Gone, but most definitely not forgotten

Published

7 months ago

April 28, 2025

SOMEWHERE in the heart of Pembrokeshire sits a long-abandoned farmhouse, barely visible through decades of overgrowth.

Its windows are broken, its front door stands ajar and its floors are covered in debris. A solitary Singer sewing machine stands in the centre of the kitchen as poignant reminder of the lives of the people who once lived there.

“Coming across places like this – beautiful properties which have just been abandoned and left to decay – is tragic,” said one of the people responsible for setting up B&R Urban Explorers UK, the Pembrokeshire-based group whose mission is to seek out forgotten places.

“Each of these properties were once full of life, but now everything has just been left standing still.”

Last week B&R were given permission to visit the Haverfordwest Junior Voluntary Controlled School in Barn Street, which closed its classroom doors for the last time in 2018.

There they discovered three wooden plaques dating back to the 1920’s, each bearing testimony to the pupils’ successes, while dozens of classroom photographs were found discarded on the floor. A similar discovery was made in Tasker Milward School where plaques naming the head boys and head girls from 1978 and the students who had won scholarships were found in the vacated building, as well as a full-sized Bechstein grand piano left abandoned in the main hall.

“These things meant so much to so many, and that’s not just the children, but their parents, their families and the teaching staff at each of the schools,” continued R, who prefers to be called by his initials.

“Surely items such as these should be respected and looked after? And if they can’t be moved to an alternative school, then why can’t they be placed in the town museum?”

Since launching B&R Explorers UK in March of this year, R and his partner have visited a number of forgotten properties all over the UK. But it goes without saying that the couple has a special affinity for the places they’re discovering closer to their home which is in Milford Haven. In addition to the Haverfordwest schools, they recently explored Hakin Infant School which is due to be demolished later this year, where they discovered discarded photographs of children, which included ones of their daughter, as well as Oakwood, the Brawdy Lanes bowling alley, Roch Gate Hotel and many abandoned Pembrokeshire farmhouses.

“We recently visited a property that we’ve christened ‘The Whiskey House’, because when we walked into the outside shed, we found a whiskey bottle lying there, waiting for its owner’s return and in the middle of the kitchen, we found an old Singer sewing machine.

“We’ve also visited Dylan Thomas’ auntie’s house, near Laugharne, which has obviously been empty for many years because one of the upstairs ceilings had fallen through. The house is still full of items, some of which are antique, and it’s so sad to see this happening to so many properties around our county.

“Little Milford House is another prime example. It’s owned by the National Trust, and when we got there earlier this year, we discovered that the front door had been left open. The yale lock had been left on its latch, so anyone could have walked in. We made sure the door was properly closed when we left, but once again it’s such a shame to see a property of this stature being left to decay. Little Milford is such a popular area with walkers, I’m sure the house could be enjoyed by so many others.”

Since launching B&R Urban Explorers UK on social media, the site has attracted a healthy 1,000 people who have begun following in just just over a month.

“This has been something of a surprise to us, but it also shows just how much interest people are taking in the properties and the communities around them,” concludes R.

“By discovering these properties and by sharing our findings with the public, we’re hopeful that a little more attention will be given to them and items, like the plaques we found in Tasker Milward and Haverfordwest Junior voluntary schools, will get the recognition and respect that they deserve.”

Entertainment

Gavin & Stacey stars reunite for Christmas advert

Published

1 hour ago

December 4, 2025

Luke Sinclair

Gavin & Stacey favourites Joanna Page and Mathew Horne have reunited on screen for a Christmas special – though not the one fans might have hoped for. Instead of returning to Barry or Billericay, the duo appear together in a new festive advert for Waitrose, sharing a turkey pie while responding to a fan’s heartfelt letter about expressing love through food.

The short film marks their appearance in How to Say It With Food, a six-part series in which Page and Horne tackle some of the nation’s most common Christmas food dilemmas. The clip opens with Page teasingly nodding to their iconic sitcom: “Oh, you didn’t think we’d let Christmas roll around without showing up again, did you?”

Horne quickly follows with his own playful line: “Us? Miss Christmas? Not a chance. But this time we’re here to help you say it with food.”

The pair are then handed an envelope “from Santa”, containing a letter from a viewer asking how he can show his “leading lady” he loves her through food. Mathew quips: “First time saying it, you want a statement. Sixteenth time, you want a statement that doesn’t involve socks.”

He then introduces Waitrose’s new Christmas advert starring Keira Knightley and Joe Wilkinson. The main campaign follows an unlikely festive romance sparked by Sussex Charmer cheese and culminating in Wilkinson presenting Knightley with a turkey pie decorated with the words “I love you”. Watching the moment unfold, Page smiles at Horne and mirrors another classic Gavin & Stacey reference: “Oh, that’s so romantic.”

The duo are soon given their own turkey pie to try. Horne eagerly tucks in before cutting Page a slice, prompting laughter from his co-star. The advert ends with the pair wishing viewers a Merry Christmas as Knightley and Wilkinson share a warm festive kiss on screen.

The reunion comes almost a year after audiences tuned in to the BBC sitcom’s much-anticipated finale, which drew an impressive 12.3 million viewers on Christmas Day. The episode wrapped up storylines including Gwen’s blossoming romance with Dave Coaches, Smithy’s near-wedding to Sonia, and the moment fans had long debated – Smithy and Nessa tying the knot.

Reflecting on the new project, Page said: “You thought you’d seen the last of us! Well, we’re back and what fun we had.” She added: “It was such a treat working with Mat… food is what brings people together over the festive season.”

Horne described the experience as “brilliant”, calling their on-screen reunion “a Christmas tradition”.

Health

Government orders clinical review amid sharp rise in mental health diagnoses

Published

1 hour ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

4.4 million working-age people now claiming sickness or incapacity benefit, up by 1.2 million since 2019, many because of a mental health condition

A CLINICAL review into how mental health conditions are diagnosed across the UK is expected to begin this week, following concerns within government over rapidly rising sickness-benefit claims linked to conditions such as autism, ADHD and anxiety.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has commissioned leading clinical experts to examine whether ordinary emotional distress is being “over-pathologised” and to assess why the number of people receiving sickness and incapacity benefits has grown to 4.4 million – an increase of 1.2 million since 2019.

According to reports in The Times, ministers are particularly alarmed by the surge in the number of 16- to 34-year-olds now out of work because of long-term mental health conditions.

Streeting said he recognised “from personal experience how devastating it can be for people who face poor mental health, have ADHD or autism and can’t get a diagnosis or the right support,” but added that he had also heard from clinicians who say diagnoses are “sharply rising”.

“We must look at this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding of what we know, what we don’t know, and what these patterns tell us about our mental health system, autism and ADHD services,” he told the newspaper. “That’s the only way we can ensure everyone gets timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support.”

The review is expected to be chaired by Prof Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist at University College London specialising in child mental health, with Sir Simon Wessely, former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, acting as vice-chair.

Prof Fonagy said the panel would “examine the evidence with care – from research, from people with lived experience and from clinicians working at the frontline of mental health, autism and ADHD services – to understand, in a grounded way, what is driving rising demand.”

The move comes as the UK Government faces mounting pressure over the rising welfare bill. Ministers earlier this year pulled back from proposed changes to disability benefits, including those affecting people with mental health conditions, after opposition from Labour backbenchers.

Speaking on Monday, the Prime Minister said a fresh round of welfare reform was needed.

Keir Starmer said: “We’ve got to transform it; we also have to confront the reality that our welfare state is trapping people, not just in poverty, but out of work.”

Business

Welsh Govt shifts stance on business rates after pressure from S4C and Herald

Published

15 hours ago

December 3, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Ministers release unexpected statement 48 hours after widespread concern highlighted in Welsh media

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has announced a new package of tapered business rates relief for 2026-27, in a move that follows sustained pressure from Welsh media — including S4C Newyddion and The Pembrokeshire Herald — over the impact of revaluation on small businesses.

In Milford Haven, the hard-pressed pub sector is already feeling the impact: the annual bill for The Lord Kitchener is rising from £5,000 to £15,000, while rates at the Kimberley Public House have nearly doubled from £10,500 to £19,500. The Imperial Hall’s rates are increasing from £5,800 to £9,200, prompting director Lee Bridges to question why businesses “are being asked to pay more when we use less services”. In Haverfordwest, the annual rates bill for Eddie’s Nightclub is increasing from £57,000 to £61,500.

A written statement, issued suddenly on Wednesday afternoon, confirms that ministers will introduce a transitional “tapering mechanism” to soften steep increases for tourism, hospitality and small independent operators. Full details will be published with the draft Budget later this month.

The announcement comes less than two days after The Herald’s in-depth reporting brought forward direct concerns from Pembrokeshire business owners and councillors, highlighting the uncertainty facing one of Wales’ most important local industries.

Herald reporting credited by senior councillor

Pembrokeshire County Council Independent Group Leader Cllr Huw Carnhuan Murphy publicly thanked The Herald for pushing the issue into the spotlight.

In a statement shared on Wednesday, Cllr Murphy said: “Welcome news from Welsh Government. Thanks to Tom Sinclair for running this important item in the Herald in relation to the revaluation of businesses and the consequences it will have for many.

He added: “Newyddion S4C hefyd am redeg y stori pwysig yma ynghylch trethi busnes.,” which in English is “and thanks to S4C Newyddion as well for running this important story about business taxes.”

He added that the Independent Group “will always campaign to support our tourism and agriculture industry, on which so many residents rely within Pembrokeshire”.

Media spotlight increased pressure on Cardiff Bay

On Monday, ministers said business rates plans would be outlined “within the next two weeks”.
By Wednesday afternoon — following prominent coverage on S4C and continued pressure from The Herald — Welsh Government released an early written statement outlining new support.

Industry sources told The Herald they believed the level of public concern, amplified by the media, “forced the issue up the agenda much faster than expected”.

A cautious welcome for ‘better than nothing’

Cllr Murphy welcomed the partial support, though he stressed it fell short of what many businesses had hoped for.

“This isn’t the level of support many were hoping for,” he said, “but it is certainly much better than nothing.”

Draft Budget expected soon

The full tapered support scheme will be detailed in the Welsh Government draft Budget, expected within a fortnight.

Tourism and hospitality representatives have reserved final judgment until the figures are published, but many have expressed relief that some support will continue, following weeks of uncertainty.