News

New band are the ‘oldest swingers in town’

Published

12 years ago

March 31, 2014

THE Starlite Swing Band is the hottest ‘new’ band on the county’s music scene – and the five members of the band have a staggering combined age of 390 years!

The band boasts a total of 304 years in the entertainment business and they rehearse at the Milford Haven British Legion Club every Tuesday morning. They have already played at a couple of small venues and they specialise in the Big Band Sound, with numbers like “S’wonderful”, “Aint she sweet” and “Bye bye blackbird”.

Dennis Wheeler will celebrate his 88th birthday later this month and is the band’s trumpeter. He says he has been blowing his own trumpet for the last 80 years. He started playing with the Salvation Army at the age of seven and went on to run his own 19-piece dance orchestra in Lincoln. After retiring in Pembrokeshire, Dennis was enticed to take up the baton again to direct the Fishguard and Goodwick Brass Band.

Denis Wheeler (no relation) is the band’s 73-year-old alto/baritone sax player and was formerly head of the music department at Greenhill School, Tenby. Now living in Martletwy, Denis can still be seen at a few local jazz venues, including the Jefferston Arms.

Billy Jenkins is their 73-year-old accomplished keyboard player. Virtually self-taught, Billy has a wonderful ear for music, which is just as well as he doesn’t read a note. Billy has been on the local scene since the late 50s when he was with the Rebels. He later joined Don Wade and the Wayfarers and still goes out with this partner as “Jock-a-Billy”.

Eighty-seven-year-old Nick Carter is the bass player, who came to the county with the Fleet Air Arm and was stationed at Brawdy. Nick had the dubious pleasure of playing “slap bass” with a few of the dance bands at various venues. He also played tenor or bass horn with the Milford Haven Town Band and bass guitar with rehearsal band Opus 18. Having had his guitar stolen a number of years ago, Nick made one out of an old scaffolding plank and no-one has ever tried to steal it!

Finally the ‘youngster’ of the band is Roger Arnold, coming in at a sprightly 69 years. Another non-reader of music, Roger has been playing locally for almost 58 years, starting in school with Billy Bleep and the Satelites, and eventually graduating to Don Wade and the Wayfarers, the City Gents Six and 25 years with the well remembered Knight & Daye.

Roger says: “It’s wonderful to have something to look forward to again, but it would be much nicer to play in front of an audience again, that’s what we’re all best at.”

The Starlite Swing Band is ready and willing to appear at any function, whether it be an afternoon tea dance, birthday party of swing-era themed night.

For details call Roger Arnold on 01646 698003.

Crime

Rugby player’s life changed forever by knife attack — attacker jailed for 22½ years

Published

35 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Seren Baker

A YOUNG rugby player was left fighting for his life after being stabbed repeatedly outside a Gorseinon social club — and on Friday (Dec 19) the man responsible was jailed at Swansea Crown Court.

Morgan Hopkins, aged 18 at the time of the attack, was seriously injured in the early hours of Sunday (June 22) outside The New Lodge Social Club on Alexandra Road.

Mr Hopkins, known to friends as “Hobby”, is a local rugby player with Morriston RFC. He had been waiting for a lift home with his girlfriend when trouble broke out nearby.

The court heard that Mr Hopkins attempted to defuse a confrontation between another group of males and Kane Evans. As tensions rose, Evans approached Mr Hopkins armed with a knife.

In a final attempt to calm the situation, Mr Hopkins reportedly said: “No one needed to get hurt.”

***Morgan Hopkins,18, pictured here with his parents was left with life-changing injuries following the attack***

Moments later, Evans launched a ferocious and unprovoked attack.

Mr Hopkins was stabbed no fewer than ten times to the chest and abdomen. Surgeons later told police that one of the wounds was less than half an inch from being fatal.

He underwent extensive emergency surgery and was left with lasting physical and psychological injuries.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mr Hopkins described the terror of the attack and the devastating impact it has had on his life.

He said his dream of playing professional rugby had been put on hold, adding that the loss of weekly matches had left him feeling lost and isolated. He told the court he no longer felt safe in his own home and struggled to go out, describing ongoing anxiety and depression.

Mr Hopkins also detailed the financial consequences of the attack, saying he had lost around £4,800 in wages and a further £800 from a cancelled holiday.

Police confirmed that Kane Evans, now aged 21, had gone out that night armed with a kitchen knife and may also have been carrying a second Stanley-type blade.

Officers said Evans was aggressive at the time of his arrest and was later charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.

At Swansea Crown Court today, Evans was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison, with an extended licence period of five years to follow.

Passing sentence, the judge described the attack as random and extremely violent, warning that Evans posed a serious ongoing risk to the public.

Family members and supporters of Mr Hopkins were present in court as the sentence was handed down.

Since the attack, friends, teammates and members of the local community have rallied around Mr Hopkins, offering support as he continues his recovery from injuries that have permanently altered his life.

Crime

Police appeal after stolen Ford Fiesta crashes into lamppost

Published

56 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Officers ask residents to check CCTV and dashcam footage

POLICE are appealing for information following the theft of a vehicle in Ystradowen on Thursday evening (Dec 18).

A silver Ford Fiesta, registration CV05 CVJ, was reported stolen from a property on Brynawel Terrace, Penygraig Road, at around 5.30pm.

The vehicle was later discovered on New Road, Cwmllynfell, where it had been involved in a collision with a lamppost.

Dyfed-Powys Police are asking anyone who may have seen the vehicle, or who lives or travelled along the route between Brynawel Terrace and New Road, Cwmllynfell, to check their CCTV or dashcam footage in case the incident was captured.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by calling 101, or by sending a direct message via social media.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Quote reference: 25*1032732.

News

Appeal after bin lorry and e-bike near miss in Tregaron

Published

1 hour ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Police seek witnesses and dashcam footage after rider injured

Dyfed-Powys Police are appealing for information following a near-miss collision involving a bin lorry and an electric bike rider in Tregaron, Ceredigion.

The incident is reported to have taken place between 12:00pm and 1:00pm on Saturday, December 13, near a property known as Crynfryn.

Police said the electric bike rider suffered injuries as a result of the incident.

Officers are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have dashcam footage from the area at the time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Michael Jones at Dyfed-Powys Police via the online reporting form at https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired can text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.

Quote reference: DP-20251213-152.