WALES came together on Saturday (Nov 2) in a moving tribute to the Armed Forces community at the Royal British Legion’s Wales Festival of Remembrance. For the first time, the event took place at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Wales in Newport.

Hosted by broadcaster Sian Lloyd, the evening honoured several significant anniversaries, including the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo, and the 10th anniversary of the end of UK operations in Afghanistan. A special tribute also marked 80 years since the liberation of ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands by the Royal Welsh Regiment.

The event featured stirring performances by musical theatre group Welsh of the West End and classically trained soprano Laura Sidney. Choral contributions came from Barry Male Voice Choir, Cardiff Military Wives Choir Caerdydd, and Bristol Military Wives Choir, all accompanied by the Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh.

Honoured guests included D-Day veterans Jim Miller and John Fiddler, who received a warm welcome from the audience. Other notable attendees were The Rt Hon Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales; Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister; Brigadier Robert Aitken CBE, Lord Lieutenant of Gwent; and Colonel James Phillips, Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales, alongside senior military personnel.

Philippa Rawlinson, Director of Remembrance at the RBL, remarked: “In a year when we’re marking significant Second World War anniversaries, it’s important we also take time to remember the service and sacrifices of more recent conflicts and the younger generation of the Armed Forces community. Events like the Royal British Legion’s Wales Festival of Remembrance provide an opportunity to both honour the memories of those who have served in our Armed Forces in the past, whilst remembering those still serving today who protect our democratic freedoms and the way of life we all enjoy.”

FOLLOWING last year’s spectacular event, the Waterfront Community Runners are excited to announce the highly anticipated return of their 5K Charity Night Run on Milford Waterfront on Saturday 9 November 2024, in support of the RNLI.

This year’s run promises an unforgettable evening of fun, community spirit, and nostalgia, bringing back the best of the 80s to Milford Haven.

The evening’s festivities kick off at 6pm with an array of activities and entertainment creating an electric atmosphere from start to finish. Runners and supporters alike can look forward to live performances by the Samba DOC Band, a raffle stall with exciting prizes, and a selection of hot drinks and homemade cakes. The 80s-themed event encourages all participants to dress in neon, sparkles, or fancy dress, and get ready to run, dance, and celebrate for an important cause.

In line with the event’s night run theme, all participants are required to bring a head or chest torch to light their path along the route. Registration is open on the night from 4pm to 5:30pm with only 250 spots available on a first-come, first-served basis. To save time, runners can download the registration form in advance; however, early form submission does not guarantee entry. Due to safety concerns, dogs and pushchairs are not permitted, and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 

The registration form can be downloaded here. This event is a “fun run” and will not feature official timing, allowing participants to fully enjoy the unique atmosphere. Guests are encouraged to bring cash for on-site donations to the RNLI, as well as to enjoy treats and warm drinks at the event stalls.

Volunteers from Milford Haven’s Lifeboat Station are preparing to participate in the upcoming event, proudly wearing their helmets, life jackets and high-visibility gear. Their involvement not only demonstrates their dedication to the local community but also emphasises the crucial role the RNLI plays in ensuring safety at sea, all while raising funds for the organisation’s essential operations.

PEMBROKESHIRE Association of Community Transport Organisations (PACTO) held a successful community transport operator workshop event at Letterston Memorial Hall on Friday 25 October, which was attended by the First Minister for Wales, Eluned Morgan. 

The event, titled ‘Building Tomorrow: Our Pembrokeshire Community Transport Model’, enabled PACTO to update their partners and key stakeholders on the progress the sector has made since October 2023, when they launched their three-year Pembrokeshire community transport transformation project- which has been funded by the Motability Foundation and UK Government.

The day got underway with a welcome address by the First Minister to representatives from PRTA Green Dragon, Narberth Bloomfield NDCSA, Pembrokeshire Voluntary Transport, Royal Voluntary Service, and PIVOT. Eluned outlined the importance of community transport – particularly in a rural county like Pembrokeshire – before thanking the army of dedicated volunteers and employees who work tirelessly to provide a vital service to so many people right across the county, as well as focusing on the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead.

The fantastic work that the PACTO community transport connector team do was a key focus of the event. Having completed over 215 referrals in 2024, the connector service is vital to ensuring that those in need of transport are pointed in the right direction.

John Evans, the county director for Pembrokeshire for Hywel Dda University Health Board, gave a speech which highlighted the crucial role that the PACTO transport connector team plays in ensuring that people are able to attend hospital appointments, as he shared the story of how they were instrumental in helping a member of the public who had previously been unable to find a transport solution.

Transport was provided through the Pembrokeshire Integrated Voluntary Organisation Team (PIVOT) CT service, allowing them to receive treatment for a very complex medical matter which was potentially at risk of life-threatening complication. This resolution enabled them to attend their appointment. Evans also revealed that there have been over 6,200 hospital and non-hospital trips carried out since September 2023, an average of 27 trips per operational day (Monday-Friday).

Also in attendance was Jayne Kendall, the Wales project manager for the Cranfield Trust, which provides free management support for charities. Jayne gave a presentation that outlined how PACTO and the Cranfield Trust have been working together this year and the many ways in which the organisation helps charities across the UK.

Facilitated by Sachá Petrie, the sustainable transport community development officer for Awel Aman Tawe, the workshop provided the county’s community transport operators with the opportunity to come together for further engagement, discussion and collaboration on key issues, building on the overwhelming response PACTO received from their recent face-to-face consultations and online survey, which had more than 700 responses.

The event also gave PACTO and the operators a chance to work together towards an agreed Pembrokeshire CT delivery model, which will focus on passengers’ needs as one sector which is united, robust and future-proof.

PACTO are now embarking on Year Two of the project, which will primarily consist of data analysis and volunteer recruitment to ensure the operators are able to continue offering a lifeline to those who need transport.

Speaking about the event, Wyndham Williams, PACTO’s community transport transformation project manager, said: “It was great to see everyone coming together to reflect on all of our achievements during the project’s first year.

“We have seen a 13% increase in the number of trips using community transport services in the last 12 months, with 50,855 completed since September 2023.

“It was interesting to see the figures for all the different journey purposes, from hospital to non-hospital, shopping, social, leisure, education, employment, and personal business.

“This was also the perfect opportunity to officially thank our community transport operators for the lifeline they continue to provide for people in Pembrokeshire, particularly passengers with mobility needs.

“There was brilliant attendance from our community transport operators, as we came together for the first time to discuss how we can work together effectively to continue providing a lifeline service to the people of Pembrokeshire, and we’re extremely thankful for the opportunity that the Motability Foundation’s funding has given us.”

If you would be interested in becoming a community driver, please contact Damian Golden, PACTO’s accessible vehicle coordinator, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 07767 539740.