Community

Harbour set to come alive with song and opera in SPAN’s Big Sing

Published

7 months ago

May 12, 2025

Massed choir and street art opera to take centre stage at Saundersfoot

SAUNDERSFOOT Harbour will be transformed into a vibrant stage of sound and colour on Friday, May 24, as SPAN Arts hosts its much-anticipated Big Sing event—bringing together choirs, composers, filmmakers and street artists in a spectacular free celebration of music and creativity.

The evening begins at 7:30pm with the grand premiere of Songs of the Land, a new choral work by Pembrokeshire-born composer James Williams, performed live by a massed choir made up of singing groups from across the county. The piece is the final outcome of SPAN’s Love Stories to Nature commission—a year-long project exploring people’s personal and collective connections to the Welsh landscape.

The choirs involved in the commission have helped shape the composition by contributing their own stories and reflections about their relationship with the land. The result is a moving musical work that not only celebrates community, but also documents a shared experience of place, memory and identity.

As darkness falls, audiences will be treated to a dramatic shift in tone as Music Theatre Wales presents two newly commissioned Street Art Opera films—Rahmat–Mercy–Trugaredd and Out of Time—projected onto the side of the Saundersfoot Coastal Schooner.

Both pieces fuse music, animation, street art and storytelling to deliver operatic experiences rooted in contemporary themes. Rahmat–Mercy–Trugaredd, inspired by Sufi spirituality and hip-hop culture, follows a young woman’s journey to empowerment through creativity. The work blends henna art and graffiti with a soaring operatic score to powerful effect.

In contrast, Out of Time offers a darkly comic vision of a post-human world where nature has reasserted its dominance. As the Earth reclaims its beauty, the opera asks whether it’s too late for redemption.

Organisers say the event is designed to be accessible and inclusive, with no tickets or booking required. The performances are part of a broader effort by SPAN Arts and Music Theatre Wales to take high-quality cultural experiences beyond traditional venues and into the heart of local communities.

A spokesperson for SPAN Arts said: “This is a truly special evening—one that brings together voices from across Pembrokeshire, world-class artists, and cutting-edge storytelling in a setting that’s hard to beat. We hope people of all ages will join us to celebrate the power of creativity, nature and community.”

Community

Narbelles WI support Food Bank with festive donation

Published

15 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Group marks December meeting with charity collection and Christmas celebrations

NARBELLES WI rounded off the year with a festive December meeting featuring a bring-and-share buffet, party games and a Secret Santa gift exchange.

Members also used the occasion to support families in need across the county, collecting food items and presenting a £120 cheque to Ann Watling from Pembrokeshire Food Bank. The donation represents the proceeds of the group’s bucket collection during Narberth Civic Week 2024.

A spokesperson for the WI said the group was delighted to finish the year “with fun, friendship and a chance to give something back to the community.”

(Photo: Narbelles WI members presenting the cheque to Ann Watling, Pembrokeshire Food Bank.)

Community

Annual charity carol service raises funds for good causes

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service held its annual Charity Carol Service on Wednesday (Dec 10) at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel in Crymych.

The event brought together members of the local community alongside Fire Service staff for an evening of carols, readings and festive refreshments, marking the Christmas season in a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

This year’s service supported two important charities — the Fire Fighters Charity and Cancer Research Wales — with all proceeds going directly towards their ongoing work.

A total of £597 was raised on the night, which will be shared equally between the two charities.

The Service thanked the congregation at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel for hosting the event, as well as everyone who gave their time, support and generosity to make the evening such a success.

Community

3 Amigos toy bike run under way across Pembrokeshire

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Castle Inn fun runners back festive charity event

THE ANNUAL 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run is under way this afternoon (Saturday), with hundreds of motorcyclists setting off from Pembroke to raise funds for children’s services.

Riders gathered at The Commons car park in Pembroke from around midday before departing shortly after 1:00pm. The festive convoy is travelling along its traditional route, taking in Pembroke Dock and continuing through parts of the county including Neyland, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.

The event is organised by the 3 Amigos and Dollies Motorcycle Group and has become a much-anticipated Christmas tradition in west Wales, with toys and donations collected for children receiving care within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

Also supporting the event are fun runners from the Castle Inn in Pembroke, who have been fundraising in aid of the 3 Amigos. The group are pictured alongside participants from today’s run.

The 3 Amigos have been raising funds for children’s wards and health charities for more than twenty-five years, with their Easter and Christmas events continuing to make a positive difference to young patients and their families.

Organisers have thanked the public for their support and asked road users to be mindful of the large convoy as it passes through towns and villages this afternoon.

Photo caption:
Festive fundraising: Fun runners from the Castle Inn, Pembroke, pictured supporting the 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald)