lili Mai Davies, who has appeared in Y Coridor and Bregus, will play Catrin.

Guto Rhun, S4C’s Young Audiences Commissioner, said the broadcaster needed to adapt as viewing habits continued to change.

He said: “As viewing habits continue to evolve, we have to be bold, especially in creating content for younger audiences.

“I am delighted to see S4C working with production companies to experiment with exciting content which entertains our audiences and meets them where they watch.”

S4C Chief Content Officer Llion Iwan said vertical drama formed part of the broadcaster’s move towards becoming a digital-first service.

He said: “Vertical dramas are a popular international format which reflects S4C’s vision of transforming into a digital-first broadcaster.

“We are very proud of the success of Yr Alwad and are looking forward to seeing content that builds on that success.

“Bold content that travels is key to expanding our audience.”

Filming for Signal is due to begin at the Royal Welsh Showground during this week’s Royal Welsh Show.

 

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