Community

Pembrokeshire says thank you to local carer

Published

12 years ago

June 13, 2014

A FORMER electrician from Pembroke has been chosen as one of five winners of the inaugural National Carers Awards launched by pharmacy chain LloydsPharmacy and Carers UK. Following a nomination from a close friend his moving story was picked from among hundreds of entries.

Bill Smith, aged 55, has devoted his life to caring for his two adult children, a son who has cerebral palsy and spina bifida, and a daughter with complex behavioural problems and learning difficulties. Bill gave up his full time job as an electrician to provide the 24 hour care they need, and nine years ago Bill’s wife was also diagnosed with a rare form of dementia, Pick’s disease, that has led to her needing the same level of care. Although Bill receives help from paid carers during the day, he cares for his family alone at night, despite having health problems himself. Bill has kidney disease, eye thyroid disease and several other health problems. Last October he was diagnosed with lymphoma but managed to beat the cancer and was given the all clear in March. Despite all of these challenges, Bill continues to provide compassionate and loving care in order keep his family under one roof. Bill is being recognised for a lifetime of unpaid work caring for loved ones and represents one of more than 15,000 people in the Pembrokeshire area who provide unpaid care on a daily basis. It is also estimated that those caring for loved ones who are older, seriously ill or disabled save the UK economy £119billion a year. The awards, launched by pharmacy chain Lloyds Pharmacy in partnership with Carers UK, are designed to recognise the hugely important role that thousands of unpaid carers play in society. In April people around the country were asked to nominate someone who they felt should win a National Carers Award. A panel of judges then chose five winners, one of whom is Bill Smith. On the 10th June he was awarded an all expenses paid break in London, staying at a five star hotel and attending a gala dinner where he was presented with a trophy. He also received £1,000 worth of high street vouchers. Speaking about his nomination, Bill said: “I feel deeply honoured to have been nominated for this award and I feel happy that through this initiative carers like me all around the country may get a little more help and understanding.” Cormac Tobin, managing director of Lloyds Pharmacy said: “Many of our customers around the country are carers. Managing the medication of a loved one is a huge responsibility and is just one of the challenges carers face on a daily basis. I am so pleased that Bill has been recognised for all his hard work and that we are able to celebrate him as well as raise awareness of the tireless work that people like Bill undertake every day, all around the country .” Heléna Herklots Chief Executive of Carers UK said: “Looking after an older or disabled loved one is part and parcel of life, but these carers show just how hard caring can be. Their stories echo the experiences of so many other carers across the UK and set down a challenge for all our society – to recognise carers’ contributions and ensure they get the support they need so they aren’t pushed into isolation or crisis as they care for their loved ones.” Earlier this year Lloyds Pharmacy became one of the first UK businesses to sign up to the ‘Dementia Friends’ initiative, encouraging its staff to learn how to support customers who have dementia in the best possible way.

Community

Big plant sale set to bloom in Narberth

Published

16 minutes ago

April 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Family-friendly spring event will bring together local growers, craftspeople, food and live entertainment

GREEN fingers and creative talents will come together in Narberth next month as West Wales’ popular Big Plant Sale returns for 2026.

The event will take place at Narberth CP School on Saturday, May 2, offering visitors the chance to browse a wide range of plants, locally made crafts and eco-friendly products.

Organised with support from SPAN Arts, the annual sale has become one of the first major plant events of the season in the area, attracting gardeners of all ages and experience levels.

Stallholders are expected to offer everything from windowsill succulents and young seedlings to unusual and specialist plants, giving visitors plenty of choice as they prepare their homes and gardens for spring and summer.

Alongside the plants, there will also be a craft fair featuring handmade and environmentally conscious products, including soaps, textiles and wooden items made by local producers.

Organisers say the event is designed to be more than just a market, with locally produced food, live music and entertainment helping to create a lively and welcoming atmosphere for families and visitors of all ages.

SPAN Arts is also inviting local growers, nurseries, craftspeople and makers to get involved, particularly those working with sustainable and eco-friendly products.

The Big Plant Sale will run from 10:00am until 3:00pm at Narberth CP School, Jesse Road, Narberth, SA67 7FE. Visitors are asked to make a suggested £2 donation on entry.

Anyone interested in booking a stall can contact [email protected].

SPAN Arts, which is based in Narberth, has spent 30 years supporting arts and community projects across Pembrokeshire. The charity runs a broad programme of music, theatre, comedy and wellbeing activities, with a focus on reducing rural isolation and improving access to the arts.

For more information about the event, contact SPAN Arts on 01834 869323 or email [email protected].

Community

Pembrokeshire Coast Path named one of the best UK routes for hay fever sufferers

Published

2 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

New research says sea breezes and exposed cliff-top paths make county trail a safer bet for runners with allergies

PEMBROKESHIRE’S world-famous Coast Path has been named one of the best trail running routes in the UK for people who suffer from hay fever.

New research by health and fitness supplement brand Ten Percent Club ranked the Pembrokeshire Coast Path joint second overall among the UK’s National Trails for low hay fever risk, giving it a score of 3.8 out of 5.

Only the South West Coast Path matched it, while the King Charles III England Coast Path also received the same score.

The study looked at all 20 UK National Trails and assessed them across five factors linked to pollen exposure: altitude, vegetation type, landscape, wind exposure, and animal and insect density.

According to the findings, coastal routes performed far better than inland trails because of their stronger air flow, open terrain and lower pollen build-up.

Researchers said the Pembrokeshire Coast Path’s exposed cliff tops, constant sea breezes and relatively limited dense vegetation make it one of the most suitable long-distance routes in Britain for runners who struggle with seasonal allergies.

That could come as welcome news for many local runners and walkers as tree pollen season begins and spring training gets underway.

For the estimated millions of hay fever sufferers across the UK, the report suggests that choosing a route like the Pembrokeshire Coast Path could make a noticeable difference compared with more enclosed inland trails, where pollen can hang in still air and become more concentrated.

The worst-performing route in the study was the Thames Path, which scored just 2.0 out of 5. Other poorly rated trails included the North Downs Way, Cotswold Way and Glyndŵr’s Way.

The research found that low-lying riverside routes, wooded valleys and areas with dense vegetation tend to be the most difficult for allergy sufferers, particularly in late spring and early summer when pollen levels rise.

By contrast, Pembrokeshire’s coast appears to offer something of a natural advantage.

With marathon season already under way and more people heading outdoors as the weather improves, the findings may give local runners another reason to stick to the county’s spectacular coastline.

Community

Spitfire latest: Pembrokeshire flypast looks more likely this afternoon

Published

3 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE LATEST public updates suggest the iconic Spitfire is now expected to leave RAF Valley at around 2:00pm today (Apr 15) after yesterday’s Welsh leg was postponed by bad weather.

That is later than some earlier reports had suggested, with older schedule information pointing to a morning departure before the delay.

Route details linked to the tour still indicate the aircraft is expected to travel around the Welsh coastline on its way to MOD St Athan, meaning Pembrokeshire remains one of the areas most likely to catch a glimpse.

However, timings remain approximate and could still shift depending on weather and operational conditions.

People hoping to see the aircraft should keep an eye on the skies this afternoon rather than this morning.