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Sandy Buttle memorial sea kayaking weekend

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Near perfect condition: The group assembled at Whitesands.

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.

 

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Local Government

Consultation over electoral changes to eight Pembrokeshire community councils

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Residents are being asked for their views on proposed changes affecting councillor numbers and electoral arrangements in communities across the county

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is inviting residents, organisations and other interested parties to have their say on proposed changes to the electoral arrangements of eight community councils across the county.

The consultation follows recommendations published by the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru in January 2025 as part of a wider review of Pembrokeshire’s community boundaries and local electoral arrangements.

The Commission’s review considered whether the county’s existing communities and community wards continued to provide effective and convenient local government.

It examined issues including community boundaries, the number of councillors serving each area, the distribution of councillors between community wards and whether existing arrangements continued to reflect local populations and community identities.

While a number of the Commission’s recommendations involved changes to community boundaries, it also proposed alterations to the electoral arrangements of some community councils where no boundary changes were recommended.

Those particular proposals could not be introduced through the original community review process and must now be considered separately by Pembrokeshire County Council.

The latest consultation concerns the following communities:

  • Lamphey
  • Llanrhian
  • Martletwy
  • Nolton and Roch
  • Pencaer
  • St Dogmaels
  • Stackpole and Castlemartin
  • Wolfscastle

The proposals could affect matters such as the number of councillors elected to individual community councils and how council seats are distributed between community wards.

Community and town councils form the most local tier of elected government. They represent the interests of their communities and may be responsible for services and facilities including public spaces, community buildings, play areas, noticeboards and local events.

The County Council said it was seeking views from residents and organisations with connections to the communities affected to ensure that local perspectives were considered before any decisions were made.

The consultation will open on Tuesday, July 28, and close on Friday, September 11, 2026.

Full details of the proposed changes and supporting documents will be available through Pembrokeshire County Council’s Have Your Say consultation portal.

Residents will be able to review the proposals affecting their community and submit comments online.

Paper copies of the consultation documents can also be requested by contacting the Council’s Customer Contact Centre on 01437 764551 or emailing [email protected].

Anyone with questions about the proposals or the review process is encouraged to contact the Council’s electoral services team.

 

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Community

Narberth Eisteddfod fundraisers celebrate reaching £8,000 target

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Community support and a £2,000 contribution from Narberth Town Council help committee achieve its fundraising goal

Narberth Eisteddfod Fundraising Committee is celebrating after successfully reaching its £8,000 fundraising target.

The milestone follows a busy programme of events organised by the committee, each of which received strong support from residents, businesses and community groups across the Narberth area.

Committee chair Glinys Meredydd thanked everyone who had helped make the campaign a success.

She said: “I would like to thank all members of the Narberth Eisteddfod team for their hard work and commitment.

“They organised some fantastic events, which were extremely well supported by the local community.

“I would also like to thank Narberth Town Council, which donated £2,000 on behalf of the people of Narberth.”

The committee will hold one final fundraising event with a last sale of its locally produced and hand-printed Eisteddfod Garreg Las 2026 T-shirts.

Members of the public are invited to visit the committee at Narberth Carnival Field on Saturday, July 25, where they will have a final opportunity to buy or win one of the T-shirts and join the celebrations ahead of the Eisteddfod’s return to Pembrokeshire.

The committee has thanked everyone who attended an event, made a donation, volunteered their time, purchased a T-shirt or helped promote the campaign.

Reaching the £8,000 target has been described as a powerful example of what can be achieved when the Narberth community comes together in support of Welsh language and culture.

 

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Crime

Man, 37, found dead following major police response in Pembroke Dock

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Death not being treated as suspicious as police make statutory referral to IOPC following active investigation

A 37-YEAR-OLD man has been found dead at Warrior Way in Pembroke Dock.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers attended the area at around 7pm on Sunday, July 19, after concerns were raised for the welfare of an individual.

There was a significant police presence in the area, with several units positioned at the scene on Sunday and further police activity continuing into Monday.

The scale of the response prompted speculation among members of the public about the nature of the incident.

Police have now confirmed that the man was found deceased and that his death is not being treated as suspicious.

His next of kin have been informed.

HM Coroner has been advised, and officers will continue to assist with the coroner’s investigation.

The matter has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because the man had been involved in an active police investigation.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the referral was made in line with the IOPC’s statutory referral criteria.

Such referrals are required in certain circumstances and do not, in themselves, indicate that police officers or staff are suspected of wrongdoing.

 

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