A VIP audience greeted Pembroke and District Male Voice Choristers when they took stage at Pembroke Town Hall at the invitation of the town’s Mayor, Councillor Aden Brinn.

The concert, in aid of the Mayor’s charities – the Welsh Guards charity and the VC Gallery – was very well supported and the choir were in fine harmony, guided by Musical Director Juliet Rossiter and Accompanist Carole Rees.

Guests included Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Sharron Lusher, MBE, Stephen Crabb MP, Sam Kurtz MS, Councillor Tom Tudor, Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, and County Council Leader Councillor David Simpson.

Two Welsh Guardsmen, in full ceremonial uniform, reflected the close connections between the Mayor and the town with the Regiment’s 1^st Battalion.

Busiest chorister on the night was MC Matthew John. To his reputation for jokes, which had preceded him, he added poetry and, in a surprise to colleagues, joined soloist Alyson Griffiths in a delightful duet. They sang a medley of musical and wartime songs, accompanied by Carole.

In Alyson’s solo spot she played on flute ‘Moonlight serenade’ and ‘A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square’.

Audience wholeheartedly joined in ‘Men of Harlech’ and a medley of World War I songs and the choir’s 12 items were warmly received.

Choir and audience were thanked by the Mayor – this was the final fundraising event of his memorable year in office.

Next choir concert is on Friday May 10^th at Tabernacle Church, Pembroke, 7.30 pm in aid of Tenby and Saundersfoot First Responders – a fully trained volunteer team who give their time to respond to life threatening calls in support of the Welsh Ambulance Service.

AN exhibition at Oriel y Parc, National Park Discovery Centre will conclude with an exciting farewell event, featuring renowned illustrator Jackie Morris and award-winning poet Mererid Hopwood.

The Geiriau Diflanedig – The Lost Words exhibition has been on display since June 2023, captivating visitors of all ages and backgrounds with its vibrant illustrations and thought-provoking poems that explore the relationship between language and the living world.

Based on the award-winning book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, the touring exhibition, organised by Compton Verney, with Hamish Hamilton and Penguin Books, brought together, for the first time ever, the original artwork by Jackie Morris alongside the English language poems by Robert Macfarlane and Welsh language poems written by Mererid Hopwood.

With the exhibition now approaching its final weeks, the farewell event offers a unique opportunity to engage with two of the creators behind its magic, gaining insight into the creative processes that brought it to life.   

There will also be a chance to hear about Jackie’s latest project, with a preview of her work in progress for The Lost Birds.

Manager of Oriel y Parc, Rachel Perkins, said: “The success of the Geiriau Diflanedig – The Lost Words exhibition has been truly remarkable, captivating audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

“It’s been wonderful to be a part of this experience, which seeks to reintroduce the fading faces of nature to our vocabularies. We hope that many have been inspired to join the fight to reverse their plight and look forward to welcoming them as we bid farewell to this memorable exhibition.”

The farewell to The Lost Words – Geiriau Diflanedig exhibition will take place at Oriel y Parc, National Park Discovery Centre on Saturday 25 May, between 2pm-3.30pm. Although the event is free, booking in advance at www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/events is essential due to limited capacity at the venue.

Further information about exhibitions and events at Oriel y Parc can be found at www.orielyparc.co.uk.

BEN LAKE MP has urged the UK Government to make underground cabling the default method for installing new electricity grid infrastructure.

There are 4,500 miles of overhead electricity transmission lines in England and Wales. This contrasts with just over 900 miles of underground cables. ‘Undergrounding’, the replacement of overhead cables with underground cables, is used in limited circumstances, such as in nationally designated landscapes.

There have been calls for an increase in undergrounding. However, the government has pointed to several issues, including the higher cost of placing cables underground when using traditional open trenching methods. However, recent advancements in cable ploughing techniques have significantly reduced the cost of placing such cables underground, such that MPs are calling on the UK Government to adopt the method as their preferred approach to new grid infrastructure.

Green GEN Cymru is proposing a new 132kV overhead line to connect Lan Fawr Energy Park in West Wales to a new National Grid substation in Carmarthen. As part of the initial consultation process, significant concerns were raised by residents and businesses about the visual, environmental, and economic impact of the proposed overhead line – with several public meetings and campaign groups forming over recent MONTHS to oppose the proposals.

Concerns over the proposed Tywi Teifi network have previously been raised in the Senedd and last week Ben Lake MP reiterated calls for the undergrounding of transmission cables during a debate in Westminster Hall on Pylons and upgrading the National Grid.

During his speech Mr Lake stated: “What’s at heart here is this idea of just transition – of balancing the concerns of communities with the need for new infrastructure. Although definitions of just transition differ, my understanding of the concept is that it should see to bring about fairer outcomes from the transition to net zero by maximising the benefits of climate action and minimising the negative impact for communities.

“We all agree that the National Grid needs upgrading. It needs strengthening, but it is disappointing that the Government has, thus far, failed to truly consider the benefits and advantages of cable ploughing techniques.”

Mr Lake argued that installing transmission cables by using cable ploughing techniques, such as is used by a local company based in Pencader (ATP), could drastically reduce the cost and time taken to complete infrastructure upgrades.

Mr Lake added: “Cable ploughing could be a means of balancing the need for any new electricity infrastructure with the importance of minimising not only financial costs, but also unnecessary environmental impact and community opposition.”