A CHARITY tractor and car run organised by Charles Rees brought together farmers, vintage vehicle enthusiasts and local residents from across Pembrokeshire, raising funds for Paul Sartori Hospice at Home and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The event took place on Sunday (Dec 28), starting and finishing at Dudwell Farm, Camrose, with gates opening at 9:00am and the convoy setting off at 10:30am.

Dozens of tractors – ranging from well-restored vintage machines to modern working tractors – lined up alongside classic and historic cars, creating an impressive display before heading out on a planned route around the county.

The run left Dudwell Farm via Dudwell Lane towards Camrose, turning at Camrose Folly Road towards The Rising Sun, before crossing the main St David’s road and continuing through Sutton, Rogeston, Nolton Cross, Nolton Haven, Newgale, Roch and Cuffern, before returning to Dudwell Farm via the back road.

Community support

Spectators gathered at Dudwell Farm and at points along the route to watch the convoy pass, with organisers reminding the public to observe from a safe distance from the road and traffic.

A £20 registration fee per vehicle included a bacon roll and hot drink for drivers, with additional donations collected locally in support of the two charities. On the return to Dudwell Farm, participants and supporters were welcomed back with a pig roast and refreshments.

Staff and volunteers from the Paul Sartori Foundation were present on the day and praised the turnout, thanking organisers, drivers and helpers for their hospitality and the scale of support shown.

A spokesperson said events like the tractor and car run play an important role in supporting hospice care and cancer services across Pembrokeshire, particularly through the efforts of rural and farming communities.

Organisers thanked everyone who took part, helped with marshalling, donated, or came out to support the convoy, saying the success of the run reflected the strong community spirit across the county.

A £20,000 community fund has been launched in Cardigan to coincide with a £20 million investment to upgrade the town’s wastewater treatment works.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water said the new Cardigan Community Fund will give local community groups, charities and non-profit organisations the chance to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to support projects benefiting the area.

The not-for-profit company is currently carrying out a major upgrade of Cardigan Wastewater Treatment Works, with work having started in spring 2025 and scheduled for completion by spring 2027.

Once finished, the upgraded treatment process is expected to significantly improve the site’s ability to cope with tidal seawater entering the system from the Afon Teifi, helping to reduce spill frequency into the estuary.

Work completed so far includes service diversions, preparatory works for a new dissolved air flotation (DAF) treatment process, and the draining and cleaning of existing tanks. These tanks will be converted into a new balancing tank and a moving-bed bioreactor (MBBR), while two new 15-metre-diameter primary settlement tanks have also been installed as part of the upgrade.

Welsh Water’s Managing Director of Wastewater Services, Steve Wilson, said the project was making good progress.

He said: “This large investment will help ensure we have the capacity at the site to take wastewater and implement measures to prevent the influx of salt water. This will allow us to treat wastewater more efficiently and reduce the number of spills into the estuary.

“We now want to give something back to the local community by launching our Cardigan Community Fund, giving local groups the opportunity to apply for up to £5,000 to bring community benefit projects to life.”

The fund will open for applications on Monday, January 5, 2026, and will remain open until the end of February 2026. Groups will be able to apply for funding ranging from £250 to £5,000.

Welsh Water will work in partnership with the local Public Services Board, whose representatives will sit on the panel responsible for awarding the grants.

To be eligible, organisations must be non-profit and based in areas served by Cardigan Wastewater Treatment Works, including Cardigan, St Dogmaels, Penparc and Gwbert. Funding can be used to develop, launch or maintain community projects managed and delivered locally.

Further information is available by emailing [email protected], and applications can be made via dwrcymru.com/cardiganfund from January 5.

The deadline for completed applications is 5:00pm on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

SAUNDERSFOOT is preparing to welcome thousands of swimmers and spectators for its annual New Year’s Day Swim, with this year’s event adding a lively new twist ahead of the traditional dash into the sea.

To mark the build-up to the swim’s fortieth anniversary in 2026, organisers have confirmed that the warm-up will be led by the Pembrokeshire Boot Scooters, who will kick off proceedings with a line dance on the beach.

Participants will be encouraged to join in the “House of Bamboo” routine, with the event’s mascot, Charlie Shivers, even recording a step-by-step guide in advance to help swimmers practise before the big day.

The Saundersfoot New Year’s Day Swim is one of Pembrokeshire’s best-known festive traditions and regularly attracts more than 2,500 participants, with many more lining the seafront to watch. Despite its name, the event is described by organisers as a “dash and splash,” requiring swimmers simply to enter the water and dunk in before returning safely to shore.

The swim is open to all ages, although children under sixteen must be supervised by an adult at all times. Participants aged eighty and over are encouraged to go no further than knee depth.

Run on a not-for-profit basis, the event raises money for nominated charities and community groups. Swimmers are invited to fundraise for causes of their choosing, with sponsorship totals boosted through bucket collections and commercial backing from local businesses.

Entry to the swim must be completed online, either in advance or on the day, and swimmers must collect a wristband before taking part. Wristbands can be collected from Salt on the Strand in Saundersfoot or from the pickup point at the beach slipway. Only those wearing wristbands will receive a commemorative medal.

Organisers are advising swimmers to allow plenty of time for wristband collection on the morning of the event, as the village is expected to be extremely busy.

Although winter weather can be unpredictable, the swim has never been cancelled in its history. Final safety decisions will be taken by the Water Safety Team, who will monitor sea and weather conditions closely in the lead-up to New Year’s Day.

With limited parking available in Saundersfoot, visitors are being encouraged to use public transport or the Park & Ride service operating from Kilgetty Community Centre between 10:00am and 2:00pm on January 1.

Charlie Shivers, the swim’s mascot, was named by pupils at Saundersfoot Primary School and honours local hero Charlie Cox, who famously led the swim well into his eighties.

Organisers have reminded attendees that dogs should not be brought onto the beach due to the size, noise and pyrotechnics used to signal the start of the swim.

Further information, including ticket registration, fundraising details and safety advice, is available through the Saundersfoot New Year’s Day Swim website and social media pages.