News

Local activists will be in London for mass climate demonstration

Published

2 years ago

March 12, 2023

A LARGE group of residents from Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire are preparing to take part in the mass climate demonstration in London on 21st to 24th April, according to organisers.

The demonstration has been nicknamed ‘The Big One’, The Herald has been told.

Sarah Wright, who was previously on the Cardigan Town Council and a teacher at Coleg Ceredigion, is one of those going. She explained, “The Big One is designed to be a non-disruptive, all inclusive, family friendly demonstration of the breadth and depth of concern amongst ordinary people about the climate crisis. There will be tens of thousands of people demonstrating outside the Houses of Parliament on Friday 21st April, with many returning every day until Monday 24th. The police have been consulted in the arrangements from the start. We want to get the Government’s attention, not to disturb the public. I’m a grandmother and I intend to be there to speak up for a better future for my grandchildren. Unless the UK Government takes radical action the future will be very bleak for all of us, and especially for young people.”

Bus transport has been hired to take people to London for the day from Pembrokeshire, south Ceredigion and Carmarthen, and the bookings show that places are going fast. Similarly, rooms at a hostel have been booked for those who can stay for the whole 4 day demonstration, and this has over half the beds booked already.

Jane Mansfield, a retired nurse, is one of the organisers of the transport and the hostel, and she said, “The bookings show that lots of people are coming who have perhaps never been on a demonstration before, but they feel ‘now is the time’ as the effects of climate change become more and more obvious. We hear about it from world scientists, we see its effects on the news from across the world, with wildfires, floods, storms, rising sea levels, and astonishingly high temperatures. And we see it all around us in the changing climate affecting our lives. I am a gardener and see how the normal seasonal patterns to our weather have changed; it is now a lot more unpredictable. This has big consequences for our food production not just in my garden, but around the globe as we have seen in the shops this winter.”

The demonstration will bring together many movements such as The West Wales Climate Coalition, Friends of the Earth, CND, local Resilience groups and Extinction Rebellion, as well as many individuals of all ages and backgrounds who may not belong to any particular organisation. Banners have been seen in Cardigan, Carmarthen, Pembroke, St.Davids, and Fishguard, declaring ‘April 21st – Unite to Survive’ and ‘Yr Hinsawdd – yn ein dwylo’ (The Climate – in our hands). Many feel that the UK Government is leading us in the wrong direction, actively making the climate worse by granting new licences for coal, oil and gas. The Government’s own climate advisors are saying that they’re not on track to reach net zero in time.

“I am a volunteer at the Cardigan Oxfam shop and we are very aware of how it is a question of climate injustice,” explained Philippa Gibson, who will also be going to the demonstration. “Those in the developing world, such as many African countries, are feeling the effects of climate disaster first and most deeply, although they are the ones who have contributed the least to the problem, as their carbon emissions are tiny compared with those of us in developed countries. ”

Anyone interested in joining the bus to the demonstration, or just finding out more, can contact [email protected] 07717 391611

News

2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards Finalists announced

Published

4 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE finalists for the 2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards have been announced.

In total, 252 nominations were received and, following a selection meeting, the judging panel has named 39 finalists.

Matt Freeman, Manager of Sport Pembrokeshire, said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to provide nominations.

“Every year it gets harder to narrow the nominations down to three finalists and once again the quality of the nominees was enormously high.

“The number and quality of nominees just shows the strength of the sporting scene here in Pembrokeshire.

All the finalists will be invited to a grand presentation ceremony at Folly Farm on Friday, November 29th, where the winners will be announced.

The ceremony will also reveal the winners of two further categories – the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chairman’s Special Achievement Award.

The awards are organised by Sport Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire County Council’s sport development team.

They are sponsored by Sport Pembrokeshire, Valero, Folly Farm and Pure West Radio.

The awards aim to recognise those people who have excelled in sport over the last 12 months, or who have given their time to coaching and organising grass roots sport.

Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2024 – Finalists

(In alphabetical order)

Coach of the Year

Francesca Morgan (Swimming)

Philippa Gale (Netball)

Tom Richards (Tennis)

Female Sporting Achievement

Gracie Griffiths (Race Walking)

Helen Carrington (Powerlifting)

Seren Thorne (Shooting)

Male Sporting Achievement

Jeremy Cross (Tennis)

Rhys Llewellyn (Athletics)

Sam Coleman (Powerboat Racing)

Boys (U16) Sporting Achievement

Carter Heywood (Football)

Hugo Boyce (Cycling)

Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)

Girls (U16) Sporting Achievement

Cerys Griffiths (Swimming)

Chloe John-Driscoll (Shooting)

Ffion Bowen (Football)

Disability Sport Award

Evelyn Thomas (Powerlifting)

Jules King (Crossfit)

Marc Evans (Cricket)

Junior (U16) Disability Sport Award

Finnley Walters (Boxing)

Jac Johnson (Gymnastics)

Lewis Crawford (Boccia)

Unsung Hero

John Laugharne (Rugby)

Owen Shanklin (Pool)

Sue Christopher (Surf Lifesaving)

Team Achievement of the Year

Alan Evans, Andrew Evans & Michael John (Short Mat Bowls)

Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club

Pembrokeshire County Bowls Team

Junior (U16) Team Achievement of the Year

Chaos Thunder U12’s Netball Team

Hakin United AFC u16’s

Neyland Yacht Club Junior Sailing Team

Young Volunteer of the Year

Anna May (Tennis & Surfing)

Caitlin Chapman (Netball)

George Richards (Cricket)

Club Organiser

Nadine Tyrrell (Gymnastics)

Nick Shelmerdine (Cricket)

Paul Hudson (Short Mat Bowls)

Club of the Year

Camrose AFC Women & Girls Football

Haverfordwest Gymnastics Club

Strength Academy Wales Cymru

Pictured above: The 2023 Club of the Year winner – Pembroke Cricket Club.

Crime

Man jailed for Pembroke Dock cannabis farm involvement

Published

7 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Madeline Knox

AN ALBANIAN man, Armando Beti, 37, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Nov 15) for his role in producing class B drugs.

Beti, who has prior convictions in 2022 and 2023, was arrested on October 3, 2024, at 10:00am after police found him hiding in a neighbouring building’s attic. The arrest followed a raid on the former Woolworths building on Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock, where officers discovered three rooms containing 594 cannabis plants. The crop was described as part of a wholesale operation, with an estimated street value of between £64,000 and £196,000, depending on yield.

Using an aerial drone, police tracked Beti as he attempted to escape by crossing two rooftops. He pleaded guilty immediately after his capture, claiming the cannabis farm was already operational when he arrived 10 days earlier. Beti described himself as merely the gardener, tasked with watering the plants, and alleged he was coerced into the role by individuals he met at an immigration detention centre to repay a debt.

Beti’s defence counsel stated: “He is under no illusion regarding the seriousness of his offending. He is eager to start his prison sentence so he can ultimately reunite with his wife in Albania.”

However, Judge Geraint Walters rejected Beti’s claims, citing a pattern of similar excuses in previous cases. The judge noted that Beti had been convicted in Cardiff in 2022 for cultivating over 600 cannabis plants, during which he also claimed to be a coerced gardener with little knowledge of the operation.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Walters said: “People like you need to understand that judges are not completely naive. We know what is going on. We are well aware of the activities of criminal Albanian gangs in this country, as are you.”

Police believe the operation uncovered in Pembroke Dock is linked to a wider network of organised crime targeting rural locations for cannabis cultivation.

Community

Pembs Agricultural Society’s Christmas Fair expands to an all-weekend event

Published

10 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S Christmas Fair will be an all-weekend event next month. The Christmas shopping extravaganza is all set to take place on Saturday, 14 December as well as Sunday, 15 December.

The Parkhouse building on the Haverfordwest Showground will be transformed into a Christmas paradise. There will be even more stalls this year with a wide variety of quality local businesses exhibiting as well as festive music, Santa in his Grotto and an outdoor food court.

Judith Roach and Emma Thomas, the event organisers, said, “We are excited to be able to announce that our Christmas Fair will be on for two days rather than just one this year. We continue to build on the success of last year’s event with twice the opportunities to attend and even more stallholders. It will be the perfect start to the festive season as the Parkhouse Building will be transformed into a one-stop-shop for those preparing for Christmas.”

The Fair will be open from 10am until 4pm and admission is free. Visitors will find unique gifts, handmade decorations, art and beautiful homeware. Some of the county’s very best food and drink producers will also have stalls to give visitors the opportunity to stock up on all their festive treats. From decadent chocolate brownies, fudge, festive spirits to Welsh cheeses, there’s something to tantalise everyone’s tastebuds. There will also be a range of outlets for ‘on the go’ eating and drinking.

One special guest at the event will be everyone’s favourite bearded gentleman in red – Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to attend the event. There will be a charge of £3 per child to visit Santa and all proceeds will go directly to Sandy Bear charity to support their work. Each child will receive a small gift from Santa as part of their visit. Parents can book in advance via the website: www.sandybear.co.uk/santa

Adam Thorne, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s President is looking forward to the festive event. He said, “The Society would like to thank Judith and Emma for all the hours they have put in, voluntarily, to organise the two-day Christmas event. We’re delighted to be able to offer visitors the opportunity to do all their Christmas shopping whilst enjoying the festive atmosphere.”

Follow Pembrokeshire County Show’s Christmas Fair event page on Facebook for a full list of stallholders in the run up to the event.