Community

Holocaust survivor receives Peace Award on historic VE Day anniversary

Published

9 months ago

May 8, 2025

IN A POIGNANT and symbolic gesture, the Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Cardiff Cllr Helen Lloyd Jones has awarded a Personal Peace Award to Eva Clarke, a Holocaust survivor whose birth coincided with the final days of World War II.

This special recognition, granted on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, underscores the remarkable journey of Eva Clarke, who was born in Mauthausen concentration camp, Austria, on April 29, 1945, just days before the war ended on May 8, 1945.

Eva Clarke’s survival was nothing short of miraculous. The camp’s gas chambers were blown up on April 28, 1945, and the Americans liberated Mauthausen just days after Eva’s birth. Tragically, most of her family had been murdered in Auschwitz-Birkenau, including three of her grandparents, her father, uncles, aunts, and her 7-year-old cousin, Peter. Eva and her mother were the only survivors of their family.

Throughout her life, Eva has worked tirelessly with the Holocaust Educational Trust to raise awareness of the horrors of the Holocaust and to condemn genocides wherever they occur. She participated in this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day event in Cardiff and her dedication to sharing her family’s experiences has been invaluable to ensure that the atrocities of the past are never forgotten and that future generations learn the importance of tolerance, understanding, and human rights.

The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr Helen Lloyd Jones, expressed profound admiration for Eva’s courage and resilience, saying: “Eva Clarke’s story is a powerful reminder of the enduring strength of the human spirit. We are honoured to recognise her contributions to our community and beyond. Her willingness to share the heart-breaking experiences her family endured, ensures that the horrors of the Holocaust are never forgotten and that future generations understand the importance of remembering the past to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.

“Eva’s life journey, from the harrowing days of her birth to her contributions to peace, serves as an inspiration to all. The Peace Award bestowed upon her is a symbol of Cardiff’s deepest respect and gratitude for her tireless efforts in promoting peace and understanding.”

In 1933, when Hitler came to power, Eva’s father, Bernd Nathan, left Hamburg and moved to Prague. There, he eventually met Eva’s mother, Anka Kauderová. The couple married on May 15, 1940. In December 1941, they were sent to Terezín (Theresienstadt), where they remained for three years. They were young, strong, and able to work.

During their time in Terezín, Anka became pregnant with a son, Dan. When the Nazis discovered this, Eva’s parents were forced to sign a document stating that when the baby was born, it would have to be handed over to the Gestapo. Tragically, Dan died of pneumonia at two months of age. His death inadvertently saved Eva’s life – had Anka arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau with a baby, she would have been sent immediately to the gas chambers. However, because she arrived without a baby and was not visibly pregnant with Eva, she survived.

Anka was in Auschwitz-Birkenau from October 1-10, 1944. She had volunteered to follow her husband, who had been sent there. Tragically, she never saw him again, and he never knew she was pregnant. After the war, she discovered that he had been shot on January 18, 1945, less than a week before the Red Army liberated the camp.

As Anka’s pregnancy was not visible and she was deemed fit for work, she was sent out of Auschwitz to work in an armaments factory in Freiberg, near Dresden. She remained there for the next six months – by now getting weaker while at the same time, becoming more visibly pregnant. By the spring of 1945, the Germans were retreating and evacuating concentration and slave labour camps. Eva’s mother and her fellow prisoners were forced onto a train: not cattle trucks this time but coal trucks – open to the skies and, obviously, filthy. They weren’t given any food and scarcely any water during what became a three-week nightmare journey around the Czech countryside. The Nazis didn’t know what to do with their ‘dying cargo’.

The train eventually arrived at Mauthausen concentration camp. Anka had such a shock when she saw the name of this notorious camp that her labour began and Eva was born on a cart, in the open, without any assistance, medical or otherwise. By this stage, Anka weighed about five stone (35 kg) – she had the appearance of a scarcely living pregnant skeleton. Eva weighed about 3 lbs (1.5 kg). If the camp’s gas chambers hadn’t been blown up on April 28, 1945, and the Americans hadn’t liberated Mauthausen just days after Eva’s birth, neither mother nor child would have survived.

In 1948, Eva and her mother returned to Prague, where Anka married Eva’s stepfather in February 1948. In the same year, they emigrated to the UK and settled in Cardiff. Eva later met her husband, a Law Student from Abergavenny who went on to be a Professor of Law in Cambridge. She moved to Cambridge to be with him.

The Pembrokeshire Herald’s Coverage of VE Day C80 commemorations are kindly sponsored by PMR

Community

Welsh hymn singing celebration to be held in Newport this Sunday

Published

13 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SPECIAL afternoon celebrating Wales’ rich tradition of hymn singing and sacred music will take place at Canolfan Bethlehem on Sunday (Feb 15) at 3:00pm.

Organisers say the event, titled Caniadaeth y Cysegr, will honour a musical heritage that has shaped Welsh life for generations. Hymn singing has long echoed beyond chapels and churches, heard on rugby terraces, at community gatherings and in village halls – a living tradition woven into the fabric of Welsh identity.

Central to that tradition is the Cymanfa Ganu, the much-loved hymn festival which has played a vital role across Wales, particularly in north Pembrokeshire. While attendance has declined in recent decades, supporters say the spirit of congregational singing remains strong and deserves renewed celebration.

The afternoon will feature a talk by broadcaster and academic Ceri Wyn Richards, who will explore the poets, composers and musicians from Pembrokeshire whose work has made a lasting contribution to Welsh hymnody and sacred song.

During her distinguished career in television and radio, Richards produced Caniadaeth y Cysegr, the BBC’s longest-running religious programme, first aired in 1942 and widely regarded as the forerunner to Songs of Praise. Before retiring, she undertook an ambitious nationwide project to record every hymn in the Welsh hymn book with chapels, choirs and musicians throughout the country.

The event will also explore the strong links between hymn writing and places such as St Davids and Blaenwern, while reflecting on the legacy of influential figures including W. Rhys Nicholas, Waldo Williams and Eirwyn George. Organisers will also highlight the surprising connections between traditional hymn tunes and modern popular music.

A simultaneous translation service will be available, and the event is open to all.

Organisers added: “Everyone is welcome to join us for an afternoon of song, history and community as we celebrate one of Wales’ most treasured cultural traditions.”

Community

Festival of the Sea to return with free family day at Milford Waterfront

Published

14 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Coastal groups, artists and charities unite at Sybil House to celebrate Pembrokeshire’s marine life and community spirit

MILFORD HAVEN is set for a splash of colour, music and marine discovery next month as the Festival of the Sea returns with a full day of free activities for families.

Organised by Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, the event will take place at Sybil House on Sunday, March 1, from 10:00am to 4:00pm, bringing together conservation groups, artists, performers and community organisations to celebrate the county’s coastline and the people whose lives are tied to it.

The Herald understands the festival proved popular last year and has been expanded for 2026, with organisers moving into the larger indoor venue to allow more stalls, workshops and performances.

Visitors can expect a packed programme of hands-on activities and entertainment aimed at all ages. Highlights include a marine wildlife touch tank hosted by the Field Studies Council, children’s art and clay workshops at the Waterfront Gallery, live music and sea shanties, and walkabout pirate performers bringing a bit of theatre to the waterfront.

Throughout the day, local choirs and musicians will perform, creating what organisers hope will feel like a relaxed, community celebration rather than a formal exhibition.

Sue Burton, Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation Officer, said: “The Festival of the Sea was really popular last year, and I’m really pleased it’s coming back in the bigger venue of Sybil House.

“The marine environment of Pembrokeshire is internationally important for wildlife as well as for employment and energy. The festival is a fun way to celebrate all the great work being done for our seas, and it’s a great opportunity to engage young people through art workshops, face painting and street theatre.”

A wide range of organisations will host information stands and activities, including the RNLI, Sea Trust, Project Seagrass, The Crown Estate, Car-y-Môr, Marine Conservation Society, Marine Energy Wales and the Port of Milford Haven.

Together, they will showcase projects ranging from marine wildlife protection and habitat restoration to renewable energy and sustainable seafood, highlighting the economic and environmental importance of the Haven and surrounding coastline.

Food and refreshments will also be available, including local produce from Pembrokeshire Beach Food, giving visitors a taste of Pembrokeshire’s growing reputation for coastal cuisine.

Entry is free, and organisers say people are welcome to drop in for a single activity or spend the whole day exploring what is on offer. A full schedule of talks and workshops will be released closer to the date.

For more information, visit www.pembrokeshirecoastalforum.org.uk/festival-of-the-sea.

Community

Angle lifeboat crew celebrate 13 new qualifications after intensive assessment week

Published

16 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THIRTEEN volunteer crew members at Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Angle Lifeboat Station have successfully completed a demanding week of assessments, marking the culmination of months of training and preparation.

The pass-outs strengthen the station’s operational capability and ensure the all-weather lifeboat remains fully crewed and ready to respond to emergencies across the Milford Haven Waterway and the wider Pembrokeshire coast.

Three crew members – Anthony Thomas, Gareth Thomas and Nathen Houston – qualified as All-weather Lifeboat (ALB) Navigators after completing a four-hour practical and theory assessment.

https://rnli.org/-/media/news-centre/2018/mar/12/angle_rnli_lifeboat_launched_after_emergency_call_from_rib.jpg?hash=EA208F018100CC2EEF7E08D5BD31B7D8&rev=3a22650a4f044fa0a1e0c03fa9883c3a

Their test covered a range of search and rescue scenarios, including simulated taskings, radar work, position fixing and traditional paper chart navigation – all skills vital during poor visibility and challenging sea conditions.

A further ten volunteers – Phil Jones, Tom Meehan, Nick Gale, Rob Davies, Finn Frost, James Findlay, Allen Price, Seymore Phillips, Graham Booth and Matt Nicholas – passed their Tier 2 ALB Crew assessments.

The qualification tests every aspect of lifeboat operations, from man overboard recovery and towing to mooring, berthing, helming and anchoring. Candidates were put through their paces by an RNLI assessor in realistic scenarios designed to mirror live shouts.

Station representatives said the results reflect the commitment and professionalism of the volunteer crew, many of whom balance training with full-time jobs and family life.

The latest qualifications come as the Angle crew continue to play a crucial role in rescues around Milford Haven and the south Pembrokeshire coastline, one of the busiest and most complex maritime areas in Wales.

A spokesperson said the achievements “demonstrate the dedication of our volunteers and the continued strength of lifeboat operations from the town of Milford Haven.”

With 13 newly qualified crew now ready to serve, the station is better equipped than ever to respond when the pager sounds.