THE FINAL decision to close fire-ravaged Manorbier school has been given the go-ahead, despite a heartfelt last-minute plea by local councillor Phil Kidney to keep it open.

Back in March, Pembrokeshire County Council members backed a recommendation that the Director of Education at Pembrokeshire County Council be authorised to publish a statutory notice to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales voluntary controlled school.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire in October 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.

After that, a ‘school from school’ was set up in Jameston Village Hall.

It had been hoped the school would be rebuilt, but last year councillors backed a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which, amongst other recommendations, included a statutory consultation on proposals to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School.

The decision attracted strong local opposition, with more than 1,500 people signing a petition on the council’s own website calling for the school to be rebuilt.

The formal consultation for the discontinuation of Manorbier closed last December.

However, many of the council’s figures, especially on the level of surplus places at the school, have been strongly disputed.

At a special extraordinary council meeting held on June 15, members were asked to consider a report on a summary of 62 objections received in respect of the proposal to discontinue Manorbier VC school, which included options to end that discontinuation or to launch a fresh consultation.

However, it was recommended, in a report present by deputy leader Cllr Paul Miller, who now also has responsibility for education, for the discontinuation be proceeded with.

At the meeting, local councillor Phil Kidney, who has been a staunch supporter of the keeping the school open, thanked the campaigners who fought for it and the dedication of the staff, including headteacher Sharon Davies.

Cllr Kidney said: “The way this authority has treated her and the staff is quite frankly amazing; we have all let these good people down.

“We’ve all let these people down, the way this council has handled this situation is appalling; from day one not one of the executives came up to see these children, no-one came out; if that was Haverfordwest or Tenby they’d be all over the place.”

He said the wording of the consultation had seen more mentions of St Florence [ the alternative school for pupils in the event of a discontinuation] than Manorbier, describing it as “like a brochure for St Florence”.

He also warned the Diocese of St Davids, which had always pressed for the school to be rebuilt, would not allow the council to “walk away from our liabilities lightly”.

“We’ve been promised by two leaders and the chief executive: ‘Don’t worry we’ll rebuild,’ sometimes you’ve got to be big enough an honour your promises; do the right thing today, vote for Manorbier and keep it open.”

Members later heard the diocese had, in a letter received by councillors, made “damning accusations the council is being biased against voluntary controlled schools,” with Cllr Jamie Adams saying the council administration should be “ashamed of this debacle”.

Cllr Miller said his only consideration was “the future welfare of the children,” adding: “I do not think 20 children educated in a welfare centre in Jameston is the best for them.”

He said that no pupils would have to travel more than 2.1 miles for their education as a result of a closure, Cllr Kidney disputing that figure more like 3.5 miles.

Cllr Miller said the wording in from the letter from the diocese “which had a dog in the fight” was a one-sided legal argument, adding the council had actually opened VC schools.

Cllr Aled Thomas, chair of the working group which had presented the proposals in the first place, said: “The whole thing is an omnishambles, a total mess of how it’s been handled, but we are where we are.

“The important thing to remember is the future for these children, there will be kids in that school that have never been taught in a classroom setting. Tough decisions are never going to be easy; not a single one of us got elected wanting to be in this position.

“I’m no friend of the administration but we need to look at it holistically.”

Members, by 30 votes to 23, with four abstentions, supported the final steps to close the school.

Posting after the decision, the Friends of Manorbier School said: “Today is a difficult day, as the final decision to close Manorbier Primary School has now been made.

“There were some heartfelt comments and statements during the council meeting. The children, staff, parents and wider community have been waiting far too long for a decision. While this outcome was not unexpected, it is still hard to hear those final words spoken aloud.”

It added: “There are still questions that need to be asked, but the fight to keep the school open has come to an end. Our focus must now be on supporting the children and their families as they prepare for the transition ahead. The staff, too, finally have an answer.”

PEMBROKESHIRE is among 20 areas in Wales set to benefit from a Youth Hub aimed at helping young people into work, training and education.

The UK Labour Government has confirmed that seven more Youth Hubs will open across Wales over the next two years, in addition to 13 areas already announced in the first year of the programme.

Pembrokeshire was included in the first round of areas allocated a hub, alongside Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Caerphilly, Newport, Wrexham and others.

The hubs are designed to bring together job centre services, careers advice, skills and training opportunities, mental health support, housing advice and links to local employers offering live jobs and apprenticeships.

The aim is to ensure that every young person in Wales is no more than one hour away from a Youth Hub by public transport.

Shav Taj MS, Welsh Labour spokesperson for Employment and Equalities, said local and tailored support was “invaluable” in helping young people take their first step onto the jobs ladder.

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said the hubs would help young people get “that vital first job” by providing support, training opportunities and connections to employers.

The UK Government says the Youth Hubs form part of a wider £2.5bn programme to tackle youth unemployment, with more than 360 local areas across Great Britain expected to be covered over the next three years.

Exact local sites will be decided by delivery partners working with local authorities.

THE STORY of the man who saved the ship that took on Moby Dick in a fight to the death can now be told for the first time.

The traditional skills of David “Davi” Owen proved invaluable when John Huston’s classic movie on the great white whale was being filmed off Fishguard in 1954.

The Elstree Productions crew turned to Mr Owen in desperation after a violent storm dismasted the ‘Pequod’ – in reality a 158-ton wooden topsail schooner named The Ryelands – in Fishguard Harbour.

Mr Owen’s grandson Peter Jones recalls how the one-time ship’s carpenter was working as manager of Brodog Timber Merchants in Goodwick when he answered the film company’s SOS.

“My grandfather was initially trained as a ship’s carpenter in the early part of the last century,” he says. “He used to make sailing ships in Lower Town.

“When Moby Dick was being made they had the Pequod moored in the harbour along with several white rubber model whales.

“One night there was a terrible storm and the ship was dismasted. All the whales broke away and went out into the Irish Sea. Most were never found again. 

“My grandfather was approached as he was known to have made masts many years before.

“The film people asked him if he could make a new mast. He duly undertook this in Goodwick and the ship was re-masted.”

Mr Jones, who now lives on the Gower, is hoping to visit Theatr Gwaun’s Moby Dick exhibition – which will form part of September’s Ar Ymyl y Tir 2026/On Land’s Edge Festival.

David Owen died in December 1960 – four years after the cinematic release of Moby Dick. 

Meanwhile, a postcard detailing a fan’s innocent quest to find Hollywood star Gregory Peck during the filming has come to light.

The family of Lower Town resident Julia Moffett spent many happy family holidays in north Pembrokeshire. 

“I thought that these family holidays were my Mum’s only visits here – I was wrong,” she says.

“When clearing my late Aunty Joan’s house, my cousin found a postcard with a picture of Pwllgwaelod on the front.

“It was sent by Mum, Sybil, to her sister Joan in 1954. Mum worked in a Barnado’s children’s home in Kent and they brought the children on holiday to Dinas in August 1954.

“The message from Sybil reads in part: ‘Gregory Peck is at Fishguard making a film. We went to see him today, but didn’t. Mrs May has seen him and Leo Gern (sic), love Sybil.’

“I like the idea that Mum was here well before she met Dad, who was Pembrokeshire born – and also that she spent her precious time off in Fishguard, searching for her screen idol.

“I remember that he always remained her particular favourite.”