News

Leap of faith for daredevil mum and daughter with charity skydive

Published

2 years ago

October 11, 2023

A MUM and daughter are taking a leap of faith with skydive from 10,000 feet in aid of a dementia charity that’s close to their hearts.

Mum-of-three and grandmother-of-10 Paula Simpson, 56, a senior care practitioner at the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham and her eldest daughter, Carla Griffiths, 37, will raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

According to Paul, she was determined to jump into action because her beloved mum, Ann Evans, has dementia.

Poignantly, she is now a resident at the Hillbury care home which is part of Pendine Park where Paula works, as does granddaughter Leah, 19.

She said: “It really has been a tough few years. We lost my dad in June 2019 and mum slowly deteriorated following that. I am also looking after my husband, Paul, who can no longer work after a double stroke, so you could say that I am a full time carer in more ways than one.”

“It’s been hard but we are getting through and I have had so much support from my colleagues at work throughout all the bad times. They have been my salvation, so understanding and helping to keep me strong.

“In one way doing the sky dive is about keeping my strength up and giving me something else to focus on other than our own troubles.

“If I am feeling down I always think to myself that there is someone else worse off. So, if we can raise much needed funds to help others facing crises then it will be well worth it.”

Paula has set an initial fund-raising target of £450 but is hoping they may be able to raise more than that.

She said: “I know money is tight these days and people are facing ever increasing costs which is why I am asking that they give as little or as much as they can afford. Even a sponsorship of £1 works for me. Every donation no matter how small adds to the overall target which is to boost research into dementia.”

It was daughter Carla who booked their sky dive at a top-flight centre in Whitchurch.

Paula said: “It came as a complete surprise to me. She just turned up one day and said ‘right mum I’ve booked us both on a sky dive’. I couldn’t believe it, but I immediately said, yes let’s do it.”

“I decided there and then that I had to be 100 per cent positive. I thought I’m getting too old to say no to these sorts of adventures, if I don’t do it now I never will.

“It’s completely crazy. Neither of us can even drive but we’re determined we’re going to jump out of that plane and raise as much as we can for a good cause.”

The intrepid pair have never done anything so challenging before but they both say they are exhilarated by the thought and now cannot wait for the big day to arrive.

Paula added: “As mum’s condition worsened it became impossible to keep her safe at home so we took the decision that she should go to Hillbury. The team there are so good with her, and I get to see her as often as possible.

“I think having been a carer myself has helped me better understand mum’s condition, but it is still hard no matter how much experience you have in the sector, having a loved one succumb to dementia is always a heart-breaking and distressing experience.

“That is why we wanted to do something to contribute to the efforts to boost research. The more knowledge there is the sooner we will be able to find more effective treatments.”

Paula and Carla are hoping some family members may be able to make it to the airfield to watch them sky dive.

She said: “We don’t know exactly who will be able to get there yet, but I’m sure some family and friends are hoping to make it on the day.”

Because they don’t drive the twosome are aiming to stay at a hotel overnight local to Whitchurch in readiness to be at the airfield at their appointed time of 8.30am.

“It’s an early start but we’re determined to enjoy every minute of it,” said Paula, who lives in Gwersyllt.

Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE said: “I take my hat off to Paula and Carla for channelling their inner daredevil to raise money for this important dementia charity.

“It is a cause close to all our hearts at Pendine but it’s particularly poignant for Paula because her mum has dementia and is a resident of our Hillbury care home.

“We wish them all the very best with the skydive and the fundraising.”

Caption: Pendine Park; senior carer Paula Simpson is doing a skydive with her eldest daughter Carla Griffiths to raise money for research into Alzheimer’s and dementia. Pictured Cara Griffiths, Pendine resident Ann Evans and Paula Simpson . Picture Mandy Jones

Crime

Waste dumped at recycling centre leads police to drug factory near Cardigan

Published

4 hours ago

July 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Man jailed after drug discovery sparked by vigilant staff

A TIP-OFF from staff at an Aberystwyth recycling centre has led to the discovery of a large cannabis factory in a derelict property near Cardigan — and landed a 20-year-old man behind bars.

Manuel Nerguti was sentenced to six months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (July 11) after pleading guilty to producing a class B drug.

The court heard that on May 1 this year, workers at the Aberystwyth recycling centre reported a suspicious delivery: four to five bags of cannabis stalks, apparently dumped by men in a hired Ford Transit van.

Police acted quickly and intercepted the van later that afternoon on the road between Aberystwyth and Cardigan. Nerguti and two other men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, but were released without charge at the time, as no grow site had been located.

However, a month later, acting on new intelligence, Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at a derelict house in Bridell, near Cardigan. Inside, they discovered a sophisticated cannabis cultivation operation: 260 mature plants spread across five rooms and an attic, with the electricity supply illegally bypassed.

During the raid on June 7, Nerguti attempted to flee but was found hiding behind a washing machine in the garage.

He was charged and later pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.

Detective Constable Sam Garside, who led the investigation, praised the recycling centre staff for their quick thinking.

He said: “This result is thanks to the staff at the recycling centre for recognising that criminal activity was taking place and for alerting police quickly.

“We rely on the public to inform us of anything suspicious going on in their communities and we encourage people to get in touch if they suspect anything. We were able to use our local knowledge and police intelligence to execute a successful warrant and shut down an illegal cannabis factory.

“We are committed to continuing our drug operations across Dyfed-Powys and bringing offenders like Nerguti to justice.”

Police estimate the cannabis seized had a potential street value of up to £242,000.

More information on Operation Scotney — Dyfed-Powys Police’s campaign to tackle cannabis cultivation — including how to spot signs of a drug grow, can be found on their website.

News

Pembrokeshire County Council group to review ‘climate emergency’

Published

4 hours ago

July 20, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL for a group to review Pembrokeshire County Council’s decision to declare a climate emergency some six years ago has been backed by councillors.

In May 2019, the council declare a climate emergency following a notice of motion by Cllr Joshua Beynon calling on the authority to back the global consensus that climate change poses a risk to the well-being of future generations.

He had urged county councillors to back a motion to take “bold, decisive action” to fight “truly, catastrophic” climate change.

He called on the council to commit to becoming a zero-carbon local authority by 2030.

At the July meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, a notice of motion by Cllr Mike Stoddart called for the establishment of a working group to review the decision made by the council to declare a climate change emergency.

Cllr Stoddart’s motion said: “Given the turbulence on the global financial markets; the parlous state of the UK’s public finances; Pembrokeshire County Council’s projected funding gap; and the government’s softening of its policies on the switch to EV vehicles and heat pumps, this council establishes a seven person, politically balanced working group to review the authority’s decision to declare a climate emergency at its meeting on May 9, 2019.

“The working group will be asked to: (a) examine the effect of the emergency declaration on the level of council tax in Pembrokeshire and particularly the extent to which any such increases militate against the authority’s anti-poverty policies.

“(b) The cost of decarbonising the council’s housing stock and the effect this has had on the authority’s ability to finance the building of new housing.

“(c) The extent to which the council’s decarbonisation programme has contributed to a reduction of the risk of runaway global temperature increases, and (d) any other effects that the working group considers may have adversely impacted the wellbeing of the residents of Pembrokeshire.”

Cllr Stoddart’s notice of motion was previously supported at the June meeting of the council’s corporate overview and scrutiny committee, with a recommendation to full council in July meeting, to reinstate the Net Zero Working Group to review the contents of the notice of motion and, subject to the outcome of this review, review the future delivery of the Net Zero Action Plan.

Cllr Stoddart’s call was backed by Cllr Steve Alderman, and Cllr Rhys Jordan, who said: “I fully support this, it couldn’t come sooner; around England and Wales councils are looking at this, there’s been a huge push for a ‘net zero’ agenda at any cost, I don’t think we’re in a position to drive that.”

Cllr Aaron Carey said: “We’ve set ourselves some lofty goals, but we haven’t got the money to back it up.”

Members overwhelmingly agreed to back the June committee recommendations.

News

Urgent appeal to save 1,000 hens in Pembrokeshire and beyond

Published

7 hours ago

July 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

British Hen Welfare Trust seeks homes before Friday deadline

AN URGENT appeal has been launched to find homes for more than 1,000 hens due to be rehomed next weekend – including from a rescue centre in Boncath, Pembrokeshire.

The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) is coordinating the rehoming effort on Saturday (July 26), aiming to rescue ex-caged hens from slaughter and instead place them into loving homes. The appeal also covers rehoming centres in Locking, near Bristol, and Kineton in Warwickshire.

The charity says the hens have come to the end of their commercial egg-laying lives, but remain healthy and can thrive as pets. However, they must be rehomed by Friday (July 25) to avoid being needlessly killed.

“This is a time-sensitive and visual story that resonates locally,” said Andy Hill, Marketing & Communications Officer for the BHWT. “These hens have worked hard their whole lives and deserve a second chance.”

The organisation recently marked the rehoming of its one millionth hen – which was adopted by King Charles III – and the upcoming effort is part of its continued mission to improve hen welfare across the UK.

Local spokespeople are available for interview, and high-resolution images are available for media use.

For more information or to register interest in adopting hens, visit: www.bhwt.org.uk