News

Historian and author dies

Published

11 years ago

January 31, 2014

A WELL-KNOWN local historian and author Roscoe Howells, of Amroth, has passed away at the age of 94.

Roscoe started his working life as a dairy farmer, but made a career as a prolific and passionate writer, with the Pembrokeshire countryside and landscape at the heart of his books, newspaper and magazine articles.

Roscoe’s work has its roots in the community and countryside around Saundersfoot, Tenby and Amroth, and he became the first member in Wales of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists.

His most recent book, There ‘Tis Then was a rural miscellany compiled from his writings, and named after the trademark phrase that he would use to finish his articles.

Roscoe’s mother died when he was three weeks old and his father remarried and he was brought up during the depression. He witnessed the harshness of the depression with Bonville’s Court Colliery closing down, leaving families in utter poverty.

Roscoe was a former pupil of Christ College Brecon as well as vice-president and former chairman of the Pembrokeshire Historical Society, of which he was a founder member. He was also a founder member and chairman of the old Pembrokeshire Records Society.

His many books include Woodreef From Amroth to Utah. Pembrokeshire’s Islands, Old Saundersfoot: From Monkstone To Marros, Crickdam , and Roseanna, and he also wrote numerous articles on farming and agriculture in Wales.

Roscoe was outwardly emotional when relating some of his many stories. One could feel his passion for writing, the people and countryside of west Wales. Roscoe also had an exceptional memory.

Mr Howells died on Monday of last week at Park House Court Nursing Home, Tenby, where he had been a resident for over 12 months. His funeral took place on Thursday when a service at St Bride’s Catholic Church, Saundersfoot was followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn.

News

Car crashes into house in St Davids

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Tom Sinclair

EMERGENCY services were called after a car crashed into a house on Nun Street in St Davids on Thursday (Apr 24).

Dyfed-Powys Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene at around 4:35pm following reports of a single-vehicle collision.

On arrival, they found that a car had collided with a residential property. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The road remained open while the vehicle was recovered.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Dyfed-Powys Police attended a report of a single-vehicle road traffic collision where a car collided with a property on Nun Street, St Davids, at around 4:35pm yesterday. No injuries were reported, and the road remained open while the vehicle was recovered.”

Community

Milford Haven and Neyland Police issue appeal for missing man

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for information to help locate a 54-year-old man who has been reported missing from the Milford Haven area.

Neil is described as being around 6ft 2in tall with a shaved head. He has tattoos on his arms and one of his fingers, and sometimes wears glasses.

He was last seen on Friday afternoon (Apr 26) wearing a black Superdry hoodie, ripped jeans, and orange and black Nike Air trainers. Neil is believed to be on foot.

Anyone with information that could help is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police: 🖥️ | Online portal
📧 | [email protected]
📞 | Call 101, quoting reference 262 of April 26.

Community

Fire service delivers vital kit to Ukraine

Published

7 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Wales joins UK’s largest firefighting aid convoy

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) has taken part in the UK’s largest ever convoy delivering vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, joining 17 other Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) from across the country.

The convoy, coordinated by FIRE AID and supported by the UK Government, left the UK in early April. It travelled through France, Germany and Poland, delivering over 30 fire service vehicles and more than 15,000 items of equipment to support Ukrainian firefighters on the front line of the ongoing war.

Since the Russian invasion in 2022, UK fire services have donated 119 vehicles and over 200,000 pieces of equipment to Ukraine. Each participating service ensured local needs were met before donating surplus kit.

Watch Manager Rob Kershaw represented MAWWFRS on the convoy. He said:
“It’s been a privilege to be part of this convoy and to represent both FIRE AID and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
We received invaluable support and assistance from fire and police services across every country we passed through. Their help in coordinating, escorting, and hosting the convoy was outstanding.”

Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas KFSM added:
“MAWWFRS is proud to support our colleagues in Ukraine by donating and delivering essential equipment.
The events in Ukraine have deeply affected the fire and rescue community, and this convoy is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to helping those still working under extreme conditions.”

The donated equipment will support firefighters in Ukraine who continue to operate in war zones to save lives and protect property—often at great personal risk. Since the conflict began, 100 Ukrainian firefighters have been killed and 431 injured. A total of 411 fire stations and 1,700 firefighting vehicles have been destroyed.