Community

Local author storming up Amazon book charts

Published

10 years ago

November 27, 2014

Tom Sinclair

No wreck: Storming book charts.

A PEMBROKESHIRE author has seen his first book go straight to the number one spot on an Amazon best sellers chart. James Hedley Phillips’ debut book, ‘Pembrokeshire Trilogy, Tales of the Sea’, contains many stories and facts collected by Mr Hedley in his, near half century, of diving experiences. The writer has found more than 30 wrecks in his diving career, including a 15th century trading ship and coal freighter, but he believes there are over 3000 known wrecks off the Pembrokeshire coast. His career in diving began in 1968 and he has dived in many waters, including those off of North Carolina, Florida, Israel, Greece, France and Sri Lanka, but states that none compare to the ‘unforgiving’ seas in West Wales, of which he said: “Pembrokeshire has always been infamous for the variety of its sea and wind patterns, so in previous centuries sail ships were utterly at the mercy of the elements.

But when you add in dangerous rocks then even modern vessels are vulnerable to a combination of features which you don’t quite find anywhere else in the world.” The Herald spoke exclusively with ‘Jim’ Hedley Phillips at his Pembrokeshire home, starting by asking him what had first inspired him to dive and how diving has changed over the years: “I am an outdoor person and my family are all from maritime areas, so i fancied scuba diving.To breath underwater, it’s fascinating. The equipment has improved tremendously, we used to use wet suits, which are cold, but now we use dry suits so you stay dry and don’t get cold and can stay diving for much longer.

The safety is much better and we don’t use twin hoses anymore and we have decompression computers that we wear.” The Herald asked what his most memorable finds were and what are the main dangers of diving: “Probably Entering a room in wreck that had sunk in the 30’s. The door had rotted and on the floor were the hinges, locks and handles. We found knives and forks on the floor where the table had rotted away and these were left. In Pembrokeshire, if I narrowed it down, I would say the ‘Langton Grange’ on Bell Rock, We went 150 foot down and there was row after row of dinner plates – the galley had disappeared but the plates were all in a row. If it was gold we had found, everybody would be coming out of the woodwork – you don’t get the problems if you don’t find treasure.

There is supposed to be the ‘Santa Cruz’ which was apparently sunk off Pembrokeshire with millions of pounds worth of gold on board. I looked at the archives, but there is no actual record of anything expensive sinking around here really.” “I have never found human remains diving, everything is recycled, it is a normal process. You don’t find bones but we have found buttons, on the ‘Nimrod, that sunk in 1860, buttons from the uniforms of the 45th regiment. Half a dozen soldiers went down – next to the cabinet where the booze was kept.” “The main risk is getting stuck.

You always dive with someone you have confidence in so if a problem occurs they can get you out of it. We don’t get a decompression problem because of the amount of slack water, so a diver can only go down for 20 minutes before the current starts up. The deeper you go go, though, the harder it is to concentrate, it’s called ‘nitrogen narcosis’. The nitrogen becomes like an alcohol and you can feel it coming on – but with years of experience you can push it away.” “There are no problems being attacked by a shark around here, seal pups, however, will pull your fins – they are just playing though! I have only seen sharks in Sri Lanka – they circled us but they didn’t come that close to us, fortunately.”

“It’s not just about shipwrecks – it’s looked at the pirates from Pembrokeshire – it’s more about stories and the people and characters. It’s worth a read just for the history of Skomer – 90% of the book will be about stuff of which people don’t know. Like the ‘Vendome’, it took 4 minutes to find the wreck, but just off it was a cave, I saw the biggest Conga eel I have ever seen, it was as thick as a telegraph pole. It had teeth the size of a Sabre Tooth tiger – I gallantly backed away! Finally, we asked if there were more volumes planned: “This first book took ten months, working some 12 hours a day, sorting it out, explaining the stories and getting it all together, but you get so involved that time means nothing. I have done 40 years of research, the book was very thick so I thought I would do it as a trilogy – all together it would be thicker than ‘War and Peace!’ I self published the book, paid for everything.”

Business

Cilgerran cafe could close but a new one could open as plans submitted

Published

4 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to convert a Pembrokeshire village café back to a house, while another ongoing scheme in the same village seeks to convert a house to a café, have been submitted to county planners.

David McDonald, through agent Acer Town Planning, seeks permission to change the use of the ground floor of Awelfa, High Street, Cilgerran from a café to being used as part of the attached dwelling.

A supporting statement, through the agent, says Adele’s café at Awelfa, High Street was originally a dwelling but has seen mixed commercial use for decades.

“Prior to opening as Adele’s café by the applicant, the ground floor commercial use had been vacant for around two years having previously been operated as a Chinese takeaway.

“The current owners took over the rental of the property in April 2019 (purchasing in October 2020) and have operated Adele’s café from the premises between June 2019 and August 2024 whilst living in the linked dwellinghouse.

“During this period, the Awelfa, Cilgerran business has been under prolonged and sustained economic pressures from the cost-of-living crisis with the subsequent increases in utility and food costs and minimum wages.

“Summers 2023 and 2024 saw a significant drop in trade from both local customers and, in particular, a drop in the number of tourists visiting the area. The closure of the toilets and visitors centre at Cilgerran Castle is considered to have contributed to this reduction in visitor numbers.

“The business was closed during January due to low trade and opened again in February for three days a week and then four days a week from April. Even with reduced opening hours the business has not been viable for the applicant to continue operating. The reluctant decision was therefore made to sell the property and trading ceased on August 24.”

The statement says was put up for sale with no offers to buy despite several price reductions, with only three viewings in total.

“In order to increase the pool of buyers for the property, the applicant is now applying for the change of use of the café areas back to form part of the residential use of the main dwelling (as per the original building),” the statement adds.

It also references an unrelated application to convert The Old Post House, High Street, owned by nearby village stores Siop Y Pentre, from a dwelling to a café and flat, saying it “could act as a replacement facility for the community”.

Both applications are currently before planners and are expected to be considered at a later date.

Community

Waldo Lounge in Haverfordwest is now officially open!

Published

23 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Design Team

WALDO Lounge has officially joined Haverfordwest High Street, promising to be a “home-from-home” with a welcoming atmosphere and a variety of offerings for the community.

The venue offers an all-day menu featuring everything from hearty breakfasts to indulgent dinners, with dedicated gluten-free and vegan menus ensuring there’s something for everyone. Guests can enjoy a relaxed environment complete with board games for all ages, toys for younger visitors, and even refreshments for canine companions. Whether you’re stopping by for coffee with friends, a family brunch, or an evening meal, Waldo Lounge aims to create a space where every customer leaves happy.

The ground floor of the Western Quayside development has been transformed by Loungers PLC into a cosy yet stylish haven. Highlights include vibrant wallpapers, Gothic chandeliers, vintage sofas, and a back bar mural that nods to Haverfordwest’s mediaeval past.

Gemma Irwin, Head of Community at Loungers, shared her enthusiasm for the opening:
“We are delighted to bring Waldo Lounge to Haverfordwest. At Loungers, we put community at the heart of hospitality. Our teams are encouraged to connect with local groups, charities, and businesses, making a meaningful difference. We can’t wait to welcome residents to our new home.”

The venue’s family-friendly ethos extends to providing high chairs, baby-changing facilities, and a selection of games and activities for younger guests. With this combination of features, Waldo Lounge seeks to become a central hub for the community.

Council leaders have praised the addition to Haverfordwest’s town centre. Pembrokeshire County Council Leader, Cllr Jon Harvey, commented: “This is a fantastic addition to the hospitality sector in Haverfordwest. Waldo Lounge will undoubtedly improve footfall and vibrancy, showcasing Western Quayside as a key asset to our town.”

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Cllr Paul Miller, added: “Loungers shares our vision for Western Quayside, and this opening represents a significant step in regenerating Haverfordwest. It’s exciting to see the area evolving into a great place to live, work, and visit.”

Paul McGeown, a Site Manager for Loungers who oversaw the Waldo Lounge project, shared his experience: “The project itself was an enjoyable one, and the community were great and very welcoming. I’ve been with Loungers for over seven years now, working nationally since October 2017, and it’s been amazing to be part of such a rapidly expanding and fantastic company. My family lives in Pembrokeshire, so I’ll definitely be visiting Waldo Lounge when I’m there on holiday. I wish the team every success in their new home!”

With its eclectic design, varied menu, and community focus, Waldo Lounge is poised to become a firm favourite among residents and visitors alike.

Community

New art trail is afoot in Fishguard and Goodwick!

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A NEW sculpture trail Art Afoot / Celf ar Droed linking Fishguard and Goodwick is due to be launched December 15th 2024.

Commissioned by Pembrokeshire County Council with UK Government funding, the trail has been designed and delivered by local creative organisation Small World Theatre, based in nearby Cardigan.

Local artists from the region have designed and fabricated the artworks in their studios. The trail also includes augmented reality artworks that the viewer can see in the landscape using their phone.

The trails make use of existing and maintained pathways such as the boardwalk on Goodwick Moor, a wildlife reserve and the Marine Walk which is an accessible coastal path.

The new artworks will also be interspersed with existing artworks and heritage monuments and tell the twin towns heritage stories while celebrating the unique biodiversity and wildlife of the area.

A hand drawn and illustrated map will guide walkers along the various route options and website will give further details about the artworks, the artists and a digital version of the map.

Six new sculptures and eight augmented reality artworks have been commissioned as well as a series of decorated waymarkers. Sculptural archways created by Bill Hamblett will mark key route directions and celebrate local wildlife and heritage.

The launch event begins 2pm at Ocean Lab, Goodwick Sunday, December 15th and the artists will lead a guided walk along one of the trail routes.

Everyone is welcome, this is a free family friendly event and the route taken will be accessible to wheelchair users.

Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, Cllr Rhys Sinnett, said: “This innovative project will bring the rich history of Fishguard and Goodwick to life through both physical and virtual art for us all to enjoy. It promises to be a really interesting experience, not just for those visiting the area but also those who already live in this beautiful part of Pembrokeshire.”

A stunning five metre stainless steel seahorse created by Pembrokeshire-based artist Gideon Peterson will sit at the entrance to the Marine Walk, overlooking Goodwick beach and Fishguard Harbour.

Many of the artworks are interactive or kinetic such as a wind-powered shoal of fish and a giant kaleidoscope showcasing local children’s drawings at Goodwick Parrog, made using reclaimed materials by artist duo Toby Downing and Ben Cramp.

A playful hand painted sculpture of Jemima Nicholas, created by Ann Shrosbree with painting by Sarah Hope, was originally inspired by a young person’s drawing and an augmented reality immersive experience awaits viewers with artworks by Seán Vicary and Steve Knight.

The area is known for its focus on arts and culture and these trails are the latest manifestation of this. For those who love culture as well as stunning coastal scenery and wildlife, this is an ideal combination.