News

Angle’s new inshore lifeboat named after ‘Super Grandad’

Published

11 years ago

May 3, 2015

Tom Sinclair

RNLI Angle’s new D Class inshore lifeboat SuperG II. (Photo: Martin Cavaney Photography.)

RNLI Angle’s new £41,000 inshore lifeboat was officially named and dedicated at a champagne ceremony on Thursday evening (April 30).

The D class lifeboat SuperG II (D-776) has been funded by The Coward Endowment, a small family trust established by the late Charles Coward in 1965.

The new lifeboat was officially handed over to the RNLI by Charles Coward’s son, Clive, of London. He was accompanied by his wife Frances; daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Zino Pece, of Swansea, and grandsons Oli and Tom Pece.

Indeed, it is Oli and Tom who are the inspiration for the lifeboat’s name – ‘SuperG’ (Super Grandad) being their name for grandad Clive.

Mr Coward said that although The Coward Endowment mainly supports small charities, the exception to this is the RNLI because the trustees believe the lifesaving charity does such valuable work.

The trustees are particularly impressed by the courage and dedication of RNLI volunteers. “The funding of the new inshore lifeboat is a significant gift for the trust and the trustees are excited about the opportunity to provide something so tangible for the RNLI’s volunteers at Angle,” he said.

Clive and Frances Coward, their daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Zino Pece and grandsons, Oli and Tom Pece, with RNLI Angle Lifeboat Operations Manager John Allen-Mirehouse, and the volunteer crew of SuperG II, Adam Stringer (Helmsman), David Dillane and Sarah Lunn. (Photo: Martin Cavaney Photography.)

Clive and Frances Coward, their daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Zino Pece and grandsons, Oli and Tom Pece, with RNLI Angle Coxswain Lewis Creese (left) and lifeboat and shore crew members. (Martin Cavaney Photography)

He praised the work of the RNLI, whose volunteers placed their own lives on the line every time they go to sea to save others. He was delighted that the new lifeboat was at a location with which they could identify – ‘just along the road’ from the home of their daughter, son-in-law and grandsons at Swansea. Tammy is a graduate of Swansea University.

The new lifeboat is the second craft to be donated to the RNLI by The Coward Endowment. SuperG I is a rescue water craft in service with RNLI Lifeguards at Bournemouth.

Earlier in the day, the family had joined Coxswain Lewis Creese and the crew of Angle’s all weather Tamar class lifeboat Mark Mason on a training exercise on the Milford Haven Waterway.

The new inshore lifeboat was accepted, on behalf of the RNLI, by Rear Admiral Mark Kerr, DL, RN, a member of the charity’s Council. He then handed her into the care of Angle lifeboat station.

Admiral Kerr spoke of the work of the RNLI and said it costs around £385,000 a day to run the lifesaving charity, all of which is generously donated by the public. “Lifesaving couldn’t happen without all the fundraising support,” he said.

The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and Government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Last year, lifeboats around the UK and the Republic of Ireland launched on over 8,500 occasions, rescuing over 8,000 people and saving over 300 lives.

In accepting SuperG II, on behalf of the station, Lifeboat Operations Manager John Allen-Mirehouse, paid tribute to The Coward Endowment for their significant gift. “It is a proud and satisfying moment to receive this new lifeboat for the Angle station,” he said.

Before Mrs Frances Coward formally named the new lifeboat with a bottle of champagne, a service of dedication was led by the Rev Geoffrey Howell, Team Vicar for the Monkton Rectorial Benefice. Particularly poignant was the singing of the Seafarers’ hymn, ‘Eternal Father, Strong to Save’.

Present at the ceremony was the RNLI’s Divisional Operations Manager Nigel Jones, and among the guests were representatives of neighbouring lifeboat stations at Little Haven, St Davids and Tenby, and Pembroke Ladies Lifeboat Guild members, who made the catering arrangements.

Afterwards, SuperG II, crewed by Adam Stringer (helmsman), Sarah Lunn and David Dillane, was launched and gave a short display off the lifeboat station.

Clive and Frances Coward, their daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Zino Pece and grandsons, Oli and Tom Pece, with RNLI Angle Lifeboat Operations Manager John Allen-Mirehouse, and the volunteer crew of SuperG II, Adam Stringer (Helmsman), David Dillane and Sarah Lunn. (Martin Cavaney Photography)

The new lifeboat succeeds the D class Richard John Talbot Hillier (D-638), which was at Angle for 10 years and gave sterling service. She has now been transferred to RNLI Barry Dock as a boarding boat.

The D class inshore lifeboats have been the workhorses of the RNLI since 1963. They are fast, light and highly manoeuvrable and usually operate closer to the shore than all-weather lifeboats. They are specifically suited to surf, shallow water and confined locations, often close to cliffs, among rocks or even in caves.

The 5m long lifeboats each have a crew of 2 to 3, and the single 50hp outboard engine gives them a maximum speed of 25 knots. They have a range of 3 hours at their maximum speed.

The design of the class has continued to evolve since its introduction and the latest version was introduced in 2003. Equipment includes both fitted and hand-held VHF radio, night-vision equipment and first aid kits, including oxygen.

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Crime

Train disruption after youths seen playing on tracks at Haverfordwest station

Published

5 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police attend after dangerous incident involving football on railway line

TRAINS were delayed at Haverfordwest railway station on Tuesday (Apr 1) after a group of youths were seen playing with a football near live tracks, prompting a police response.

Footage captured by a bystander shows several young people on the platform throwing and kicking a ball across the station. In one clip, a youth is seen kicking a football from Platform 2 towards Platform 1, but the ball overshoots and lands beyond a fence into the station car park.

More concerning footage shows the ball rolling onto the railway line, with one youth climbing down onto the tracks to retrieve it—an act that poses serious risk of injury or death due to live rails and the potential for oncoming trains.

The incident caused disruption to services, with two trains delayed by 25 minutes while the situation was dealt with.

Police attended the scene, although it is not yet clear whether any arrests were made. Officers have been approached for comment.

Railway safety rules strictly prohibit access to the tracks except by authorised personnel, and incidents such as this are treated seriously due to the potentially fatal consequences.

The Herald understands that such behaviour can also lead to significant disruption across the rail network, affecting passengers and services well beyond the immediate area.

Anyone with further information about the incident is urged to contact police.

Business

Haverfordwest producers showcased by Tesco in national Welsh food event

Published

6 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Local firms highlighted as supermarket giant backs £27bn Welsh food sector

HAVERFORDWEST food producers were among those selected to take centre stage at a national showcase celebrating the very best of Welsh food and drink.

Supermarket giant Tesco hosted the St David’s Day event in partnership with the Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales initiative, bringing together leading suppliers from across the country.

Two Pembrokeshire-based businesses — Blas y Tir, part of Pembrokeshire Creameries, and Puffin Produce, both based in Haverfordwest — were among those chosen to represent Welsh produce on a national stage.The event, held to mark St David’s Day, showcased a wide range of products including dairy, baked goods, meats, curries and spirits, highlighting the breadth and quality of food produced across Wales.

Organisers said the showcase underlined the importance of supporting local suppliers, many of which are family-run businesses rooted in their communities and reliant on local agriculture.

The Welsh food and drink supply chain is estimated to be worth £27 billion, with companies like those in Pembrokeshire playing a key role in sustaining rural jobs and supporting farmers.

Visitors to the event were given the opportunity to meet producers and sample products, while a surprise performance from Welsh singers added a cultural element to the day’s celebrations.

Enfys Fox, relationship manager for local sourcing at Tesco Wales, said: “St David’s Day is a time to celebrate everything that makes Wales special, and our suppliers are at the very heart of that story.

“This event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the incredible range, quality and heritage of Welsh produce available in our stores.

“We are incredibly proud to collaborate with the Welsh Government and work with so many dedicated Welsh suppliers, many of them family businesses with deep roots in their communities. By supporting them, we’re not only bringing great products to our customers, but also investing in local jobs and the wider Welsh economy.”

The Herald understands that products from Pembrokeshire suppliers featured at the event are widely stocked in Tesco stores across Wales, giving local shoppers direct access to locally sourced goods.

While the showcase celebrated success, it also highlighted the growing importance of ensuring Welsh producers continue to secure fair opportunities within major retail supply chains.

The event formed part of Tesco’s wider commitment to strengthening partnerships with Welsh suppliers and promoting locally sourced food throughout the year.

Health

Paramedic recruitment freeze confirmed in internal email to students

Published

6 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

‘No jobs in 2026–27’ as graduates told service has ‘more paramedics than required’

AN INTERNAL email sent to student paramedics has confirmed that no newly qualified paramedics will be recruited in Wales during the 2026–27 financial year, escalating concerns over workforce planning in the NHS.

The message, seen by The Herald, was sent to final-year students following a board meeting of the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust on March 26.

It confirms that the trust “does not require any NQPs” this year, stating the decision is based on affordability and workforce restructuring.

The development follows reporting by BBC Wales that students had already been advised to seek work overseas.

‘Simply not affordable’

In the email, the ambulance service states:
“Employing NQPs in 2026 is simply not affordable… No extra funding has been made available by Welsh Government or our commissioners.”

It adds that a review of workforce needs concluded:
“We currently have more paramedics than required and enough lead practitioners to fill any short to medium term vacancies.”

Students say they have also been told the service is aiming to reduce paramedic numbers, despite ongoing delays in ambulance response times across Wales.

Graduates left without roles

Around 70 students are expected to graduate this year from Swansea University and Wrexham University.

Training is heavily subsidised by Healthcare Education and Improvement Wales, with costs estimated by students at around £50,000 per person.

Despite this investment, graduates have now been told to consider employment outside Wales—or even overseas—to begin their careers.

Patient care concerns raised

Students have warned the decision could impact patient care if fewer fully qualified paramedics are deployed on the frontline.

They say being redirected into lower-grade roles means their full clinical training will not be used.

One student told The Herald: “We are ready to go straight into frontline care. Instead, we’re being told to look abroad. It doesn’t make sense.”

Government under pressure

A Welsh Government response seen by The Herald acknowledges the issue and says ministers are working with the ambulance service and universities to support affected graduates.

However, the internal email suggests the decision is already firm for the coming financial year.

The Herald has approached the Welsh Government and the Welsh Ambulance Service for further comment.