News
Withybush fundraisers make New Year’s honours list
TWO fundraisers for patients undergoing cancer care at Withybush Hospital are being recognised in the New Year’s honours list.
67-year-old Bernie George, and 64-year-old Trish George, from Hakin, have been chosen for the British Empire Medal.
Since 2008 the pair has raised more than £350,000 for Withybush Hospital.
The full list of New Years Honours for Wales is:
DCVO
Mrs Kathrin Elizabeth Thomas, CVO, JP. Lord-Lieutenant of Mid-Glamorgan.
MVO
Ian John Miles. Senior manager Specialist Operations, Dyfed Powys Police.
Mrs Audrey Williams. For services to the Lieutenancy of Dyfed.
ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
CBE
Ms Clare Joanne Connor, OBE. Director of Women’s Cricket, England and Wales Cricket Board. For services to Cricket. (East Sussex)
Sean Nicholas Dennehey. Deputy chief executive Intellectual Property Office. For services to Intellectual Property. (Monmouthshire)
Professor Simon John Gibson, OBE. Chief executive, Wesley Clover Corporation. For services to the Economy in Wales. (Monmouth, Gwent)
Professor Karen Margaret Holford. Deputy vice Chancellor Cardiff University. For services to Engineering and the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering. (Cardiff)
David Robert Michael Melding. For political and public service. (South Glamorgan)
Professor Philip Alexander Routledge, OBE. Consultant Physician, Llandough Hospital, Cardiff and Professor Emeritus of Clinical Pharmacology. Cardiff University. For services to Medicine. (Cardiff)
OBE
Professor Antony Chapman. Formerly vice Chancellor Cardiff Metropolitan University. For services to Higher Education. (Cyncoed, Cardiff)
Sam Kennedy-Warburton. For services to Rugby Union. (Cardiff)
Professor Hilary Margaret Lappin-Scott. For services to Microbiology and the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering. (Swansea)
Ms Deborah Moggach. For services to Literature and Drama. (Powys)
Jonathan Howell Morgan. For services to Disability Sport in Wales. (Bishopston, Swansea)
David Arwyn Watkins. Managing director Cambrian Training Company. For services to Education and Training in Wales. (Welshpool, Powys)
MBE
Michael Bell. For services to the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra. (Roath, Cardiff)
Detective Constable Timothy John Bird. North Wales Police. For services to Policing and the community in North Wales. (Conwy)
Mrs Kathleen Nancy Burns. For services to Post 16 Education and Skills in Wales. (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire)
Mrs Catherine Vivian Lindsay Clay. For political and public service. (South Glamorgan)
Royston Vincent Court. For services to Inclusive Judo. (Penylan, Cardiff)
Alan Davis. Coach Maindy Flyers, Cardiff and Newport. For services to Youth Cycling and Diversity Inclusion in South Wales. (Cardiff)
Brian Timothy Exell. President Seashell Trust and Chair of Governors, Ysgol y Deri, Penarth. For services to Special Needs Education in Wales and England. (Ogmore By Sea, Vale of Glamorgan)
Dr Rosemary Fox. National director for Screening Programmes Public Health Wales. For services to Healthcare in Wales. (Whitchurch, Cardiff)
Sgt Scott John Gallagher. North Wales Police. For services to Policing and the National Police Air Service. (Flintshire)
Mrs Susan Yvonne Hollister. Headteacher, Cefn Hengoed Community School, Swansea. For services to Education in Swansea. (Neath, Neath Port Talbot)
William Thomas Hopkins. For services to the community, particularly Children and Maritime Safety, in South Wales. (Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot)
David Ellis Jenkins. For services to Maritime Safety. (Aberystwyth, Ceredigion)
Mrs Karen Jones. For services to Children with Life Limiting Illnesses in the North West and North Wales. (Neston, Cheshire)
Mrs Rowena Wendy Jones. Paediatric Oncology Outreach Specialist Nurse, Hywel Dda University Health Board. For services to Sick and Disabled Children and End of Life Care. (Aberaeron, Ceredigion)
Alexander Khan. Chief executive officer, Lifetime Training. For services to Apprenticeships. (Raglan, Monmouthshire)
Mark Ralph Langshaw. Managing director, Continental Teves Ltd. For services to the Economy and community in Blaenau Gwent. (Usk, Monmouthshire)
Mrs Margaret Lynne McCabe. Head, Welsh Tribunals Unit. For services to Administrative Justice in Wales.
Daniel McCallum. Co-founder and managing director of Awel Aman Tawe. For services to Community Energy in Wales.
Mrs Rachel Duncan Morgan. For services to UK Antarctic Heritage and Conservation. (Monmouthshire)
Constable Richard Hugh Morgan. South Wales Police. For charitable services to Armed Forces Veterans.
Mrs Elizabeth Julie Morris. Headteacher, Severn Primary School, Cardiff. For services to Education. (Highlight Park, South Glamorgan)
Ms Helen Margaret Phillips. For services to Welsh gymnastics and the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales. (Ducklington, Oxfordshire)
Gurmit Singh Randhawa. For services to community cohesion in the Vale of Glamorgan. (Barry, Vale of Glamorgan)
Mrs Louise Mary Rooney. Senior nurse and head of prison healthcare, HM Prison Usk. For services to nursing and prison healthcare in Monmouthshire. (Chepstow, Monmouthshire)
John Victor Frederick Voss. For services to Rugby. (Y Barri, South Glamorgan)
Edward John Watts. For services to the Scouting Movement, Mission to Seafarers and Community Cohesion in South Wales. (Newport, Gwent)
BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL
BEM
Mrs Catherine Cicely Beech. For services to the community in Ceredigion. (Borth, Ceredigion)
Mrs Mary Clarke. For services to Flood Defence and the community in Cardiff. (Rhiwbina, Cardiff)
Mrs Diane Gail Curtis. Manager, Bowel Screening Wales. For services to Cancer Patients. (Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff)
Mrs Sheila Delahoy. For services to Cancer and Cystic Fibrosis charities in Flintshire.
Gareth Evans. Deputy Local Policing Inspector South Wales Police. For services to Community Cohesion and Engagement. (Cardiff)
Mrs Gay Sandra Fifield. For services to Older People in South Wales. (Barry, South Glamorgan)
Bernard Oswyn George. For services to Withybush Hospital Chemotherapy Day Unit Pembrokeshire. (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
Mrs Patricia Elizabeth George. For services to Withybush Hospital Chemotherapy Day Unit, Pembrokeshire. (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
Mrs Teifwen Mary George. For services to equality, young people, charity and the community in Merthyr Tydfil. (Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taff)
David Edward Gravell. For services to charity. Sport and Education in Wales. (Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire)
Mrs Jenny Griffiths. For services to Wrexham Maelor Hospital North Wales. (Llay, Wrexham)
Gareth Jones. For services to Church communities in Skewen and Neath South West Wales. (Neath, West Glamorgan)
Mrs Helena Jones. For services to Young People and the community in Wales. (Brecon, Powys)
Mrs Maria Kovacevic-Thomas. For services to the National Health Service and voluntary service in Merthyr Tydfil. (Heolgerrig, Merthyr Tydfil)
Mrs Angeline Margaret Lawson. For services to Children, the Judiciary and the community in Denbighshire. (Denbigh, Denbighshire)
Mrs Ellen Maisie Mann. Nurse, Cwm Taf University Health Board. For services to Children and Young People. (Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff)
Alistair McInnes. Civilian assistant, Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force. For voluntary service to Young People. (Brecon, Powys)
Elvet Owen Richards. For services to the community in Trelystan, Powys. (Marton, Shropshire)
William Robert Roberts. For services to in community in Tyn-y-Groes Conwy. (Conwy)
Mrs Jeanette Lavon Smith. County Youth Officer, West Glamorgan St John Ambulance. For voluntary service to First Aid and to Young People. (Swansea, West Glamorgan)
Mrs Sheila Lynnette Thomas. For services to Music, Education and the Welsh Language in Powys. (Brecon, Powys)
Dr Margaret Ruth Vincent. For charitable services in the UK and Abroad and the community in Swansea. (Swansea)
Ms Alyson Elizabeth Williams. For services to Young People and the community in Swansea. (Cwmbwria, Swansea)
QUEEN’S POLICE MEDAL
QPM
Matthew Jonathan Jukes. Deputy chief constable, South Wales Police.
Superintendent Lee Porter. South Wales Police.
QUEEN’S AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL
QAM
Mrs Kath Charters. Clinical Data Specialist, Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
David Roger Thomas John. Advanced Paramedic Practitioner, Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
First Wales trailblazer launched as part of UK Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ plan
A MAJOR £10 million boost to employment support in Wales has been announced as part of the UK Government’s drive to tackle economic inactivity and “Get Britain Working” again.
The first trailblazer programme in Wales, launched in Denbighshire on Monday (Apr 21), will roll out new tailored employment support including one-to-one mentoring, counselling, wellbeing services, and health condition management.
The programme was launched jointly by UK Minister for Employment Alison McGovern and Welsh Government Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership Jack Sargeant, marking a shift away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach in favour of support targeted to local needs.
The investment will help people with CV writing, job searching, mental health, and managing health issues that may be holding them back from employment. The trailblazer areas – Denbighshire, Blaenau Gwent, and Neath Port Talbot – were selected for their high levels of economic inactivity and will be among nine areas across the UK to pilot these reforms.
During their visit to Working Denbighshire, both Ministers met Work Coaches and saw first-hand the services being offered under the new scheme.
Minister for Employment Alison McGovern said: “Everyone deserves to thrive, including those living with long-term health conditions.
“No one will be written off. This £10 million investment will help connect health and employment services and deliver real change under our Plan for Change.
“Good work provides both dignity and security, and this trailblazer will help people across Wales access that support.”
Welsh Government Minister Jack Sargeant added:
“This investment is an important step in our joint approach to supporting people back into good employment.
“By integrating health and employment support, and tailoring it to each community’s needs, we aim to provide truly joined-up services.
“The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring no one is left behind.”
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:
“This £10 million trailblazer will deliver support where it’s most needed – in Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire, and Neath Port Talbot.
“We know this targeted approach works and builds on the success of initiatives like the Young Person’s Guarantee.
“Helping people into work improves physical and mental health and raises living standards.”
The trailblazers are part of the UK Government’s wider £240 million Get Britain Working reforms, which include:
Transforming Jobcentres to focus on skills and careers
Guaranteeing young people the chance to earn or learn
Expanding mental health support to help people stay in work
The Wales trailblazer follows the first scheme launched earlier this month in South Yorkshire, which focuses on supporting employers to hire people with health conditions. Upcoming trailblazers will also launch in Greater Manchester, the North East, York and North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and three areas in London.
In parallel with the trailblazer initiative, the UK Government has also:
Increased the National Living Wage and Minimum Wage
Introduced the Employment Rights Bill to create more secure jobs
Committed to deeper devolution, supporting local and devolved governments to boost regional growth
The investment into Wales reflects the Prime Minister’s pledge to reset relationships with devolved administrations and empower them to play a leading role in economic growth under the UK’s Plan for Change.
Sentencing of Nerys Lloyd continues at Swansea Crown Court
A FORMER police officer who led a group paddleboarding trip that ended in tragedy has been heavily criticised by victims’ families during sentencing proceedings at Swansea Crown Court.
Nerys Lloyd, 39, admitted four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and a breach of health and safety laws, following the deaths of four people on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest in October 2021.
The trip, which had been advertised online at £149 per person including accommodation and supervision, ended in disaster when the group were swept over a weir during dangerous river conditions.
The victims were Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, Andrea Powell, 41, and Lloyd’s co-instructor, Paul O’Dwyer, 42. All were described as beginner or intermediate paddleboarders, with little knowledge of the hazard ahead.
The court heard the river was in flood at the time, with a strong current and a dangerous drop of around 1.3 metres over the weir, except for a narrow fish ramp just wider than a paddleboard.
Prosecutor Mark Watson KC said Lloyd had only a basic instructor qualification, which was not appropriate for guiding a group on a river in such conditions. He told the court nearly two tonnes of water per second was flowing over a one metre-wide section of the weir at the time.
Lloyd was the only member of the group who successfully navigated the fish ramp. The others were swept over the weir and thrown into the fast-moving water.
Families of the victims have condemned Lloyd’s decision to lead the group out in such conditions, calling her actions reckless and accusing her of showing no remorse.
Andrea Powell’s husband, Mark, said his wife would have experienced “sheer panic” and described Lloyd’s failings as “monumental,” labelling her arrogant and careless.
Teresa Hall, mother of Morgan Rogers, told the court: “You guided Morgan to her death,” and described the agony of imagining her daughter struggling to breathe.
Survivor Gemma Cox gave a harrowing account of trying to rescue fellow paddleboarders, saying she had no idea what a weir was and would never have joined the trip had she known.
Another survivor, Melody Johns, called for better safety awareness and regulation, warning that many boards are sold without quick-release leashes that could save lives. A third survivor, Jemma Dugdale, urged organisations including Paddle UK, Paddle Cymru, Sport Wales and Sport England to take action to prevent similar tragedies.
The court also heard that Lloyd was suspended from South Wales Police at the time of the incident, following a caution for an unrelated fraudulent insurance claim. She had not carried out risk assessments or collected next-of-kin information before the trip, causing delays in informing families after the incident.
Following the deaths, Lloyd reportedly said: “It’s my fault 100% … I just turned around and they all fell over.”
The sentencing hearing is due to conclude on Wednesday (Apr 23).
A PRIME seaside trading spot has been made available by Pembrokeshire County Council, offering a unique opportunity for an entrepreneur to operate an ice cream van at the popular Newgale Beach.
The council is inviting tenders for a licence to trade from the northern car park at Newgale between 1st March and 31st October each year. Applications must be submitted by 12:00 noon on Wednesday (Apr 30).
Located on the north-west coast of Pembrokeshire, Newgale Beach stretches for over 3 kilometres and is a favourite among surfers, swimmers, and families alike. Sporting events are frequently held on the beach during the summer months, drawing in large crowds and providing a strong footfall for potential ice cream sales.
The designated car parks at Newgale offer 230 spaces and are the closest surface car parks to the beach. Seasonal parking charges apply between March and October.
The council is seeking offers over £5,000 plus VAT per annum for the licence. Trading hours are expected to be between 11:00am and 7:00pm daily, although these times can be adjusted with the prior agreement of the Streetcare and Parking Manager.
The successful applicant will be allowed to sell principally ice cream, but soft drinks and confectionery may also be sold subject to approval. The sale of alcohol and hot food will not be permitted.
Interested parties are encouraged to visit the site before submitting their applications. An application form can be requested from the council’s Property Helpdesk. All offers will be considered up until the exchange of contracts, although the council is not obliged to accept the highest or any offer.
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