News
Chief Fire Officer announces retirement after nearly 30 years of service
MID AND WEST WALES Fire and Rescue Service has announced the retirement of Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas KFSM, effective from Sunday (Oct 19). His departure marks the end of a distinguished 29-year career devoted to public safety and community service.
Roger began his career with the Service in 1996, progressing from Firefighter to Chief Fire Officer through professionalism, integrity, and an unwavering dedication to the wellbeing of the communities he served.
During his time with the Service, Roger held a range of operational and leadership positions, including a secondment to the Welsh Government in 2007–08, where he provided vital frontline insight into national policy-making. In 2014, he joined the Executive Leadership Team as Area Manager, and from 2017 onwards, he served in Brigade Manager roles during a period of major transformation for the organisation.
Appointed Chief Fire Officer in April 2022, Roger has been credited with leading the Service through a time of challenge and innovation — maintaining high operational standards, strengthening community engagement, and promoting a culture of inclusivity and resilience.
His exceptional contribution was formally recognised in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours, where he received the King’s Fire Service Medal (KFSM).
Reflecting on his retirement, Chief Fire Officer Thomas said: “It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together and deeply grateful for the support of my colleagues and our communities.
As I step into retirement, I do so with full confidence in the future of the Service and the incredible people who will continue to lead it forward.”
Councillor John Davies, Chair of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, said:
“Roger’s legacy is reflected not only in the policies he shaped and the incidents he led, but in the people he mentored, the teams he inspired and the trust he built across the organisation and beyond.
He leaves behind a Service that is stronger, more agile and deeply connected to the communities it serves. On behalf of the Authority, I wish Roger a long and healthy retirement.”
Interim leadership announced
Following Chief Fire Officer Thomas’s retirement, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Iwan Cray has been appointed to fulfil the statutory responsibilities of Head of Paid Service on an interim basis.
This arrangement ensures continuity of leadership while the recruitment process for a permanent Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive Officer is underway.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Cray brings extensive experience and proven leadership to the role, along with a deep commitment to the Service’s values.
On taking up his appointment, he said: “It is a privilege to take on this responsibility and I do so with a deep sense of commitment to our people, our communities and the values that define our Service.
While this is a temporary arrangement, I want to reassure everyone that continuity, stability and progress will remain our priorities.”
Business
First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead
THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.
The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.
A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.
The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.
Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.
“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”
The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.
Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.
Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.
The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.
A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.
Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.
Photo: Martin Cavaney
Crime
Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood
A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.
SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST
Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.
The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.
COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION
Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.
Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.
She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.
The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.
Local Government
Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works
Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure
SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.
Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.
County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.
“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.
Urgent works underway
Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.
Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.
Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.
Further updates are expected later this week.
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