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.

lb2

Community

Craig Flannery appointed as new Chief Fire Officer

Published

11 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID AND WEST WALES FIRE SERVICE LEADERSHIP CHANGE

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has announced the appointment of Craig Flannery as its new Chief Fire Officer, with effect from Monday, December 15, 2025.

Mr Flannery has served with the Service for more than twenty years, progressing through a wide range of middle management and senior leadership roles across both operational and non-operational departments.

During his career, he has been closely involved in strengthening operational delivery, risk management and organisational development. His work has included leading innovation in learning and development, overseeing the Service’s On-Call Improvement Programme, and driving investment in key enabling functions such as workforce development and information and communication technology.

The appointment followed a rigorous, multi-stage recruitment process led by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority. Candidates were assessed through structured interviews, strategic leadership exercises and scenario-based assessments designed to test operational judgement, organisational vision and the ability to lead a modern fire and rescue service.

External professional assessors were also engaged to provide independent scrutiny, ensuring the process met high standards of fairness, transparency and challenge.

Mr Flannery emerged as the strongest candidate, demonstrating clear strategic leadership capability, detailed organisational knowledge and a strong commitment to community safety and service improvement.

Councillor John Davies, Chair of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Craig brings a deep understanding of our Service and a clear vision for its future. His appointment will strengthen our ability to innovate, support our workforce and deliver high-quality protection for the communities we serve.

“As we navigate a rapidly changing landscape, Craig’s experience in driving innovation and organisational development will be invaluable in helping us adapt and transform for the future.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Flannery said: “It is a privilege to lead this outstanding Service. I am committed to supporting our people, strengthening partnerships and building on the strong foundations already in place.

“As the challenges facing fire and rescue services continue to evolve, we must modernise and innovate, ensuring we have the skills, technology and capability needed to meet the needs of our communities. I look forward to working with colleagues and partners across Mid and West Wales to deliver a resilient, progressive Service that keeps people safe and places our staff at the heart of everything we do.”

Health

Resident doctors in Wales vote to accept new contract

Published

6 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENT doctors across Wales have voted to accept a new contract, with 83% of those who took part in a referendum backing the agreement, according to BMA Cymru Wales.

The contract includes a four per cent additional investment in the resident doctor workforce and introduces a range of reforms aimed at improving training conditions, wellbeing and long-term workforce sustainability within NHS Wales. The BMA says the deal also supports progress towards pay restoration, which remains a central issue for doctors.

Key changes include new safeguards to limit the most fatiguing working patterns, measures intended to address medical unemployment and career progression concerns, and reforms to study budgets and study leave to improve access to training opportunities.

Negotiations between the BMA’s Welsh Resident Doctors Committee, NHS Wales Employers and the Welsh Government concluded earlier this year. Following a consultation period, a referendum of resident doctors and final-year medical students in Wales was held, resulting in a clear majority in favour of the proposals.

Welsh Resident Doctors Committee chair Dr Oba Babs Osibodu said the agreement marked a significant step forward for doctors working in Wales.

He said: “We’re proud to have negotiated this contract, which offers our colleagues and the future generation of doctors safer terms of service, fairer pay, and better prospects so that they can grow and develop their careers in Wales.

“This contract will help to retain the doctors already in training, and also attract more doctors to work in Wales, where they can offer their expertise and benefit patients.”

Dr Osibodu added that the BMA remains committed to achieving full pay restoration and acknowledged that challenges remain for some doctors.

“Whilst this contract sets the foundations for a brighter future for resident doctors in Wales, we recognise that there are still doctors who are struggling to develop their careers and secure permanent work,” he said. “We need to work with the Welsh Government and NHS employers to address training bottlenecks and underemployment.”

The Welsh Government has previously said it recognises the pressures facing resident doctors and the importance of improving recruitment and retention across NHS Wales, while also highlighting the need to balance pay agreements with wider NHS funding pressures and patient demand.

The new contract is expected to be phased in from August 2026. It will initially apply to doctors in foundation programmes, those in specialty training with unbanded rotas, and new starters, before being rolled out to all resident doctors across Wales.

Crime

Swansea man jailed for online child sex offence dies in prison

Published

6 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SWANSEA man who was jailed earlier this year for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child has died while in custody.

Gareth Davies, aged 59, of the Maritime Quarter, was serving an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted in May of sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The account was in fact a decoy used as part of an online safeguarding operation.

The court heard that Davies began communicating with the decoy between November and December 2024 and persistently pursued the individual, later attempting to arrange a face-to-face meeting. He was arrested after being confronted by the decoy operators.

Davies had pleaded not guilty but was convicted following a trial. At the time of sentencing, police described the messages as extremely concerning and said his imprisonment was necessary to protect children.

It has now been confirmed that Davies died at HMP Parc on Wednesday (Nov 27) while serving his sentence.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has launched an independent investigation into the death, which is standard procedure in all cases where someone dies in custody. No cause of death has been released at this stage.

A coroner will determine the circumstances in due course.