News
Sandy Buttle memorial sea kayaking weekend


Near perfect condition: The group assembled at Whitesands.
THIS AUTUMN, Pembrokeshire Paddlers Canoe Club held the sixth sea kayaking weekend in memory of Sandy Buttle. Sandy who passed away in 2009 was known to most paddlers in Wales as the Canoe Wales President and for his lifetime commitment to canoeing in Wales. Sandy, and his wife Moira, were also hugely important to the community of Pembroke Dock. With his involvement in further education, youth clubs and scouts, Sandy was instrumental in introducing huge numbers of youngsters to outdoor experiences of all kinds.
Every year in late September Pembrokeshire Paddlers organise a Sea Kayaking weekend in his memory. This year Celtic Camping, Pwllcaerog Farm, St Davids was chosen as the base for the weekend. They turned out to be brilliant hosts with excellent bunkhouse accommodation. Rob, Ian and all their staff being very helpful and accommodating. After assembling at the campsite on a Saturday morning a group of 20 paddlers mostly from West and South Wales headed off to Newgale. In view of the forecast for a stiff northerly wind the group set off under the shelter of the cliffs towards Solva and Saint Davids.
After passing Porthmynawyd and the headlands of Dinas fach and Dinas Fawr Solva was reached. Avoiding the temptations of the hostelries in Solva lunch was taken on a rocky beach to the west of Solva at Ystafelloedd. After lunch the party proceeded on past Caerbwdy, Caerfai and St Non’s Bay to Porthclais. It was a fairly tired but happy group who had enjoyed a 13km trip with superb scenery that then headed back to Celtic Camping. That evening in the bunkhouse a meal was prepared by club members and thirty people of all ages spent a very convivial evening talking about the day’s paddle and past exploits including many involving Sandy.
The next morning saw an earlyish start with a few hangovers to be brushed off over breakfast before we set off for a circumnavigation of Ramsey Island. The weather forecast was favourable and the day sunny and so we assembled at Whitesands in near perfect conditions. After paddling due west we picked up the south going tide to take us round and down the west side of Ramsey Island. The group was rewarded with the superb cliffs, caves and beaches of Ramsey’s west coast: “We couldn’t explore too closely in some places so as not to disturb the large numbers of seals that had gathered for the pupping season. This however did not stop them coming to investigate us!” We then paddled through the gap between Ynys Cantwr and Ynys Bery back into Ramsey Sound in time to pick up the north going stream to take us through the Bitches to the harbour where we paused for a break and some lunch.
The harbour is the only place on Ramsey you can land on during the pupping season but even here there was a mother and its pup on the beach! Some of the party then headed off back up Ramsey Sound to Whitesands while a few adrenaline junkies went to ‘play’ in the Bitches tide race. Eventually everybody rode the tidal stream back to Whitesands where we finished. Everybody agreed it had been a brilliant day’s paddling with magnificent scenery, challenging paddling and beautiful wildlife. Tea and cakes in the café finished everything off nicely before everybody headed off home. Pembrokeshire Paddlers would like to thank Celtic Camping for accommodating us for the weekend and also Nige Robinson at Sea Kayak Guides for the loan of sea kayaks.
Crime
Rosemarket man avoids jail after breaching court order and stalking victim

A ROSEMARKET man has avoided a prison sentence after repeatedly breaching a court-imposed non-molestation order and stalking one of the protected individuals.
PHILLIP SOLOMON, 35, of West Street, Rosemarket, contacted two women between March 28 and May 17, 2025, despite an order made by Haverfordwest Family Court forbidding both direct and indirect contact.
He appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he admitted two charges of breaching the non-molestation order, as well as a further charge of stalking one of the women during the same period, causing her fear, alarm and distress.
“He sent a birthday card and a present, and made numerous telephone calls, text messages and gestures,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court. “This caused her serious concern.”
A victim impact statement read in court described the profound effect Solomon’s behaviour had on the woman’s life.
“Every aspect of my life has changed as a result of the last few months,” she said. “I feel anxious about day-to-day aspects like leaving my house, fearing he may be there. I’m constantly checking mirrors and my surroundings. Days out that should be enjoyable have become difficult.”
She said she had changed both her work and social routines due to fears she was being followed.
Defending Solomon, solicitor Alaw Harries said her client had not fully appreciated that sending a birthday card would breach the terms of the order.
“He understands the impact and he’s extremely sorry to be here today,” she said. “There are clearly issues that need to be addressed and he is keen to work with probation to deal with these.”
Magistrates imposed an 18-month community order, requiring Solomon to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days and 100 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay a £114 court surcharge and £170 in prosecution costs.
A two-year restraining order was imposed, banning Solomon from contacting either victim directly or indirectly, except through a solicitor or social services. He is also prohibited from entering their addresses or storing any data about them on any electronic device.
Crime
Driver banned after swerving car led to public calls to police

CALLS from concerned members of the public about a car being erratically driven through Neyland led to a drink-driving ban for a Llanstadwell man who was found to be more than three times over the legal limit.
Mervyn Jenkins, aged 47, was arrested at around 8:00pm on May 23 after police stopped his vehicle on Church Road, Llanstadwell.
“The officers had followed the vehicle and seen it swerving across the carriageway and shuddering, as if it had sustained significant damage,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
When Jenkins exited the vehicle, he was unsteady on his feet. A breath test conducted at the police station showed he had 114 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35.
In a probation interview, Jenkins told officer Catrin Jones he had consumed approximately ten pints of lager at a pub in Milford Haven before making the reckless decision to drive home.
“The event is all a bit hazy to him and he doesn’t know why he chose to get behind the wheel,” said Ms Jones.
“He described his behaviour as stupid and realises the risk he posed to others. The only fortunate thing is that nobody was hurt.”
The court heard that Jenkins, who works for a local steel fabrication company, regularly drinks up to twelve pints on Friday and Saturday nights while visiting local pubs.
“He drinks to excess but now acknowledges he needs support to reduce his intake,” added Ms Jones.
Jenkins, of Hazelbank, Llanstadwell, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and chose to represent himself in court.
“I’m ashamed of myself,” he said in mitigation.
Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 28 months and imposed a 12-month community order, requiring him to complete ten rehabilitation activity days and engage with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service. He must also complete a 90-day alcohol abstinence monitoring programme.
He was ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in costs.
Crime
Dog mess excuse nearly lands man in jail

A PEMBROKESHIRE man awaiting sentence for drug offences came close to being remanded in custody after breaking his bail conditions—allegedly in an effort to clear up dog mess from a shared lawn.
John Phillips, 36, of Pen Puffin, Steynton, previously pleaded guilty to possessing drugs with intent to supply and was awaiting sentencing at Crown Court on June 27. He had been placed on strict bail conditions, including a nightly curfew.
However, on June 10, Phillips breached the curfew on ten separate occasions. Despite the number of incidents, the total time he spent outside his property amounted to just over 18 minutes.
Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that the breaches stemmed from a domestic mishap.
“His dog escaped from the house and did what dogs do on the lawn that he shares with his neighbour,” said defence solicitor Michael Kelleher. “So the defendant had to go out, get the dog, and collect what had happened, as he didn’t want his neighbour to walk in the mess.”
Mr Kelleher added that Phillips made several attempts to contact the electronic tagging company to explain the curfew breaches, but received no response.
Phillips appeared before magistrates in custody on June 17 and admitted breaching his bail conditions. After hearing the mitigation, magistrates allowed him to be released on the same conditions.
“But if you come here again, it might be a different outcome,” warned the presiding magistrate.
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