Caws Cenarth ‘matriarch’, Thelma Adams, dies aged 86

Published

1 year ago

December 16, 2024

Caws Cenarth Cheese founder Thelma Adams – described this week as a committed matriarch of her family-led company – has died at the age of 86.

Announcing her death on Sunday, Caws Cenarth said they had lost ‘a great matriarch’.

“We, as a family, are devastated to announce the recent death of Thelma Adams,” the family announced on the Caws Cenarth Facebook page.

“She was the great Caws Cenarth matriarch who, with vision and passion, created the business out of sheer necessity in the face of the existential threat to the family farm posed by the imposition of the crippling milk quotas.

“She was a woman who thought outside the box every time, and we will miss her feistiness, her drive, generosity and kindness.

“She has left a very large hole in our lives.”

Thelma Adams rose to fame in 1984 after bringing the town of Carmarthen to a virtual standstill when she dressed up as Cleopatra and sat in a full bath of cold milk to protest against the milk quota.

“I was 46 at the time and was gobsmacked when I heard about the introduction of Milk Quotas,” she said in a news report.

“As a result, several farmers went out of business and many committed suicide. The slogan I dreamt up at the time to highlight this was that it was cheaper to bathe in milk than water.”

Cheese making began on the family farm at Glyneithinog, near Newcastle Emlyn back as 1903 with Thelma Adam’s great grandmothers, Lizzie Wyn and Leisa Jones making cheese for the family and to sell at the local market. The tradition was rekindled in 1987 by Thelma and her husband, Gwynfor, and Caws Cenarth quickly established a reputation for its creamy, fresh-flavoured Caerffili.

The Adams family soon found themselves leading a renaissance in Welsh cheesemaking and today Caws Cenarth is the longest established producer of Welsh Farmhouse Caerffili (also known as Caerphilly), and is probably Wales’ best known cheese.

Today the business is run by their son, Carwyn.

Earlier this year Caws Cenarth Cheese was given a Royal Warrant by HM King Charles III. This achievement meant that Caws Cenarth would be supplying their range of organic cheese to the Royal Household. To acquire this royal approval, a brand must have provided their goods or services to the Royal Household for at least five consecutive years.

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

1 hour ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

1 hour ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.