News

Withybush fundraisers make New Year’s honours list

Published

9 years ago

December 31, 2017

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.

Crime

Threatened to smash up parents’ home after demand for alcohol refused

Published

6 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Christopher Sizer’s mother told magistrates the family could no longer cope with his behaviour and repeated demands for money

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sentenced after threatening to damage his parents’ home with a hammer when they refused his demands for pizza and alcohol.

Christopher Sizer made the threats on March 3 while at his parents’ property with a group of friends.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that the 38-year-old had repeatedly asked his parents for money, causing increasing tension within the family.

“He came downstairs asking for pizza and drink, but was told there was already food in the house because they could not stretch to buying more,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan said.

Sizer then referred to a hammer he knew was kept inside the property.

“He told his parents he would use the hammer to damage the windows and that he would also kick the doors in,” Ms Vaughan told the court.

In a victim impact statement, Sizer’s mother, Kay Sizer, said she and her husband were no longer able to manage their son’s behaviour.

“If we don’t give him what he wants, he threatens to kill himself,” she said.

“If we have a night away, he phones the hotel and constantly asks us for money. My husband has had to get another job just to bring in additional money.

“We can’t cope with this behaviour any more, nor with the threats he makes against the house.”

Sizer, of Prescelly Place, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to threatening to destroy or damage property.

Defending, Tom Lloyd said Sizer had paranoid schizophrenia and had lost his temper on the night of the offence.

“He said certain things which he regrets,” Mr Lloyd said.

“The defendant needs help and is willing to engage with the probation service to get it.”

Sizer was sentenced to a 12-month community order, including a 12-month alcohol treatment requirement and ten rehabilitation activity requirement days.

A two-year restraining order was also imposed, preventing him from contacting either of his parents directly or indirectly.

The order prohibits him from visiting any property occupied by his parents and from posting anything online or on social media that refers directly to them.

Sizer was fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.

Crime

Man sentenced after smashing four holes in bedroom wall

Published

8 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Adam Vickery damaged the Pembroke Dock social housing property after sending threatening messages to his partner

A MAN has been sentenced after smashing four large holes into the bedroom wall of a social housing property in Pembroke Dock.

The criminal damage was caused on the night of December 21 after Adam Vickery arrived at the rented home of his partner, Cerys Randall.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that earlier that evening Ms Randall had received numerous messages from Vickery while she was at work, some of which were threatening.

“When she got home, she walked upstairs to her bedroom and heard a series of bangs,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court.

“She discovered Adam Vickery smashing up her bedroom, so she phoned the police.”

When officers arrived, they found four large holes in the plaster walls of the bedroom.

The property is owned by Pembrokeshire County Council and rented through Ateb housing association, with Ms Randall named as the sole tenant.

“I don’t know how to say this, but I’ve had enough,” Ms Randall said in a victim impact statement read to the court.

“I’ve tried to help so much in the relationship, but there’s nothing more I can do.”

Vickery, of West Percy Street, North Shields, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“The defendant came down at Christmas to visit his children but found out that Ms Randall was going to take them away from him that night,” said Mr Kelleher.

“He became frustrated and took that frustration out on the wall. He fully accepts that this was wrong and that he now loses his good character as a result.”

Vickery, who had no previous convictions, was fined £40 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £16 court surcharge.

No compensation was awarded for the damage because the local authority had not provided sufficient information about the cost of repairing the wall.

Crime

Narberth retailer speaks of shoplifting toll after ‘collectable bear’ stolen

Published

11 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Independent shop owner said rising costs meant businesses could not afford to absorb losses caused by theft

A NARBERTH retailer has described the damaging impact shoplifting is having on independent businesses after a £120 collectable bear was stolen from her shop.

The owner of Matilda’s boutique and gift shop told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court that thefts were adding to the growing financial pressure faced by traders already struggling with rising costs.

Her victim impact statement was read during the sentencing of 45-year-old Christopher Brockway, who admitted stealing a pink leopard Charlie Bear from the High Street shop.

“People think they can just steal without realising the impact it has on other people and their families,” the proprietor said.

“I’m an independent retailer who has worked hard to set up my business, but it’s a real struggle to keep it going.

“I can’t afford thefts like this with the rising cost of electricity, and I just can’t absorb losses like this.”

The court heard that Brockway entered Matilda’s on May 12 before placing the £120 collectable bear inside his jacket.

CCTV footage showed him leaving the premises without making any attempt to pay.

Brockway, of Silverdale Lodge, Johnston, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop.

Magistrates ordered him to pay £120 compensation to Matilda’s.

He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £32 court surcharge.