News

Infection contributed to student’s fatal fall

Published

9 years ago

March 3, 2017

Tom Sinclair

Patrick Dear: Fell from a height at Dale Fort

AN INQUEST into the death of a 16–year–old schoolboy who was found at the foot of Dale Point was held at Milford Town Hall today (March 3).

Patrick Dear, of Essex, had been on a geography field trip to Dale Fort in March last year.

He was described by Coroner’s Officer Jeremy Davies as a ‘keen sportsman’ with ‘no concerns’.

The A–Level student, who had hoped to pursue a career in construction, would later be found at the base of the 120–foot cliffs that surround the former Victorian Fort.

A pathologist’s report described Paddy’s injuries as ‘severe’ and ‘in keeping with a fall from height’.

It also revealed that Paddy had been suffering from group A streptococcal septicemia, a ‘systemic infection’, which could cause ‘disorientation, confusion, unsteadiness and an inability to comprehend dangerous situations’.

The report concluded that this ‘infection contributed to his fall’.

Some of Paddy’s classmates from Campion school in Hornchurch, Essex, had said he ‘appeared restless’ and had experienced difficulty sleeping during his time at the Fort.

On March 17 at around 5.30pm, Paddy asked to be excused from a lesson to go to the toilet; however, he did not return.

When teachers became aware of Paddy’s disappearance, they alerted staff at the Fort, and after an initial search proved unsuccessful, police were informed at 7.05pm.

The search would continue into the early hours of the following day, with teams from Dyfed–Powys Police, which included a helicopter, and the Coastguard eventually finding Paddy’s body at around 1am.

While Paddy’s whereabouts prior to his death were unknown to staff at the Fort, Judith Curry, who lives on the seafront in Dale, was able to shed some light on his final hours.

Ms Curry recalled how she had been out in her front garden at around 6pm on March 17 when she saw a ‘young man’, who she would later identify as Paddy, standing near the seafront wall.

The Dale resident said she had been concerned about the student’s demeanour, adding that he had been ‘pacing up and down’ and ‘looking out to sea an awful lot’.

Ms Curry stated: “I would not say he was in control – he looked agitated.”

When she returned to her garden at around 8pm to find that Paddy had gone, Ms Curie said: “If he had still been there I would have gone over to him.”

A staff member at the Fort, Elizabeth Western recalled how she had ‘never had any issues with Paddy’, describing him as ‘quiet’.

The field trip had seen the pupils travel to several parts of Pembrokeshire, including Newgale, Tenby and Milford Haven; although Ms Western stated that whilst students are in the Fort, ‘the village is definitely out of bounds’.

She added that the Fort is occupied by at least one member of staff at all times and students have to sign in and out should they leave the premises.

At this point, Paddy’s mother, Patricia Dear, took the opportunity to ask Ms Western if the Fort had ‘someone standing on the gate’ during the search, to which Ms Western said they did not.

Head of Field Studies Council Pembrokeshire, Christine Milligan, who oversees Dale Fort and a similar centre at Orielton, said how the students would have been ‘warned of the dangers of the cliffs around the site’ on arrival, and that the Fort operates strict protocols in the event of a missing student.

She added that the search for Paddy had been ‘comprehensive’, with staff members having ‘searched systematically’.

Ms Milligan also said how deputy head teachers of Campion school, along with Paddy’s mother and other family members had began making the journey to Pembrokeshire in the hours after he was announced missing.

Speaking to Ms Milligan, Mrs Dear said: “Nothing we do today will bring Paddy back.”

She went on to raise questions over whether there had been any changes implemented since Paddy’s death, and in particular, if the Fort would now position someone on the gate if a similar event was to take place.

Raising concerns over the safety of future students visiting the site, Mrs Dear added: “In terms of security […] there is nothing stopping access to the public.”

Ms Milligan, who said that locking the gates in this instance would have likely not made a difference, responded: “We will certainly consider all issues raised here and look at what we can do if this awful situation was to happen again.”

Coroner Mark Layton recorded a narrative conclusion, saying that Paddy had died as a result of a fall from height whilst suffering from the systemic infection.

Mr Layton expressed his sincere condolences to Mr and Mrs Dear.

Community

Sir Karl Jenkins named Eisteddfod President for 2026

Published

5 minutes ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SIR KARL JENKINS has been named President of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for 2026.

The internationally acclaimed Welsh composer, one of the world’s most performed living composers, will take on the role as the festival prepares to welcome performers, competitors and visitors from across the globe.

Sir Karl is best known for works including The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, Adiemus and Requiem.

His appointment comes in a landmark year after The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace was voted the most popular work in the Classic FM Hall of Fame 2026.

Opening night return

Sir Karl’s presidential year will begin with the opening night concert, Uniting Nations: One World, on Tuesday, July 7.

The concert had been due to take place in 2025 but was postponed, causing disappointment for volunteers, performers and audience members who had travelled from across the UK and overseas.

The Eisteddfod has now brought the event back with support from the Arts Council of Wales.

Sir Karl said: “I’m delighted to be returning to the Llangollen Festival this year and especially honoured to do so in the role of President.

“Llangollen is always a very special place to be, with its unique sense of community and international spirit.

“I’m greatly looking forward to conducting my most recent choral work, One World, particularly following the postponement of last year’s performance.

“It’s a piece that I feel reflects the very essence of the festival, bringing together outstanding musicians from across the globe to form one powerful collective voice.”

Global chorus

The evening will feature a full performance of One World, conducted by Sir Karl and performed by an international massed chorus made up of WorldChoir and NEW Voices, accompanied by the Llangollen International Orchestra.

The work blends Jenkins’ distinctive musical style with themes of humanity, compassion and environmental stewardship.

The concert will also include a complete staging of Peace Child: The Musical, which places young people at the heart of its message of peace and global citizenship.

Opening the evening will be the world premiere of Greeting the Dawn, a newly commissioned bilingual work by emerging Welsh composer Sam Buttler.

The piece was written for the 2026 Eisteddfod through the Harmony Without Borders initiative, continuing Llangollen’s tradition of supporting new talent and giving Welsh composers an international platform.

‘Great cultural ambassador’

John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Sir Karl Jenkins has agreed to serve as President of the Eisteddfod for 2026.

“Few musicians have done more to promote the values of peace, friendship and international understanding that lie at the heart of our festival.

“Sir Karl is one of Wales’s greatest cultural ambassadors and his music has inspired audiences across every continent.

“The fact that The Armed Man has just been voted the nation’s favourite classical work is a testament not only to his extraordinary talent, but also to the universal appeal of the messages of peace, hope and humanity that run through so much of his music.”

Mr Gambles added: “The postponement of One World last year was heartbreaking for everyone involved.

“We knew how much the concert meant to audiences, performers and volunteers alike, and we were determined to find a way to bring it back.

“Thanks to the support of the Arts Council of Wales, we can now finally give this extraordinary concert the audience it deserves.

“With Sir Karl as our President, the return of One World, the world premiere of a major new Welsh composition and the powerful message of Peace Child, this promises to be one of the most memorable and significant opening nights in the Eisteddfod’s history.”

Festival programme

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod returns for its 79th year on Tuesday, July 7.

This year’s programme includes performances from Michael Ball, Emeli Sandé with the Absolute Orchestra, Uniting Nations: One World featuring Sir Karl Jenkins, and the Choir of the World competition.

Thousands of competitors from around the world will also take part in the daytime programme, with the Parade of Nations returning on Friday, July 10.

Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting from £33.

Further information is available at llangollen.net.

Health

Woman jailed assaults on police, harassment and XL Bully possession

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A CARMARTHEN woman has been jailed after admitting a lengthy catalogue of offences including assaults on police officers, harassment, breaching a Community Protection Notice, shop theft, possession of an XL Bully dog and assaulting a paramedic.

Tilly Rees, 25, of Llys Caermedi, Carmarthen, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18).

The court heard that Rees admitted multiple breaches of a Community Protection Notice issued in 2025, including incidents in which she shouted abuse in public, caused distress to residents and repeatedly targeted individuals named in court proceedings.

Harassment campaign

Among the offences was a harassment charge relating to a course of conduct against a Carmarthen man between March and May this year.

Prosecutors said Rees approached him on multiple occasions, shouted abuse, called him a paedophile and video-recorded him and his home.

She also admitted a series of Community Protection Notice breaches linked to the same behaviour.

Police assaults

The court heard that Rees assaulted a number of police officers during incidents in Llanelli on May 1 and May 5.

Several assault charges against serving police constables were taken into account by the court when sentence was passed.

A further charge of assaulting a paramedic at Dafen Police Station on June 12 was also admitted.

Shop theft and XL Bully

Rees also admitted stealing items including sanitary products, deodorant, skincare products and reading glasses from a Carmarthen pharmacy.

In a separate matter, she admitted possessing an XL Bully dog contrary to the Dangerous Dogs Act. The court ordered the dog to be forfeited and destroyed after Rees relinquished her rights to it.

Restraining orders imposed

District Judge M Layton imposed a number of restraining orders preventing Rees from contacting named individuals or referring to them online.

The orders prohibit direct or indirect contact and restrict social media activity relating to those protected by the orders.

Jailed for 26 weeks

Magistrates concluded that only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified.

Rees was sentenced to a total of 26 weeks’ imprisonment.

The court heard that some of the offences were committed while she was already subject to a suspended sentence, while others involved assaults on emergency workers carrying additional aggravating factors.