Community

Welsh Prime Minister’s favourite cakes revived

Published

9 years ago

June 22, 2016

Tom Sinclair

Recipe restored: Rosalind
Raymond of Jordanston Church
with Mandy Stirling of Wolfscastle
Country Hotel

TO MARK the centenary of David Lloyd George becoming the only Welsh Prime Minister, a hotel has revived the original recipes for Welsh cakes he enjoyed and is using them to fund further restoration to his family church in Pembrokeshire.

Wolfscastle C ountry Hotel near Haverfordwest discovered the recipes for Welsh Cakes and Bara Brith which Lloyd George’s wife Dame Margaret, donated to a cookery book originally published in 1919 by the Criccieth Women’s Institute.

Subtitled ‘Recipes for the Favourite Dishes of The Prime Minister’ the book was reprinted in the early 1970s.

The hotel is working with nearby Jordanston Church in Pembrokeshire, which is to hold an exhibition (June 17-19) commemorating the centenary of David Lloyd George taking office as the only Welsh Prime Minister. The exhibition is open to the public at Jordanston Church and Hall between 10.30am-8pm each day.

Lloyd George’s father, grandfather, grandmother, and step grandfather are buried in the church and his family farmed the neighbouring farm of Trecoed.

As a curtain-raiser to the event Wolfscastle Hotel is hosting a fundraising afternoon tea featuring the Lloyd George cakes, on Sunday, June 12, commencing 4.30pm.

Andrew Stirling, proprietor of the four star Wolfscastle Hotel since 1976 said: “We were fascinated to learn about Lloyd George’s family connection with Pembrokeshire and wanted to help by supplementing the great fundraising work of the wardens of Jordanston Church in the best way we can, by baking cakes!

“We hope people will be equally fascinated to try out cakes made to the exact recipe which Lloyd George enjoyed over 100 years ago.”

Speaking on behalf of the Jordanston Church fundraising team, which has so far raised £100,000 to repair and restore the church including a £63,000 Heritage Lottery grant, Rosalind Raymond said: “We are thrilled that Andy and Mandy Stirling have offered to contribute to our exhibition in this way.

The whole purpose is to raise funds specifically to repair windows at this small and much loved church which has so many historic connections and is very much at the heart of our community.”

Of his roots in the county, Lloyd George once said: “I am a Pembrokeshire lad. I come from Pembrokeshire stock and am proud of it.” (David Lloyd George – Crymych, October 30, 1924).

The Welsh Cakes are referred to in the book as ‘Cachen Gri (Dame Margaret’s Way)’ and the ‘Bara Brith’ is also described as Currant Cake in the 1919 recipe.

Mandy Stirling of Wolfscastle Hotel said: “In trialling the recipes, we found the Welsh Cakes were less sweet than is the norm these days; they are almost savoury and you can imagine them being served spread with butter. These days we tend to add zest of fruit to give a little more flavour, mixed spices, again for more flavour.

The Bara Brith was even more of a marked difference than the style people expect these days. The 1919 recipe used lard, lots of eggs and milk, whilst we use warm black tea in the recipe, which is more common.

Whereas people today will be used to a Bara Brith that is moist and quite sticky, the Lloyd George recipe produced a crumbly, drier cake with just currants rather than the mixed fruit we have. But it is nonetheless delicious and we look forward to serving these lovely cakes to our guests.”

Tickets to the Lloyd George Exhibition Charity Afternoon Tea cost £12 per person, with £6.00 going to the Jordanston Church restoration fund.

Tickets are available from www. wolfscastle.com

Community

Cardigan residents rally in solidarity with Palestine

Published

12 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Peaceful protest calls for ceasefire and highlights local arms links

CARDIGAN residents came together on Saturday (July 5) for a peaceful demonstration outside the Guildhall, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.

***Supporting Gaza: Protester outside Cardigan Guildhall on Saturday (Pic: Supplied)***

Protesters held placards reading “Ceasefire Now”, “Free Palestine”, and “Stop Bombing Gaza”, while waving Palestinian flags. The rally was one of a series of similar events held across Wales and the UK in recent weeks, including in Aberystwyth, Swansea, Cardiff and Bangor.

Campaigners also handed out leaflets raising concerns about QinetiQ, the weapons technology company that operates the MOD-Aberporth site at Parcllyn, near Cardigan. The leaflet claims QinetiQ is involved in the testing and training of drones and missile systems used in conflict zones.

As part of the protest, demonstrators promoted a forthcoming public meeting organised by the group West Wales Against Arms. The meeting is due to take place at 7:00pm on Monday, July 14, and will focus on what organisers describe as the complicity of local companies in the war in Gaza.

One protester told The Herald: “We are here because we believe ordinary people should speak out against war and occupation. Silence helps no one.”

Community

Public meeting to discuss future of Fishguard Library

Published

21 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Consultation explores options to reduce running costs and secure long-term future

A PUBLIC meeting will take place at 6:30pm on Monday (July 14) at Fishguard Town Hall to discuss the future operation of Fishguard Library, as part of a public consultation being run jointly by Pembrokeshire County Council and Fishguard & Goodwick Town Council (FGTC).

The consultation explores potential models to reduce the running costs of the library and ensure it remains financially sustainable in its current location. One option under consideration is a Community Managed Partnership Library, supported by local volunteers. The public meeting will focus on how such a model might work and gauge whether there is sufficient local interest to make it viable.

FGTC is currently considering taking over the management of Fishguard Town Hall through a Community Asset Transfer. A joint working group of PCC and FGTC members has been set up to assess the options and gather public feedback.

The consultation begins on Thursday (July 10) and runs until 5:00pm on Wednesday, August 20. Documents will be available online at:
www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/have-your-say/consultations
Paper copies will also be available in English and Welsh at Fishguard Town Hall from the same date.

The six options under consideration are:

Relocate the library to smaller premises elsewhere in the locality
Share the existing library space with a third-party such as a shop or café
Increase the annual financial contribution from the Town Council
Reduce the library’s opening hours
Create a Community Managed Library Partnership
Close the library and replace it with mobile provision

All options are explained in more detail in the consultation documents.

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “We know how important the library at Fishguard Town Hall is to local people. Alongside Fishguard & Goodwick Town Council, we are working to strike a balance that secures library provision while delivering necessary savings.

“Please take the opportunity to read the consultation documents and attend the public meeting on July 14 to learn more.”

A spokesperson for FGTC added: “We know how valued the library is by our community and want to see its fantastic service continue. At the same time, we must recognise the need to reduce costs. We encourage everyone to take part in the consultation and join the public meeting.”

Community

Councillor slams ‘inconsiderate’ fly-tippers after roofing waste dumped in Pembroke

Published

2 days ago

July 6, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Receipt found in rubbish pile passed to authorities for investigation

A COUNTY councillor has hit out after a pile of building waste, including broken roofing slates, timber, insulation, and packaging, was illegally dumped on a roadside verge in Pembroke.

The fly-tipping incident occurred at the top of Norgan’s Hill, where a mound of slate tiles and other construction debris was discovered discarded next to a gate leading into the countryside.

Pembrokeshire County Councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the fly-tipping was not only antisocial but also a financial burden on residents.

“Big thank you to those inconsiderate individuals who chose to illegally dump their leftover roof slates at the top of Norgan’s Hill,” Cllr Grimes posted on social media.

“That’s now going to cost us, as council tax payers, to have the council send out a team to collect and properly dispose of your waste. It’s completely unacceptable.”

The Herald understands that among the items left in the pile was a shop receipt with identifiable details on it. This has been handed to the relevant authorities in the hope that the individuals responsible can be traced and prosecuted.

Under UK law, fly-tipping is a criminal offence punishable by fines of up to £50,000 or even imprisonment.

Pembrokeshire County Council has been notified of the incident and is expected to remove the waste in the coming days.

Cllr Grimes urged anyone with information about the fly-tipping to contact the council or Dyfed-Powys Police, and reminded residents that legal methods of disposal, including local recycling centres and commercial waste services, are readily available.

“This kind of behaviour shows a complete disregard for our community and environment,” he said. “It will not be tolerated.”