Community

Three Tamar lifeboats stage dramatic rescue drill off Milford Haven

Published

1 year ago

March 23, 2025

ANYONE watching the entrance to the Milford Haven Waterway on Saturday morning (March 22) might have thought a serious maritime emergency was unfolding — but the presence of three RNLI Tamar class lifeboats was, in fact, part of a major pre-planned training exercise.

The dramatic display saw all-weather lifeboats from Tenby, Angle, and St Davids RNLI stations working together in challenging conditions, simulating a complex rescue scenario. The exercise was coordinated by Milford Haven Coastguard and centred around a mock emergency in which a person had reportedly fallen overboard from a vessel in the area.

***Training at sea: Three Tamar class lifeboats from Tenby, Angle and St Davids during Saturday’s joint exercise (Pic: RNLI)***

Observers saw the three 25-knot-capable Tamar lifeboats manoeuvring in tight formation and conducting detailed search patterns as they combed the sea for the “casualty” — all while accounting for strong tidal currents, wind, and the busy marine traffic of one of the UK’s key ports.

The drill was designed not only to test individual crew skills but also to enhance inter-station cooperation in the kind of multi-agency emergency that could happen at any time along the Pembrokeshire coast.

The casualty was ultimately located and retrieved by the Tenby lifeboat crew, marking a successful conclusion to the scenario. Once the operation was complete, the three crews met up on the water to debrief and review the exercise before returning to their respective stations.

A spokesperson for Tenby RNLI said: “This exercise was a great chance to put into practice all of our hard work and training. It was a large and complex exercise, which involved searching for a casualty in the water, but had the added pressure of being on the approaches to a busy waterway. The crews all performed really well, locating the casualty and bringing it aboard safely. We’d like to thank St Davids and Angle crews and also Milford Haven Coastguard for coordinating and overseeing the exercise.”

***A simulated casualty rescue during the exercise off Milford Haven (Pic: RNLI)***

Tamar class lifeboats, introduced into RNLI service in 2005, are among the most advanced in the charity’s fleet, equipped with cutting-edge navigation and communication systems and capable of operating in the worst sea conditions. Seeing three of them in close operation is a rare and impressive sight — one that this weekend served as a powerful reminder of the RNLI’s dedication.

The RNLI and why training is vital

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charitable organisation dedicated to saving lives at sea across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Established in 1824, the RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations and provides a 24-hour search and rescue service using both all-weather and inshore lifeboats. The charity also delivers beach lifeguard services and works to promote water safety education in communities around the coast.

What makes the RNLI particularly remarkable is that the majority of its lifeboat crew members are volunteers. These individuals come from all walks of life—fishermen, mechanics, teachers, and office workers—who drop everything when their pagers go off, often heading out into the most challenging conditions imaginable. They commit to rigorous training, regular assessments, and ongoing drills to maintain the skills needed to respond quickly, effectively, and safely to emergencies at sea.

Training is not only essential for individual crew members, but it also plays a vital role in ensuring that multiple lifeboats and agencies can operate together smoothly during major incidents. Multi-agency rescues often involve coordination between RNLI lifeboats, HM Coastguard, helicopters, and sometimes other emergency services. These operations can be logistically complex and take place in dangerous, fast-changing environments. Exercises like the one held off Milford Haven allow teams to test communication, refine search strategies, and build the confidence and trust required to perform seamlessly when real lives are at stake.

Community

Bongo Clive brings rhythm and smiles to VC Gallery celebration

Published

6 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

LEARNING DISABILITY WEEK MARKED WITH MUSIC, LAUGHTER AND INCLUSION IN PEMBROKE DOCK

THE VC GALLERY in Pembroke Dock was filled with music, laughter and energy as visitors came together to celebrate Learning Disability Week.

The event saw popular entertainer Bongo Clive lead a lively session of singing, drumming and participation, with those attending joining in throughout the day.

The gallery said the session had created a joyful atmosphere, with music helping to bring people together and celebrate inclusion, creativity and wellbeing.

A spokesperson for The VC Gallery said: “The smiles said it all. A huge thank you to Bongo Clive for bringing your incredible energy, enthusiasm and positivity to The VC today. You certainly had everyone moving to the beat.”

Learning Disability Week celebrates inclusion and the abilities, creativity and individuality of people with learning disabilities.

The Pembroke Dock event highlighted the role of community spaces such as The VC Gallery in supporting wellbeing, friendship and confidence through shared creative activities.

Community

Sir Karl Jenkins named Eisteddfod President for 2026

Published

7 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SIR KARL JENKINS has been named President of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for 2026.

The internationally acclaimed Welsh composer, one of the world’s most performed living composers, will take on the role as the festival prepares to welcome performers, competitors and visitors from across the globe.

Sir Karl is best known for works including The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, Adiemus and Requiem.

His appointment comes in a landmark year after The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace was voted the most popular work in the Classic FM Hall of Fame 2026.

Opening night return

Sir Karl’s presidential year will begin with the opening night concert, Uniting Nations: One World, on Tuesday, July 7.

The concert had been due to take place in 2025 but was postponed, causing disappointment for volunteers, performers and audience members who had travelled from across the UK and overseas.

The Eisteddfod has now brought the event back with support from the Arts Council of Wales.

Sir Karl said: “I’m delighted to be returning to the Llangollen Festival this year and especially honoured to do so in the role of President.

“Llangollen is always a very special place to be, with its unique sense of community and international spirit.

“I’m greatly looking forward to conducting my most recent choral work, One World, particularly following the postponement of last year’s performance.

“It’s a piece that I feel reflects the very essence of the festival, bringing together outstanding musicians from across the globe to form one powerful collective voice.”

Global chorus

The evening will feature a full performance of One World, conducted by Sir Karl and performed by an international massed chorus made up of WorldChoir and NEW Voices, accompanied by the Llangollen International Orchestra.

The work blends Jenkins’ distinctive musical style with themes of humanity, compassion and environmental stewardship.

The concert will also include a complete staging of Peace Child: The Musical, which places young people at the heart of its message of peace and global citizenship.

Opening the evening will be the world premiere of Greeting the Dawn, a newly commissioned bilingual work by emerging Welsh composer Sam Buttler.

The piece was written for the 2026 Eisteddfod through the Harmony Without Borders initiative, continuing Llangollen’s tradition of supporting new talent and giving Welsh composers an international platform.

‘Great cultural ambassador’

John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Sir Karl Jenkins has agreed to serve as President of the Eisteddfod for 2026.

“Few musicians have done more to promote the values of peace, friendship and international understanding that lie at the heart of our festival.

“Sir Karl is one of Wales’s greatest cultural ambassadors and his music has inspired audiences across every continent.

“The fact that The Armed Man has just been voted the nation’s favourite classical work is a testament not only to his extraordinary talent, but also to the universal appeal of the messages of peace, hope and humanity that run through so much of his music.”

Mr Gambles added: “The postponement of One World last year was heartbreaking for everyone involved.

“We knew how much the concert meant to audiences, performers and volunteers alike, and we were determined to find a way to bring it back.

“Thanks to the support of the Arts Council of Wales, we can now finally give this extraordinary concert the audience it deserves.

“With Sir Karl as our President, the return of One World, the world premiere of a major new Welsh composition and the powerful message of Peace Child, this promises to be one of the most memorable and significant opening nights in the Eisteddfod’s history.”

Festival programme

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod returns for its 79th year on Tuesday, July 7.

This year’s programme includes performances from Michael Ball, Emeli Sandé with the Absolute Orchestra, Uniting Nations: One World featuring Sir Karl Jenkins, and the Choir of the World competition.

Thousands of competitors from around the world will also take part in the daytime programme, with the Parade of Nations returning on Friday, July 10.

Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting from £33.

Further information is available at llangollen.net.

Community

Lord Rhys emerges from the mist in St Davids

Published

9 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Giant puppet begins historic journey marking 850 years since the first Eisteddfod

MIST swirled around St Davids Cathedral on Friday evening as a giant Lord Rhys puppet emerged from the fog to begin a journey celebrating 850 years since the first recorded Eisteddfod.

Accompanied by traditional musicians and followed by crowds of spectators, the towering figure cut an imposing sight against the backdrop of the ancient cathedral.

The procession marked the start of Taith yr Arglwydd Rhys (The Journey of Lord Rhys), a cultural pilgrimage retracing the legacy of the Welsh prince whose gathering of poets and musicians at Cardigan Castle in 1176 is widely regarded as the first recorded Eisteddfod.

As fog drifted across the city and church towers faded into the background, the scene felt more like a chapter from Welsh folklore than a modern-day celebration.

The giant puppet, accompanied by fellow performers and musicians, travelled from St Davids Cathedral to Oriel y Parc before beginning a wider journey through west Wales.

The travelling celebration will visit communities across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion before culminating in Cardigan, where Lord Rhys originally staged his famous cultural gathering eight and a half centuries ago.

Video and photographs shared by DrifterStDavids captured the remarkable atmosphere, with many describing the spectacle as one of the most memorable cultural events seen in St Davids for years.

Photo caption: Lord Rhys emerges from the mist outside St Davids Cathedral as celebrations begin to mark the 850th anniversary of the first recorded Eisteddfod

(Pic: SmallWorld – Video: Drifter St Davids)