Community

Dinner lady retires after thirty-two years

Published

10 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

Pembrokeshire County Council launches festive info hub

Published

29 mins ago

December 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

WITH the festive season fast approaching, Pembrokeshire County Council has made it easier than ever to access essential service updates for Christmas and New Year.

The council’s website now features an updated ‘Christmas in Pembrokeshire’ page, providing answers to key holiday queries such as bin collection schedules and free parking availability.

Residents can also find information about leisure centre and library opening times, winter driving tips, bus timetables, salting routes, and a guide to Christmas markets across the county.

The page includes reminders about recycling rules, including what can and cannot be recycled, as well as details on Christmas tree recycling services.

For everything you need to know this festive season, visit https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/christmas-in-pembrokeshire.

Community

Henry Tufnell MP advocates for Pembroke’s bell restoration project

Published

6 hours ago

December 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

LAST weekend, Henry Tufnell MP visited St David’s Cathedral, where he had the opportunity to witness the tradition of bell ringing and meet with members of the St Mary’s Bell Restoration Project. The meeting underscored the vital importance of preserving Pembroke’s unique heritage while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by the restoration team.

St Mary’s Church, located in the heart of Pembroke, is home to a set of historic bells that have been a cherished part of the town’s life for over 260 years. However, due to structural and safety concerns, these bells have been silent, putting a pause on their role in significant civic and cultural events, including Remembrance Sunday and local celebrations.

A significant £150,000 from the £10.5 million UK Government funding pot has been allocated to this restoration project, but delays in finalising the grant have hindered progress. Henry pledged his commitment to ensuring that the project receives the attention it deserves to move forward without further obstacles.

Following his visit, Mr Tufnell said: “Speaking with members of the St Mary’s Bell Restoration Project at St David’s Cathedral highlighted how much this initiative means to the people of Pembroke. Restoring these historic bells is about more than just tradition; it’s about community pride and keeping our heritage alive for future generations. I’m determined to help ensure this project gets the green light it needs and I will be doing everything in my power to ensure it happens.”

The St Mary’s Bell Restoration Project has garnered widespread support from local residents and businesses, whose donations have helped secure the match funding required for the Fund. Completing the project would be a significant milestone, securing a vital piece of Pembroke’s history for years to come.

Community

Haverfordwest Castle Ward’s councillor addresses leaf hazard

Published

1 day ago

December 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AS County Councillor for the Castle Ward, Cllr Thomas Tudor has responded swiftly to concerns raised by residents of Oakwood Grove about the build-up of fallen leaves on the pavements. The leaves, described as a potential hazard for pedestrians, were flagged as a danger, especially in wet conditions.

Following Cllr Tudor’s report to Pembrokeshire County Council’s maintenance team, the pavements have now been cleared, restoring safety for residents.

Cllr Tudor expressed his gratitude, saying: “Many thanks to all involved; it’s very much appreciated.”

Before and after photos provided by Cllr Tudor illustrate the improvement made for the community.