Community
Sustaining Angle Lifeboat Station operations ‘increasingly challenging’
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Alerts-for-Angle-RNLIs-all-weather-lifeboat-Mark-Mason-e1586607561412.jpg)
ANGLE LIFEBOAT station, one of the busiest in west Wales, is seeing operations from its site in the village “becoming increasingly challenging” to sustain due to its remote location and a declining population, the RNLI has said.
Formed in 1868, the station owes its launch to the generosity of a prominent north England philanthropist, Titus Salt junior, of Bradford.
Fears have been expressed locally that the station could be downgraded in favour of activities being run from Milford Haven.
An RNLI spokesperson said: “It is becoming increasingly challenging for the RNLI to sustain operations at Angle Lifeboat Station due to its remote location and declining population.
“Since 2012, a local operating procedure has been in place for Angle’s all-weather lifeboat to collect crew from Milford Haven when attending incidents to ensure adequate crewing levels.
“The RNLI has recently provided extra support to crew based in Milford Haven, developing more infrastructure and dedicated training for volunteers.
“Angle’s all-weather lifeboat is currently based on a swing mooring to ensure it can be launched quickly and effectively in an emergency, due to limited amount of shore crew with daytime availability at Angle.
“Supplementing this arrangement, the RNLI has been operating from Milford Haven three days a week in order to maintain our lifesaving effect. We are working with Milford Haven Port Authority with a view to extending this arrangement to a 24/7 service for a three-to-six-month trial.
“We will still require the services of the Angle RNLI volunteer crew, but continue to review the situation in order to ensure the long-term viability of the station.
“The RNLI is committed to ensuring an effective lifesaving effect in the Cleddau Estuary and surrounding area and is grateful to Milford Haven Port Authority for their ongoing support.”
The first lifeboat at Angle, Katherine, launched seven times in 20 years, saving 22 lives, before being replaced in 1888 by the Henry Martin Harvey, which, in 1894, took part in its most famous rescue, of the passengers and crew of the ‘whisky ship’ Loch Shiel.
The ship was on a voyage from her home port of Glasgow to Australia, when she ran into heavy weather in the Irish Sea and tried to take shelter in the Milford Haven Waterway.
The Angle RNLI lifeboat was alerted and set out at 10.45pm, but by this time the ship was sinking and six of the men had taken refuge in the mizzen top.
Other members of the crew and passengers had crawled out along the ship and taken shelter on the rocks of Thorn Island.
The lifeboat rescued the six men from the mizzen top before heading to the far side of the island, hauling all 27 survivors to safety.
By daylight, the Loch Shiel had begun to break up and her cargo – which included 100 percent proof whisky – came ashore at West Angle Bay.
While customs officers quickly came to claim the whisky, much of it mysteriously disappeared, with local women said to have smuggled bottles from the beach in their long underwear.
In late 1929 the Merchant ship Molesey left Manchester for Cardiff when it was struck by a 70mph gale and was swept into the treacherous water between Skomer Island and the mainland, before being ground on the rocks off the Midland Island and began to sink.
In an hour-long operation 28 survivors of the Molesey where saved.
Earlier this month, May 2024, the lifeboat was called out four times in just two days.
Community
Local harpist serenades outside Pembroke Castle to support St. Mary’s bell restoration
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/5-1-scaled-e1724684392423.jpg)
ON MONDAY(Aug 26), Pembroke was treated to a delightful and unexpected musical experience as local harpist Jess Ward performed outside the historic Pembroke Castle. In a touching display of community spirit, Ward played her harp and sang to raise funds for the ongoing restoration of the bells at St. Mary’s Church, a project close to the hearts of many Pembroke residents.
The bells, which have been a part of the town’s soundscape for centuries, were recently removed from the Norman tower of St. Mary’s Church due to safety concerns. The oldest of these bells dates back to 1763, and their silence has left a noticeable void in the town. The St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Ringers, led by Tower Captain Anne R. Bunker, have been working tirelessly to raise the £200,000 required to restore and reinstall these historic bells. To date, a significant portion of the funding has been secured, but approximately £16,000 is still needed to complete the project.
Onlookers gathered as the soft melodies of Ward’s harp filled the air, complementing the backdrop of the castle’s stone walls and evoking a sense of timelessness. Her performance was not only a reminder of the town’s rich cultural heritage but also a call to action for the community to come together and support the bell restoration project.
“I spent a rather lovely hour or so listening to Jess Ward playing harp and singing beautifully outside Pembroke Castle,” remarked Will Scott, a Pembroke resident. “It was a moving experience, knowing that the music was in aid of bringing back our bells, which have been such a vital part of our town’s identity.”
In a letter addressed to Pembroke residents, Anne R. Bunker expressed the importance of the bells, not just as historical artefacts, but as integral to the town’s special moments. The restoration project aims to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the bells’ sounds, and that the skills of bell ringing are not lost.
“Through a lot of hard work, we’ve secured the majority of the funding for the restoration of the bells,” Bunker stated. “We would like to get the bells ringing again as soon as possible, before the ringing skills are lost and so our town can again have bells to mark its special moments.”
Bunker encourages even small donations, such as £1 a month, to help secure the bells for hundreds of years to come. For those interested in contributing, donations can be made directly to the St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Restoration Project Fund.
As the town rallies around this cause, the sight and sound of Jess Ward playing outside Pembroke Castle serves as a poignant reminder of the community’s resilience and the shared desire to preserve Pembroke’s rich history. With continued support, it is hoped that the bells will soon ring out once more, marking the town’s special moments as they have done for centuries.
To donate to the St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Restoration Project, you can make a bank transfer directly to the project’s dedicated fund. Here are the details:
- Bank Account Name: The St Mary’s Pembroke Bell Restoration Project Fund
- Sort Code: 30-16-20
- Account Number: 07358466
Additionally, if you are a UK taxpayer, the project fund can claim Gift Aid on your donations, which increases the value of your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you.
If you wish to know more about the project or discuss other ways of contributing, you can contact Anne R. Bunker, the Tower Captain of St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Ringers, on 07977 541520.
Your support will help restore the bells, ensuring they continue to be a part of Pembroke’s heritage for generations to come.
(Images and video by Martin Cavaney)
Community
Pembrokeshire Jacks donate £408 to Wales Air Ambulance
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/jacks.jpeg)
ON SATURDAY evening (Aug 24), a cheque presentation took place at Swansea City’s stadium with the Pembrokeshire Jacks, marking a significant contribution to the Wales Air Ambulance charity. The presentation followed the last home game of the 2022/2023 season, during which the Pembrokeshire Jacks generously donated £408.
The funds were raised through a football scratch card initiative held at every home game. In this initiative, one of the passengers wins half of the scratch card proceeds, while the other half is donated to charity. For the 2022/2023 season, the chosen charity was Wales Air Ambulance.
A big thank you goes out to the Pembrokeshire Jacks for their kind donation and ongoing support of the Wales Air Ambulance service.
Community
West Wales community rallies to raise £50,000 in bid to save historic chapel
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Blaen-Capel.jpg)
THE RESIDENTS of Newport, Pembrokeshire, have raised £50,000 in just one week in a bid to save the historic Bethlehem Baptist Chapel. The chapel, which has stood as a cultural and spiritual landmark in the town for generations, is set to go to auction on Friday, 30th August, and the community is determined to keep it from falling into private hands.
The fundraising effort, led by a group of dedicated volunteers, aims to transform the old chapel into a Heritage, Arts, and Cultural Centre that will serve as a hub for the town’s rich Welsh heritage. However, time is running out, as the group must raise an additional £100,000 in less than a week to secure the building at auction.
Support for the project has come from both local residents and people further afield, with donations ranging from £3,000 to £20,000. The project’s organisers have expressed their gratitude to all those who have contributed, emphasising the importance of keeping Bethlehem Chapel as a community asset for future generations.
A recent meeting held at Newport Memorial Hall saw a large turnout, underscoring the community’s passion for preserving the chapel. A video featuring Jean Young, the chapel’s last organist, has also been released on the campaign’s website, where she shares her memories of the chapel and urges others to help save this vital piece of the town’s history.
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cefn-Capel.jpg)
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Public-Meeting-at-Newport-Memorial-Hall.jpg)
Bethlehem Chapel, an iconic building in Newport’s town centre, has played a significant role in the community’s life for years. Despite efforts to negotiate an exclusive agreement to purchase the building, the chapel will now go to public auction. The urgency of the situation has prompted the campaign’s organisers to call for last-minute support from those who may be able to provide bridging funds.
Cris Tomos, a coordinator with PLANED, a local community development charity that has been supporting the project, highlighted the success of similar community-led initiatives across Wales. He cited the example of the old Police Station and Courthouse in Cardigan, which was purchased by a local cooperative with the help of a £250,000 loan from a single family, and Ty’n Llan, a Georgian coaching inn, which was saved by a community effort that raised £460,000.
Tomos emphasised that the Newport Bethlehem project offers private lenders competitive interest rates on their loans, with larger lenders receiving a legal charge on the building. Additionally, UK taxpayers may be eligible for a 30% tax relief through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Tu-Fewn-y-capel.jpg)
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Tu-Fewn-y-capel2.jpg)
As the auction date rapidly approaches, the organisers are appealing to anyone who can help to get in touch. “We have a short window of opportunity to save this building,” said Tomos. “If you or someone you know can assist, please contact the project team.”
For more information or to contribute to the campaign, visit www.canolfanbethlehem.cymru, or contact John Harries, a project team member, via email at [email protected].
-
Crime2 days ago
Mystery still surrounds Siân Batchelor’s death in Pembroke Dock
-
News3 days ago
Appeal after pedestrian in ‘critical condition’ after collision in Milford Haven
-
Business5 days ago
£60m port revamp in Pembroke Dock set to create 1,800 jobs
-
Crime4 days ago
Pembroke Dock man sentenced to four years for drug dealing
-
Crime5 days ago
Milford man in court accused of abandoning two children
-
News5 days ago
Pembroke Dock police station to close; police relocating to Argyle Street
-
Crime4 days ago
Milford Haven man fined for breaching Community Protection Notice
-
Education4 days ago
GCSE results success shines across Pembrokeshire