Charity

Fishguard RNLI volunteer steps down after more than 50 years of saving lives

Published

1 minute ago

February 22, 2026

A DEVOTED volunteer and former employee at Fishguard RNLI has stepped down from his final role after more than five decades of outstanding service to the local community and those in need at sea.

After 50 years of unwavering commitment, Chris Williams has retired from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), bringing to a close a remarkable chapter defined by professionalism, compassion and lifesaving impact.

Chris and his wife Brenda returned to the area in 1974 when he took up the position of second engineer with British Rail Ferries. Shortly afterwards, he was approached by then assistant mechanic Roy Williams, who, anticipating his own retirement, recognised the station would soon need a new mechanic. Chris joined the lifeboat crew and answered his first callout in 1976.

He was already closely connected to the station. His mother had been a founding member of the local Women’s Lifeboat Guild, raising vital funds for the charity, and Chris had often helped with fundraising efforts.

In 1979, when full-time station mechanic Noel Murrow retired, Chris stepped into the role. Having spent five years sailing between Fishguard and Rosslare, he decided to dedicate himself fully to the station — a position he held until 2005.

In 2006, Chris became the station’s Volunteer Water Safety Advisor, leading community engagement initiatives to promote safety around the coast — a role he carried out until 2021. Alongside this, he took on additional responsibility in 2016 as Launch Authority, a crucial volunteer position coordinating communication between the lifeboat station and HM Coastguard.

Following the departure of the previous Lifeboat Operations Manager (LOM) in 2021, Chris stepped in to lead the station on a temporary basis. In 2024, he was formally appointed to the role. As LOM, he served as station manager and the key link between Fishguard RNLI and RNLI headquarters in Poole, a responsibility he fulfilled with diligence and dedication until his retirement this month.

Over the course of his career, Chris served aboard three successive classes of lifeboat as they came into service.

The first was the Watson class lifeboat Howard Marryat. Reflecting on those early days, Chris recalled:
“On a rough night you got wet as you hit the water at the bottom of the slip — and you stayed wet until you got back.”

The Watson was followed by the Arun class lifeboat Marie Winstone. Chris described her as:
“A huge step up in speed — 18 knots — and space; you could almost hold a dance in the wheelhouse. She was highly manoeuvrable, but a very uncomfortable sea boat. She had a vicious roll and could slam so hard in a heavy sea you thought the fillings would come out of your teeth.”

His favourite, however, is the current Trent class lifeboat Blue Peter VII, which arrived on station in 1994.

Among many memorable moments, Chris described his most poignant as being part of the crew tasked with taking a replacement lifeboat to Newlyn the day after the loss of the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne in 1981 — the last time an RNLI lifeboat and all her crew were lost at sea. Battling severe conditions, the journey from Fishguard took 25 hours. On arrival, they were met by dozens of local people cheering and waving in support.

While his later years as LOM brought different challenges from those faced at sea, Chris approached each with the experience and professionalism gained from a lifetime of service.

Asked what he is most proud of after more than half a century with the RNLI, Chris answered in characteristically understated fashion:

“Simple. On the certificate of service the Area Operations Manager recently gave me, it says that during the 50 years I was involved with Fishguard Lifeboat in various roles, at least 114 lives were saved. That’s it.”

Reflecting on his career, he added: “Over the years it’s been a real privilege to work with crew members from such diverse backgrounds who are united by one purpose — saving lives at sea.”

Throughout his service, Chris has been supported by his wife Brenda, who was presented with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the RNLI during the ceremony marking his retirement.

Recruitment for the role of Lifeboat Operations Manager has now been completed, and the new post holder will be announced shortly.

Caption: The crew of Fishguard RNLI in 1980 lined up in front of the lifeboat Howard Marryat. Pictured left to right are = Chris Williams, Huw Evans, Roger Strawbridge, Brian Hughes (cox), John Knight (nav), John Monk (head launcher), Keith Bean.

Cover photo: The crew of Fishguard RNLI in 1980 lined up in front of the lifeboat Howard Marryat. Pictured left to right are: Chris Williams, Huw Evans, Roger Strawbridge, Brian Hughes (cox), John Knight (nav), John Monk (head launcher), Keith Bean.

Charity

Recovery inspires new mental health support initiative in Wales

Published

2 days ago

February 21, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Founder turns lived experience of addiction and crisis into community support project

A WELSH father who battled severe mental health struggles, addiction, and a suicide attempt has launched a new grassroots foundation aimed at helping others facing similar challenges.

Gareth Clement is the founder of The Grumpy Dumpty Foundation, a small Wales-based initiative created from his own lived experience of recovery and rebuilding life after crisis.

The project focuses on mental health awareness, addiction recovery support, suicide prevention, and signposting people towards trusted services.

Gareth told The Herald that the foundation began as a way of speaking honestly about struggles that many people feel unable to share.

He said: “Grumpy Dumpty started as a way of talking openly about the parts people usually hide — relapse, shame, early sobriety, suicidal thoughts, and what recovery actually looks like when you’re still raising kids and showing up every day.”

Health scare turning point

In 2022, Gareth says his life reached a critical moment when he was told by a doctor that his liver was failing as a result of alcohol use.

He stopped drinking completely.

He said recovery did not instantly solve every problem but gave him the opportunity to start again.

“Recovery didn’t magically fix life — but it did give me a chance to rebuild it honestly,” he said.

Since then, he has used social media and direct conversations to support people who are struggling, often late at night when services are harder to access.

Real-life impact

Gareth shared examples of people who have already been helped through the foundation’s work.

In one case, a father contacted him while on the verge of relapsing after months of sobriety. After messaging for over an hour, the man chose not to drink and later joined a local recovery group.

In another situation, a young man who had never previously spoken about his mental health reached out after reading posts online. Gareth helped direct him towards counselling services and a men’s support group, reducing his sense of isolation.

“There’s no corporate backing, no PR agency, and no glossy campaign — just lived experience, community, and the belief that if even one person reaches out instead of giving up, it’s worth it,” Gareth said.

Building hope through honesty

The Grumpy Dumpty Foundation is currently set up as an unincorporated association and aims to expand its reach over time, particularly for people in early recovery who may feel unsupported.

Gareth hopes the project will encourage more open conversations about mental health and addiction, particularly among men who often struggle to seek help.

He added: “If people can see someone being honest about their struggles, it can make it easier for them to speak too.”

The foundation shares information, personal reflections, and support resources through its online community.

More information about The Grumpy Dumpty Foundation can be found via its Facebook page.

Photo caption: Gareth Clement, founder of The Grumpy Dumpty Foundation, which aims to support people facing mental health challenges and addiction recovery (Pic: Supplied).

Charity

Long service awards for Tenby surf lifesavers

Published

5 days ago

February 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Three volunteers recognised for years of dedication to keeping beachgoers safe

THREE long-serving members of Tenby Surf Life Saving Club have been recognised for their commitment and dedication, receiving Long Service Awards at the charity’s recent presentation evening.

Jules Rilston, Angelo Fecci and Ian Badham were each honoured for their sustained contributions to surf lifesaving in Tenby over many years of voluntary service.

Club chairman Tai Jackson thanked the trio for their commitment to the club and the wider lifesaving movement on behalf of the committee and members.

Tenby Surf Life Saving Club is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit registered charity and one of 31 volunteer lifeguard clubs across Wales. During 2025, its lifesavers delivered 188 hours of volunteer patrols and assisted 113 people along the coastline.

The club also runs a youth education programme, known as Nippers and Junior Lifesaving, which provided more than 104 hours of training to 60 local children last year. Young participants are taught vital water safety skills, first aid knowledge and how to enjoy water sports safely and sustainably.

The club is currently recruiting new volunteers to support both frontline lifesaving activities and essential behind-the-scenes roles, including committee positions and fundraising support.

Charity

Concert at St Davids Cathedral to support hospice care in Pembrokeshire

Published

6 days ago

February 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MUSIC lovers in Pembrokeshire are being invited to enjoy a special lunchtime concert at St Davids Cathedral later this month, with proceeds supporting the Paul Sartori Foundation’s hospice-at-home services.

The event, hosted by Totally Vocal Pembrokeshire, will take place on Saturday (Feb 21) at 1:00pm and will bring together local singing groups in the cathedral’s historic setting. The concert will also feature internationally renowned a cappella leader Deke Sharon.

Sharon, often described as the “godfather” of contemporary a cappella, is best known for his work on the hit Pitch Perfect films. His return to Pembrokeshire follows a successful workshop visit in late 2025 at the invitation of Pembrokeshire Pop Voices.

The local choir has chosen the Paul Sartori Foundation as one of its charities of the year and has been raising funds through a range of musical initiatives. Before Christmas, the group released a charity single titled Love the Bones of You, with proceeds helping to support hospice care across the county.

Supporters can contribute by streaming or downloading the song, or simply asking a smart speaker to play it — a small action organisers say can make a meaningful difference.

Further fundraising events are planned for the spring, including an evening of music and entertainment on Saturday (Mar 28) at 7:30pm at The Regency Hall in Saundersfoot. Pembrokeshire Pop Voices will be joined by Paul Sartori supporters The Slipway Ukes and local band Footbridge for a night of music, food and fundraising.

A spokesperson for the Paul Sartori Foundation said the events highlight the power of music to bring communities together while supporting vital care services.

“These events are wonderful experiences for audiences and they also raise essential funds for our hospice-at-home services,” she said. “We are incredibly grateful to groups such as Pembrokeshire Pop Voices, Totally Vocal Pembrokeshire and The Slipway Ukes for supporting care in our community.”

Anyone interested in organising a musical fundraiser or choosing the charity as their Charity of the Year can contact community fundraiser Rosie-Faye at [email protected].

Tickets for the St Davids Cathedral concert are available online via TicketSource, while tickets for the Saundersfoot event can be purchased through The Slipway Ukes or via the Paul Sartori Foundation website.