Community

Carer honoured for her work has earned national

Published

12 years ago

December 1, 2014

Tom Sinclair

Inspirational carer: Helen was awarded for her work.

A woman has earned national recognition for helping to restore the life of a brain injured man. Helen Beddington was honoured at a glittering Oscars-style awards night in Cardiff City Hall, hosted by BBC presenter Lucy Owen, and organised by Care Forum Wales, to acknowledge and reward excellence in the social care sector. Helen, who works for Elliots Hill Care of Haverfordwest, won joint bronze in the supported living care practitioner category, sponsored by Pendine Park Teaching Care Centre, at the 2014 Wales Care Awards A man, who was left in a coma after a horrendous car accident nearly 13 years ago, now produces wonderful sculptures, goes skiing and attends rock concerts, thanks to around the clock care from Helen and her specialist team.

Helen, 56, from Haverfordwest, joined the Elliots Hill care team looking after a man who had been badly injured after he had been hit by a car as he got out of his own vehicle to make a telephone call. The local man, now 58, was left in a coma and emerged with the use of only one arm and brain damage which has severely limited his ability to communicate. “I started as part of the team and then three months later I was team leader. It’s very challenging but very interesting work.

He is particularly vulnerable in every way, especially medically. Although there is a lot of clinical work he attends workshops and he welds and makes amazing sculptures.” But he is also taken sit-skiing, carriage driving, attends concerts and festivals: “He can understand practically everything and he has some speech but working so closely with him we have a very good rapport and he can ask for something by signing or signalling and he can write a little. I have an amazing team of about 10 looking after him 24/7 with always two of us on duty,” said Helen, who involves the man’s partner in all care decisions. Such dedication had Helen working 50 hours a week, sometimes even on her day off, but that changed when her father – who died at the end of August – was diagnosed with leukaemia.

“When dad was diagnosed they gave him six to eight weeks to live but he died a year and a week after he was diagnosed. I used to go in twice a day to give him his chemo injections.” Joe Masters was an instrument engineer – and a talented photographer – who had spent much of his early life working for the oil industry, which involved Helen living in Libya and Abu Dhabi as a youngster. She was about eight when she went to school in Libya and afterwards attended boarding school in Bristol, ‘commuting’ back to Libya in the holidays at a time in the Seventies when plane hi-jacks were a regular occurrence.

After school Helen worked for a time teaching children English in Abu Dhabi and then working as a front office secretary for a large hotel group before returning home. Her colourful Dad, a former youth rugby player in Newport, who had once had to escape from Beirut when ‘things kicked off’, had bought a place in Haverfordwest which in the Seventies he thought was one of the most beautiful places in Wales.

Although Helen has spent most of her working life in the social care sector, she diverted for about seven years to join her father in photography, which played an increasingly more important part of his professional life, and she travelled much of mid and south west Wales for a school photography business. Helen, who attended the awards with partner Ben, has a daughter and son, from her previous marriage, and is awaiting her sixth grandchild.

Elliots Hill training co-ordinator Jo Swift said: “Helen’s dogged determination in pursuit of getting things right and taking on the professionals when she feels they are not meeting this gentleman’s needs is quite extraordinary. She never expects praise as she thinks that what she does should be done by all – a rare quality.” Mario Kreft, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said there was a record number of nominations and the standard was extremely high. He added: “There are only winners here tonight so it is only fitting that the finalists will receive a gold, silver or bronze Wales Care Award.

I trust that they will continue to inspire those around them as role models and encourage others to aspire to even greater heights in the months and years to come. This awards ceremony is our opportunity to pay tribute and to celebrate the talent and commitment that is improving the quality of life for thousands and thousands of people throughout Wales. We take our hats off to them.”

Community

D-Day 82: Milford Haven remembers sacrifice of Normandy landings

Published

9 hours ago

June 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

COMMUNITIES gathered in Milford Haven on Saturday (Jun 6) to mark the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.

The service, held at The Rath, brought together veterans, standard bearers, councillors, local church representatives, members of the Royal British Legion Milford Haven Branch, and residents for a solemn act of remembrance overlooking the waterway.

Wreaths were laid at the town’s war memorials, including the Cenotaph on Hamilton Terrace, as tribute was paid to the thousands of Allied servicemen who crossed the Channel on June 6, 1944.

D-Day marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation and remains one of the most significant military operations in history.

Milford Haven’s own wartime role gave the commemoration added meaning. During the Second World War, the Haven was home to a major US Navy Advanced Amphibious Base, where landing craft were prepared, maintained and repaired ahead of Allied operations.

The town’s harbour and maritime workforce formed part of the huge logistical effort that made the Normandy landings possible.

One of the most striking moments of Saturday’s commemoration came from the waterway itself, where Port of Milford Haven tugs staged a moving water salute.

As the service took place, the tugs sent great arcs of water into the air, creating a powerful visual tribute linking the town’s seafaring identity with its wartime service.

Those attending stood in quiet reflection as the community remembered not only those who landed on the beaches of Normandy, but also the men and women at home whose work supported the invasion.

With the number of surviving D-Day veterans now sadly dwindling, events such as Milford Haven’s commemoration carry growing importance.

They ensure that younger generations understand the courage, sacrifice and shared effort behind the events of June 1944.

In Milford Haven, the service at The Rath, the laying of wreaths, and the dramatic tug salute combined to create a fitting tribute from a town with a proud place in the story of D-Day.

The message of the day was simple and enduring: lest we forget.

Community

Founders Day hailed a success despite rising costs and extra security

Published

11 hours ago

June 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN FOUNDERS DAY 2026 drew crowds to the town centre on Saturday despite difficult weather, rising costs, and significantly increased security measures.

Visitors braved spells of rain and strong winds to enjoy a packed programme of entertainment, community stalls, children’s attractions and live music throughout the day.

This year’s event, organised by Milford Haven Business Circle, featured a large number of bouncy castles supplied by Fun Times Bouncy Castles, alongside food stalls, small funfair rides, free face-painting, and a magician entertaining families.

There was also a wide range of independent traders and community attractions. Among the more unusual stalls was Sylvia Llewellyn’s popular button collection, featuring unusual and decorative buttons gathered from around the world, while Han’s Taxidermy attracted interest with framed butterflies and beetles on display and for sale.

Milford Youth Matters praised for their stall

Milford Youth Matters said its volunteers worked “non-stop” throughout the day, running a stall and delivering activities for the community.

The group said the poor weather made conditions difficult but praised volunteers for their determination and enthusiasm.

A spokesperson said: “Despite the challenging rain and wind throughout the day, our incredible team of volunteers worked tirelessly to make our contributions a success.

“They gave up their time to support the community, run activities, welcome visitors, and kept going with enthusiasm and smiles all day long.

“The weather may have been challenging, but the dedication, resilience, and hard work shown by our volunteers was outstanding. Their commitment helped create a fantastic community event that was enjoyed by people of all ages.”

Security stepped up

This year’s event also had a noticeably different feel, with security personnel present for the first time.

Organiser Byron Jenkins told The Herald that around 13 door staff were on duty throughout the event — something not seen at previous Founders Day celebrations.

The Herald understands the increased security presence followed concerns after the Milford Haven school knife incident and the stabbings at Tenby railway station.

Organisers also revealed that the cost of staging Founders Day has now risen to around £10,000.

Road closure costs have also become a major expense, with organisers telling The Herald that Pembrokeshire County Council charged around £800 for the temporary road closure order required to hold the event safely.

Despite the extra costs and challenging conditions, organisers said the event was well supported and thanked local businesses, volunteers and residents for helping make the day a success.

Milford Youth Matters also thanked Milford Haven Business Circle and the wider community for their continued support, and for hosting the event.

Charity

Young Badgers praised after helping injured grandad

Published

13 hours ago

June 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

TWO YOUNG St John Ambulance Cymru Badgers have been praised for using their first aid skills after their grandad suffered a head injury at home.

Menna and Bronwen Laurence-Elias, who are members of the Carmarthen Division, were being looked after by their grandad when he had a small fall and cut his head.

The girls had recently completed a First Aid Badger module with their local Badger Sett and quickly put what they had learned into practice.

They stayed calm, called their dad to explain what had happened, remained with their grandad, and made sure the door was unlocked so help could get into the house.

Calm response

Their parents, Daniel Elias and Jemma Laurence, both work in healthcare and are also St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers. They had taught the children to call them if there was a problem, and to only ring 999 in an emergency.

Daniel said: “They both stayed really calm, rang me and were completely calm telling me what had happened.

“Bronwen said Menna was putting pressure on the cut and had even unlocked the door for me before I got there.

“I gave the cut a quick clean and applied some steri-strips with Menna’s help, whilst Bronwen instructed me on what to do.

“I cannot be prouder of them for what they have learnt in Badgers and how calm they both were in what must have been quite a stressful situation for such young people.

“We’re grateful for the fantastic work of the Badger Leaders, teaching our future generations first aid and how to deal with emergencies.”

‘Quick thinking’

St John Ambulance Cymru’s Badger groups are for children aged five to eleven. As well as first aid, members learn about a range of other subjects, including communication and outer space.

Donna Jones, who leads the St John Ambulance Cymru Badgers in Carmarthen, said: “We are so delighted to hear of their quick thinking and sensible, calm response in a real-life situation.

“We presented them both with their own little Badger during our next session. Whilst they were both shocked and humble, we felt it was really important to acknowledge how smart they were on that day and how proud we are of them.”

St John Ambulance Cymru says its young people’s programmes help children and teenagers learn confidence, teamwork and lifesaving skills.

More information about Badgers, for children aged five to eleven, and Cadets, for young people aged eleven to fifteen, is available at www.sjacymru.org.uk/young-people.

Caption:

Quick thinking: Menna and Bronwen Laurence-Elias used the first aid skills they learned as St John Ambulance Cymru Badgers to help their grandad after he cut his head at home (Pic: St John Ambulance Cymru).