Community

Charity fishing contest raises cash

Published

11 years ago

March 3, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Some of the participants: Outside Amroth Arms.

THE EIGHTH Felinfoel Brewery Double Dragon RNLI Annual Fishing Open, organised by members from Pembroke & District Angling Club, Osprey Sea Angling Club and Neyland Sea Angling Club, was held on Sunday February 8 on Amroth beach in South Pembrokeshire.

This year, like last year, the date did make a difference in catches compared to just four weeks earlier, good catches of Flounder being recorded at the Air Ambulance Open but not so many at this match but more than last year despite what many thought would be testing conditions with a flat calm sea and no wind. However, 15 out of the 78 anglers, compared to only 9 out of 68 in 2014, that fished, which included 5 ladies and 2 juniors (a boy and a girl), managed to weigh in 21 sizeable fish as compared to 2014 when only 9 were recorded and four weeks earlier when 38 anglers weighed in 64 fish.

The winning angler who managed to land 2 flounder for 885gms was a visiting angler from Newport, Gwent, Dai Loder, netting him the first prize of £250. Local rod, Stuart Allen, from Kilgetty, had the biggest flounder at 580gms taking the pool of £78. In second was a Milford Haven angler, young Daniel Tucker, new into the senior ranks of anglers and former top junior more than once on Amroth beach. He was narrowly beaten by just 70gms landing 2 flounder for 815gms, allowing him to pick up the runner’s up prize of £100. In third place was another visitor but ex local, Craig Thompson now from Portsmouth as opposed to Haverfordwest where he used to reside when winning competitions such as these on this very beach. He also had two flounder but for 690gms winning him £50. No junior managed to weigh in but a couple of the ladies did with Alison George from Milford taking the £20 prize with a Flounder of 270gms. The pair’s competition was won by 2 local Saundersfoot Angling Club members, Tony Ormond and Llewellyn Rose with 3 flounder for 830gms, picking up £90, with visitors Keith Stephens and Carl Isaac, second with 2 flounder for 670gms netting them £50.

However, the most important result on the day was that the event, by the time the money is all in, they will have raised over £900, for the Angle & Tenby lifeboats.

John O’Connor said: “Thanks goes to the main sponsor Felinfoel Brewery along with their rep Jamie Owen for continuing to sponsor this event and congratulations goes to the anglers from the organising club, together with Roger Harris of the Amroth Arms who always puts his premises and valued support at this event’s disposal, together with Pam from the Tenby Lifeboat support group who, along with Ken Gainfort, ran the raffle, thanks. Finally, we must again thank all the kind and generous sponsors of the event, including those already mentioned who donated cash, made collections and donated prizes for the mega raffle which ensured continuation of the event’s great success. These were, in no particular order, Shane Tucker, Roger Harries (Amroth Arms), John O’Connor, Leigh Rogers, James Lemon of Awesome Fishing, Andy Luxford, Howells Welding (Pendine) ,Davies Decorators, Martin and Sandra Thompson of Anglers Corner, Milford Haven, Lawson H.I.S., Grainger Tubolt, St. Ishmaels Nurseries, Ken Gainfort, Dale Sailing, Consort, Derek Gregory and John and Sheila Mason. If anybody feels aggrieved that they have been missed off this list and we hope there isn’t, we are truly sorry, but thank you, most warmly, for your continued support.”

Community

Teifi river revival project secures £1.4m lottery funding

Published

19 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

COMMUNITIES along the River Teifi are set to play a central role in a major new project aimed at improving the health of one of west Wales’ most important rivers.

The Teifi Fyw — Living Teifi: People and Nature Together project has been given the green light after securing more than £1.4m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The conservation project aims to respond to climate change, biodiversity loss and declining river health, while also recognising the Teifi’s deep cultural and historic importance to the communities which live and work along its catchment.

The first stage will be a two-year development phase, bringing together scientific evidence, local history, lived experience and creative work to help shape future restoration plans.

The project will be coordinated by Natural Resources Wales, working with the West Wales Rivers Trust, the Mining Remediation Authority, Strata Florida Trust, Mentera, Ceredigion County Council, UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

It will also build on existing work carried out by the Teifi Nutrient Management Board and local stakeholder projects including Llais yr Afon and P.R.A.M.

Cllr Clive Davies welcomed the announcement, saying he looked forward to seeing the project outcomes realised.

The River Teifi is one of Wales’ best-known waterways, flowing through Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire before reaching the sea at Cardigan.

Project leaders say the aim is to ensure that restoration work is not only based on environmental evidence, but also reflects the values and priorities of the people who know the river best.

Community

Henry Tudor Centre designs to go on display in Pembroke

Published

23 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Public invited to help shape new heritage centre exhibition

MEMBERS of the public are being invited to view the emerging exhibition designs for the new Henry Tudor Centre in Pembroke.

The centre, due to open in spring 2027, will be based at South Quay and will tell the story of Henry Tudor, the son of Pembroke who went on to become Henry VII and founder of the Tudor dynasty.

The exhibition designs will be on display at Pembroke Town Hall from Friday, May 22, to Friday, May 29.

The Henry Tudor Trust, which will operate the new heritage centre, is asking residents and visitors to give their views on how Henry Tudor’s story should be told.

The designs have been developed by exhibition specialists Image Makers, with feedback forms available for members of the public to submit comments. These responses will help refine the exhibition as the project develops.

The new logo for the centre, created by Haverfordwest-based marketing company Media2Motion, will also be on display.

Work is currently underway to refurbish the Grade II-listed building at South Quay, which will house the new exhibition. The centre will also include a new public library, replacing the current library on The Commons, as well as a café.

The capital project is being funded by the Welsh Government, UK Government and Pembrokeshire County Council.

Additional support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will fund a programme of events and activities at the new centre, alongside volunteering opportunities and educational resources for schools.

The exhibition plans can be viewed at Pembroke Town Hall from Monday to Thursday, 9:00am to 3:00pm, and Friday, 9:00am to 1:00pm. The town hall is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Community

Pembroke Town Council Monkton vacancy following town councillor’s Senedd win

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PEMBROKE’S Monkton ward will soon have a new town councillor after its previous representative secured a seat in the Senedd as one of six new members for the Ceredigion Penfro seat.

A notice of casual vacancy for the Monkton ward of Pembroke Town Council was publicised yesterday, May 11.

If no written request is made to the county council’s returning officer, the town council may fill the vacant seat by co-option.

The seat was made vacant following now-former town councillor Reform’s Susan Claire Archibald becoming a Senedd member for the new Ceredigion Penfro Senedd ward, one of two Reform candidates to do so.

At the Senedd count on May 8, the former councillor spoke on behalf of herself, fellow Reform winner Paul Marr, and the party’s supporters, saying the supporters would need “new shoes,” given Ceredigion Penfro’s “ginormous constituency”.

She added: “Paul and I are obviously very excited to get to work to representing our constituency of Ceredigion and Penfro.”

The six Senedd members for the new Ceredigion Penfro ward, which saw three Plaid seats, two Reform and one Welsh Conservatives gained, are: Elin Jones, Kerry Ferguson, and Anna Nicholl Plaid Cymru; Susan Claire Archibald and Paul Marr Reform; Welsh Conservatives Paul Windsor Davies.

A formal request for an election to fill the vacant Monkton seat may be made to: Returning Officer, Pembrokeshire County Council, Electoral Services, County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP.

The town council itself saw, last weekend, the inauguration of Councillor Jonathan Grimes, also joint county councillor for Pembroke Monkton and St Mary South, as the 647th Mayor of Pembroke.

Accompanied by his wife, Councillor Deborah Willcocks, a civic lunch was held at the town hall, Main Street, successfully raising £350 in support of his chosen charity, Sandy Bear.

The weekend also saw a service at St Mary’s Church, where the Bishop of St Davids offered a blessing for the newly installed bells.