News
St Davids RNLI invites supporters to mark 150 years of saving lives at sea
ST DAVIDS RNLI volunteers are extending a warm welcome to their supporters to join them in celebrating a 150 years of saving lives at sea.
Past, present and future volunteers will come together this Sunday (29 September) at St Davids Cathedral to mark the station’s 150th anniversary. The volunteers will be marking the anniversary by officially naming the station’s new D class lifeboat. The Naming and Dedication of the D class lifeboat will be held at 11am.
The inshore lifeboat has been funded by loyal RNLI supporter Mr Keith Clayton in honour of his late parents, who had long-standing ties with the charity. The D class lifeboat – which will join the volunteers inside St Davids Cathedral – will be officially named Marian and Alan Clayton and accepted into the lifesaving fleet.
Mr Clayton found it fitting to fund a lifeboat in his parent’s honour as they were keen supporters of the RNLI. Members of Mr Clayton’s father’s family were volunteer crew at Penlee Lifeboat Station, previously known as Newlyn Lifeboat Station, during the 1950’s and 1960’s. His mother also had strong RNLI connections, as she was involved with the Welling, Eltham and Sidcup fundraising branch for forty years.
Area Lifesaving Manager Roger Smith said: ‘The RNLI and the crew at St Davids are truly grateful for the generous donation of the new D-Class lifeboat, that is being funded by Keith Clayton in honour of his parents Marion and Alan. Our new D-Class lifeboat will bear their names with pride and will play an absolutely key role in saving lives at sea here in Pembrokeshire.’
Generations of families have volunteered with St Davids RNLI over the years; with the Griffiths, Grey/Arnolds and Chant/Rowlands among a few of the long-serving families who have been volunteering and supporting the station since the late 1890s/1900s.
St Davids RNLI was established in 1869 when a boathouse was built in Porthstinan at the request of the local community. Thirteen volunteer crew were required to operate the station’s first lifeboat – a 32 foot pulling and sailing lifeboat named Augusta. The Augusta served at St Davids lifeboat station until 1885, launching 17 times and saving 23 lives over the course of sixteen years.
The RNLI lifeboats and the lifesaving service has changed immensely in St Davids over the years, as the charity today operates two lifeboats from the boathouse in St Justinians as well as a seasonal lifeguarding service in Whitesands Bay.
Dai John, Coxswain of St Davids RNLI said:
‘Being part of St Davids lifeboat crew is in the blood and a family tradition for a number of our volunteer crew. In the early years the crew were mostly local fishermen; today on average only one in ten RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew have a professional maritime background, that’s why training is so important for the charity.
‘Today, St Davids RNLI volunteers operate a high-tech Tamar class all-weather lifeboat Norah Wortley and the D class inshore lifeboat from the boathouse in St Justinians – the station’s third base since establishing 150 years ago. Last year (2018) St Davids all-weather lifeboat and D class inshore lifeboat launched to 27 service calls. We couldn’t do any of this without the support of our local community. As a way of saying thank you, St Davids RNLI would like to extending an invitation to our supporters to join us at the Catherdral this Sunday and help us celebrate a 150 years of saving lives at sea.’
Crime
Police arrest suspects following vehicle interferences in Haverfordwest
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.
News
Ancient Welsh hymns brought into 21st century with unique collaboration between Lleuwen Steffan and National Eisteddfod
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.
Crime
Suspended sentence for Goodwick man who sent sexual messages to young girl
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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