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The fascinating story of the Haverfordwest firefighter retiring after 42 years service

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A PEMBROKESHIRE firefighter who has been in the service for nearly 42 years is hanging up his hat for the last time this week. Man and boy, Keith Jenkins started at the tender age of 16 as an apprentice mechanic with the then Dyfed Fire Brigade, but now he is on to pastures new with a role in the NHS as a Fire Safety Advisor.

Speaking of his experiences, Keith, who moved from mechanic to retained fireman in 1983, said: “I was on the Pointsman ship fire getting caught in the third explosion, with two other colleagues Firefighter Rex Evans who broke his Collar Bone and Leading Fireman Brian Tytler who had 20% burns to his hands and face. I was so lucky just to get my helmet blown off and slight burns to my tunic.

“I also attended the Amoco Tank 11 fire in the same year, what an experience to see that boil over and flames reach over a 1000 ft high.

Firefighters were burned in the Amoco tank fire

“I joined the Wholetime on Red watch Haverfordwest, in 1985 and my first nightshift I attended the Scoveston Manor House fire, very sad to have experienced such sad scenes that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Scoveston Farm fire was set to hide a double murder

“Even attending the Sea Empress when she ran aground off Pembrokeshire coast, being used to man the fire tugs with their crews just in case we were needed, many a night we stayed on these fire tugs.

Sea Empress oil spill: A huge operation for firefighters and other agencies involved.

“I would like to say I am saddened to leave MAWWFRS whole time, it has been a privilege and an honour to be part of such a great Service and Team. During my time in the fire service I have been very fortunate to have gained experiences in so many different avenues and fields of this service. I became a fire brigade diver attending many incidents over the years, getting qualified with Northumbria Police for 8 weeks, hardest thing I have ever done.

Pointsman fire, Milford Haven, 1983

“I have worked alongside many great managers and colleagues over the years and been fortunate to have worked in four different commands, which has given me not only great professional development but personnel development too.

“I was in charge of Pontardawe fire station and attended the Gliesion Mine in Pontardawe, where many persons lost their lives in this tragic incident.

“The fire service has been a massive part of my life, serving the community for nearly 42 years, this has been a hard decision for me to make, so at this moment in time I will be continuing working as a Watch Manager in charge of the Partrtime RDS system at Haverfordwest for now.

“I feel this knowledge I have gained will carry me in good stead for the new role I have accepted with the NHS as a Fire Safety Advisor in Hywel Dda Health trust.

“I cannot thank the Fire Service enough for all that they have done for me, I will sincerely miss it.”

Community

Mayor of Bergen visits Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre

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IT was a Mayoral gathering when the Burgermeisterin of Bergen, in Germany, paid a visit to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre in the company of Councillor Aden Brinn, the Mayor of Bergen’s twin town, Pembroke.

There to meet Burgermeisterin Claudia Dettmar-Muller and her colleague Silvia Bothe were two former Mayors of Pembroke Dock, Councillors Pam George and Maureen Colgan, and trustees and volunteers who run the Centre. Joining them was Pembroke’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ann Mortenson.

Trustee Peter Mitchell and colleagues gave a guided town of the Centre which has extensive displays on Pembroke Dock’s rich maritime and military history spanning just over two centuries, and its connections with RAF flying boats.

Pic By Martin Cavaney.

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Police ask motorists to avoid A44 trunk road due to heavy snowfall

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DYFED-POWYS POLICE have issued an appeal to motorists to avoid a 25 mile section of the A44 trunk road between Aberystwyth and Llangurig due to it being impassable due to heavy snowfall.

In a warning issued at 4am on their social media accounts the police said: “Please avoid the area and find alternative routes for your journey.”

Meanwhile, last night The Nags Head in Lampeter uploaded pictures of the snowy scenes in the area, and were encouraging customers to come in and sit next to their ‘nice warm fire’.

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Egg and farm shop to open at award-winning west Wales farm

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A SCHEME for a self-serve egg and farm shop at an award-winning 32,000-chicken Ceredigion farm, to allow it to receive a UK Shared Prosperity fund grant, has been approved by county planners.

Ben Edkins, of Edkins Eggs, Coed Farm, Cilcennin sought permission to site a self-serve farm shop on an existing yard area at the site.

A supporting letter submitted through agent Morgan & Flynn Architectural Services described it as “a more advanced version of an egg stand, with honesty box, which has been a staple for people producing eggs for centuries”.

It added: “This method of selling eggs has already proven to be a hit with communities in Ceredigion, given the success of the already established egg dispenser located in Aberystwyth town centre.”

Family-owned Edkins Eggs, which supplies multiple businesses across the area with eggs, including Aberaeron’s Y Seler, Hive, Harbourmaster, and Costcutters, has been awarded a grant to cover the cost of part of the proposal, on the condition that planning approval is granted, the statement added.

“The grant, which is a UK shared prosperity fund for the Mid Wales region as part of the ‘Cynnal Y Cardi Fund’ provided by Ceredigion County Council was granted in December 2023.

“For this grant to be claimed, it is required that planning permission is granted, the construction is completed and also the egg dispensers are implemented by December 2024. This gives the applicants a 12-month window from the point of the grant awarded to completion of proposal.”
The building itself will include a solar panel array providing the power for the egg dispensing unit and lighting, and it is hoped to create one extra job at 227-acre Coed Farm, home to 32,000 chickens producing free range eggs, 90 beef cattle and 200 sheep.

A green infrastructure statement by the agent added: “The creation of this building to house the self-serve farm shop to enhance the established family-owned business ‘Edkins Eggs’, which also has provisions to allow for other local companies producing items such as vegetables and honey to sell their products, will provide a facility for the local community to purchase locally produced goods directly from the supplier.

“This will not only provide an enhanced shopping experience in terms of being able to purchase directly from the farm, which could act as an educational benefit especially for children, but also provide the additional facility of a small-scale shop to the local area, whereas currently the community would either have to travel to the service centres of either Aberaeron or Felinfach.”

The application was conditionally approved under delegated powers.

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