News

Narberth: Groups join forces to improve youth project

Published

3 years ago

August 4, 2022

TWO Narberth Community Service Organisations have joined forces to attack much-needed internal improvements to The Bustop Narberth Youth Project which is located in a building at the Lower Car Park in Narberth Town Centre.

Councillor Mrs Sue Rees is a trustee of the charitable youth facility and she explained that in recent years they have managed to obtain funds, donations and some grants towards making the exterior of the building watertight by cladding it in pvc-covered mild steel green sheets which certainly enhanced the external appearance of the facility.

The building is used by the Narberth Explorer Scouts and also the Army Cadets for meetings and youth activities. The cadets are the Narberth Detachment, E Squadron, Dyfed and Glamorgan Army Cadet Force.

Their website is www.armycadets.com and they are always open to new joiners, both cadets and adult volunteers.

During the past couple of years they kindly volunteered to assist Narberth & Whitland Rotary by marshalling the popular Santa Run around the Narberth town centre streets.

During a subsequent talk to Rotary by Staff Sergeant Instructor Gideon Carpenter it was revealed that the interior of the Bustop building needed decorative improvement to the two toilets and also they were seeking to have the kitchen re-fitted.

This is where Rotary became involved and Past President Elaine Bradbury, proprietor of Electrical Contractors Havenkey Ltd, initially encouraged members to volunteer their services to assist. Her husband an Rotarian and co-owner Rob Bradbury surveyed the building with Architect Rotarian Ken Morgan who was tasked to organise the work.

He contacted Narberth & Whitland Round Table members to see if they might help out. Without hesitation the Round Table members donated £250 to help secure the required building materials for the toilets.

Rotary President Phil Thompson will now oversee the work and he recently met Councillor Sue Rees and two of the Round Table members together with a squad of the cadets to officially launch the voluntary project.

A significant help in this project was given by Mr Phil Murray, the manager of D P Building g Supplies Ltd., of Narberth and Llanboidy. He enlisted the help of directors Dorian and Darren Phillips to secure advantageous discounts from the manufacturers of the internal decorative cladding panels for the toilets. Trustee Sue Rees had also secured a donation of kitchen fittings from a family member and so the project is now due to start in the immediate future.

Ken explained: “We are extremely grateful to Narberth & Whitland Round Table for their financial contribution which has kick-started the sourcing of materials and Councillor Sue Rees’s donation of the kitchen fittings gives us a good head start. I am sure we could not have achieved so much without the help of these organisations and D P Building Supplies Ltd.”

The Rotarians will now set about stripping out the toilet walls and the kitchen layout before starting to assemble the new kit.

President Phil Thompson will encourager Rotarians to volunteer the free time on a rota basis to undertake the various tasks. If any locals would like to assist in this project please call Ken Morgan on 07972378301.

The Army cadets would also be delighted to hear from any parents or young persons who might be interested in joining in with Cadet force. They meet in August 02,04,09,11,16 and 18 during the evenings 18.30 hours to 21.30 hours.

DP Building Supplies Ltd delivered the toilet wall panels in packs

Crime

Jury told to continue deliberations in historic child sex abuse trial

Published

48 minutes ago

December 18, 2025

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Judge says majority verdict may be accepted after jurors report deadlock at Swansea Crown Court

A JURY has been told to continue its deliberations in the trial of a Milford Haven man accused of historic child sex offences after indicating it could not reach a unanimous verdict.

Thomas Kirk, aged 50, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, is on trial at Swansea Crown Court accused of oral rape and sexual assault of a child. The offences are alleged to have taken place in Pembrokeshire between 2007 and 2009, when the complainant was aged between thirteen and fifteen.

At midday on Wednesday (Dec 18), the jury returned to court to say they were unable to reach a verdict on which all jurors agreed.

Judge Paul Thomas KC told the jury that while he would be prepared to accept a majority verdict if at least ten jurors were in agreement, he still wanted them to continue deliberations in an effort to reach a unanimous decision.

The jury was then sent back out to continue considering its verdict.

The trial continues.

Crime

Police appeal to locate 69-year-old man wanted in harassment investigation

Published

1 hour ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for information to help locate a man from the Ammanford area who is wanted in connection with a harassment offence.

Alan Tait, aged 69, is being sought by officers as part of an ongoing investigation.

Police believe he may currently be in the Derbyshire area, but say he also has links to South Wales and Gwent.

Anyone with information that could assist officers in locating him is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.

Charity

Bluestone Foundation marks year of impact with more than £60,000 for local causes

Published

1 hour ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE BLUESTONE FOUNDATION, the charitable arm of Bluestone National Park Resort, has marked a significant year of community investment after raising and distributing more than £60,000 to support projects across Pembrokeshire in 2025.

Run in partnership with the Pembrokeshire Association for Voluntary Services (PAVS), the Foundation has continued to expand its reach, backing a wide range of charities and community organisations working at the heart of the county.

During the year, the Foundation’s Community Fund delivered three rounds of grants, supporting projects focused on wellbeing, inclusion, creativity, and environmental protection.

Environmental organisations including BlueGreen Cymru, Greener Growth CIC and Sea Trust Wales received funding, alongside wellbeing and inclusion groups such as ASD Family Help, Get the Boys a Lift, No Shame Foundation and Silbers CIC.

Creative, youth and heritage organisations including Little Grebe Creative CIC, Pater Hall Community Trust, Milford Haven Community Society, Urdd Gobaith Cymru and VC Gallery also benefited.

In total, £32,968.57 was awarded through the Community Fund in 2025.

Fundraising events held at the Blue Lagoon Water Park generated a further £19,500 in unrestricted income. Under the Foundation’s funding model, 75 per cent of that money is passed directly to charities, with the remaining 25 per cent placed into a flexible fund to support causes that fall outside the Community Fund’s criteria.

Flexible funding totalling £4,500 was used this year to support initiatives including Sport Pembrokeshire’s Fit and Fed project, refurbishment work at Martletwy Young Farmers Club hall, Bloomfield Bus and Green Dragon Bus services, and Nacro’s Christmas appeal, providing food, warm clothing and essential items to people in crisis.

The Foundation also supported the PATCH Christmas Toy Appeal, encouraging staff and visitors at Bluestone to donate gifts for families referred to the charity during the festive period.

In addition, more than one hundred fundraising events across the region were supported through prize donations from the Foundation, including over 200 family passes to the Blue Lagoon Water Park, 32 overnight spa breaks and nine Bluestone holiday breaks.

Marten Lewis, Chair of the Bluestone Foundation said: “This year’s achievements reflect the heart of who we are at Bluestone. The Foundation exists to uplift the people and places that make Pembrokeshire such a special community.

“The impact of our partners, grant recipients and fundraising efforts in 2025 shows what is possible when we work together, and we are proud to see the difference it continues to make across the county.”

Looking ahead to 2026, the Foundation has confirmed continued support for Sport Pembrokeshire’s Fit and Fed project and will act as gold sponsor of the DPJ Foundation’s Macchu Picchu trek.

Five further Blue Lagoon fundraising events are already scheduled between February and August, supporting Local Cadets, Belles Story, Martletwy YFC Hall, Blue Horizons Coastal Adventure and Friends of Portfield School.

Tickets for those events are available via the Bluestone Foundation’s Eventbrite page.

For more information about the Bluestone Foundation, visit the Bluestone website.