ST DAVIDS, Pembrokeshire, marked St David’s Day on Saturday (Mar 1) with a day of celebrations, including the annual Dragon Parade, a special exhibition honouring the city’s residents, and a message from the Prince of Wales delivered partly in Welsh.

First Minister Eluned Morgan led the Dragon Parade, organised by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which saw local schoolchildren and community members marching through the historic city. Many dressed as dragons and daffodils to honour Wales’ patron saint, who is believed to have been born near St Davids at St Non’s. The parade was one of several held across the country, but the one in Pembrokeshire was particularly significant, taking place in the heart of St David’s heritage.

Meanwhile, at St Davids Cathedral, a special concert by The Band of the Prince of Wales featured traditional Welsh marches, hymns, and anthems. Visitors also attended a Eucharist by the Shrine of St David and a blessing at St Non’s Holy Well, an important religious site associated with the saint’s mother. A pilgrimage then led participants to Oriel y Parc before a final blessing at the Old Cross.

Adding to the significance of the day, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, delivered his first-ever public message in Welsh, celebrating the country’s history, culture, and people. His message, recorded for social media, marked a personal step in his efforts to connect with Wales. While he has been learning some conversational Welsh, he has not undertaken formal lessons like his father, King Charles, who studied Welsh at Aberystwyth University before his investiture in 1969.

“Today, on St David’s Day, we come together to celebrate Wales – its history, its culture, and its incredible people,” the prince said in his video. “From its breathtaking landscapes to its language, Wales continues to inspire. Today, we will celebrate everything that is magical about Wales.”

In addition to the festivities, the City of Portraits exhibition by Grahame Hurd-Wood opened, displaying portraits of more than 1,000 residents of St Davids. The artist has spent a decade working on the project, aiming to paint every one of the city’s 1,800 residents. The exhibition, held at the Pierhead Futures Gallery in Cardiff, runs until April 12.

Local businesses, including The Bishops pub, also joined in the celebrations, offering traditional Welsh food and drinks. Visitors and locals alike embraced the opportunity to enjoy cawl, bara brith, and Welsh cakes, adding to the festive atmosphere.

St Davids, despite being the UK’s smallest city, continues to play a central role in celebrating Wales’ patron saint, with its annual events drawing visitors from across the country.

(Pictures from Church in Wales and Eluned Morgan)

A QUARTER of Welsh workers are struggling to pay their bills, while nearly 40% say their salaries do not cover their financial goals, such as buying a home or saving for retirement, new research has found.

The study, conducted by recruitment firm Reed, also revealed that 30% of employees in Wales are unhappy with their pay. Of those, 63% said their wages had not kept up with the cost of living, while 46% blamed low pay within their industry.

Nearly 40% of workers reported working overtime, putting in an average of 6.2 extra hours per week. Among them, 44% said they had no choice due to excessive workloads, while 25% struggled to ‘switch off’ from work.

PAY DISPARITY

Despite working beyond their contracted hours, many employees are not being compensated. Only 21% said they were paid for overtime, while another 21% were able to accrue extra hours. Alarmingly, 44% reported receiving no compensation at all.

Becky Hole, Regional Director at Reed, said: “With 28% of Wales’ population classed as economically inactive, the labour market is tight. It may well be that those who are working feel they need to pick up the slack or work extra hours to compensate for staff shortages.

“It’s clear that Wales has a hardworking population, but the research highlights that many do not feel properly compensated. The extra unpaid hours aren’t alleviating financial worries and could contribute to stress or burnout.”

The findings are part of Reed’s annual salary guide research, which analysed over 21 million job adverts and surveyed 5,000 workers across the UK. The full sector-specific salary guides are available on Reed’s website.

PARADE BRINGS CELEBRATION TO PEMBROKE CASTLE

THE SOUND of bells, whistles, and cheers filled the air in Pembroke as the town marked St David’s Day with its inaugural parade on Saturday (March 1). Organised by Pembroke Town Team and Gwenno Dafydd, the event, titled “Ring Out the Bells for St David,” brought together residents and visitors to celebrate Welsh heritage in a lively and colourful procession.

The parade began at 11:15am, with participants gathering at the North Quay outside the Corn Store. At 11:30am, the procession made its way to Pembroke Castle, creating a vibrant atmosphere with banners, flags, and the sound of bells ringing in honour of Wales’ patron saint. The enthusiasm of the crowd was palpable as families, schoolchildren, and local groups joined in, waving Welsh flags and proudly wearing national colours.

Upon arrival at the castle at midday, the bells rang out to mark the occasion, followed by a range of Welsh-themed entertainment. Traditional music, folk dancing, and performances celebrating Welsh culture kept the spirit of the event alive, reinforcing the importance of St David’s Day in the local community.

Speaking about the success of the parade, an organiser said: “It was fantastic to see so many people come together to celebrate our heritage. The energy and pride on display today truly reflected the spirit of St David’s Day.”

Locals praised the event as a welcome addition to Pembroke’s calendar, with many hoping it will become an annual tradition.

Images by Martin Cavaney