Community

Helicopter chief raises nearly £4,000 for charity

Published

4 years ago

September 28, 2021

A PEMBROKESHIRE aviation boss has raised nearly £4,000 for two charities by walking an epic 186 miles along the coastal path.

Steven Landrey whose life was saved by the Wales Air Ambulance set off from Amroth in May and finished the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path Charity Walk at St Dogmaels in August.

Steven, 52, raised £3,900 for the Wales Air Ambulance and the British Heart Foundation.

Steve, who worked as European managing director for air ambulance operator, Babcock, collapsed while out cycling with friends. He suffered a cardiac arrest and stopped breathing.

Thankfully the Wales Air Ambulance was able to respond swiftly to the scene and gave Steve the lifesaving care he needed.

Ironically, Babcock holds the contract to run the Wales Air Ambulance’s aviation operation.

The challenge, which took place just nine months after his cardiac arrest, saw Steve covering 314km on foot in 76.5 hours, climbing over 8,400 metres in the process – just a few hundred metres shy of the summit of Mount Everest.

Steve started his epic challenge with his cardiac rehabilitation instructor David Braithwaite, who carried a defibrator ‘just in case’ throughout the 186 miles.

A delighted Steve said: “What an experience! There was some amazing scenery, wildlife that put a smile on your face, rain that only Wales can deliver, and sunrises that remind you how small you really are on this planet we call home.

“After ‘competing’ all my life – whether in a sporting sense, a career sense, or indeed with myself, this walk has started to educate me to focus on ‘enjoying’ rather than pushing to best I can be all the time. It’s only taken me 52 years to get to this epiphany!”

Dedicated Steve walked twice a week to get the miles in and was joined by his wife Katrina and their two dogs, Jumble and Nigel. Many family and friends showed their support to Steve by joining him on his walks throughout his fundraiser.

Steve is extremely grateful to everyone who has supported him since he became ill and during his challenge.

He added: “Most important of all, are the people that supported me on this adventure. My wife who, not just over the course this walk, but over the past 12 months, has constantly been there when I needed her most, when I’ve been at my most vulnerable and when at times I’ve lost perspective. I love you.

“David Braithwaite, who planned and guided the walk. Who helped me to be in good enough cardiac condition to do the walk and who carried a defibrillator the whole 314km’s “just in case”. Thank you.”

Steve would also like to thank everyone who has not only walked with him but has supported and encouraged him throughout. He was grateful for the company on his walks that ‘made the whole endeavour so much more enjoyable’.

Steve said: “I’m delighted by the amount of money we’ve raised, now nearing £4000. I’ve sure Wales Air Ambulance and British Heart Foundation will put the money to good use as they continue to support the health and wellbeing of our communities. Of course, none of this would have been possible without those that have supported and donated towards this charity walk, thank you so much.”

Babcock Director Hayley Belmore said: “We know what we do is important, and we are extremely proud to be part of the incredible service the Wales Air Ambulance Charity provides, but when you respond to someone you know, it really amplifies it. Everyone at Babcock is so pleased Steve has made such a good recovery and we congratulate him on his epic fundraiser!”

Wales Air Ambulance Chief Executive, Dr Sue Barnes, said: “Congratulations to Steve who raised an incredible £3,900 for two charities close to his heart. It is incredible that he set himself the challenge of walking 186 miles less than a year after his life was saved by our medics. His dedication following his experience is an absolute inspiration and it’s a great relief to hear that Steve is recovering well after his illness.

“Our Charity has worked in partnership with Babcock for many years and Steve was on the receiving end of a service that he has proactively been involved in. On behalf of our Charity, I’d like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Steve and his supporters, who have supported him throughout his recovery and fundraiser. Every contribution helps to keep our helicopters in the air so that we can continue to provide a lifesaving service for the people of Wales.”

In December 2020, the Charity achieved its aim of operating a 24/7 service. Wales now has access to the service’s Emergency Department-standard critical care around the clock and to keep the helicopters in the air, the Charity needs to raise £8 million every year.

There are several ways that the public can continue to support the Wales Air Ambulance.

These include online donations, signing up to the Charity’s Lifesaving Lottery or by coming up with their own innovative ways to fundraise at home. Further information can be found via www.walesairambulance.com.

Alternatively, a £5 text-message donation can be made by texting the word HELI to 70711.

Community

Welsh Government invites applications for National Park Authority posts

Published

5 hours ago

May 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Three new members sought for Pembrokeshire Coast body

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT is seeking applicants to fill three upcoming vacancies on the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

The Authority is responsible for protecting the landscape, encouraging public enjoyment, and supporting sustainable development within the National Park.

Members play a key role in governance, planning decisions, and setting strategic direction.

Three Ministerial appointments are due to end in the coming months, and the Welsh Government is now overseeing the recruitment of their successors. Each appointment will be for a four-year term.

To help prospective applicants understand the responsibilities involved, the Park Authority is holding a series of informal drop-in sessions:

Tuesday 20 May – Garn Fach Room, Yr Hen Ysgol, Dinas Cross, Newport SA42 0XB

Thursday 22 May – Giltar Hotel, 9 Esplanade, Tenby SA70 7DU

Monday 2 June – Online session (details at gov.wales/public-appointments)

More information and full application details are available at gov.wales/public-appointments. For further queries, email: [email protected].

Please note that this role will not be listed on Webrecruit, as applications are being handled directly by the Welsh Government.

The deadline for applications is 4:00pm on Wednesday, 12 June 2025.

Community

Plans for ‘alien’ Tenby harbour gate refused after outcry

Published

13 hours ago

May 20, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCIL plans for ‘alien’ and ‘industrial’ metal gates to prevent vehicle entry on to Tenby’s iconic harbour have been refused by the national park.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Pembrokeshire County Council sought permission to install a swing gate that prevents unauthorised vehicle entry, but allowing pedestrians, at Tenby Harbour Yacht Station & Harbour Office, Pier Hill, Tenby, in the town’s conservation area.

The proposed gates would be sited approximately mid-way along the harbour office.

The scheme included a related listed building consent application covering the harbour ‘pier’.

The scheme was supported by Tenby Town Council but Tenby Civic Society objected due to design, operation, justification and impact on the harbour setting.

A national park officer report recommending refusal said: “Whilst consultees are generally supportive of the proposal, it is not regarded as acceptable in terms of its impact upon the special qualities of the National Park including both character and appearance of Tenby Conservation Area and the setting of listed buildings.”

It detailed the scheme: “This application is for the installation of a metal gate on Tenby Pire alongside the Harbour Office to restrict unauthorised access to the end of the pier. The pier itself is Grade-II-listed and the site lies within Tenby Conservation Area central to the iconic harbour view.

“Due to the industrial design of the gates in what is a highly sensitive and extremely popular area, the proposal is not considered to preserve the setting of the listed pier or the character or appearance of Tenby Conservation Area.

“It therefore follows that there will be an impact on the special qualities of the National Park, that the proposal will cause visual intrusion and that it pays little regard to the sense of place and local distinctiveness.

“Whilst it is recognised that restricting access to the working pier would sustain harbour activities and may contribute to a certain extent to supporting community cohesion and health, the proposal is not considered to conserve or enhance the existing character of the harbour.”

It added: “The design and scale of the gates neither preserve or enhance the character of the area. In terms of character, the pier currently is available for users and visitors to enjoy daily except when during occasional events and operations when temporary fencing is erected. The proposed meshed metal gates are seen as intrusive in this context, quite alien to the public enjoyment of the area.

“Officers have considered the weight to be given to the desirability of restricting access to the working pier and reducing conflicts such as tombstoning activities and conflicts with boats. Temporary fencing has currently been used to achieve this which does not require permission.”

The application was refused on the grounds it “would introduce an unacceptable visual intrusion due to the overly industrial design of the proposed gates which would not conserve or enhance the existing character of the harbour,” and would “also cause harm to the setting of a listed building”.

Business

White Hart Inn in St Dogmaels’ expansion bid approved

Published

1 day ago

May 19, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to expand the licensed area of a Pembrokeshire community pub, recently hailed as one of the most friendly in Britain, has been given the go-ahead by county planners.

The White Hart Inn in St Dogmaels was ranked second friendliest pub in the UK in a study by security experts Get Licensed, which looked at Tripadvisor reviews and median crime scores around each pub to find the friendliest in the UK.

The 250-year-old White Hart, on Finch Street, reopened as a community pub in 2021 following a campaign after it closed in May 2019, when the last landlords decided to refocus to other activities.

The White Hart Community Inn Ltd was formed as a Community Benefit Society and a community share offer launched with the guidance of the Wales Co-operative Centre.

Two years of fund-raising and campaigning saw enough money raised through individual community shares purchases together with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government via the Social Business Growth Fund administered by Social Investment Cymru at WCVA, alongside a grant from Pembrokeshire County Council.

White Hart Community Inn (St Dogmaels) Ltd had asked Pembrokeshire County Council for permission the expand the licensed premises through a change of use of the former manager’s accommodation, vacant since early 2022.

The application was conditionally approved by planning officers.

This is the second application for works at the White Hart recently.

An application by White Hart Community Inn (St Dogmaels) Ltd to install solar panels at the historic pub was recently granted by Pembrokeshire County Council.

That proposal was backed by St Dogmaels Community Council, which said it “fully supports the application for the installation of photovoltaic panels”.

Receiving the recent Get Licensed award, the White Hart Inn received a top score of five on Tripadvisor, and 66.67 per cent of its reviews highlighted the pub’s ‘friendly’ and ‘welcoming’ atmosphere.