A PROGRAMME of talks, history and community events has been lined up in Pembroke this April by the Pembroke & Monkton Local History Society.

The society’s next Coffee Morning and Talk will take place on Saturday (Apr 11) at Pembroke Town Hall.

Guest speaker Rose Blackburn BEM will present a talk titled Romancing the Stone: Stories behind personal adornment through the ages.

Rose, well known locally for her long service as Pembroke’s Town Crier and her extensive community work, was awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of her contributions. She is also a Fellow of the Gemmological Association and trained in stone cutting during her time in South Africa before gaining further qualifications at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London.

Her talk will explore the history and uses of gemstones, sharing lesser-known facts alongside personal anecdotes from her experience in the field.

Doors open at 10:00am for coffee, with the talk beginning at 11:00am. Pembroke Museum and the Council Chamber, located on the first floor of the Town Hall, will also be open to visitors. Lift access is available.

Following the Easter holiday, the museum will extend its opening hours to Monday to Thursday 10:00am to 3:00pm and Friday 10:00am to 1:00pm. Entry is free.

Later in the month, the society will host a Quiz Night and Buffet on Friday (Apr 24) at Pembroke Town Hall.

Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start. Tickets cost £5 per person and include a buffet and refreshments. Attendees are welcome to bring their own drinks.

For more information, visit www.pembrokeandmonktonhistory.org.uk

Award-winning PC spared dismissal despite panel ruling groin contact was deliberate

A DYFED-POWYS POLICE officer praised for saving a toddler’s life has kept her job despite being found to have deliberately touched a man’s groin during a night out.

PC Zoe Williams was handed a final written warning after a misconduct panel ruled her actions amounted to gross misconduct following an incident at the RAFA Club in St Davids over the August Bank Holiday weekend in 2024.

The off-duty officer had been drinking with friends before entering the club, where CCTV captured her making two deliberate movements towards a man’s groin and making contact at around 1:20am.

Williams denied the allegation, claiming any contact was accidental and to the man’s midriff. The panel rejected her account, finding the touching was intentional and sexual in nature, likely intended to show interest in the man.

It concluded she had breached standards of authority, respect and courtesy, as well as discreditable conduct. There was no evidence the man had consented to the contact, and the panel noted that a number of people present knew she was a police officer at the time.

Her culpability was assessed as medium to high, with the panel warning her behaviour had the potential to undermine public confidence in policing. Aggravating factors included sexual motivation, excessive alcohol consumption and breaches of multiple professional standards.

Despite the gross misconduct finding, the panel decided dismissal would be disproportionate.

In reaching that decision, it placed significant weight on Williams’ otherwise strong record — in particular an incident earlier that year when she helped save the life of a two-year-old child.

While off duty and walking her dog on a beach at Solva, she carried out prolonged CPR after the child collapsed and stopped breathing. The child survived, and Williams later received commendations from the Chief Constable and the High Sheriff.

The panel also considered a series of positive testimonials describing her as a capable and compassionate officer, and concluded the incident was out of character.

It ruled that a final written warning would be sufficient to mark the seriousness of the misconduct while allowing her to continue serving the public.

The decision is likely to prompt debate about consistency in police discipline, particularly in cases involving sexualised behaviour, and whether an officer found to have committed gross misconduct should remain in post.

Overnight closure planned for access road near Victoria Bridge roundabout

DRIVERS accessing Milford Haven railway station are being warned to expect delays this weekend due to planned overnight roadworks.

Pembrokeshire County Council has confirmed that the unclassified access road leading to the station will be closed from its junction with Victoria Bridge roundabout.

The closure is scheduled to take place between midnight and 5:00am on Sunday (March 29) to allow work to be carried out on an electricity substation by National Grid.

While access to the station will be maintained, motorists are being advised that delays are likely.

There will be no official diversion route in place, as the road is not a through route.

Emergency service vehicles and those connected with the works will be exempt from the restriction. Access to nearby properties will be maintained where possible.

Pedestrian access to the station will remain unaffected throughout the closure.

The council has also confirmed that if the work is not completed within the planned five-hour window, the closure notice could remain in place for up to five days.

The Herald understands that there are typically no train services operating from Milford Haven station during the closure period.