News
New school ‘miraculous achievement’ says Princess Royal at official opening
THE PRINCSS ROYAL flew into Pembrokeshire by royal helicopter on Friday (Oct14), to visit Havard Stables in Dinas Cross first thing in the morning, to officially open Haverfordwest High School in the middle of the day, and then it was off to the World Rowing Coastal Championships Beach Sprints in Saundersfoot.
The Herald was at the school for the visit.
Accompanied by headteacher Jane Harries, Princess Anne met the Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire County Council Will Bramble, Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham and other dignitaries before taking a look around the school, including visiting the sixth form area where Her Royal Highness spent time talking with pupils, including taking time to chat with head boy Niall Griffiths and head girls Lucy Ashton and Aimee Pettit.
She was then shown round the new school visiting classrooms, the library, the sixth form super room.
In a service in the main hall, Her Royal Highness was treated to fantastic music performed by the school choir. Speeches were made, and after unveiling the plaque to a round of applause, she was presented with a painting by art teacher Chris Prosser.
Hearing how the project was delivered ahead of schedule and on budget during the Covid-19 pandemic, a ‘miraculous achievement’ is how Her Royal Highness Princess Anne described Haverfordwest High VC as she closed the proceedings in the hall.
Princess Anne added: “To get it right for everybody in a school of this size hovers on the miraculous,”
“I hope everyone will be pleased with the extraordinary facilities you have here and make the best possible use of them. I am so delighted today to join you in celebrating its opening.”
Later at the second official opening of the day, this time the sports hall Cllr Paul Miller, Member for Development said: “We are really serious about the future of sport in our county and this is an exciting time for everyone”
“The school should be very proud for organising such a wonderful event, which went like clockwork, and the children were fantastic.”
Following the tour, the opening ceremony took place in the hall, where The Princess Royal was formally welcomed by Councillor Guy Woodham, Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language.
Cllr Woodham said: “We are indebted to so many people for their part in creating such a wonderful and inspiring school. I know we are all incredibly proud of what has been achieved.
“With its outstanding facilities together with the unrivalled dedication, care and encouragement of its teachers and school staff, Haverfordwest High VC School provides an inspirational environment where pupils can achieve excellence together.”
The school choir then gave a wonderful performance of Singabahambayo Thina, before Chair of Governors Paul Lucas gave the vote of thanks.
“Ma’am, we take this opportunity to offer you and the Royal Family our sincere condolences following the loss of our former sovereign Queen Elizabeth, and thank you for formally opening this wonderful school and leisure complex,” he said.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of gifts by former head prefects Caitlin Arran, Isla Davies and Anna Long. The gifts comprised a commissioned painting by Art Teacher Christopher Prosser of Watwick Bay in Pembrokeshire – the location was chosen as Her Royal Highness visited the beach with her family as a child – and a book of condolence from the pupils and staff following the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Following the visit, Headteacher Mrs Harries said the whole school had been delighted to welcome The Princess Royal.
“It was an honour and privilege to welcome Her Royal Highness and to show her our fantastic facilities that will provide educational excellence for generations to come,” she said.
“We have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and interest from our pupils, and we are so very proud of them today. Their pride in their work and the school is exceptional.
“The pupils were offered the opportunity to be part of the ceremony in the hall and provided thought-provoking reasons that clearly demonstrated how much it meant to them that a member of the Royal family was performing the ceremony.”
The Princess Royal then concluded her guided tour with a visit to the school’s sports provision, known as the Pembrokeshire Sports Village, and officially opened the facilities.
Cllr Paul Miller, Deputy Leader for Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “‘As you can see, the facilities are outstanding – from this fantastic eight-court sports hall, to the wonderful 3G rugby pitch, Strength Academy Wales, and much more.
“We’re serious about the future of sport in our county and we’re investing in it. It’s a genuinely exciting time and I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say how delighted I am to see the culmination of such an ambitious project.’
Haverfordwest High VC School provides educational and sports facilities for 1500 pupils aged 11-16 and 250 sixth form students. Jointly funded by Pembrokeshire County Council and Welsh Government under its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, the school was completed ahead of schedule in August 2022 despite the challenges of Covid and Brexit. The project management team were from the County Council and the contractors were Morgan Sindall Construction.
The Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles said: “I would like to congratulate all involved in the opening of the new Haverfordwest High School. I am delighted that through our Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme we have not only been able to provide an inspiring learning environment for children and young people in the area, but also exceptional sports and outdoor facilities which will benefit the whole community.”
Rob Williams, area director of Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We are incredibly proud to have played a role in the delivery of Haverfordwest High VC School and would like to extend our thanks to The Princess Royal for adding a real sense of occasion to the official opening.
“This school will make a real impact on the lives of local people with first-class sports facilities and will provide an enhanced learning environment for pupils to be inspired for generations to come. It is a key contribution to the Welsh Government’s important 21st Century School programme and one which we are very enthusiastic to collaborate on.”
News
Campaigners urge Welsh Government to adopt proportional representation for Local Elections
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
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.
Business
Thousands of homes in rural Wales gain from faster 4G boost
RURAL Wales is seeing a major upgrade in mobile connectivity, with faster 4G now live in several areas. Seven locations across North, South West, and West Wales are benefitting from new 4G mast upgrades funded by the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN), aimed at closing the digital gap between rural and urban areas.
The upgrades, which went live on Thursday (Nov 14), bring improved 4G coverage to communities including Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park, and Bontgoch. Local businesses, emergency services, and residents are expected to benefit from faster internet access, which supports daily communication, business opportunities, and economic growth.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Fast, reliable connectivity is essential for modern life and should be available from Cardiff to the remotest parts of Wales. Today’s upgrades bring us closer to making this a reality.”
SUPPORTING DIGITAL INCLUSION
As part of the rollout, Peter Kyle and Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant visited Ebbw Vale to discuss digital inclusion with charity and industry leaders. They met with representatives at BGfm, a digital inclusion hub in Blaenau Gwent, to learn about how connectivity impacts daily life in Welsh communities.
Telecoms Minister Bryant said: “We are working tirelessly to make sure rural communities aren’t left behind online.
“These upgrades mean businesses can now operate without connectivity limitations, 999 services are better equipped to respond, and residents and tourists can stay connected across the Welsh countryside.”
ADDRESSING CONNECTIVITY GAPS
An estimated 1.5 million homes across the UK remain without internet access, limiting people’s ability to access essential services such as banking and healthcare. In addition to the SRN upgrades, the Chancellor has allocated over £500 million in next year’s budget for digital infrastructure expansion, targeting these underserved areas.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens highlighted the importance of this investment, particularly for rural Wales, where fast, reliable internet can be transformative.
“Connectivity is critical for day-to-day life in rural areas – from supporting local businesses to ensuring emergency services are just a call away,” Stevens said.
The upgraded masts, previously limited to EE customers and emergency 999 calls, now serve a wider user base, bringing essential internet access to more people without requiring new infrastructure.
Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, said: “With the activation of five new SRN sites, Wales is seeing the tangible benefits of the Shared Rural Network, bringing crucial connectivity to rural communities.”
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN REMOTE WALES
The improvements come alongside a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties, helping future-proof digital access in even the most isolated locations.
The latest upgrades mark another step in the Government’s mission to improve mobile coverage and close the connectivity gap across Wales, creating opportunities and supporting economic growth across rural communities.
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