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County mourns those taken from us in Great War

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candleTHE CITIZENS of Pembrokeshire pride themselves on the bravery of the soldiers from this county, and emotionally honour these fallen war heroes every year. 

However, this year the remembrance services in Pembrokeshire will be unlike any other, because this year marks one hundred years since World War One began. From the brave gunners to the chivalrous fighter pilots, Pembrokeshire will remember them all. This year marks 100 years since The Great War began, a war that claimed 1,300 Pembrokeshire lives. But World War One didn’t only take the lives of many Pembrokeshire citizens – it also affected the political, technological, and cultural aspects of life in the county. All across the county, citizens and organisations are hosting events to commemorate those taken from us in World War One. In St Davids, there was a production called ‘Oh What A Lovely War’. This unique play was performed in the open air in the ruins of St David Bishop’s Place. Told by a lively Pierrot group with their theatre band, the play presented the story of the First World War in all its heartbreak and bravery, through drama, dance, comedy and music. Ceredigion hosted an exhibition, commemorating those from Aberaeron and the surrounding area who served in World War One. This exhibition also looked at life in Aberaeron during the war. On August 4, citizens of Pembrokeshire participated in a UK-wide initiative, named ‘Lights Out’, in which participants turned off all of their lights and left a single candle aflame in a symbolic act of reflection. Welsh Government buildings, the Senedd and Cadw sites at Caernarfon Castle and Castell Coch also participated. The First Minister, Carwyn Jones, has spoken of the importance in pausing to remember a defining moment in history, as Wales prepares to mark the centenary of the First World War. The First Minister said: “The events that took place following August 4, 1914 had monumental consequences that rippled throughout our history.” “Commemorative events are happening across Wales this week, and they serve to ensure we never forget a moment that would have affected the lives of every person living in Wales.” “These events are about taking a moment to remember the sacrifices of ordinary men and women from communities across Wales and to remember the cost of a terrible war and the impact that has reverberated through our nation and shaped the Wales we know today.” Throughout 2014, we will commemorate the centenary of World War One, which claimed many lives, but also brought change and improvement to Pembrokeshire life. One hundred years on, Pembrokeshire will honour and remember them.

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Business

Original Factory Shop to close Haverfordwest branch in December

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THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SHOP in Haverfordwest has announced it will close its doors on December 14, 2024. This news has left many saddened, with heartfelt tributes pouring in to celebrate the store’s role in the community and the people who made it special.

In a recent social media post, the management of The Original Factory Shop shared their gratitude for the community’s support, stating: “We take this opportunity to thank all of the local community and our store colleagues for their support throughout our time here in Haverfordwest.” The announcement marks the end of an era for a store that has been part of the town’s retail landscape for many years.

Among those reflecting on the closure is Nigel Shinner, a former employee whose journey with The Original Factory Shop began in Haverfordwest. Nigel shared his experience on social media, reminiscing about his time with the store and how it became a meaningful part of his life and career:

“I know there are sadder things happening in the world today, but this makes me sad. This was my point of entry into The Original Factory Shop family. I joined as just a weekender, while I was raising my kids, but it wasn’t long before I became a supervisor and farmed out to help at other stores. I really stepped up a notch when my life took a turn, and I became Head Office staff and part of the new store merchandising team, often working ten-hour days, unloading wagons, building equipment, dressing stores, and training staff. That job took me far and wide, from Land’s End to John O’Groats, from east coast to west, and to many locations across the home nations.”

Local customers also expressed their sadness at the upcoming closure, with comments pouring in on social media. Long-time shopper Julie Parry wrote, “I will be so sad to see this lovely little shop going. Always such friendly, helpful staff. Good luck, ladies, in whatever work you do next.” Another customer, Lyndsey Gould, shared fond memories of shopping at the store, saying, “Awww, such a shame you’re closing. Will miss getting my balloons from you guys.”

The closure of The Original Factory Shop marks another loss for Haverfordwest’s local shopping scene, which has seen several changes in recent years. The community now prepares to say goodbye to a much-loved establishment, with the store welcoming customers for a final visit until December 14.

For those wishing to express their farewells, the store remains open for one last month, inviting the community to visit, reminisce, and say goodbye to the team that has been a part of their shopping experience for years.

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Entertainment

Other Voices Cardigan celebrates record attendances

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THE fifth Other Voices Cardigan 2024 Festival was a record breaker, having attracted more than 15,000 music fans from across the world to the pretty Mid Wales coastal town over three days.

The event, which ran from October 31to November 2, featured a curated programme celebrating music, friendship, language, ideas and culture from both sides of the Irish Sea and beyond.

Festival highlights included stellar performances from Nadine Shah, Bill Ryder Jones, and Fabiana Palladino.

St Mary’s Church audiences were treated to an acoustic performance by Manics’ frontman James Dean Bradfield, who performed special renditions of the classics ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’, ‘A Design for Life’, and ‘Ready for Drowning’.

Other Church performers this year include Charlotte Day Wilson, Melys, Victor Ray, and Georgia Ruth. 

Providing an extraordinary and inspiring programme across a myriad of musical genres, events took place in cafes, bars, places of worship and arts venues.    

More than 42 established and emerging acts from Wales and Ireland played the Music Trail and around 300 artists and crew worked and performed. The festival also boosted the local economy, with many businesses reporting increased foot traffic and sales during the event.

Over the past weekend, the festival saw more than 15,000 individual event admissions to more than 100 performances across the weekend, representing a 36% increase on 2023.

Visitors from outside Wales also increased significantly by 41%, with music fans coming from Ireland, Italy, New York, Sweden and Germany.

“This year has been another fantastic success,” said Dilwyn Davies, chief executive of Mwldan, co-producers of the event. “We’ve celebrated the vibrancy and vitality of the music scenes on both sides of the Irish Sea, and the spirit of our communities.

“The audience response has been incredibly positive and joyous, and we can’t wait to bring everyone together again in 2025.”

Phillip King, founder of Other Voices, added: “Cardigan/Aberteifi came alive with great music and stimulating and provocative banter when Other Voices came to town this past weekend.

“The event is growing and expanding year on year, attracting more visitors to this beautiful town. It’s a real delight to bring Other Voices across the Irish Sea, to collapse between Ireland and Wales and to bring us together in a way that deepens and strengthens every aspect of our relationship.”

Church performances were live-streamed on Other Voices YouTube channel and simultaneously streamed to the big screen at Mwldan in Cardigan. Highlights will be later broadcast on BBC Wales TV, BBC iPlayer and RTÉ and RTÉ Player via media partners. The event was presented by BBC DJ and Other Voices regular Huw Stephens.

Other Voices Cardigan is staged with the support and investment of Welsh Government and Government of Ireland, The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Reconciliation Fund.

The festival is produced by South Wind Blows in partnership with Mwldan and Triongl. This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supported by Ceredigion County Council.

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News

Kurtz backs west Wales businesses at Cardiff net zero Event

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THIS week, local businesses and industry leaders from across Wales gathered at a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) event in Cardiff to discuss Wales’ journey toward a Net Zero future.

Among those championing the potential for West Wales was local Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz, who serves as the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Energy.

The event featured a panel discussion, with Mr. Kurtz joining other key speakers, including Luke Fletcher MS and representatives from major Welsh energy projects. Together, they highlighted the exciting opportunities that renewable energy investments could bring to Wales and discussed ways to overcome the challenges of infrastructure and development in this sector.

A major focus was the critical role that Pembrokeshire will play in Wales’ transition to renewable energy. Local projects such as the Celtic Freeport, developments at the Port of Milford Haven and key local employers such as RWE, Valero and others were showcased as vital components in the nation’s Net Zero strategy. Luciana Ciubotariu, CEO of Celtic Freeport, and Steve Edwards from Green Gen Cymru were on hand to share insights on how Pembrokeshire’s ports and energy projects are set to bring economic benefits and clean energy to the region.

Following the event, Mr. Kurtz expressed his enthusiasm for the role that West Wales can play in supporting sustainable economic growth through green initiatives:

“It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout of business and industry leaders all focused on a shared goal for Wales’ Net Zero ambitions. A partnership between government and industry, grounded in smart investment, is essential if we are to secure both our energy future and sustainable jobs in our communities.

“Here in West Wales, we have a huge opportunity to create skilled, well-paid jobs in areas like hydrogen fuel, floating offshore wind, and through the Celtic Freeport project. With the right support, these initiatives can deliver lasting prosperity for our communities.

The CBI event in Cardiff emphasized the importance of local investment and collaboration to make Wales a leader in renewable energy. By leveraging the strengths of Pembrokeshire’s natural resources and local talent, Mr. Kurtz and fellow attendees underscored that West Wales is ready to play a leading role in building a cleaner, greener economy for future generations.

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