News

Protestors: ‘Health meeting is a load of bull’

Published

12 years ago

August 5, 2014

WITHYBUSH Hospital’s Conference Centre was the scene of protests on Thursday as the Local Health Board held its first executive board meeting in the county since confirming its intention to proceed with the imminent transfer of vital services from Haverfordwest to Carmarthen. Ahead of the meeting, the Herald spoke to some of those gathered outside: Heather Scammell from Haverfordwest told us: “It’s vitally important that we retain core services at Withybush. Carmarthen is just too far to get to in an emergency and I know from my own experience how vitally important it is to get there quickly when push comes to shove. “When he was 13, my son collapsed into a diabetic coma. He was rushed to A&E at Withybush and I was told he wouldn’t have made it in time to get to Carmarthen. He was in a paediatric ward for a week, in a high dependency unit and then on to an ordinary ward. He had open access to that ward as a child. “I could get there in five minutes, if there were subsequent problems. It was a safe environment for him to be treated in. If A&E had been reduced to a 12 hour service, my son would be dead. “My husband died in the intensive care unit five years ago; they are talking about reducing critical care. The three weeks he was there I could stay there and get there quickly. It was such an important part of his being ready to die and me coming to terms with what was happening. If he had died on the way to Glangwili I would probably still be in pieces. “We were also able to donate his organs which I regarded as so important, it helped me so much. We and the recipients of the organs would have been denied that. Just because they have decided to apply an urban model into a rural area where we don’t have the infrastructure. We do not trust the Health Board or the Welsh Assembly Government. “I think it’s partly a money saving issue and they have this model – everything is ‘sucked’ to Carmarthen. The roads deteriorate as you cross the border (into Pembrokeshire). Carmarthen voted them (the Assembly) in – we didn’t. “A hospital contributes so much to the economy. People, staff, will have to move away. The knock on effect will be massive. Already I know of one couple who have chosen not to retire down here because they don’t trust the Health Board to provide the health care they need. My mother was ill recently and I felt I couldn’t bring her down here. I no longer have the confidence it would have been safe to bring her down from Stafford.” Moira Lewis of Goodwick was even more trenchant in her criticism: “This is the slippery slope of downgrading Withybush Hospital”. Discussing whether the Board would address protestors’ concerns she said: “I walked out in disgust as I could see it was a whitewash and they were only here to put over only what they were going to do. They hadn’t taken any notice of the letters they had received, or the demonstrations. “I walked out when they started saying they were going to give evidence of a patient experience in Withybush, that had nothing to do with the cuts, it was about a woman with diabetes, how she arrived in hospital etc etc. “I said this has got nothing to do with what is going on in Withybush, this is a load of bull, it’s disgraceful – you haven’t listened to anybody and taken no notice of demonstrations. They (the Health Board) are determined to put through whatever changes they have suggested no matter what, to the detriment of people in the county and people will suffer as a result and there could be deaths. “It’s like we are becoming a third world country here. I don’t know what we can do – the Court of Human Rights maybe – we must discuss that with the SWAT committee.” The Pembrokeshire Herald can reveal that a key element of the muchvaunted “safety net” announced by Welsh Health Minister Mark Drakeford is still not finalised. The Special Care Baby Unit is due to close on August 4. An advertisement to crew the 24/7 single ambulance that will replace emergency maternity admissions in Withybush has a closing date 24 hours afterwards. That advertisement indicates that the Board is seeking 12 paramedic staff to replace inpatient consultant-led services for emergency mother and baby admissions, offering salaries of between £21,424 and £27,901 for a twelve month secondment. The fact that the secondment is only of one year’s duration adds fuel to concerns that the Board, which has not yet even begun to build the midwifeled unit scheduled for Withybush, and might seek to renege on its pledge to retain maternity services at the hospital. The Herald has been told by hospital staff that they have been told that if there are problems in delivering a midwife-led service at Haverfordwest, the Maternity Unit will close. The Herald also understands from hospital staff members that the Board has told them that they must transfer to Glangwili without compensation when their duties are redeployed or they will be deemed to have “voluntarily” left the Board’s employment. In a separate story the Herald asked the Health Board to comment on the rumoured withdrawal of the Out of Hours Doctors Service at South Pembs. The Board responded to our request and a spokesperson told us: “The rumour is not true. The service at South Pembrokeshire Hospital has not been withdrawn. We do regularly have an Out of Hours GP based there on a Saturday and Sunday mornings. Recently, due to ongoing shortages of GPs, there have been occasions when this has been unable to happen. On these occasions, the out of hours service is still available at Withybush Hospital.”

Community

Tenby 10k raises more than £20,000 for Paul Sartori

Published

21 minutes ago

June 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A POPULAR Tenby road race has raised more than £20,000 for Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

Runners and sponsors taking part in last year’s Tenby 10k raised £20,559.07 for the Pembrokeshire charity, which provides hospice care to people in their own homes.

The race, organised by Waterfront Community Runners, took place in October 2025 and was well supported by locals and visitors, who lined the route through the town to cheer on competitors.

Laura Hugman, Chief Executive of Paul Sartori, has now received the cheque, presented by a selection of those who took part in the event.

This year’s Tenby 10k will take place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, on a closed-road, two-lap course through the centre of Tenby.

More than 400 runners have already signed up, with entries now past 40 per cent capacity and organisers expecting the event to sell out again.

Anyone wishing to take part can enter at www.waterfrontcommunityrunners.co.uk.

All proceeds from this year’s race will again be donated to the Paul Sartori Foundation.

Caption:

Laura Hugman, Chief Executive of Paul Sartori, receives the cheque from Tenby 10k runners and organisers.

Community

Forgotten wartime archive found in Pembroke Dock attic after 80 years

Published

36 minutes ago

June 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Remarkable family collection reveals story of father and son who served through two world wars

A REMARKABLE untouched family archive documenting the lives of two Pembroke Dock servicemen who fought for Britain across both World Wars has been discovered in the attic of a terraced house in the town.

The collection, found at a property on Lewis Street, contains original military papers, wartime identity documents, Army service certificates and an old Dyfed driving licence belonging to members of the Atcherley family.

The archive was uncovered by local resident Ryan Guy, who said he was stunned by what he found hidden away in the loft of his home at 33 Lewis Street.

At the heart of the discovery are records belonging to father and son Samuel and James Atcherley, whose military careers spanned decades of British history.

World War One soldier

Among the most significant finds is an original discharge certificate belonging to Samuel Atcherley, who served with the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.

The document shows Samuel enlisted at Shrewsbury on July 19, 1909, before going on to serve throughout the early years of the First World War.

Military records found in the attic show he was discharged on September 6, 1916 after being declared “no longer physically fit for war service” following more than seven years with the Colours.

The papers also paint a vivid picture of the soldier himself. Samuel was described as standing 5ft 6in tall, with fair complexion, grey eyes and blonde hair.

Experts in military history say surviving original service records from the First World War are increasingly rare, particularly where complete family papers remain together.

Secret wartime work

The archive also sheds light on the military career of Samuel’s son, James Henry Atcherley, who served during the Second World War and into the post-war period.

Among the papers is an Army Certificate of Service confirming James reached the rank of Sergeant and served for almost twenty years.

One of the most intriguing discoveries is his wartime military service book carrying stark warnings about secrecy, including instructions that “Military Secrets Must Be Guarded In Peace And War”.

The wording suggests James may have worked in a sensitive military role during a period when Britain was developing radar and communications systems that proved crucial to the war effort.

A surviving wartime National Registration Identity Card lists James Atcherley as living at 33 Lewis Street, Pembroke Dock, linking the documents directly to the property where they were uncovered.

A glimpse into local history

The find offers a rare snapshot of ordinary life in Pembroke Dock across much of the twentieth century.

Also discovered among the papers was an original Great Britain driving licence issued through Dyfed County Council in 1976, again showing James Atcherley still living at the same address.

The Herald understands the collection may include further military material and family records yet to be examined.

Ryan Guy said he hopes the discovery will help preserve the memory of the Atcherley family and provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of local men who served their country during some of its darkest hours.

The Herald would be keen to hear from anyone who remembers the Atcherley family or has further information about their military service.

Community

Tenby station works to bring five overnight road closures

Published

1 hour ago

June 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FIVE overnight road closures are to take place in Tenby as major work continues on the town’s £8.3m railway station upgrade.

Station Road will be closed overnight to allow heavy machinery and bridge steelwork to be delivered for the Access for All scheme at Tenby railway station.

The project, being delivered by Network Rail with contractor AmcoGiffen, will provide step-free access to both platforms through a new footbridge and lifts.

Work began earlier this year, with the old footbridge removed in March using 220-tonne and 60-tonne cranes. A temporary walkway was installed so passengers could continue moving between platforms while the new structure is built.

Network Rail said the scheme is now at the stage where permanent foundation works are being completed on the platform, ahead of bridge steelwork being installed from July 4.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “The scheme will provide step-free access to both platforms via a new footbridge and lifts, making it easier for disabled passengers, as well as those travelling with pushchairs or heavy luggage, to move around the station independently.

“To maintain the safety of both the public and our teams, Network Rail have worked closely with the local authority to implement a road closure while the steelwork and cranes are delivered and installed.”

Pembrokeshire County Council said Station Road will close from its junction with Warren Street south to its junction with Park Place.

The closure will be in place on Tuesday, June 30, from 9:00pm to 5:00am, and again from Saturday, July 4, for five nights between 9:00pm and 5:00am.

The council said the restriction is needed “to facilitate abnormal load movements in conjunction with the installation of the pedestrian bridge at Tenby Train Station.”

A signed diversion will be in place, with the route depending on the direction of travel.

Traffic management operatives will be on site throughout the works, and the one-way order affecting Harding Street will be temporarily suspended to allow limited two-way access to properties where practicable.

The station upgrade is expected to be completed this autumn.