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Mixed medal competition at Tenby Golf Club

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SUNDAY 15th MAY 2022 – How lucky were we to be playing golf on Tenby’s magnificent links course on such a lovely day? The Mathias Thomas family have a long association with Tenby Golf Club, and the mixed competition today was to play for their trophy, donated by the daughter, Joanne Haigh, in 1978.

Her father, Mathias Thomas was a solicitor in Tenby, living in what is now Tenby House, and in 1907 he owned the golf club.

He and his son Byam and daughter Joanne were all category one golfers with illustrious careers in golf.

Today we played for their trophy which looks like our very own ‘Claret Jug’.

There were a few moans from the men when they realised, they had to play off the white tee boxes; a few moans from the ladies about it being a medal round; but once out in the sunshine that was all behind us.

The pin placements were very tricky having not been moved since yesterday’s prestigious Golden Eagle competition, so there were no twos recorded today.

However, four pairs were lucky enough to win their entry fees back in the draw. They were Idwal David and Sarah Waring, Mike and Nicola Anthony, Paul and Roz Jenkins and Rob Berry and Gill John. The dry conditions and a tricky wind made scoring quite difficult for us all, but our President Idwal and Sarah Waring (always the bridesmaids!) came third with 96-21=75. In second place were Fair Ball and Allan Morton with 90-17=73, just pipped at the post by husband John Ball and Maria Smith with 97-25-72.

With the touch screen out of use we must thank Ryan for feeding the results into the computer, but lesson learnt that we need to go back to our old system of marking cards as there was some confusion with who were players and who were markers. Apologies to the people who were wrongly informed! But as you can see from the photo, we had a good time which is what it is all about.

The next mixed is the Sam Ackermann Trophy which is a draw for partners. Great fun, and a chance for those who have never been in the mixed to put your names down and have a go. The competition is on Friday 24th June at 4pm and the draw will be done the week before. Just sign up on Masterscoreboard.

Then July 1st will be our second Friday Friendly Foursomes. Again, a draw but sign up on the mixed noticeboard at the back of the clubhouse.

A huge thank you to Laura for helping me sort out today’s competition on the computer, and thanks also to Lyn, Helen and Emma in the bar and kitchen and to Ryan in the Pro Shop.

Business

Stena announces redundancy plan amid uncertainty for Pembrokeshire

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FREIGHT carrier and ferry operator Stena Line, which runs services between Fishguard and Pembroke Dock, has announced plans to cut up to 80 staff members following an internal review.

Uncertainty looms over whether any of these redundancies will impact staff operating our local ferry services.

Stena CEO Paul Grant shared the news in an email to employees on Monday, citing a need to “future proof the company.” He explained that an internal assessment revealed the company’s current organisational structure as “too big and expensive” compared to its revenue.

The decision comes amid rising costs and increased competition in the freight and travel sectors.

According to Mr. Grant, “Cost pressure due to higher inflation has led to our customers having less money to spend, and with the introduction of the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), increasing our prices, we see a decline in volumes for both travel and freight.” Additionally, disappointing sales during the summer season and unmet market growth expectations for 2024 contributed to the restructuring.

The program, designed to strengthen Stena’s long-term business viability, includes a reduction of costs, prioritization of investments, and staff cuts that will primarily impact support functions and consultants. The workforce will be reduced by 80 positions by early 2025, along with 30 consultants also set to leave the company. Discussions with unions and work councils are expected to last several months, with all affected staff to be informed of their status by January 31, 2025.

In response to this announcement, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has demanded a meeting with Stena Line to clarify the impact of these cuts, particularly on their members.

TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust expressed disappointment over the handling of the announcement, stating: “Our members are shocked by this news and outraged that Stena has chosen to sidestep established industrial relations processes. Stena must meet with us urgently to clarify who is at risk and address the potential impacts on our members.”

The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at securing Stena Line’s future amid sustainability challenges. CEO Niclas Mårtensson acknowledged the difficult decision, stating, “Stena Line has been a successful company over the past few years; however, we need to ensure a lower cost base to be able to future proof the company. With 40 vessels in Europe and the Mediterranean, we have significant sustainability challenges ahead of us, and this program will enable us to make necessary investments for the future.”

The TSSA’s letter to Stena reiterates the union’s commitment to supporting affected employees and calls for an immediate discussion to clarify the situation, especially for staff at Fishguard who may be impacted.

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UK government to appoint first Wales Crown Estate Commissioner

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FOR the first time, the UK government will appoint a Crown Estate Commissioner dedicated to advising on matters in Wales, further integrating Welsh interests in board-level decisions. This move supports existing efforts to ensure that Wales benefits from the push for clean energy, following an agreement facilitated by the Welsh Secretary.

An amendment to the Crown Estate Bill, with cross-party backing from Labour, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats, and crossbenchers, will be accepted at today’s Lords Report Stage (Nov 5). This change mandates the appointment of a Wales-specific Commissioner through the Public Appointments process, with input from the Welsh Government. The appointee will bear “an additional responsibility” to represent Welsh conditions and interests, amplifying Wales’s voice within the Crown Estate.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has collaborated with the Treasury, The Crown Estate, House of Lords members, and the Welsh Government to secure this legislative advancement. The Crown Estate, instrumental in drawing international investment to Wales, supports projects like Floating Offshore Wind in the Celtic Sea, which promises cleaner energy and job creation.

The introduction of a Wales-specific Commissioner strengthens The Crown Estate’s mission to serve the entire UK while averting potential market fragmentation and protecting international investor confidence critical to the net-zero transition.

In a related effort, Great British Energy, the government’s new public energy firm, recently partnered with The Crown Estate to expedite renewable energy advancements. This initiative could attract up to £60bn in private investment, boosting the UK’s journey toward energy independence.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens stated: “This is a landmark step toward ensuring that Welsh prosperity is at the heart of the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower. Our nation stands to benefit hugely from investment in floating offshore wind, and we now have the representation we need to help seize that moment. This demonstrates how Wales benefits directly from its two governments working together, and I’m grateful to Lord Livermore, The Crown Estate, and others for helping to make this happen.”

Sir Robin Budenberg CBE, Chair of The Crown Estate, said: “In seeking to increase the number of Commissioners from eight to twelve, The Crown Estate welcomes the opportunity now presented by this amendment to bring even more direct knowledge and understanding of the areas in which we operate and further strengthen our ability to deliver benefit to the whole of the UK.”

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Crime

Arrests made after large-scale cannabis operation raided in Pembroke Dock

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POLICE in Pembroke Dock have uncovered yet another large-scale cannabis operation, as part of an ongoing clampdown on illegal farms in the area. On Monday (Nov 4), Dyfed-Powys Police executed a search warrant at a property on Dimond Street, where officers found over 500 cannabis plants in a sophisticated cultivation setup.

Two men, aged 26 and 34, have been arrested in connection with the investigation and are currently in police custody. The raid follows a series of similar operations in Pembrokeshire, targeting properties used for illegal drug cultivation.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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