A CHARITY car wash at Pembroke Dock Fire Station drew crowds on Saturday (Mar 29), raising money in support of The Firefighters Charity.

The event, organised by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, ran from 10:00am to 4:00pm and saw a steady stream of local residents turning out to support the cause. Visitors were able to get their vehicles washed by firefighters, with all proceeds going towards helping fire service personnel and their families.

Among those showing support were local police officers, with PCSOs 8020 and 8112 from Pembroke Dock and Pembroke Police making an appearance. The officers not only lent their encouragement to their emergency service colleagues but also had their police vehicle given a good hosing down.

“It was very busy with lots of local people supporting such a good cause,” a police spokesperson said. “Well done to Phil and the team, and a special thank you for hosing down our police vehicle whilst we were there.”

The event highlighted the strong sense of camaraderie between emergency services in the area and the ongoing support from the community for their efforts.

For more information on future events and ways to support The Firefighters Charity, visit tancgc.gov.uk or mawwfire.gov.uk.

A GROUP from the Pembrokeshire Supported Employment Programme (PSEP) enjoyed a memorable day out at Haverfordwest Airport this week as part of their continued education activities.

The visit gave learners the opportunity to explore a wide variety of aircraft and gain hands-on experience with the airport’s emergency services. Highlights of the day included sitting inside a fire truck and trying on some of the firefighter uniform.

The group said they particularly enjoyed learning new facts about aviation and seeing planes up close in real life – a first for many. The trip helped build independent learning skills and teamwork in a fun and engaging environment.

A spokesperson for the team said: “Everyone had a great day! It was an exciting and educational experience for all involved. Thank you to Haverfordwest Airport for allowing us to visit the site.”

PSEP, supported by Norman Industries, continues to offer valuable opportunities for people with disabilities in Pembrokeshire to gain life skills, explore new interests, and build confidence.

Photo caption: Taking flight: Learners from the supported employment programme enjoyed their day at Haverfordwest Airport (Pic: PSEP).

TENBY was transformed into a spectacle of steam-powered imagination and Victorian flair over the weekend, as the much-anticipated Tenby Steampunk Festival returned for its second year.

Running from Thursday to Saturday (March 28–30), the festival brought a colourful wave of eccentric costumes, quirky contraptions and community spirit to the seaside town, drawing visitors from across the UK – and even further afield.

Following its hugely successful debut in 2024, this year’s festival was bigger, bolder and even more inventive. Organisers say the event is quickly becoming a staple in the town’s cultural calendar, with national recognition already flowing in. Travel publisher Rough Guides previously hailed it as “a fabulous new festival that offers a window into British eccentricity in one of the UK’s best seaside towns.”

Crowds gathered across Tenby to take part in a host of whimsical and imaginative events, from the ever-popular teapot racing to the fiercely contested Tea Duelling championships – where biscuits met their doom in dramatic dunk-offs.

One of the weekend’s standout experiences was Tea with the Time Traveller, a theatrical nod to H.G. Wells’ classic The Time Machine, which blended storytelling with a touch of the surreal. Meanwhile, new attractions such as airship racing from the dramatic St Catherine’s Island captivated audiences with their creativity and spectacle.

The festival’s beating heart was the De Valence Pavilion, which housed a bustling Steampunk Emporium, a community art exhibition, and a packed programme of stage entertainment. A special screening of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea added a cinematic flourish, complete with a steampunk-themed introduction to transport viewers beneath the waves.

Two spectacular Peacock Parades drew hundreds to the streets on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm, weaving their way through Upper Frog Street, Tudor Square, the Harbour, and Crackwell Street in a celebration of colour, costume and community spirit.

Festival-goers also flocked to Church House to enjoy live performances, including the much-loved steampunk cabaret artist Madam Misfit. For those with a taste for the macabre, Victorian ghost walks, Scary Games and a Paranormal Experiment offered something a little darker.

The Victorian photographic parlour proved a hit across the weekend, allowing visitors to capture themselves in timeless, sepia-toned style.

Anne Draper, Tenby’s community engagement officer and the driving force behind the festival, said the energy in the town was “electric.”

“We’ve been blown away once again,” she said. “People came from all over – and the streets really came alive. Steampunk folk don’t just attend the event, they are the event.”

Organised entirely by volunteers, the festival celebrates not just steampunk culture, but the creativity and inclusiveness of Tenby’s community.

Plans are already in motion for next year’s festival, with organisers promising even more magic in 2026.