EXCITEMENT is building at the Queens Hall Narberth this week as the newly-formed Young Promoters Pembrokeshire group get ready to launch their first ever gig at the Venue on Fri March 28th from 8pm.

Rock out with some of the best young punk bands on the scene right now. Lacross Club, REDREDRED and Pub Culture will bring their raw energy and rebellious spirit to the Queens Hall stage.

This upcoming gig is just one of several being organised by the Young Promoters Pembrokeshire in the coming months. Following a successful bid to Anthem Cymru, the Queens Hall Narberth launched the Making Music Events: Young Promoter in Pembrokeshire project in January 2025, which has brought together 10 young people from the County to learn about and undertake the planning and delivery of a series of live music events.

Lara Herde, the Queens Hall Manager said: “We are delighted to have such engaged and energised young people on board. With the full support of the professional team at the Hall, they have designed and programmed 5 gigs promoting a vast array of contemporary music from Wales. From contract negotiation to poster design and marketing, the group have had the opportunity to learn it all”

Anthem Cymru designed the funding to address the specific barrier of geographical and rural isolation for Young People in Wales through the medium of live music.

Kofi Acheampong, the Fund Manager said: “We are thrilled to enable the empowerment of the young people through this project, helping them become active citizens within their community, bringing them together to develop promoter skills and music interests, and introducing them to pathways into the music industry they might not have otherwise had the opportunity to learn about.”

So don’t miss the first YPP gig on 28 March from 8pm at the Queens Hall Narberth. It promises to be a gritty and electrifying atmosphere of heart-pounding music and pure punk chaos!

Save 25 April, 30 May, 27 June and 25 July in your diary for the rest of the upcoming YPP gigs including a Lounge night with soulful powerhouse twins, Nookee, a Folk night with Forte project member, Tomos Newman + local superstar, Connor Jillions, an Indie Rock night and more.

Tickets are available to purchase via thequeenshall.org.uk or call Box Office on 01834 861212. Door tickets will be available.

ANYONE watching the entrance to the Milford Haven Waterway on Saturday morning (March 22) might have thought a serious maritime emergency was unfolding — but the presence of three RNLI Tamar class lifeboats was, in fact, part of a major pre-planned training exercise.

The dramatic display saw all-weather lifeboats from Tenby, Angle, and St Davids RNLI stations working together in challenging conditions, simulating a complex rescue scenario. The exercise was coordinated by Milford Haven Coastguard and centred around a mock emergency in which a person had reportedly fallen overboard from a vessel in the area.

Observers saw the three 25-knot-capable Tamar lifeboats manoeuvring in tight formation and conducting detailed search patterns as they combed the sea for the “casualty” — all while accounting for strong tidal currents, wind, and the busy marine traffic of one of the UK’s key ports.

The drill was designed not only to test individual crew skills but also to enhance inter-station cooperation in the kind of multi-agency emergency that could happen at any time along the Pembrokeshire coast.

The casualty was ultimately located and retrieved by the Tenby lifeboat crew, marking a successful conclusion to the scenario. Once the operation was complete, the three crews met up on the water to debrief and review the exercise before returning to their respective stations.

A spokesperson for Tenby RNLI said: “This exercise was a great chance to put into practice all of our hard work and training. It was a large and complex exercise, which involved searching for a casualty in the water, but had the added pressure of being on the approaches to a busy waterway. The crews all performed really well, locating the casualty and bringing it aboard safely. We’d like to thank St Davids and Angle crews and also Milford Haven Coastguard for coordinating and overseeing the exercise.”

Tamar class lifeboats, introduced into RNLI service in 2005, are among the most advanced in the charity’s fleet, equipped with cutting-edge navigation and communication systems and capable of operating in the worst sea conditions. Seeing three of them in close operation is a rare and impressive sight — one that this weekend served as a powerful reminder of the RNLI’s dedication.

The RNLI and why training is vital

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charitable organisation dedicated to saving lives at sea across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Established in 1824, the RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations and provides a 24-hour search and rescue service using both all-weather and inshore lifeboats. The charity also delivers beach lifeguard services and works to promote water safety education in communities around the coast.

What makes the RNLI particularly remarkable is that the majority of its lifeboat crew members are volunteers. These individuals come from all walks of life—fishermen, mechanics, teachers, and office workers—who drop everything when their pagers go off, often heading out into the most challenging conditions imaginable. They commit to rigorous training, regular assessments, and ongoing drills to maintain the skills needed to respond quickly, effectively, and safely to emergencies at sea.

Training is not only essential for individual crew members, but it also plays a vital role in ensuring that multiple lifeboats and agencies can operate together smoothly during major incidents. Multi-agency rescues often involve coordination between RNLI lifeboats, HM Coastguard, helicopters, and sometimes other emergency services. These operations can be logistically complex and take place in dangerous, fast-changing environments. Exercises like the one held off Milford Haven allow teams to test communication, refine search strategies, and build the confidence and trust required to perform seamlessly when real lives are at stake.

FIREFIGHTERS from across Mid and West Wales will stage a rally in Carmarthen next week, protesting against proposed changes to their shift patterns that they say will negatively impact their wellbeing and family life.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is organising the demonstration, which will take place at 9:30am on Monday, March 24, 2025, outside the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) headquarters on Lime Grove Avenue. Around 80 firefighters are expected to attend, including union officials.

At the heart of the dispute is a proposal by the Fire and Rescue Service to change the current 2-2-4 shift system—two day shifts, two night shifts and four rest days, consisting of 9-hour days and 15-hour nights—to a new ’12-12′ model. Under the new arrangement, firefighters would work two 12-hour day shifts and two 12-hour night shifts, followed by four days off. The number of hours worked per week would remain unchanged at 42.

The Service says the proposed changes have been developed from data gathered through its Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2040, as well as recommendations from Welsh Government’s Fire and Rescue Service Advisor. It argues that the change will improve productivity, safety, and training opportunities by reallocating non-productive hours from the night shift to daytime.

A spokesperson for MAWWFRS said: “By increasing daytime working hours and reducing those at night, firefighters will have more time for training, community safety work, and maintaining the skills and knowledge necessary for modern fire and rescue duties. The proposed system also aligns with Health and Safety Executive guidance on adequate rest between shifts.”

The Service claims the changes will result in a 13% increase in productive hours during a 48-hour tour and better align with the changing nature of emergency callouts, which tend to be more frequent during daytime hours.

However, the FBU has strongly criticised the plan, arguing that it is being imposed without meaningful consultation and could be harmful to firefighters with caring responsibilities. The union says it will place an unnecessary strain on the mental and physical wellbeing of its members.

A spokesperson for the FBU said: “There is no justification for these changes. Senior managers are refusing to listen to the valid concerns of firefighters, who are already working in a high-pressure environment. This decision will make it even harder for them to balance their personal and professional lives.”

The Fire and Rescue Service said it has been trying to engage with the FBU since summer 2024, with formal discussions beginning in November, but claims no meaningful progress has been made.

“It is disappointing that no agreement has been reached,” a spokesperson added, “but we remain open to further dialogue.”

The Herald understands that the rally will include speeches, interviews, and opportunities for media coverage. The demonstration is expected to draw attention to broader tensions within the fire service over staffing, resourcing and work-life balance.

A response from Welsh Government is awaited.