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Help raise £100k for disadvantaged children

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Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 14.23.57PEMBROKESHIRE’S much-loved bottled water producer, Princes Gate Spring Water, is encouraging people in Pembrokeshire to help in its efforts of raising £100,000 to enhance and enrich the lives of disadvantaged children and young people locally.

As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, the Narberth-based business, which produces over 120 million bottles of spring water each year, is seeking the support of individual fundraisers and corporate partners.

Set up by brothers David and Glyn Jones in 1991, Princes Gate has raised over £150,000 for a number of Wales-based charities, including the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity, over the past 25 years.

In 2014, it made the decision to formalise and strengthen its charitable endeavours by establishing the Princes Gate Trust; a stand-alone registered charity.

The Princes Gate Trust raised in excess of £100,000 in its first year alone through a variety of fundraising events and challenges including sponsored bike rides clocking up 10,000 miles, ultimate marathons and its very own ‘Daithlon’ – a quirky twist on a triathlon.

It has helped a number of inspirational and spirited young people including 12-year-old Shannon Folena from Pembrokeshire.

A renewed communicative relationship with family is one example of the life-enhancing benefits of the Princes Gate Trust. Pembrokeshire-born Shannon Folena was the victim of a harrowing road accident at the age of just twelve. Her injuries left Shannon communicatively isolated from her family – and they her – when her ability to interact with her loved ones reduced dramatically. The gift of an ‘eye-gazer’ machine from the Princes Gate Trust, has enhanced the lives of an entire family overnight, allowing Shannon to once again interact with her family via cutting edge technology.

Over the next year and with the support of ambassadors including former Wales rugby players Ryan Jones, Shane Williams and Ian Gough, Princes Gate is looking to up its fundraising efforts for the trust through a number of challenges including Velothon Wales, CARTEN100, Ironman Wales and St David’s Hotel & Spa Zip Wire Challenge.

The Princes Gate Trust has also been chosen to receive half the proceeds of the Manic Street Preachers official Wales EURO 2016 song, ‘Together Stronger (C’mon Wales)’, in partnership with The Football Association of Wales.

David Jones, managing director of Princes Gate and founder of the Princes Gate Trust, said: “Our 25th anniversary is a significant landmark for our business. It is something we’re incredibly proud of and something that wouldn’t be possible without the support of our very talented and dedicated team of employees.

“In reaching this milestone, we wanted to up-the-ante in terms of our fundraising efforts for the trust. We have been truly inspired by both the young people we have helped and the supporters who we have helped us in our efforts. Whilst raising funds for such worthy causes, it’s also of paramount importance that we continue to promote healthy lifestyles in doing so. We like to lead by example and so are proud to participate in all our events – which have yielded scores of Ironmen over the years.

“I feel this will be our biggest and best year yet. The challenges are tough and our ambitions are high. We already have the support of some fantastic corporate supporters, individual fundraisers and brand ambassadors, and we are hopeful that many others will join us in our mission to change lives and create smiles.”

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Community

Mayor of Bergen visits Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre

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IT was a Mayoral gathering when the Burgermeisterin of Bergen, in Germany, paid a visit to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre in the company of Councillor Aden Brinn, the Mayor of Bergen’s twin town, Pembroke.

There to meet Burgermeisterin Claudia Dettmar-Muller and her colleague Silvia Bothe were two former Mayors of Pembroke Dock, Councillors Pam George and Maureen Colgan, and trustees and volunteers who run the Centre. Joining them was Pembroke’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ann Mortenson.

Trustee Peter Mitchell and colleagues gave a guided town of the Centre which has extensive displays on Pembroke Dock’s rich maritime and military history spanning just over two centuries, and its connections with RAF flying boats.

Pic By Martin Cavaney.

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Community

Wonderful night at Haverfordwest Library for special Poet Laureate event

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HAVERFORDWEST Library was delighted to be part of the prestigious Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024 with a special event on Friday, March 8.
Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman, Cllr Thomas Tudor extended a special welcome to the guests of honour: Poet Laureate Simon Armitage; his guests Owen Sheers and Bethany Handley; plus the winners of the recent library Poetry Competition.
The poetry began with writer, poet and disabled activist, Bethany Handley. Bethany campaigns for better access to nature for disabled people, and her work explores nature and disability, challenging the barriers that disabled people experience.
Bethany’s first poem was heartfelt and humorous about her experience of visiting a beach in her wheelchair. Her final poem also drew on her experiences, being a compilation poem of many well-intentioned, yet impractical or inappropriate, advice that she has received as a wheelchair user.
Owen Sheers is an award winning Welsh poet, author and playwright. He has twice won the Wales Book of the Year as well as the Hay Festival Poetry Medal.
His film-poem, the Green Hollow, about the Aberfan disaster, was BAFTA and Grierson nominated and won three BAFTA Cymru awards, including best writer.
Owen read an extract from the Green Hollow, bringing the horror of the disaster to life. He also read poems about parenthood and his experiences as a son and as a father.
The Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards, including the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.
Simon launched into a poem about humanity, the universe and working as one. He then used his back catalogue of poems written for music. His poems covered some unusually random themes, particularly those he crafted during the Covid pandemic.
He said that he’d even written a poem inspired by a Velux window and read a beautiful poem about laying in a hammock watching a pair of newly-weds sail overhead in a hot air balloon.
His performances were engaging, humorous and moving and he brought the words to life.
Simon also spoke warmly about the importance of libraries as a child but also as an adult travelling about the country, with libraries always offering a warm welcome.
Ashok Ahir, President of the National Library of Wales thanked the three poets and introduced the new exhibition in the gallery, Dylan: The Lyrical Life of Dylan Thomas.
The exhibition is open to the public until 14th September 2024. Further information can be seen online.
The event drew to a close as Cllr Tudor issued the prizes to the winners of the recent poetry eisteddfod competition. The competition celebrated the language, culture, heritage and literature of Wales.
The theme was Dylan Thomas. Entries could draw inspiration from any of his works or seek inspiration from a specific quote: “from where you are, you can hear their dreams”.
Entries received were of a high standard and were judged by Wendy Morse (leader of the Haverfordwest Library Poetry Group, who would welcome new members, contact Haverfordwest Library for more information); representatives from the Library staff and the National Library of Wales staff. The poems will be on display at Haverfordwest Library until the end of the Easter Holidays.

Prizes have been awarded to:
• Sian Davies: Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, adult written poem category
• James Purchase: I Shall go Gentle into that Good Night, adult written poem category
• Philippa Davies: Dylan is in the Library, adult spoken word category
• Tony Potts: Windfall, adult illustrated poem category
• John Matthews: Dylan Cwmdonkin, adult Welsh language category
• Ellie McGrath: It was all a Dream, 11-14 age category
• Skye-Lea Jones: Are you Listening?,11-14 age category
Thanks to the judges of the poetry competition and to Faber & Faber, who donated the book prizes in support of the Poet Laureate’s Library Tour.
Cllr Thomas Tudor said: “The Riverside opened its doors in December 2018 and has enjoyed many fascinating exhibitions since thanks to the continued partnership with the National Library of Wales.
“The Riverside was one of just six libraries to host this Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024.
“It is a fantastic achievement for Haverfordwest Library to be a part of these significant events, helping to raise the profile and regeneration of the County Town and I thank everyone who has worked hard to make the event a success.”
The event would not have been possible without the continued support from The National Library of Wales and Haverfordwest Town Council. The President of the National Library of Wales and the Mayor, Sheriff and Clerk of Haverfordwest Town Council were all present.

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Charity

Bags of Books returns to Milford Haven and surrounding areas this Easter

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THE INFAMOUS Bags of Books is set to return to Milford Haven and surrounding areas over the Easter holidays.

Milford Haven School who launched the project with Milford Youth Matters over 3 years ago are continuing in their bid to improve literacy skills and encourage a love of reading for pleasure by giving away over 700 books.

Thanks to funding from the South Hook LNG Community grant they have purchased books for young people of all ages and reading abilities and will be hanging them on the fences of the schools in their catchment area.

The community are invited to come and choose a book from the following locations over the Easter holidays:

  • Neyland Community Primary School – Monday 25th March
  • Johnston Community Primary School – Tuesday 26th March
  • Coastlands Primary School – Wednesday 27th March
  • Gelliswick Primary School – Tuesday 2nd April
  • Milford Haven Community Primary – Wednesday 3rd April
  • St Francis Community Primary – Wednesday 3rd April

Milford Haven Secondary School will also hang over 150 books on their fence after the Easter Holidays on Wednesday 10th April for those in our community who cannot attend the other locations.

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