The UK’s leading end of life charity Marie Curie is calling on all budding bakers in Pembrokeshire to help raise some much-kneaded dough by signing up to its autumn baking fundraiser.

Whether you’re a cupcake king, a queen of tarts or more of a baking late-bloomer, Marie Curie has got choux covered with everything you need to host your own bake-off challenge, cupcake decorating competition, cake sale or pie-eating contest.

When signing up, Marie Curie will send all budding bakers a special recipe pack with autumnal bakes from Melissa Hemsley, the Hairy Bikers and Fay Ripley, to help inspire people to get creative in the kitchen. Bakers will also get everything they need to help make their fundraiser a success – from posters and social media graphics to invitations and fundraising in-memory cards.

Actor, author and presenter, Fay Ripley, who is supporting the campaign by sharing her own banana and chocolate loaf recipe, said: “I find myself yelling “use your loaf!” at everyone and anyone so now I’ve used my loaf – my banana and chocolate loaf in fact! – to support Marie Curie with their important work, delivering expert care at the end of life. I promise I won’t yell at you, but I hope everyone gets baking with me!”

Claire Phillips, Head of Community Fundraising in Wales, said:“Whether you’re crazy about chocolate cake or partial to pumpkin pie, this autumn Marie Curie is making raising funds for expert end of life care a piece of cake.

“As the nights draw in, baking and sharing sweet treats can be a fun (and tasty!) way to help Marie Curie continue to provide expert care and support at the end of life, free from unnecessary pain, so people can have the dignity and respect they deserve, whatever their illness. 

“It’s up to you how you fundraise – you could ask friends, family or work colleagues to bake up a storm with you or you could go it alone and enjoy arranging your own bake sale. However you choose to fundraise, we’ll support you throughout – and you will be helping ensure that Marie Curie is there for more people, and their loved ones, when they need it most.

Marie Curie is dependent on fundraising and public donations. In your area Marie Curie Nurses and healthcare professionals provide expert advice and also the emotional and practical support you want – at home, in hospital or over the phone.

As well as providing hospice care and hospice at home care right across the UK, Marie Curie also has a free Information and Support line which is available to anyone with an illness they’re likely to die from and those close to them. It offers practical and emotional support on everything from symptom management and day-to-day care to financial information and bereavement support.  

To find out more and sign up for Marie Curie’s autumn baking challenge, visit mariecurie.org.uk/autumn or contact us by email at [email protected] or telephone 029 2042 6068.

The Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station recently marked two significant milestones with a grand reopening after extensive refurbishment and a special visit as part of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary celebrations.

On Saturday, 7th September, RNLI volunteers, supporters, and crew members gathered to celebrate the lifeboat station’s official reopening following major refurbishment work carried out over the winter months. The updated facilities, designed to bring the station into the 21st century, were unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by the children of the operational crew and supporters. This heartwarming gesture symbolised the passing of responsibility to the next generation of lifesavers.

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Andy Grey, expressed his pride in the station’s transformation and the success of the event: “The station opening was extremely successful. Not only did the weather hold out, but personnel from the station, including officers and crew, branch members, and shop volunteers, were in attendance, along with guests from our neighbouring RNLI stations. The occasion truly represented the ‘One Crew’ philosophy. To make it even more special, the children of the crew were invited to formally open the new refurbishment of the station. A lovely gesture but also a great memory.”

The upgraded station now provides state-of-the-art facilities, including a modernised lifeboat shop, which will improve working conditions for the dedicated volunteers. Roger Bryan Smith DL, Area Operations Manager, also highlighted the importance of the refurbishment: “I am absolutely delighted that Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station has been refurbished to such a high standard. The crew devote an immense amount of their spare time to training to save lives at sea, and it’s marvellous that they now have such great facilities.”

Among the attendees were Gemma Gill, Coxswain of Fishguard Lifeboat, and Will Chant, Coxswain of St Davids Lifeboat Station, who showed their support and helped with presentations. The day was filled with a sense of community and celebration of the station’s lifesaving mission.

Later that month, on Wednesday, 25th September, Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station received a special visit as part of the RNLI’s bicentennial year. The RNLI 200 ‘Connecting our Communities’ scroll, which bears the lifeboat pledge, arrived at the station as part of its seven-month journey around 240 RNLI locations across the UK and Ireland. The pledge, printed in Welsh, English, and five other languages, celebrates the dedication of RNLI volunteers and their mission to save lives at sea.

Andy Grey, along with other key members of the station, including Shireen Thomas from the shop, Peter Erte from the fundraising branch, and Water Safety Officer Sue Christopher, had the honour of signing the scroll on behalf of the Little and Broad Haven lifeboat community. The scroll, made from materials significant to the charity, will conclude its journey in October on the Isle of Man, where RNLI founder Sir William Hillary was born. Once the journey is complete, the scroll will bear around 700 signatures and be displayed at the RNLI College in Poole.

Anjie Rook, RNLI Associate Director, overseeing the 200th anniversary programmes, said: “The Connecting our Communities relay is one of the most significant events of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary year as it’s all about our people. For 200 years, it is people who have made the RNLI what it is – from our brave lifesavers who risk their lives to save others, to the committed fundraisers and generous donors who fund our lifesaving work.”

By coincidence, the RNLI Porsche 911 Challenge also arrived at the station on the same day. Belinda and James Richardson, who are travelling 8,500 miles in their Porsche 911 to visit all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations within 911 hours, were delighted to encounter the scroll for the first time on their journey. The couple is raising funds for a new D class inshore lifeboat, which is critical to the RNLI’s lifesaving work. In 2023 alone, D class lifeboats saved 96 lives and assisted over 2,000 people in distress.

Andy Grey reflected on the unique timing of the two events: “Today we had a special visit from the RNLI 911 Challenge and the RNLI Scroll. To happen at the same time and on the same day was unique in itself. The beautiful Porsche of the 911 Challenge presented a jigsaw and a special RNLI-themed version of Top Trumps in memory of their visit to all lifeboat stations in the UK. Four members from the station were asked to sign this wonderful scroll, which will be a memory and recognition of the 200-year celebration of the RNLI.”

Jayne George, RNLI Director of Fundraising, expressed her gratitude for the Richardsons’ efforts: “We are so grateful to Belinda and James for taking on this huge challenge and look forward to welcoming them at all our lifeboat stations around the coast. We are only able to save lives at sea thanks to the generous support of people taking on challenges like this.”

As the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea, Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station continues to play a vital role in this enduring mission, with new facilities and a strong community spirit driving them forward into the future.

BOTH of Tenby’s lifeboats were launched shortly before 6pm on Wednesday, 2nd October, following a report of a person missing between Saundersfoot and Tenby.

The volunteer crews were swiftly on the water, tasked with conducting a coastal search for an individual who had earlier departed Saundersfoot intending to trek to Tenby via the coastal path. Concerns were raised by his family when he did not arrive as expected.

After a brief search, the lifeboats located the missing person lying on rocks between Monkstone and Swallowtree. Crew members trained in casualty care were promptly dispatched ashore by the inshore lifeboat to assess and begin treating the individual. Concurrently, a Coastguard rescue helicopter was deployed from Cardiff.

The helicopter reached the scene just as the casualty was being transferred to the all-weather lifeboat. A paramedic was winched down to the deck where they, alongside the boat’s crew, provided treatment. The lifeboat then returned to Tenby, docking at 8.10 pm.

Upon arrival at the boathouse, the individual was handed over to paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service, who subsequently transported him to the hospital for further evaluation.

The operation also saw the participation of HM Coastguard Tenby and Dyfed-Powys Police.