The 25-year-old from Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr has been described as a dearly loved son, brother and grandson whose death will leave a huge void in his community

THE family of a 25-year-old man who died at a campsite near the Royal Welsh Showground have paid a moving tribute to their “beloved and dear” son, brother and grandson.

Dewi Aeron Evans, from Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, near Corwen, died following a medical emergency at Penmaenau Farm, Llanelwedd, on Saturday night (July 18).

Emergency services were called to the campsite at around 10.30pm. Despite the efforts of paramedics, Dewi was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement released through Dyfed-Powys Police, his family said: “Dewi Aeron Evans, a beloved and dear son, brother and grandson, will be a huge loss to the family and community in Uwchaled.

“The family and community would appreciate privacy at this difficult time.”

Dewi came from the close-knit rural community of Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, which forms part of the Uwchaled area of southern Conwy.

The community lies near Cerrigydrudion and Corwen, and news of his death has brought sadness to the area where he lived and was known.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the death was continuing to be treated as unexplained.

Three men were arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences following the incident. Police have not said that the arrests establish the cause of Dewi’s death, and enquiries into the circumstances remain ongoing.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies described the incident as tragic and said officers’ thoughts remained with Dewi’s family.

He also reassured visitors and residents that it was being treated as an isolated incident, with no evidence of an ongoing risk to the wider public.

The incident happened at Penmaenau Farm, a privately operated campsite immediately beside the Royal Welsh Showground, as thousands of visitors were arriving in the area ahead of the four-day Royal Welsh Show.

The show itself opened on Monday morning and is continuing as scheduled.

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society said it was deeply saddened by the death and that its thoughts were with Dewi’s family, friends and everyone affected.

The society said it would continue supporting the police investigation and was working with members of the Builth Wells Event Safety Group to provide medical, welfare and safety support throughout the event.

Police have asked that Dewi’s family and the Uwchaled community be allowed privacy as they come to terms with their loss.

Battle scenes, cavalry displays and a surrender procession brought one of Pembrokeshire’s most extraordinary stories back to the streets

MUSKET fire, mounted soldiers and marching French troops transformed Fishguard and Goodwick at the weekend as Britain’s last invasion was brought dramatically back to life.

Visitors gathered across the twin towns on Saturday and Sunday (July 18 and 19) for a large-scale re-enactment of the failed French invasion of 1797, the last occasion on which a hostile foreign army landed on mainland Britain.

The free two-day event featured living-history camps, military demonstrations, cavalry displays and staged fighting before reaching its climax with the surrender of the invading French force.

Costumed soldiers representing the French and British armies established military camps where visitors could see the clothing, equipment and living conditions experienced by troops at the end of the eighteenth century.

The action then moved to Goodwick’s foreshore, where mounted displays were followed by a recreation of the fighting which took place after the French landed on the north Pembrokeshire coast.

The defeated French forces later formed a procession through Fishguard, recreating their march into the town before the surrender negotiations associated with the historic Royal Oak.

The pub, which still stands on Fishguard Square, served as the headquarters of the British commander Lord Cawdor during the invasion and remains one of the most important surviving locations connected to the story.

The weekend marked 229 years since around 1,400 French troops landed beneath the cliffs at Carreg Wastad Point, near Llanwnda, on February 22, 1797.

Led by the Irish-American Colonel William Tate, the force had crossed the sea as part of a wider French Revolutionary plan to undermine Britain and encourage an uprising against the government.

Many of the troops belonged to the Légion Noire, or Black Legion, so called because of the dark uniforms they wore.

The French expected to receive support from the local population. Instead, their arrival caused alarm across Pembrokeshire as news of the landing spread through Fishguard, St Davids, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke and the surrounding countryside.

Residents armed themselves with whatever was available, while militia, sailors, volunteers and cavalry began assembling to confront the invaders.

The French operation soon descended into disorder.

Some soldiers left their positions to search local farms and homes for food and drink, while others abandoned their units altogether. The ships which had carried them to Pembrokeshire also departed, leaving Tate and his men without an easy means of escape.

British forces were gathered under Lord Cawdor, who established his headquarters at the Royal Oak after marching north with local volunteers, militia, sailors and members of the Pembroke Yeomanry Cavalry.

The gathering of troops and civilians on the hills surrounding Fishguard may have created the impression that the defending force was far larger than it really was.

According to one of the best-known versions of the story, local women wearing traditional red shawls and tall black hats were mistaken by the French for additional British soldiers.

The tale has become deeply woven into Fishguard folklore, although historians continue to debate exactly how much influence the women’s appearance had on Tate’s decision to surrender.

Another central figure in the story is Jemima Nicholas, remembered in Fishguard as Jemima Fawr, or Jemima the Great.

Tradition holds that Jemima armed herself with a pitchfork, confronted a group of French soldiers and marched 12 of them back into Fishguard, where they were confined inside St Mary’s Church.

Although the precise details cannot be fully verified through contemporary records, Jemima became a celebrated symbol of the courage and determination shown by local people during the invasion.

Her story featured prominently during the weekend’s re-enactment, which included a recreation of the French surrender to local forces and Jemima Nicholas.

By the evening of February 23, 1797, Tate’s position had become increasingly desperate.

Two French officers were sent into Fishguard seeking terms, but Lord Cawdor refused to accept a conditional agreement. He demanded the complete and unconditional surrender of the invasion force.

The following day, the French marched down towards Goodwick Sands, laid down their weapons and became prisoners.

The campaign had lasted little more than two days.

Despite its short duration, the invasion secured Fishguard’s place in British military history and created a story which continues to shape the identity of the town more than two centuries later.

That history is permanently recorded in the Last Invasion Tapestry, housed inside Fishguard Town Hall.

Created to commemorate the bicentenary of the invasion in 1997, the 100-foot embroidered work depicts the French landing, the response of local people and the eventual surrender.

Its narrative style was inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, with dozens of local volunteers spending several years creating a detailed visual record of the invasion.

Visitors attending the re-enactment were also encouraged to explore the wider history of Fishguard and Goodwick through a heritage trail linking 46 locations across the twin towns.

The trail covers more than 2,000 years of history, ranging from Iron Age settlement and the French invasion to the suffragette movement and the filming of the 1956 screen adaptation of Moby Dick.

For Fishguard and Goodwick, the re-enactment is more than a military display.

It gives residents and visitors an opportunity to walk through the locations where the events unfolded, see the uniforms and weapons of the period and understand the role played by ordinary Pembrokeshire people.

It also ensures that the history is passed to a new generation in a form which is immediate, accessible and entertaining.

More than two centuries after Tate’s army appeared off the Pembrokeshire coast, the sight of French troops marching through Fishguard once again showed why the last invasion remains one of the county’s most remarkable and enduring stories.

FIREFIGHTERS at Pembroke Dock Fire Station are looking forward to welcoming the local community to their annual Open Day on Wednesday, July 29, from 10am to 4pm.

The free, family event promises a fun-filled day for all ages, offering visitors the chance to meet their local Firefighters, learn more about the vital work of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and enjoy a range of activities and attractions.

There will be plenty to see and do throughout the day, including live demonstrations, fun activities, refreshments and much more!  Proceeds from the event will support the Fire Fighters Charity, which provides specialist, lifelong support to serving and retired members of the Fire and Rescue Services community, and their families.

The Open Day offers a great opportunity to connect with your local fire crew, discover important fire safety advice, explore community prevention work, and see firsthand how Firefighters help keep communities safe every day.

Bring your family and friends to join the Firefighters for an enjoyable day of community engagement and family entertainment.