Community

Busy year for Royal Artillery Association, South Pembrokeshire Branch

Published

3 years ago

September 28, 2023

THE SOUTH PEMBROKESHIRE BRANCH of the Royal Artillery Association has enjoyed a 12-month period full of events and changes. After several changes of venue, the Branch have now settled down and hold their monthly meetings in the Pembroke Dock Cricket Club. Also, the Branch’s Secretary for the past 28 years retired from the post at the AGM in 2023. Colin Friend and his wife Florrie continue to attend meetings and contribute fully to the running of the Branch.

After a very successful St Barbara’s Day Lunch in December 2022 and an AGM in February 2023, 3 new members joined the branch.

Wreaths were laid by the Branch`s Chairman, Chris Roberts at the Remembrance Ceremony in Pembroke, and at ceremonies at Freshwater West (near Pembroke), Milford Haven on Anzac Day (where a Wellington bomber aircraft crashed into an area of Milford Haven killing 4 New Zealand and Australian officers and soldiers) and the Normandy Veterans Service (also held in Milford Haven and organised by the British Legion). A wreath was also laid by other members of the branch at the Pembroke Dock Remembrance Service. Finally, a wreath was laid in the Pembroke Dock Military Cemetery, near to the site of the former Llanion Barracks which saw the last Royal Artillery unit leave Pembroke Dock in 1967. Poignantly and sadly, members of the branch attended the funeral of Ted Owens, a native of Pembroke Dock who died at the age of 99 years old. Ted, a Royal Marine, had landed as a 21-year-old on the beaches of Normandy during the D Day landings, had been wounded and evacuated to a field hospital and subsequently, after being wounded 3 times, was demobbed at 21 years old! The large turnout of all Regiments and Corps paid tribute to this fine old soldier. The branch Standard was paraded at all these events by our Standard Bearer John Swilka.

The Branch have enjoyed visits to Pembroke Dock by the quite recently appointed Veterans Commissioner for Wales – James Phillips – who gave a talk on his new role and responsibilities. The branch also welcomed our Regional Representative Clive Boyles who highlighted the fact that Wales had only 3 RAA branches still operating, namely Wrexham, Rhondda and South Pembrokeshire. Clive also spoke regarding his role as the Regional Representative.

Liaison continues with our Affiliated Royal Artillery Battery – 12 (Minden) Air Assault Battery RA. The Branch send best wishes on Minden Day and received a warm response. The Branch also send a message of congratulations to King Charles III on his Coronation and received a letter of thanks.

Probably the highlight of the year was the visit made to the National Memorial Arboretum for the RA Service of Remembrance Day in July, when 6 members travelled from Pembroke Dock to Burton on Trent to attend the occasion. A full day of events was enjoyed by the visiting members , some for the first time, and the opportunity of meeting up with old comrades. Despite the weather, Standard Bearers from all over the country maintained their usual high performance.

The Branch has continued to forge links with the British Legion in Milford Haven and the VC Gallery Centre which operates both in Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest. Although consisting of only 24 members, South Pembrokeshire Branch have organised many fund-raising events throughout the year and continue to make contributions to the RACF.

During the visit by Clive (and his partner Gill), a branch photograph was taken and is enclosed with this article.

In this area of historical Royal Artillery presence, with Manorbier, Pendine, Penally and Castlemartin (in their heydays!), seeing many Gunners pass through their gates, it is considered that there are many RA veterans in our area, and we continue to try and recruit new members, to foster good social ties and maintain the feeling of the Gunner Family.

So, if you live in the South Pembrokeshire Area and you are reading this, don’t delay – PLEASE GET IN TOUCH, TODAY!

Community

Teifi river revival project secures £1.4m lottery funding

Published

9 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

COMMUNITIES along the River Teifi are set to play a central role in a major new project aimed at improving the health of one of west Wales’ most important rivers.

The Teifi Fyw — Living Teifi: People and Nature Together project has been given the green light after securing more than £1.4m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The conservation project aims to respond to climate change, biodiversity loss and declining river health, while also recognising the Teifi’s deep cultural and historic importance to the communities which live and work along its catchment.

The first stage will be a two-year development phase, bringing together scientific evidence, local history, lived experience and creative work to help shape future restoration plans.

The project will be coordinated by Natural Resources Wales, working with the West Wales Rivers Trust, the Mining Remediation Authority, Strata Florida Trust, Mentera, Ceredigion County Council, UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

It will also build on existing work carried out by the Teifi Nutrient Management Board and local stakeholder projects including Llais yr Afon and P.R.A.M.

Cllr Clive Davies welcomed the announcement, saying he looked forward to seeing the project outcomes realised.

The River Teifi is one of Wales’ best-known waterways, flowing through Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire before reaching the sea at Cardigan.

Project leaders say the aim is to ensure that restoration work is not only based on environmental evidence, but also reflects the values and priorities of the people who know the river best.

Community

Henry Tudor Centre designs to go on display in Pembroke

Published

13 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Public invited to help shape new heritage centre exhibition

MEMBERS of the public are being invited to view the emerging exhibition designs for the new Henry Tudor Centre in Pembroke.

The centre, due to open in spring 2027, will be based at South Quay and will tell the story of Henry Tudor, the son of Pembroke who went on to become Henry VII and founder of the Tudor dynasty.

The exhibition designs will be on display at Pembroke Town Hall from Friday, May 22, to Friday, May 29.

The Henry Tudor Trust, which will operate the new heritage centre, is asking residents and visitors to give their views on how Henry Tudor’s story should be told.

The designs have been developed by exhibition specialists Image Makers, with feedback forms available for members of the public to submit comments. These responses will help refine the exhibition as the project develops.

The new logo for the centre, created by Haverfordwest-based marketing company Media2Motion, will also be on display.

Work is currently underway to refurbish the Grade II-listed building at South Quay, which will house the new exhibition. The centre will also include a new public library, replacing the current library on The Commons, as well as a café.

The capital project is being funded by the Welsh Government, UK Government and Pembrokeshire County Council.

Additional support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will fund a programme of events and activities at the new centre, alongside volunteering opportunities and educational resources for schools.

The exhibition plans can be viewed at Pembroke Town Hall from Monday to Thursday, 9:00am to 3:00pm, and Friday, 9:00am to 1:00pm. The town hall is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Community

Pembroke Town Council Monkton vacancy following town councillor’s Senedd win

Published

16 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PEMBROKE’S Monkton ward will soon have a new town councillor after its previous representative secured a seat in the Senedd as one of six new members for the Ceredigion Penfro seat.

A notice of casual vacancy for the Monkton ward of Pembroke Town Council was publicised yesterday, May 11.

If no written request is made to the county council’s returning officer, the town council may fill the vacant seat by co-option.

The seat was made vacant following now-former town councillor Reform’s Susan Claire Archibald becoming a Senedd member for the new Ceredigion Penfro Senedd ward, one of two Reform candidates to do so.

At the Senedd count on May 8, the former councillor spoke on behalf of herself, fellow Reform winner Paul Marr, and the party’s supporters, saying the supporters would need “new shoes,” given Ceredigion Penfro’s “ginormous constituency”.

She added: “Paul and I are obviously very excited to get to work to representing our constituency of Ceredigion and Penfro.”

The six Senedd members for the new Ceredigion Penfro ward, which saw three Plaid seats, two Reform and one Welsh Conservatives gained, are: Elin Jones, Kerry Ferguson, and Anna Nicholl Plaid Cymru; Susan Claire Archibald and Paul Marr Reform; Welsh Conservatives Paul Windsor Davies.

A formal request for an election to fill the vacant Monkton seat may be made to: Returning Officer, Pembrokeshire County Council, Electoral Services, County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP.

The town council itself saw, last weekend, the inauguration of Councillor Jonathan Grimes, also joint county councillor for Pembroke Monkton and St Mary South, as the 647th Mayor of Pembroke.

Accompanied by his wife, Councillor Deborah Willcocks, a civic lunch was held at the town hall, Main Street, successfully raising £350 in support of his chosen charity, Sandy Bear.

The weekend also saw a service at St Mary’s Church, where the Bishop of St Davids offered a blessing for the newly installed bells.