News

Pembrokeshire boy helps dreams come true

Published

10 years ago

January 8, 2015

GEORGE, aged 8, had a dream. He dreamt of people without clean water, and disturbed by the dream, spoke to his Nan, Rhonwen, saying he wanted to use his pocket money to help people get clean water. Rhonwen, the leader of New Life Christian Fellowship Sunday School, who meet in Kilgetty Community Center, asked the Church to help George fund raise. They held stalls in various craft fairs in the hope of donating the funds to UK Christian Relief and Development Agency Tearfund, who work directly with those effected through the local Church partners.

This little boy’s dream is helping people like Doreen, 13, and her sister Jouvllet,11. They have big dreams, but face a big mountain. The sisters live in Kabale District, south-west Uganda, where the mountainous landscape creates a stunning vista. Somewhat spoiling the view, every day, twice a day they walk down a 3km mountain and carry 20 litres of water back up.

This is extremely hard work, it often makes them late for school, affecting their education, it also puts them in danger of attack. George’s dream is helping to make dreams like the sisters’ come true: “I want to train to be a headmistress because they get an opportunity to teach others and pass knowledge to them so that they can also get a better life,” says Doreen. “When I teach them they will get better paid jobs. They will be able to get money and establish their homes with a good income.” Though the girls can see a bright future ahead, there’s one big mountain in the way.

This is what Tearfund, with this kind of local support and working through their network of local churches in the areas affected, are seeing changed. Over the year, £300 was raised by George with New Life Christian Fellowship, and a cheque was recently presented to Tearfund’s ambassadors, Francis and Ann Maull for Tearfund’s One Big Mountain water project.

Ann Maull said: “We thank George, and New Life Fellowship for their support; and would love others in Pembrokeshire and beyond to help raise funds for girls like Doreen and Jouvllet, so that they and their communities, can easily access the safe water they need to live.” Just £7 can give one person access to clean water near their home. £28 could give four girls like Doreen and Jouvllet access to clean water near their home giving them a safer and better future.

£42 can provide a family of six with a water tank at their home. £100 can help provide a protected spring that 200 people can use to access clean water. Ann added: “Water is an essential commodity we often take for granted, we turn on the tap and it’s there. For some people water comes only at a great cost. With your help, Tearfund can change this, helping people to improve their communities and make their dreams a reality.”

Business

Wolfscastle Country Hotel crowned Wales’ best boutique wedding venue

Published

8 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE Wolfscastle Country Hotel and Spa has been named Wales’ Best Boutique Wedding Venue for 2024 at the prestigious Welsh National Wedding Awards.

The ceremony, held on Sunday (Nov 10) at Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall, welcomed more than 600 guests for its 13th annual celebration. Thousands of votes were cast by brides, grooms, and supporters to determine the winners from over 300 shortlisted nominees.

Double victory

The Wolfscastle Country Hotel and Spa not only won the regional title for west Wales but also secured the national accolade for the second time in three years.

Known for its glamorous reception spaces and elegant ceremony room, the hotel offers a comprehensive bridal package. This includes wedding accommodation and a private spa experience featuring a hot tub, sauna, and various treatments.

Celebrating success

Taking to social media, the hotel expressed gratitude to its guests and staff for their role in achieving this prestigious honour.

Hotel owner Andy Stirling said:
“We’re very proud to have been nominated and voted winners in both our local and national categories.

“I have the pleasure of seeing how tirelessly Lowri, and my wife Mandy Stirling, our wedding coordinators, work on every wedding to tailor the experience to suit the couples we have joining us.

“We pride ourselves on offering exquisite in-house catering provided by head chef Seb, head pastry chef Adama, and our excellent kitchen team, backed up by first-class table service from our highly experienced waiting staff.

“I am overwhelmingly grateful for the support of our guests and couples who have wedded with us in helping achieve this award.

“I know that myself and the team all look forward to hosting many more phenomenal weddings in the future.”

Welsh National Wedding Awards

The awards celebrate the best wedding venues and services across Wales, with attendees from all regions of the country.

***Celebrations: Andy and Mandy Stirling with wedding co-ordinator Lowri Nicholas (Pic: Wolfscastle Country Hotel and Spa)***

Community

Special guests for Torch showing of ‘Attack on Sorpe Dam’

Published

15 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Tom Sinclair

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY was the most appropriate day for the screening before a Pembrokeshire audience of a remarkable film, narrated by the last surviving ‘Dambuster’ of the RAF’s 617 Squadron.

The RAF’s Air Officer Wales, Air Commodore Rob Woods, and World War II Veteran Duncan Hilling, of Saundersfoot, were chief guests at the Torch Theatre for the showing of ‘Attack on Sorpe Dam’, one of three large dams in Germany attacked by 617 Squadron in May 1943.

They were joined by service representatives, air cadets and many locals – the evening being a fundraising event for the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincolnshire.

Exquisitely created in digital format, the film describes the story of Avro Lancaster bomber AJ-T which attacked the Sorpe Dam, with the narration by the late Squadron Leader Johnny Johnson, who died in 2022. He was the bomb aimer on the aircraft which dropped an ‘Upkeep’ bomb on the dam.

It is the culmination of six years of work by film producer Andrew Panton and Pitor Forkasiewicz and is now part of the IBCC archive. Also shown was a short film ‘Remembering the Avro Lancaster’ in which four wartime aircrew visit a preserved Lancaster at a Lincolnshire museum. The film was launched that day by the IBCC, with the Torch audience being the first to see a live screening.

The event was organised by Andrew Panton’s brother, Ian, of St Davids, who commented: “There was no doubt that many found this a very special occasion for Remembering Them, and so many others, on Remembrance Sunday.”

On display during the evening was a Lancaster bomb aimer’s panel, re-created by Dr Andy Watkin, a Trustee of the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre.

Entertainment

Two-day Christmas fair set for Pembrokeshire

Published

1 day ago

November 17, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s annual Christmas Fair will run for two days this year, on Thursday, December 14, and Friday, December 15.

Held at the Parkhouse Building on the Haverfordwest Showground, the venue will transform into a festive shopping destination, offering an expanded range of stalls, live music, Santa’s Grotto, and an outdoor food court.

Expanded event

Event organisers Judith Roach and Emma Thomas expressed their excitement about the extended format. They said:
“We are thrilled to announce that our Christmas Fair will run for two days instead of just one. We are building on last year’s success with twice the opportunities to attend and even more stallholders. The Parkhouse Building will become a one-stop shop for everyone preparing for Christmas.”

The fair will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm on both days, with free admission for all visitors.

Festive treats and unique gifts

Attendees can expect to browse an extensive selection of unique gifts, handmade decorations, artwork, and homeware. Local food and drink producers will also showcase festive delights, including chocolate brownies, fudge, spirits, and Welsh cheeses.

An outdoor food court will cater for visitors on the go, with a variety of hot and cold options.

Santa’s Grotto

Santa himself will make a special appearance, with children able to visit him for £3 per child. Each child will receive a small gift, with all proceeds going to the Sandy Bear charity. Advance bookings can be made via the Sandy Bear website.

Community effort

Adam Thorne, president of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society, praised the efforts of the event’s organisers:
“The society would like to thank Judith and Emma for their dedication in organising this two-day event. We’re delighted to offer visitors a chance to do their Christmas shopping while enjoying the festive atmosphere.”

The Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society encourages visitors to follow the Pembrokeshire County Show’s Christmas Fair event page on Facebook for updates and a complete list of stallholders.

The event promises to be a perfect start to the holiday season, welcoming families and shoppers alike.