THE PRESIDENT of Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir, Clive Collins, was honoured in style as choristers sang him out at a special concert held at Pembroke Town Hall on Friday (March 27).

Mr Collins, a long-standing and dedicated supporter of the choir, has stepped down from his role after many years of service. Throughout his time as President, he was supported by his wife, Enid.

His final official duty saw him present long service certificates to six choristers, who between them have given a combined 182 years of commitment to the choir.

Tributes were paid by the newly elected chairman, David Halsted, who himself marked an impressive fifty years as a member. In recognition of his service, Mr Collins has been appointed Life Vice President.

The well-attended concert, organised by Pembroke Town Council, raised funds for both the Mayor’s Fund—supporting the purchase of defibrillators—and the choir.

Mayor Gareth Jones welcomed guests to the evening, including Deputy Lord Lieutenant Dr Chris Martin and civic representatives from across the county.

Despite reduced numbers due to illness, the choir delivered a strong performance. The baritone section—Gerry Gommo, Ron Rees and Ed Morris—performed admirably in their solo parts, while first tenor Paul Owen made his choir debut.

The programme, selected by Musical Director Juliet Rossiter, was warmly received, with accompaniment from the Rev William Lambert. Compère Matthew John continued recent tradition by inviting audience participation for the Elvis Presley classic American Trilogy, with five volunteers stepping forward—including his father, Steve.

Guest soloist Donna Jones, from Llanfallteg, made her first appearance with the choir and impressed with a varied selection of songs ranging from Broadway to Bob Dylan and traditional English folk. Choristers expressed hopes of working with her again in the future.

Thanks were extended to Suzie Thomas and Kaylee White of Pembroke Town Council, along with choir secretary David Powell, for their work in organising the event.

More than £900 was raised during what was described as a highly successful musical evening.

Police attend after dangerous incident involving football on railway line

TRAINS were delayed at Haverfordwest railway station on Tuesday (Apr 1) after a group of youths were seen playing with a football near live tracks, prompting a police response.

Footage captured by a bystander shows several young people on the platform throwing and kicking a ball across the station. In one clip, a youth is seen kicking a football from Platform 2 towards Platform 1, but the ball overshoots and lands beyond a fence into the station car park.

More concerning footage shows the ball rolling onto the railway line, with one youth climbing down onto the tracks to retrieve it—an act that poses serious risk of injury or death due to live rails and the potential for oncoming trains.

The incident caused disruption to services, with two trains delayed by 25 minutes while the situation was dealt with.

Police attended the scene, although it is not yet clear whether any arrests were made. Officers have been approached for comment.

Railway safety rules strictly prohibit access to the tracks except by authorised personnel, and incidents such as this are treated seriously due to the potentially fatal consequences.

The Herald understands that such behaviour can also lead to significant disruption across the rail network, affecting passengers and services well beyond the immediate area.

Anyone with further information about the incident is urged to contact police.

Local firms highlighted as supermarket giant backs £27bn Welsh food sector

HAVERFORDWEST food producers were among those selected to take centre stage at a national showcase celebrating the very best of Welsh food and drink.

Supermarket giant Tesco hosted the St David’s Day event in partnership with the Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales initiative, bringing together leading suppliers from across the country.

Two Pembrokeshire-based businesses — Blas y Tir, part of Pembrokeshire Creameries, and Puffin Produce, both based in Haverfordwest — were among those chosen to represent Welsh produce on a national stage.The event, held to mark St David’s Day, showcased a wide range of products including dairy, baked goods, meats, curries and spirits, highlighting the breadth and quality of food produced across Wales.

Organisers said the showcase underlined the importance of supporting local suppliers, many of which are family-run businesses rooted in their communities and reliant on local agriculture.

The Welsh food and drink supply chain is estimated to be worth £27 billion, with companies like those in Pembrokeshire playing a key role in sustaining rural jobs and supporting farmers.

Visitors to the event were given the opportunity to meet producers and sample products, while a surprise performance from Welsh singers added a cultural element to the day’s celebrations.

Enfys Fox, relationship manager for local sourcing at Tesco Wales, said: “St David’s Day is a time to celebrate everything that makes Wales special, and our suppliers are at the very heart of that story.

“This event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the incredible range, quality and heritage of Welsh produce available in our stores.

“We are incredibly proud to collaborate with the Welsh Government and work with so many dedicated Welsh suppliers, many of them family businesses with deep roots in their communities. By supporting them, we’re not only bringing great products to our customers, but also investing in local jobs and the wider Welsh economy.”

The Herald understands that products from Pembrokeshire suppliers featured at the event are widely stocked in Tesco stores across Wales, giving local shoppers direct access to locally sourced goods.

While the showcase celebrated success, it also highlighted the growing importance of ensuring Welsh producers continue to secure fair opportunities within major retail supply chains.

The event formed part of Tesco’s wider commitment to strengthening partnerships with Welsh suppliers and promoting locally sourced food throughout the year.