Community

Enhancing Pembrokeshire Fund brings joy to school children

Published

10 months ago

February 27, 2025

THE ENHANCING PEMBROKESHIRE FUND PROJECT, with the support from Pembrokeshire County Council’s regeneration programme, has been hailed a huge success by the school children of Milford Haven Community Primary School.

An 11-week course, with the Torch Theatre at the helm, saw arts experts deliver a term of expressive arts sessions concluding with the young people sharing their hard work in a performance in the Torch’s studio theatre.

The Torch Theatre’s professional team worked with the school’s year 5 pupils on a playwriting and theatre design project in the company of playwright, Katie Elin Salt and theatre designer, Ruth Stringer. The creative activity was designed to support the school in the development of young people’s languages, literacy and communication skills.

The children created an epic play called Famous Authors which allowed each class to explore different aspects of a chosen favourite author’s life. Full of dramatic twists and featuring spectacular handmade props and costumes, all created by the young people themselves, the project opened doors to many.

Three quarters of the children said they would recommend the project to other year groups in the school as Tim Howe, Senior Manager for Youth and Community at the Torch explains:

“We’re so pleased the project was a success. Over three quarters of the children in this project indicated that they were more likely to write more stories after having completed the project; over half the children described their writing skills as excellent or good as a result of this project and almost half the children described their presentation skills as excellent or good.”

Rhian Johnson Year Leader for Year 5 and Expressive Arts Lead at Milford Haven Community Primary School said: “I’m so proud of the creative journey our students have been on. Over the Autumn term, they had dived into scriptwriting and prop making, building key skills in literacy, design, and collaboration. Working with creative professionals inspired them and opened their eyes to the possibilities of theatre. The culmination of their hard work, showcased on the Torch Theatre stage, was a true reflection of their creativity and determination. This experience has not only enriched their learning but also helped them develop critical thinking and teamwork—skills they’ll carry forward.”

One of the pupils undertaking the project said: “I have really enjoyed working with the Torch Theatre this term as the Torch has helped me understand how a play is put together.”

The children were asked the open question “Tell me what you learned from the Torch Theatre project.” Approximately a quarter of the young people spoke about how brave it made them feel or the courage it gave them to speak in front of people. A similar number of young people spoke about the importance of creativity and imagination and 20% of them spoke about teamwork and working with other people.

Tim added: “They were incredibly analytical in this with some talking about positives, and others discussing how they overcame issues presented by working in a team.

“We know that providing this opportunity for the children and staff has had a meaningful and lasting impact. Not only did our young people improve their literacy skills, but we also hope it gave them aspirations to be part of the creative sector. We know that maybe one day they will be writing plays for the Torch Theatre.”

Community

Crowds line streets as tractor run hailed a festive success

Published

10 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

CROWDS lined streets and pavements across Pembrokeshire on Saturday evening (Dec 20) as Clarbeston Road AFC’s illuminated Christmas tractor run was hailed a resounding success.

More than 200 tractors took part in the event, travelling through villages and towns including Newmoat, Maenclochog, Llys-y-frân, Walton East, Clarbeston Road, Wiston, Newbridge, Poyston Cross, Crundale and Haverfordwest, where large crowds gathered to watch the festive convoy pass through.

Families, children and residents wrapped up against the cold to enjoy the sight of tractors decorated with Christmas lights and festive displays, with applause and waves greeting drivers as they made their way through built-up areas and rural roads alike.

The convoy set off from the Clarbeston Road AFC Knock Playing Fields at 5:30pm and concluded at the County Showground in Haverfordwest later in the evening. At the end of the run, refreshments were available and the raffle draw took place at the Park House building, which was open to the public.

Organisers said the turnout from both drivers and spectators exceeded expectations, with the event once again bringing communities together while raising funds for local causes, including The Catrin Vaughan Foundation, In It With Isaac, and Wales Air Ambulance.

Clarbeston Road AFC thanked tractor drivers, volunteers, sponsors and members of the public for their support, as well as residents and road users for their patience while the convoy passed through.

The illuminated tractor run has become a firm fixture in the local festive calendar, with Friday night’s event described by many spectators as one of the best yet.

Community

Charity tractor and car run set to raise funds for Macmillan and Paul Sartori

Published

11 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A CHARITY tractor and car run in memory of Charles Rees is set to take place in Pembrokeshire later this month, with funds raised supporting Macmillan Cancer Support and Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

The Charles Rees Tractor & Car Run will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2025, starting and finishing at Dudwell Farm in Camrose.

Participants are being invited to “start their engines” in aid of the two charities, with gates opening at 9:00am and the convoy leaving promptly at 10:30am. Organisers have confirmed that the run will operate with no halfway stops, returning to Dudwell Farm at the end of the route.

The event will begin and finish at Dudwell Farm, Camrose (SA62 6HJ), and is open to tractors and cars. Registration and cash payment will take place on the day, with the price to be confirmed nearer the event.

Additional donations can also be made locally in the run-up to the event at Camrose Country Hardware and Croesgoch Stores.

The run has been organised to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, which provides vital care and assistance to people living with cancer, and Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, which supports patients and families across Pembrokeshire during some of the most difficult times of their lives.

Organisers say more information will be released closer to the event and are encouraging the local community to support the run, whether by taking part, donating, or lining the route to show support.

The event is expected to attract strong local interest, continuing Pembrokeshire’s tradition of community-led fundraising in support of much-valued charities.

Community

Cilgerran school could be discontinued as consultation launched

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CONSULTATION on proposed changes for a north Pembrokeshire school, which attracted a near-400-strong petition in opposition to the council, has been launched.

At its May meeting, Pembrokeshire County Council considered a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which outlined the findings of a review of education provision in the Preseli area.

“In particular, the review considered the extent of surplus school places in the area, set against a significant decline in the pupil population,” the council in its consultation on proposals for discontinuation of Cilgerran Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School has said.

A later July meeting of the council, following May’s agreed consultation with St David’s Diocese, backed a general consultation to discontinue Cilgerran Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School, and to establish it as a 3-11 community school.

The consultation was launched on December 16 and runs to January 30.

Hundreds have opposed the proposed changes, with a petition, on the council’s own website opposing the changes recently closed after gaining 391 signatures.

Any petition of between 100 and 499 signatures triggers a debate at one of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees, and any over 500 a debate at full council, meaning this petition will be heard by committee members at a later date.

The proposals for Cilgerran are part of a wide range of potential education changes in the county.

Two petitions, opposing the potential closures of Manorbier and Ysgol Clydau schools, were recently heard at full council and a further petition opposing the potential closure of Stepaside School has recently been launched.

The Cilgerran e-petition, created by Louise Williams, raised concerns including the school could become part of a federation, a loss of permanent head teacher on site, a shared head teacher would have to oversee several schools, loss of funding control and the ability to maintain the school’s current healthy and stable funding, and a loss of commitment to the church, in turn could impact on the school’s and pupils values, beliefs and cultural beliefs.

It said: “Ysgol Cilgerran VC school has strong links with the Church community in Cilgerran and we believe this will have a negative impact on the children who attend the school, the community of Cilgerran and the links between the two.

“We are proud of our school ethos and values which are strengthened by our links with the church. The school has close and strong relationships with our Church in Wales federation governors one of which is also our safeguarding governor.

“Our Church Federation governors work closely with the school and are regular visitors to the school and the children. They provide vital support and guidance to the school and have a positive impact on the Children’s education. We believe these links will be weakened by this proposal to remove our VC status and we believe this is an un-necessary action.”