Community
PENfro competitions offer fantastic prizes
WINNING this year’s PENfro Book Festival prose competition could be the starting point towards landing a publishing deal for new and budding novelists.
This year the festival’s prose competition, ‘First Chapter’, is aimed at new novelists, and the top ten entries in the First Chapter competition will win expert help and feedback advice on their work.
The top prize winner will get their first chapter comprehensively reviewed by David Llewelyn, a respected literary scout and talent spotter. David will also work with the winner over several months to help them to reach a publishable standard for their novel.
He will also give extensive valuable feedback to the second and third prizewinners; and seven other finalists will win a face-to-face or written review.
The closing date for ‘First Chapter’ entries is July 15.
PENfro’s open poetry competition is also bigger and better this year, with an increased prize fund of £300. Despite this, the entry free remains a measly £4.
The poetry competition guest judge this year is Jonathan Edwards, whose first collection, ‘My Family and Other Superheroes (Seren)’ won the Costa Poetry Award and the Wales Book of the Year People’s Choice Award.
He was poet-in-residence at the Dylan Thomas Boathouse in 2015and his poems have won prizes in the Cardiff International Poetry Competition, the Ledbury Festival International Poetry Competition and the Basil Bunting Award.
Poetry entries close on July 31. Jonathan Edwards said: “It’s a great honour to be judging the PENfro Poetry Competition. It’s a wonderful festival, which is very close to my heart, and it’s a great pleasure to be involved in this way. I look for work which is accessible, entertaining, which makes me smile or laugh, but which also packs a real emotional punch and is memorable.”
Jackie Biggs, PENfro chair and competition organiser, said: “I am very pleased to announce our two first class judges for these competitions and they will both read all entries. We have been able to increase the prize fund for poetry this year and, while we are not offering cash awards for the new First Chapter competition, the prizes for the top ten entries have a terrific value all their own – feedback from one of the most experienced talent scouts in the business.”
Winners will be announced during the 2016 PENfro Book Festival, which is being held at Rhosygilwen, Cilgerran, over the weekend of September 9-11. Shortlisted candidates in the poetry competition will be invited to read their entries at a spoken word event at PENfro on Friday, September 9, where the top three winners will be announced by Jonathan Edwards.
Community
Annual charity carol service raises funds for good causes
MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service held its annual Charity Carol Service on Wednesday (Dec 10) at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel in Crymych.
The event brought together members of the local community alongside Fire Service staff for an evening of carols, readings and festive refreshments, marking the Christmas season in a warm and inclusive atmosphere.
This year’s service supported two important charities — the Fire Fighters Charity and Cancer Research Wales — with all proceeds going directly towards their ongoing work.
A total of £597 was raised on the night, which will be shared equally between the two charities.
The Service thanked the congregation at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel for hosting the event, as well as everyone who gave their time, support and generosity to make the evening such a success.

Community
3 Amigos toy bike run under way across Pembrokeshire
Castle Inn fun runners back festive charity event
THE ANNUAL 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run is under way this afternoon (Saturday), with hundreds of motorcyclists setting off from Pembroke to raise funds for children’s services.
Riders gathered at The Commons car park in Pembroke from around midday before departing shortly after 1:00pm. The festive convoy is travelling along its traditional route, taking in Pembroke Dock and continuing through parts of the county including Neyland, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.












The event is organised by the 3 Amigos and Dollies Motorcycle Group and has become a much-anticipated Christmas tradition in west Wales, with toys and donations collected for children receiving care within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.
Also supporting the event are fun runners from the Castle Inn in Pembroke, who have been fundraising in aid of the 3 Amigos. The group are pictured alongside participants from today’s run.
The 3 Amigos have been raising funds for children’s wards and health charities for more than twenty-five years, with their Easter and Christmas events continuing to make a positive difference to young patients and their families.
Organisers have thanked the public for their support and asked road users to be mindful of the large convoy as it passes through towns and villages this afternoon.
Photo caption:
Festive fundraising: Fun runners from the Castle Inn, Pembroke, pictured supporting the 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Special delivery of thanks as MP visits Haverfordwest sorting office
Christmas cheer for posties working through the festive rush
A CHRISTMAS message of thanks was delivered in person this week as Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell paid a visit to Royal Mail staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office.
The MP met postal workers during one of the busiest periods of the year, praising staff for their hard work in ensuring cards, parcels and gifts reach homes across Pembrokeshire in the run-up to Christmas.
Mr Tufnell said postal workers were going “above and beyond” throughout the year, but particularly during the festive period when demand is at its highest and delivery rounds are often made in challenging weather conditions.
He described postal staff as “unsung heroes”, highlighting their role in keeping communities connected and helping families stay in touch at a time when it matters most.
Speaking after the visit, Mr Tufnell said: “Our posties play a vital role in our community, and at Christmas that importance is felt more than ever. They work incredibly hard to make sure gifts and cards from loved ones arrive safely and on time.”
Staff at the Haverfordwest site were pictured alongside the MP, with some embracing the festive spirit in Christmas jumpers and seasonal outfits while continuing their daily work.
The MP also extended his thanks to postal workers across the whole of Pembrokeshire, acknowledging the dedication required to keep services running smoothly during the seasonal rush.
Royal Mail experiences its highest parcel volumes in December, with thousands of additional items passing through local sorting offices each day as Christmas approaches.
Delivering Christmas cheer: Henry Tufnell MP with staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office during a festive visit (Pic: Facebook).
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