Crime

Plaques unveiled in Haverfordwest to honour HIV charity pioneer Terry Higgins

Published

5 months ago

December 2, 2025

Two blue plaques mark the birthplace of the man whose death led to creation of Terrence Higgins Trust

THE LIFE and legacy of Terry Higgins – the Welshman whose death spurred the founding of Europe’s first HIV charity – were formally commemorated in Haverfordwest today (Dec 2) with the unveiling of two blue plaques at his birthplace.

A crowd gathered at Priory Court on Winch Lane at 12:00pm to witness the unveiling, which was followed by a reception attended by family, friends, supporters and representatives from Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s largest HIV organisation.

Terry Higgins was born at the former Priory Mount Hospital on 10 June 1945 and spent the first eighteen years of his life in Haverfordwest before joining the Royal Navy. In 1982, aged just thirty-seven, he became one of the first people in the UK to die from an AIDS-related illness.

Moved by grief and determined to ensure no one else faced the same isolation, his friends and partner established Terrence Higgins Trust in his name. More than four decades later, the charity now provides HIV services, testing, and support across the UK – including in Wales – and continues to play a central role in national HIV policy and public awareness.

Blue plaques mark birthplace

Two plaques – one in Welsh and one in English – were installed on the stone entrance pillars at Glebe House, marking the first time Terry Higgins has been formally commemorated in the town where he grew up.

The project was delivered jointly by Terrence Higgins Trust and Dr Simon Hancock, curator of Haverfordwest Town Museum.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Hancock said: “I am delighted Terry Higgins is finally being commemorated in the town of his birth. Half of his short life was lived in Haverfordwest where he was educated and where he forged his earliest relationships.”

“Important to remember how he lived”

Richard Angell OBE, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said the plaques mark not just a moment of remembrance, but a reminder of the humanity at the centre of Britain’s HIV story.

“Terry is best known for how he died, and for the grief and love for him which led to the creation of Terrence Higgins Trust,” he said. “But it’s really important to remember how he lived. A proud gay Welshman, still remembered with affection in the local community, by his friends and his surviving partner. Terry deserves to be honoured in Haverfordwest, in the place of his birth, as we mark what would have been his 80th year.”

Among those attending were Martyn Butler OBE, Terry’s friend and one of the charity’s co-founders, alongside civic representatives and supporters who have backed the memorial project.

How to support

Donations towards the plaques and future local commemorations can be made at tht.events/cymru-terry, or by texting RIBBON 5 to 70480 to donate £5, or RIBBON 10 to donate £10.

Images: Martin Cavaney Photography

Crime

Local carpenter retains driving licence despite previous ban

Published

13 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Herbrandston carpenter has been allowed to keep his driving licence despite a previous driving disqualification for using his mobile phone whilst driving.

Addressing District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week, Simon Shaw stressed the disqualification was having a major impact on his work commitment as well as his ability to support members of his family.

“If the ban continues, at least two of my five employees will have to be lost” said Shaw, who works as a self-employed carpenter operating from Herbrandston and the Milford Haven Industrial Estate.

“We travel throughout the whole of West Wales and also work at Thorne Island, where we’ve been providing logistical support for renovations for the last four years.”

Shaw, of Triplestone Close, Herbrandston, went on to say that his business has only one other driver who works as a reserve fire fighter.

“As a result, he’s not available to provide the 24 hour cover we provide to various care homes in the county,” he said.

Simon Shaw concluded by stating that his daughter is also dependent on his support having recently given birth to twins while his son-in-law and his partner’s mother are both currently undergoing serious healthcare treatments.

“I’m trying to provide as much logistical support for them as I can, but without my driving licence, this is impossible,” he said.

After listening to his comments, Judge Layton granted Shaw permission to retain his licence.

Crime

Delivery driver caught twice over legal drink-drive limit

Published

13 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A DELIVERY driver has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel when he was over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Twenty-nine year old Sam Rowe was stopped by officers just before 9.30 am on April 20 as he drove his Vauxhall Vivaro along Ferry Lane in Pembroke Dock.

“His speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week.

“There was also a strong smell of intoxicants emanating from him.”

When spoken to by the officers, Rowe stated he’d drunk a pint of alcohol approximately an hour before being stopped, however subsequent breathalyser tests showed he had no less than 75 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

Rowe, of Hazel Close, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to the offence and was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher who informed the court that the defendant was holidaying in Pembrokeshire at the time of the offence.

“His daughter fell ill and he was attempting to find painkillers for her at a supermarket,” he said. “He’s very remorseful and is now going to lose his job as a delivery driver.”

Rowe, who has no previous convictions, was disqualified from driving for a total of 20 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Police tip-off leads to driving ban for Milford motorist

Published

14 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE motorist has lost his licence after police received information that the 40-year-old male may have been driving under the influence of drugs.

This week Haverfordwest Magistrates court was told that at around 8.30pm on November 22 officers received a call informing them that Michael Miles was suspected of driving his Peugeot Bipper through Milford Haven after consuming drugs.

Miles was subsequently stopped on Marble Hall Road and when spoken to by the officers, he informed them that he was a drug user. A saliva sample tested positive for cocaine while further tests carried out at the police station showed that Miles had 760 mcg of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in his system, the legal limit being 50.

Miles, of Milford Road, Steynton, chose to be legally unrepresented in court and pleaded guilty to the drug-driving charge.

The probation service said he was very remorseful for the offence and has since had appointments with the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service to help him deal with his drug usage. Miles was served with an interim driving disqualification however as a result of his previous non-payment of fines, his punitive sentencing was adjourned to Thursday, May 7.

“If you pay your outstanding fines before Thursday, you will be fined for this offence,” warned District Judge Mark Layton. “But if you don’t pay, you will be given a custodial sentence.”