Charity

The importance of remembering those who served across generations

Published

6 months ago

November 4, 2025

Tenby town councillor and Veterans’ Commissioner shares his reflections ahead of Remembrance events.

WALES Air Ambulance Trustee and Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales, James Phillips, has urged people to “remember and recognise those that have served across the generations” as the nation prepares to mark Remembrance.

James Phillips served for 33 years in the British Army, with tours in Germany, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. He has commanded soldiers, sailors and air personnel, and worked within NATO, the Ministry of Defence, the Permanent Joint Headquarters and Army Headquarters.

After retiring as a Colonel, he was appointed Wales’ first Veterans’ Commissioner in 2022, and last year became a Trustee for Wales Air Ambulance.

James worked as an Afghan Police Transition Team Leader, pictured with local
children in Kabul in 2013 (Pic: James Phillips)

A time for reflection

James said: “Remembrance has been particularly poignant over the last few years, with big VE, D-Day and VJ Day anniversaries, and before that, the First World War commemorations.

“Sadly, those veterans are no longer with us, and there are very few of the Second World War generation left. It’s always very moving to have them alongside us at events. We must ensure their sacrifice and service are never forgotten.

“At the same time, we need to keep the commemorations contemporary. We recently marked the Falklands anniversary, and there are many still struggling following their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

James served in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles, pictured here with
colleagues at Hardwood Park, Belfast in 1992.

Honouring service in all its forms

Phillips said the week of remembrance allows people to come together to reflect and show gratitude.

“It’s a time to recognise their service and hopefully make all veterans feel valued for their contribution,” he said. “But equally, I can understand why some people choose not to take part because they find that period exceedingly difficult. Each of us deals with loss and reflection in our own way.”

This year, he plans to attend as many events as possible across Wales, as well as the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

“It’s a logistical challenge as I wear many hats – Commissioner, town councillor in Tenby, President of Tenby Sea Cadets and Vice-President of Tenby Royal British Legion,” he said. “But it’s always an honour to meet people, hear their stories and keep listening and learning.”

***Phillips as Defence Attaché to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, flag bearing at an event in 2019***

A lifelong calling

James says he was destined for a military career from a young age. “Growing up, all my toys were Action Men and Airfix kits,” he said. “I was drawn to all the old war movies like The Wild Geese and The Guns of Navarone. By the time I was fourteen, the Falklands War was unfolding, and it brought into focus service and the armed forces.”

After studying Geography at the University of Birmingham, he attended Sandhurst and joined the Royal Artillery, following in the footsteps of his uncle.

“As a young officer, our missile-firing training took us to Pembrokeshire, where I got to know Manorbier and Tenby quite well,” he said. “It’s where I met my wife after the first Gulf War.”

Supporting veterans in Wales

In 2020, as he approached retirement, James saw an advert for a new position – Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales.

“It was during Covid, when everyone was working from home, and I was already starting to make the transition from Army to civilian life,” he said. “I felt it was a role where I could make a difference.”

His work involves helping veterans and their families access support with healthcare, mental health, housing, and employment, while advocating for their needs nationally.

“I find the best way to engage with veterans is through activity rather than meetings,” he explained. “If you’re walking up a hill, sitting by a campfire or sleeping out, people speak more freely. It helps me understand their lives and challenges.”

From battlefields to air ambulances

James also collaborates closely with veteran-related charities across Wales and became a Trustee of Wales Air Ambulance in 2024.

“I know there are veterans and serving personnel among the air ambulance crew,” he said. “They bring a huge amount to any organisation – understanding missions, logistics and commitment. It takes immense effort, physically, intellectually and financially, to keep those red helicopters flying.”

He sits on the Charity’s Aviation Committee – familiar territory given his previous work in an air mobile brigade deploying troops by helicopter.

“Living in Tenby, I’ve often seen the air ambulance in action,” he said. “It brings the emergency department to people in their hour of need. Meeting past patients who have benefited is deeply moving.

“All of this is possible thanks to the Charity’s incredible supporters, staff and volunteers who keep the helicopters in the sky and rapid response vehicles on the road. It’s hugely reassuring to know Wales Air Ambulance is there should any of us ever need it.”

Charity

Golfers take on 17-hour charity marathon in Pembrokeshire

Published

2 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

TWELVE golfers are preparing to test their endurance in an extraordinary charity challenge at Rosemarket Golf Club on June 19.

The group will attempt to complete the club’s 18-hole course not once, but four times in a single day – a feat expected to take more than 17 hours. Play is set to begin at 4am, with participants walking the entire distance, as buggies are not permitted.

Organisers describe the challenge as both “brave” and “foolhardy,” with three teams of four competing throughout the day.

Teams taking part include:

Red Team: Patrick “Captain” Bellerby, Jeremy Evans, Luke Young, Alex Young

Blue Team: Damian Haworth, Paul Hayler, John Rees, Alex James

Green Team: Neil Hainsworth, Marc Edwards, Andrew “Garbo” Ramage, Chris Bourne

Alongside the physical challenge, the event will feature friendly competition between the teams, with support from club members helping to keep players fed and hydrated during the marathon effort.

The fundraiser aims to support the Paul Sartori Foundation, a charity dedicated to providing end-of-life care services across Pembrokeshire.

Founded in May 1981, the organisation was established by parishioners of Father Paul Sartori, a widely respected local priest who died of cancer at the age of 38. Inspired by his vision for hospice care in the region, the foundation continues to deliver services to the community regardless of religious affiliation, with a mission to provide sustainable and compassionate end-of-life care.

Participants are encouraging donations from the public to support the cause, with all contributions going towards maintaining and expanding vital hospice services in the county.

As the golfers prepare for what promises to be a gruelling day on the fairways, organisers hope the challenge will not only raise funds but also awareness of the essential work carried out by the foundation.

Charity

Local nurse plans 26-mile charity walk across Preseli Hills

Published

3 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

A MENTAL health nurse from Pembrokeshire has opened up about two life-changing calls to Samaritans, as she prepares to take on a 26-mile challenge across the Preseli Hills to raise funds for the charity.

Her first encounter with the Samaritans came in 2013, when she was struggling with postnatal depression. At the time, she said she desperately needed someone to talk to.

“I just needed someone to listen while I cried about how hard everything felt,” she recalled. “The response was lovely – non-judgemental, warm and caring.”

Though it was a one-off phone call, the experience stayed with her, made all the more memorable by the unexpected discovery that the volunteer she spoke to was based in her own local town.

Years passed before she reached out again. But in October 2025, during what she describes as one of the most overwhelming periods of her life, she found herself turning back to the charity.

“My whole world felt like it was crashing down,” she said. “I was exhausted, and my thoughts didn’t feel like my own anymore. I knew what I was going through was temporary, but my mind was offering permanent solutions.”

At a breaking point, she made the call.

Her plea for help was answered by a volunteer named Tony, whose calm presence proved pivotal. “He could hear the panic and fear in my voice and stayed with me while I got myself to a safe place,” she said.

The call was unexpectedly cut short when the signal dropped out as she made her way back to her car—but the impact lingered.

“That moment changed everything,” she said. “It was a turning point. It gave me the courage to open up to my friends and my employer about what I was going through.”

As a mental health professional, she admits that asking for help did not come easily.

“I’m a very private person, and working as a mental health nurse can sometimes make it harder to reach out through traditional avenues,” she explained. “But even for those of us in the profession, there are times when we need somewhere to turn.”

Now, with time and distance from that difficult period, she feels ready to share her story publicly in the hope of helping others.

To give back, she is planning a 26-mile sponsored walk across the Preseli Hills, retracing a deeply personal route. The walk will take in Carningli – a place where she once felt “on top of the world”—and Rosebush, where the pivotal phone call took place.

“Walking has become incredibly cathartic for me,” she said. “Spending time in the Preselis has helped me process so many thoughts and feelings. It’s brought a real sense of peace.”

While she acknowledges the emotional challenge of revisiting those locations, she feels stronger now.

“I have a support network and a life I’ve been able to rebuild – thanks, in part, to that one phone call.”

The Samaritans, which operates a 24-hour helpline, responds to a call for help every 10 seconds. The service is free and available year-round, offering confidential, non-judgemental support to anyone in need.

Through her fundraising effort, she hopes to raise awareness as well as vital funds – while reminding others that help is always within reach.

Charity

Charity campaign showcases powerful bereavement support for local families

Published

5 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

HYWEL DDA Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, is calling on local communities to help them provide comfort and support to families who have lost a child.

The charity is running a campaign this spring to highlight its Wish Fund which provides support to families during times of bereavement.

The Wish Fund supports Hywel Dda’s Paediatric Palliative Care team to provide personalised support to families of children and young people receiving palliative care, and helps them create treasured memories when their child sadly passes away. From hand moulds and fingerprint jewellery to memory boxes and specialist sibling support, the fund ensures bereaved families are not alone during the most devastating moments of their lives.

Frankie’s parents Phil and Veronica shared how the Wish Fund helped them during their darkest days:

“We had the absolute pleasure of looking after the most beautiful, awesome, wonderful, loving and brave little lad who was very poorly in the last years of his life.

“We met his Paediatric Palliative Care team two years before his passing and boy what an awesome team they are.

“We will never be able to thank the Wish Fund enough. Thanks to the Wish Fund, we had the most amazing mementos, a Christmas bauble, a necklace with Frankie’s fingerprint on it and a mould of his hand. Those simple objects are our most treasured possessions along with a lock of his beautiful hair.”

The Wish Fund relies on charitable donations, and every contribution can have a lasting impact:

£15 provides a teddy for a bereaved sibling
£30 funds a sibling support session
£50 creates a hand mould keepsake
£70 provides a Memory Box
£85 funds bespoke hand‑printed jewellery

These meaningful items offer comfort to parents, carers and siblings who are navigating unimaginable loss.

Rebecca McDonald, Clinical Nurse Specialist – Paediatric Palliative Care, said: “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated and continues to donate to the Wish Fund.

“Thanks to your kindness and generosity, we have been able to provide meaningful memory-making items and bereavement materials. These resources make an immeasurable difference in helping us support our families through the most difficult time.

“Your compassion and support truly help us bring comfort, dignity, and lasting memories to the families we care for. Thank you for your support in helping us make a big difference to families we support across our health board.”

To find out more or to donate to the Wish Fund, please visit: https://hywelddahealthcharities.nhs.wales/campaigns/the-wish-fund/