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YFC national disco dancing championships

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yfcClunderwen YFC once again put Pembrokeshire on the Map, when they were selected to represent Wales at the National Disco Dancing championships. 

Earlier this year in May a strong 8-man squad travelled to Blackpool where they had the privilege to compete against other YFC teams from around the UK at the impressive Winter Gardens venue. Clunderwen performed a faultless routine full of energy and immense difficulty and were awarded 6th Place overall. A special mention and thank you to Alastair Coates, our club Chairman who embarked on a gruelling challenge in order to raise money for the dancers to be able to compete in Blackpool. Ali was dropped off to a secret location 250 miles away with nothing but a tent and some food basics with the task of finding his way home. In just less than 2 days Ali made it safely back to Clunderwen and along the way raised a grand total of £517 for the club. Other Fundraising events so far this year include a Casino night held at Nant-y-Ffin Hotel and another good sum of £475 was made.

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Community

Wonderful night at Haverfordwest Library for special Poet Laureate event

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HAVERFORDWEST Library was delighted to be part of the prestigious Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024 with a special event on Friday, March 8.
Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman, Cllr Thomas Tudor extended a special welcome to the guests of honour: Poet Laureate Simon Armitage; his guests Owen Sheers and Bethany Handley; plus the winners of the recent library Poetry Competition.
The poetry began with writer, poet and disabled activist, Bethany Handley. Bethany campaigns for better access to nature for disabled people, and her work explores nature and disability, challenging the barriers that disabled people experience.
Bethany’s first poem was heartfelt and humorous about her experience of visiting a beach in her wheelchair. Her final poem also drew on her experiences, being a compilation poem of many well-intentioned, yet impractical or inappropriate, advice that she has received as a wheelchair user.
Owen Sheers is an award winning Welsh poet, author and playwright. He has twice won the Wales Book of the Year as well as the Hay Festival Poetry Medal.
His film-poem, the Green Hollow, about the Aberfan disaster, was BAFTA and Grierson nominated and won three BAFTA Cymru awards, including best writer.
Owen read an extract from the Green Hollow, bringing the horror of the disaster to life. He also read poems about parenthood and his experiences as a son and as a father.
The Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards, including the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.
Simon launched into a poem about humanity, the universe and working as one. He then used his back catalogue of poems written for music. His poems covered some unusually random themes, particularly those he crafted during the Covid pandemic.
He said that he’d even written a poem inspired by a Velux window and read a beautiful poem about laying in a hammock watching a pair of newly-weds sail overhead in a hot air balloon.
His performances were engaging, humorous and moving and he brought the words to life.
Simon also spoke warmly about the importance of libraries as a child but also as an adult travelling about the country, with libraries always offering a warm welcome.
Ashok Ahir, President of the National Library of Wales thanked the three poets and introduced the new exhibition in the gallery, Dylan: The Lyrical Life of Dylan Thomas.
The exhibition is open to the public until 14th September 2024. Further information can be seen online.
The event drew to a close as Cllr Tudor issued the prizes to the winners of the recent poetry eisteddfod competition. The competition celebrated the language, culture, heritage and literature of Wales.
The theme was Dylan Thomas. Entries could draw inspiration from any of his works or seek inspiration from a specific quote: “from where you are, you can hear their dreams”.
Entries received were of a high standard and were judged by Wendy Morse (leader of the Haverfordwest Library Poetry Group, who would welcome new members, contact Haverfordwest Library for more information); representatives from the Library staff and the National Library of Wales staff. The poems will be on display at Haverfordwest Library until the end of the Easter Holidays.

Prizes have been awarded to:
• Sian Davies: Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, adult written poem category
• James Purchase: I Shall go Gentle into that Good Night, adult written poem category
• Philippa Davies: Dylan is in the Library, adult spoken word category
• Tony Potts: Windfall, adult illustrated poem category
• John Matthews: Dylan Cwmdonkin, adult Welsh language category
• Ellie McGrath: It was all a Dream, 11-14 age category
• Skye-Lea Jones: Are you Listening?,11-14 age category
Thanks to the judges of the poetry competition and to Faber & Faber, who donated the book prizes in support of the Poet Laureate’s Library Tour.
Cllr Thomas Tudor said: “The Riverside opened its doors in December 2018 and has enjoyed many fascinating exhibitions since thanks to the continued partnership with the National Library of Wales.
“The Riverside was one of just six libraries to host this Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024.
“It is a fantastic achievement for Haverfordwest Library to be a part of these significant events, helping to raise the profile and regeneration of the County Town and I thank everyone who has worked hard to make the event a success.”
The event would not have been possible without the continued support from The National Library of Wales and Haverfordwest Town Council. The President of the National Library of Wales and the Mayor, Sheriff and Clerk of Haverfordwest Town Council were all present.

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Bags of Books returns to Milford Haven and surrounding areas this Easter

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THE INFAMOUS Bags of Books is set to return to Milford Haven and surrounding areas over the Easter holidays.

Milford Haven School who launched the project with Milford Youth Matters over 3 years ago are continuing in their bid to improve literacy skills and encourage a love of reading for pleasure by giving away over 700 books.

Thanks to funding from the South Hook LNG Community grant they have purchased books for young people of all ages and reading abilities and will be hanging them on the fences of the schools in their catchment area.

The community are invited to come and choose a book from the following locations over the Easter holidays:

  • Neyland Community Primary School – Monday 25th March
  • Johnston Community Primary School – Tuesday 26th March
  • Coastlands Primary School – Wednesday 27th March
  • Gelliswick Primary School – Tuesday 2nd April
  • Milford Haven Community Primary – Wednesday 3rd April
  • St Francis Community Primary – Wednesday 3rd April

Milford Haven Secondary School will also hang over 150 books on their fence after the Easter Holidays on Wednesday 10th April for those in our community who cannot attend the other locations.

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Community

Community-powered conservation projects flourish with Force for Nature grants

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NINE local projects that were given a helping hand by the Force for Nature grants are now thriving and providing a much-needed boost to biodiversity and conservation, the fight against climate change and the availability of green spaces throughout the county.

Successful applicants in the last round of funding included: Pembrokeshire College, Stepaside CP School, Llawhaden Community Council, Dinas Wellbeing Hub, Simpson Cross Activities Group, Tabernacle United Reformed Church in Pembroke, and Warren-based Esteam.

Several months on, the groups have provided project updates, showcasing their remarkable progress – from the transformation of an old church garden into a diverse habitat, to the creation of a Welsh heritage orchard and the rewilding of unused land on education campuses.

Tabernacle URC’s “Garden through Time” was put to good use in the run-up to Christmas as the venue for a Community Nativity Trail, enabling local families to enjoy the festive sights and sounds, while appreciating the biodiversity improvements that have taken place.

The installation of oak signposts in December marked the completion of a rewilding project at Ysgol Harri Tudur, where pupils from Years 7 and 8 have since taken part in curriculum-linked outdoor activities. Remaining funds will be spent on seeds and native plantings to further enhance the newly restored areas.

Pembrokeshire College’s campus improvements were timed to coincide with the recent COP28 summit, where a day was dedicated to biodiversity. All animal habitats and lodgings, including swift boxes, have now been installed, and wildflower seeds have been sown on prepared ground.

Director of the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust, Katie Macro, said: “The Force for Nature grants not only provide financial support, but are also effective in fostering a sense of collective responsibility and stewardship among local communities.

“Over 600 volunteer hours have been accrued across the nine projects, with 15.95 acres of land enhanced.

“It has been an absolute delight to watch these projects grow and come to fruition and shows how small actions on a grassroots level can lead to significant change for the better.”

Set up in 2021, the Force for Nature mini grants scheme is funded by the Welsh Government and run by the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust. It offers grants of up to £4,000 to local projects within the local community that either support biodiversity, create new green spaces, or deliver on conservation or climate change.

Further information about the scheme is available at www.pembrokeshirecoasttrust.org.uk.

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