Community

Local harpist serenades outside Pembroke Castle to support St. Mary’s bell restoration

Published

2 years ago

August 26, 2024

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

Fire service sets out new flood response plan for Mid and West Wales

Published

9 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

AROUND 31,000 properties across Mid and West Wales are at risk of flooding, according to figures released as part of a new fire service response strategy.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has completed a major engagement process to shape how it deals with future flooding incidents.

The work brought together operational crews, partner agencies and community representatives through a series of “Flooding Balanced Room” workshops.

The service said the aim was to make sure all voices were heard equally while developing practical options for prevention, response and recovery.

Nearly 24,000 properties in the service area are at risk from river flooding, while more than 7,000 are at risk from tidal flooding.

The service attends around 300 water rescue and weather-related flooding incidents each year.

Officials say flooding is becoming more frequent and more serious because of climate change, including heavier rainfall and prolonged weather events.

Recent data also shows a clear seasonal pattern, with the highest number of flooding incidents taking place between October and February.

The third quarter of 2025/26 was the busiest for flooding incidents since 2017/18, while February 2020 and November 2025 recorded the highest monthly levels of flooding activity.

The workshops produced four key priorities: prevention first, collaboration and partnership, enhanced specialist capability, and learning and continuous improvement.

Eleven initial options were narrowed down to five main areas.

These include better public education, community flood groups, improved flood messaging with partner agencies, more staff training, improved welfare and PPE for firefighters, better vehicles and technology, and stronger post-incident support for communities.

Proposals include using flood awareness in home fire safety checks, improving training scenarios, increasing the number of qualified water incident managers, expanding drone use, and using climate data to plan future fleet and equipment needs.

The options have now been assessed, with recommendations presented to the service’s Executive Leadership Team.

The plans will feed into the service’s future flooding strategy and its Community Risk Management Plan 2040.

Iwan Cray, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The Flooding Balanced Room process has highlighted the importance of collaboration.

“By listening to our staff, partners, and communities, we’ve created practical, forward-thinking solutions that will strengthen our ability to prevent and manage flooding in Mid and West Wales.

“Together, we can build a safer, more resilient Wales.”

Community

Vintage tractor tour sets off from Pembroke Dock for Ireland

Published

11 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FIFTY-three vintage tractors left Pembroke Dock Ferry Port on Saturday (May 2) as part of a long-running tractor tour to Ireland.

The group boarded the ferry for the latest stage of an exchange which has been running since 2011, when the National Vintage Tractor Run was held in Pembrokeshire.

Organiser Alun Mason said: “The Tour of Ireland has been ongoing since 2011, when the National Vintage Tractor Run was held in Pembrokeshire.

“A large contingent travelled from Ireland and continue to do so every other year, with our visit this weekend and the Irish tractors due to visit in 2027.”

Some of the tractors taking part travelled from as far as Burry Port, Bridgend, Llandrindod Wells, Llandovery and Ceredigion before gathering at the ferry port.

The event brought together vintage tractor enthusiasts from across Wales ahead of the crossing to Ireland.

Pictured are organisers Jo Richards and Alun Mason, and the group waiting to embark at Pembroke Dock Ferry Port.

Vintage tour: Jo Richards and Alun Mason with tractors at Pembroke Dock Ferry Port (Pic: Martin Cavaney).

Community

Volunteers praised as Rath paddling pool gets summer makeover

Published

12 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Questions raised over new netting as community pitches in to prepare popular spot

VOLUNTEERS have been praised for their efforts to get Milford Haven’s Rath paddling pool ready for summer – but a new addition has sparked debate among locals.

A group of residents, including Caroline Jones, Derek Abbott, Jordy, Tina Hawkins and Isla, were pictured this week installing colourful netting along the fence surrounding the pool.

The work forms part of ongoing efforts by the community to clean, maintain and improve the popular splash area ahead of the warmer months.

Caroline explained the netting had a practical purpose as well as an aesthetic one.

She said: “It’s partly to try and prevent some of the grass cuttings getting into the pool but also to brighten the area up.”

Others suggested it could also help reduce the amount of litter blowing into the water – an issue that has been raised in previous summers.

The efforts were widely welcomed online, with many residents thanking those involved for giving up their time.

One commenter wrote: “A bit of praise for these volunteers who give our little ones a bit of enjoyment at the paddling pool. Well done all.”

Another added: “Well done and thank you everyone.”

Some questioned the need for the netting, with one resident saying: “I don’t understand the netting around the pool. It looked lovely as it was.”

The Rath paddling pool is a well-used facility during the summer months, particularly by families with young children, and relies heavily on volunteer support to keep it clean and operational.

Local groups, including TipTop Wheelies, are understood to be involved in helping prepare the site for the season.

Despite mixed views on the netting, the overwhelming response has been one of appreciation for those working behind the scenes to keep the facility open.