News

Templeton: Major military exercise heading to Pembrokeshire this month

Published

10 years ago

April 10, 2016

THE PEMBROKESHIRE coast will play a key role in this month’s military live exercise by joint UK and French forces known as the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF).

Exercise Griffin Strike 2016 is the culmination of six years of UK-French military cooperation and will demonstrate the CJEF’s potential high-readiness to deploy.

The exercise will involve air land and sea operations, with the Maritime Component Command operating from two Carrier Manoeuvre Boxes in the Bristol Channel with a small contingent at RAF St Mawgan.

According to the MoD, Activity will include amphibious assaults on to the Pembrokeshire coast between April 17 and 23.

Templeton airfield will play an important role with around 500 personnel and more than a dozen helicopters including Chinooks, Apaches, Merlins and Wildcats being stationed there during the exercise.

These aircraft will be supporting ground troops and will be flying by both day and night and hence noise and movement will be above the routine business of the airfield.

French military units, equipment and vehicles will join forces with those of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF. Interoperability training will include ground close combat, mechanized movements and air assault insertions. Maritime activities will include amphibious assault, aviation and combat logistics patrols.

Troops on the ground will be supported by RAF Typhoons and French Rafale as well as attack helicopters. Warships of both nations will be deployed to sea from which training and military movements will be coordinated.

The exercise will culminate with a land firepower demonstration, supported by air, with UK and French troops working side by side on Salisbury Plain, attack helicopters, close air support and the mock seizure of a village by mechanized infantry.

troops3 “The national security interests of the UK and France are more aligned now than ever before” the MoD said in a press release.

“Both countries have made a commitment to enhance the long-term bilateral relationship envisaged by the Lancaster House treaties in 2010 in the face of global threats and an increasingly unstable world.

“CJEF is an early entry combined force capable of conducting non-enduring, complex intervention operations, facing multiple threats up to the highest intensity. It will be able to conduct offensive and defensive operations on land, in the air and at sea wherever UK and France national defence interests are aligned.”

The project has been developed through a series of exercises, undertaken each year to develop integrated specialist units, culminating in Exercise Griffin Strike 2016.

File image of previous exercise (Credit: MoD)

Griffin Strike 2016 exercise in numbers:

3,500 UK personnel
2,000 French personnel
5 UK ships
5 French ships
11 UK aircraft
10 French aircraft

Community

Community gathers to remember Corrina Baker

Published

6 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Lanterns and balloons released in emotional acts of remembrance

FAMILY, friends and members of the local community came together to remember Corrina Baker at a series of moving events held across west Wales this week.

Corrina’s funeral took place on Monday (Dec 15), a month after her death, with a public service held at St Mary’s Church. Mourners lined the route as her coffin was carried on its final journey in an elegant horse-drawn carriage, before a private cremation later took place at Parc Gwyn crematorium in Narberth.

Later that evening, shortly after 6:00pm, friends and relatives gathered at the Quayside in Cardigan for the first of two acts of remembrance to celebrate her life. Lanterns were lit and released into the night sky above the town as some of Corrina’s favourite songs were played.

On Tuesday afternoon (Dec 16), a second tribute was held near the location where Corrina was found. Twenty-one pink balloons — one for each year of her life — were released into a clear blue sky, each carrying personal messages in her memory.

Floral tributes continue to be laid at the Netpool, while a GoFundMe appeal set up in Corrina’s memory has raised more than £2,300. She has been described by those who knew her as “funny and bright”.

Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed that their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms Baker’s death is ongoing. A 29-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail while inquiries continue.

(Photos: Stuart Ladd/Herald)

Community

Six untaxed vehicles seized in Milford Haven police operation

Published

6 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SIX untaxed and abandoned vehicles were seized during a joint roads policing operation in Milford Haven on Tuesday morning.

Officers from the Milford Haven Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Team (NPPT) worked alongside the Pembrokeshire Roads Policing Team as part of targeted enforcement across the town.

In addition to the vehicle seizures, a number of traffic offence reports were issued to drivers during the operation.

Police said the action formed part of ongoing efforts to improve road safety and tackle vehicle-related offences in the Milford Haven area.

Community

Candlelit carol service brings community together in Milford Haven

Published

6 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

ST KATHARINE and St Peter’s Church in Milford Haven hosted its annual Candlelit Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, bringing together members of the community for a traditional celebration of Christmas.

The service featured readings from the Mayor of Milford Haven, representatives of the Soroptimists, Milford Haven Amateur Operatic Society, the Headteacher and Head Prefects of Milford Haven School, Milford Haven Town Band, and NCI Wooltack Point.

Music for the evening was provided by organist Seimon Morris, Milford Haven Town Band and the Milford Haven Cluster Band, whose performances added to the atmosphere of the candlelit service.

The Friends of St Katharine and St Peter’s Church thanked all those involved and wished the community a happy Christmas.