News

All the world’s a stage for Torch youth director Tim Howe

Published

1 year ago

January 29, 2025

Cast your eye over the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s alumni, and the role call is a strong one.

Leading names including Daniel Day-Lewis, Jeremy Irons, Miranda Richardson, Helen Baxendale, Pete Postlethwaite and Stephanie Cole all crossed the threshold with an unblinkered determination to do everything within their grasp to make their belief in the theatre their fundamental purpose in life.

“Being offered a place at the Bristol Old Vic was slightly surreal, to be honest, but I knew I had to accept,” explains Tim Howe, who is the senior manager for youth and community at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

“I was offered quite an exclusive directing course, and thinking of all those names that had walked through the doors before me was slightly intimidating. But the time I spent there changed my entire perspective.”

Born and raised in Northamptonshire, Tim knew from a very young age that his life was going to revolve around the theatre.

“I never had that overall defining moment when I knew that this was where I’d end up, but the theatre has always been an important part of my life,” he explains.

“I was lucky in that I had parents who believed that if I wanted to do a particular thing, then I should be allowed to give it a go. And even though they weren’t in the least bit theatrical – mum was a nurse and dad worked in education – they supported me all the way.

“As a result I began to feel the ambition, the hope and the aspiration to make drama work.”

His aspiration was further enhanced by his drama teacher at Bishop Stopford School in Kettering.

“It was just a bog standard secondary school but our drama teacher didn’t just care about teaching but about enabling her students to experience absolutely everything in putting on a production. And this included writing the entire show to answering letters from parents. We were never treated like kids and this went a long way in helping us believe in ourselves.”

Following A levels, Tim received an unconditional offer to study drama at Aberystwyth University.

“I didn’t visit the town until the very first day of term,” he says.

“ I remember travelling down the hill to the college thinking where in the world had I got to? And in many ways, Aberystywth is a bit like being here on Milford Haven. You either love it or you hate it but the surroundings fitted my creativity so well.

“Sometimes I was working on five or six productions so it was pretty intense and sometimes stressful, but the way in which we were taught was exceptional. The tutors were really good at dampening people’s egos without it ever feeling toxic and they never made us fall out of love with drama.”

As a result of his degree course at Aber, Tim applied for a place at the Old Vic.

“It was quite an exclusive course for directing, and I went along to the audition not really thinking that I’d get offered a place.”

But two days later, Tim discovered that he’d been accepted.

“It totally changed the way in which I viewed directing,” he explains. “In a production there are lots of actors but only one director, so it’s very easy to start feeling the pressure of how to make the thing work. I’m telling people all the time, to stop trying to be original, because this sets you up to be disappointed. Just embrace the fact that we’re forever borrowing ideas from other people, myself included, and this is what helps us to enjoy a production and find our own sense of ownership.

“And this is what I’m finding with the young people I’m working with here at the Torch. It’s easy to assume that young people are more self conscious than adults, but if you create the correct space for them to perform in, then they lose all sense of their inhibitions. It’s only embarrassing if you’re embarrassed .”

Following his time at the Old Vic, Tim did some freelance directing in London before being appointed the director in residence at Eton College, Windsor.

“This was another rather surreal experience where I met some wonderful people such as the fantastic Patricia Hodge who I sat next to at dinner and King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales.

“But being at Eton opened my eyes to how unfair it is that students at schools such as this have so many more opportunities than other children,” he said.

“Surely all children should have the right to study drama as well as all the other arts at their respective schools, but sadly the money just isn’t there.”

From Eton he spent some time at Beijing before returning to the UK and directing in St Ives and the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. In January 2023, he was appointed senior manager for Youth and Community at The Torch.

“It’s a wonderful theatre for children and young people as it’s a producing theatre, which is quite unique for a theatre of this size. We produce around three of our own shows a year which gives the youngsters a wonderful insight into how an entire production is put together. They also get the chance to share the space with professionals…people who were once like them and who had the aspiration to follow their dream.

“In many ways I feel as if I’m opening the door for these children by giving them the space, the guidance and the opportunity to talk about how they want to move forward, just like I was given the opportunity all those years ago.”

The Torch Youth Theatre meets on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and caters for children between the age of 7 and 18. For further information, visit the Torch website.

News

Biker dies and woman seriously injured in Black Mountain crash

Published

32 minutes ago

June 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A MOTORCYCLIST has died and a woman has been seriously injured following a collision on the A4069 between Brynamman and Black Mountain.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the crash happened at around 1.10pm on Sunday (June 28) and involved a silver Triumph motorcycle and a red Honda motorcycle.

The rider of the silver Triumph, a 48-year-old man, died at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

The rider of the red Honda, a 42-year-old woman, sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital, where she remains. Her next of kin have also been notified.

The road was closed while collision investigators examined the scene and reopened at around 8.00pm.

Police are appealing for anyone who was travelling on the A4069 at the relevant time to come forward. Officers are particularly keen to hear from motorists with dashcam footage from the area.

Anyone with information should contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing [email protected], by sending a direct message on social media, or by calling 101.

Quote reference: 211 of June 28.

Community

The Crown Estate joins SPARC Alliance to inspire next generation of Pembs women

Published

1 hour ago

June 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A PIONEERING Pembrokeshire skills initiative encouraging young women to consider careers in sustainable power, renewable energy and construction has welcomed The Crown Estate as its newest partner.

The SPARC Alliance works with secondary schools across the county to bring future local career opportunities to life for girls aged 12 to 14, with a particular focus on STEM-related pathways.

The programme is already supported by RWE Generation and RWE Renewables at Pembroke Power Station, the Port of Milford Haven, Blue Gem Wind and Ledwood Engineering.

It has now announced new backing from The Crown Estate, the independent organisation which manages land, property and the seabed across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Crown Estate is playing a key role in the development of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, with South West Wales expected to be at the centre of a new clean energy industry.

Three sites for new windfarms are being taken forward by some of the world’s leading offshore wind companies, creating major opportunities for the region and its supply chain.

The Crown Estate has also awarded funding through its £50m Supply Chain Accelerator Programme, including projects in Pembrokeshire, and is co-funding the regional Fit For Offshore Renewables programme in South Wales with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.

Supporters say the growth of the sector could create significant demand for engineers, welders, construction workers, environmental specialists, business support professionals, maritime experts and port operatives.

Current forecasts suggest more than 5,000 jobs could be created through new Celtic Sea windfarms and their associated supply chains.

However, with an ageing population and changing demographics, there is increasing pressure to ensure local young people have the skills and confidence needed to take advantage of these opportunities.

SPARC aims to help meet that challenge by engaging young women who have historically been underrepresented in engineering, construction, manufacturing and clean energy careers.

Through direct contact with industry, pupils are given insight into the range of roles being created by renewable energy, from traditional power generation to offshore wind and hydrogen technologies.

Hayley Williams, of Pembrokeshire College, the lead partner for SPARC, said: “The Crown Estate’s commitment to SPARC will enable the programme to expand its reach across more schools and strengthen its support for young women aspiring to become STEM professionals.

“This includes enhanced mentoring opportunities, helping participants explore both university pathways and work-based apprenticeships as routes into the industries that will shape Pembrokeshire’s future.”

SPARC Alliance partners say the programme is helping ensure local young people are informed, inspired and equipped to seize the opportunities presented by one of the most significant economic developments Wales has seen in a generation.

News

Should Wales ban boiling lobsters alive?

Published

3 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WALES is facing growing pressure to clarify whether lobsters, crabs and other shellfish can still be boiled alive, amid mounting concern over animal welfare and changing public attitudes.

Animal Defenders International has called on the Welsh Government to issue clear guidance stating that live boiling is unacceptable.

The group says the law has already moved on. The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 recognises decapod crustaceans, including crabs, lobsters and crayfish, as sentient animals. Campaigners argue that means they are capable of experiencing pain, fear and distress.

They also point to Welsh regulations on the killing of animals, which make it an offence to cause avoidable pain, distress or suffering at the time of killing.

Bill Carter, Science Policy Advisor at Animal Defenders International, said boiling animals alive was “inhumane and unnecessary”, and called on ministers in Wales to act.

The issue has gained renewed attention after the UK Government committed to producing guidance for England making clear that live boiling is not an acceptable killing method.

That has left Wales facing an awkward question. If crustaceans are legally recognised as sentient, and if more humane killing methods are available, should boiling them alive still be tolerated?

Supporters of a ban say the answer is simple. They argue that dropping a living lobster or crab into boiling water causes avoidable suffering and should have no place in modern food preparation.

Animal welfare groups say electrical stunning, or other swift killing methods, should be used before cooking. Some countries have already moved in that direction, with restrictions or bans on boiling crustaceans alive introduced in places such as Switzerland, Norway and New Zealand.

But the debate is not one-sided.

Seafood businesses, restaurants and fishmongers may argue that any change must be practical, affordable and clearly explained. Specialist stunning equipment can be expensive, and smaller coastal businesses could be hit harder than large suppliers.

There is also concern that businesses should not be left guessing over what the law requires. If Wales is to change expectations around shellfish preparation, the seafood trade is likely to want clear guidance, proper notice and time to adapt.

The science is another part of the debate. Evidence increasingly suggests that decapod crustaceans can experience pain and distress, but they do not show suffering in the same way mammals do. That has allowed the issue to remain hidden from many consumers.

For some people, eating lobster or crab is not the issue. The concern is how the animal is treated before it reaches the plate. Others may argue that recognising crustaceans as sentient should prompt a wider rethink about how they are caught, stored, transported and killed.

The issue is especially relevant in coastal communities across Wales, where shellfish remains part of the food economy and local culture.

For campaigners, tradition and convenience are no defence if suffering can be avoided. For the seafood trade, the challenge is making any change workable without damaging small businesses.

The Welsh Government has not yet matched the commitment made in England. Until it does, Wales remains in a grey area: the law recognises crustaceans as sentient, but public guidance on how they should be killed remains limited.

With pressure growing, ministers may soon have to decide whether boiling lobsters and crabs alive should become a thing of the past.