News
Successful festival of music and dance

THE WEATHER was fine and sunny on Saturday for Cosheston’s festival of music and dance. Arranged by Cosh Call Out Good Neighbours Scheme, a full programme of events was enjoyed all age groups.
A procession from the village centre to the playing field was led by “The Vagrants Crew”. The ladies of Cosheston WI provided a delicious selection of cakes to accompany tea or coffee, making a profit of £490 which was entirely donated by them to Breast Cancer Care Charity. Music was provided by “One Voice Choir”, who performed a selection of songs from around the world, and later the delightful solo voice of young Lucy Jones. An energetic rounders tournament was enjoyed by mixed-age teams, and children found many other amusements like face-painting, colouring tables, boules and juggling equipment. An hour of classical excerpts was provided by “Penfro Minstrels” strings ensemble. The energy levels were raised again by Amber Rich leading a Zumba session and by “Arts Care” who provided a Street Dance workshop. Food was available like ice cream (kindly donated by Upton Farm), made-to-order pizzas and burgers and bacon rolls. Russ and Mel from The Brewery Inn, Cosheston providing the accompanying bar. “The Review” band then took to the stage to complete the evening in style. Cosh Call Out committee are grateful to Valero and NFU Mutual whose generous donations helped to fund the event, and to everyone who contributed to make the day so successful.
News
Milford Haven Buffaloes thank Waterloo Club for support

THE ROYAL ANTEDILUVIAN ORDER OF BUFFALOES, Harbour Lodge 10704, has extended heartfelt thanks to the Waterloo Club in Hakin for their support and generosity over the past 14 months.
The lodge, which is currently in the process of moving to a new venue, has been based at the club since early 2023. During that time, members have successfully raised funds for local charities and supported community initiatives.
A spokesperson said: “We are extremely grateful to the Waterloo Club for their hospitality. Their kindness has helped us continue our charitable work in Milford Haven and beyond. We look forward to continuing our efforts to support the community at our new location.”
Anyone interested in learning more about the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes is encouraged to get in touch via email at: [email protected]
Education
Council shifts stance after backlash over Welsh education survey

New pledge to gather school choice data from all parents — not just those choosing Welsh-medium education
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has revised its position following mounting criticism over its handling of Welsh-medium education policy, agreeing to broaden the scope of its planned parental survey.
The move comes after a political and public backlash to comments made during the Council Cabinet’s April meeting, where Deputy Leader Paul Miller suggested that some parents were choosing Welsh-medium schools not for the language but for newer facilities. His remarks, and the nature of the Cabinet debate, drew sharp criticism from opposition leader Cllr Huw Murphy, the Welsh Language Commissioner, and Cabinet Secretary for the Welsh Language and Culture, Mark Drakeford.
Critics accused the Cabinet of taking an “anti-Welsh” tone and of singling out parents who chose Welsh-medium education. The row escalated after Mr Drakeford told BBC Cymru: “I can’t see why we would ask parents why they choose Welsh or why they choose English… Local authorities should be making the case for choosing Welsh-medium education, not questioning those who do.”
Now, in an apparent attempt to address those concerns and reset the debate, the Council has issued a fresh statement following its Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (May 21). It confirms that data collection will be considered for all parents, not just those opting for Welsh-medium education.
A Council spokesperson said: “Cabinet has today agreed to explore the collection of information from all parents, regardless of language preference, in order to better understand school choice across the county.”
The updated resolution now asks the Director of Education to explore methods for capturing data on the relative importance of different factors influencing school choice. These include language preference, learning outcomes, quality of facilities, transport provision, and support for pupils with Additional Learning Needs (ALN).
The Council says the data will help inform future decisions on modernising the school estate, ensuring they reflect the priorities of a broad and representative sample of parents.
Despite the softened stance, the issue remains politically sensitive. Cllr Huw Murphy, whose formal “call-in” prompted the Council to revisit its earlier decision, has argued that any perception of bias against Welsh-medium provision risks undermining public trust and the Council’s obligations under the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP).
The Welsh Language Commissioner had also expressed concern over the original approach, stating that questioning only parents choosing Welsh-medium schools was “not compatible” with the Council’s statutory duties.
The revised position may go some way toward cooling tensions, but the debate has already highlighted deeper divisions over language policy, school choice, and how local authorities should approach data collection in the context of bilingual education.
The Herald will continue to follow developments closely as the Council works through the next phase of its data-gathering plans.
Charity
St Davids RNLI duck race returns this bank holiday

700 ducks to race the River Alun in fun-filled fundraiser
ST DAVIDS RNLI is preparing to welcome crowds once again for its much-loved duck race, which takes place on bank holiday Monday, 26 May, on the River Alun outside St Davids Cathedral.
Building on the success of last year’s event, this year’s race will see 700 plastic ducks released into the river, all competing for cash prizes. The race begins at 1:00pm, with festivities kicking off from 11:00am.
Visitors can enjoy a pop-up shop, home-made cakes, and the chance to name a duck for just £2 – with all proceeds supporting the vital, lifesaving work of the RNLI in St Davids.
“The duck race is always a fantastic day out for all ages and a brilliant way to support the lifeboat station,” said Simone Eade, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer. “Every duck sold helps us continue our mission of saving lives at sea.”
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