THREE children were rescued after being blown around a mile out to sea on a paddleboard off Pendine.

Tenby’s all-weather RNLI lifeboat was launched shortly after 5:00pm on Saturday, July 18, following reports that the children were in difficulty.

Before the lifeboat arrived, the children were spotted by the crew of the Saundersfoot-based charter boat Ebony May, who acted quickly and brought them safely aboard.

An RNLI lifeguard from Pendine had also reached the group but was unable to return all three children to the beach without further assistance.

The Tenby lifeboat crew arrived a short time later and transferred the children onto the lifeboat, where they were checked for injuries.

They were then taken back to Pendine beach aboard the lifeboat’s smaller Y boat. The lifeguard was also returned safely to shore.

Tenby RNLI thanked both the charter boat crew and the lifeguard for their rapid response.

A spokesperson said: “Our thanks go out to the crew of the Ebony May and also the RNLI lifeguard. Without them spotting and rescuing the children, this incident could have turned out very differently.”

The RNLI also praised the children for remaining with the paddleboard, which made them easier to locate from the shore and from nearby vessels.

Following the rescue, the charity issued a warning about the dangers posed by offshore winds to paddleboarders.

The spokesperson added: “When going paddleboarding, you should avoid beaches where the wind is offshore.

“You can quickly be blown out faster than you can paddle, meaning you are unable to make it back to shore.

“Always wear a buoyancy aid and carry a way of calling for help, such as a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.”

As the Tenby lifeboat returned to station, the crew was redirected towards Burry Port following a separate report that three children were in difficulty at sea.

However, while the lifeboat was passing south of Carmarthen Bar, the crew was informed that everyone involved had been safely recovered and no further assistance was needed.

Communities across north Pembrokeshire are preparing to welcome thousands of visitors for eight days of Welsh language, music, literature and culture

THERE are now just ten days to go until Eisteddfod y Garreg Las opens its gates for an eight-day celebration of the Welsh language, creativity and culture.

The National Eisteddfod will be held at Llantwd, in north Pembrokeshire, from Saturday, August 1, until Saturday, August 8.

Excitement is already building throughout the area, with communities decorating villages, roadsides and public spaces ahead of the festival’s arrival. Construction of the Maes, the main Eisteddfod site, is also gathering pace as organisers prepare the stages, pavilions, exhibition areas and other facilities needed for one of Wales’ largest cultural events.

Although the festival is being staged in Pembrokeshire, the official catchment area stretches beyond the county boundary and includes communities in south Ceredigion and west Carmarthenshire.

Months of community events, concerts, sponsored activities and fundraising drives have helped build momentum ahead of the Eisteddfod.

Local committees have raised more than £528,000, believed to be the largest amount ever collected by a local fund for a National Eisteddfod.

John Davies, chairman of the Garreg Las National Eisteddfod Executive Committee, described the fundraising campaign as historic.

He said: “More than £528,000 has been raised so far, the largest amount ever raised by a local fund for a National Eisteddfod.”

Volunteers who have supported the fundraising effort will be recognised during a special Celebrating Our Champions ceremony at 10:00am on the festival’s opening day. Representatives from local committees will be invited onto the stage to receive public recognition for their work.

Pembrokeshire on display

Pembrokeshire County Council and its partners will have their own dedicated area on the Maes, known as Pentre’r Garreg Las.

The area will celebrate the people, culture, communities and organisations of Pembrokeshire and the wider Eisteddfod region.

A full programme of discussions, performances, demonstrations and community activities will be held in Pabell Pawb throughout the week.

The programme is expected to feature local performers, community organisations, schools, businesses and projects, giving visitors an opportunity to discover more about the area and the people who live and work here.

Organisers hope the Eisteddfod will not only provide a major economic and cultural boost during festival week, but will also leave a lasting legacy by encouraging greater use of the Welsh language and strengthening links between communities.

Full programme available through festival app

The National Eisteddfod’s official app is now live and includes details of events taking place across the Maes each day.

Visitors can use the app to explore the full festival programme, check competition times and create their own schedules before travelling.

It also contains the programme for Pentre’r Garreg Las, helping visitors plan which talks, performances and demonstrations they would like to attend.

With activities taking place simultaneously in venues across the Maes, organisers are encouraging visitors to download the app in advance so they do not miss their preferred competitions, concerts or appearances.

Extra buses serving the Maes

Additional public transport services are being provided during Eisteddfod week to help visitors reach the site.

The TrawsCymru T5 service will travel directly to the Maes from Haverfordwest, Fishguard and Cardigan, with more frequent journeys and late-evening services operating between Fishguard and Cardigan.

The 430 service, which connects Narberth, Crymych and Cardigan, will operate every day during the festival. An additional late bus will leave the Maes at 11:15pm.

Visitors travelling through Cardigan will also be able to use Bws yr Arglwydd Rhys, a free shuttle service running from Finch Square to the Maes every hour between 7:00am and midnight.

Travel will remain free for holders of an All Wales Concessionary Bus Pass, while eligible passengers aged 21 and under can travel for £1 per journey, subject to a maximum daily fare of £3.

Celebrating 850 years of Eisteddfod tradition

This year’s festival carries particular historical significance, marking 850 years since the gathering widely regarded as the first recorded Eisteddfod.

That event was held by Lord Rhys at Cardigan Castle in 1176, only a few miles from the site of this year’s festival.

According to historical accounts, poets and musicians were invited to Cardigan to compete for prizes, establishing a tradition of artistic competition that has continued in different forms for centuries.

The modern National Eisteddfod remains one of the most important events in the Welsh cultural calendar. It brings together poets, musicians, writers, artists, choirs, dancers, actors and competitors from across Wales and beyond.

Alongside the traditional competitions and ceremonies, visitors can expect concerts, exhibitions, discussions, food, family activities and opportunities to learn and use Welsh.

The Eisteddfod is open to Welsh speakers, learners and people with no previous knowledge of the language, with organisers presenting it as an opportunity for everyone to experience Welsh culture.

As the final preparations continue, communities across north Pembrokeshire, south Ceredigion and west Carmarthenshire are preparing to welcome visitors for what is expected to be one of the most significant cultural events held in the region for many years.

A CALL for an impartial investigation into the contentious closure of Manorbier school, is to be heard by senior councillors.

Back in June, the final decision to close fire-ravaged Manorbier school was given the go-ahead, despite a heartfelt last-minute plea by local councillor Phil Kidney to keep it open.

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 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.

At a special extraordinary council meeting held on June 15, members made the final decision on discontinuation of the school, backed by 30 votes to 23, with four abstentions.

At the meeting, local councillor Phil Kidney, who has been a staunch supporter of keeping the school open, said: “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.”

Following that decision, issues around the contentious closure were heard at the July 16 meeting of the council.

In a notice of motion before councillors, Cllr Kidney proposed: “That council considers a full impartial investigation into the process of closing Manorbier school, specifically the time it has taken, broken promises, inadequate insurance, and the involvement of HR department.”

A supporting statement for his motion said: “The review should be carried out by someone not employed by the authority, with powers to recommend disciplinary action if they deem necessary.

“A full impartial review should hopefully stop another school being treated so appallingly.”

Cllr Kidney also, in a submitted question, sought an apology from the deputy leader, who now has responsibility for education: “Would the Cabinet Member for Education [Cllr Paul Miller] like to apologise to the staff and parents of Manorbier School for his comments at the last council meeting, where he stated children would get a better education in St Florence and children in Manorbier were being taught in one room?

“This is both factually wrong and insulting to staff, who have worked tirelessly to provide teaching of an excellent standard, and if he had taken the time to read the last Estyn report, he may not have made these derogatory comments.”

Members agreed Cllr Kidney’s notice of motion would be heard at a future Cabinet meeting.

In response to Cllr Kidney’s question, said he “had no intention of insulting staff,” who were “doing a great job in very difficult circumstances”.

He went on to say that if he had said the words quoted by Cllr Kidney, he would apologise for them but stressed: “I do believe it will be better for them [the pupils] to be in a larger school.”

On July 16, with the summer holidays approaching, the doors of Manorbier Church in Wales Primary School closed for the final time.

Friends of Manorbier School posted on social media: “This isn’t the ending that our children, families, staff, and community hoped for. Yet as we reach this difficult milestone, we are reminded that Manorbier School has always been so much more than a building. For generations, it has been a place filled with friendship, laughter, learning, kindness, and unforgettable memories.”

It added: “As we say goodbye, we do so with immense gratitude and pride.

“Thank you, Manorbier School, for the memories, the laughter, the kindness, and the community you created.”