News

Friends of National Park AGM

Published

10 years ago

May 19, 2016

THE FRIENDS of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park continue to make a considerable practical on the ground contribution to the county’s national park but also makes their presence felt at a national level, so said the outgoing Chair, Peter Heard, at last week’s annual meeting.

Added Mr Heard, “We may be the Friends of one of the smallest national parks in the United Kingdom but we do sterling work on behalf of the precious environment that make up our national parks.

There is no doubt, whatsoever, that we punch well above our weight.”

“Many societies such as ours are experiencing difficulties but here in Pembrokeshire our membership is slightly up and we have no obvious financial problems. There is, however, no room for complacency and new members are most welcome and we must work to ensure that our finances remain on an even keel.”

The Chair of External Affairs, Edward Holdaway, explained to members that a strategy was being prepared to take the Friends forward. The strategy would the defining of the Friends’ niche as the “torch bearer” for the National Park and raise awareness of the importance of the Park; what makes it so special and the need to look after it. Mr Holdaway also gave a review of planning applications within the Park and also on the edge of the National Park which, it was felt, could have a detrimental effect on the environment.

Alan Mason, leader of the Work Party programme, told the meeting that the volunteers had, in a twelve month, provided a total of 358 working days on improvement works within the National Park. Work included underpinning a bridge at Abercych to assisting with the restoration of a lime kiln at Hook; installing fishing platforms at Bosherston to assisting with the installation of a board walk at the Broad Haven pond. Jane Mason spoke of the comprehensive events programme of the past year and plans for the future and the retiring Editor of the Friends magazine, News and Views, Steven Watkins, up dated members on matters relating to its publication.

Two retiring members of the Executive, long serving secretary, Jill Eaton Evans and Press Officer, Richard Howells, were the recipients of presentations from the Chair.

Officers elected were: Chair, Steven Drinkwater; Treasurer, Peter Heard; Secretary, Rosemary Williams; and executive members, Ian Patterson; Edward Holdaway; Jane Mason and Alan Mason.

Crime

Rogue roofer conned homeowner out of thousands

Published

13 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Caerphilly investigation leads to court conviction

A ROGUE trader from Pembroke has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after duping a homeowner into handing over thousands for unnecessary roofing work.

Douggie Whitbread, aged twenty-five and living at Coldwell Terrace, Pembroke, persuaded his victim that he “probably needed a new roof” before charging £4,350 for work that was either unnecessary or not carried out properly.

Whitbread admitted two counts of fraud relating to a property on Griffiths Street, Ystrad Mynach, with the offences taking place between August 12 and October 16, 2023.

He appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, where he was ordered to pay a total of £6,130. That includes £4,350 in compensation, £1,500 in prosecution costs, a £200 fine, and an £80 victim surcharge.

The case was brought following an investigation by Caerphilly Trading Standards, who urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers of home maintenance work.

News

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association – Week Twelve results

Published

31 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Herald Sport

A PACKET week of fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association’s Friendly League saw key wins at both ends of the table as teams continue to jostle for position going into the second half of the season.

Match results (Week 12):

Hundleton 10–0 Lamphey
Badgers 2–8 St Johns
Reynalton 0–10 Carew
Kilgetty 8–2 East Williamston
Cosheston v Llanteg – postponed
St Twynnells – bye week

A previously postponed fixture was also completed, with St Twynnells drawing 5–5 with Reynaltón.

League table (after Week 12):
East Williamston remain top, having played 10 and won eight, with a strong shots difference of +125. Reynaltón sit second after 11 games with 58 points, while St Johns and Hundleton follow closely behind on 54 points each.

At the mid-table mark, Carew (49 points), St Twynnells (48) and Kilgetty (46) remain tightly grouped. Badgers, Lamphey, Llanteg and Cosheston make up the lower order, though the number of games played varies, leaving room for movement in the coming weeks.

Full standings:

Team	P	W	D	L	S/D	Points
East Williamston	10	8	0	2	+125	72
Reynaltón	11	5	2	4	+35	58
St Johns	10	5	1	4	+32	54
Hundleton	10	5	1	4	-2	54
Carew	9	5	0	4	-25	49
St Twynnells	10	4	2	4	-34	48
Kilgetty	11	5	0	6	-44	46
Badgers	11	3	1	7	-59	45
Lamphey	11	5	0	6	-10	44
Llanteg	8	4	0	4	-5	41
Cosheston	9	3	1	5	-13	40

If you’d like, I can also turn this into a shorter snippet for the website or expand with quotes, season context, or upcoming fixtures.

News

Search under way in Pembroke Dock for missing man Lee

Published

57 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Coastguard, RNLI and rescue helicopter launched as fears grow he entered the water

A MAJOR search and rescue operation is under way tonight (Sunday) in the Pembroke Dock and Pennar areas as emergency services look for 48-year-old Lee, who has been reported missing and is feared to have entered the water near the Pennar estuary.

Dyfed-Powys Police issued an urgent appeal earlier today after Lee, who is from Cardigan, failed to return home. He was last seen at around 5:00pm on Saturday (December 13) on CCTV in Pembroke Dock. The image shows him travelling on foot and carrying bags.

Lee is described as 5ft 10in tall, of medium build, with short light-brown hair and short facial hair. At the time he was wearing a blue/grey Christmas jumper, a red hat, dark trousers and light trainers. Police say he is also known to travel by train.

Concerns escalated this afternoon after officers received information suggesting Lee may have entered the water around the Pennar estuary.

HM Coastguard teams and the RNLI lifeboat from Angle have been searching the shoreline and waterway since mid-afternoon. A rescue helicopter from Cornwall (operating out of RAF St Mawgan/Cornwall Airport) is now assisting with aerial searches. The operation is ongoing in increasingly challenging conditions.

Search crews are dealing with cold, wet and windy weather, with conditions expected to worsen significantly overnight. An amber Met Office warning for heavy rain comes into force at 4:00am on Monday (15 December), with forecasters warning of fast-flowing floodwater and hazardous visibility across Pembrokeshire.

Police are urging anyone who may have seen Lee, or who has information that could help the search, to make contact immediately by calling phoning: 101. Quote reference: DP-20251214-176