Support from Princes Gate helps expand school lessons and launch new open-water initiative across South Wales

MORE children in Pembrokeshire are learning to swim thanks to an expanding programme backed by Long Course Weekend and Princes Gate water.

The 2026 Pembrokeshire Learn-to-Swim Legacy Programme is set to reach 55 local schools this year, giving more than 1,000 pupils access to structured swimming lessons.

Organisers say the scheme is already making a clear difference. Last year, 62 per cent of Pembrokeshire pupils in Years three to six achieved the national swimming standard, which is 22 per cent above the national average. Among Year six pupils, 80 per cent reached the National Curriculum standard.

At one participating school, the swim pass rate reportedly rose from just 8 per cent to 80 per cent in a single year.

The programme was first launched by Long Course Weekend in 2022 after Swim Wales reported that up to 52 per cent of children leave primary school unable to swim.

Its aim is to improve access to lessons in schools, raise swimming standards, and ensure cost and opportunity are not barriers for children in communities around Long Course Weekend host towns.

This year’s programme will also include a new open-water initiative across South Wales, with planned sessions designed to help both children and adults build confidence in natural bodies of water.

Matthew Evans, CEO of Long Course Weekend, said: “Although each host region shapes the Programme around its own needs, the purpose remains the same: to leave a long-term, positive legacy, ensuring accessibility and affordability are never obstacles to participation or progression.

“With the support of our partners such as Princes Gate water, our initiative is designed to help overcome barriers in sport and create opportunities not only for children, but for people of all ages to participate in physical activities in a positive, supported environment.”

Princes Gate, which bottles its water at source near Narberth, has continued its support for the programme through its Pembrokeshire site.

Niall Bridge, Plant Manager of the Princes Gate bottling site, Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages UK, said: “Being a water company, with our site based near the Pembrokeshire coast, it was a natural choice for us to support the Long Course Weekend Legacy Programme with its mission of improving the swimming ability across the region.

“We want to be a good neighbour in Pembrokeshire, where we bottle our Princes Gate water. We are proud to call this beautiful place home and share the same vision as LCW – to improve access, opportunity and wellbeing in our local communities.”

Long Course Weekend Wales, founded in 2010, has become one of Europe’s best-known multi-sport endurance festivals, bringing athletes from around the world to Tenby each year.

Through its Legacy Programme, the event also aims to leave a lasting benefit in its host communities by directing funds into projects that help people learn to swim, cycle and run.

Photo caption: Backing the scheme: Matthew Evans, Abigail Felstead, Morgan Grieve and Niall Bridge (Pic supplied).

A 21-year-old man has been sentenced for being abusive to customers queuing at the McDonald’s fast-food outlet in Milford Haven.

Officers were called to the restaurant at around 9.30pm on April 5 after the manager reported that a drunken male was refusing to leave the premises.  The man was later identified as 21-year-old Kasper Gut.

“He was being abusive to customers and when three officers arrived, he was seen talking to the manager who was asking him to leave,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week. 

“He refused, and then became aggressive towards the officers, swearing at them and clenching his fists.”

The Crown stated that when Gut’s behaviour continued to escalate, he was arrested for being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

Gut, of Silverdale Inn, Johnston, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a public place and an additional offence of failing to attend an initial assessment after cocaine was found in his system on November 8, 2025.  He was legally represented in court by Michael Kelleher.

“At the time of the offence he was in a bad state and had been made homeless,” he said.  “But things have changed.  He’s now stopped taking drugs and has been clean for months.”

Gut was fined £260 and ordered to pay a £104 court surcharge and £85 costs. 

A court has heard how a man drove his unlit van through Pembroke Dock at midnight while two women shared the front seat.

When David Janssens was arrested by officers on April 6, he was found to be over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

“The officers were concerned about the manner of his driving,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates court this week. 

“The Fiat Doblo was swerving in the middle of the road and the officers saw the lights being turned off while it was moving.”

After stopping the vehicle, the driver was identified as 38-year-old David Janssens.

 “The officers also discovered two females in the passenger seat, one sitting on the other’s lap,” added Linda Baker.

Janssens, of Water Street, Pembroke Dock was arrested and breathalysed with the lowest reading showing he had 77 mcg of alcohol in his system, the legal limit being 35.

This week he pleaded guilty to drink-driving, using a vehicle without third party insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.  He was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“He was driving a two-seater van, which was why the two female friends were sitting the way they were,” Mr Kelleher told the court. “He was giving them a lift home.”

The solicitor went on to say that Janssens had previously lost his licence under the totting-up procedure.

“He’s very remorseful of what he did, and realises that he shouldn’t have been driving that night,” concluded Mr Kelleher.

Janssens was fined £320 and ordered to pay a £128 court surcharge and £85 costs.  He was disqualified from driving for 20 months.