News

Pembrokeshire man’s death-defying journey across Africa

Published

9 months ago

March 17, 2025

Speaking with Patrick Nash, it soon becomes clear that this is a man with an honesty and a profound understanding of how his life was turbulently restructured following a mind-blowing decision way back in 1980.

Fresh out of Bristol University with an economics degree under his belt, Nash decided to shy away from the predicted career ascent that was being favoured by so many of his peers and instead, set out on a death-defying trek which would cover the entire width of Africa.

During his journey he was shot at by border patrol guards, he fell into unconsciousness at the side of the road after contracting malaria and, perhaps most terrifyingly of all, he was jailed on suspicion of carrying illegal drugs, which carried a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

“I was a very naive 22-year-old who hadn’t really thought in any great depth about what I was doing,” Patrick told The Pembrokeshire Herald from his home in Solva.

“I was ridiculously unprepared for the journey, and all I had with me was a map of Africa, two UK passports and £250 in my pocket. If I’d thought too much about what could have happened to me, I probably wouldn’t have gone, but obviously in those days it was very difficult to find out about things.”

Following five weeks spent working on a farm in Israel, Patrick became one of the first backpackers to cross the Sinai border into Africa. His journey would subsequently take him across 14,000 miles, covering 11 African countries, many of which would be impossible for a solo traveller to attempt today. These included Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria and then back across the Sahara Desert to reach Britain.

Throughout his journey, Patrick chose to travel like a local, which meant he either walked on foot or cadged a lift on the lorries and pick-up trucks that were filled to the brim with miscellaneous items.

“People would be hanging on to those lorries for dear life, but it was a great way to meet the locals, chat to them and find out about their way of life,” continues Patrick.

“They were fascinated to see this white person choosing to travel like them, either on foot or hanging on to the top of those bumpy lorries. And sometimes they’d invite me back to stay in their homes or invite me to stay in a mosquito tent in their garden. And in many ways, this is the overwhelming memory that I have of those six months in Africa. People helped me, and this taught me how important it is to reach out to people and ask for help, wherever we are in the world.”

It was Patrick’s faith in the African culture that helped save his life when he began suffering from acute malaria for the second time during his journey.

“It was bad,” he recalls. “I was staggering around and eventually collapsed at the side of the road. But some guys picked me up, took me to the nearest town and one of them invited me to stay with him. They took me to the clinic where I was able to get treated, and I ended up spending a week with them, until I was well enough to start walking again.”

Patrick also forged a very strong relationship with the locals as he journeyed through the Congolian rainforests.

“People started hearing about me – about this white man who was walking through the forest – and almost every night people would come and find me, invite me back to their villages and ask if I would like to stay with them. They also used to ask me to talk to the young people, most of them young men who wanted to go to Europe, and once again this helped me to see how supportive and caring all these people were.”

But things took a dangerous turn when Patrick, together with another traveller who he met on his journey, attempted to cross the border between Zaire and the Central African Republic.

“The border guards were trying to get us to give them a bribe which we didn’t have, so we got in a boat and despite the fact that they started shooting at us, managed to get across to the other side.”

Shortly afterwards, Patrick was arrested and thrown into prison when a guard mistakenly assumed his malaria pills were illegal drugs.

“This was possibly one of the most frightening experiences, as I knew that the jail sentence for possessing illegal drugs would have been between 15 and 20 years,” he said. “Amazingly a police investigator turned up, realised what was going on, and released me.

“But throughout those six months, no one tried to rob me, even though this has happened a few times in Europe, and I never felt threatened by the local people who I met along the way. I was struck by their goodwill.”

The Foreign Office, however, has since placed red and orange warnings relating to their danger, on many of the places visited by Patrick during his 1980 journey.

After returning to the UK, Patrick became a social entrepreneur, setting up a workers’ cooperative selling vegetarian food, which became one of the UK’s largest cooperative businesses. he then helped set up an eco village in Scotland and in his late 30’s he returned to London where he worked for the Dalai Lama, with responsibility for running his UK charities. In 2006 he moved to Wales where he set up a charity helpline, its workforce expanding from 10 to its current figure of 450.

On March 27 Patrick will be publishing his memoir ‘Shots Across the Water’ which describes that incredible journey carried out in 1980.

“When I made that journey as a 22 year old, I made a diary of the things had happened to me, so reading those accounts all these years later has helped to stimulate my memory of what took place.

“I hadn’t had the happiest of childhoods, and things hadn’t always been easy, but it was that trip that opened my eyes to the values in life and which gave me confidence to move forward with my own self belief.

“If my daughters announced that they would like to make that same journey in 2025, I would do my best to dissuade them.

“But there’s no doubt that that journey formed me and has made me who I am today. It helped me realise that if I was able to complete that journey, then I could do anything.”

‘Shots Across the Water’ is available via Amazon, price £9.99 for a paperback and £7.99 for a kindle edition.

Community

Crowds line streets as tractor run hailed a festive success

Published

38 minutes ago

December 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

CROWDS lined streets and pavements across Pembrokeshire on Saturday evening (Dec 20) as Clarbeston Road AFC’s illuminated Christmas tractor run was hailed a resounding success.

More than 200 tractors took part in the event, travelling through villages and towns including Newmoat, Maenclochog, Llys-y-frân, Walton East, Clarbeston Road, Wiston, Newbridge, Poyston Cross, Crundale and Haverfordwest, where large crowds gathered to watch the festive convoy pass through.

Families, children and residents wrapped up against the cold to enjoy the sight of tractors decorated with Christmas lights and festive displays, with applause and waves greeting drivers as they made their way through built-up areas and rural roads alike.

The convoy set off from the Clarbeston Road AFC Knock Playing Fields at 5:30pm and concluded at the County Showground in Haverfordwest later in the evening. At the end of the run, refreshments were available and the raffle draw took place at the Park House building, which was open to the public.

Organisers said the turnout from both drivers and spectators exceeded expectations, with the event once again bringing communities together while raising funds for local causes, including The Catrin Vaughan Foundation, In It With Isaac, and Wales Air Ambulance.

Clarbeston Road AFC thanked tractor drivers, volunteers, sponsors and members of the public for their support, as well as residents and road users for their patience while the convoy passed through.

The illuminated tractor run has become a firm fixture in the local festive calendar, with Friday night’s event described by many spectators as one of the best yet.

Community

Charity tractor and car run set to raise funds for Macmillan and Paul Sartori

Published

2 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A CHARITY tractor and car run in memory of Charles Rees is set to take place in Pembrokeshire later this month, with funds raised supporting Macmillan Cancer Support and Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

The Charles Rees Tractor & Car Run will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2025, starting and finishing at Dudwell Farm in Camrose.

Participants are being invited to “start their engines” in aid of the two charities, with gates opening at 9:00am and the convoy leaving promptly at 10:30am. Organisers have confirmed that the run will operate with no halfway stops, returning to Dudwell Farm at the end of the route.

The event will begin and finish at Dudwell Farm, Camrose (SA62 6HJ), and is open to tractors and cars. Registration and cash payment will take place on the day, with the price to be confirmed nearer the event.

Additional donations can also be made locally in the run-up to the event at Camrose Country Hardware and Croesgoch Stores.

The run has been organised to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, which provides vital care and assistance to people living with cancer, and Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, which supports patients and families across Pembrokeshire during some of the most difficult times of their lives.

Organisers say more information will be released closer to the event and are encouraging the local community to support the run, whether by taking part, donating, or lining the route to show support.

The event is expected to attract strong local interest, continuing Pembrokeshire’s tradition of community-led fundraising in support of much-valued charities.

News

Late Griffiths strike caps dramatic Clarby fightback in nine-goal thriller

Published

3 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Herald Sport

CLARBESTON ROAD staged a remarkable comeback to edge out Pennar Robins in a breathless Division One contest that delivered nine goals, wild swings of momentum and a hat-trick that ultimately counted for nothing.

Despite falling behind on three separate occasions, Clarby showed resilience and attacking intent to secure a 5–4 victory, sealed late on by Emyr Griffiths after the hosts had earlier trailed 3–1 in the first half.

For Pennar, the result was a bitter one. Jack Jones struck three times and the Robins led at 1–0, 3–1 and 4–3, but each advantage slipped away as Clarby refused to lie down.

The opening exchanges hinted at little of what was to come. Ben ‘Rocky’ John tested Pennar goalkeeper Ryeley Clark early on, while Tom Davies dragged an effort wide at the other end. The game burst into life after nine minutes when Pennar opened the scoring following a slick team move. Nicholas Willis drove forward down the right, combined neatly with Kieran Smith and Noah Davison, and was tripped inside the box. Jack Jones made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Clarby responded almost immediately. Player-manager Matthew Ellis, keen to atone for conceding the penalty, rose to head home Travis Jones’ corner at the near post just two minutes later.

Pennar regained control midway through the half. Tom Grimwood’s curling corner was met by Jones, who nodded in at the back post, and moments later the same duo combined again as Jones completed his hat-trick, finishing from close range after Grimwood beat his marker and cut the ball back.

Crucially, Clarby struck back before the break. Matthew Bowen delivered an inviting cross from the left and John powered a header past Clark to give the hosts renewed belief heading into half-time.

With the wind at their backs, Clarby came out flying after the restart. John levelled matters by cutting inside and firing low into the corner, before sustained pressure saw Matthew Davies have a goal ruled out for offside and substitute Josh Woods flash a shot across goal.

Against the run of play, Pennar edged back in front on 69 minutes when substitutes combined — Adam Phillips delivering a cross that Conner Phillips met unmarked to head home.

Once again, Clarby refused to fold. Jack Ashman drove forward from the edge of the area and thundered a high finish into the net to make it 4–4, before the decisive moment arrived 12 minutes from time. Griffiths broke through the Pennar back line and showed composure to lift the ball beyond Clark, completing a stunning turnaround.

Clarby managed the closing stages well to see out a vital win ahead of the Christmas break.

Man of the match: Jack Jones
Despite ending on the losing side, Jones’ clinical finishing and constant threat were impossible to ignore. Kieran Smith and Noah Davison were also influential in Pennar’s first-half dominance, while Ben John was central to Clarby’s revival before limping off with a knee issue.

Clarby player-manager Matthew Ellis said: “It’s a huge three points. After nine goals your head’s spinning a bit, but you’ll take it when you’re on the right side of the result. Pennar caused us problems early on, but we really turned it around after the break.”

Pennar manager Craig Butland said: “The second half wasn’t good enough. Individual errors are hurting us and conceding just before half-time changed the momentum. We’ve got to see games out better.”

Clarbeston Road: Rhys Mansell, Matthew Bowen, Greg Brown, Matthew Griffiths, Samuel Hurton, Jack Ashman, Emyr Griffiths, Matthew Davies (capt), Matthew Ellis, Ben John (Jake Wesley 62), Travis Jones. Sub not used: Joseph Jones.

Pennar Robins: Ryeley Clark, Nick Willis (Ryan Walters 80), Alex Wheeler (Adam Phillips 53), Ethan Ball, Bobby Jones (Conner Willis 53), Connor Roberts, Tom Grimwood, Kieran Smith (capt), Noah Davison, Jack Jones, Toby Davies.

Referee: Stefan Jenkins.