News
Red Cross celebrates Roy’s 60 years
ON MONDAY (Mar 13), veteran Red Cross volunteer Roy Thomas was honoured for his service with a surprise presentation at Pembrokeshire Red Cross’ HQ in Haverfordwest.
Roy joined the Red Cross in St Davids in 1957. At that time there was a large number of members in the City, consisting of juniors and seniors, with a female group meeting for training a separate night.
During his long career with the Red Cross, Roy has been on duty for many major events across the UK, including the visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Cardiff and the 2012 Olympic sailing events in Weymouth.
On a local level, Roy has attended point-to-point races, concerts, and – in 1996 – he provided daily cover on Pembrokeshire’s beaches during cleaning-up operations.
A first aid trainer for 22 years, Roy has also been Team Alpha leader since 2000, and has attended power cuts and provided support for the elderly and disabled.
As a trainer, Roy provided simulated realistic wounds for First Aid and Emergency training events.
Roy was also instrumental in establishing and running the St Davids City and Peninsula Community First Responders (CFR) in 2001, which he ran for 12 years. The unit was run entirely voluntarily, without funding from either residents or council. Thanks to Roy and his wife Pat, there are people alive today who were resuscitated by CFR volunteers.
And just to show that he remains as committed today as he was sixty years ago when he started out his journey with the Red Cross, Roy trained three years ago to provide therapeutic cover.
In honour of Roy’s contribution to the Red Cross and to his community, Roy was honoured with a commemorative presentation made by Chris Hopkins before being treated to lunch as guest of honour.
A surprised Roy was overwhelmed by the number who turned out to pay tribute to him.
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.
Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.
The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.
Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.
Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.
(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.
The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.
The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.
A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”
Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.
From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.
Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend
ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.
In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”
Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.
Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.
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