Childhood memory sparked lifetime quest, explains local historian Simon Hancock

Published

10 months ago

March 3, 2025

Childhood memories – both the good and the bad – can often remain with us for the rest of our lives.

But sometimes those memories can carve an intrinsic bearing on the way in which we evolve as individuals.

Speaking to local historian Dr Simon Hancock, it soon becomes apparent that his immense knowledge and understanding of local history stems back to his childhood, when he was growing up in what was then a very derelict and forgotten Neyland.

“In the 1970’s, Neyland was a very depressed town,” Simon told The Pembrokeshire Herald.

“The railway had closed in 1964, the year before I was born, and when I was ten, the ferry to Hobbs Point had closed following the arrival of the Cleddau Bridge.

“As a result of what had happened, the area where the marina stands today was sheer desolation.

“I remember walking along there as a child and coming across an isolated railway carriage that had been left close to where the railway station used to be. And that image intrigued me.

“I also remember talking to very old people – Neyland residents who had lived in the town during the Victorian era – and I found their stories and recollections of how the town had once thrived fascinating.

“I have absolutely no doubt that this is what has inspired me as a historian to continue finding out as much as I can about local history.”

This week Simon will be presenting a talk on Neyland’s difficult progression through the Edwardian era, extending from 1900 until the First World War.

“Step back just 50 years from then, and Neyland was in its golden era,” continues Simon. “The railway, which opened in April 1856, was the catalyst for the town’s economic growth, while in August of the same year, the Irish steam ferries started sailing from Neyland to Waterford, followed by sailings to Cork.”

As a result, Neyland continued sailing through the Victorian years as a highly prosperous boom town, linking in neatly with its earlier standing as a salt refinery, a large herring fishery and a private shipyard. The town’s growth is testified by the census figures; in 1830 Neyland had around 200 inhabitants, however by 1901 that figure had soared to 2,827.

The peak lasted for 50 years but then, following the opening of a new ferry port in Fishguard in 1906, Neyland’s confidence took a major tumble.

“People were saying that grass would begin growing up in the streets and there was a real crash in public confidence. But instead of just sitting back and watching the economic decline, the community, together with landowners such as Sir Charles Phillips of Picton Castle, set up the Neyland steam trawling company.”

Land was leased from GWR and a fish market was set up together with a purpose-built ice factory that opened in Barn Lake in 1908.

“Obviously this was never going to compete with Milford Haven, but it was an expression of confidence in the economic fortunes of the town.

“And the High Street and Kensington Road bore testimony to this, with over 60 shops serving the town of Neyland and the much wider outlying community. And this continued right up until the arrival of the supermarkets.”

In 1906, following the loss of the Irish ferries, the town’s population had decreased to 2,423 but 15 years later, that figures had soared to 2,700. So once again, the people of Neyland had an underlying belief and a staunch commitment to their town’s continued prosperity.

“There’s no doubt that what Neyland has witnessed over the centuries is truly outstanding,” said Simon.

“And now, thanks to the way in which history is becoming so much more accessible to everyone, people are eager to find out as much as they can about the history of their own towns and villages.

“I’ve been giving lectures since the 1990s and it’s just so wonderful to be able to communicate to people, in a myriad of different ways, and help them discover the wealth of history that took place in their own towns.

“Schools are now teaching history in a much more holistic way, tv programmes such as ‘Time Team’ and ‘Dig for Britain’ have helped capture people’s interest and then of course, we have all the history sites on social media.

“It’s wonderful that history has become such an accessible topic to everyone.”

Dr Simon Hancock’s talk will include 80 photographic images of Edwardian Neyland. The talk takes place at St Clements Church Hall, Neyland, this Friday, March 7, at 7.30 pm. Entry is £4, which includes refreshments, and all proceeds will be donated to Pembrokeshire Mind. The event is sponsored by Audrey Johns Ltd, Neyland.

Farming

Basic Payment Scheme 2025 balance paid to 95% of Welsh farmers

Published

6 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Final year of BPS as transition to Sustainable Farming Scheme begins

The WELSH Government says more than ninety-five per cent of farm businesses have now received their full or balance payment under the final year of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), ahead of the introduction of the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) in 2026.

Announcing the update on Friday (Dec 12), Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, confirmed that over 15,400 Welsh farm businesses have been paid £68.7m. This comes on top of the £160m issued in BPS advance payments since 14 October.

Final round of BPS payments

The Basic Payment Scheme, which has been the backbone of farm support in Wales for a decade, provides direct income support to help farmers plan and manage their businesses. BPS 2025 marks the last year in which full BPS payments will be made before the scheme begins to be phased out.

The Cabinet Secretary said officials would “continue to process the outstanding BPS 2025 claims as soon as possible,” adding that all but the most complex cases should be completed by 30 June 2026.

Payments issued today represent the main balance due to farmers following earlier advances, giving many businesses the cash flow they need during the quieter winter period—traditionally a challenging time in the agricultural calendar.

Shift to Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026

From 1 January 2026, the Welsh Government will begin rolling out the Sustainable Farming Scheme, a major reform to how agricultural support is delivered. The SFS will reward farmers for environmental outcomes such as habitat management, carbon reduction and biodiversity improvements, alongside continued food production.

The government has argued that the new scheme is essential to meeting Wales’ climate and nature targets while ensuring long-term resilience in the sector. However, the transition has been closely watched by farming unions, who have raised concerns about the administrative burden, income stability, and the speed at which BPS is being phased out.

Mr Irranca-Davies reaffirmed the government’s stance, saying: “This government is steadfastly committed to supporting Welsh farmers to sustainably produce quality food. This is demonstrated today in our payment of the BPS 2025 balance payments and will continue throughout the transition period.”

Sector reaction

Farming unions are expected to scrutinise the detail of today’s announcement, particularly around remaining unpaid cases. Last year, late payments led to frustration in parts of the sector, with unions calling for greater certainty as the industry faces rising input costs, supply chain pressures and continued market volatility.

The move to the SFS remains one of the most significant agricultural policy changes in Wales since devolution. Ministers insist the shift is designed to support both food production and environmental stewardship, while critics warn the transition must not undermine farm viability—especially for family-run livestock farms that dominate rural areas such as Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

What happens next

Farmers still awaiting their BPS 2025 balance will continue to be processed “as soon as possible”, the Welsh Government said. Officials will also publish updated guidance on the Sustainable Farming Scheme ahead of its launch.

The coming year will therefore become a pivotal moment for Welsh agriculture, as the long-standing BPS framework—which provided over £200m annually to Welsh farmers—makes way for a new results-based model that will shape the industry for decades to come.

News

Improved train timetable launches across Wales

Published

6 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Extra services, later trains and boosted Sunday routes as £800m rail investment takes effect

An improved train timetable has come into force across Wales today (Sunday, 14 December), with Transport for Wales (TfW) introducing more frequent services, stronger connections and additional late-night trains on key routes.

The winter timetable update brings one of the most substantial uplifts in recent years on the Wales and Borders network, forming part of the Welsh Government’s ongoing £800 million investment in brand-new rolling stock and reliability improvements.

More trains and later journeys

Among the upgrades, passengers will see:

A new hourly additional service between Chester and Wrexham, effectively doubling the frequency on one of the region’s busiest commuter corridors.
An extra train in each direction every day on the Heart of Wales line between Swansea and Shrewsbury.
Three later last trains from Cardiff to Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil, supporting shift workers and the night-time economy.
A new hourly Sunday service on the Coryton line in Cardiff.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said improved connectivity was “absolutely vital” for economic growth and passenger confidence.

“These changes will make a real difference to customers, who will benefit from more services and greater connectivity,” he said. “This has been made possible by our £800m investment in brand-new trains for the Wales and Borders network.

“We will see the doubling of trains between Wrexham and Chester and a later service from the capital to valley communities. In South Wales, people will continue to benefit from simpler, fairer fares through TfW’s Pay As You Go service, and its forthcoming introduction in North Wales will help even more passengers access easy, transparent pricing.”

Full details of the updated timetable are available at: tfw.wales/service-status/timetables

News

Wrecked guard boat still under watch off north Pembrokeshire coast

Published

7 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Tidal changes monitored after dramatic early-morning rescue

A GUARD VESSEL that ran aground off the north Pembrokeshire coast in the early hours of Thursday morning (Dec 11) remains under close observation as tides continue to shift.

The Resolute, a 24-metre guard boat understood to be working for an offshore wind project off the Irish coast, had been sheltering in worsening weather when she was pushed onto rocks near Aber Hywel, Dinas, shortly after 3:25am.

Four crew members were onboard when the vessel grounded in rough seas and a strong southerly wind.

Major rescue effort launched

The crew issued an emergency alert, prompting a full multi-agency response.
A coastguard rescue helicopter, both Fishguard RNLI lifeboats, and coastguard teams from Fishguard and St Davids were sent to the scene.

Turbulent air made a winch rescue impossible and Fishguard’s all-weather lifeboat was unable to get close due to cliffs and submerged hazards. The inshore lifeboat was instead deployed to attempt a transfer in extremely challenging conditions.

During the evacuation, the third crew member descending to the vessel’s life raft slipped, fell into the water and was swept away. Speaking afterwards, RNLI crew member Cedwyn Rogers said the team immediately switched into “hyper-focused” mode as training took over.

Despite the casualty drifting, helm Warren Bean — a volunteer with more than 30 years’ RNLI experience — manoeuvred the lifeboat alongside, allowing crew to haul the man to safety. The remaining crew member was then retrieved, and all four were taken aboard the all-weather lifeboat and brought ashore to Fishguard.

All rescue units were later stood down.

Vessel still stranded and taking on water

The Herald understands that the Resolute remained aground on the rocks yesterday and was taking on water. The crew were later assisted back onboard by a local fisherman to assess damage on behalf of the vessel’s operators.

Management representatives from Ireland were due to arrive to draw up a recovery plan, including arrangements to remove fuel to prevent any potential environmental impact.

Further inspections have been taking place today as the team evaluates the next steps.

Coastguard statement

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: “At 3.28am on Thursday morning, HM Coastguard was made aware of a vessel with four persons onboard aground on rocks at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. RNLI lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams from Fishguard and St Davids were sent to the scene. The four people aboard were rescued by lifeboat, and the helicopter was stood down. The vessel, which is still aground, is being monitored as tidal conditions change.”