Community

Bakery rises to the occasion

Published

12 years ago

January 31, 2014

A BAKERY in Haverfordwest has moved a step closer to being named as the best bakery in Britain.

On Wednesday they won the regional final and they will now be competing against the winner of Central England on Friday for the chance to go to the National Finals. The Welsh Bakery specialises in all types of baking from traditional breads, morning goods, savouries to their more exotic contemporary range like sour doughs, shaped celebration cakes (“Minion Cakes” from Despicable Me) and Rye Breads. They even cater for buffets and wedding parties.

They do their baking in a custom-made Bakehouse in Thornton Industrial Estate and they also supply top eateries like the Georges in Haverfordwest.

They use only top ingredients and are one of the few bakeries that still make by hand.

Bakery owner Rob Davies said:

“Brian used to work for his father Billy Davies and his uncle Cecil Davies in Merlins Bridge when he was growing up. I believe he’s a third generation baker with 50 years of experience making me the fourth with 25 years of experience and my kids the future fifth.

“ITV came to film us at bakery in early June where we had to make two of the three challenges for the show.

“For the speciality bake we had to choose one product that would set us apart from other bakeries.

“We chose our Dragon Bread which is fiery bread with chilli coriander and coconut and shaped in the image of a dragon. We thought this would be a good option as nowhere else makes it and being a Welsh bakery – to Welsh dragon to dragon bread seemed to be a no-brainer.

“My saying on the farmers market is ‘if you’re not Welsh before you eat it you will be after, it puts fire in your belly’.”

The other challenge was called the Wild Card Bake where they specified two ingredients to use which were coconut and a rich short crust base. Rob continued:

“This is where the Preseli Tropical Tart was born. After a fair bit of brainstorming between me, Brian and my wife Jayne we decided on a short crust base with crushed mango and coconut custard. We had the nod, and builders know their grub so we knew it was a winner. Brian coined the name as he lives on the mountains and mangoes are tropical.

“I did have a bit of a joke with the judges on this one, not sure if it’ll make it onto final edit but they were big on locally sourced ingredients so when asked what part of our coconut and mango based tart we sourced locally, I said: ‘well the mango’s and coconuts of course, it’s well known they grow all over the Preseli mountains’.”

After the highs of being filmed for TV they were hit with the greatest of lows when their Haverfordwest store caught fire just a week after filming. The shop now has an incredible new look and they would like to thank all staff and customers who were amazing through a difficult six months when they were undergoing repairs.

“We travelled up to Burton upon Trent later in the month to display our speciality bake, Wild Card Bake and to take part in final challenge, the Bakers Dozen.

“In this instance it was for Calazone’s which is similar to a folded over pizza containing tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto. We very much enjoyed this challenge. It was very novel baking in different surroundings being watched by judges and TV cameras. I hope our humour comes across on the TV screen.

“The experience of being filmed all the time was unsettling at first but we soon got used to it and started to relax. The film crew were amazing and friendly and helped to make it a very memorable occasion.

“We did feel a bit nervous when it came to being judged by Mich Turner, TV chef and owner of Little Venice Cake Company, and cookery writer and restaurateur Peter Sidwell.

“We had friends and family with us at the judging, Sharon (Brian’s partner) family friends Lewis and Janice and childhood friend of mine Justin Devereaux who I’ve known for 34 years. We are very grateful for the support and distance they travelled to be with us.”

You can see how they get on by tuning in to the Great British Bakery on ITV1 at 4pm this Friday.

Community

New foal born at Dyfed Shire Farm as rare breed season begins

Published

5 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Suffolk Punch mare gives birth to strong colt foal ahead of May bank holiday farm opening

DYFED SHIRE FARM has welcomed its first foal of 2026, with a Suffolk Punch mare giving birth to a strong colt.

The new arrival was announced on Saturday by the Pembrokeshire farm, which said the foal is from mare Dixie and is doing well.

In a social media post, the farm said: “Mother nature working 100% as we would want.”

The birth will be seen as a boost for the farm and for supporters of traditional horse breeds, with the Suffolk Punch regarded as one of Britain’s rarest native working horse breeds.

Dyfed Shire Farm has not yet chosen a name for the colt and has invited the public to send in suggestions.

The farm is preparing to open to visitors over the early May bank holiday weekend, with opening times announced for Friday, May 1 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, and again on Sunday, May 3 and Monday, May 4. Visitors are expected to be able to see Dixie and her foal during the open days.

The Pembrokeshire attraction also used the announcement to promote stays at its campsite as interest grows around the latest addition.

Images shared online show the foal standing close to its mother in a field, as well as resting in the spring sunshine.

Photo caption: New arrival: Dyfed Shire Farm has announced the birth of its first foal of 2026, a Suffolk Punch colt born to mare Dixie (Pics: Dyfed Shire Farm).

Community

Cathedral marks 60 years of girl choristers with tribute to school’s historic role

Published

7 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi headteacher Rachael Thomas read the first lesson at a special service in St Davids Cathedral as past and present choristers gathered to celebrate a tradition that began in dramatic circumstances in 1966

ST DAVIDS CATHEDRAL celebrated sixty years of girl choristers on Sunday (Apr 19) with a special choral evensong honouring the schoolgirls who first stepped in when the choir faced a crisis.

The service marked six decades since girls from Ysgol Dewi Sant, now Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, were called on to help save a BBC Radio 3 broadcast after a shortage of boy choristers left the cathedral choir in difficulty.

In a proud moment for the school, headteacher Rachael Thomas was invited to read the first lesson during the anniversary service, which brought together past and present choristers in the cathedral where the tradition began.

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi said afterwards that it had been a proud evening for the school, recognising the bond between the cathedral choir and the school dating back to the spring of 1966.

Material produced for the service explains how Peter Boorman, who had arrived at St Davids Cathedral in late 1953 with a strong musical reputation, had been struggling to recruit enough boy choristers in the years leading up to the landmark change.

The problem came to a head ahead of a BBC Radio 3 broadcast of choral evensong on Wednesday, April 20, 1966. At the time, measles had swept through primary schools in St Davids and several boy choristers were unable to sing. By the day of the broadcast, no boys were present at rehearsal, leaving the choir in serious difficulty.

Fearing that there would be no treble line ready, Boorman turned to the girls’ choir of Ysgol Dewi Sant, led by music teacher Rosalyn Charles. With the agreement of Dean Edward Jenkins, the Chapter and headmaster David James, the girls were excused from lessons and brought in to perform.

The schoolgirls rehearsed the required music at speed and, despite the unfamiliar demands of psalm singing, the emergency plan proved a success.

A handwritten note in the Chapter Service Book for that day recorded the moment in stark terms: “boys did not arrive – used 6 girls from Ysgol Dewi Sant.”

What began as a one-off solution quickly became something much bigger.

According to the historical account shared at the service, Dean Jenkins initially agreed to allow the girls to sing with the choir only as an isolated occasion. However, after hearing the quality of their singing, a chapter meeting held on Monday, July 25, 1966 decided that the girls should become full choristers.

The minutes of that meeting recorded: “approval to girls in choir – separate vestry – clothing left to Dean.”

That decision laid the foundation for a tradition which has continued ever since, with generations of girls singing in the cathedral choir over the past sixty years.

Sunday’s celebration recognised not only that original moment of necessity, but the lasting musical contribution made by the school and by the many choristers who followed.

The service booklet described the anniversary as a celebration of “the generations of girl choristers both past and present” and said the cathedral’s choral foundation continues to ensure that “the joy of singing can be experienced by choristers to come.”

The first lesson, read by Mrs Thomas, included the words from Haggai: “Take courage… work, for I am with you, says the Lord” – a fitting theme for an occasion rooted in courage, quick thinking and musical dedication.

For Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, the anniversary was a reminder of a remarkable chapter in the school’s history – and of the day six girls helped change cathedral music in St Davids for good.

Proud celebration: Past and present choristers gathered at St Davids Cathedral on Sunday to mark sixty years of girl choristers in the cathedral choir (Pic: supplied).

Community

Young cellist Seren Barrett wins Dyfed title

Published

12 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Performer to appear at St Davids Cathedral Festival after impressing judges with a programme of Squire, Rachmaninov and Saint-Saëns

CELLIST Seren Barrett has been named Young Musician of Dyfed 2026 after winning the final at Rhosygilwen.

The talented young performer secured the title with what organisers described as a sumptuous programme featuring works by Squire, Rachmaninov and Saint-Saëns.

The announcement was made by St Davids Cathedral Festival at Rhosygilwen, which praised Seren’s winning performance and confirmed she will now appear at this year’s Cathedral Music Festival.

As part of her prize, Seren will give the winner’s recital on Tuesday (May 26) at 11:00am.

The recital will take place during the St Davids Cathedral Festival and is expected to give audiences another chance to hear the young musician following her success in the competition final.

The Young Musician of Dyfed title is regarded as an important platform for emerging talent in west Wales, showcasing some of the area’s most promising performers in front of festival audiences and supporters of classical music.

Tickets for Seren’s winner’s recital are available through the festival.

Award winner: Seren Barrett after being named Young Musician of Dyfed 2026 at Rhosygilwen (Pic: supplied).