News

Haverfordwest: Pupils collected by parents after feeling unwell in school following Italy ski trip

Published

5 years ago

February 25, 2020

THREE PUPILS from Haverfordwest High School have been collected by parents after feeling unwell today (Feb 25). It is understood that all the pupils involved were on a half term skiing trip to Italy.

This has been confirmed by a Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson.

No case of COVID-19 has been confirmed.

The Pembrokeshire pupils were in the resort of Fanano, the council said.

In a letter to all staff, head teacher Jane Harries said: “The ski trip which returned from Italy on the weekend did not travel to the two areas of lock-down in Italy affected by the corona-virus. Advice is for staff or pupils who have returned from Italy (not the quarantined areas of Lombardy and Veneto) should they develop symptoms of cough or fever or shortness of breath, they should immediately please follow this advice: stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would the flu, and call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the country.
“They do not need to follow this advice if they have no symptoms.
“Staff who have any symptoms have been sent home and we are in the process of contacting all parents and pupils on the trip…”

A school statement released at 14:31 HRS on Tuesday reads: “We do have two pupils who were on family holidays in these areas and they have gone home.

“Three staff have been sent home as a precaution and we are in the process of contacting all parents of pupils on the trip. If they then feel that their son/daughter has any of the above symptoms they can come to collect them and follow the advice above.

“At the time of making this statement 15 parents have collected pupils although many of these are parents who are collecting pupils due to concern over messages on social media. There are no confirmed cases of corona-virus at Haverfordwest High VC School.

“Over the border in England, one school has closed, and another has shut its sixth form today after students returned from half-term ski trips in Italy. The two schools, both in Cheshire, made the decision on Tuesday and comes as Italian authorities struggle to control an outbreak of COVID-19.

“A message to parents from Richard Pollock, the headteacher of Cransley School in Northwich, said the closure would remain in place for the rest of the week in order to “completely minimise” the risk of infection. Sky News reported that this comes after a number of students and staff at the school had visited Bormio – 350km from where the Pembrokeshire pupils were skiing – and had since been advised to self-isolate.

“Regardless of the current Public Health England advice (that the school should remain open to all other pupils) I have decided… to completely minimise possible spread of infection and close the school for the remainder of the week,” he wrote.

“During this time, the school will be able to conduct a deep clean and monitor the results of tests amongst those pupils who are currently showing flu-like symptoms.”

Meanwhile, Brine Leas Academy in Nantwich said on Twitter that is had decided to close its sixth form “due to staff shortages.”

Charity

Angle RNLI assist in multi-agency search

Published

4 mins ago

December 23, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ANGLE Lifeboat was requested to launch at 7:59pm on Friday, December 20 to assist with an ongoing incident at Westfield Pill bridge, Neyland.

The lifeboat made best speed to Neyland Marina, and with a flooding tide was able to access straight through into the upper basin of the marina.

The lifeboat’s inflatable Y boat was deployed with two crew members onboard to commence a search of the shallower water within Westfield Pill up to the weir. The All-Weather Lifeboat began searching around the bridge, before covering all of the accessible marina pontoons.

Also searching were officers from Dyfed Powys Police, including their drone unit, and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Dale, Broad Haven and St Govan’s.

Following nearly two hours of searching, the crew were stood down with nothing found, while the police continued their enquiries.

The lifeboat was back alongside her berth and readied for further service by 10:30pm.

***Lifeboat in action at Neyland Marina (Image: Rob Conway/Facebook)***

Crime

Local troublemaker back in prison 24 hours after release for Christmas

Published

8 mins ago

December 23, 2024

Sarah Jane Absalom

TWENTY-FOUR hours after being released from prison, a Pembrokeshire man found himself back behind bars for Christmas.

Mark Ion, 53, was sent back to HM Parc Prison, Bridgend, this week after breaching a protection order against his victim and spitting and making head-butting gestures towards two police officers.

Ion was arrested on December 20, just one day after his release from Parc Prison.

A protection order, imposed by Haverfordwest magistrates on December 10, prevented him from having any direct or indirect contact with a female victim living in Haverfordwest. However, on December 20, Ion was found at her property.

When police arrived, Ion, of Colley Court, Monkton, became verbally abusive and assaulted two officers. He spat at one officer—making no contact—and made a head-butting gesture towards another. Officers also discovered he was in possession of 3.5 grams of amphetamine and 1.5 grams of cannabis.

Ion appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week via video link from Parc Prison. He pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of Class B drugs, two charges of assaulting an emergency worker, breaching an interim stalking order, and failing to comply with a post-sentence supervision order. The failure involved being verbally abusive to a probation officer while highly intoxicated shortly after his release.

His solicitor, Tom Lloyd, told the court that despite Ion’s behaviour on December 20, he had displayed no violence towards the police officers or the female victim.

“He has significant mental health and substance misuse issues that he’s struggled with for many years,” said Mr Lloyd. “He’s schizophrenic and relies on heavy medication, but after his release, he consumed alcohol immediately, feeling excited about his freedom.

“He made a serious error of judgement.”

Ion was sentenced to 13 weeks in custody and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £154 court surcharge.

Crime

Police warrant issued for Monkton man who failed to attend court

Published

10 mins ago

December 23, 2024

Sarah Jane Absalom

A WARRANT without bail has been issued for a 27-year-old Monkton man in breach of a court community order.

Shane Thomas, of Tenby Court, Monkton, was sentenced to the community order by Haverfordwest magistrates on November 20, however he failed to attend a planned probation appointment on November 20 and once again, he failed to turn up on November 26.

This week probation officer Julie Norman requested magistrates to issue a warrant without bail as a result of his failure to attend.

The Bench agreed to her request.