Community

Bakery rises to the occasion

Published

11 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

Neyland Community Christmas Lunch a festive success

Published

7 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

NEYLAND TOWN COUNCIL rolled up their sleeves to support this year’s Community Christmas Lunch, spreading festive cheer and warm hospitality to attendees on Christmas Day at the Alumchine.

Councillors Steve Campodonic, David Devauden, Steve Thomas, and Brian Rothero began their efforts as early as 7:30am, working tirelessly to ensure the event ran smoothly.

The dedicated organisers, including Trish Campodonic, Pam, and Lloyd Hamilton, along with other volunteers, created a welcoming space filled with festive spirit and a delicious meal with all the trimmings.

The event brought together members of the community who might otherwise have spent the day alone, highlighting the warmth and generosity that Neyland is known for.

A heartfelt ‘Well done’ to everyone involved for making this Christmas lunch a resounding success and spreading joy to so many.

Community

Milford Haven’s heartwarming ‘Christmas Together’ event another success

Published

7 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN came together once again on Christmas Day for the annual ‘Christmas Together’ event, a cherished tradition that has been running since December 2012.

Organised by Mayor Cllr William Elliott and his consort Lloyd Jones, alongside Cllr Colin Sharp and the dedicated Christmas Together Committee, the event provided warmth, community spirit, and festive cheer to those who might otherwise spend the day alone.

Volunteers played an essential role, with special thanks extended to Claire and her kitchen team, who prepared and served a delicious Christmas meal for all attendees. Milford Haven Town Band added a festive soundtrack to the day, while support from Milford Haven Fire Station and numerous volunteers ensured everything ran smoothly.

The event, which aims to combat loneliness during what can be a difficult time of year for many, was described as a resounding success. The organisers expressed heartfelt gratitude to all those who donated money, items, and their time to make the day special.

A spokesperson for the event said: “As another year closes, we would like to thank all those that made Christmas Together 2024 so amazing. Great day, great company, and so good to see the community working together.”

Special recognition was also given to Marble Hall Mini Market for their kind donation of a festive hamper.

The Christmas Together raffle added an extra layer of excitement to the day, with generous donations from supporters.

A special thank you was extended to Mariam Dalziel and the team from South Hook for kindly donating an Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet as one of the raffle prizes. Other prizes included a hamper of wine, a tower of temptation (chocolates and Prosecco), chocolate tub hampers, and many more.

Preparations for the event began well in advance, with invitations being posted on Saturday, 26th October 2024. The dedicated team behind this effort included Leanne from Milford Haven Post Office, Mayor Cllr William Elliott, Cllr Guy Woodham (Founder and Chair of Christmas Together), and Cllr Colin Sharp (Committee Member and Chair of the Pill Social Centre).

The event once again highlighted the strong sense of community spirit in Milford Haven, with attendees leaving with full hearts and warm smiles.

Merry Christmas to all from the Christmas Together team!

Community

Heartfelt Christmas message from Tenby’s Mayor

Published

8 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE MAYOR of Tenby, Councillor Dai Morgan, has delivered a warm and heartfelt Christmas message to the community.

Cllr Morgan praised the town’s ‘resilient and united’ spirit, reflecting on the ‘kindness and generosity’ that have defined Tenby throughout the year. He expressed deep gratitude for the unwavering community support that continues to make the town ‘a truly special place to call home.’

Acknowledging the challenges many families face this year, including the ongoing cost-of-living pressures and rising energy costs, Cllr Morgan encouraged residents to embrace the core values of the festive season: peace, compassion, and hope.

“Christmas is a time to come together, to reflect on what truly matters, and to share moments of joy and hope for a brighter tomorrow,” he said.

The mayor extended his heartfelt thanks to those who work tirelessly to keep the community safe and supported over the festive season. This included the police, RNLI, health services, fire crews, HM Coastguard, carers, and all frontline workers.

He also highlighted the vital contributions of Tenby’s voluntary organisations, who continue to bring comfort and joy to those who may feel isolated or face hardship during the holidays.

“Without the dedication and compassion of our voluntary groups, our town would lose so much of its heart. Their efforts make a real difference, and they deserve our gratitude and support every single day,” Cllr Morgan added.

Reflecting on the year gone by, he shared how humbled he felt meeting so many inspiring individuals who contribute to the town’s rich tapestry of community life. Looking ahead to 2025, he expressed optimism and a renewed sense of gratitude for his family, friends, and colleagues.

Cllr Morgan concluded his message with warm wishes for the season:

“May this Christmas bring you moments of happiness, peace, and togetherness. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful Christmas and a hopeful New Year.”