News

UPDATED: Pembroke Dock shaken by Halloween ‘murder’

Published

11 years ago

November 1, 2014

Police presence: Pater Court this afternoon (Pic: MIKE HILLEN/HERALD)

THREE people have been arrested on suspicion of murder following an incident today (Oct 31) in Pembroke Dock, Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed.

The arrests follow a sudden death of a male at a property near Bush Street.

The deceased has been named as local Roger Williams, 50, by several nearby residents on Friday evening, and on Saturday (Nov 1) this was confirmed by police.

Paramedics were notified of an unresponsive man at a flat in the town at around lunch time. The man was reportedly lying unconscious in the hall way of a ground floor flat at Pater Court.

Mark Whitefoot, the landlord of the Bush Tavern, next door to where the incident took place, told The Herald: “I saw the ambulance arrive, at around 1pm, and then saw the gentleman lying in the hall way of the flat. His head was pointing in towards the flat, and his feet were near the doorstep. The door was open and the paramedics were coming to and from the property. His shirt was open; the ambulance crew had obviously been working on him. But he had passed away.”

He added: “A few minutes later the police arrived in a riot van. There were suddenly a lot of police vehicles. Soon afterwards CID came into the pub and asked me to review my CCTV. I of course let them. It was shortly after that they arrested a female – she was really struggling with the officers – she didn’t want to be put into the van. She was practically fighting with them.”

A customer at the bar in his sixties seemed visibly shaken by the incident. He said: “I know the people involved. I live nearby – I know the guy who has died; I am also very friendly with his brother. I also know some of those who have been arrested.”

“It’s a tragedy”, he said.

Across the road at Mega-Kebab the stunned staff told our reporter that he had been told by several customers the name of the person who had died. A customer, who did not want to be named, said that he knew the gentleman; “It was Roger Williams – It’s terrible what has happened. I can’t believe that something like this could happen in Pembroke Dock.”

There is a police presence at the property this evening, and it is understood that the individuals are being held in custody at Haverfordwest police station. Two officers are sat in a police vehicle keeping a watch on the property ensuring that the crime scene will not be disturbed.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson, said: “We can confirm that Roger Williams was found dead on the afternoon of Friday October 31. Next of kin were informed and are being supported by family liaison officers.”

“We are asking for anyone who may have seen Roger, or been in the area of Pater Court, Bush Street or Law Street Pembroke Dock between 12:30pm and 1:20pm on Friday to speak to the investigation team by calling 101.”

“A Home Office post mortem will be carried out today (Nov 1) to help determine the cause of death. The police investigation is ongoing. Yesterday afternoon, one woman and two men were arrested on suspicion of murder. All three remain in custody and are being interviewed by Police.”

Pembroke Dock resident Paul Dowson, who works for The Herald, said: “I knew Roger Williams. He was a genuinely nice bloke. He will be missed.”

The Pembrokeshire Herald has chosen not to name those who have been arrested at this time as they have not been formally charged. The Herald will bring you more on this breaking news story as it unfolds.

Police activity: Pater Court on Friday, Oct 31 (Pic: MIKE HILLEN/HERALD)

Community

End of the line for Intercity 125s as GWR retires Castle Class fleet

Published

18 minutes ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Final services mark the end of an era for West Wales rail passengers

THE LAST remaining Intercity 125 High Speed Trains on the Great Western network will make their final scheduled journeys this Saturday (Dec 13), bringing to a close nearly 50 years of service on routes across Wales and the West Country.

Great Western Railway confirmed that its refurbished “Castle Class” sets – shortened HST formations powered by the iconic Class 43 locomotives – will be withdrawn from passenger use after this weekend. The trains, first introduced in 1976, were once the backbone of long-distance travel between West Wales and London Paddington, including the direct Milford Haven–Paddington service used by generations of students and commuters.

Although the Castle sets stopped operating long-distance routes in 2019, they continued to run regional services between Cardiff and Penzance, and were a familiar sight in Pembrokeshire during summer diagrams. Until a few years ago, it was still possible to see a 125 working into Pembroke Dock on weekend services.

To manage expected public interest, GWR will operate an additional farewell round-trip on Saturday, leaving Plymouth at 3.16pm, running to Penzance (calling only at Par), before returning at 5.32pm.

GWR said the trains will be replaced by its existing diesel fleet alongside 26 recommissioned Class 175s, which will roll out gradually during 2026.

The retirement brings a wave of nostalgia for many West Wales passengers who remember the era when a full-length 125 left Milford Haven each morning bound for London. The distinctive Valenta engine note, table seating, and early laptop users powering their machines from the staff hoover socket made the service part of local student life in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Saturday’s farewell run will mark the final chapter for a train that transformed long-distance travel and, for nearly half a century, connected Pembrokeshire to the capital at high speed.

If you’d like, we can add a nostalgia breakout box revisiting the Milford Haven–Paddington days, the Red Dragon breakfast service, and the 125 summers on the Pembroke Dock branch.

Local Government

Carmarthenshire welcomes new council leader

Published

56 minutes ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

New Cabinet confirmed following Full Council meeting

COUNCILLOR Linda Evans has been appointed Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council and Chair of the Cabinet following a meeting of Full Council on Wednesday (Dec 10).

A long-serving Plaid Cymru councillor for the Llanfihangel-ar-Arth ward, Cllr Evans has served on the authority since 2008 and has been a Cabinet Member since 2015.

Her appointment was formally confirmed during the meeting, where she also announced her Cabinet team — a 10-member executive responsible for the council’s overall business. The Cabinet meets fortnightly to make key decisions and recommendations to Full Council and, in some cases, decisions can be taken individually by Cabinet Members.

All members of the previous administration have retained their roles, with one change: Cllr Emlyn Schiavone joins the Cabinet as the new Cabinet Member for Homes.

The full Cabinet is as follows:

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism: Cllr Hazel Evans
Cabinet Member for Education: Cllr Glynog Davies
Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Communities and Welsh Language: Cllr Carys Jones
Cabinet Member for Organisation and Workforce: Cllr Philip Hughes
Cabinet Member for Resources: Cllr Alun Lenny
Cabinet Member for Homes: Cllr Emlyn Schiavone
Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services: Cllr Edward Thomas
Cabinet Member for Integrated Health and Children and Adult Social Services: Cllr Jane Tremlett
Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability: Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen
Leader of the Council: Cllr Linda Evans

Speaking after her appointment, Cllr Evans said:
“It’s an honour to be elected as Council Leader and I look forward to working with the Cabinet and all members across the chamber for the benefit of the residents of Carmarthenshire.”

Crime

Two further prison deaths in Wales confirmed by Ombudsman

Published

1 hour ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

One death is linked to HMP Parc, one post-release from HMP Cardiff

TWO more deaths connected to Welsh prisons have been confirmed by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), adding to what campaigners describe as a deepening crisis across the prison system in Wales.

The PPO has opened an investigation into the death of Kenneth Male, born 12 December 1957, who died on 22 November 2025 while serving his sentence at HMP/YOI Parc in Bridgend. The case appears in the Ombudsman’s official listings with the investigation currently marked as in progress.

Campaigners say his death is the 40th linked to Parc since 2022.

In a post shared widely on social media, campaign spokesman Zackery Lee Griffiths described the number of deaths as “the highest at any prison in England and Wales since 2022”, adding that bereaved families “could have been spared months or even years of grief if action had been taken earlier”.

A second new case has also been listed by the Ombudsman. Scott Price, born 12 February 1996, died on 13 November 2025, shortly after his release from HMP Cardiff. His death is categorised as post-release, with the PPO investigation also ongoing.

Both deaths will be subject to full independent investigations, which will examine the circumstances leading up to each case, the care provided, and any wider systemic issues.

Background: growing scrutiny of Welsh prison safety

The Herald has been reporting extensively on conditions at HMP Parc, including allegations of drug use, violence, failures in safeguarding, and patterns of deaths linked to synthetic drugs and medical emergencies.
Concerns have been raised repeatedly in the Senedd, with Welsh ministers and several MSs calling for urgent intervention and a full review of G4S’s running of the Bridgend facility.

The UK Government, which oversees justice and prisons in Wales, has so far resisted calls for removing the contract from G4S.

Campaigners say the latest death strengthens the case for major reform.

What happens next

The PPO will now conduct two independent investigations, with reports expected to be published publicly once completed. The Herald will continue to follow developments.