Community

Hubberston Park committee’s first fun day a ‘fantastic success’

Published

4 months ago

August 25, 2024

THE FIRST-EVER Family Fun Day at Hubberston Park on Saturday (Aug 24), was a resounding success, with hundreds of families from the community and beyond coming together for a day filled with laughter, activities, and a strong sense of togetherness. Organised by the newly appointed trustees of the Hubberston Community Association, the event was a testament to the power of community spirit and the hard work of dedicated volunteers.

The event featured a variety of attractions that kept children and adults alike entertained throughout the day. The inflatables, provided by Pembrokeshire Bouncy Castles, were a massive hit, with children eagerly queuing up to bounce, slide, and play. The presence of local heroes from the police and fire departments added an extra layer of excitement, with youngsters thrilled to explore a police car and meet the officers.

A special appearance by beloved characters, including Spiderman, Olaf, and a friendly dinosaur, delighted the young attendees. These characters, brought to life by local volunteers Kerryanne Thomas and Kirsty Salter, roamed the park, posing for pictures and adding to the festive atmosphere.

In addition to the fun and games, the event also featured stalls run by community members, offering everything from face painting by Rachel to temporary tattoos by Ashley and Keely. The raffles and guessing games, meticulously organised by Claire and Cody, added an element of friendly competition, while the bric-a-brac stall managed by Kelly, Kaitlyn, and Laci was a treasure trove for bargain hunters.

One of the highlights of the day was the generous donation of fresh fruit by Milford Haven Tesco, ensuring that all the children had access to a healthy snack amidst the sugary treats of the sweet shop. The inclusion of this gesture was well-received by parents and helped promote a message of healthy eating.

The event wasn’t just about fun; it was also an opportunity for the community to provide feedback on plans for an inclusive play area in the park. The trustees took the chance to engage with parents and children, gathering input on how to improve the park facilities to better serve all members of the community.

Reflecting on the event, Stephen Hughes, a local resident, remarked, “Community starts with a strong following. Today’s fun day was excellent; the volunteers put everything they had into keeping the park maintained and making this day a success. Every town needs this—a sense of community helping people enjoy the day. It was inspiring to see everyone come together because they truly care.”

The Hubberston Community Association, led by trustees Lauren Medlicott, Keely Hilton, Debbie Anthony, Mirelle Fisher, Blaire Rimmer, Jessie Allerton, Zac Bassett, and Dan Hatch, has big plans for the park. Their vision includes replacing ageing play equipment, adding more benches, and reopening the park shop on weekends and school holidays. This event marks the beginning of a series of initiatives aimed at revitalising the park and fostering community engagement.

The trustees extended their heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the day, from the volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to the families who came out to support the event. “We are blown away by the turnout and the generosity of our community,” said Mirelle Fisher, one of the trustees. “This day has shown us what we can achieve when we all come together.”

As the event wound down Hubberston Park, the laughter of children and the smiles of families lingered—a reminder of the enduring power of community and the promise of more to come.

Charity

Over 1,100 festive bathers enjoy Tenby’s famous Boxing Day Swim

Published

49 mins ago

December 26, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A RECORD-BREAKING number of 1,150 festive bathers have had a splashing time in the Tenby Boxing Day Swim this morning.

The fancy dress theme of Superheroes – in tribute to the RNLI in its 200th anniversary year – saw Batman, The Incredibles, Wonderwoman and a whole crew of emergency services dashing into the chilly water of Tenby’s North Beach.

RNLI mascot Stormy Stan was there amongst the huge crowds to cheer the brave bathers on their way.
The swim will be one to remember forever for one duo of dippers as they got engaged following a surprise proposal on the sand.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach Philip Frith, 34, made one of his best-ever moves when he popped the question to his girlfriend, former professional dancer Victoria Tansey, 34, who is originally from Hakin.

Said swim chairman Sam Skyrme-Blackhall: “”Well, we said ‘come to the Tenby Boxing Day Swim and take the plunge’ but we weren’t expecting that! Congratulations to the happy couple”.
The swim has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities and good causes in its 52-year history, and this yeae’s event will see Tenby RNLI as the main beneficiary.

Town mayor Dai Morgan said: ”It’s great to see so many people from here, and for such a good cause. I just love it down on the beach on Boxing Day. The swim is such a fantastic tradition.”
The mayor’s daughter, 18-year-old Erin Morgan, who is Tenby’s town crier, gave a special ‘cry’ to welcome the swim.

Swim chairman Sam supervised 10-year-old Sam Fecci as he fired the swim’s starting pistol – a duty usually carried out by his dad, Stuart, who was not well enough to attend.

Festive tunes and a lively commentary from DJ Steve Briers ramped up the atmosphere on the beach and swimmers emerged from the sea to be presented with commemorative medals and warm up with hot soup donated by the Giltar Hotel and served up by Tenby and District Lions.

‘Taking the plunge’ at a festive swim in Wales this morning meant more than just a dip in the sea for one happy couple.

As hundreds of Boxing Day bathers at the legendary event in Tenby dashed for the water, a magical moment was happening between Victoria Tansey and Philip Frith.
Philip, 34, went down on one knee on the sand and asked Victoria, 37, to marry him.

Fortunately, she said an ecstatic ‘yes’ to the carefully-planned proposal, which saw the couple’s special song Ocean Eyes y Billie Eilish sound out over the beach as the newly-engaged couple celebrated with a splash in the sea.

As a former Royal Marine Philip – who is now a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach – has faced some scary situations in his life but the Boxing Day proposal was up there with the most nail-biting.
“I’ve been so nervous/special moment.

Victoria, originally from Hakin, Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, worked as a professional dancer – appearing on the X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and Pineapple Dance Studio: Survival of the Fittest -and before setting up her own entertainment agency.

Although now living in Guildford with Philip, she has always loved returning to her Pembrokeshire roots

“When we first met, Victoria couldn’t wait to show me all around Pembrokeshire and we have made the trip as often as work would allow us, to visit her family, go beach hopping and take in the breathtaking scenery,” said Philip.

“I absolutely love sea swimming, I believe that it is so worthwhile for your body and mind, however Victoria has never been one to enjoy the cold!

“So, on our first Christmas together as a couple, Victoria surprised me by taking me to Tenby for the Boxing Day Swim – it’s honestly one of my most fond memories from the start of our relationship!

“I wanted to return her the favour of surprising her by proposing to her at this year’s swim.”

Victoria’s mum and her childhood best friend , Sean Griffiths – who she set up Milford Haven’s Unison Dance Group with in 2004 –were on the beach to watch the proposal, with Sean bringing along the engagement ring in his pocket to fellow swimmers crowded round to congratulate Victoria and Philip, and swim chairman Sam Skyrme-Blackhall laughed: “Well, we said ‘come to the Tenby Boxing Day Swim and take the plunge’ but we weren’t expecting that! Congratulations to the happy couple”.

Community

Neyland Community Christmas Lunch a festive success

Published

22 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

NEYLAND TOWN COUNCIL rolled up their sleeves to support this year’s Community Christmas Lunch, spreading festive cheer and warm hospitality to attendees on Christmas Day at the Alumchine.

Councillors Steve Campodonic, David Devauden, Steve Thomas, and Brian Rothero began their efforts as early as 7:30am, working tirelessly to ensure the event ran smoothly.

The dedicated organisers, including Trish Campodonic, Pam, and Lloyd Hamilton, along with other volunteers, created a welcoming space filled with festive spirit and a delicious meal with all the trimmings.

The event brought together members of the community who might otherwise have spent the day alone, highlighting the warmth and generosity that Neyland is known for.

A heartfelt ‘Well done’ to everyone involved for making this Christmas lunch a resounding success and spreading joy to so many.

Community

Milford Haven’s heartwarming ‘Christmas Together’ event another success

Published

23 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN came together once again on Christmas Day for the annual ‘Christmas Together’ event, a cherished tradition that has been running since December 2012.

Organised by Mayor Cllr William Elliott and his consort Lloyd Jones, alongside Cllr Colin Sharp and the dedicated Christmas Together Committee, the event provided warmth, community spirit, and festive cheer to those who might otherwise spend the day alone.

Volunteers played an essential role, with special thanks extended to Claire and her kitchen team, who prepared and served a delicious Christmas meal for all attendees. Milford Haven Town Band added a festive soundtrack to the day, while support from Milford Haven Fire Station and numerous volunteers ensured everything ran smoothly.

The event, which aims to combat loneliness during what can be a difficult time of year for many, was described as a resounding success. The organisers expressed heartfelt gratitude to all those who donated money, items, and their time to make the day special.

A spokesperson for the event said: “As another year closes, we would like to thank all those that made Christmas Together 2024 so amazing. Great day, great company, and so good to see the community working together.”

Special recognition was also given to Marble Hall Mini Market for their kind donation of a festive hamper.

The Christmas Together raffle added an extra layer of excitement to the day, with generous donations from supporters.

A special thank you was extended to Mariam Dalziel and the team from South Hook for kindly donating an Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet as one of the raffle prizes. Other prizes included a hamper of wine, a tower of temptation (chocolates and Prosecco), chocolate tub hampers, and many more.

Preparations for the event began well in advance, with invitations being posted on Saturday, 26th October 2024. The dedicated team behind this effort included Leanne from Milford Haven Post Office, Mayor Cllr William Elliott, Cllr Guy Woodham (Founder and Chair of Christmas Together), and Cllr Colin Sharp (Committee Member and Chair of the Pill Social Centre).