Charity

Helicopter transfer saved my life, says Carmarthenshire heritage railway volunteer

Published

1 year ago

March 17, 2025

A CARMARTHENSHIRE man who suffered a severe head injury while cycling to work says he “wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the Wales Air Ambulance.”

Twelve years ago, Roger Van Praet was on his way to volunteer at the Ffestiniog Railway’s Boston Lodge Works in Porthmadog when he was involved in a collision with a pedestrian.

Roger, a non-executive director for FUW Insurance Services Limited, recalled: “It was a dire situation. I was unconscious on the road, and thankfully, someone I work with called the emergency services.”

***Roger Van Praet (left) in discussion with Llyr Huws Gruffydd, MS at the FUW’s Farmhouse Breakfast event in Cardiff Bay, 22 January 2025. (Credit: FUW)***

***Roger Van Praet was on his way to volunteer at the Ffestiniog Railway when he was involved in a collision (Image: File)***

He was stabilised by a land ambulance crew and rushed to Ysbyty Gwynedd, where doctors discovered he had suffered brain bleeds and required specialist care. They decided his best chance of survival was urgent treatment at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

“That’s when the Wales Air Ambulance was called. I have no recollection of this,” he said. “I was told I received critical care onboard, and the clinicians and pilot ensured my safe arrival.”

He added: “The journey to Stoke takes about 25 minutes by air compared to three and a half hours by road. I will be eternally grateful to the air ambulance team for looking after me. The helicopter transfer was absolutely critical to my survival.”

Lifesaving service

The Wales Air Ambulance delivers hospital-standard treatments at the scene and, if necessary, transfers patients directly to the most appropriate hospital. The service operates through a partnership between the public and third sectors, with the charity relying on public donations to raise the £11.2 million needed annually to keep its helicopters and rapid response vehicles running.

The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) provides NHS consultants and critical care practitioners for the charity’s operations. Their advanced critical care includes administering anaesthesia, delivering blood transfusions, and performing minor operations at the scene.

As a pan-Wales service, its crews travel across the country to provide lifesaving care wherever needed.

Roger, who makes monthly donations to the charity, said: “It’s such an important cause and deserves everyone’s support. You never know when you might need it—I certainly didn’t wake up that morning expecting to require critical care.”

***Roger and Sian at Lake Moraine in the Canadian Rockies last September – a holiday originally booked just before the accident twelve years ago. (Credit: Roger Van Praet)***

A life-changing accident

Roger and his wife Sian were staying in their caravan at the volunteer hostel in Porthmadog when the accident happened, just a mile from the Ffestiniog Railway engine works.

“I’d cycled the same route a dozen times with no issues. It was around 6:30 in the morning, not completely dark,” he said. “I remember cycling and approaching traffic lights near some roadworks. Once they turned green, I started off—that’s all I can recall.”

Later, he learned that roadworks had blocked the pavement, forcing a pedestrian onto the road, where they collided. “We had a glancing blow. I came off my bike headfirst and hit the road. The walker was uninjured,” he said.

Roger, a former Compliance and Operations Director at the Farmers’ Union of Wales, spent several days in ICU before regaining consciousness in acute care.

“On the surface, I looked fine—no broken bones. But when I stood up, my balance and coordination were affected. I had to relearn how to walk,” he said. “The recovery took much longer than expected.”

He did not return to work for nearly two years and had to adapt to lasting changes. “I never went back full-time and instead worked three days a week. It was a very worrying time for my family, but the Farmers’ Union of Wales was extremely supportive.”

Roger later became Managing Director of FUW Insurance Services before retiring in December 2020. He remains involved with the Union as a non-executive director.

“I was delighted when FUW President Ian Rickman announced fundraising for the Wales Air Ambulance during his presidency,” he said. “It provides essential critical care and does an incredible job, saving lives across Wales.”

Reflecting on his experience, Roger added: “I’d always wanted to ride in a helicopter—it’s just a shame that when I finally did, I have no memory of it.”

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch

A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at a Haverfordwest cinema has got off to a flying start, with families donating toys to support children with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

The Palace Cinema has teamed up with local charity SNAP Specialist Play to collect new and pre-loved toys during screenings of the newly released Toy Story 5.

The appeal centres around an “Andy’s Toys” donation box, inspired by the beloved Pixar films, which has already been filled by generous filmgoers.

***Toy Story magic: The Palace Cinema foyer has been transformed with themed decorations to celebrate the film’s release***

Cinema manager Hannah Cramp said the response from the community had exceeded expectations.

Families attending opening screenings have arrived carrying bags of toys, with many children keen to share their own treasured items to help others.

The cinema has transformed its foyer into a colourful Toy Story-themed experience, complete with hand-painted decorations, character silhouettes, bunting and famous film slogans including “Reach for the Sky” and “To Infinity and Beyond”.

Many visitors have also embraced the spirit of the occasion by attending in costume as their favourite Toy Story characters.

***Specialist support: SNAP’s sensory facilities help children with additional needs learn and develop through play***

The toys are being donated to SNAP Specialist Play, a charity based within the Child Health Department at Withybush Hospital.

SNAP supports pre-school children with additional and complex needs through specialist play sessions designed to encourage communication, physical development and sensory learning.

Its facilities include sensory rooms, therapeutic play spaces and bespoke equipment used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Project manager Cindy Jenkins said the charity was delighted by the partnership and grateful for the generosity shown by local families.

She said every toy donated would be put to good use, either during specialist play sessions, at family events, or through seasonal initiatives such as Christmas gift boxes for children and their siblings.

The appeal will continue until mid-July, with organisers hopeful that even more donations will be received over the coming weeks.

Anyone attending Toy Story 5 at the Palace Cinema is invited to bring along a new or good-quality pre-loved toy to support the appeal.

Cover photo:

Fancy dress fun: Palace Cinema manager Hannah Cramp helping launch the Toy Story charity appeal.

Charity

Afghan resettlement sex offence case “raises questions over public safety”

Published

6 days ago

June 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MINISTERS are facing calls to explain what checks were in place after the Ministry of Defence confirmed that an Afghan national resettled in the Vale of Glamorgan was convicted of a sexual offence.

Conservative Senedd Member Andrew RT Davies said the case raises “serious questions” for authorities after months of correspondence about the use of the Holiday Inn Express in Rhoose as temporary accommodation under Afghan resettlement arrangements.

The issue was first raised by Mr Davies in August last year, after he met Ministry of Defence officials about the decision to house Afghan families at the hotel.

Following that meeting, he asked whether anyone housed in the Vale of Glamorgan under Afghan resettlement schemes had been charged with or convicted of sex offences or other crimes.

Delayed response

The Home Office initially refused to provide the information, saying it would exceed the cost limit for Freedom of Information requests because thousands of Afghan national records would have to be checked.

However, the Ministry of Defence has now confirmed that it holds information relating to ten cases in which a person relocated to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy or Afghan Response Route later committed a criminal offence.

Of those ten cases, five people were resettled under ARAP, three under ARR, while the MOD said it did not hold information on which route applied to the remaining two.

The department also confirmed that one person was based in the Vale of Glamorgan at the time the offence was committed and had been convicted of a sexual offence.

The MOD said the individual is no longer part of the Afghan Resettlement Programme.

A further two of the ten cases related to sexual offences, bringing the total number of sexual offence cases held by the MOD to three.

‘Public safety implications’

Mr Davies said: “It’s disgraceful that the Government failed to provide this information for so long.

“After authorities chose to use the Holiday Inn Express in Rhoose for temporary accommodation, I asked them to confirm if any individuals relocated under various Afghan resettlement schemes were convicted of sex offences.

“But they failed to answer the request repeatedly.

“Now it has confirmed an Afghan resettled in the Vale of Glamorgan was convicted of a sex crime, the Government has serious questions to answer.

“There are public safety implications that must be addressed.”

MOD caveat

In its response, the Ministry of Defence stressed that its figures should not be treated as a complete picture.

The department said that once an eligible person is resettled in the UK, integration and ongoing support becomes the responsibility of the relevant local authority.

It added that the MOD does not routinely collect data on people once they begin the resettlement and integration process.

The MOD also said it does not hold information on the specific category of sexual offences committed.

Mr Davies has previously raised concerns from residents about whether statements made about those housed at the hotel accurately reflected the schemes under which they had been resettled.

He said constituents deserved transparency over both the resettlement process and any public safety issues arising from it.

Charity

Charity football match raises £10,025 for Glangwili Hospital units

Published

6 days ago

June 15, 2026

Herald Sport

A CHARITY football event held at Carmarthen Town AFC has raised £10,025 for two key services at Glangwili Hospital.

The event, organised by LHP Accountants, took place on Saturday and raised money for the Chemotherapy Unit and the Special Care Baby Unit through Hywel Dda Health Charities.

Organisers said they had been “absolutely overwhelmed” by the support shown on the day, thanking everyone who played, donated, sponsored, volunteered, bought raffle tickets, bid in the auction or attended the event.

They said: “This achievement belongs to every single person who supported us. Thank you for helping us make a real difference.”

The event was also filmed by S4C’s Heno, with coverage due to air tonight between 7:00pm and 7:30pm.