News

Captain Evans remembered with new blue plaque

Published

6 years ago

October 23, 2019

SATURDAY (Oct 19) saw the unveiling of a blue plaque on the village green in Wolfscastle to remember Captain William Davies Evans, who was born at Musland Farm in the Parish of St Dogwells on January 27, 1790.

Captain Evans became famous as a chess expert, inventor and sailor. After the family moved to Milford Haven, he became fascinated by the sea and ships and in 1804 went to sea to fight for king and country and rose to the rank of captain.

He invented the internationally recognised system of tri coloured lights for shipping in order to make sailing at night less dangerous.

Whilst aboard ships he passed the time by playing chess, and invented the move now known as the Evans Gambit. In 1825, Evans played a game of chess against a high-ranking chess player, Alexander Macdonnell, and Evans won using the ‘Evans Gambit. The move is now recognised and used across the whole world of chess.

The blue plaque is affixed to a stone located on the green, next to the school in Wolfscastle. The stone was brought to Wolfscastle by Paul Evans of Musland Farm, where Captain Evans was born.

The ceremony was attended by members of Fishguard Sea Cadets, Mr Chris Martin, Chair of the Board of Directors of Milford Haven Port Authority and a number of members of the Welsh Chess Association, which had contributed toward the cost of the day. PLANED were also involved in contributing towards the costs.

A spokesman on behalf of the Chess association said: “The Welsh Chess Union and the Dyfed Chess Association are delighted that it has been possible to honour Captain Evans, probably Wales’ most distinguished chess player ever, in this way. We are hugely grateful to all those involved in the organisation of this event in Wolf’s Castle and in particular to its driving force, the Reverend Geoffrey Eynon.”

The plaque was unveiled by descendants of the Captain, who had travelled from Falmouth, Bristol and Folkstone for the prestigious event.

The children from Ysgol Casblaidd entertained the audience present and the audience sang the hymn favoured by sailors ‘Eternal Father Strong to Save’.

After the ceremony, a presentation was held by reverend Richard Davies of Little Newcastle at Penybont Chapel Vestry of the history of Captain Evans`s life and marine career, and Mr Howard Williams of the Welsh Chess Association spoke of the history of the ‘Evans Gambit’.

Members of Captain Evans’ family said: “As a family we played a small part in the proceedings which were so full of character and distinctiveness.

“We were overjoyed to see how the village school nurtures a sense of heritage in their pupils. The wider community’s generosity of spirit was overwhelming and even the weather complimented the ceremony. Not to mention the superb organisation.

“It would be fair to say we felt quite overwhelmed by the support from the community for the recognition and the event. It was great to have Captain Evans recognised in his home village and we can’t thank everyone enough for their efforts to make the day a success. The blue plaque is an enduring tribute. We received such a warm welcome in Wolfscastle on Saturday, and it was a profound experience. The chance not only to value Captain Evans legacy, but also to understand where it all started for him as a youngster on a Pembrokeshire farm.”

Cllr Barrie Griffiths, Chairman of Wolfscastle Community Council gave a vote of thanks to all had been involved in making the day a memorable one for all who were involved.

Reverend Geoffrey Eynon, who presided the proceedings throughout the day, said “It has been a wonderful experience from the time I read about William Davies Evans, visiting his grave in Ostend, in Belgium, seeking out his descendants and being instrumental in organising today’s event.”

Community

Festive creativity shines as Kurtz MS meets card competition winner

Published

46 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, visited Pembroke Dock Community School on Friday 12th December to present a prize to the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Competition.

The competition invited pupils to design a festive Christmas card, with entries received from schools across the area. The standard of artwork was exceptionally high, showcasing the creativity, imagination and talent of young people in the community.

During the visit, Samuel Kurtz congratulated the winning pupil and thanked all those who took part, as well as the teachers and staff who supported the competition. Each child who entered also received a certificate in recognition of their hard work and effort.

Speaking after the presentation, Samuel said, “It was a real pleasure to visit Pembroke Dock Community School today and announce the winner of my Christmas Card competition. This year the winner is Mair Moseley, aged 10, and she designed a wonderful Santa image that really stood out. She has won a chocolate selection set and a £20 book token to enjoy over Christmas.”

He added, “ The creativity and enthusiasm shown by all the children was fantastic, and it made choosing a winner extremely difficult. I want to congratulate all the entrants and thank the staff for their ongoing support.”

Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher, Mrs Katie Crockford-Morris, added, “We were delighted to welcome Samuel Kurtz MS to the school to present the prize. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition, and they were incredibly proud to receive their certificates.”

The winning design will now be used as Samuel Kurtz’s official Christmas card this year, with one copy already on its way to His Majesty, King Charles.

Charity

Two Welsh families fund Childline across the UK on Christmas Day

Published

1 hour ago

December 15, 2025

Staff Writer

Joint £40,000 gift ensures vital support is available when children need it most

TWO Cardiff families have joined forces to fund the NSPCC’s Childline service across the whole of the UK on Christmas Day, ensuring children have somewhere to turn during one of the toughest times of the year.

The Peterson family and the Bowles family are each donating £20,000 as part of the charity’s One Unforgettable Day project. Their combined £40,000 contribution will cover the entire cost of running Childline for 24 hours on 25 December.

Childline operates 12 bases nationwide and offers a free, confidential service to anyone under 19, available day and night, 365 days a year. The festive period is often one of the most demanding for counsellors and volunteers; between 24 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, Childline delivered 4,261 counselling sessions.

Young people reach out to Childline for a range of reasons at Christmas, including mental health struggles, family tensions, financial worries, loneliness, and increased risks of abuse or domestic violence. With schools closed and regular support networks unavailable, demand for help typically rises.

Childline relies heavily on donations, fundraising and charitable partnerships. The support of Alan, Maggie and Hywel Peterson, and Nathan and Claire Bowles and their four children, will ensure counsellors are available throughout Christmas Day for any young person who needs them.

Hywel Peterson MBE, Chair of the NSPCC Cymru Fundraising Board, said:
“It’s an honour to help fund Childline across the whole of the UK this Christmas. This joint donation will ensure our dedicated staff and volunteers are there to support any child who needs us.”

Cardiff entrepreneur Nathan Bowles added:
“We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some children, so our family is delighted to be joining forces with the Petersons this year to support this vital service.”

Louise Israel, Childline team manager at NSPCC Cymru’s Cardiff base, said:
“While children and young people need Childline all year round, we speak to many who find this time of year particularly difficult. It is only with the support of such generous people as the Peterson and Bowles families that our staff and volunteers can continue to be here throughout the Christmas holidays. This kindness will genuinely make a difference.”

Children can call Childline free on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk for advice.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

13 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include: