THE OWNER of a well-known bridal boutique in Llandeilo has donated nearly 100 bespoke wedding gowns to charity as he prepares to close his business after 16 years.

Huw Rees, the stylist and broadcaster behind Huw Rees Brides, said he was forced to shut the store due to kidney failure. Wanting to end on a “positive note,” he has donated dresses to several charities, including Cancer Research, the British Red Cross, local colleges, and even a dog charity.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Mr Rees said: “People have been disappointed. We are a multi-award-winning brand and just won a national wedding award recently, but customers who know why have been very supportive.”

Among the donations, around 20 dresses have gone to Cancer Research, while 40 gowns have been given to Bridgend and Carmarthen colleges to support sustainability projects. A further 30 wedding dresses, along with bridesmaids’ dresses, veils, and accessories, have been handed over to the British Red Cross in Llandeilo.

British Red Cross shop manager Sarah Morris said the store was “overwhelmed” by Mr Rees’ generosity.

“The shop has been buzzing with excitement. The phone has been ringing with enquiries about the dresses, and customers have been visiting to try them on,” she said. “The money raised will support our work across the UK and worldwide, helping people in crisis. We are truly grateful to Huw for this donation.”

The donated gowns include bespoke designs by Mr Rees, as well as dresses from luxury brands such as Ellis Bridal, Lou Lou, and Louise Bentley, typically priced at over £1,000. However, the donated dresses have been sold for between £50 and £100.

Mr Rees, who is known as Huw “Fash” and is a regular on S4C programmes Prynhawn Da and Heno, has openly spoken about his health struggles, including undergoing dialysis for kidney disease.

Despite the closure, Mr Rees said he and his team will honour their commitments to existing brides, with their final wedding scheduled for November.

Looking ahead, the stylist revealed he is training to become a celebrant and hopes to officiate weddings instead of designing dresses.

“We’ve had 16 successful years, and I’m just grateful for the supportive brides,” he said. “Now it’s time to think about the future.”

A FORMER bishop has been jailed for sexually abusing a boy over a five-year period while serving as a priest.

Anthony Pierce, 84, who was bishop of Swansea and Brecon from 1999 to 2008, admitted five counts of indecent assault on a child under 16.

Swansea Crown Court heard the abuse took place between 1985 and 1990 while Pierce was a parish priest in West Cross, Swansea.

Sentencing him to four years and one month in prison—half to be served behind bars before release on licence—Judge Catherine Richards told him: “You exploited his age and your position of trust.”

In a statement read in court, the victim said he remembered “exactly how I felt as the abuse took place” and described an “overwhelming sense of embarrassment” that prevented him from speaking out at the time.

“I have very low self-esteem and self-worth. I do not have friends. I feel trapped as I’m unable to move past the trauma of what happened,” he said.

The victim said he became dependent on alcohol as a teenager and struggled to form relationships. However, speaking out had given him an “overwhelming sense of relief” and made him feel “released from something that’s had a hold over me all these years”.

Pierce, who appeared in court with grey hair and glasses, was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will remain on the sex offenders register for life, barring him from working or volunteering with children or vulnerable adults.

Prosecutor Dean Pulling said the abuse was “completely uninvited and unwanted”.

“He said he felt repelled by what the defendant did to him,” Mr Pulling told the court.

During a police interview, Pierce denied being attracted to children.

Judge Richards told Pierce, who was in his late 40s at the time of the offences: “You were expected to be trusted and respected. Any parent or adult at that time would understandably have trusted that their child was safe with you and you would act in accordance with your professed Christian values.

“Instead, you began to groom him.”

Defending, Heath Edwards said Pierce “deeply regrets the behaviour” and warned there was a risk he would “spend the rest of his life serving a custodial sentence”.

The Church in Wales said it felt “profound shame” over the offences and confirmed allegations about Pierce’s abuse only emerged in 2023 when the victim came forward.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Anthony Pierce has abused his position, disgraced his church and, worst of all, inflicted appalling and lasting trauma on his victim.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim in this case, who has shown immense courage in reporting what are deeply painful experiences. We offer him the most heartfelt apology for what he has had to endure.”

It later emerged that a separate allegation of sexual abuse against Pierce was reported to senior church figures in 1993—17 years before it was passed to police. The alleged victim, believed to have been under 18 at the time, had died by the time the church informed officers in 2010.

The Church in Wales has launched an independent review into the handling of that complaint and wider safeguarding procedures.

Pierce, who was made a commander of the Order of St John in 2002 and a knight of the order in 2010 for charitable service, is no longer a member, St John Ambulance confirmed.

He stepped down as bishop in January 2008, aged 67. Swansea University, which had awarded him an honorary fellowship, said it would now review that decision.

The Right Reverend John Lomas, the current Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, said he would ask the tribunal to consider deposing Pierce from Holy Orders—the most severe sanction available.

Monique McKevitt, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Pierce initially denied the offences but pleaded guilty when confronted with “overwhelming prosecution evidence”.

She described his actions as a “gross abuse of trust” by someone expected to preside over important religious ceremonies.

PAUL SARTORI HOSPIC AT HOME, a Pembrokeshire-based charity, has secured a £10,000 grant from The James Tudor Foundation to support its end-of-life care services. The funding will contribute to the charity’s Registered Nursing Team, which provides essential palliative care across the county.

The annual cost of delivering this service exceeds £200,000.

Paul Sartori takes a holistic approach to end-of-life care, offering home nursing, complementary therapies, bereavement support, physiotherapy, future care planning, and training. Its team delivers thousands of hours of respite care each year, ensuring patients receive support in the comfort of their homes.

The charity’s Registered Nurses play a vital role in bridging gaps in local palliative care. Their flexible and responsive approach ensures that patients’ wishes to remain at home are honoured. They conduct assessments, facilitate referrals, collaborate with healthcare providers, and offer expert advice. The nurses also assist with symptom management, medication administration, and operate the charity’s 24/7 on-call service, providing immediate assistance in emergencies. Additionally, they coordinate fast-track personal care packages to help patients return home from hospital with adequate support.

“The presence of a Paul Sartori Registered Nurse at home brings immense reassurance to families during a challenging time,” said Laura Hugman, Clinical Team Manager at Paul Sartori Hospice at Home. “Our nurses uphold the highest standards of compassionate care, prioritising dignity and quality of life. Having a Registered Nurse available at night means that patients and families can receive prompt assistance without delays.”

Judith Williams, Grant Development Officer at Paul Sartori, expressed gratitude for the continued support: “We are incredibly thankful to The James Tudor Foundation for their generosity. Their funding helps us maintain our nursing service, which is a lifeline for many families facing end-of-life care challenges. Our nurses make a significant impact, alleviating stress and providing much-needed comfort.”

The James Tudor Foundation focuses on the relief of human sickness, supporting organisations that provide direct care to individuals affected by physical or mental health issues. Their commitment to improving end-of-life support aligns with Paul Sartori Hospice at Home’s mission to provide compassionate and dignified care in Pembrokeshire’s rural communities.

“The Foundation is pleased to support Paul Sartori Hospice at Home once again in delivering this crucial service,” said a spokesperson for The James Tudor Foundation. “Ensuring individuals receive practical and emotional support at the end of life is vital, and we are impressed by the charity’s unwavering dedication. We look forward to hearing more about the impact of their work.”