News

300 Mile Challenge Cyclists Welcomed to Haverfordwest

Published

5 years ago

August 3, 2021

A GROUP of well—wishers from Pembrokeshire formed a guard of honour at The Druidstone Hotel, Haverfordwest, to welcome-in ten cyclists on a 300-mile challenge, riding from Welwyn to Wales which was organised memory of a much-loved father who had passed away in the county ten years ago.

Members of the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven branch and Narberth volunteers representing the British Heart Foundation were joined by family and friends of Angus Archer, 35, whose father Jeff died from a heart attack in 2011. Jeff, who was 58 when he died, had been on holiday at the hotel with his wife.

Angus said: “When Dad went on holiday, he seemed absolutely fine. But he woke up one morning with chest pains and feeling sick. Mum called me to say Dad was very ill and had been taken to hospital. Thirty minutes later I got another phone call to say he’d passed away. I remember feeling utterly shocked. It was so unexpected. There hadn’t been any sign that this might happen.

“Making this journey now was very emotional. We arrived at the Druidstone Hotel ten years to the day after my father’s death. It’s a place that holds lots of memories for me and my family. It was where Dad proposed to my mum, and it was where they had their honeymoon. My sister got married there and I’ve stayed there on countless family holidays.

“I don’t pretend to be the fittest person. So, for me, completing this ride was a mission. But it was good to spend time with my friends and to raise money and awareness for some important charities.”

So far, Angus and his friends have raised over £17,000 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Cots For Tots – a charity supporting the neonatal care unit at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol.

The group have set up their own charitable organisation called Mitis Covey to raise money for causes important to them. Since being founded in 2019 they have helped to raise over £25,000 for different organisations.

Jayne Lewis, Fundraising Manager for the BHF, said: “It was wonderful to meet the team in person as they completed their epic journey. We are delighted to be able to welcome the group to Wales and show our appreciation for their monumental effort in memory of a much-loved husband, father and friend. It was a very emotional day and we were proud to be able to thank Jeff’s loved ones in person for supporting our charity in his memory.

“I would like to congratulate the whole team for their phenomenal fundraising efforts. The BHF will be using the money that it receives from this cycle ride to power our life-saving research. I would also like to thank the BHF Haverfordwest & Milford Haven branch and also volunteers from Narberth who came to support in welcoming the team as they made their way across the finish line.

“It’s only by equipping scientists to carry out their work that we can find new ways to prevent, treat and cure heart and circulatory disease.”

Heart and circulatory diseases cause more than 160,000 deaths each year in the UK. Around twice as many people are living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK than with cancer and Alzheimer’s disease combined. The BHF is the UK’s biggest independent funder of heart and circulatory disease research in the UK.

There’s still time to support the group’s fundraising efforts at https://www.mitiscovey.com/news-welwyn-to-wales-2021-7

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

26 minutes ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

31 minutes ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.