Community

Dinner lady retires after thirty-two years

Published

11 years ago

March 2, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Rose Phillips: Served over 2
million meals to the children of
Pembrokeshire during her career.

ROSE PHILLIPS has been cooking school dinners in our county for 32 years, and this week, Fenton CP School gave her a retirement send off fitting to the service she has given to so many people in Pembrokeshire.

The Herald was fortunate enough to be invited to attend the celebration of this cherished school worker. The whole of Fenton’s pupils turned out, along with its full teaching roster, as headteacher, Mr Mathew Harris, led the assembly. The head pointed out that he had calculated that Rose had served the county’s children over 2 million meals in her career as a school caterer. She was then thanked by the pupils, the staff and Chair of Governors, Cllr Peter Stock who presented her with a specially made Pembrokeshire scarf. She was then given various gifts, presented by two of Fenton’s pupils, and was serenaded with a performance from the school choir, who sang, appropriately, ‘Food Glorious Food.’

Cllr. Stock said to her: “On behalf of Pembrokeshire I’d like to thank you Rose. You have been dedicated to the children. I see teachers and staff come and go, but you Rose have done a first class job, you are loved by the parents and the children and staff, putting them, and this county, first. So I can’t speak more highly about you – just a big thank you.”

After the emotional send off The Herald spoke with Rose Phillips about her long career in this important role in education.

She started by telling The Herald what a typical day in the school kitchen entailed: “I am here by 7am ready for breakfast, after that then I immediately start preparing the meal for the day. It has to be ready by 11.50 when nursery come in, then it’s the infants, and at 12.30 the older ones are in. We serve anywhere between 160-170 meals – but it can go up to 200.”

The Herald wanted to know what changes she had seen in school meal provision in her 32 years in the job. Rose said: “Healthy eating is far more important than it used to be. I started at Taskers and you used to have to cook a lot of burgers back then. Now it’s all prepared here, fresh, as nothing comes in ready cooked. It’s all done from scratch with natural ingredients. The children haven’t changed though, they are still the same.”

After spending many years in Taskers school the Herald was interested to know what the differences were between catering in a secondary school and a local primary school, to which she said: “They have a more cafeteria based set up at Taskers. You had to make a bigger choice of meals, which is a lot harder, whereas here in Fenton everyone has the same.”

Finally we asked Rose what she would miss the most about leaving, but also what she was looking forward to in retirement: “I’ll miss the company with the girls (staff) and of course the children, but I am looking forward to not having to get up at 6am!”

The Herald wishes Rose a happy and long retirement.

Community

Narbelles WI support Food Bank with festive donation

Published

18 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Group marks December meeting with charity collection and Christmas celebrations

NARBELLES WI rounded off the year with a festive December meeting featuring a bring-and-share buffet, party games and a Secret Santa gift exchange.

Members also used the occasion to support families in need across the county, collecting food items and presenting a £120 cheque to Ann Watling from Pembrokeshire Food Bank. The donation represents the proceeds of the group’s bucket collection during Narberth Civic Week 2024.

A spokesperson for the WI said the group was delighted to finish the year “with fun, friendship and a chance to give something back to the community.”

(Photo: Narbelles WI members presenting the cheque to Ann Watling, Pembrokeshire Food Bank.)

Community

Annual charity carol service raises funds for good causes

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service held its annual Charity Carol Service on Wednesday (Dec 10) at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel in Crymych.

The event brought together members of the local community alongside Fire Service staff for an evening of carols, readings and festive refreshments, marking the Christmas season in a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

This year’s service supported two important charities — the Fire Fighters Charity and Cancer Research Wales — with all proceeds going directly towards their ongoing work.

A total of £597 was raised on the night, which will be shared equally between the two charities.

The Service thanked the congregation at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel for hosting the event, as well as everyone who gave their time, support and generosity to make the evening such a success.

Community

3 Amigos toy bike run under way across Pembrokeshire

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Castle Inn fun runners back festive charity event

THE ANNUAL 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run is under way this afternoon (Saturday), with hundreds of motorcyclists setting off from Pembroke to raise funds for children’s services.

Riders gathered at The Commons car park in Pembroke from around midday before departing shortly after 1:00pm. The festive convoy is travelling along its traditional route, taking in Pembroke Dock and continuing through parts of the county including Neyland, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.

The event is organised by the 3 Amigos and Dollies Motorcycle Group and has become a much-anticipated Christmas tradition in west Wales, with toys and donations collected for children receiving care within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

Also supporting the event are fun runners from the Castle Inn in Pembroke, who have been fundraising in aid of the 3 Amigos. The group are pictured alongside participants from today’s run.

The 3 Amigos have been raising funds for children’s wards and health charities for more than twenty-five years, with their Easter and Christmas events continuing to make a positive difference to young patients and their families.

Organisers have thanked the public for their support and asked road users to be mindful of the large convoy as it passes through towns and villages this afternoon.

Photo caption:
Festive fundraising: Fun runners from the Castle Inn, Pembroke, pictured supporting the 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald)