‘PETTY AND MINDLESS’ ATTACK CRITICISED BY LOCAL COUNCILLOR AND MS

A PEMBROKESHIRE councillor has condemned “mindless” graffiti daubed on a wall in Johnston, saying it sends the wrong message to children, visitors and residents.

Cllr Aled Thomas, who represents Johnston, said he was “really angry” after seeing the words sprayed in blue paint in the village.

He said he was not personally offended by the abuse, but was upset by the impact on the wider community.

Cllr Thomas said: “What really angered me was what type of message this sends to visitors and young people in our community, particularly as there are so many hardworking people behind the scenes just trying to make Johnston a better place for everyone.”

He said Johnston Community Council had worked hard to improve local green spaces, including Glebelands Field, the Woodland Walk and Vine Field, as well as ensuring play parks were safe to use.

He added: “Someone throwing all that hard work by local residents down the drain by detracting from it with petty graffiti makes me angry.”

The councillor also said children walking to Johnston School should not be exposed to “mindless disgusting language”, adding that staff and governors worked hard to foster “decency and respect”.

Addressing whoever was responsible, he said: “If you have a personal problem with me or my party, I suggest you reach out to me to discuss your problems without ruining the village for everyone else.

“Failing that, you can graffiti your ballot paper next May instead and vote me out as your local councillor — but until that day comes, I’ll continue doing my very best to help Johnston and its residents thrive, and no graffiti will ever stop me.”

Paul Davies MS also criticised the vandalism, saying: “This is absolutely disgraceful. Of course, I realise that people disagree with our views as Conservatives but to vandalise, use this language and spoil our environment is totally unacceptable.”

Photo caption:

Vandalism condemned: Graffiti sprayed on a wall in Johnston has been criticised by Cllr Aled Thomas and Paul Davies MS (Pic: Facebook).

SIX CADETS from Milford Haven Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets have completed a challenging week-long offshore voyage aboard T.S. John Jerwood.

The cadets took to the water for a demanding but enjoyable week, gaining a number of qualifications despite difficult weather conditions.

The unit congratulated all six cadets on their achievements and thanked the Sea Cadet Offshore team for making the voyage possible.

A spokesperson said: “Voyages like this are only made possible by the brilliant Sea Cadet Offshore team. Thank you for the amazing work you do to allow this amazing opportunity to be possible.

“BZ all!”

The Milford Haven unit also thanked West Wales District Sea Cadets, South West Area Sea Cadets, Sea Cadets Offshore, South West Area Senior Staff Officer, and RFCA for Wales for their support.

A WELSH Government fund supporting local Pride events will open for applications next week.

The Grassroots Pride Fund, delivered with support from Pride Cymru, aims to help organisers from across Wales with event costs.

From Monday June 15, organisers can apply to the fund to gain financial support for Pride events across Wales in 2026/27.

There is £69,250 available from the fund this year – up from £17,700 in 2022/23.

In 2025 the fund supported 21 Pride events across Wales, including Barry Pride, Pembrokeshire Pride, and Wrexham Pride.

Aiming to expand the fund to more rural areas and small towns, the Welsh Government has said it wants to create “opportunities for people to come together and be their true selves throughout Wales”.

When applying for the funding, organisations should nominate one lead applicant who will act as project manager and have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the funding.

The fund is administered by Pride Cymru and applications can be made on its website after June 15. The deadline for applications is August 17.

Discussing the importance of the fund and Pride events, Deputy First Minister and minister for social justice and equalities, Sioned Williams, said: “As LGBTQ+ rights face growing threats, the new Welsh Government is clear: we will do all we can to protect and strengthen those rights here in Wales.

“Pride Month is a chance to celebrate the strength and inclusivity of our communities, and to recognise the volunteers whose commitment makes that possible.

“Volunteers bring people together, create spaces of welcome and belonging, and make sure LGBTQ+ people can celebrate safely and openly in their own communities.

“I have already attended Swansea Pride and Pontardawe Pride this month, and I’m looking forward to attending Pride Cymru in Cardiff this weekend and meeting some of the amazing organisations that support our LGBTQ+ communities.

“Respect, solidarity, and fair play are values that have always mattered to people in Wales, and this Welsh Government is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion. I am proud that we committed in our manifesto to providing ongoing support to Pride organisations.”

Dan Walsh, chair of Pride Cymru, said: “Local Prides play a vital role in creating safe, visible, and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ people across Wales.

“This fund represents an important investment in grassroots Pride movements, helping community-led organisations develop, grow, and deliver meaningful events and activities that reflect the needs of their local LGBTQ+ communities.”