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Pioneering eye surgery offers hope for Lloyd

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fundFUNDRAISING is underway for 22-year-old Saundersfoot local Lloyd Davies, who desperately needs pioneering eye surgery in the United States who lost his eyesight after being diagnosed as suffering from Lebers Hereditary Optical Neuritis (LHON).

Led by Professor John Guy, the gene therapy treatment is the first in the world that could potentially cure LHON and fundraising is now well underway to help Lloyd raise the £10,000 he needs in order to make the trip to the USA and stay out there for the duration of the treatment.

The former Greenhill School pupil had aspirations of joining the Royal Navy to become a Navy Diver, and whilst he was waiting to complete the final parts of the admissions process, he enrolled onto the Marine Biology course at Swansea University.

In November 2013 Lloyd’s world was turned upside down when he began to suffer from a slight blurring of vision in his left eye. After putting up with it for a short period, he decided to go for an appointment at his local ophthalmic optician, who immediately referred him to the Ophthalmic Department at his local hospital who began to run tests to discover the cause of his sight issues.

By Christmas 2013 Lloyd had lost all vision in his left eye within just a month of first noticing any problem at all. By January 2014 he was given the devastating news that the cause of his sudden blindness was that he was suffering from LHON, and that usually the other eye would be affected within a matter of months.

This proved to be correct, as shortly after diagnosis Lloyd started to lose the sight in his right eye. By August 2014, shortly after celebrating his 21st birthday he was declared as being legally blind.

The condition has robbed the fun loving, sports mad individual from doing all the things he enjoys and has prevented him from pursuing the career of his dreams. It is hoped that the treatment will restore Lloyd’s vision and help him to pursue his ambitions in life.

Lloyd told The Herald about how the condition has affected his life and how grateful he is to those who have started the fundraising account and also to his family and friends who have helped him through this difficult period in his life

“When I was 20 years old, I lost my sight to a genetic disease called LHON (Lebers Hereditary Optical Neuritis). It took less than 5 months from having 20/20 vision to being registered as blind. Up until then I had lived the life of any normal lad growing up my age, being able to drive, play rugby, scuba dive and travel like anyone else takes for granted.

“The Summer before I lost my sight it worked at a Summer Camp in New York as a wakeboard instructor – something I now can’t do as I don’t think a blind person would be too safe driving boats!

“After I got back from Summer Camp I was in the process of joining the Royal Navy, something I now can’t accomplish.

“Once I was registered blind, there were life choices taken away from me – one of the biggest ones being my ability to drive – something I took for granted until I had to rely on buses, taxis, trains and lifts from other people.

“Later in September 2014 I joined the RNC (Royal National College for the Blind) in Hereford where I studied as a personal trainer in year one and currently doing massage in my second year, where I am still learning how to live with such limited sight.

“Since this all happened, everyday tasks have become daunting and tricky. Something as simple as finding the coffee to make a drink or trying to find something that has been moved by someone else.

“As trivial as it sounds, little things like having to take a picture of what other people are looking at, just to be able to enlarge and zoom in, just to try to see for myself. One of the things I now hate doing is going out for a meal, because even having to have the menu read out and chasing food around the plate becomes embarrassing.“

Regular everyday activities that people do without a second thought have become a chore for Lloyd and he explains that the surgery in America is his only chance to restore normality in his life, and that it is potentially not only himself that will be affected as there is a 50/50 chance of his younger brother also having the condition:

“As a result of the changes and difficulties that I’ve encountered I have been lucky to have such amazingly supportive family and friends that have helped keep my hopes up for future treatment and this opportunity to go to America for the trial is not one that I can afford to miss.

“The gene therapy treatment that is being trialled in the States is the first in the world to potentially cure my condition. “

“It is not just me has been affected by this as my younger brother has the same gene mutation and has a 50/50 chance of going blind too. Other members of my family also have the chance of being affected.

“As a result of this opportunity coming along, I will have to travel to and stay in America with someone coming with me and live there for 3/4 months whilst the trial is being carried out.

“I need to raise funds as quickly as possible is the trial is expected to start in the next few months.”

You can help Lloyd to get to the States and undergo treatment by donating via the ‘Light for Lloyd’ fundraising GOFUND ME page online, by typing the following link into your browser: https://www.gofundme.com/e8pte9xm

Alternatively you can search online for ‘Light for Lloyd’ and follow the links to donate, or go to social media site Facebook and search ‘Light for Lloyd’.

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Community

Cadets take aim at success with new shooting range

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Pembrokeshire & Carmarthenshire Air Cadets make history

A HISTORIC first for young aviation enthusiasts in West Wales! RAF Air Cadets from 2420 (Whitland & District) Squadron are celebrating a game-changing moment after securing vital funding from Sport Wales to enhance their training and skills.

Thanks to this boost, the squadron has officially launched its first-ever air rifle range, bringing a brand-new dimension to cadet activities in the region.

Hitting the target

The funding has allowed cadets from Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire to access top-tier marksmanship training, with their inaugural air rifle range session taking place in January 2025.

Not only does this initiative provide cadets with essential shooting skills, but it also gives them the chance to compete in the prestigious BSA Silver Trophy postal competition this March. Success in the competition could see them earning the coveted gold shooting badge—an honour not achieved in the area for years!

“A fantastic opportunity!”

Squadron Officer Commanding, Flight Sergeant Rick Fisher, hailed the new range as a game-changer for cadet training: “It has been fantastic to see the cadets engage with air rifle shooting. Access to a new range and equipment has given them a unique opportunity to develop their skills and work towards a significant milestone in the squadron’s history.”

Shooting for success

With the squadron now firing on all cylinders, the future looks bright for these young cadets as they hone their marksmanship and set their sights on competition victories.

If you’ve ever dreamed of being an Air Cadet, this could be your moment! Cadets can join from age 12 (if in Year 8) up to 17—and with thrilling experiences like flying, adventure training, and now air rifle shooting, there’s never been a better time to get involved.

📍 Local squadrons meet in Tenby, Pembroke Dock, and Haverfordwest.
🔗 Find out more: RAF Air Cadets website

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Drenched ride dismantled at Oakwood Theme Park

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ONE of the main rides at Pembrokeshire’s Oakwood Theme Park—where a girl tragically died more than 20 years ago—is being dismantled for good.

The high-speed water ride Drenched, formerly known as Hydro, has been at the centre of activity this week, with photos online showing large cranes surrounding the structure. Sections of the ride, including its 85-degree drop, are missing, fuelling speculation that it is being permanently removed.

Oakwood Theme Park has now confirmed the ride’s removal.

A spokesperson for the park said: “We can confirm that after 20-plus years of operation, Drenched has been retired from the Oakwood Theme Park offering and is being dismantled.

“We look forward to sharing other park updates when we commence the build-up to the 2025 season.”

Tragedy and controversy

Hydro first opened at the park near Canaston Bridge in 2002. However, just two years later, tragedy struck when 16-year-old Hayley Williams, from Pontypool, fell 120 feet from the top of the ride.

An inquest into her death heard that a safety bar meant to restrain passengers had not been lowered before the ride started. The attraction was closed for a year before reopening with over-the-shoulder restraints fitted to its 24-seater car.

In 2008, the park’s then-owners, Oakwood Leisure, were fined £250,000 after admitting that staff had failed to ensure passengers were safely restrained.

That same year, Oakwood was acquired by Spanish international leisure park company Aspro, which rebranded the ride as Drenched in 2011.

Ride stood idle for two years

Drenched, a record-breaking Intamin Mega Splash water ride, has not operated for over two years.

Speculation over its future grew this week after a photo surfaced on theme park forum TowersTimes, showing the ride being dismantled. A post on the CoasterForce Facebook group questioned whether the attraction was leaving Oakwood for good.

The post read: “Oakwood’s Intamin Mega Splash water ride, which first opened in 2002, looks as though it could be about to leave the park permanently.

“News of the ride’s rumoured departure broke online on Wednesday (Feb 5) when an image showing Drenched being dismantled surfaced on TowersTimes.”

The user who shared the photo noted that three large cranes were in place, and significant sections of the ride, including its iconic drop and turnaround section, had already been removed.

Mixed reactions from fans

Theme park enthusiasts reacted with disappointment to the news.

One forum user wrote: “Really sad to see, but not overly surprising.

“As someone who really loves the park and has such nostalgia for it, it’s painful to see the lack of investment from the parent company.”

With Drenched now being dismantled, Oakwood Theme Park is yet to reveal what, if anything, will replace it.

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National triumph: Pembrokeshire pub ranked among the friendliest in UK

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A PEMBROKESHIRE pub has been named one of the friendliest in the UK, according to a new study.

The White Hart Inn in St Dogmaels has been ranked the second friendliest pub in Britain, with 66.67% of its Tripadvisor reviews highlighting its welcoming atmosphere.

The study, conducted by security experts at Get Licensed, assessed community pubs across the UK by examining Tripadvisor ratings, the percentage of reviews mentioning words like ‘friendly’ and ‘welcoming’, and local crime statistics.

The White Hart Inn scored 8.27 out of 10 for friendliness, narrowly missing out on the top spot to The Fishers Arms in Horncliffe, Northumberland, which scored 8.57.

A Community’s Triumph

The White Hart Inn, which began trading in 1769, faced closure in May 2019 when its previous owners decided to sell the property. Refusing to let their last traditional pub be lost, the residents of St Dogmaels embarked on a two-year fundraising and campaigning journey to purchase and refurbish the establishment. Their efforts culminated in the successful acquisition of the pub on January 18, 2021, transforming it into The White Hart Community Inn. Today, the pub thrives as a community-owned hub, supported by over 550 shareholders from around the world, including locals and supporters from as far as Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada.

A Hub for Local Events

Beyond its role as a pub, the White Hart Inn serves as a central venue for various community events. It hosts regular live music sessions, quiz nights, and themed events that cater to both locals and visitors. The establishment also supports local artists by displaying their works, contributing to the village’s vibrant cultural scene. Additionally, the pub offers a selection of locally sourced food and beverages, showcasing the rich culinary heritage of Pembrokeshire.

Top 10 Friendliest Pubs in the UK

  1. The Fishers Arms – Horncliffe, Northumberland
  2. White Hart Inn – St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire
  3. Case is Altered – Bentley, Suffolk
  4. Station – Knebworth, Hertfordshire
  5. Plough Inn – Longparish, Hampshire
  6. Garibaldi – Bourne End, Buckinghamshire
  7. Lamarsh Lion – Lamarsh, Essex
  8. Cask Inn – Scarborough, North Yorkshire
  9. Black Horse – Walcote, Leicestershire
  10. Y Pengwern – Llan Ffestiniog, Gwynedd

According to the study, the friendliest pubs are often found in areas with lower crime rates, with researchers suggesting that these venues play an important role in fostering a sense of community.

Shahzad Ali, CEO of Get Licensed, said: “Prioritizing a friendly and welcoming atmosphere in pubs isn’t just good for business, it’s essential for creating a safe environment. Our research shows that the friendliest pubs tend to be in areas with lower crime rates, highlighting the role pubs can play in deterring crime.”

While Pembrokeshire’s White Hart Inn is among the most welcoming, the study found that London had the least friendly pubs, scoring just 0.56 out of 10. Researchers found that nearly 24% of reviews for London pubs included words such as ‘unfriendly’, ‘hostile’, and ‘rude’.

For the full ranking and research details, visit Get Licensed’s website.

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