Community

Shark hoax leaves Tenby red-faced, but does a real shark story lurk beneath?

Published

1 year ago

September 12, 2024

A SPOOF Facebook page masquerading as the official Tenby Town Council page has caused a flurry of confusion, humour, and frustration in the normally tranquil Welsh seaside town. The latest instalment in its parade of parodic posts claimed that a shark attack off Tenby’s coast had endangered local marine life, sparking wild online speculation about the potential cancellation of the upcoming Ironman Wales event.

The post, which described a seal being “bitten in half” by a shark in a Jaws-style feeding frenzy, alarmed enough locals and tourists that the town council found itself inundated with concerned messages. One anonymous “expert” even declared that Ironman Wales competitors would be “a buffet for the apex predator” if they dared to swim.

***How The Sun reported the story on Wednesday (Sept 11).***

Despite the tongue-in-cheek nature of the post, not everyone caught the joke. Some locals, along with a smattering of Ironman participants and holidaymakers, took the news to heart. The spoof even fooled a few town councillors, who were quick to demand Facebook remove the fake page — a battle they have been waging for years, with no success.

Andrew Davies, the actual clerk of Tenby Town Council, admitted that the spoof had once again caused unwelcome confusion: “We’ve tried to have the site taken down, but Facebook doesn’t seem to recognise that it’s a parody. It’s a bit of fun, but unfortunately, some people take it seriously.”

While Davies seemed irked by the hoax, other locals took it in stride. Councillor Sam Skyrme-Blackhall joined the chorus of light-hearted responses: “The shark story is obviously a bit of fun. If people don’t realise it’s a parody, we might need a bigger denial!”

However, in a bizarre twist, the fake news was hiding a real story. The spoof page’s authors have since claimed their post was based on an actual shark sighting that the media missed. According to them, a fisherman off Woolhouse Rocks reported witnessing a 13-foot shark attack a seal. The fisherman was said to be “shaken” by the event and reported it to the local coastguards, only to have the whole ordeal dismissed as a hoax when the fake page wrote about it.

The anonymous spoof writers added fuel to the fire by pointing out that Great White sharks, known for hunting seals off rocks, are typically not seen in UK waters. Whether or not the sighting is credible, their satirical take on the situation has left the local media and public scratching their heads, questioning what’s real and what’s a parody.

Meanwhile, as Tenby braces for the Ironman Wales event set for September 22nd, concerns about shark safety seem to have subsided, despite the humour-laden warnings of a “buffet for the apex predator.” But, whether inspired by fact or fiction, this saga has certainly left its mark on the town, ensuring that visitors will be looking over their shoulders — and into the waters — for quite some time.

As the spoof Facebook page said in its sharky conclusion: “duunnn dunn … duuuunnnn dunn… duuuunnnnnnn dun dun dun dun…”

Community

Annual charity carol service raises funds for good causes

Published

4 hours 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

5 hours 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)

Community

Special delivery of thanks as MP visits Haverfordwest sorting office

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Christmas cheer for posties working through the festive rush

A CHRISTMAS message of thanks was delivered in person this week as Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell paid a visit to Royal Mail staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office.

The MP met postal workers during one of the busiest periods of the year, praising staff for their hard work in ensuring cards, parcels and gifts reach homes across Pembrokeshire in the run-up to Christmas.

Mr Tufnell said postal workers were going “above and beyond” throughout the year, but particularly during the festive period when demand is at its highest and delivery rounds are often made in challenging weather conditions.

He described postal staff as “unsung heroes”, highlighting their role in keeping communities connected and helping families stay in touch at a time when it matters most.

Speaking after the visit, Mr Tufnell said: “Our posties play a vital role in our community, and at Christmas that importance is felt more than ever. They work incredibly hard to make sure gifts and cards from loved ones arrive safely and on time.”

Staff at the Haverfordwest site were pictured alongside the MP, with some embracing the festive spirit in Christmas jumpers and seasonal outfits while continuing their daily work.

The MP also extended his thanks to postal workers across the whole of Pembrokeshire, acknowledging the dedication required to keep services running smoothly during the seasonal rush.

Royal Mail experiences its highest parcel volumes in December, with thousands of additional items passing through local sorting offices each day as Christmas approaches.

Delivering Christmas cheer: Henry Tufnell MP with staff at Haverfordwest Sorting Office during a festive visit (Pic: Facebook).