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Elderly isolated at Christmas amid fears of the reintroduction of further covid restrictions

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Because no one should have no one. Credit - AgeCymru

THE FEAR of the reintroduction of tighter Covid restrictions will hit the elderly the worst this Christmas a Welsh Charity warns.

Christmas plans could be ruined for the second year in a row due to concerns over the new Covid-19 variant – Omicron, and the reintroduction of tougher guidelines.

The Welsh Government are now reviewing the pandemic rules weekly instead of every three weeks, with an update planned for Friday, December 17.

They have urged people to take lateral flow tests before attending Christmas parties, visiting others, or going shopping. 

First Minister Mark Drakeford has said he does not expect to implement a full lockdown like last year, however he has not ruled out the possibility of tougher restrictions being put in place before the big day.

Last year, only two households were allowed to meet on Christmas Day after the plans to relax Covid rules over the Christmas period were cancelled with only a few hours notice.

While there is no official guidance telling people to cancel party plans, health officials at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have asked people not to attend parties, after huge demand at A&E departments.

The elderly will be amongst those affected the most by tougher restrictions, a Welsh charity has said.

An estimated 87,000 older people will be spending their Christmas alone this year, according to research undertaken by Age Cymru.

With Christmas being a festive and jolly time, it is unfortunate that thousands of people are not looking forward to Christmas due to feeling lonely. 

29% of people who took part in the research stated that they had lost a loved one over the last 18 months. 

Half of the respondents agreed that the best present they could get this year would be a call from a loved one, with more than a third agreeing that somebody calling for a chat or popping round for a visit would make their Christmas brighter.

When publishing their findings, Age Cymru commented: “Of course, we’re all approaching this Christmas with a sense of uncertainty about how the Omicron variant will affect our plans and activities which will lead to many of us becoming extra cautious.

“However, we have to ensure that our more cautious approach does not cause older people to become even more isolated and lonely.  We can still phone our older relatives, friends, and neighbours for a chat, and post Christmas cards through the letter box.”

Age Cymru have set up a “Friendship Service” which pairs a lonely older person with a volunteer for a weekly phone call. 

Speaking to one of the volunteers, Margaret Davies, from Cardiff said: “I’m not looking forward to Christmas, I want it to come and go quickly. I have been invited to lunch by my daughter, but I am worried about going because of the latest variant of Covid 19. I cannot wait for January to come, where some normality will hopefully return. Sorry if I sound like a humbug, but that is how I feel.”

Barbara Williams, from Swansea, said: “I will spend Christmas day with my partner James and our little dog, as I don’t have many family left and one of Jim’s sons passed away this year so we won’t be seeing much of the family.”

The issue of loneliness has been discussed for many years, especially during the holiday periods. However the pandemic has intensified the need to ensure those without family are not isolated even further.

Throughout Wales, communities have support groups, events and schemes in place to offer those who feel isolated involved in the community, especially at Christmas.

Since 2012, Councillor Guy Woodham of Milford Haven, has hosted an annual Christmas Day lunch, ‘Christmas Together’. This gives the opportunity for roughly 100 people who would otherwise be alone for Christmas to get together and have dinner and spend time with others.

Christmas Together 2019. Credit – Christmas Together

Last year he was forced to cancel the event for the first time, due to the pandemic. This year, the event will go ahead. However, the number of attendees has been limited to 30. 

There are also special requirements for those hoping to attend. Everyone must be double-vaccinated, wear masks when not seated, and they must social distance where possible.

Cllr Guy Woodham said: “We are delighted that having undertaken a detailed Covid-19 risk assessment we have identified measures that we can put in place to hold Christmas Together this year in as safe an environment as possible for all those who attend. 

While the event will inevitably be different to previous years, we still hope to bring some festive cheer and companionship to those who would otherwise be on their own on Christmas Day, for some, the loneliest day of the year – something many more have experienced as a result of the on-going Covid pandemic.”

He added that he had been convinced to go ahead with the event by those who hoped to attend. 

“They would actually get in touch or, if I was out and about, would speak to me and say ‘please go ahead with it’ and tell me their individual stories – that was the real driver.

“It was realising from having those personal conversations that for some people, it was really important to try to do it.”

He said some who had attended in previous years had decided “despite being lonely they actually would feel safer just staying at home for Christmas”.

He is hoping new restrictions will not be introduced that force him to cancel: “It would be devastating if there was an announcement that we couldn’t gather on Christmas Day, but we would have to respect that.

“It would be devastating for me, for those involved, and especially those people who made it clear that they don’t want to be alone on Christmas Day for very valid personal reasons.

“It’s not going to be the same as it has been previously, but hopefully what we do provide will give people some enjoyment on the day, rather than fear and unhappiness of being lonely.”

Now in its ninth year, Christmas Together continues to be fully supported by volunteers and donations. It is a great example of local people, organisations and businesses working together for the benefit of the community.

It will be held at Pill Social Centre, Milford Haven, the day provides a fun, friendly and relaxed atmosphere, along with a three-course festive lunch and Christmas entertainment. 

The event is provided free of charge for all attendees which includes free transport for those who would otherwise be unable to attend.

If you would like additional information about Christmas Together, including requesting an application form to attend as a guest or volunteer please contact, Cllr Guy Woodham, by emailing [email protected] telephoning 07411 287 533 (please leave a voicemail message) or writing to him at 4, Coombs Drive, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, SA73 2NZ

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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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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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Charity

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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