TWO Haverfordwest High School pupils addressed senior political and religious figures and a Holocaust survivor at Wales’ main commemoration in Cardiff

Holocaust Memorial Day was marked in Cardiff this week with a powerful contribution from two Pembrokeshire students, who were invited to speak at Wales’ national commemoration event.

Awel Jones and Olivia Beal, both Year 13 pupils at Haverfordwest High School, attended the ceremony at the Temple of Peace on Monday (Jan 27) in their roles as ambassadors for the Holocaust Educational Trust.

The pair were asked to deliver speeches reflecting on their work with the Trust and their involvement in the “Lessons from Auschwitz” project, which educates young people about the Holocaust and the dangers of prejudice, discrimination and hatred.

They spoke in front of a distinguished audience that included the First Minister for Wales, Eluned Morgan, the Archbishop of Wales, senior civic leaders and Holocaust survivor Peter Lantos.

The national event formed part of Holocaust Memorial Day 2026, which was held under the theme “bridging generations”, highlighting the responsibility of younger generations to carry forward the lessons of the past as the number of living survivors declines.

Awel Jones and Olivia Beal were the only young Holocaust Educational Trust ambassadors representing Wales at the national ceremony, a distinction described as a significant honour for both the students and Pembrokeshire.

A parent said the occasion was “profoundly emotive and important”, adding that being invited to speak at such a high-profile event was an accolade for the students and a reflection of the strength of Holocaust education work taking place locally.

Holocaust Memorial Day is observed annually on January 27, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945.

Last major component reaches site as Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy thank communities for patience

DRAGON LNG and Dragon Energy have confirmed that the final large component for a new wind turbine project has now been successfully delivered, bringing months of complex abnormal load movements on Pembrokeshire roads to an end.

The companies said the final turbine blade was delivered to the site on Wednesday (Jan 28, 2026), marking the completion of all major component deliveries associated with the project.

In a statement, Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy thanked the local community for its patience and cooperation throughout the delivery programme, acknowledging that the operation caused disruption on local roads.

Residents across parts of the county have previously experienced temporary road closures, traffic delays and police escorts as oversized turbine components were transported from the Port of Milford Haven to the site under tightly controlled conditions.

The abnormal load movements required months of detailed planning and coordination, involving route surveys, traffic management, police support and liaison with local authorities to ensure deliveries were carried out safely and with minimal disruption wherever possible.

The companies also apologised for the inconvenience caused during the delivery phase, saying the support and understanding shown by residents had been “invaluable” in allowing the project to reach this milestone.

A number of organisations were involved in supporting the operation, including Pembrokeshire County Council, Dyfed-Powys Police, haulage specialists Collett & Sons Ltd and Green Light Traffic Management.

Local media outlets, including The Pembrokeshire Herald, provided advance notice and updates during the delivery process to help keep residents informed.

With the final major deliveries now complete, Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy said the project would continue to progress to the next phase of construction on site.

Concerns raised over cultural funding priorities amid NHS pressures and closure of Welsh institutions

The Welsh Government has come under criticism after it emerged that more than £40,000 of public money was spent supporting an African film festival held in Cardiff.

Figures show that £41,600.90 was paid in February 2025 to Watch Africa CIC, the organisation behind the annual Watch Africa Film Festival, which showcases African cinema through film screenings, workshops, filmmaker question-and-answer sessions and cultural events. According to the festival’s organisers, the event was launched in 2013 and aims to celebrate the richness and diversity of African storytelling through film.

The spending has been challenged by Gareth Davies, the Welsh Conservatives’ Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism, Sport and North Wales, who questioned the decision at a time when public finances in Wales remain under significant pressure.

Mr Davies said the allocation of funding was difficult to justify while Wales continues to experience the longest NHS waiting times in the UK, alongside growing financial pressures on households and mounting challenges for public services.

He also pointed to the situation facing Welsh cultural and artistic organisations, several of which have faced severe funding difficulties in recent years. In particular, he highlighted the closure of National Theatre Wales in 2024 after it lost core financial support.

Mr Davies stressed that his criticism was not aimed at the Watch Africa Film Festival itself, which he said had a place within Wales’ cultural landscape. Instead, he said his concerns related to the use of taxpayer money and how limited culture and arts budgets are being prioritised.

Commenting on the spending, Mr Davies said it was concerning that the Welsh Government had chosen to allocate more than £41,000 to the project at a time when many families were struggling with the cost of living and public services were under intense strain.

He argued that when funding is scarce, it is hard to justify public money being used to support events that, in his view, should be capable of operating without government backing, particularly when long-established Welsh cultural institutions were allowed to collapse due to a lack of financial support.

Mr Davies called on ministers to reassess their priorities and ensure that future culture and arts funding is focused on supporting Welsh culture and organisations that preserve and promote Wales’ national identity.

The Welsh Government has been approached for comment.