Community

Service marks memorial for stillborn babies

Published

11 years ago

November 20, 2014

At the service: Rev Geoffrey Eynon;
James Allen, Superintendent and
Registrar; Shane Morgan of Tom
Newing & Son; Canon Geoffrey
Gwyther; Robin Folland of Roy
Folland & Son; Elfyn Evans, former
gravedigger City Road Cemetery; Pat
James and Father Liam Bradley.

ON MONDAY (Sept 29), a memorial was unveiled at a special remembrance service in order to remember Pembrokeshire’s lost children. Members of the public attended the service at City Road Cemetery, Haverfordwest, placing flowers around the memorial to remember the hundred’s of stillborn babies in Pembrokeshire, who lie in unmarked graves. Maureen Colgan, aged 80 of Pembroke Dock lost two babies over 50 years ago, and said the memorial helped a lot. She said: “I have grieved every year since I lost them and I have never forgotten them. In those days, nothing was done when your babies died.

I did not even know where they were buried. The memorial means a lot.” Between 1928 and 1975, it is estimated that 400 stillborn babies were born. At that time, it was also common practice to take them from their mothers without any ritual. Most of the babies were buried at City Road Cemetery, and the memorial is the culmination of years of campaigning by Pat James from Milford Haven, who is Pembrokeshire County Council’s Crematorium Assistant at Parc Gwyn, Narberth. Pat said she is pleased that parents would not be able to get ‘closure’.

She said: “Today, parents of stillborn babies are given a chance to say goodbye to their children with proper burials or cremations, but it wasn’t always so in the past. I hope this new memorial will give those mothers and fathers some solace. Hopefully it will be a place for them to come and reflect.” Pat thanked those who had contributed to the funding, such as J Cecil Jones of Monumental Masons in Swansea, Milford Haven funeral director Tom Newing and Sons, and Haverfordwest undertaken Roy Folland and Sons, who provided four trees to mark the area.

Community

Narbelles WI support Food Bank with festive donation

Published

16 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Group marks December meeting with charity collection and Christmas celebrations

NARBELLES WI rounded off the year with a festive December meeting featuring a bring-and-share buffet, party games and a Secret Santa gift exchange.

Members also used the occasion to support families in need across the county, collecting food items and presenting a £120 cheque to Ann Watling from Pembrokeshire Food Bank. The donation represents the proceeds of the group’s bucket collection during Narberth Civic Week 2024.

A spokesperson for the WI said the group was delighted to finish the year “with fun, friendship and a chance to give something back to the community.”

(Photo: Narbelles WI members presenting the cheque to Ann Watling, Pembrokeshire Food Bank.)

Community

Annual charity carol service raises funds for good causes

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service held its annual Charity Carol Service on Wednesday (Dec 10) at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel in Crymych.

The event brought together members of the local community alongside Fire Service staff for an evening of carols, readings and festive refreshments, marking the Christmas season in a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

This year’s service supported two important charities — the Fire Fighters Charity and Cancer Research Wales — with all proceeds going directly towards their ongoing work.

A total of £597 was raised on the night, which will be shared equally between the two charities.

The Service thanked the congregation at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel for hosting the event, as well as everyone who gave their time, support and generosity to make the evening such a success.

Community

3 Amigos toy bike run under way across Pembrokeshire

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Castle Inn fun runners back festive charity event

THE ANNUAL 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run is under way this afternoon (Saturday), with hundreds of motorcyclists setting off from Pembroke to raise funds for children’s services.

Riders gathered at The Commons car park in Pembroke from around midday before departing shortly after 1:00pm. The festive convoy is travelling along its traditional route, taking in Pembroke Dock and continuing through parts of the county including Neyland, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.

The event is organised by the 3 Amigos and Dollies Motorcycle Group and has become a much-anticipated Christmas tradition in west Wales, with toys and donations collected for children receiving care within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

Also supporting the event are fun runners from the Castle Inn in Pembroke, who have been fundraising in aid of the 3 Amigos. The group are pictured alongside participants from today’s run.

The 3 Amigos have been raising funds for children’s wards and health charities for more than twenty-five years, with their Easter and Christmas events continuing to make a positive difference to young patients and their families.

Organisers have thanked the public for their support and asked road users to be mindful of the large convoy as it passes through towns and villages this afternoon.

Photo caption:
Festive fundraising: Fun runners from the Castle Inn, Pembroke, pictured supporting the 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald)