News

Withybush fundraisers make New Year’s honours list

Published

8 years ago

December 31, 2017

TWO fundraisers for patients undergoing cancer care at Withybush Hospital are being recognised in the New Year’s honours list.

67-year-old Bernie George, and 64-year-old Trish George, from Hakin, have been chosen for the British Empire Medal.

Since 2008 the pair has raised more than £350,000 for Withybush Hospital.

The full list of New Years Honours for Wales is:

DCVO
Mrs Kathrin Elizabeth Thomas, CVO, JP. Lord-Lieutenant of Mid-Glamorgan.

MVO
Ian John Miles. Senior manager Specialist Operations, Dyfed Powys Police.
Mrs Audrey Williams. For services to the Lieutenancy of Dyfed.

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

CBE
Ms Clare Joanne Connor, OBE. Director of Women’s Cricket, England and Wales Cricket Board. For services to Cricket. (East Sussex)
Sean Nicholas Dennehey. Deputy chief executive Intellectual Property Office. For services to Intellectual Property. (Monmouthshire)
Professor Simon John Gibson, OBE. Chief executive, Wesley Clover Corporation. For services to the Economy in Wales. (Monmouth, Gwent)
Professor Karen Margaret Holford. Deputy vice Chancellor Cardiff University. For services to Engineering and the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering. (Cardiff)
David Robert Michael Melding. For political and public service. (South Glamorgan)
Professor Philip Alexander Routledge, OBE. Consultant Physician, Llandough Hospital, Cardiff and Professor Emeritus of Clinical Pharmacology. Cardiff University. For services to Medicine. (Cardiff)

OBE
Professor Antony Chapman. Formerly vice Chancellor Cardiff Metropolitan University. For services to Higher Education. (Cyncoed, Cardiff)
Sam Kennedy-Warburton. For services to Rugby Union. (Cardiff)
Professor Hilary Margaret Lappin-Scott. For services to Microbiology and the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering. (Swansea)
Ms Deborah Moggach. For services to Literature and Drama. (Powys)
Jonathan Howell Morgan. For services to Disability Sport in Wales. (Bishopston, Swansea)
David Arwyn Watkins. Managing director Cambrian Training Company. For services to Education and Training in Wales. (Welshpool, Powys)

MBE
Michael Bell. For services to the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra. (Roath, Cardiff)
Detective Constable Timothy John Bird. North Wales Police. For services to Policing and the community in North Wales. (Conwy)
Mrs Kathleen Nancy Burns. For services to Post 16 Education and Skills in Wales. (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire)
Mrs Catherine Vivian Lindsay Clay. For political and public service. (South Glamorgan)
Royston Vincent Court. For services to Inclusive Judo. (Penylan, Cardiff)
Alan Davis. Coach Maindy Flyers, Cardiff and Newport. For services to Youth Cycling and Diversity Inclusion in South Wales. (Cardiff)
Brian Timothy Exell. President Seashell Trust and Chair of Governors, Ysgol y Deri, Penarth. For services to Special Needs Education in Wales and England. (Ogmore By Sea, Vale of Glamorgan)
Dr Rosemary Fox. National director for Screening Programmes Public Health Wales. For services to Healthcare in Wales. (Whitchurch, Cardiff)
Sgt Scott John Gallagher. North Wales Police. For services to Policing and the National Police Air Service. (Flintshire)
Mrs Susan Yvonne Hollister. Headteacher, Cefn Hengoed Community School, Swansea. For services to Education in Swansea. (Neath, Neath Port Talbot)
William Thomas Hopkins. For services to the community, particularly Children and Maritime Safety, in South Wales. (Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot)
David Ellis Jenkins. For services to Maritime Safety. (Aberystwyth, Ceredigion)
Mrs Karen Jones. For services to Children with Life Limiting Illnesses in the North West and North Wales. (Neston, Cheshire)
Mrs Rowena Wendy Jones. Paediatric Oncology Outreach Specialist Nurse, Hywel Dda University Health Board. For services to Sick and Disabled Children and End of Life Care. (Aberaeron, Ceredigion)
Alexander Khan. Chief executive officer, Lifetime Training. For services to Apprenticeships. (Raglan, Monmouthshire)
Mark Ralph Langshaw. Managing director, Continental Teves Ltd. For services to the Economy and community in Blaenau Gwent. (Usk, Monmouthshire)
Mrs Margaret Lynne McCabe. Head, Welsh Tribunals Unit. For services to Administrative Justice in Wales.
Daniel McCallum. Co-founder and managing director of Awel Aman Tawe. For services to Community Energy in Wales.
Mrs Rachel Duncan Morgan. For services to UK Antarctic Heritage and Conservation. (Monmouthshire)
Constable Richard Hugh Morgan. South Wales Police. For charitable services to Armed Forces Veterans.
Mrs Elizabeth Julie Morris. Headteacher, Severn Primary School, Cardiff. For services to Education. (Highlight Park, South Glamorgan)
Ms Helen Margaret Phillips. For services to Welsh gymnastics and the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales. (Ducklington, Oxfordshire)
Gurmit Singh Randhawa. For services to community cohesion in the Vale of Glamorgan. (Barry, Vale of Glamorgan)
Mrs Louise Mary Rooney. Senior nurse and head of prison healthcare, HM Prison Usk. For services to nursing and prison healthcare in Monmouthshire. (Chepstow, Monmouthshire)
John Victor Frederick Voss. For services to Rugby. (Y Barri, South Glamorgan)
Edward John Watts. For services to the Scouting Movement, Mission to Seafarers and Community Cohesion in South Wales. (Newport, Gwent)

BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL

BEM
Mrs Catherine Cicely Beech. For services to the community in Ceredigion. (Borth, Ceredigion)
Mrs Mary Clarke. For services to Flood Defence and the community in Cardiff. (Rhiwbina, Cardiff)
Mrs Diane Gail Curtis. Manager, Bowel Screening Wales. For services to Cancer Patients. (Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff)
Mrs Sheila Delahoy. For services to Cancer and Cystic Fibrosis charities in Flintshire.
Gareth Evans. Deputy Local Policing Inspector South Wales Police. For services to Community Cohesion and Engagement. (Cardiff)
Mrs Gay Sandra Fifield. For services to Older People in South Wales. (Barry, South Glamorgan)
Bernard Oswyn George. For services to Withybush Hospital Chemotherapy Day Unit Pembrokeshire. (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
Mrs Patricia Elizabeth George. For services to Withybush Hospital Chemotherapy Day Unit, Pembrokeshire. (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
Mrs Teifwen Mary George. For services to equality, young people, charity and the community in Merthyr Tydfil. (Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taff)
David Edward Gravell. For services to charity. Sport and Education in Wales. (Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire)
Mrs Jenny Griffiths. For services to Wrexham Maelor Hospital North Wales. (Llay, Wrexham)
Gareth Jones. For services to Church communities in Skewen and Neath South West Wales. (Neath, West Glamorgan)
Mrs Helena Jones. For services to Young People and the community in Wales. (Brecon, Powys)
Mrs Maria Kovacevic-Thomas. For services to the National Health Service and voluntary service in Merthyr Tydfil. (Heolgerrig, Merthyr Tydfil)
Mrs Angeline Margaret Lawson. For services to Children, the Judiciary and the community in Denbighshire. (Denbigh, Denbighshire)
Mrs Ellen Maisie Mann. Nurse, Cwm Taf University Health Board. For services to Children and Young People. (Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff)
Alistair McInnes. Civilian assistant, Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force. For voluntary service to Young People. (Brecon, Powys)
Elvet Owen Richards. For services to the community in Trelystan, Powys. (Marton, Shropshire)
William Robert Roberts. For services to in community in Tyn-y-Groes Conwy. (Conwy)
Mrs Jeanette Lavon Smith. County Youth Officer, West Glamorgan St John Ambulance. For voluntary service to First Aid and to Young People. (Swansea, West Glamorgan)
Mrs Sheila Lynnette Thomas. For services to Music, Education and the Welsh Language in Powys. (Brecon, Powys)
Dr Margaret Ruth Vincent. For charitable services in the UK and Abroad and the community in Swansea. (Swansea)
Ms Alyson Elizabeth Williams. For services to Young People and the community in Swansea. (Cwmbwria, Swansea)

QUEEN’S POLICE MEDAL

QPM
Matthew Jonathan Jukes. Deputy chief constable, South Wales Police.
Superintendent Lee Porter. South Wales Police.

QUEEN’S AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL

QAM
Mrs Kath Charters. Clinical Data Specialist, Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
David Roger Thomas John. Advanced Paramedic Practitioner, Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Charity

Bassetts Motor Group donates electric van to support lifesaving charity

Published

2 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

BASSETTS Motor Group has donated an electric van to support the vital work of Wales Air Ambulance, providing a major boost to the charity’s day-to-day fundraising operations.

The South West Wales-based company has gifted a Citroën e-Berlingo for use until the end of the year — marking the first time the business has made a significant gift in kind to the charity.

Staff from Bassetts recently visited the charity’s headquarters in Dafen to hand over the vehicle, where they met with a medic and were given an insight into the critical care delivered by the service, including a tour of a rapid response car.

Ashley White, of Bassetts Motor Group, said: “Being a South West Wales-based business, we’ve seen first-hand the incredible work that Wales Air Ambulance does.

“We knew the charity relies heavily on fundraising and donations, so when we were looking for a cause to support, it felt like a natural choice.”

The van has been branded with the charity’s logo and information on how the public can support its lifesaving lottery.

Explaining the choice of vehicle, Ashley added: “We’re strong advocates of electric vehicles. Getting people behind the wheel often changes perceptions and helps overcome misconceptions about going electric.

“Citroën offered us a deal that made it possible for us to provide the van in this way, and we felt it would be perfectly suited to the charity’s fundraising needs.”

The Wales Air Ambulance delivers consultant-led emergency care across the country, bringing hospital-level treatment directly to patients and, where necessary, transferring them swiftly to the most appropriate specialist centres. This approach can save critical time and significantly improve survival and recovery outcomes.

The service operates through a unique partnership between the charity and the NHS, with the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service providing highly skilled consultants and critical care practitioners who work onboard its aircraft and rapid response vehicles.

As a pan-Wales service, its crews cover the entire country, delivering emergency care wherever it is needed.

Nina Rice, Head of Fundraising High Value Partnerships at Wales Air Ambulance, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Bassetts Motor Group for this generous gift in kind.

“The use of the electric vehicle will make a real difference to our fundraising efforts, helping us reach more communities and raise vital funds.

“As a local company, Bassetts understands just how important our service is to people across Wales. This support will directly help us continue our lifesaving work.”

The charity must raise £13 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and its rapid response vehicles on the road.

For more information, visit the Bassetts Motor Group website.

Community

Residents return home after major Carmarthenshire fire as probe continues

Published

2 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENTS forced to evacuate their homes following a major fire in Kidwelly have now been allowed to return, as emergency services confirm the scene has been stood down.

The blaze broke out at a property on Lady Street in the early hours of Tuesday (March 24), with emergency services called at around 4:20am. Several neighbouring homes were evacuated as a precaution while firefighters tackled the incident and assessed the safety of surrounding buildings.

In the latest update, Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that officers have now left the scene and displaced residents were able to return to their properties on Thursday evening (March 26), following work to make the affected building safe.

The incident caused significant disruption in the town, with Lady Street remaining closed while further work is carried out to ensure the safety of the highway and surrounding structures.

Emergency services, including Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, were on the scene for several hours during the initial response. Crews were understood to have dealt with a serious property fire, prompting a large-scale emergency operation in the centre of the town.

While the immediate danger has now passed, authorities have confirmed that investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses or anyone with relevant information to come forward.

Officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage from the area between 11:00pm on Monday (March 23) and 4:00am on Tuesday (March 24).

Anyone with information is urged to contact police quoting reference 027 of 24/3, either via 101, online, or anonymously through Crimestoppers.

Authorities thanked residents and the wider community for their patience during the incident, which saw homes evacuated and roads closed while emergency services carried out their work.

Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.

Community

West Wales fire crews sharpen skills in major training exercise

Published

3 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FIREFIGHTERS from across west Wales took part in a large-scale training exercise designed to sharpen operational skills and strengthen teamwork.

Crews from the Western Division of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended the development day at Earlswood Training Centre on Sunday (March 22).

Personnel travelled from stations including Carmarthen, Tumble, Newcastle Emlyn, Milford Haven, Narberth and Pontyates to take part in the exercise.

Realistic scenarios

Firefighters were put through a series of realistic scenarios designed to reflect incidents they may face on duty.

These included house fires with people reported inside, kitchen fires, and multi-vehicle road traffic collisions. Crews also carried out specialist line rescue exercises as part of the day.

Support staff played the roles of casualties and members of the public, adding to the realism and allowing firefighters to test their responses in lifelike conditions.