News
Record nominations received for Sport Pembrokeshire Awards

A RECORD number of nominations have been received for the 2023 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards.
A total of 296 nominations have been received in 13 categories for individuals and teams involved in a variety of different sports.
The three finalists in each category will be announced in the Western Telegraph on 15th November.
The overall winners will be unveiled at a gala ceremony at Folly Farm on 24th November, organised by Sport Pembrokeshire.
The awards are sponsored by Valero, the Western Telegraph, Folly Farm, and Pure West Radio.
Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “It’s fantastic that we have received a record number of nominations for the Sport Pembrokeshire Awards.
“It shows that sports and the Sports Awards are going from strength to strength in our County and people want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and achievements of our local sportspeople, coaches and volunteers.”
The nominations are as follows:
(some individuals/teams received more than one nomination)
Girls U16’s
- Sophie Howell (Swimming)
- Jemma Nand-Lal (Golf)
- Elisa Tyrell (Gymnastics)
- Nina Marsh (Sailing)
- Katie David (Surfing)
- Chanel Griffiths (Dance)
- Catrin Owens (Windsurfing)
- Ava Davies (Gymnastics)
- Maggi Clewitt (Gymnastics)
- Matti Davies (Horse Riding)
- Bronwyn Clissold (Swimming)
- Imi Scourfield (Dance)
- Grace Morris (Weightlifting)
- Chloe John-Driscoll (Shooting)
- Josie Hawke (Surfing)
Boys U16’s
- Kyle Gammer (Parkour)
- Kieran George (Swimming)
- Reuben Lerwill (Gymnastics)
- Jayden Crawford (Football)
- Finn Macare (Hockey)
- Ramon Siso (Football)
- Finley Bruce (Running)
- Macs Adams (Football)
- Tomos Nicholas (Rugby, Football, Cricket)
- Carter Heywood (Football)
- Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)
- Sean Bolger (Boxing)
Club of the Year
- Windswept Watersports
- Haverfordweat Badminton Club
- South Pembs Sharks Under 14’s
- Pembrokeshire Vikings
- Pembrokeshire Parkour Club
- FF Dancers
- Crossfit Pembrokeshire
- Haverfordwest Gymnastics Club
- Vibe School of Dance
- Milford Waterfront Parkrun
- Pembrokeshire Tri Club
- Broad Haven Buccaneers Surf Lifesaving Club
- Neyland Yacht Club
- Haverfordwest Gymnastics Club
- Blue Horizons Surf Club
- Neyland Cricket Club
- Pembroke Cricket Club
- Haverfordwest Tennis Cub
- Tenby Dolphins Swimming Club
- Tavernspite Short Mat Bowls Club
- Fishguard Thunderbolts
- Hook Cricket Club
Junior Disability Award
- Lewis Crawford (Boccia)
- Ella Meacham (Paddle Ability)
- Saskia Webb (Swimming)
- Ioan Williams (Boccia)
Young Volunteer of the Year
- Ellie Phillips (Swimming)
- Leon Jarvis (Football)
- YHT Ambassadors
- Keira Edwards (Sailing)
- Carys Ribbon (HHVCS)
- Lukas Tyrrell (Sailing)
- Shannon Macarney (Disability Sport)
- Elizabeth Clissold (Swimming)
Junior Team
- South Pembs Sharks Under 14’s (Rugby)
- Pembs Schools County Football U14’s
- Johnston Tigers u8’s mini football
- Tenby Primary School Football Team
- Kilgetty Cricket Club u13’s & u15’s
- Haverfordwest Cricket Club U11’s
- Fishagurd Netball Club Under 12’s
- Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi Tennis Team
- Neyland Pink Pirates U13’s
Unsung Hero
- Andrew Richards (Rowing)
- Ross Hardy (Cricket)
- Jon Phillips (Parkrun Milford)
- Luke Howell (Sailing)
- Teresa James (Football)
- Kyle Davies (Cricket, Football, Rugby)
- Dave Astins (Triathlon)
- Sean Hannon (Cricket)
- Emyr Hughes (Ysgol Bro Gwaun)
- Richard Arthur (Cricket)
- Craig, Max, Toby &Tipper (Rugby)
- Sam Rossiter (Cricket)
- Piers Beckett (Sailing)
- Dave Petrie (Cricket)
- Karen Lewis (Parkrun)
Senior Team
- Hook Black Diamonds T20 Cricket team
- East Williamston Short Mat Bowls Club
- Llangwm RFC Youth
- Fishguard Thunderbolts
- Milford Haven Ladies Hockey Club
- Haverfordwest County AFC
- Haverfordwest Ladies Rugby Team
- Cresselly Ladies Cricket Team
- Jonathan Gladstone & Andrew Hudson (Short Mat Bowls)
Male Achievement
- Bleddyn Gibbs (Weightlifting)
- Simon Richards (Cricket)
- Jack Paul Newman (Parkour)
- Liam Ashley Davies (Parkour)
- Jeremy Cross (Tennis)
- Ceri Stone (Cycling)
- Moritz Neumann (Crossfit)
- Jonathan Gladstone (Short Mat Bowls)
- Rhys Llewellyn (Athletics)
- Mickey Beckett (Sailing)
Female Achievement
- Sophie Butland (Dance)
- Sanna Duthie (Running)
- Nel Allen (Golf)
- Imogen Scourfield (Football & Dance)
- Gracie Griffiths (Race Walking)
- Makala Jones (Swimming)
- Seren Thorne (Target Shooting)
- Ava Midgeley (Cricket)
- Kate Dickinson (Bowls)
Disability Sport Award
- Bleddyn Gibbs (Weightlifting)
- Jack Surtees (Football)
- Jules King (Crossfit)
- Nia Morgan (Paddle Ability)
- Michael Jenkins (Discus)
Club Organiser
- Rachel Grieve (Rugby)
- Llangwm RFC Youth
- Jon & Debbie Phllips (Parkrun Milford)
- Kelly Griffiths (Athletics)
- Jen Harries (Athletics)
- Brian Millard (Disability Sport)
- Nadine Tyrell (Gymnastics)
- Huw Jones (Golf)
- Daisy Griffiths (Gymnastics)
- Stefan Jenkins (Cricket)
- Jack Kinnersley (Rugby)
- Fraser Watson (Cricket)
- Jamie Phelps (Cricket)
Coach of the Year
- Chris McEwen (Boxing)
- Georgia Picton (Dance)
- Sam Feeneck (Crossfit)
- Joseph Lewis (Football)
- Simon Thomas (Football)
- Hannah Davey (Dance)
- Jamie Barrellie (Rugby)
- Mike Jarvis (Football)
- Lewis Davies
- Joel Codd (Football)
- Tyler James (Parkour)
- Michael Newman (Parkour)
- Brad (Football)
- Colin Williams (Cricket)
- Luke Hayward (Football)
- Andrew Barcoe (Football)
- Wayne Griffiths (Atheltics)
- Nathan Greene
- Barry Parsons & Gareth Scourfield (Rugby)
- Simon Roach (Weightlifting)
- Angiolina Martib (Rugby)
- Phil Sadler (Surfing)
- Daisy Griffiths (Gymnastics)
- Kyle Davies (Cricket, Rugby, Football)
- Nadine Tyrell (Gymnastics)
- Lowri Jones (Dance)
- Lauren Smith (Gymnastics)
- Chris Barker (Squash)
- Dayfdd Bowen (Rugby)
- Ross Hardy (Cricket)
- Trevor Badham & Colin Williams (Cricket)
- Mark Jones (Rugby)
- Tom Richards (Tennis)
- Rhian Homer & Emily O’Connor (Netball)
- Stuart Tyrie (Ju Jitsu)
- Bruce Evans (Tennis)
Pictured at top of page: Cresselly Cricket Club, last year’s winner of Club of the Year.
News
FM accused of ‘dereliction of duty’ over winter fuel payment cut

ONLY TWO LETTERS SENT – NEITHER FROM THE FIRST MINISTER
A FREEDOM of Information request by the Welsh Conservatives has revealed that the First Minister has not corresponded with the UK Government regarding the recent cut to the Winter Fuel Payment—despite widespread concern over its impact on pensioners in Wales.
The request, which asked for all correspondence from the First Minister, Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers to the UK Government concerning the Welsh implications of the cut, revealed just two letters had been sent. Neither letter came from the First Minister.
One letter, dated 9 August 2024, was from Jane Hutt, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice. While it acknowledged the potential impact of the cut and estimated that up to 45% of Welsh households may have fallen into fuel poverty after the 2022 energy price surge, it stopped short of directly opposing the UK Government’s decision. Instead, Hutt reiterated the Welsh Government’s call for the introduction of a social energy tariff and highlighted ongoing hardship in Wales.
The second letter was from Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall, who defended the removal of the universal Winter Fuel Payment on the grounds of fiscal responsibility. In her reply to Jane Hutt, dated 18 September 2024, Kendall emphasised the need to focus support on those “in the greatest need” and criticised the low uptake of Pension Credit among eligible pensioners.
The revelation that the First Minister has not personally written to the UK Government on the matter has sparked sharp criticism from the Welsh Conservatives.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar MS said: “The First Minister’s failure to stand up for Welsh pensioners and oppose Keir Starmer’s cut to winter fuel is nothing short of a dereliction of duty.
“It is clear that for Labour at both ends of the M4, older people—who have paid into a system their entire lives—are just an afterthought.
“The Welsh Conservatives will protect our pensioners by rolling back increased spending on Labour’s bureaucracy budget to introduce a new Welsh Winter Fuel Allowance, so that pensioners won’t have to choose between heating and eating.”
The FOI response has raised wider questions about the Welsh Government’s influence over UK-wide policy decisions that have significant effects in devolved areas such as public health and poverty.
The Herald understands that while the Welsh Government has advocated for energy fairness and introduced support schemes within its limited powers, no official protest or direct appeal from the First Minister’s office was made over the withdrawal of universal Winter Fuel Payments.
Entertainment
Zulu children’s choir to perform in Pembrokeshire as part of UK tour

A CHOIR of young South African singers is returning to Wales as part of its latest UK tour, with performances and busking dates confirmed in St Davids and Cardiff.
The Project Zulu Choir, made up of 20 children aged 11 to 14 from two township schools in KwaZulu-Natal, will arrive in the UK on May 17. Over the following three weeks, they will showcase their vibrant traditional Zulu songs and dances at venues across the South West.
Their Pembrokeshire stop includes a visit to St Davids, where they will be hosted by Celtic Camping. The choir will busk in the city centre on Sunday, May 26, followed by a full concert at Celtic Camping on Monday, May 27. They will then travel to Cardiff for a final day of busking on Tuesday, May 28.
Ian Griffiths, owner of Celtic Camping, said: “It has been an immense privilege over the years to host and foster a wonderful relationship with the Project Zulu Choir. The venue here will provide a fantastic setting for them to perform, and a memorable experience for everyone to enjoy.”
Every pound raised during the tour will go directly towards improving educational facilities at the choir members’ schools back home in South Africa.
Last year’s tour raised a record-breaking £32,000, and organisers are hoping to surpass that figure in 2024.
Dr Benjamin Knight, director of Project Zulu, said: “The choir will bring boundless energy and charisma during their tour, projecting their incredible sound and thrilling audiences. Every ticket bought and every donation made will directly impact young people’s futures.”
News
Fury as ex-MP Simon Hart handed peerage

Tell-all book and Nazi graffiti scandal reignite calls for answers
FORMER South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart is facing mounting criticism over his appointment to the House of Lords—amid fresh outrage over his decision to publish a revealing political memoir and lingering questions about the “swastika saga” involving defaced campaign material once in his own possession.
Hart, who was MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire from 2010 until he stood down last year, appeared on Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list and is now set to take a seat in the Lords. But his peerage has sparked anger from senior Conservatives, who say Hart breached trust by publishing ‘Ungovernable: The Political Diaries of a Chief Whip’, which contains personal and salacious anecdotes about MPs who confided in him while he held one of the most sensitive roles in government.
The Herald understands that at least one sitting Tory MP wrote to the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) in an attempt to block the nomination, arguing Hart had violated the Nolan Principles—guidelines designed to maintain integrity in public life.

In the book, Hart recounts incidents involving MPs caught in compromising situations, including one who allegedly called the whips’ office for help after becoming stranded in a brothel. Critics say the publication undermines the confidential nature of the whips’ office, which exists partly to offer pastoral support to MPs during times of personal crisis.
Former defence minister Sir Alec Shelbrooke branded the book “appalling” and said it risked breaking the trust that Parliament depends on: “If MPs can’t trust the whips, the system will break down,” he said.
But questions about Hart’s judgement don’t stop there.
Back in 2019, The Pembrokeshire Herald revealed that Hart had shared an image of a defaced campaign poster—infamously bearing the phrase “WILL STARVE YOUR NAN AND STEAL HER HOUSE!”—which had been further altered with Nazi swastikas at some point between its original appearance in 2017 and its reappearance two years later during Hart’s re-election campaign.

Mr Hart had kept the already-defaced poster in his personal possession during that time, and critics pointed out that the two swastikas—absent from the original image—were added while the sign was no longer in public display. Hart refused to explain the additions, dismissing questions from the Herald as “totally outrageous” and claiming it was political mischief by opponents.
Local campaigner Jim Scott, who spotted the differences between the 2017 and 2019 images, asked: “Who had access to the sign in those two years? And why were the swastikas added later?”

The incident caused national embarrassment and raised eyebrows in Westminster, especially as Hart leveraged the graffiti controversy to campaign for civility in politics and even secured a seat on the parliamentary Standards in Public Life Committee on the back of it.
Despite these controversies—and his refusal to address them publicly—Hart has now been rewarded with a life peerage.
One former Tory MP told the BBC: “You’d expect a chief whip to get a peerage, but doing so after publishing a book like that? It’s very odd.”
Hart has not responded to requests for comment from The Pembrokeshire Herald this week. His publisher, Pan Macmillan, also declined to issue a statement.
Meanwhile, former immigration minister Kevin Foster labelled Sunak’s honours list “a reward for failure,” describing it as “a list of Sunak’s mates.”
The Herald stands by its original reporting on the swastika poster and continues to invite Mr Hart to offer a full and credible public explanation.
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