Community

Christmas song pokes fun at Haverfordwest’s ‘Instagram-friendly’ bridge

Published

6 months ago

December 11, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

Rock track raises money for charity while giving a gentle dig to the council

A BRAND-NEW Christmas rock song by a Pembrokeshire musician has namechecked Haverfordwest’s much-debated riverside bridge, offering what its creator describes as a “gentle dig” at local decision-makers while raising money for charity.

Local musicians behind the track

The single, Where has the Christmas spirit gone, has been released by Pembroke Dock musician Ray Roberts, who performs alongside Paul Smith, Ian Pearce and his son Nathan. The idea, Ray says, started as a casual chat about Christmas number ones before quickly turning into a full production.

“We were chatting about Christmas number ones; ‘sausage rolls’ got to number one a few years ago and I thought ‘hold my beer’,” he said. “It’s also quite a catchy song and locally everyone is talking about it. I went to the post office in Pennar and people were saying, ‘I like your song’.”

The accompanying video features locations across Pembrokeshire including Haverfordwest Castle and the new bridge, Pembroke nightclub OUT, Central Motors, Dales Music Store in Tenby, Wisebuys Pembroke, Tenby’s beach and castle, Pembroke Castle, and even a cameo from Ray’s wife’s grandmother, aged 101, who still lives independently in Tenby.

Lyrics take aim at local frustrations

The song opens with lyrics about the pressures facing older residents:

“No money for heating this Christmas time,
Old folks shivering as the frost starts to climb…
Council tax spent on a bridge we didn’t need,
Instagrammable views, but we have mouths to feed.”

Ray told The Herald he included the controversial bridge because “it just p****d me off, simple as that,” referring to recent cutbacks affecting elderly residents in Pembroke Dock, including the closure of the Anchorage day centre.

“Around Pembroke Dock they are having these warm rooms and they’ve recently closed the Anchorage day centre, and they spend £5m…” he said.

Supporters defend the project

Supporters of the bridge, which forms part of the wider regeneration of Haverfordwest, have pointed out that the funding came from a levelling-up scheme and could not have been used to support general council services. The actual cost to the county, they say, is only a proportion of the oft-quoted figures.

“They can spin it how they want,” Ray said. “They can spend money how they want to; they’ve always got a spare pot and then can close centres for OAPs. It’s got to p*** you off spending more money on council tax and getting less and less. It kind of hits home when you see close family friends hit by these cutbacks.”

A good-humoured project for charity

Despite the pointed lyrics, Ray stresses that the song is intended to be more humorous than hostile.

“It’s a bit tongue in cheek and a bit of a kick at the council and a chance to raise money for charity,” he said. “It’s not about a hard hit, it’s a gentle dig and a call to spend time with your family. Don’t waste your money on glitz, be with your family. That’s where the lyrics are. It’s written with good intent.”

Ray has invested around £1,500 of his own money into producing the song and video. Instead of selling CDs, the track is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music, with charity proceeds raised through advertising and streaming revenue. The song is also registered for the UK charts.

“I want people downloading it. I want to raise money but not get people paying for it,” Ray said. “Hopefully advertising revenue will do that. None of the £1,500 is coming back to me; I’ve always wanted to do a rock video.”

Community

Bellringers praised at St Davids Cathedral service

Published

6 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SERVICE was held today at St Davids Cathedral for the annual meeting of the Diocesan Guild of Bellringers.

Fr Jim, the guild’s chaplain, led the service, during which the Bishop of St Davids preached and thanked members for their dedication to churches across the diocese.

He spoke about the important role bells play in marking moments of worship, celebration and remembrance, and said he had been personally moved when bells marked significant points in his own ministry.

The guild is keen to encourage new people to take up bellringing and says it is a friendly and approachable group for anyone interested in getting involved in church life.

Community

Hundreds of pupils unite for special Eisteddfod song

Published

6 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MORE THAN 500 CHILDREN FROM 50 SCHOOLS HELP CELEBRATE BRO’R GARREG LAS

HUNDREDS of primary school children from across west Wales have come together to release a special song celebrating the communities, language and landscape of Bro’r Garreg Las.

The song, Croeso i Fro’r Garreg Las, has been recorded by pupils from 50 schools across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire ahead of this summer’s National Eisteddfod in Llantood.

The project marks the countdown to the festival, which will be held from August 1 to August 8.

More than 500 children have taken part, with the song celebrating the area’s Welsh language, local communities, culture and sense of identity.

The track has been released on digital platforms alongside a colourful video filmed at some of the region’s best-known locations.

Pupils travelled to sites including Cardigan, Tenby, St Davids, Pentre Ifan and Drefach Felindre to perform and help bring the song to life.

The lyrics were written by poet Ceri Wyn Jones, with the melody by Einir Dafydd. The track was produced by Mei Gwynedd and the video was filmed by Gareth Bull.

Pembrokeshire County Council leader, Cllr Tessa Hodgson said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the National Eisteddfod to Llantood this summer.

“It’s been a pleasure to see young people from the three counties come together to create a special song that celebrates the area, and builds excitement as we look forward to the Eisteddfod.

“Collaboration across Bro’r Garreg Las has been at the heart of this project.”

Cllr Catrin M S Davies, Ceredigion County Council Cabinet Member responsible for Culture, said: “This song celebrates the Welsh language and the unique character of the whole area – from the coast to the countryside.

“Ceri Wyn’s lyrics also offer a taste of our history and heritage. There will be an opportunity for the whole of Wales to enjoy our area in August and to hear some of our stories – come along!”

Cllr Glynog Davies, Carmarthenshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, said: “It has been a privilege to work with Welsh and English-medium schools across the counties to create this special song.

“Over 500 children have contributed to it, which is an incredible achievement. It is wonderful to see that the Welsh language and the Eisteddfod belong to everyone.”

The song can be heard on digital platforms now, while the video is available to watch on YouTube.

Photo caption: Children from schools across Bro’r Garreg Las have joined forces to record a special song ahead of this summer’s National Eisteddfod.

Community

Ceremonial gown linked to Prince Charles’ 1969 investiture discovered in Saundersfoot

Published

7 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A CEREMONIAL gown worn by the grandson of former Prime Minister David Lloyd George during the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles has been discovered at an antiques roadshow in Pembrokeshire.

The gown, worn by Owen Lloyd George, 3rd Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor, was found alongside his original invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to take part in the historic ceremony at Caernarfon Castle.

The items were brought to a WeBuyVintage roadshow in Saundersfoot by a member of the public who had acquired them after they were removed from Ffynone House, near Boncath, the Earl’s former Pembrokeshire country seat.

The Earl, who lived from 1924 to 2010, was the grandson of David Lloyd George, Britain’s wartime Prime Minister. He was given a prominent role at the investiture on July 1, 1969, carrying the ceremonial sword during the nationally televised event.

The red ceremonial gown bears the Earl’s name on a label inside and is believed to have been made especially for him for the ceremony. It was kept at Ffynone House for decades.

The current owner said she rescued the items in 2021 after seeing possessions from the house being advertised for sale.

She said: “The owner explained that many historic possessions connected to the Lloyd George family were likely to be discarded following the sale of the house and its contents.

“I felt I could not let that happen with the gown and the letter, as these felt like genuine pieces of Welsh history and I wanted to make sure they were preserved.”

Antiques specialist Neil Church, of WeBuyVintage, said the discovery was immediately significant.

He said: “Every so often, something comes through the door that truly stops you in your tracks, and this was one of those moments.

“Far more than an old ceremonial garment, it was a remarkable discovery directly connected to one of the most significant royal and historic moments in modern Welsh history, the investiture of the now King Charles.

“What made it especially fascinating was its provenance, tracing it back to the grandson of the former Prime Minister of Britain and the family’s historic country seat, Ffynone House.

“While we valued it at around £600, its historical significance reaches far beyond its monetary worth.”

The gown and invitation are now being described as a rare surviving piece of Welsh and royal ceremonial history, rediscovered in west Wales more than half a century after they were used at Caernarfon Castle.

Photo caption: Historic find: The ceremonial gown worn by Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor at the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles was discovered at a Saundersfoot antiques roadshow (Pic: WeBuyVintage).