Community

RNLI supporters pleased with latest figure

Published

10 years ago

December 9, 2014

Tom Sinclair

Music to their ears: Supporters have raised £32,200 so far!

A £150,000 community fundraising appeal towards a new lifeboat station at St Davids has taken a leap forward. A host of events have been held around the country to help raise the necessary cash to provide the volunteer crew with a new home. From musical evenings to a marathon and sponsored walk, people have been digging deep to support the worthwhile cause, which has now hit the grand total of £32,200. In September, RNLI lifeguards from beaches in north Pembrokeshire accompanied by volunteer crew members from St Davids walked the Pembrokeshire coastal path in relay. The intrepid fundraisers walked 186 miles over nine days, raising £1,600 towards the appeal.

Also putting his best foot forward for the appeal was St Davids RNLI volunteer crew member Judd Kohler who ran the Cardiff half marathon raising over £300 towards the target. In October, there were some ghostly goings on at St Davids City Hall when local musician Mike Chant, who is also a St Davids volunteer crew member and Honey Fungus played a Halloween gig to boost the appeal. The £1,300 raised during the night has most certainly lifted the spirits of local fundraisers. And it’s not just the people of Pembrokeshire who have been digging deep to support the new build. Residents of the Cheshire village Audlem have also helped to raise £2,000. St Davids RNLI volunteer crew member Reuben Palin called on residents in his former hometown to throw the appeal a lifeline.

Reuben and his friends held a music evening in the village which included bands The Duffey Boys, Folkwits, Heidi Browne, Roydan Styles, Darren Poyzer, Crystal Ships, Jack Marshall Band, Mark Stevens.and St Davids musician and lifeboatman Mike Chant. The £150,000 appeal launched in the summer is being spearheaded by Wales’ international footballer Ian Walsh and international Welsh rugby player Gerald Davies. RNLI Community Fundraising Manager Jen Abell says: “Every penny really does count as we work towards our target, which will ensure the crew have modern new facilities and our Tamar class lifeboat has a home which is fit for purpose.

The volunteer crew at St Davids really have been leading the way with fundraising and we are so very grateful to everyone who have done their bit in support of the appeal. I’m delighted to be able to reveal we’ve already raised £32,200, which is fantastic. I know there are many exciting new events being planned to ensure we reach our target and hope people will continue to support this exciting appeal.” The boathouse will be home to the station’s new Tamar class lifeboat RNLB Norah Wortley, which is already saving lives off the Pembrokeshire coast whilst operating from a temporary mooring in Ramsey Sound.

The project includes a new RNLI Lifeboat Station and slipway for the Tamar class lifeboat with additional space to accommodate the smaller D-class inshore lifeboat. The boathouse will include modern facilities including a drying room for kit and better provision for crew training and equipment maintenance. There will be better access to the new station which is important for the delivery of equipment and, more importantly, for the evacuation of any casualties brought in by the lifeboat.

Community

Officials announced for 2026 Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire

Published

2 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD returns to Pembrokeshire in 2026, and organisers have named the officials who will steer this major cultural event over the next year and a half.

With the artistic and local committees already established, meetings to finalise competitions and adjudicators are underway to ensure the List of Competitions is ready by spring. Committee members have also been voting over the past weeks to elect key officials for the Executive Committee.

John Davies, former leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, has been appointed Chair of the Executive Committee. Known for his deep connection to Pembrokeshire and extensive experience with national organisations, Davies aims to make the Eisteddfod a true community event, welcoming involvement from all corners of the region.

Tegryn Jones, Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, takes on the role of Deputy Chair (Strategy). With a strong passion for Welsh culture and language, Jones brings a wealth of experience working with local communities, visitors, and volunteers across three counties.

Deputy Chair (Culture) is Carys Ifan, Director of Canolfan Egin and a seasoned cultural organiser. Based in Llangrannog and originally from Llandudoch, Ifan has led numerous artistic and community projects across the region.

Cris Tomos, a community development veteran with over 30 years of experience, will lead the 2026 Eisteddfod Local Fund. Working with PLANED, a community development charity, Tomos has supported countless community enterprises and co-operatives in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Carmarthenshire.

Non Davies, recently elected as Executive Committee Secretary, brings extensive cultural management expertise as Ceredigion County Council’s Corporate Manager for Culture. Having chaired the Cardigan Local Fund Committee for the 2022 Ceredigion Eisteddfod, Davies is well-versed in managing cultural projects.

National Eisteddfod Chief Executive, Betsan Moses, said: “We’re looking forward to working with John and the team over the next few months as we prepare for the 2026 Eisteddfod.

“There’s almost a quarter of a century since the Eisteddfod was last held in Pembrokeshire, and we’re very much looking forward to returning to the area. 2026 is an important year for us as we celebrate 850 years since the first Eisteddfod was held in Cardigan Castle in 1176.

“We’re looking forward to working in a new way within a catchment area which includes parts of another two counties, which is, of course, a chance to work with local people in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire again.”

Further announcements are expected in the coming weeks, including the sale of competition prizes and opportunities to donate the Crown and the Chair.

The National Eisteddfod will be held in Llantood from August 1–8, 2026.

Charity

Kurtz goes Jurassic as Pantosaurus visits Senedd NSPCC Campaign

Published

17 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Richard Lewis

THIS WEEK, the NSPCC’s annual campaign to safeguard children from sexual abuse reached the steps of the Senedd.

Pantosaurus, the friendly mascot of the NSPCC’s PANTS campaign, appeared to raise awareness among Members of the Senedd and the wider public about the vital importance of child safety. The campaign encourages parents and carers to talk openly with young children about risks and protective measures.

The PANTS campaign is built around five key child protection messages:

Privates are private.
Always remember your body belongs to you.
No means no.
Talk about secrets that upset you.
Speak up; someone can help.

After meeting Pantosaurus, Samuel Kurtz MS, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, expressed his support for the campaign

He said: “I wholeheartedly support this important NSPCC initiative. Since its launch in 2013, it has empowered over six million families to discuss this sensitive subject.

“This issue affects communities across Wales, so promoting the five principles of PANTS is essential for everyone in Pembrokeshire and beyond.”

Community

Crowdfunding drive launched for documentary on forgotten 1967 football match

Published

1 day ago

November 13, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A CROWDFUNDING campaign has launched to support a new documentary capturing a nearly forgotten piece of football history—a 1967 charity match in Liverpool featuring Hungarian football icon Ferenc Puskás, alongside British legends Billy Liddell and John Charles.

Daniel Metcalf, director of the film and grandson of Chester FC striker Mike Metcalf, who played in the match, describes the film as “a love letter to the beautiful game,” aiming to highlight community spirit and the unity of sport. “Through personal stories, historic footage, and expert insights, we’ll revisit this unique game and explore 1960s football’s influence over the decades,” he said.

The project has attracted substantial backing, including collaboration with Chester FC, endorsements from notable players like Neville Southall, and the involvement of a skilled production team with narration by broadcaster Kim Thomas.

Supporters can choose from various funding tiers, with contributions starting at £10 for acknowledgments and extending to £5,000 Producer credits. Rewards range from film credits to signed memorabilia and invitations to the UK premiere. The funding target of £3,300 aims to cover initial production costs, with stretch goals set to enhance production quality.

Filming will commence in Chester in May 2025, with the documentary slated for release in early 2026 for the festival circuit.

For more information or to support the project, visit Kickstarter.