Community
Heritage building skills courses as part of project to redevelop castle
THIS Autumn, Pembrokeshire County Council and the Tywi Centre are delivering a series of free training opportunities in and around Haverfordwest for people to learn about heritage building skills. The series of workshops has been funded by UK Government as part of a focus by the Council on the regeneration of the County Town.
This is a unique initiative aimed at equipping Pembrokeshire residents with the skills needed to preserve and celebrate the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage and will run from October to December 2024.
For homeowners, the ‘Repair, Maintenance, and Energy Efficiency in older buildings’ is an excellent starting point for anyone looking to maximise the potential of their historic property by learning how to care for it properly.
If your building is listed, there is a course to guide you through the process of applying for Listed Building Consent. For people wanting to learn more practical skills, there’s an opportunity to dive deep into the art of ‘Working with Lime in Buildings,’ using a traditional Pembrokeshire cottage or “Ty un nos”, as a case study to explore common building defects and their solutions. Central to this course is understanding the various types of lime, along with their preparation, application, and aftercare.
The sessions are being run by a talented team of heritage building experts from the Tywi Centre on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Heart of Pembrokeshire Project and supported by UK Government funding. The first session is October 16th and courses can be booked independently online via https://www.eventbrite.com/o/heart-of-pembrokeshire-90032525753.
The Tywi Centre has been delivering heritage construction training throughout Wales since 2009. Over the last decade the Tywi Centre has built a reputation for delivering high quality, engaging training by experts with extensive knowledge in their field of heritage construction.
Rowan Matthiessen, Client project manager for the Heart of Pembrokeshire project said, “We are thrilled to be offering this initiative which is a unique opportunity for people to learn and refine heritage skills, ensuring that Pembrokeshire’s history and culture are preserved for generations to come. We invite everyone to get involved in this transformative project.”
The Heart of Pembrokeshire project is redeveloping Haverfordwest Castle to become a bustling heritage-based discovery centre attracting a footfall of 40,000 annual visitors. As part of the project, the team are engaging with local residents and organisations to help develop the vision, direction and content of the attraction. A series of pilot workshops and volunteering opportunities will be held throughout 2025 and beyond, so if you are interested in finding out more get in touch with [email protected] or book online via https://www.eventbrite.com/o/heart-of-pembrokeshire-90032525753
Community
Annual charity carol service raises funds for good causes
MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service held its annual Charity Carol Service on Wednesday (Dec 10) at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel in Crymych.
The event brought together members of the local community alongside Fire Service staff for an evening of carols, readings and festive refreshments, marking the Christmas season in a warm and inclusive atmosphere.
This year’s service supported two important charities — the Fire Fighters Charity and Cancer Research Wales — with all proceeds going directly towards their ongoing work.
A total of £597 was raised on the night, which will be shared equally between the two charities.
The Service thanked the congregation at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel for hosting the event, as well as everyone who gave their time, support and generosity to make the evening such a success.

Community
3 Amigos toy bike run under way across Pembrokeshire
Castle Inn fun runners back festive charity event
THE ANNUAL 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run is under way this afternoon (Saturday), with hundreds of motorcyclists setting off from Pembroke to raise funds for children’s services.
Riders gathered at The Commons car park in Pembroke from around midday before departing shortly after 1:00pm. The festive convoy is travelling along its traditional route, taking in Pembroke Dock and continuing through parts of the county including Neyland, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.












The event is organised by the 3 Amigos and Dollies Motorcycle Group and has become a much-anticipated Christmas tradition in west Wales, with toys and donations collected for children receiving care within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.
Also supporting the event are fun runners from the Castle Inn in Pembroke, who have been fundraising in aid of the 3 Amigos. The group are pictured alongside participants from today’s run.
The 3 Amigos have been raising funds for children’s wards and health charities for more than twenty-five years, with their Easter and Christmas events continuing to make a positive difference to young patients and their families.
Organisers have thanked the public for their support and asked road users to be mindful of the large convoy as it passes through towns and villages this afternoon.
Photo caption:
Festive fundraising: Fun runners from the Castle Inn, Pembroke, pictured supporting the 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Special delivery of thanks as MP visits Haverfordwest sorting office
Christmas cheer for posties working through the festive rush
A CHRISTMAS message of thanks was delivered in person this week as Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell paid a visit to Royal Mail staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office.
The MP met postal workers during one of the busiest periods of the year, praising staff for their hard work in ensuring cards, parcels and gifts reach homes across Pembrokeshire in the run-up to Christmas.
Mr Tufnell said postal workers were going “above and beyond” throughout the year, but particularly during the festive period when demand is at its highest and delivery rounds are often made in challenging weather conditions.
He described postal staff as “unsung heroes”, highlighting their role in keeping communities connected and helping families stay in touch at a time when it matters most.
Speaking after the visit, Mr Tufnell said: “Our posties play a vital role in our community, and at Christmas that importance is felt more than ever. They work incredibly hard to make sure gifts and cards from loved ones arrive safely and on time.”
Staff at the Haverfordwest site were pictured alongside the MP, with some embracing the festive spirit in Christmas jumpers and seasonal outfits while continuing their daily work.
The MP also extended his thanks to postal workers across the whole of Pembrokeshire, acknowledging the dedication required to keep services running smoothly during the seasonal rush.
Royal Mail experiences its highest parcel volumes in December, with thousands of additional items passing through local sorting offices each day as Christmas approaches.
Delivering Christmas cheer: Henry Tufnell MP with staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office during a festive visit (Pic: Facebook).
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