Male Voice Choir visits care homes and Pembroke Castle

FESTIVE invitations have come early this year for Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir, with a series of mini concerts in the run-up to Christmas.

The choir visited Kensington Court in Steynton for the first time, where residents gave them a warm welcome. Choristers performed seven pieces from their repertoire before leading a selection of carols. Accompanist Rev William Lambert also contributed a solo performance of You Raise Me Up. The concert concluded with Calon Lân, sung at the request of a resident, and a donation to the choir was handed over on behalf of residents by Rosemary Cooper.

The following Saturday the choir performed at Pembroke Castle as part of the Christmas Fayre festivities, again mixing seasonal carols with their own programme. Soloist Mirelle Ryan, who has appeared at several concerts this year, performed Mary’s Boy Child.

A few days later the choir – suitably dressed in Christmas jumpers and ties – led carols at Cartref Cleddau in Pembroke Dock. Musical Director Juliet Rossiter conducted at each venue, with Rev Lambert at the keyboard and Matthew John acting as MC.

Another visit to a local residential home is planned before Christmas.

Hopes raised for nearly 7,000 women in Ceredigion Preseli

ALMOST 7,000 women born in the 1950s across the Ceredigion Preseli constituency could be affected by an imminent UK Government rethink over whether they are owed compensation for receiving little or no notice that their state pension age would rise by up to six years.

In December last year, the then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall announced that no compensation would be paid, despite the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman recommending it. The Government did, however, accept that there had been maladministration, and said the women were entitled to an apology.

But on 11 November, her successor Pat McFadden told MPs that new evidence had been uncovered, prompting him to look at the matter again. The evidence relates to research commissioned by the Department for Work & Pensions on how many women would have benefitted from earlier notification letters about their rising state pension age — research which, he said, had not been shown to the previous minister.

The reversal came shortly before a Judicial Review brought by the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign, which was scheduled for hearings on 9–10 December. That case will now not proceed after the Government committed to:

Reconsidering the decision in full within 12 weeks, unless there is a compelling reason for delay that can be scrutinised by the court.

Retaking the decision entirely afresh, considering all relevant evidence.

Paying over half of WASPI’s legal costs, leaving the campaign with sufficient funds to challenge any future legal errors if necessary.

Pamela Judge, Co-ordinator of Ceredigion Preseli WASPI, said the development marked a major step forward.

“This is a major success for WASPI and would not have happened without WASPI’s legal action,” she said. “With Ben Lake’s help we launched our campaign locally nearly seven years ago when the national campaign was already in full swing. It’s taken a long time to get this far.

“The Government has now raised our hopes by saying, quite rightly, that it will consider the matter of compensation afresh. Our hopes must not be dashed again.

“We know the Government can do the right thing. It is already compensating victims of the contaminated blood scandal, the postmasters who suffered losses due to faulty accounting software, and it has revised the Windrush compensation scheme. It’s time the WASPI women were treated fairly too.”

Ben Lake MP for Ceredigion Preseli said he welcomed the development.

“I am pleased that the Judicial Review does not need to go ahead as planned and that the Government will reconsider evidence that wasn’t previously available to the former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

“The UK Government must now give a speedy decision on their reconsideration of the Ombudsman’s findings. After years of disappointment, these women deserve certainty and long overdue redress.”

The Government’s reconsidered decision is due by 24 February 2026.

A MILFORD HAVEN man will take on an eight-hour stationary bike ride early in the new year to raise money for the hospice that cared for his sister-in-law during her final months.

Ian Hobbs will complete the challenge at Inner Tiger Fitness on Friday, 3 January, in support of St David’s Hospice, Newport, which provided end-of-life care for Samantha, who died from bowel cancer earlier this year at the age of 44.

Ian and his wife Steph say the fundraiser is a way to thank the hospice for the “tremendous care and support” Samantha received during her illness. Ian set an initial target of £500, which has already been met, and has now increased the goal to £1,000.

The effort is also offering an opportunity for local businesses to sponsor Ian’s challenge. He will be wearing a T-shirt displaying the hospice logo, with space for additional business logos to be added ahead of the event.

Steph said the family hope the community will get behind the fundraiser to help raise as much as possible for the hospice, which relies heavily on donations to continue its work.

The JustGiving page for the challenge can be found here:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/ian-hobbs-1