A MILFORD HAVEN man has been jailed after admitting breaching a domestic violence protection order.

Ryan Carlmain, 33, of Plas Peregrine, Milford Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 17).

The court heard that Carlmain breached an order made by the same court on May 14 this year.

The breach took place in Milford Haven on June 10, when he attended an address at Marble Hall Road, contacted the woman concerned three times by telephone, and entered the property through a bathroom window after snapping a key off in the back door.

Carlmain admitted the breach.

Magistrates committed him to prison for two months, saying the offence was so serious because he had shown a “flagrant disregard for court orders”.

He was also ordered to pay £284 in costs, with payment due on his release.

TRAFFIC across Haverfordwest remains severely disrupted this morning (Jun 18) following the closure of Freemens Way due to an ongoing incident.

Motorists have reported lengthy delays throughout the town, with congestion stretching back towards Johnston and queues forming on key routes into the county town.

Several drivers have described the situation as “gridlock”, with some reporting journey times of more than an hour to travel relatively short distances.

One motorist said it had taken one hour and 20 minutes to travel from Johnston to the bottom of Dredge Hill, while others reported traffic problems across much of Haverfordwest since early this morning.

Police remain at the scene and drivers are being urged to avoid the area where possible and seek alternative routes.

The Herald understands traffic is being affected on multiple approaches to the town as vehicles attempt to divert around the closure.

There has been speculation on social media about the cause of the incident. However, no official details have yet been released by the emergency services.

The Pembrokeshire Herald has contacted Dyfed-Powys Police for an update and will provide further information as soon as it becomes available.

Motorists are advised to allow extra time for journeys and expect significant delays throughout the area.

Prestigious prizes celebrate Pembrokeshire’s bluestone heritage as National Eisteddfod marks 850 years

THE Crown and Chair for this year’s National Eisteddfod have been officially unveiled at a special ceremony in St Davids, launching celebrations to mark the festival’s 850th anniversary.

The two prestigious prizes, which will be awarded during Eisteddfod y Garreg Las in August, draw heavily on the landscape, culture and history of west Wales, with Preseli bluestone featuring prominently in both designs.

The Crown, awarded for a free-verse poem or collection of poems on the theme Adnabod (Knowing), was created by husband-and-wife jewellers Elen and Dylan Bowen of Bowen Jewellery, based in Newcastle Emlyn.

Inspired by the traditional farming proverb, “Gold beneath the bracken, silver beneath the gorse, hunger beneath the heather,” the design reflects the varied landscapes of the Eisteddfod catchment area, from the Pembrokeshire coast to the Preseli Hills.

The Crown incorporates pieces of Preseli bluestone in its central emblem, known as the Nod Cyfrin, while a gold line running across the front represents the ancient Golden Road through the Preseli Mountains. Specially woven fabric created in Llandovery forms part of the design, using colours inspired by the local landscape.

Elen Bowen said the couple wanted the Crown to capture the character of the area.

“We have tried to reflect the rolling landscape of the Preseli Hills, where individual stones stand proudly on the skyline. The bluestone sits at the heart of the design and helps tell the story of this remarkable part of Wales,” she said.

This is the first time the couple have designed an Eisteddfod Crown.

Chair rooted in local history

The Eisteddfod Chair, awarded for a poem in strict metre on the theme Llinell | Llinellau (Line | Lines), has been designed and crafted by Tomos Lewis, a Design and Technology teacher at Ysgol Caer Elen in Haverfordwest and owner of woodcraft business Dail Pren.

Commissioned by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, the Chair combines locally sourced oak, Preseli bluestone and fabric produced at Melin Tregwynt.

Its design incorporates references to the historic chair of Lord Rhys at Cardigan Castle, the Preseli Mountains, the Rebecca Riots and the shared heritage of Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

Tomos said the Chair was intended to reflect both the landscape and the communities that make up the Eisteddfod catchment area.

“The back of the Chair brings together three pieces of wood to represent the three counties, while other elements draw inspiration from the area’s history, agriculture and landmarks,” he said.

The oak used in its construction came from a tree grown within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and will be finished with beeswax.

Symbol of Welsh culture

Accepting the Crown and Chair on behalf of the local organising committee, executive committee chairman John Davies described the occasion as a proud moment.

“We are launching celebrations marking 850 years since the first Eisteddfod and it is a tremendous honour to receive these beautiful symbols of Welsh culture and creativity,” he said.

“Bluestone lies at the heart of both the Crown and Chair, just as this area has inspired everyone involved in bringing this year’s festival together.”

The Crown and Chair will be displayed at Cardigan Castle until the end of July before being moved to the Eisteddfod Maes.

Eisteddfod y Garreg Las will be held at Llantwd from August 1 to August 8. The Crowning Ceremony will take place on Monday, August 3, at 4:00pm, while the Chairing Ceremony will be held on Friday, August 7, at 4:00pm.

Photo caption:

Preseli pride: The Crown and Chair for Eisteddfod y Garreg Las draw inspiration from Pembrokeshire’s bluestone heritage and local landscape (Pic: National Eisteddfod).