News

Pembrokeshire pupils hydrate to concentrate

Published

9 years ago

May 6, 2016

H20: Pupils from Year 11 at Ysgol y Preseli with teacher Owen Thomas, head of Year 11, and Juliana Morgans from Princes Gate Water

OVER 12000 GCSE students will be able to sip away the stress of their forthcoming exams after Pembrokeshire County Council teamed up with a local drinks company.

Princes Gate Water has delivered over 1250 re-usable drink bottles to our County’s Secondary Schools as part of the joint Hydrate2Concentrate initiative with Pembrokeshire County Council. Public Health Wales has also offered its support to the scheme.

The Council bought the bottles through an Education Improvement Grant. The scheme follows studies that prove staying hydrated helps concentration and awareness.

Princes Gate Water will also donate 7,500 litres of bottled water to secondary schools prior to the exams, which start on May 16th.

It’s believed staying hydrated can help students improve their results by up to 5% and relieves anxiety during this period.

“Anyone who has taken an exam knows the pressure students are under and anything that promotes a sense of well-being can only be applauded,” said Cabinet Member for Education and Safeguarding Councillor Sue Perkins.

“During the forthcoming GCSEs students will be able to keep hydrated and take a little time out from the pressures they are under by taking sips of water periodically and we hope this will help them perform to the best of their ability.

“It’s a practical and effective way to enable pupils to drink at least 3-4 glasses of water per day.”

Juliana Morgans, sales and customer care executive at Princes Gate, said: “We have been proudly working with schools throughout Pembrokeshire to promote our Healthy Living Campaign and it comes with great pleasure that this will now be extended with the launch of the Hydrate2Concentrate initiative.

“There are many studies that highlight the importance of keeping hydrated, but even more so is this the case during periods of exams.

“If our donation can support the students of Pembrokeshire in achieving their maximum potential and beyond then this will most definitely be an initiative that we’re immensely proud to be involved in. We wish each student every success in their upcoming exams.”

Liz Western from Public Health Wales said studies show that mental performance deteriorates by 10% when people are thirsty or dehydrated.

“Good hydration helps pupils to concentrate because they are not distracted by feelings of thirst, tiredness and irritability and therefore good performance is maintained,” she said.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.