News
King Charles relinquishes lease on Welsh estate in Carmarthenshire
KING CHARLES has made the decision to terminate the lease on his Welsh estate, located near the picturesque village of Myddfai.
The enchanting Llwynywermod estate, comprising the former coach house and farm buildings, is nestled amidst 192 acres of idyllic rolling countryside. It was acquired by the Duchy of Cornwall estate on behalf of the then prince in March 2007, following a 40-year quest to find the perfect location.
According to The Telegraph, since the Duchy of Cornwall was passed to Prince William, the King has been paying rent for his tenure at Llwynywermod. However, Buckingham Palace has now confirmed that earlier this year, the King issued notice to the Duchy expressing his intention to relinquish the lease, which is set to expire later this summer.
Royal sources cited by The Telegraph reveal that while the King remains “passionate” about Wales, he has decided to part ways with the property as it is “unlikely” that he will be able to utilize it in the same manner as before.
With historical ties dating back to the 13th or 14th century, Llwynywermod was originally owned by William Williams, a relative of Anne Boleyn.
Welsh craftsmen diligently restored the old house, as well as the deteriorating concrete and corrugated iron farm buildings, employing traditional techniques and local materials. Furthermore, King Charles adorned the walls with climbing plants, including Albertine roses, jasmine, and honeysuckle. Notably, six English field maples, which had formed an enchanting avenue of trees at the wedding of William and Kate in 2011, were later relocated to the Welsh retreat, at the behest of the King and with the approval of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. These trees were lovingly planted in the soil at the front of the house, accompanied by a charming rustic wooden fence.
In 2013, Clarence House tweeted, “The trees from the Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey are thriving at Llwynywermod.”
The prince has often expressed his admiration for the enduring landscape of Wales, emphasizing how its mountains, patchwork fields, woods, coastline, castles, villages, and market towns play a pivotal role in attracting visitors. During an interaction with Visit Wales, he reminisced, “It certainly cast its spell on me a long time ago.”
Prince William inherited an annual income of £23 million from the Duchy of Cornwall. As the heir to the throne, he is entitled to the yearly surplus generated by the Duchy’s extensive portfolio of land, buildings, and financial investments. Additionally, he has assumed the responsibility of overseeing the management of the estate.
For the fiscal year 2021-2022, the Duchy’s annual income amounted to £23 million for Charles, then known as the Prince of Wales and now ascended to the throne as King.
Crime
Unanimous verdict in Ceredigion sexual assault case
A CEREDIGION man has been convicted to three years and six months in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in her own bed after the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.
27-year-old Suroj Bk, from Llangrannog, was sentenced this week following a week-long trial at Swansea Crown Court (May 1).
On 7 October 2023, Dyfed-Powys Police received a report that Bk entered the victim’s home and sexually assaulted her while she lay in her bed.
When the victim realised what was happening, she kicked Bk out of her bed and called the police.
Upon receiving the report, officers quickly attended the victim’s home and conducted a thorough search of the surrounding area using police dogs and scenes of crime officers.
Evidence gathered from scene, together with extensive local enquiries, led officers to arrest Suroj Bk the next day (8 October).
While Bk was in custody, detectives, crime scene investigators, and digital forensic officers worked tirelessly to uncover the evidence that ultimately placed Suroj Bk at the scene.
After hearing the evidence, the jury took less than two hours to agree a unanimous guilty verdict.
The detective in charge of the case has praised the victim for her ‘tremendous courage’ in reporting the assault to police.
“Incidents of this nature are thankfully very rare within Ceredigion, and I’d like to reassure the community that this was an isolated incident, and that the identification and arrest of suspect was done quickly and efficiently,” said Detective Inspector Sam Gregory.
“The victim in this case demonstrated tremendous courage in reporting to police, and while this investigation was not straightforward in its nature, it was through the expertise and tenacity of forensic officers, working together with the investigation team, and the victim, that led to this successful prosecution.
“I hope the sentence given to Suroj Bk sends a clear and strong message that Dyfed-Powys Police takes reports of sexual offences seriously.
“We will listen to you, and we will work tirelessly to get justice.”
On Wednesday, 1 May 2024, Saroj Bk was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and a five-year restraining order, and he will be on the sex offenders register for life.
If you have been a victim of a crime such as this, report it to Dyfed-Powys Police either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.
In an emergency, always call 999.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.
News
Body recovered confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, say police
DYFED-POWYS police have said today that the body found on Wednesday, May 1, has been confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, who was reported missing from the Pembroke Dock area on April 14.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We will continue to support the family and will assist with issuing a tribute publicly if the family wish to do so.”
In a statement, his family said: “Luke was a joyful and funny young man and always wanted to help others. He was a loving son, brother, grandson and uncle, and will be forever missed.
“We have lost a huge part of our family, and our loss is shared by his many friends who also loved him dearly.
“We would like to thank the local community for the overwhelming support we have received.”
Business
Port of Milford Haven now official ‘a great place to work’
THE PORT of Milford Haven has been officially accredited as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organisation. As the first Port Authority in Britain to secure this Certification™, it is a significant achievement.
“We are very proud to be Great Place to Work-Certified™,” said Vidette Swales, HR Director at the Port of Milford Haven. “It means so much that our employees have reported a consistently positive experience with their colleagues, their leaders and their jobs. Offering a positive employee experience is not only beneficial for the people who work with us but is also key for our continued business success.”
Tom Sawyer, CEO at the Port of Milford Haven added: “Our team is operating the UK’s leading energy port, and it is of the utmost importance that we do that safely, responsibly and effectively. We’re striving for excellence and aim to provide a world class service to our customers as well as supporting sustainable coastal communities for the prosperity of future generations. Our employees are clearly at the centre of this which is why I’m delighted that they feel supported in their role. I’m especially proud that this Certification™ demonstrates our core values of Safety, Excellence, Collaboration and Sustainability so perfectly.”
“We congratulate the Port of Milford Haven on achieving their Certification™,” said Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place to Work® UK. “Organisations which put the employee experience at the heart of their business gain their employees’ trust and, in turn, are truly able to build a great workplace culture that delivers outstanding business results.”
Find out more about careers at the Port of Milford Haven here: www.mhpa.co.uk/about/careers-at-the-port/.
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