News

All the world’s a stage for Torch youth director Tim Howe

Published

1 year ago

January 29, 2025

Cast your eye over the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s alumni, and the role call is a strong one.

Leading names including Daniel Day-Lewis, Jeremy Irons, Miranda Richardson, Helen Baxendale, Pete Postlethwaite and Stephanie Cole all crossed the threshold with an unblinkered determination to do everything within their grasp to make their belief in the theatre their fundamental purpose in life.

“Being offered a place at the Bristol Old Vic was slightly surreal, to be honest, but I knew I had to accept,” explains Tim Howe, who is the senior manager for youth and community at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

“I was offered quite an exclusive directing course, and thinking of all those names that had walked through the doors before me was slightly intimidating. But the time I spent there changed my entire perspective.”

Born and raised in Northamptonshire, Tim knew from a very young age that his life was going to revolve around the theatre.

“I never had that overall defining moment when I knew that this was where I’d end up, but the theatre has always been an important part of my life,” he explains.

“I was lucky in that I had parents who believed that if I wanted to do a particular thing, then I should be allowed to give it a go. And even though they weren’t in the least bit theatrical – mum was a nurse and dad worked in education – they supported me all the way.

“As a result I began to feel the ambition, the hope and the aspiration to make drama work.”

His aspiration was further enhanced by his drama teacher at Bishop Stopford School in Kettering.

“It was just a bog standard secondary school but our drama teacher didn’t just care about teaching but about enabling her students to experience absolutely everything in putting on a production. And this included writing the entire show to answering letters from parents. We were never treated like kids and this went a long way in helping us believe in ourselves.”

Following A levels, Tim received an unconditional offer to study drama at Aberystwyth University.

“I didn’t visit the town until the very first day of term,” he says.

“ I remember travelling down the hill to the college thinking where in the world had I got to? And in many ways, Aberystywth is a bit like being here on Milford Haven. You either love it or you hate it but the surroundings fitted my creativity so well.

“Sometimes I was working on five or six productions so it was pretty intense and sometimes stressful, but the way in which we were taught was exceptional. The tutors were really good at dampening people’s egos without it ever feeling toxic and they never made us fall out of love with drama.”

As a result of his degree course at Aber, Tim applied for a place at the Old Vic.

“It was quite an exclusive course for directing, and I went along to the audition not really thinking that I’d get offered a place.”

But two days later, Tim discovered that he’d been accepted.

“It totally changed the way in which I viewed directing,” he explains. “In a production there are lots of actors but only one director, so it’s very easy to start feeling the pressure of how to make the thing work. I’m telling people all the time, to stop trying to be original, because this sets you up to be disappointed. Just embrace the fact that we’re forever borrowing ideas from other people, myself included, and this is what helps us to enjoy a production and find our own sense of ownership.

“And this is what I’m finding with the young people I’m working with here at the Torch. It’s easy to assume that young people are more self conscious than adults, but if you create the correct space for them to perform in, then they lose all sense of their inhibitions. It’s only embarrassing if you’re embarrassed .”

Following his time at the Old Vic, Tim did some freelance directing in London before being appointed the director in residence at Eton College, Windsor.

“This was another rather surreal experience where I met some wonderful people such as the fantastic Patricia Hodge who I sat next to at dinner and King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales.

“But being at Eton opened my eyes to how unfair it is that students at schools such as this have so many more opportunities than other children,” he said.

“Surely all children should have the right to study drama as well as all the other arts at their respective schools, but sadly the money just isn’t there.”

From Eton he spent some time at Beijing before returning to the UK and directing in St Ives and the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. In January 2023, he was appointed senior manager for Youth and Community at The Torch.

“It’s a wonderful theatre for children and young people as it’s a producing theatre, which is quite unique for a theatre of this size. We produce around three of our own shows a year which gives the youngsters a wonderful insight into how an entire production is put together. They also get the chance to share the space with professionals…people who were once like them and who had the aspiration to follow their dream.

“In many ways I feel as if I’m opening the door for these children by giving them the space, the guidance and the opportunity to talk about how they want to move forward, just like I was given the opportunity all those years ago.”

The Torch Youth Theatre meets on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and caters for children between the age of 7 and 18. For further information, visit the Torch website.

Local Government

Mayor and deputy mayor appointed in Milford Haven

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL has congratulated Cllr Mark Woodward after he was inaugurated as the town’s new Mayor and First Citizen.

Cllr Woodward was formally appointed on Monday evening, with Cllr Kathy Gray confirmed as Deputy Mayor.

Following the ceremony, Cllr Woodward said it was a “true honour and privilege” to take on the role, adding that it was something he had “never in my wildest dreams imagined would happen to me.”

He thanked his fellow councillors for their trust, as well as residents who had sent messages of congratulations.

Cllr Woodward also paid tribute to his wife Eva, who now becomes Mayoress, saying her support had helped make the moment possible.

He said: “I promise I will do my absolute best and fight hard and passionately for my beloved adopted town.”

With Cllr Gray serving as Deputy Mayor, Cllr Woodward added that residents could “rest assured it will not be a quiet year.”

Local Government

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park chief to be honoured by Gorsedd Cymru

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PARK CHIEF RECOGNISED

PEMBROKESHIRE Coast National Park Authority Chief Executive Tegryn Jones is to be honoured by Gorsedd Cymru at this year’s National Eisteddfod.

Mr Jones has been named among those who will be admitted to the Gorsedd in recognition of their achievements and contribution to Wales, the Welsh language and local communities.

He will be admitted in the Blue robes, which are awarded to people who have given distinguished service in areas including public life, local and national activity, journalism, media, sport, science and law.

Originally from Lampeter and a fluent Welsh speaker, Mr Jones has played a prominent role in Welsh public life through a career spanning environmental, educational and community leadership.

Before joining Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, he served as Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy and also worked for the General Teaching Council for Wales.

He was nominated for his work in education, youth work and the environment, as well as for developing environmental initiatives at both local and national level.

In Pembrokeshire, he is also closely associated with the development of Welsh-medium education through his long-standing involvement with Ysgol Caer Elen in Haverfordwest, where he was the first Chair of Governors.

Mr Jones said: “It is a great honour to be recognised by Gorsedd Cymru, particularly in a year when the National Eisteddfod returns to Pembrokeshire for Eisteddfod y Garreg Las.

“The Welsh language belongs to all our communities, and I have been very fortunate to work with so many people who care deeply about its future, whether through education, culture, the environment or public service.

“The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is one of the jewels of Wales and provides an outstanding landscape that contributes to the environmental, social and economic goals that are essential to Wales’ future.

“I am very fortunate to lead the National Park Authority and extremely proud that this work has been recognised by the Gorsedd.”

This year’s National Eisteddfod, Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, will be held in Llantwd, North Pembrokeshire, from August 1-8, 2026.

The event will be especially significant as it marks 850 years since the first recorded Eisteddfod was held in Cardigan in 1176, just across the river from this year’s Maes.

News

New RSPCA poll shows opposition to badger culling in Wales

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CULLING ‘NOT THERE’, CHARITY SAYS

NEW polling from RSPCA Cymru suggests there is no clear public support in Wales for badger culling as a way of tackling bovine TB.

The charity says the new Welsh Government must “listen to people’s love of wildlife” after a survey found that just over a quarter of people in Wales actively support the culling of badgers.

The polling, released today (May 13), comes as 96 Members of the Senedd prepare to take their seats in the newly-expanded Welsh Parliament, with bovine TB expected to become one of the major animal welfare and farming issues facing the next administration.

RSPCA Cymru said only 27% of those surveyed supported badger culling, while 46% were opposed. A further 28% said they did not know.

The charity is calling on Plaid Cymru, which is seeking to form a minority government following the appointment of Rhun ap Iorwerth MS as First Minister, and on MSs from all parties, to reject culling and focus instead on what it describes as a science-led, cattle-focused approach.

The survey of 1,033 adults in Wales found that 63% of respondents were uncomfortable with badger culling being carried out using lethal methods approved by government authorities.

More than two-thirds, 68%, said they were uncomfortable with public money being used to fund the culling of badgers.

The polling also suggested that the issue could affect political support. More than half of those surveyed, 52%, said they would be less likely to support a political party that backed badger culling, while only 7% said they would be more likely to do so.

RSPCA Cymru said the figures showed that badger culling was “unsupported by a clear majority” of the Welsh public.

Billie-Jade Thomas, senior public affairs manager for RSPCA Cymru, said: “How the new Welsh Government approaches bovine TB will be one of the biggest talking points concerning animals in Wales in the coming years.

“This polling should remind all newly-elected Senedd Members that the Welsh public cares about how badgers are treated, and politicians must listen to people’s love of wildlife.

“There is a clear lack of public support for badger culling in Wales, and those supporting such action could see their support wane among their constituents.”

She added: “Wildlife control and badgers were featured in several parties’ Senedd manifestos, including Plaid Cymru, Wales’ new biggest party.

“We now hope MSs from all political groups recognise that badger culling is unsupported by a clear majority of the Welsh public, and they should instead prioritise a science-led, cattle-focused approach to combatting bovine TB.”

The polling also found that almost 98% of people in Wales consider protecting Welsh wildlife to be important, with 69% saying it is very important.

Badgers were among the most popular species named in the survey, with 73% of respondents choosing them as one of the species they were most concerned about when asked to select their top three.

RSPCA Cymru said badgers remain one of Britain’s most distinctive and misunderstood wild mammals.

Ms Thomas said: “Badgers are such wonderful creatures and, like all wildlife, deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.

“A growing body of evidence suggests that the majority of bovine TB infection occurs between cattle, with scientific evidence suggesting that badger culling is not an effective way to reduce the disease in cattle.

“The new administration must always tackle bTB in a way which does not needlessly pose a threat to one of our most distinctive, well-loved yet misunderstood species of wildlife.”

RSPCA Cymru’s manifesto for the seventh Senedd, Securing A Better Future For Animal Welfare in Wales, calls for badger culling to be rejected, describing it as ineffective and inhumane.

The poll was carried out online by Savanta between April 24 and May 12, 2026. Figures were weighted to be representative of adults in Wales.