News

Busy week for Angle lifeboat

Published

9 years ago

June 18, 2015

Tom Sinclair

The 9m yacht under tow to Milford Haven by RNLI Angle’s all
weather lifeboat on Sunday (31 May) • Photo: RNLI Angle

THE CREW of Angle’s all-weather lifeboat had a busy time last week, with four call-outs in the space of seven days.

RNLI Angle’s Tamar class lifeboat the Mark Mason launched in the early hours of Sunday (May 31) in response to a mayday from a yacht said to be drifting, without power, off the south Pembrokeshire coast.

The 9m yacht, with two people on board, was reported to be 18 miles south-east of the Turbot Bank.

After launching at 2.20am the Mark Mason’s crew used radar and direction finder to help locate the casualty.

When they arrived at the scene, at 3.23am, the lifeboat found the yacht was making slow progress with her own engine. Because the casualty had no lighting, it was decided to tow her to Milford Haven, which was reached shortly before 7am.

At the entrance to Milford Docks, the tow was released and the yacht made her own way alongside the pontoon. With the casualty secure, the lifeboat was released to return to her station, where she was re-housed at 7.20am.

On Friday (May 29), she was launched at 4.55 am to go to the aid of a 17.4m motor boat, which had suffered machinery failure and needed assistance off the Dale Shelf. There were three people on board.

The lifeboat reached the casualty in 8 minutes and put two of her crew members on board to assess the yacht’s condition. The casualty had suffered water ingress, which was under control, but while attempting to berth at Dale she had been hit by some machinery failure.

After an assessment, and due to the weather conditions, it was decided to escort the yacht to her berth at Neyland Marina, where she was safely secured. The lifeboat recovered her two crew members and left the marina at 6.11am to return to her station.

Two days earlier on the Wednesday (May 27), the lifeboat was launched at 11.43am after a report that a 12m yacht, with one person on board, had fouled her rudder on fishing gear just south of Skomer Island.

Whilst en route it was reported that a nearby dive vessel had offered assistance to the casualty. The lifeboat reached the scene at 12.05pm to find the divers had cleared the obstruction. With all the divers recovered by their vessel, the yacht continued her passage to Holyhead and the lifeboat returned to station to be rehoused at 12.45pm.

On the Monday (May 25),the lifeboat launched at 5.58pm to take over a tow of a 7 metre leisure fishing vessel, from Tenby’s all weather lifeboat, off Sheep Island, near the entrance to the Milford Haven Waterway.

The casualty was taken to Neyland Marina, where the workboat took over the tow to her berth. The lifeboat returned to her station at 7.44pm.

Business

Wolfscastle Country Hotel crowned Wales’ best boutique wedding venue

Published

6 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE Wolfscastle Country Hotel and Spa has been named Wales’ Best Boutique Wedding Venue for 2024 at the prestigious Welsh National Wedding Awards.

The ceremony, held on Sunday (Nov 10) at Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall, welcomed more than 600 guests for its 13th annual celebration. Thousands of votes were cast by brides, grooms, and supporters to determine the winners from over 300 shortlisted nominees.

Double victory

The Wolfscastle Country Hotel and Spa not only won the regional title for west Wales but also secured the national accolade for the second time in three years.

Known for its glamorous reception spaces and elegant ceremony room, the hotel offers a comprehensive bridal package. This includes wedding accommodation and a private spa experience featuring a hot tub, sauna, and various treatments.

Celebrating success

Taking to social media, the hotel expressed gratitude to its guests and staff for their role in achieving this prestigious honour.

Hotel owner Andy Stirling said:
“We’re very proud to have been nominated and voted winners in both our local and national categories.

“I have the pleasure of seeing how tirelessly Lowri, and my wife Mandy Stirling, our wedding coordinators, work on every wedding to tailor the experience to suit the couples we have joining us.

“We pride ourselves on offering exquisite in-house catering provided by head chef Seb, head pastry chef Adama, and our excellent kitchen team, backed up by first-class table service from our highly experienced waiting staff.

“I am overwhelmingly grateful for the support of our guests and couples who have wedded with us in helping achieve this award.

“I know that myself and the team all look forward to hosting many more phenomenal weddings in the future.”

Welsh National Wedding Awards

The awards celebrate the best wedding venues and services across Wales, with attendees from all regions of the country.

***Celebrations: Andy and Mandy Stirling with wedding co-ordinator Lowri Nicholas (Pic: Wolfscastle Country Hotel and Spa)***

Community

Special guests for Torch showing of ‘Attack on Sorpe Dam’

Published

13 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Tom Sinclair

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY was the most appropriate day for the screening before a Pembrokeshire audience of a remarkable film, narrated by the last surviving ‘Dambuster’ of the RAF’s 617 Squadron.

The RAF’s Air Officer Wales, Air Commodore Rob Woods, and World War II Veteran Duncan Hilling, of Saundersfoot, were chief guests at the Torch Theatre for the showing of ‘Attack on Sorpe Dam’, one of three large dams in Germany attacked by 617 Squadron in May 1943.

They were joined by service representatives, air cadets and many locals – the evening being a fundraising event for the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincolnshire.

Exquisitely created in digital format, the film describes the story of Avro Lancaster bomber AJ-T which attacked the Sorpe Dam, with the narration by the late Squadron Leader Johnny Johnson, who died in 2022. He was the bomb aimer on the aircraft which dropped an ‘Upkeep’ bomb on the dam.

It is the culmination of six years of work by film producer Andrew Panton and Pitor Forkasiewicz and is now part of the IBCC archive. Also shown was a short film ‘Remembering the Avro Lancaster’ in which four wartime aircrew visit a preserved Lancaster at a Lincolnshire museum. The film was launched that day by the IBCC, with the Torch audience being the first to see a live screening.

The event was organised by Andrew Panton’s brother, Ian, of St Davids, who commented: “There was no doubt that many found this a very special occasion for Remembering Them, and so many others, on Remembrance Sunday.”

On display during the evening was a Lancaster bomb aimer’s panel, re-created by Dr Andy Watkin, a Trustee of the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre.

Entertainment

Two-day Christmas fair set for Pembrokeshire

Published

1 day ago

November 17, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s annual Christmas Fair will run for two days this year, on Thursday, December 14, and Friday, December 15.

Held at the Parkhouse Building on the Haverfordwest Showground, the venue will transform into a festive shopping destination, offering an expanded range of stalls, live music, Santa’s Grotto, and an outdoor food court.

Expanded event

Event organisers Judith Roach and Emma Thomas expressed their excitement about the extended format. They said:
“We are thrilled to announce that our Christmas Fair will run for two days instead of just one. We are building on last year’s success with twice the opportunities to attend and even more stallholders. The Parkhouse Building will become a one-stop shop for everyone preparing for Christmas.”

The fair will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm on both days, with free admission for all visitors.

Festive treats and unique gifts

Attendees can expect to browse an extensive selection of unique gifts, handmade decorations, artwork, and homeware. Local food and drink producers will also showcase festive delights, including chocolate brownies, fudge, spirits, and Welsh cheeses.

An outdoor food court will cater for visitors on the go, with a variety of hot and cold options.

Santa’s Grotto

Santa himself will make a special appearance, with children able to visit him for £3 per child. Each child will receive a small gift, with all proceeds going to the Sandy Bear charity. Advance bookings can be made via the Sandy Bear website.

Community effort

Adam Thorne, president of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society, praised the efforts of the event’s organisers:
“The society would like to thank Judith and Emma for their dedication in organising this two-day event. We’re delighted to offer visitors a chance to do their Christmas shopping while enjoying the festive atmosphere.”

The Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society encourages visitors to follow the Pembrokeshire County Show’s Christmas Fair event page on Facebook for updates and a complete list of stallholders.

The event promises to be a perfect start to the holiday season, welcoming families and shoppers alike.