Pembrokeshire cottage industry receives UK’s most prestigious business accolade

Published

1 year ago

November 12, 2024

When Ferrari stormed the Formula 1 World Championships in 2000 before downforcing the title yet again in 2004, little did a family-run Pembrokeshire company think that it, too, was on the cusp of international recognition.

But thanks to the custom-designed cooling jackets worn by Schumaker and his Ferrari teammates Rubens Barrickello and Jenson Button, Treffgarne’s ‘Frio UK Ltd’ began its own incredible journey to success.

This week the company received the highly prestigious business accolade – The King’s Award for International Trade – at a ceremony held on its site at Little Treffgarne, near Haverfordwest.

“This is something we never thought would happen to a small company here in West Wales,” said Frio’s managing director, Chris Wolsey.

The company was established by Chris’s parents, the late Garnet and Althea Worsley, who were dairy farmers at Whiteleys in Little Treffgarne.

“My father was always very innovative, coming up with all sorts of ideas, some of which were crazy and some of which were good,” explains Chris.

“My father had been researching his family tree with the result that some of our family members living in Canada came over for a visit. While they were here, they explained that they were making cooling bands to help keep people cool.”

Garnet was intrigued by the idea, and wasted no time in networking the UK market to see whether there was sufficient interest to make the idea work.

Chris’s sister, Helen, used the band when she competed in the 1991 World Powerlifting Championships in New Delhi and seven years later they were used by the British Olympic and Paralympic teams in Atlanta.

But it was when a family friend mentioned the problems she was having keeping her insulin cool during long journeys abroad that the Worsleys realised they were definitely onto a winner.

“The best inventions are often the simplest, and this is certainly the case with Frio as it requires no batteries and depends only on water,” explained Chris.

The Frio wallets work through evaporation, ensuring the contents are kept cool and safe. Each pouch consists of an inner wallet which contains crystals that activate when immersed in water, expanding into a gel. When the gel begins to evaporate it immediately emits a cooling effect on the medication that’s housed in the wallet. It is reactivated by placing it in water again.

Frio – which is the Spanish word for ‘cool’ – will keep in-use insulin and other temperature sensitive medications within safe temperatures of between 18 and 26 degrees centigrade for a minimum of 45 hours.

“When my parents first started the business there was a lot of experimental work being carried out on the kitchen table with scissors flashing all over the place and lots of material being cut and sewn,” said Chris.

“We must have gone through hundreds of versions before deciding on the wallet which is the one that we know today.”

It was during a visit to Lloyd’s Pharmacy that Frio picked up a massive order for 24,000 units, with fulfilment required in just eight weeks. So the family went into full-scale operation, installing 40-foot Portakabins on the farm and employing a team of local machinists to meet the order.

The company continued to grow as more and more people with diabetes learned how important Frio is in hot weather, while exports continued to increase to mainland Europe, with strong markets in Germany, Holland and Switzerland. Since then, the company has spread into the United States of America, Canada and the Middle East. Today the company exports to a total of 72 countries worldwide.

“Innovation has always been at the forefront of everything we’ve done, and we really try to keep on top of what’s needed,” concluded Chris. “Over the last 30 years we’ve helped millions and millions of people all over the world, and to achieve this from this small farm in west Wales is something that our entire team should feel very proud of.”

His comments were endorsed by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Sara Edwards, who presented Chris with the award on Tuesday afternoon, on behalf of King Charles.

“This is the most prestigious award that can be awarded in the UK and I know His Majesty will feel extremely proud to learn that you are achieving so much here in the heart of deepest Pembrokeshire,” she said.

News

Sheep rescue called off at Stack Rocks as coastguard urges public to stay back

Published

53 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Public warned not to look over cliff edge as animals remain stranded near firing range

A RESCUE attempt to reach two sheep stranded below the cliffs at Stack Rocks has been called off, with the coastguard urging members of the public to stay well back from the cliff edge.

The sheep were seen on the rocky ground below the cliffs this afternoon, prompting concern from people in the area.

The Herald understands that a rescue attempt was made, but it was later stood down. The animals remain at the location.

A witness at the scene told The Herald that the coastguard was keen for the public to be warned not to approach the cliff edge or try to look down at the sheep.

The situation is further complicated by activity at the nearby firing range, where several days of live firing are understood to be scheduled, meaning a further rescue attempt is not currently possible.

Members of the public are being urged not to put themselves at risk by going near the edge of the cliffs.

Photo: The stranded sheep at Stack Rocks (Pic: Cerianne Palmer).

Community

Sub aqua club marks first serious sea-diving weekend of season

Published

59 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CARDIGAN Sub Aqua Club has completed its first major weekend of sea diving of the season, with 23 divers taking part across four days.

The club rounded off the weekend on Monday (May 4), meeting at Porthgain at 8:30am with two club boats for a dive before returning by 2:00pm.

Ten divers took part in Monday’s outing, with the group diving on the Leysion, where visibility was reported at around three to four metres.

The club said the weekend had been an important opportunity for members to refresh skills, refamiliarise themselves with equipment and procedures, and give newer divers valuable sea experience.

There was also a milestone for club member Katie, who completed her first sea dive.

A club spokesperson said: “This has been the first serious club weekend out in the sea. Lots of refreshing of skills. Lots of refamiliarisation of kit and procedures. Some newbie experiences and some extending of experiences.”

The weekend also helped the club identify maintenance work needed on boats and trailers, with notes taken so the committee can prioritise resources.

The spokesperson added: “It’s been a good weekend for club diving — four days, two different locations and 23 different divers.”

The club said it will now focus over the next month on helping members who have not yet been back into the sea this season to get diving again and continue progressing with training.

Monday’s dive was followed by a debrief at The Sloop Inn, Porthgain.

News

Fresh Hamilton wage claims raise new questions for Haverfordwest County fans

Published

2 hours ago

May 4, 2026

Herald Sport

Scottish reports of late and short wages add a new and more immediate concern for Bluebirds supporters already watching problems elsewhere in the same football network

REPORTS in Scotland that Hamilton Academical players were paid late, with some allegedly underpaid ahead of the club’s final game of the season, have added to scrutiny around the football network linked to Haverfordwest County AFC chairman Rob Edwards.

The latest claims were reported by Lanarkshire Live Sport and the Daily Record.

The relevance for Pembrokeshire lies in the links between Hamilton and Haverfordwest through Rob Edwards and Morley Sports Management.

Hamilton has previously stated that Morley Sports Management owns 100 per cent of 1874 Holdings Limited, and that 1874 Holdings in turn owns 97.5 per cent of Hamilton Academical FC.

Haverfordwest County has previously said Morley Sports Management has been the business vehicle behind Edwards’ takeover and funding of the Bluebirds since 2020.

Earlier this month, Haverfordwest County A.F.C. Ltd faced an HM Revenue & Customs winding-up petition at the High Court in London. The case was dismissed on April 15, but only after reaching a live hearing at the Rolls Building, with costs ordered against the company.

Separately, 1874 Holdings has faced a winding-up petition in Scotland. Hamilton later issued a statement acknowledging that petition, while saying the claim is disputed and that the company is seeking dismissal.

The latest Scottish wage claims come against a background of previous disciplinary action involving Hamilton. Earlier this year, the club was punished over failures to pay players on time and in full, resulting in a points deduction following an independent disciplinary process. Hamilton acknowledged that outcome in a club statement.

Companies House has also shown 1874 Holdings with overdue accounts and a strike-off notice. Those are separate processes from a winding-up petition, but they add to the list of recent off-field issues involving companies in the same football network.

There are also operational links between the two clubs. Haverfordwest publicly credited chief executive Beccy Nuttall with key work during the club’s licensing process earlier this month, while Hamilton has also announced Rebecca Nuttall in a senior role there.

The timing of the Haverfordwest case also drew attention because the club announced on April 8 that it had secured both its UEFA licence and FAW Tier 1 licence for the 2026-27 season, even though the HMRC petition remained live at that stage and was not disposed of until April 15.

The Herald contacted the Football Association of Wales for comment on the licensing position last week, but had received no response at the time of publication.

The Hamilton wage claims remain reports from Scotland, and there is no suggestion that Haverfordwest County AFC is facing the same issue. However, the developments are likely to be of interest to Bluebirds supporters because they concern companies and senior figures linked to the same wider football operation.