Community

CF celebrate golden anniversary

Published

12 years ago

April 4, 2014

AN ANONYMOUS £1,000 donation provided a big boost to Cystic Fibrosis funds at the recent Pembrokeshire branch golden anniversary lunch at Wolfscastle Country Hotel- a celebration of the formation of the CF Trust in 1964 and of the local branch 14 years later.

The guests, who included the Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Mayor and Sheriff of Haverfordwest Town Council and a representative of 14th Signals Regiment, Brawdy, were welcomed by branch president Penny Drew who organised the event which has received sponsorship from Murco.

In a short talk, branch chairman Sybil Edwards spoke of the need to celebrate all that had been achieved to date by the CF Trust, supported by hundreds of thousands of pounds raised in Pembrokeshire.

“When it was formed 50 years ago a child born with CF was unlikely to survive infancy –today, she said, around half of those currently living with CF will survive past 40 .

“We have adults with CF leading fulfilled, useful lives, holding down jobs – like Sophie Pierce who raised over £2,000 for the Trust when she climbed Kilimanjaro, and Allison John who is a qualified doctor and is now studying to be a GP.

“It is believed that a baby born today with CF, using treatments currently available, could have a near normal life expectancy. But much is still to be done. We are not complacent, we are not resting on our laurels,” added the chairman.

Sybil also spoke warmly of the part played by Grace Lloyd in setting up the local branch in 1978.

“Grace was a fighter,” she said. “She was determined that Mark her teenage son who had CF would have the best possible care, but at the same time, she very much wanted to support other parents of CF children. And so the CF branch was born, initially as a support group – but we were very soon actively fund raising.”

Grace was not well enough to attend the lunch but she was represented by her son Peter and his wife Mair. To applause, Sybil said: “Please give our love and gratitude to your wonderful mother.”

CF parent David (Sam) Thomas spoke of his experience of having two children with CF and thanked the branch for the support he and his wife had received and he paid a special tribute to Penny Drew for organising the lunch for so many years.

Tumblers and whiskey glasses which had been donated were auctioned by Paul Lucas and raised £320 making a total profit of £2,471.

Community

Annual charity carol service raises funds for good causes

Published

18 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service held its annual Charity Carol Service on Wednesday (Dec 10) at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel in Crymych.

The event brought together members of the local community alongside Fire Service staff for an evening of carols, readings and festive refreshments, marking the Christmas season in a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

This year’s service supported two important charities — the Fire Fighters Charity and Cancer Research Wales — with all proceeds going directly towards their ongoing work.

A total of £597 was raised on the night, which will be shared equally between the two charities.

The Service thanked the congregation at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel for hosting the event, as well as everyone who gave their time, support and generosity to make the evening such a success.

Community

3 Amigos toy bike run under way across Pembrokeshire

Published

19 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Castle Inn fun runners back festive charity event

THE ANNUAL 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run is under way this afternoon (Saturday), with hundreds of motorcyclists setting off from Pembroke to raise funds for children’s services.

Riders gathered at The Commons car park in Pembroke from around midday before departing shortly after 1:00pm. The festive convoy is travelling along its traditional route, taking in Pembroke Dock and continuing through parts of the county including Neyland, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.

The event is organised by the 3 Amigos and Dollies Motorcycle Group and has become a much-anticipated Christmas tradition in west Wales, with toys and donations collected for children receiving care within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

Also supporting the event are fun runners from the Castle Inn in Pembroke, who have been fundraising in aid of the 3 Amigos. The group are pictured alongside participants from today’s run.

The 3 Amigos have been raising funds for children’s wards and health charities for more than twenty-five years, with their Easter and Christmas events continuing to make a positive difference to young patients and their families.

Organisers have thanked the public for their support and asked road users to be mindful of the large convoy as it passes through towns and villages this afternoon.

Photo caption:
Festive fundraising: Fun runners from the Castle Inn, Pembroke, pictured supporting the 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Special delivery of thanks as MP visits Haverfordwest sorting office

Published

2 days ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Christmas cheer for posties working through the festive rush

A CHRISTMAS message of thanks was delivered in person this week as Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell paid a visit to Royal Mail staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office.

The MP met postal workers during one of the busiest periods of the year, praising staff for their hard work in ensuring cards, parcels and gifts reach homes across Pembrokeshire in the run-up to Christmas.

Mr Tufnell said postal workers were going “above and beyond” throughout the year, but particularly during the festive period when demand is at its highest and delivery rounds are often made in challenging weather conditions.

He described postal staff as “unsung heroes”, highlighting their role in keeping communities connected and helping families stay in touch at a time when it matters most.

Speaking after the visit, Mr Tufnell said: “Our posties play a vital role in our community, and at Christmas that importance is felt more than ever. They work incredibly hard to make sure gifts and cards from loved ones arrive safely and on time.”

Staff at the Haverfordwest site were pictured alongside the MP, with some embracing the festive spirit in Christmas jumpers and seasonal outfits while continuing their daily work.

The MP also extended his thanks to postal workers across the whole of Pembrokeshire, acknowledging the dedication required to keep services running smoothly during the seasonal rush.

Royal Mail experiences its highest parcel volumes in December, with thousands of additional items passing through local sorting offices each day as Christmas approaches.

Delivering Christmas cheer: Henry Tufnell MP with staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office during a festive visit (Pic: Facebook).