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Pembrokeshire consultancy buys own premises

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PEMBROKESHIRE-BASED technical consultancy InSite Technical Services has completed the purchase of new premises at 1 Cleddau Bridge, Pembroke Dock.

This is an important milestone for the company, which has spent its first four years in serviced offices at the Bridge Innovation Centre, an incubation hub for new businesses. It now plans to move to the new premises, located opposite the Bridge Innovation Centre, at the end of March. The move is a result of the company’s dramatic growth. Founded after the closure of the Murco Pembrokeshire Oil Refinery, InSite has expanded from six founding directors in 2014 to its current workforce of 80, comprising a blend of full- and part-time employees, supporting contractors and associates. The company operates both locally and internationally, supplying engineering design, technical consultancy and operational services to the oil, gas, metals, chemicals, renewables, technology licensing and financial industries.

General Manager Jonathan Scarr said: “Due to our consistent growth over the past four years, we have outgrown our current premises.

“The Bridge Innovation Centre has been great at leasing additional office space to accommodate our requirements, but we have certainly stretched the intent of the incubation hub set-up, and it is time to move into our own place and spread our wings. By moving out we will be freeing up office space in the building that will allow other start-ups and growing companies to flourish.”

In order to continue serving its clients and reduce impact on its workforce, it was critical for the company to move to a building close to its current location.

Mr Scarr added: “The new premises are a mere stone’s throw away, so the location is ideal. The other major requirements were a modern purpose-built office building designed to a high specification, and sufficient space for future growth. Again, the premises over-performed on these criteria.”

In order to make the transition a smooth one, the company has created a steering committee that will plan both the refurbishment works to the new building and the actual relocation. The building is larger than InSite’s current required space, so they are also actively pursuing leasing arrangements.

Mr Scarr, who sees great potential in the new location, said: “We are in talks with a company which would be a good cultural fit with ourselves, to lease some of the surplus space.

“The main opportunities created by the move are obviously more room to grow, but also a chance to re-affirm our own identity as a company. The opportunity to change the physical appearance and configuration of the office interior will benefit the existing workforce, potential recruits and visiting clients.”

Mr Scarr added that the company has only been able to arrive at this point because of the support provided by the Bridge Innovation Centre, which is run by Pembrokeshire County Council.

“The serviced office environment was invaluable when we started out as it cut out a lot of the bureaucracy that would have come with an independent office such as long-term tenancy agreement, utility bills, internet, facilities and so on.

“We were able to move into a small office immediately and focus on winning work and delivering to clients. As we expanded, the building management team and the Council have been incredibly accommodating in offering us the additional space that we required. Without the flexible incubation hub, we would have struggled to grow as much as we have since inception four years ago.”

Crime

Police arrest suspects following vehicle interferences in Haverfordwest

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HAVERFORDWEST police responded swiftly after reports of multiple vehicle interferences in the Tasker Way area on Sunday night/early Monday morning (Nov 4).

Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPPT) conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries, gathering evidence and reassuring the community. These efforts led to the identification of two suspects.

Both NPPT and Response teams acted promptly, locating and arresting the suspects, who are now in police custody.

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Ancient Welsh hymns brought into 21st century with unique collaboration between Lleuwen Steffan and National Eisteddfod

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Some of Wales’ long-forgotten hymn tunes are being brought vividly back to life this month, thanks to award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Lleuwen Steffan and her unique collaboration with the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Performing as ‘Tafod Arian’ (Silver Tongue), the collaboration pays homage to the lost voices of the past, and infuses these timeless melodies with some highly contemporary electronic arrangements.

The project originated in 2012 when Lleuwen was working on a music project at St Fagan’s National History Museum where she came across some long-forgotten recordings of hymns which had been left in the sound archives.  None of these hymns could be found in the official hymn books nor the older hymnal editions, possibly as the result of their informal, conversational lyrics, or because they often delved into the world of addiction, mental illness and the darker side of the psyche.

But now these unpublished and unknown hymns will be heard for the first time in over a hundred years when Tabernacl Chapel, Maenclochog, will be one of 50 Welsh chapels to be visited by Tafod Arian.

With translations and insights, the tour breathes new life into archive recordings, ensuring these cherished sacred songs rightfully claim their place in today’s spotlight. Lleuwen masterfully combines electronic and acoustic instrumentation, seamlessly blending the past with the present, and takes the stage alongside a dynamic quintet of international musicians including Sioned Webb and Gethin Elis from Wales, and Nolwenn Korbell and Brieg Guerveno from Brittany.

Despite the hymns’ long-distant past, the music is firmly in the present as Lleuwen uses various instruments to provide angular electronic accompaniment as well as her soulful vocals and guitar.  She provides translations and explanations as she proudly puts the archive recordings of the lost |Welsh hymns on centre stage.  As a result, these sacred songs are being passed on orally rather than via the hymn book which is precisely how Welsh folk music was conveyed.

The long-forgotten hymns will be heard once again in all their glory at Tabernacle Chapel, Maenclochog on Sunday, November 17 at 6.30pm.

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Crime

Suspended sentence for Goodwick man who sent sexual messages to young girl

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THE FATHER of a young girl sent sexual messages to an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old girl online, Swansea Crown Court heard this week.

An undercover police officer posed as a 12-year-old girl on the website RandoChat, with the decoy’s profile stating they were 18.

James Roberts messaged the decoy on 9 August, stating he was “looking for a naughty girl”.

The decoy promptly informed him that she was 12 years old; however, the defendant continued to send messages referencing sexual acts and self-gratification.

Roberts added the decoy on Snapchat, claiming to be 19 and living in England.

He again sent sexualised messages and, referring to the decoy’s age, said they were “never too young to start sending pictures”.

The defendant also told the decoy that he was having similar sexual conversations with a 14-year-old, Mr Dickens said.

Police attended Roberts’ home in Goodwick on 17 August, and he was arrested. He denied having a mobile phone, claiming he “had sent it off to Samsung to be fixed” but was “extremely vague” when asked for further details. Mr Dickens said no phone was ever recovered by police.

The 28-year-old Roberts pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child. The court heard that he had no previous convictions.

Hannah George, in mitigation, said the defendant showed “some degree of remorse” and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

“In the 13 months since he was interviewed there have been no further offences,” she said.

Ms George said Roberts had suffered “significant” shame and embarrassment as a result of the offences, and it had led to him losing his job.

He had previously been diagnosed with PTSD and suffered “deep periods of depression”, Ms George said.

She added that his contact with his young daughter “has been diminished” following these offences.

“You were in contact online with who you firmly believed to be a 12-year-old girl,” said Judge Paul Thomas KC, addressing Roberts.

“You have a two-year-old daughter. Just think how you would feel if a man in his thirties tried to have that sort of conversation with her in 10 years’ time.”

Roberts was sentenced to 30 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 35 days of an accredited programme and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement programme days.

He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and was made the subject of a three-year sexual harm prevention order.

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