News

The Queen in Pembrokeshire

Published

2 years ago

September 19, 2022

OVER the course of her long reign, it would be a stretch to say Queen Elizabeth II was a regular visitor to Pembrokeshire.

However, from her first official visit in 1955 to her final one in 2014, she would see how Pembrokeshire changed over the decades.

When she arrived at the River Cleddau on the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1955, the waterway looked much different than it does today.

When the royal children Charles and Anne disembarked to visit the beach at Lindsway Bay, they enjoyed a different view than modern visitors.

Instead of refineries, the relics of Second World War radar and aircraft stations fringed the estuary, and farmland sloped down to the river on either side.

The Royal Dockyard at Pembroke Dock closed in 1926 but still housed 210 Squadron of the RAF and the iconic Sunderland aeroplanes, a legacy of the War when the town was home to the largest operational base for flying boats in the world.

Pembrokeshire’s population fell after the War. The economy was still rural, and there was little heavy industry. The main towns retained their historical character, still littered with evidence of some’s medieval origins and their nineteenth-century expansion.

During the three-day visit, apart from Pembroke Dock, the Queen visited Dale, Neyland, Haverfordwest, Pembroke, and the cathedral city of St Davids.

When the Queen and Prince Philip returned to Pembrokeshire three years later, the Haven’s age of oil was just starting.

The coming of modern industry would change Pembrokeshire forever.

In 1960, Prince Philip attended the official opening of the ESSO refinery; within five years, the Regent refinery was online.

By the time of the Queen’s next official visit in 1968, the Haven would be much changed.

Construction of the “new” Pembroke Power Station was well underway. Her Majesty toured the new, state-of-the-art Gulf Refinery.

When she returned nine years later to mark her silver jubilee, Pembrokeshire’s oil industry was already at the start of its long and slow decline.

On June 7, the County’s streets thronged with people celebrating the Silver Jubilee at street parties that sometimes stretched long into the evening.

During the gloriously sunny weather that accompanied her visit on June 23, the Queen travelled to Milford Haven and Haverfordwest while crowds filled the streets as the royal motorcade whisked her through Pembroke Dock en route to the County’s two largest towns.

Silver Jubilee celebrations in Haverfordwest 1977 (Image credit Paul Lucas)

Well-wishers packed Haverfordwest’s High Street fifteen-deep on either side as the royal party visited the town’s Shire Hall.

During her visit to Milford Haven the same day, the royal party could reflect on how the town had rapidly expanded as industry overtook the town’s fishing industry.

By 1982, the old certainties had faded further.

The early 1980s recession hit Pembrokeshire hard. While the revamp of the now-Texaco refinery provided short-term relief from the oil industry’s decline, the County the Queen visited in 1982 was in a worse economic situation than it had been since the 1950s.

Even during the salad days of refinery building, unemployment remained stubbornly above the national average. Now, Pembrokeshire was under the cosh.

Crowds still turned out in large numbers on Haverfordwest High Street as the Queen strolled down it flanked by flagbearers from the Royal British Legion.

The 1982 visit was particularly notable for being the first time the Queen awarded the traditional Maundy Money in Wales.

The BBC broadcast the ancient ceremony live from St Davids Cathedral, where the city centre and cathedral close were packed with onlookers trying to get a glimpse of the monarch.

The broadcast can still be viewed on YouTube. While the commentary borders on the comically reverent, the public’s enthusiasm remains clear.

In 1995, the Queen arrived in Solva on the Royal Yacht Britannia, having sailed from Cornwall.

During her visit, she re-conferred the city status on St Davids it had lost in 1886.

The trip was planned months in advance, and the visit’s purpose was its ceremonial aspect.

However, the Queen changed the programme to travel to Haverfordwest and meet the wives and children of five servicemen from the Royal Welch Fusiliers (based at Brawdy and of which she was Colonel-in-Chief) held hostage in Bosnia during the Balkan wars.

The tone of the coverage is markedly less reverential than thirteen years before, and the vox pops notably less strained and affected in tone.

In 2001, the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrived at Haverfordwest Station. They travelled to St David’s Cathedral to open the restored Porth-y-Twr (gatehouse).

In the afternoon, she opened County Hall, Haverfordwest, and later visited Pembroke Dock Community School and officially opened it.

Afterwards, the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended a Garden Party at Pembroke Castle before being whisked off to the next round of royal engagements.

In 2014, and always a keen horsewoman, The Queen visited Cotts Farm Equine Hospital at Robeston Wathen, where she was greeted by Narberth Scouts, before heading to one of Pembrokeshire’s business success stories at Prince’s Gate, Tavernspite, where she witnessed the production of the spring water that made the company’s name in the company of children from Tavernspite and Templeton schools.

The Queen and Prince Philip ate lunch at Picton Castle before heading to Pembroke Dock, her first landing point in Pembrokeshire almost sixty years before.

Having lived through so much of history, the Queen’s return to the town book-ended her visits to our County.

In 1955, Pembrokeshire was still emerging from the end of the Second World War.

Her Majesty saw the tail end of the County’s military connections and the dawning of industry.

Returning in 2014, she opened a heritage centre which memorialises the past through which she lived and saw the beginnings of a new economic direction for the County as it looked to the sea and tide for energy instead of oil.

From pastoral to industrial and post-industrial, ceremonial to personal to embodying a living heritage, the Queen saw Pembrokeshire over seven decades.

And those who saw her while she was here won’t forget their experiences.

Community

Officials announced for 2026 Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire

Published

3 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD returns to Pembrokeshire in 2026, and organisers have named the officials who will steer this major cultural event over the next year and a half.

With the artistic and local committees already established, meetings to finalise competitions and adjudicators are underway to ensure the List of Competitions is ready by spring. Committee members have also been voting over the past weeks to elect key officials for the Executive Committee.

John Davies, former leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, has been appointed Chair of the Executive Committee. Known for his deep connection to Pembrokeshire and extensive experience with national organisations, Davies aims to make the Eisteddfod a true community event, welcoming involvement from all corners of the region.

Tegryn Jones, Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, takes on the role of Deputy Chair (Strategy). With a strong passion for Welsh culture and language, Jones brings a wealth of experience working with local communities, visitors, and volunteers across three counties.

Deputy Chair (Culture) is Carys Ifan, Director of Canolfan Egin and a seasoned cultural organiser. Based in Llangrannog and originally from Llandudoch, Ifan has led numerous artistic and community projects across the region.

Cris Tomos, a community development veteran with over 30 years of experience, will lead the 2026 Eisteddfod Local Fund. Working with PLANED, a community development charity, Tomos has supported countless community enterprises and co-operatives in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Carmarthenshire.

Non Davies, recently elected as Executive Committee Secretary, brings extensive cultural management expertise as Ceredigion County Council’s Corporate Manager for Culture. Having chaired the Cardigan Local Fund Committee for the 2022 Ceredigion Eisteddfod, Davies is well-versed in managing cultural projects.

National Eisteddfod Chief Executive, Betsan Moses, said: “We’re looking forward to working with John and the team over the next few months as we prepare for the 2026 Eisteddfod.

“There’s almost a quarter of a century since the Eisteddfod was last held in Pembrokeshire, and we’re very much looking forward to returning to the area. 2026 is an important year for us as we celebrate 850 years since the first Eisteddfod was held in Cardigan Castle in 1176.

“We’re looking forward to working in a new way within a catchment area which includes parts of another two counties, which is, of course, a chance to work with local people in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire again.”

Further announcements are expected in the coming weeks, including the sale of competition prizes and opportunities to donate the Crown and the Chair.

The National Eisteddfod will be held in Llantood from August 1–8, 2026.

News

Campaigners urge Welsh Government to adopt proportional representation for Local Elections

Published

4 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CAMPAIGNERS are calling on the Welsh Government to introduce the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system for local elections, following moves by two councils to shift away from the First Past the Post (FPTP) system being blocked on technical grounds.

Yesterday (Nov 14), Ceredigion Council voted narrowly, with an 18 to 17 majority, in favor of adopting STV. This follows Gwynedd Council’s decision last month, where 65% of councillors backed the move. However, both councils have been prevented from implementing STV due to a requirement for a two-thirds majority under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

In recent consultations, public support for STV has been overwhelming, with over 70% in Gwynedd and 67% in Ceredigion favoring the change. Only Powys Council rejected the proposal, despite 60.5% of its respondents supporting STV. Campaigners argue that the current system deprives voters of representation, citing that over 100,000 people were denied a vote in the 2022 elections due to uncontested seats.

The Electoral Reform Society Cymru (ERS Cymru) highlights the contrast with Scotland, where the introduction of STV for local elections in 2007 has significantly reduced uncontested seats. According to ERS Cymru, Scotland has had fewer uncontested seats in the last four elections combined than Gwynedd Council recorded alone in 2022.

Jess Blair, Director of ERS Cymru, said:

“Decisions made in council chambers affect everyone in those areas, so every vote should count. It’s absurd that councils choosing STV are blocked by a technicality, leaving them stuck with an outdated system that denies representation to thousands. The Welsh Government must act to avoid repeating the undemocratic outcomes of the last elections.”

Campaigners are now calling on the Welsh Government to introduce STV across all councils in Wales, ensuring representation that reflects the electorate’s wishes.

Business

Upgrades completed at Port of Milford Haven’s simulator suite

Published

5 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

UPGRADES have been completed to state-of-the-art equipment within the Port of Milford Haven’s navigation simulator suite at Milford Waterfront enabling marine professionals to receive bespoke specialist training. The virtual reality simulation system can safely replicate a range of scenarios that seafarers may experience in real world situations such as extreme weather conditions, emergency situations and escort tug work.

The upgrades provided by Netherlands-based company MARIN contain the latest hardware in terms of processing power and graphics, as well as upgrades to MARIN’s ‘Dolphin’ software, increasing the capability to create scenarios. These are complemented with new 4k visuals on 75” screens which increase the depth and field of vision, adding to the realism.

Recently, a training day was led by Training Pilot Captain Mark Johnson, assisted by ex-Pilot Andy Hillier, involving members of the Svitzer team as well as Pilots Matt Roberts and Ian Coombes. As part of the scenario, they were faced with a loss of engine power and steering along with worsening weather and sea conditions. The Pilots had to communicate with Svitzer in order to successfully instruct them on how to tow and direct a drifting tanker. While scenarios like these are uncommon within port operations, it is important to rehearse procedures that would be implemented if they are required and enhances participants’ skill sets.

Marine Pilot and Simulator Instructor, Captain Ewan McNicoll, said “This simulator suite has future proofed our training capabilities, both internally for Pilots and marine staff, but also externally for clients wishing to use the facility, be it for training purposes or research and development. We can create any type of scenario with any type of ship, ranging from practicing ship handling manoeuvres to emergency situations, it really is game changing! Working with our partners at MARIN has been a complete success and I am very proud of our new facility.”

For more information about training at the navigation simulation suite please contact the Port of Milford Haven at [email protected] or 01646 696100.