News

Families speak out

Published

13 years ago

November 27, 2013

BEV EVANS told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “All three of my children were born at Withybush and all of them needed special care after they were born. When my eldest daughter was born, I was told at quarter to six I needed an emergency C-section. At five past six, my daughter was delivered. It is half an hour to Carmarthen. If I was in the same situation and had to get to Carmarthen, there would be no way to get there.

“When my children have been ill the services at South Pembrokeshire and Withybush were essential. It was the middle of the night when my youngest daughter had febrile convulsions. She was able to be seen quickly, but that would not be possible if services were relocated to Carmarthen.

“When I was ill as a child with severe asthma and had to be hospitalised for extended periods of time, it would simply have been impractical for my parents to go back and forth to Carmarthen every day. They had other young children to care for and if services move to Carmarthen, families with young children will be left in an impossible position.

“Maintaining local maternity and paediatric services is essential.”

KELLY HUBBARD from Pennar, Pembroke Dock echoed Bev Evans’s sentiments:

“My youngest daughter, Chloe was born at 29 weeks. She was admitted to SCBU at Withybush but was too ill to be transferred elsewhere. Two weeks after she was born Chloe was transferred to Singleton for a fortnight. She was then transferred back to SCBU where she spent another four weeks. After discharge, Chloe need more care and was admitted to SCBU -again at short notice.

“I met other mums while at the SCBU. With the nurses and the other staff there, we have become like a family. Without their care and support, I do not know whether Chloe would have survived. I am sure there is good care and a caring atmosphere at other maternity units, but this is our local maternity care and SCBU at Withybush.”

LIZ BUTLAND, a member of the Save Withybush Action Team (SWAT), told The Pembrokeshire Herald:

“My son Seth was a two month premature home birth in Nottinghamshire. When he was well enough, he was transferred to SCBU at Withybush, where he spent about a month.

“When I read about the Health Board’s plans for SCBU and maternity care, I contacted friends and we started a petition. I then joined SWAT and we took a 14,000 signature petition to the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff Bay. It seems to me that the voice of Pembrokeshire people is not being heard or is being ignored.

“What gets me is that, like a lot of premature children, Seth needs continuing medical care, often at night and at short notice. I would have to hope that an ambulance turned up quickly and got Seth and me to Carmarthen in the same time it would take an ambulance to take us to Withybush. Somehow, I don’t think that could happen.

“Even then, if that happened in the middle of the night I would be stranded in Carmarthen with a sick child, no transport, probably no money, and probably in my night clothes. And the Health Board think that is acceptable.

“Hywel Dda’s Board seem to say that the service at Withybush is not up to standard. I don’t know what they are measuring with: ask the families of people who have used the services! They will tell you about the care and love they get from the staff. We should not lose that. We really can’t afford to lose it.”

News

Tenby lifeboat tows yacht to safety after skipper falls ill near Caldey

Published

12 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A YACHT was towed back to Tenby after its skipper became unwell off Caldey Island.

Tenby’s all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch at 1:40pm on Monday (Jun 15), after the coastguard received a call from the occupants of a yacht reporting that the skipper had become ill around one mile south of Caldey Island.

The volunteer crew quickly made their way to the vessel, which had three people and a dog on board.

Once alongside, the lifeboat crew discovered that the skipper was suffering badly from seasickness and that the other two people on board were unable to sail the yacht themselves.

After a full assessment by the coxswain, it was decided that the safest course of action was to tow the yacht back to Tenby. The vessel was drifting with the tide towards Caldey Island and was also considered a potential navigational hazard to other boats.

Two lifeboat crew members were placed aboard the yacht to help set up the tow and to monitor the unwell skipper during the journey back.

After a tow of around an hour, the yacht was placed on the lifeboat mooring in the calmer waters of North Bay.

The lifeboat then returned to station, arriving back at 3:15pm.

Entertainment

Waverley marks 79th anniversary with Pembrokeshire sailings

Published

13 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WORLD’S last seagoing paddle steamer will return to Pembrokeshire this week as Waverley marks the 79th anniversary of her maiden voyage.

The historic vessel will sail from Milford Haven and Tenby on Tuesday (Jun 16), with trips including a daytime cruise around Skokholm, Skomer, St Brides Bay and Ramsey Island from 11:30am to 4:30pm.

There will also be an evening sailing from Milford Haven at 5:00pm, travelling to St Govan’s Head, Caldey Island and along the Pembrokeshire coast, returning at 9:50pm.

Passengers can also join Waverley at Tenby, with sailings to Milford Haven and an evening cruise around Caldey Island and the coast.

On Wednesday (Jun 17), Waverley will make her only Fishguard visit of 2026, with an evening cruise to St David’s Head, passing Strumble Head Lighthouse, from 6:15pm to 9:15pm.

Tickets are available through Waverley Excursions.

Crime

Mid Wales peace activist arrested outside court after Palestine Action ruling

Published

14 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MID WALES peace activist Angie Zelter was arrested outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London after holding a placard in support of Palestine Action.

The 75-year-old campaigner, from Knucklas, Powys, was detained at around 12:20pm on the steps of the court, according to Radnor Palestine Links.

The group said Ms Zelter was arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 after holding a sign which read: “Saving lives is not terrorism. I support Palestine Action.”

She was taken to Charing Cross Police Station and released around two hours later, the group said.

The arrest came as the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the UK Government over its decision to proscribe Palestine Action under terrorism legislation.

The ruling overturned an earlier High Court decision which had found the ban unlawful. The Court of Appeal held that the Government’s decision was lawful and proportionate.

Palestine Action was banned after the Home Secretary moved to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000. Supporting or inviting support for a proscribed organisation can be a criminal offence.

Radnor Palestine Links said the protest formed part of an ongoing campaign against the use of counter-terrorism laws against peaceful demonstrators.

Ms Zelter, a long-standing peace and human rights campaigner, has been arrested more than 100 times worldwide during decades of non-violent direct action. She is also known as a founder of Trident Ploughshares.

Speaking after her arrest, Ms Zelter said: “I think it’s a terrible indictment of the criminal justice system that you are charging me with terrorism for holding a peaceful sign.

“We have to uphold the most important international laws. Peaceful, disruptive protest is absolutely essential to protect democracy.”

The Metropolitan Police has been asked to confirm the circumstances of the arrest, whether Ms Zelter was formally charged, and the conditions of her release.

Photo caption: Court protest: Angie Zelter outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London holding a sign in support of Palestine Action (Pic: Radnor Palestine Links).