News

Appeal to stop Preseli bluestone ‘burglars’

Published

10 years ago

March 2, 2016

THE PRESELI HILLS have been a special and spiritual place for thousands of years and are a crucial part of the Stonehenge story.

But as news of their significance continues to spread, more and more pieces of Preseli bluestone are being illegally removed from sites which are part of the Mynydd Preseli Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Preseli Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Academics from the world of archaeology and geology have joined the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority in appealing to members of the public to stop taking fragments of spotted dolerite or ‘bluestone’ from protected sites such as Carn Menyn.

National Park Ranger Richard Vaughan said: “I walk the Preseli Hills with school groups, guided walks and on conservation work throughout the year and have noticed over the years that an increasing amount of stone chips and large chunks of rock are disappearing.

“It is very sad to think that to many the stones are very important, yet to others they are a possible source of income and taken away from where they belong.”

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Culture and Heritage Manager, Phil Bennett added: “If somebody took a hammer and started bashing chunks off a bluestone at Stonehenge there would be an outcry. To me, what is happening at Carn Menyn is just the same.”

“The vast majority of walkers go to the Preseli Hills to enjoy the wonderful scenery of the National Park landscape and we would ask that people please leave it as they found it for others to enjoy.”

Although the debate over how the bluestones made their way from the Preseli Hills to Stonehenge rages on, all sides agree that protected sites such as Carn Menyn should be left alone.

Archaeologist Professor Geoff Wainwright said: “As an archaeologist, Preseli is of far greater interest to me than any single monument. Carn Menyn is a special place with dramatic outcrops of bluestone, a concentration of archaeological sites, healing springs and a scatter of abandoned pillar stones which are petrologically indistinguishable from those at Stonehenge.

“The Preseli bluestones hold the key to the meaning of Stonehenge and Carn Menyn was a special place from whence they came. To take fragments from Carn Menyn is to violate a part of our heritage which has been valued for over 4,000 years.

“When a piece of bluestone is removed from the crags at Carn Menyn, unique information about the past is lost and cannot be recovered. We have all been robbed.”

Geographer Dr Brian John added: “The spotted dolerite at Carn Menyn is no more beautiful and exotic than the spotted dolerite seen in scores of other sites throughout eastern Preseli. As far as I am concerned, we have at Carn Menyn a group of very beautiful dolerite crags, affected by ice and frost action, which tell us a good deal about the landscape history of the area and which contribute hugely to the beauty and special character of the mountain landscape.

“There is no reason at all why anybody would wish to chip off lumps of rock from these crags and take them away, doing severe damage to the landscape, since identical spotted dolerites are found abundantly in all of the hedgerows and gardens of the countryside to the south of the hills. There are a good many to the north as well.

“Please leave these rocks alone and leave the landscape as you found it. If you are really desperate for a piece of spotted dolerite, get it (with permission) from a farmed landscape well away from the hills, from a location where boulders and stones are being cleared from fields.”

Charity

Blood Bikes Wales volunteer finds new purpose after lifeboat career ends

Published

3 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A FORMER lifeboat coxswain who was told he was too old to continue going to sea has found a new sense of purpose with Blood Bikes Wales.

Clive had spent decades serving his community, including almost 20 years as a First Responder with the Welsh Ambulance Service and 38 years with the lifeboat. He eventually became coxswain, but at the age of 65 was told he could no longer continue in the role.

Despite being fit and healthy, holding a Class 1 driving licence and a Private Pilot’s Licence, stepping away from something that had been such a major part of his life proved difficult. He said the loss of involvement, purpose and identity hit hard.

Determined to find a new volunteering challenge, Clive contacted Blood Bikes Wales. As an advanced driver, he hoped to take on a car-based role, but discovered the charity operated motorcycles. At that point, he did not even have a motorcycle licence.

Rather than give up, Clive decided to learn to ride, pass his motorcycle test and work towards the advanced qualification needed to apply as a Blood Bikes Wales rider.

“It was the best decision I ever made,” he said. “The challenge and freedom that motorcycling gave me was a real tonic.”

With determination and support from mentors, Clive achieved his RoSPA Gold qualification and passed the assessments to become a Blood Bikes Wales rider.

Now, just over 18 months into his Blood Bikes Wales journey and approaching his 70th birthday, he says the charity has given him back something he feared he had lost.

He said: “I am truly grateful that I committed to the challenge and extremely thankful to Blood Bikes Wales for giving me back the direction, involvement and identity I had lost a few years earlier.

“Blood Bikes Wales is a truly inspirational and inclusive charity, made even more remarkable by the fact that every member is a volunteer. I feel proud to wear my rider’s jacket and represent the charity.”

Crime

Man wanted in connection with rape investigation has Pembrokeshire links

Published

3 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police in Milford Haven and Neyland assisting Warwickshire officers in appeal to trace 23-year-old

MILFORD HAVEN and Neyland police have issued an appeal to help locate a man wanted in connection with a rape investigation.

Officers are assisting colleagues from Warwickshire Police, who are seeking information on the whereabouts of 23-year-old Rhys Trott in connection with a rape allegation in Nuneaton.

Police say Trott is believed to have links to the Milford Haven area of Pembrokeshire.

In a public appeal, Warwickshire Police said they are keen to trace Trott as part of ongoing enquiries.

Anyone who has seen him or has information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Warwickshire Police through their website or by quoting the relevant incident details.

Milford Haven and Neyland Police shared the appeal on social media on Tuesday (June 3), asking local residents to come forward with any information that may assist officers.

Photo caption:

Rhys Trott, 23, is wanted by Warwickshire Police in connection with a rape investigation and is believed to have links to Milford Haven (Pic: Warwickshire Police).

Community

Youth centre given colourful new look thanks to local firm

Published

5 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

YOUNG people at a Haverfordwest youth centre have helped transform one of its rooms into a bright and welcoming space.

The Edge Youth Centre, Haverfordwest, has thanked W.B Griffiths & Son Ltd for supporting the painting and decorating project, which saw young people work alongside Chris, a painter and decorator from the company.

The project has given the room a colourful refresh, creating a cheerful space for young people using the centre.

Rabart Decorators Merchants, Pembroke Dock, also supported the work by supplying the colourful paints.

A spokesperson for The Edge Youth Centre said: “We’d like to extend a huge thank you to W.B Griffiths & Son Ltd for supporting us with the painting and decorating of one of the rooms at our Youth Centre.

“The young people were fortunate enough to work alongside Chris, a painter and decorator from W.B Griffiths & Son Ltd, to transform the room.

“Thanks to Chris and the young people’s hard work and enthusiasm, the space is now looking bright, welcoming, and cheerful.

“We’d also like to thank Rabart Decorators Merchants, Pembroke Dock, for generously supplying the colourful paints. Your support has helped create a vibrant room that young people can enjoy for years to come.”

The centre added: “Thank you both for your generosity and for helping us create such a positive space for our young people.”

Photo caption: Bright new look: Young people worked alongside W.B Griffiths & Son Ltd to refresh a room at The Edge Youth Centre, Haverfordwest.