Community

Pupils chosen in worldwide competition

Published

10 years ago

June 22, 2016

Dylan’s ‘Great Poem’: Eight Johnston School pupils’ words chosen out
of hundreds worldwide to be part of bilingual epic poem

JOHNSTON Primary School’s last-minute entry for a poetry competition has been heralded as a success, and has even yielded a prize.

The worldwide competition which was entered by the Year Five and Year Six pupils, who are taught by Mr Tim Pounder, saw the children contributing towards ‘Dylan’s Great Poem’.

The poem is a bilingual piece of work which has been completely written by young people aged between seven and 25 to celebrate International Dylan Thomas Day.

To enter the competition, budding young poets had to submit four lines of poetry, with no more than eight words per line based around Dylan Thomas’ famous poem ‘The Hand That Signed the Paper’.

The best 100 lines which were received in the worldwide competition were then combined to create the ‘Great Poem’.

The poem, which was a combined effort uniting a variety of different countries around the world, was recited live at Cardiff Library on International Dylan Thomas Day (Saturday May 14).

From the hundreds of submissions received, an incredible eight pupils from Johnston C.P. had their lines chosen for the final poem.

Mr Pounder said that having so many children from the school contributing to the final poem was a wonderful surprise. He said the competition result was a bonus, because the way in which all the children within the class embraced the task was what really impressed him.

He said: “I only decided to enter the competition at the eleventh hour and thought we had left it too late, so to have so many lines be included in the poem is an unexpected bonus.

“We just did some classwork based on it and asked them to think about how they could contribute to the ‘Great Poem’

“We put a lot of emphasis on writing for a purpose in school and this helped focus their thoughts. It shows what can be achieved by our pupils.

“Once the children started talking about what ‘The Hand That Signed the Paper’ was about, they really got into it and the quality of their work was incredible.

“In my day, we didn’t touch poetry at this level until we were in secondary school, but if you don’t give children opportunity you don’t know what they are capable of and the pupils have created something inspirational.

“I’m extremely proud of them. Firstly, for showing such enthusiasm for poetry and secondly for creating such brilliant work.”

Mr Pounder’s words were echoed by Eva John, Challenge Adviser for English and Literacy.

She said: “The children responded very strongly to Dylan Thomas’s poem, ‘The Hand That Signed the Paper’.

“Their own writing on the subject of hands, using the poem as a stimulus, reflects their clarity of observation, sensitivity and individuality.

“It is a wonderful achievement to have their words selected as part of an international bilingual poem in celebration of a great Welsh poet.”

Dylan’s Great Poem can be viewed on the Literature Wales website.

Community

Milford paddling pool could close after rowdy adults seen throwing glass bottles

Published

22 hours ago

May 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL has warned that the town’s paddling pool could be drained and closed if anti-social behaviour continues.

The warning follows an incident today in which rowdy adults were reportedly drinking alcohol from glass bottles inside the pool enclosure and throwing a glass bottle around.

The council also said people were seen smoking cannabis just outside the gate.

In a statement, Milford Haven Town Council said the behaviour was “highly dangerous, irresponsible and inconsiderate” and “cannot and will not be tolerated”.

The council warned: “If this sort of behaviour continues we will have no choice but to consider draining and closing the pool.”

The paddling pool is run voluntarily by a dedicated group of councillors for the benefit of local families and visitors.

The council is now urging people to act responsibly so the facility can remain open and be enjoyed safely by everyone.

Community

Choir to sing at ten bandstands in one day for Alzheimer’s charity

Published

22 hours ago

May 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Côr Meibion De Cymru will begin its South Wales challenge at Milford Haven before finishing in Cardiff

A WELSH male voice choir will sing at ten bandstands in one day as part of an ambitious charity challenge across South Wales.

Côr Meibion De Cymru, the South Wales Male Choir, will begin its Ten Bandstands Challenge at The Rath in Milford Haven at 7:00am on Sunday, May 31.

The choir will then travel east, performing short concerts at Tenby, Carmarthen, Kidwelly, Llandeilo, Neath, Barry Island, Penarth and Newport before finishing at Victoria Park in Cardiff at around 8:00pm.

The event is being held in aid of Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, with organisers aiming to raise £5,000.

The choir says the challenge is intended to create a “red wave of singing” across South Wales, while celebrating the Welsh male voice choir tradition and showing that it remains a powerful part of Welsh cultural life.

The full schedule is:

Milford Haven, The Rath: 7:00am to 7:20am
Tenby, Castle Hill: 8:25am to 8:45am
Carmarthen, Carmarthen Park: 9:55am to 10:15am
Kidwelly, Parc Y Bocs: 11:00am to 11:20am
Llandeilo, Penlan Park: 12:30pm to 1:00pm
Neath, Victoria Gardens: 2:00pm to 2:20pm
Barry Island, Friars Road: 3:55pm to 4:20pm
Penarth, Windsor Gardens: 5:10pm to 5:30pm
Newport, Belle Vue Park: 6:35pm to 6:55pm
Cardiff, Victoria Park: 7:50pm to 8:10pm

Organisers say timings may vary slightly depending on traffic on the day.

The challenge is being promoted as a celebration of music, community and Welsh identity, while raising money for a cause that affects families across Wales.

More information and donations are available through the choir’s JustGiving campaign.

Community

Police issue A477 crash appeal after five taken to hospital

Published

24 hours ago

May 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FIVE people were taken to hospital, three with serious injuries, following a collision on the A477 between Llanteg and Red Roses on Sunday (May 24).

Dyfed-Powys Police said the crash happened at around 5:00pm and involved a grey Honda Civic i-VTEC and a white Kia Soul 2.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested and remains in police custody.

Officers are appealing for anyone who was driving on the A477 at around the time of the collision, or who may have dash-cam footage of either vehicle before the crash, to come forward.

Police said visitors to Pembrokeshire who may not know the area should check their route in case they were travelling along the A477 at the relevant time.

Anyone with information can contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing [email protected], by direct message on social media, or by calling 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference: 326 of May 24.