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Kilgetty gets fit and fair

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Fit and Fair: Pupils from Kilgetty School

Fit and Fair: Pupils from Kilgetty School

CHILDREN from Kilgetty have been keeping fit and playing fair by taking part in the Fair Trade In Football Campaign’s Fit And Fair workshops. As part of their Health Week all pupils, from nursery to year 6, of Stepaside School took part in the workshops last Wednesday (Oct 22). The aim was to promote fitness, whist thinking about the people behind the products that we use, considering how we can be more fair. Kicking off to the Match Of The Day theme tune the young people warmed up with a game of musical footballs.

In teams the youngsters then played relay games using the all new Bala Team Fairtrade stitched footballs, and Fairtrade bananas. Stepaside, and from 14 other Pembrokeshire schools, have been learning about the difference that Fairtrade makes to the footballstitchers, their families and communities in a series of assemblies and workshops: “When balls are hand stitched to Fairtrade standards it means stitchers get a fair wage, that working standards are safe and fair, with no child labour keeping children out of school.

We had fun keeping fit, all who took part were excellent, but it’s the fairness that Fairtrade brings that is helping to make a difference to people’s lives.” Says Fair Trade In Football Campaign Founder, Sharron Hardwick. Brand new cooperative, Bala Sports is working with Sialkot based Fairtrade sports balls factories in the hope to build stronger communities, they were impressed with the young people’s efforts: “Youngsters have a great sense of what’s fair and what’s not and it’s great to see them keeping fit and showing awareness of where the balls they play with come from, as well as learning how Fairtrade, gives a better chance for families in Sialkot, Pakistan.

And it’s not just workers at the Fairtrade sports balls factories who benefit – one of our factories has a water purification plant funded by the Fairtrade Premium that’s open to anyone in the community to fill up there containers with clean water” said Bala Sports, Angus Coull. A Fairtrade Premium is paid on every Fairtrade certified item, this money goes to the local communities to be used for whatever they need. New Life Christian Fellowship Sunday School, who meet in Kilgetty Community Center also took part in the Fit and Fair workshops as part of their harvest celebrations.

Sunday School leader Rhonwen Evans used pumpkins carved with a cross and a smiley face to demonstrate how Jesus can forgive our wrongs, and shine His light through us. The group believe that one way they can follow Jesus’s teachings to “love your neighbour”, and “shine His light” is by supporting Fairtrade and they enjoyed using the Bala Team Fairtrade stitched footballs.

Further afield Sharron continues working with Stoke City Community Trust and Port Vale’s Vale Park Community Initiative, who are both using Fairtrade stitched footballs in some of their community tournaments. Meeting The Lord Mayor Of Stoke On Trent, Councillor Khan, in June, Sharron and Bala Sports arranged for the Mayor to visit Ali Trading in Sialkot; supporters are keen to hear Councillor Khan’s reports. One thing Councillor Khan noted was the need for more people to buy Fairtrade stitched footballs. This is one aim of the Fair Trade In Football Campaign, to encourage the use of sports balls produced to Fairtrade standards so that more stitchers, their families and communities get a fairer deal.

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Community

Mayor of Bergen visits Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre

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IT was a Mayoral gathering when the Burgermeisterin of Bergen, in Germany, paid a visit to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre in the company of Councillor Aden Brinn, the Mayor of Bergen’s twin town, Pembroke.

There to meet Burgermeisterin Claudia Dettmar-Muller and her colleague Silvia Bothe were two former Mayors of Pembroke Dock, Councillors Pam George and Maureen Colgan, and trustees and volunteers who run the Centre. Joining them was Pembroke’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ann Mortenson.

Trustee Peter Mitchell and colleagues gave a guided town of the Centre which has extensive displays on Pembroke Dock’s rich maritime and military history spanning just over two centuries, and its connections with RAF flying boats.

Pic By Martin Cavaney.

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Community

Wonderful night at Haverfordwest Library for special Poet Laureate event

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HAVERFORDWEST Library was delighted to be part of the prestigious Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024 with a special event on Friday, March 8.
Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman, Cllr Thomas Tudor extended a special welcome to the guests of honour: Poet Laureate Simon Armitage; his guests Owen Sheers and Bethany Handley; plus the winners of the recent library Poetry Competition.
The poetry began with writer, poet and disabled activist, Bethany Handley. Bethany campaigns for better access to nature for disabled people, and her work explores nature and disability, challenging the barriers that disabled people experience.
Bethany’s first poem was heartfelt and humorous about her experience of visiting a beach in her wheelchair. Her final poem also drew on her experiences, being a compilation poem of many well-intentioned, yet impractical or inappropriate, advice that she has received as a wheelchair user.
Owen Sheers is an award winning Welsh poet, author and playwright. He has twice won the Wales Book of the Year as well as the Hay Festival Poetry Medal.
His film-poem, the Green Hollow, about the Aberfan disaster, was BAFTA and Grierson nominated and won three BAFTA Cymru awards, including best writer.
Owen read an extract from the Green Hollow, bringing the horror of the disaster to life. He also read poems about parenthood and his experiences as a son and as a father.
The Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards, including the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.
Simon launched into a poem about humanity, the universe and working as one. He then used his back catalogue of poems written for music. His poems covered some unusually random themes, particularly those he crafted during the Covid pandemic.
He said that he’d even written a poem inspired by a Velux window and read a beautiful poem about laying in a hammock watching a pair of newly-weds sail overhead in a hot air balloon.
His performances were engaging, humorous and moving and he brought the words to life.
Simon also spoke warmly about the importance of libraries as a child but also as an adult travelling about the country, with libraries always offering a warm welcome.
Ashok Ahir, President of the National Library of Wales thanked the three poets and introduced the new exhibition in the gallery, Dylan: The Lyrical Life of Dylan Thomas.
The exhibition is open to the public until 14th September 2024. Further information can be seen online.
The event drew to a close as Cllr Tudor issued the prizes to the winners of the recent poetry eisteddfod competition. The competition celebrated the language, culture, heritage and literature of Wales.
The theme was Dylan Thomas. Entries could draw inspiration from any of his works or seek inspiration from a specific quote: “from where you are, you can hear their dreams”.
Entries received were of a high standard and were judged by Wendy Morse (leader of the Haverfordwest Library Poetry Group, who would welcome new members, contact Haverfordwest Library for more information); representatives from the Library staff and the National Library of Wales staff. The poems will be on display at Haverfordwest Library until the end of the Easter Holidays.

Prizes have been awarded to:
• Sian Davies: Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, adult written poem category
• James Purchase: I Shall go Gentle into that Good Night, adult written poem category
• Philippa Davies: Dylan is in the Library, adult spoken word category
• Tony Potts: Windfall, adult illustrated poem category
• John Matthews: Dylan Cwmdonkin, adult Welsh language category
• Ellie McGrath: It was all a Dream, 11-14 age category
• Skye-Lea Jones: Are you Listening?,11-14 age category
Thanks to the judges of the poetry competition and to Faber & Faber, who donated the book prizes in support of the Poet Laureate’s Library Tour.
Cllr Thomas Tudor said: “The Riverside opened its doors in December 2018 and has enjoyed many fascinating exhibitions since thanks to the continued partnership with the National Library of Wales.
“The Riverside was one of just six libraries to host this Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024.
“It is a fantastic achievement for Haverfordwest Library to be a part of these significant events, helping to raise the profile and regeneration of the County Town and I thank everyone who has worked hard to make the event a success.”
The event would not have been possible without the continued support from The National Library of Wales and Haverfordwest Town Council. The President of the National Library of Wales and the Mayor, Sheriff and Clerk of Haverfordwest Town Council were all present.

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Charity

Bags of Books returns to Milford Haven and surrounding areas this Easter

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THE INFAMOUS Bags of Books is set to return to Milford Haven and surrounding areas over the Easter holidays.

Milford Haven School who launched the project with Milford Youth Matters over 3 years ago are continuing in their bid to improve literacy skills and encourage a love of reading for pleasure by giving away over 700 books.

Thanks to funding from the South Hook LNG Community grant they have purchased books for young people of all ages and reading abilities and will be hanging them on the fences of the schools in their catchment area.

The community are invited to come and choose a book from the following locations over the Easter holidays:

  • Neyland Community Primary School – Monday 25th March
  • Johnston Community Primary School – Tuesday 26th March
  • Coastlands Primary School – Wednesday 27th March
  • Gelliswick Primary School – Tuesday 2nd April
  • Milford Haven Community Primary – Wednesday 3rd April
  • St Francis Community Primary – Wednesday 3rd April

Milford Haven Secondary School will also hang over 150 books on their fence after the Easter Holidays on Wednesday 10th April for those in our community who cannot attend the other locations.

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