Pembrokeshire gallery invited to prestigious London venue

Published

12 months ago

December 2, 2024

A leading Pembrokeshire art gallery has been invited to exhibit at one of London’s most prestigious venues thanks to the innovative work of its director and curator, David Randell.

This year the Wales Contemporary exhibition will be exchanging its regular venue at Milford Haven’s Waterfront Gallery for the Garrison Chapel in Chelsea Barracks, which is run by the King’s Foundation.

“It’s a great honour for the Waterfront Gallery but also for all the international and local artists who have been entering the competition for the past six years,” David Randell told The Pembrokeshire Herald.

“The standard of work they submit is truly amazing, so for them to have the opportunity to exhibit at the Kings Foundation Gallery in Chelsea Barracks is very special.”

David launched the Waterfront Gallery in 2002 after its predecessor – The Dockside Gallery – was closed down by the Port Authority. The Waterfront Gallery was subsequently registered as a charity, and has been run on a purely voluntary basis ever since.

“I knew just how important the former Dockside Gallery was to so many artists and craftspeople here in Pembrokeshire, so I was determined to do everything I could to keep it going,” he continued.

From the outset, David was committed to retaining a high standard of exhibits, and his ethos has continued through each of the gallery’s exhibitions, and this was what prompted the launch of The Wales Contemporary exhibition back in 2019.

“As we continued to see the Waterfront Gallery develop, we knew it was important to try and do something different. We wanted to tap into the international market, and so we launched the Wales Contemporary.”

Assisted by leading art consultant Penny Harris of Parker Harris, the international open fine art competition attracts some of the world’s most competitive and inspired artists in both two and three dimensional genres.

“We’ve watched the exhibition get bigger and bigger year on year,” continued David. “In its first year we saw around a hundred pieces of art and last year, we had 1,400 entries.”

The entries are then whittled down to approximately 110 pieces which are displayed in the exhibition.

The competition attracts artists from around 50 countries all over the world and includes sculptures, bronzes, needlework, pottery, enamelled copper pots and paintings.

Meanwhile David and his team of volunteers are seeking to raise £70,000 to fund the 2025 Welsh Contemporary exhibition at the Chelsea Barracks Chapel Gallery.

“Because we’re a charity, we’re now looking for sponsors who will all be invited to attend the official opening which will take place on St David’s Day,” he said. “The exhibition will also coincide with ‘Wales Week in London’ which celebrates all things Welsh that are based in London. So naturally this will be a very good marketing and advertising opportunity for all of our sponsors.”

The Wales Contemporary exhibition opens in London on February 24 and will continue until March 8. It will then move to the Waterfront Gallery, Milford Haven, where it will continue for the remainder of the month.

If anyone is interested in finding out more about how they can sponsor the exhibition they can contact David Randell at the Waterfront Gallery on 01646 695699.

Ministry of Defence

Castlemartin range set for heavy activity as winter live-fire exercise begins

Published

2 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Army warns of late-night firing and increased traffic

CASTLEMARTIN Training Area will be extremely busy over the next few weeks as the Army begins a major live-fire exercise running from now until to 5 December.

The winter training block will see troops carrying out critical preparation ahead of future deployments, with extensive armoured manoeuvres and both daytime and night-time firing.

Extended firing hours

Live firing will take place between the following times:

Monday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Tuesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Wednesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Thursday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm

There will be no live firing at weekends, although military vehicles will still be moving around the area.

Residents are being reminded that these times are the earliest and latest possible firing windows. Not every day will start or finish at the maximum hours listed.

Traffic expected on rural roads

The Army says there will be increased vehicle movements on local roads—particularly in Angle, Castlemartin and the Freshwater West area—in the week leading up to the exercise and throughout the training period.

A spokesperson said the support of local people is appreciated: “These exercises are essential for maintaining readiness and ensuring our troops are fully trained for any future operational requirement.”

Crime

Two Milford Haven men sent to Crown Court on GBH charges

Published

3 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

The incident stems from a violent incident outside The Vibe public house, Milford Haven involving three men – a woman was also wounded in the incident

TWO Milford Haven men have been sent to Swansea Crown Court charged with section 18 wounding after an alleged incident in the town on November 15.

David McCallum, 41, of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates court on Monday (Nov 17). He is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding a woman in Milford Haven with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

McCallum also faces a second section 18 charge alleging that, on the same date in Milford Haven, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded a man with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

He was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, with the prosecution conducted by Nia James.

On Tuesday (Nov 18), Nathan Abbott, 31, also of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest magistrates court.

Abbott is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding a man in Milford Haven on November 15 with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

He was represented by Mike Kelleher, of Welch & Co.

Abbott also gave no plea, and his case was likewise sent to Swansea Crown Court under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Both McCallum and Abbott were remanded on conditional bail.

McCallum’s bail conditions include a curfew from 7:00pm to 7:00am, to be electronically monitored, not to contact directly or indirectly witnesses, and not to enter any public house, licensed club or off-licence.

Abbott’s bail conditions include living and sleeping each night at his home address , not to contact witnesses directly or indirectly, and not to enter licensed premises.

Both men must appear for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing at Swansea Crown Court on December 19, 2025, at 9:00am.

No pre-sentence reports were ordered and no indication was given regarding any victim personal statements at this stage.

Crime

Aberystwyth man remanded after admitting cocaine supply

Published

3 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

Case sent to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has been remanded in custody after admitting possessing cocaine with intent to supply and having £7,000 in criminal cash.

Luke Hutton, 25, of Corporation Street, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 17) for his first hearing. The case was heard by a bench of Mr J Steadman, Mrs M Scott and Mr R John. He was represented by Jessica Hill and Mike Kelleher, while the prosecution was led by Nia James.

Hutton pleaded guilty to two offences arising from a police incident at Yr Hafan, Princess Street, Aberystwyth, on November 14.

The first charge was possessing £7,000 in criminal property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The second was possessing a quantity of cocaine, a Class A drug, with intent to supply.

Magistrates were told that Hutton indicated guilty pleas to both matters on the day of his appearance.

Because of the seriousness of the charges, the bench committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence under Section 14 of the Sentencing Act 2020. A pre-sentence report has been ordered.

Magistrates refused bail, citing the likelihood of further offending, the seriousness of the offences and the likely custodial sentence. Hutton was remanded into custody.

He will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on December 1, 2025, at 9:00am, for a committal for sentence hearing, listed for 30 minutes.