WORLD RENOWNED drag icon, Dr Bev, has been announced as the closing act for the Pembrokeshire Pride Festival in September.

Dr Bev, whose full stage name is Dr Beverley Ballcrusher, is a well known drag artist from Cardiff. In a career that has lasted for over 30 years, she has become one of the highlights of the city’s LGBTQ+ scene.

In that time, she has toured across mainland Europe. Before coming to Pembrokeshire Pride Festival, Dr Bev will be performing at Sao Paulo Pride Festival, the world’s biggest Pride festival.

Dr Bev has also been a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV awareness. Dr Bev’s performer, Rob Keetch, volunteered at Cardiff Body Positivity to offer advice to those dealing with HIV during the 1990s. Dr Bev began at an event designed to support one of Rob’s associates from this charity, drag queen Connie Condom.

Dr Bev went on to be the founder of Pride Cymru, Wales’ largest LGBTQ+ celebration, holding an annual big weekend in Cardiff. The parade and festival promotes awareness of LGBTQ+ people, part of Pride Cymru’s wider mission to promote acceptance in Wales.

Dr Bev is therefore a figure rooted deeply in Welsh Pride and LGBTQ+ celebration. Having her come to Pembrokeshire Pride Festival is a massive moment for Pride in Pembrokeshire, closing out the festival with one of Wales’ biggest LGBTQ+ icons.

The day will include family friendly entertainment and activities, with food vendors, community areas and performances.

On Dr Bev’s appearance, Rob Keetch said: ‘To go from São Paulo Pride to Dewslake Farm is exactly what Pride should be about: joy, visibility, connection and making sure LGBTQ+ people know they are seen and celebrated wherever they live.‘

Dr Bev will also be wearing her rainbow outfit worn at San Paulo Pride, giving fans an opportunity to see part of the world’s biggest pride festival.

Pembrokeshire Pride Festival will take place on 19th September at Dewslake Farm, near Lamphey. Tickets will be available from the 24th July.

Headline act confirms non-appearance as Park House Series announces major event changes

DANCE music duo Solardo will no longer perform at the Park House Series event at Withybush Showground, Haverfordwest, on Saturday, July 18, organisers have confirmed.

The Manchester-based act had been heavily promoted as the headline name for the event, with tickets sold under the Solardo billing across official event pages, ticketing platforms and promotional material.

Questions over the appearance emerged after The Pembrokeshire Herald contacted Solardo’s booking representative directly.

Jack Clark, of United Talent Agency, confirmed to The Herald: “Solardo are not performing at this show.”

Organisers have since confirmed the withdrawal and announced that all ticket holders will receive a full refund.

The event itself will still go ahead, with Beyond Chicago and Ruby Richards both remaining on the line-up.

Park House Series has also announced that 1,200 free general admission tickets and 100 VIP tickets priced at £10 will be released at 7:00pm.

In a statement issued to ticket holders, organiser Toby Ellis said: “Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, Solardo will no longer be performing at our event on Saturday 18 July.

“We are absolutely devastated by this news and understand how disappointing it will be for everyone who purchased a ticket. We explored every available option, but sadly it has not been possible for the performance to go ahead.

“As a result, everyone who purchased a ticket will receive a full refund. Refunds will be processed automatically, with further information sent directly to ticket holders.

“The event itself will still go ahead, and we are determined to make it an incredible night. Beyond Chicago and Ruby Richards will both be performing as planned.

“To thank everyone for their understanding and continued support, we will be releasing:

“1,200 free general admission tickets

“100 VIP tickets for just £10

“Tickets will be released tonight at 7pm.

“We sincerely hope you will join us for what promises to be a huge free party. Thank you for your understanding and for continuing to support the event.”

The confirmation follows several days of uncertainty over whether Solardo would still appear.

At the time The Herald contacted the act’s representative, the event continued to be promoted publicly under the Solardo name.

The Herald has also been told by a source connected to the event’s production that technical requirements had been changed several weeks earlier because Solardo’s rider was no longer required.

That claim has not yet been independently confirmed by the promoter.

The central unanswered question is when organisers first became aware that Solardo would not be performing.

The Herald has asked Park House Series to confirm the date on which it learned of the withdrawal, when Skiddle was informed and whether ticket holders were notified at the earliest opportunity.

The promoter has also been asked why the event remained advertised under Solardo’s name after the act was no longer expected to appear.

Organisers have said the circumstances were beyond their control and that they explored every available option before confirming the change.

The Herald has made clear that its interest is in ensuring ticket holders receive accurate information and that the questions are not intended as a personal attack on the promoter.

The newspaper has also offered to promote the revised event line-up free of charge.

Further details about the automatic refund process are expected to be sent directly to ticket holders.

The free and discounted replacement tickets are due to be released at 7:00pm.

WALES AIR AMBULANCE has received a massive donation of £1,600 from Tenby Golf Club after a competition to raise funds for the charity. Natwest staff also aim to raise £60,000 this Sunday after a sponsored hike up Mount Snowdon.

Wales Air Ambulance is a charity that was founded in 2001, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Since then, it has successfully undertaken over 57,000 missions, providing a life saving service for the people of Wales.

It provides helicopter emergency medical services service free of charge, serving those who are critically ill and injured. Its Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service allows medical specialists too provide life-saving care at the scene of a medical incident. These services include blood transfusions and even minor operations.

But this service still desperately needs donations to operate. Costing £13 million a year, Tenby Golf Club and Natwest both stepped up this week too contribute.

The Tenby Golf Club President’s Open Day took place on Tuesday (7th July) to raise funds through a raffle. Prizes consisted of ‘four ball vouchers to play at ‘12
outstanding courses’ across South Wales.’

This raised an amazing £1,600 for Welsh Air Ambulance. Tenby Golf Club has raised a combined £5,500 for the charity throughout its history.

Natwest also plans to raise £60,000 this Sunday. Its North and South West Wales staff plan to do a sponsored walk up Wales’ tallest mountain, Mount Snowdon. Other Natwest branches have previously undertaken simar hikes for charities, including a veteran care village in Salford, raising over £10,000.

Nadine Bartlett, a personal banker at Natwest’s Aberystwyth branch, said: ‘we are just doing all we can to make a lifesaving difference.’

These combined efforts could potentially raise over £60,000 for Welsh Air Ambulance. This contributes massively to fill the £13 million bloc needed to keep these life-saving helicopters in the air.

You can donate here to help the Natwest team reach their £60,000 goal.