TWO YOUNG St John Ambulance Cymru Badgers have been praised for using their first aid skills after their grandad suffered a head injury at home.

Menna and Bronwen Laurence-Elias, who are members of the Carmarthen Division, were being looked after by their grandad when he had a small fall and cut his head.

The girls had recently completed a First Aid Badger module with their local Badger Sett and quickly put what they had learned into practice.

They stayed calm, called their dad to explain what had happened, remained with their grandad, and made sure the door was unlocked so help could get into the house.

Calm response

Their parents, Daniel Elias and Jemma Laurence, both work in healthcare and are also St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers. They had taught the children to call them if there was a problem, and to only ring 999 in an emergency.

Daniel said: “They both stayed really calm, rang me and were completely calm telling me what had happened.

“Bronwen said Menna was putting pressure on the cut and had even unlocked the door for me before I got there.

“I gave the cut a quick clean and applied some steri-strips with Menna’s help, whilst Bronwen instructed me on what to do.

“I cannot be prouder of them for what they have learnt in Badgers and how calm they both were in what must have been quite a stressful situation for such young people.

“We’re grateful for the fantastic work of the Badger Leaders, teaching our future generations first aid and how to deal with emergencies.”

‘Quick thinking’

St John Ambulance Cymru’s Badger groups are for children aged five to eleven. As well as first aid, members learn about a range of other subjects, including communication and outer space.

Donna Jones, who leads the St John Ambulance Cymru Badgers in Carmarthen, said: “We are so delighted to hear of their quick thinking and sensible, calm response in a real-life situation.

“We presented them both with their own little Badger during our next session. Whilst they were both shocked and humble, we felt it was really important to acknowledge how smart they were on that day and how proud we are of them.”

St John Ambulance Cymru says its young people’s programmes help children and teenagers learn confidence, teamwork and lifesaving skills.

More information about Badgers, for children aged five to eleven, and Cadets, for young people aged eleven to fifteen, is available at www.sjacymru.org.uk/young-people.

Caption:

Quick thinking: Menna and Bronwen Laurence-Elias used the first aid skills they learned as St John Ambulance Cymru Badgers to help their grandad after he cut his head at home (Pic: St John Ambulance Cymru).

A PEMBROKESHIRE musical director has completed his first full marathon to raise vital funds for Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

Mark Heron, Musical Director of the Paul Sartori Community Choir, crossed the finish line at the Newport Marathon on Sunday (Apr 19), raising £1,119 for the Pembrokeshire charity.

The challenge marked a special personal milestone for Mark, who joked beforehand that his birthday “begins with a 5 and ends in a 0.”

Having already completed six half marathons and a number of other races, Mark decided to take on the full 26.2-mile distance for the first time.

Mark is well known through his work with the Paul Sartori Community Choir, where he helps keep spirits high while supporting the charity’s work across the county.

But his fundraising efforts have also seen him go the extra mile away from the conductor’s stand, with regular challenges in support of the Foundation.

The Paul Sartori Foundation provides hospice at home care across Pembrokeshire for people living with life-limiting conditions, as well as support for their families.

The charity is keen to stress that it is not solely a cancer charity, with around 32% of those it supports having a non-cancer diagnosis.

A spokesperson for the Paul Sartori Foundation said everyone at the charity extended their congratulations to Mark on completing his first marathon and thanked him for his continued dedication.

They said the money raised would help the charity continue delivering its services to people across Pembrokeshire.

Paul Sartori Hospice at Home was established in memory of Father Paul Sartori, a much-loved local priest who recognised the need for hospice care in the county before his death from cancer at the age of 39.

The charity was registered in 1982 and will celebrate its 45th anniversary during 2027/28.

Caption:

Marathon effort: Mark Heron with members of the Equipment Van team

THE BANK OF ENGLAND’S plan to put wildlife on future banknotes has been welcomed by the RSPCA — but the charity says some of Britain’s most overlooked animals should not be forgotten.

The Bank has launched an 18-animal shortlist, covering mammals, birds, amphibians, insects and fish, with the public invited to help choose which species should appear on future £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes.

The RSPCA said the move could become a “celebration of wildlife” and a chance to remind people of the need to protect nature.

Dr Ros Clubb, Head of Wild Animals at the RSPCA, said: “Banknotes featuring our native wildlife will be a real cause for celebration.

“It is a great opportunity to not only showcase Britain’s amazing wildlife, but — in carrying pictures of wild animals in our wallets and purses every day — to remind us all of our own responsibilities to nature and the world around us.”

The charity said its 2025 Animal Kindness Index found that 73% of people were worried about the future of UK wildlife, with protecting wildlife emerging as the top priority for the RSPCA to address.

But the RSPCA has also urged the Bank of England to think again about some of the animals that did not make the shortlist.

The charity has released mock-up examples showing how banknotes could look if they featured gulls, rats, pigeons and badgers — species it describes as under-appreciated but important parts of British wildlife.

Dr Clubb added: “It’s great that the Bank of England has pulled together a diverse shortlist — from hedgehogs to foxes, frogs to kingfishers, and dragonflies to salmon — although we would love to see more animal underdogs make the cut.

“Gulls, badgers, rats and pigeons all divide opinion — but this would have been a great opportunity to discuss these fantastic animals.

“They’re all amazing in their own right. Pigeons, with their war hero history; gulls, who are dedicated to their families and their co-parenting responsibilities; rats, who are incredibly empathetic and intelligent; and the badger, the master architect of a network of underground cities.”

The charity also said it would have liked to see one of the UK’s six native reptile species included, saying many people remain unaware of the snakes and lizards found across the country.

The RSPCA plans to respond formally to the Bank of England consultation as part of its wider Summer of Kindness campaign, which encourages small actions to help animals and wildlife.