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The fast and the furriest: Milford mechanic’s secret rabbit life

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A MILFORD MAN who found himself on furlough from his day-job as a mechanic has been indulging in his favourite pastime: being a rabbit.

Father-of-three Adrian James, who’s spent over £12,000 on his hobby, has swapped his oily overall’s for a rabbit costume and, when a rabbit, goes by the name of ‘Keel’.

Keel regularly joins up with other ‘furries’ for meets, but lockdown has put an end to that for the time being.

That paws in socialising has given Adrian the time to perfect his own ‘creature creation station’ that contains his seven full-sized rabbit costumes, he’s also been using lockdown to meet more ‘furries’ online and discuss their interest.

Talking to the Daily Mail, Adrian said: ‘I have always had a soft spot for rabbits. I had a rabbit teddy when I was younger which I rediscovered as teen and have been obsessed ever since,’

‘I converted my attic into a sort of studio where I can create the outfits, and tend to find that I’m enjoying myself the most when sewing together my latest designs.’

Adrian, who has been interested in rabbits since he was a child, has found great comfort in the extensive network of like-minded people he has found online.

Adrian James, from Milford Haven

‘People are into furries for different reasons, for me it’s the community feel within it and the artistry in the outfits. I love seeing new outfits when they’re made.’My new suit, who I called Chiral, was originally supposed to be sold on. But I liked him so much I decided to keep him for myself.

‘It can take months to finish a suit so being able to stay at home for such a long time gave me plenty of it to start making new furry outfits.

‘It was a continuous process so I would go into my little space at home and work on him, it’s really intense work that takes a lot of patience.

‘I understand that it’s an unusual hobby but we’re not hurting anyone, so I don’t see why it’s seen as strange. Some people like football and rugby but I like rabbits and the furry community is full of great people.

‘It was difficult when the lockdowns happened because as a result, furry meets stopped and I didn’t have many people to enjoy my time as Keel.
‘I started making suits as something to do while I couldn’t meet up with anyone, and I realised I was quite good at it, so I kept going.

‘My new suit is great, it hooks up to an app on my phone and I can change all the lighting while I’m in the suit. The next thing I want to make is a voice and eyes that open and close.

‘For me it’s all about expression, the community are a very active bunch and rabbits are just the animal that I attached myself to.

‘I have met some of my closest friends through the furry community so I’m looking forward to being able to meet them all again in the future.’

Adrian wishes more people wouldn’t judge him for his hobby and try to understand the great ‘furry’ movement in general.

‘There are some not very family-friendly sub communities in my community, like the fetish guys who have a sexual interest in furries, but I do not judge them for that.

‘But that’s not me, for me it’s all about the creative side of the suits and the way it lights up faces when I walk past.

‘Of course I get teenagers being cheeky, but mostly its kids loving the outfit and smiling when they walk past and parents asking how I made the outfit.

‘All in all it’s a great community to be a part of, but like anything there are bad eggs.’

Adrian, who has now returned to his day job and packs his suit away for the day, puts it back on when he gets home.

Adrian said: ‘I work hard and support my family so I don’t ever feel bad for spending time as Keel, it’s a harmless interest and one I aim to keep up.’

Charity

Milford Haven RNLI celebrates heartfelt donation from Neyland Ladies Choir

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MILFORD HAVEN RNLI Fundraising Group received a generous donation of over £1,000 from Neyland Ladies Choir this October, marking a touching tribute to Mrs. Dorothy Beckett, one of the RNLI’s longest-standing supporters.

The Neyland Ladies Choir held a special concert at St. Mary’s Church on Waterloo Road, Hakin, to celebrate Dorothy Beckett’s 90th birthday. A lifelong supporter of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Dorothy has played a crucial role in lifeboat fundraising in the Milford Haven area, dating back to the 1970s. She was instrumental in establishing the Hakin Point RNLI fundraising group, which has raised over £500,000 to support the RNLI’s lifesaving work.

The concert’s proceeds were presented in a moving ceremony at Bethesda Baptist Church in Neyland. Accepting the donation on behalf of the RNLI were Steve Lewis, Chairman of the fundraising group, and Thomas Kehoe, Deputy Coxswain of the Angle Lifeboat.

Adding to the evening’s celebrations, Alice Coleman, RNLI Community Manager, presented Dorothy with the Long Service Medal, recognizing her fifty years of dedication to the institution. This award, given by the RNLI, honors Dorothy’s unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea.

“Thank you, Neyland Ladies Choir and Dorothy Beckett,” said the RNLI in a heartfelt message to the community. “Your support and dedication mean the world to us.”

The Milford Haven RNLI Fundraising Group encourages supporters to share and spread the word, hoping that Dorothy’s legacy inspires continued community support.

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Community

Crowdfunding drive launched for documentary on forgotten 1967 football match

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A CROWDFUNDING campaign has launched to support a new documentary capturing a nearly forgotten piece of football history—a 1967 charity match in Liverpool featuring Hungarian football icon Ferenc Puskás, alongside British legends Billy Liddell and John Charles.

Daniel Metcalf, director of the film and grandson of Chester FC striker Mike Metcalf, who played in the match, describes the film as “a love letter to the beautiful game,” aiming to highlight community spirit and the unity of sport. “Through personal stories, historic footage, and expert insights, we’ll revisit this unique game and explore 1960s football’s influence over the decades,” he said.

The project has attracted substantial backing, including collaboration with Chester FC, endorsements from notable players like Neville Southall, and the involvement of a skilled production team with narration by broadcaster Kim Thomas.

Supporters can choose from various funding tiers, with contributions starting at £10 for acknowledgments and extending to £5,000 Producer credits. Rewards range from film credits to signed memorabilia and invitations to the UK premiere. The funding target of £3,300 aims to cover initial production costs, with stretch goals set to enhance production quality.

Filming will commence in Chester in May 2025, with the documentary slated for release in early 2026 for the festival circuit.

For more information or to support the project, visit Kickstarter.

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Business

Homebase enters administration, putting 2,000 jobs at risk

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HOMEBASE, the beleaguered home improvement chain with stores in Haverfordwest and Bridgend, has collapsed into administration, placing 2,000 jobs in jeopardy. The company has struggled with rising costs and shifting consumer demand, which led to the closure of other Welsh stores in Newport, Brecon, Mold, and Cardiff in recent years.

Hilco, Homebase’s owner, had been attempting to sell the struggling retailer but failed to secure a complete buyer. The owner of The Range, CDS Superstores, has agreed to acquire up to 70 Homebase locations along with the brand itself, protecting approximately 1,600 jobs. However, this deal leaves 49 stores without a buyer, with thousands of additional jobs at risk in stores and at the head office. Teneo, the appointed administrators, declined to specify which locations face potential closure.

For now, the 49 stores will continue trading as Teneo seeks a buyer, with no immediate redundancies planned. In the new arrangement, CDS Superstores has acquired Homebase’s brand name and intellectual property, ensuring the Homebase brand will persist online, while physical stores will convert to The Range.

Damian McGloughlin, CEO of Homebase, described the past three years as “incredibly challenging” for the DIY sector. He cited the downturn in consumer spending following the pandemic, persistent inflation, global supply chain disruptions, and unusual weather patterns as factors that impacted Homebase’s performance. Despite restructuring and investment efforts, the business has not been able to turn its fortunes around.

Teneo joint administrator Gavin Maher acknowledged the uncertainty this announcement brings, urging any interested buyers for the remaining stores to make contact.

The current administration marks the end of a troubled chapter for Homebase, which Hilco bought for £1 in 2018 after Wesfarmers, its previous owner, admitted to several strategic missteps, including underestimating winter demand and cutting popular product lines. Homebase reported an £84.2 million loss last year, highlighting its continued financial struggle amid competition from budget-friendly rivals such as B&M and Home Bargains, which have thrived in the value-driven market.

Homebase was founded in 1979 by Sainsbury’s and the Belgian-owned department store chain GB-inno-BM. Over the years, it expanded rapidly, absorbing the Texas Homecare chain in the 1990s before changing hands several times in the 2000s.

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