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Captain Evans remembered with new blue plaque

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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.”

Crime

Police issue update following incident at Tenby multi-storey

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Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed this morning that they are investigating a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby, at around 4pm on Thursday, January 2.

The collision, police said, involved a grey Nissan Qashqai and a young child.

The child remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The family are being supported by specially trained officers.

One man, aged 33, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, drink driving, and drug driving. He remains in police custody.

Police issued a statement saying: “This is a tragic incident and is a live investigation.

“We ask that you do not speculate the circumstances and allow our officers to carry out their enquiries.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to us, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Quote reference 25*6238”

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News

Milford sex offender’s child abuse images ‘most disturbing imaginable’

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A 40-YEAR-OLD man from Pembrokeshire has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after being found with nearly 40,000 indecent images of children, including some of the most disturbing nature imaginable. Jason Church, a father of young children, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he faced multiple charges related to child exploitation.

The investigation began when police traced suspicious online activity linked to Church’s home in Milford Haven. On August 23, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at his residence, during which Church admitted to having incriminating material on his mobile phone. He explicitly stated to the police, “It’s on my phone, what you’re looking for” when questioned about the nature of the images.

Upon examination of his Samsung device, authorities uncovered a staggering collection: 2,688 images classified as Category A (the most severe), along with 4,160 Category B images and an alarming 32,205 Category C images. Among these horrific images were videos depicting the sexual abuse of very young children, including a baby. Additionally, officers discovered a 170-page manual that provided detailed guidance on how to exploit children and evade detection.

In court, prosecutor Ashanti-Jade Walton highlighted the graphic content of the material found and emphasised the seriousness of Church’s offences. Despite his previous clean record, Church pleaded guilty to all charges against him. His defence barrister noted that Church was aware of the severity of his actions and had sought help from organizations aimed at preventing child exploitation.

Judge Huw Rees condemned Church’s actions as “unhealthy” and a significant danger to children. He stated, “These are not just images; they represent real victims,” reinforcing the gravity of Church’s crimes and the impact they have on real lives.

In addition to his prison sentence, Church is required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years following his release.

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Community

Welsh Water distribute free cold weather lagging kits

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AS the winter season is in full swing and the temperature drops, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is offering free winter lagging kits to help households across Wales prepare for the colder months. With over 2,500 kits available, the initiative aims to assist residents in protecting their homes against frozen pipes and costly bursts.

Frozen pipes can lead to unwanted damage and unnecessary stress during the winter season, but with the right preparation the risks can be minimised.
The winter lagging kit includes pipe insulation and a tap jacket – with lagging designed to protect exposed pipes and a tap jacket to prevent outdoor taps from freezing and bursting.

“We understand how challenging winter can be for many people, which can be made worse should the unexpected happened – such as a experiencing a frozen or burst pipe,” said Euan Hampton, Water Demand – Delivery Manager at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. “To help ease the pressures winter can bring, we’re offering free pipe lagging kits and tap jackets as part of our ongoing commitment to helping communities stay safe, warm, and secure throughout the colder months.”

In addition to distributing free lagging kits and tap jackets. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water recommends the following tips to help residents prepare their homes:

Locate your stop tap: Knowing the location of your stop tap is essential in the case of an emergency. If your pipes freeze or burst, you’ll want to shut the water off to minimise damage.
Clear your gutters: Blocked gutters can lead to excess water accessing your home, especially during a storm.
Insulate pipes: Not only outdoor pipes need preparing, think of areas that may be at risk to cold weather – attics or uninsulated cupboards.
Fix those drips: Dripping taps can increase the risk of frozen pipes. Fixing it will also save you litres of water every day, saving both energy and money on your water bill.
Away from home? Empty buildings are at particular risk. If you’re leaving your home for a prolonged period, turn off your stop tap and drain down the system – so there is no water in the system to freeze. If you’re away for a short time, if you can, we suggest keeping your heating on low to help keep your home warm and prevent pipes from freezing.
The free kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a free winter lagging kit or tap jacket, customers can visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/winter-ready

Alongside the helpful tips to prepare your home this winter and advice on how to manage any issues should they arise. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water are also offering free water efficiency home visits to all domestic customers – and the free lagging kit and tap jackets can be installed as part of the visit.

If you would like to find out more ways you could start saving, visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/help-advice/cartref/water-efficiency-home-visit

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