News

Pianist victorious at Valero’s Music Festival

Published

8 years ago

November 30, 2018

PIANIST Elizabeth Morgan from Greenhill School was the overall winner at this year’s Secondary Schools Valero Music Festival.

The annual festival, which is organised by the Pembrokeshire County Council Music Service and sponsored by Valero, took place at Haverfordwest High School on November 17.

Over 200 young musicians from each of the County’s eight county secondary schools, Pembrokeshire College and further afield took part in individual and ensemble competitions throughout the day.

Later in the afternoon, an enthusiastic audience enjoyed a ‘Spotlight’ concert showcasing the individual winners and the winners of the instrumental and vocal ensemble competitions.

During the concert every performer who was placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd throughout the day received a badge in recognition of their achievement.

Music Service coordinators Philippa Roberts and Sarah Benbow said: “This concert is a celebration of the continued hard work and dedication of the young musicians of Pembrokeshire.

“Thanks also go to ‘The Friends of Pembrokeshire Young Musicians’ for providing refreshments and who continue to support the Music Service at all events throughout the year.

Denis Mahoney, ensemble adjudicator, expressed his admiration for the day.

He said: “This level of achievement is indeed ’bucking the National trend’, and can only be attributed to the wonderful teaching taking place, and the fantastic organisation and management of the music service and staff.”The overall winner Elizabeth Morgan was presented with the Tim Bourne Memorial Cup by Head Adjudicator Timothy Angel.

The invited professional adjudicators were – Timothy Angel, vocal; Denis Mahoney ensemble; Peter Fielding, woodwind; Robin Hackett, brass; Karin Jenkins, strings; Sarah-Jane Absalom, piano, Melanie Walker, instrumental, Max Ireland, percussion and Jazz

The event conclude with County Music Service Manager Ben Field thanking the adjudicators, teachers, parents and students for making the Festival such a success.

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

11 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

11 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

11 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.