Community
Welsh and Pembrokeshire books are coming home
NARBERTH-born Dr Ruth Chilcott (1929-2023) lived most of her life in England, but never forgot her roots. Her grandfather had built many of the houses in the town, and her father, T.R. Francis, was the local headmaster. Her childhood there was tinged with sadness, overshadowed by the death of her mother giving birth to her, and coloured by World War II and its aftermath. Despite this, Ruth always loved Pembrokeshire.
After studying medicine at Cardiff University, she moved to London to practice as a doctor. But still having family and friends in Narberth, she visited often, and over the years amassed a large collection of books about Pembrokeshire and Narberth. Those books are now returning to Wales, and will be available for ‘rehoming’ at this year’s Llangwm LitFest.
Ruth’s daughters, Sian and Rhian, recount that as their mother got older, the stronger her bonds to Wales felt. Hers was perhaps the only house in Essex decorated extravagantly with Welsh flags. The family Welsh dresser – made from oak felled on the family fields – dominated the sitting room. She died last year at the age of 93, but they smilingly note that in her final months, she was determinedly trying to teach her carers Welsh, and existed mostly on a diet of cockles and prawns from South Wales.
Now to honour her bond to Narberth, the daughters want to find good homes for as much of their mother’s library as possible. “We are bringing the books to Pembrokeshire, because we know we will find a great community of people who both love books and are interested in Welsh history” said Rhian. “And the Llangwm LitFest is the ideal way to connect with this community.”
The books are an eclectic selection, from rare historical accounts of drovers’ roads to modern language learning materials. “There is a bit of everything,” says Sian, “from poetry to coffee table books to memoirs. Whether you like ghost stories, or recipe books, or family history collections… we hope you’ll find something to interest you.”
Anyone who takes a book will be invited to make a donation in return, and the sisters will donate the proceeds to the Narberth Museum of which Ruth was a lifelong friend. Sian and Rhian’s stall will be next to Claire’s bar in the Big Marquee during the Llangwm Literary Festival. The festival takes place between 9 and 11 August 2024 in Llangwm. For more information on the festival, please contact [email protected], or visit their website: www.llangwmlitfest.co.uk
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.
Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.
The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.
Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.
Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.
(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)
Community
Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend
ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.
In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”
Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.
Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.
Community
Restoration of a pond hopes to support biodiversity in Pembrokeshire
AN OLD millpond at the heart of the Wallis and Ambleston community, and a site of Special Scientific Interest, has now been improved to benefit water quality and increase biodiversity in an area of South Wales, thanks to funding from Nestlé Waters UK.
Wallis Pond was created in 1836 as part of the tributary of the Wester Cleddau River to supply water to a local mill. Back in 1978, it was restored and later re-opened by HRH King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales.
Over the years, the pond had become completely silted up, restricting the waters passage and the pond’s ability to retain water, resulting in a reduced diversity of habitat in and around the millpond.
Pembrokeshire County Council, Heavyside Landscapes and Nestlé Waters UK have come together to restore the millpond with regulatory guidance from Natural Resources Wales and support from the Ambleston Community Council.
The project saw the pond re-dug and de-silted, and the old sluice gate replaced to re-establish the millpond. With the pond now able to hold more water, it is hoped to help build resilience to the increased frequency and intensity of storm events, alleviating the risk of flooding in the local area.
Retention of flows in the pond for a longer time should help reduce silt build-up and prevent nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates from travelling downstream in the Cleddau catchment, helping to protect water quality, improve aquatic habitats, and encourage eels, otters, damselflies, and other wildlife species.
Restoration of Wallis Pond is one of the projects that Nestlé Waters is working on as part of its efforts to help regenerate local water cycles and create a positive water impact everywhere the company operates.
Matthew Faulkner, Factory Manager at the Nestlé Waters site in Princes Gate, said: “We are proud to be a part of the Wallis Pond restoration work, aimed at delivering long-lasting benefits in Pembrokeshire, where we bottle at source Princes Gate and Nestlé Pure Life waters. This beautiful landscape is not only our home, but also home to some incredible flora and fauna which are vital for keeping the area rich and thriving in biodiversity.
“We’re working hard to protect this land and the water beneath our feet. Water is a shared resource and a shared responsibility, and caring for it takes the whole community. That’s why we’re grateful to be working with partners on this project that will hopefully have a positive impact on the local ecosystem and community.”
Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services at the Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “We welcome this funding to enhance the biodiversity in Wallis Pond which can be enjoyed by the residents of Ambleston, the wider communities in Pembrokeshire and the visitors to our fantastic county.
“This is an excellent example of partnership working that has significant benefits for the environment and the wellbeing of generations to come.”
Eirian Forrest, Clerk at the Ambleston Community Council, said: “We are grateful to Nestlé Waters UK for the funding and wish to thank everyone who has been involved in this project, especially the Pembrokeshire County Council team, for pushing the project forwards.
“The Community Council are delighted that the work has finally been done and look forward to the positive impact it will have on biodiversity. We have already received many positive comments from members of the community. The improved pond encourages locals to take a walk around the area, as well as sit down to watch and enjoy the wildlife.”
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