Community

More progress for WASPI campaigners as Government reconsiders compensation

Published

6 months ago

December 9, 2025

Hopes raised for nearly 7,000 women in Ceredigion Preseli

ALMOST 7,000 women born in the 1950s across the Ceredigion Preseli constituency could be affected by an imminent UK Government rethink over whether they are owed compensation for receiving little or no notice that their state pension age would rise by up to six years.

In December last year, the then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall announced that no compensation would be paid, despite the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman recommending it. The Government did, however, accept that there had been maladministration, and said the women were entitled to an apology.

But on 11 November, her successor Pat McFadden told MPs that new evidence had been uncovered, prompting him to look at the matter again. The evidence relates to research commissioned by the Department for Work & Pensions on how many women would have benefitted from earlier notification letters about their rising state pension age — research which, he said, had not been shown to the previous minister.

The reversal came shortly before a Judicial Review brought by the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign, which was scheduled for hearings on 9–10 December. That case will now not proceed after the Government committed to:

Reconsidering the decision in full within 12 weeks, unless there is a compelling reason for delay that can be scrutinised by the court.

Retaking the decision entirely afresh, considering all relevant evidence.

Paying over half of WASPI’s legal costs, leaving the campaign with sufficient funds to challenge any future legal errors if necessary.

Pamela Judge, Co-ordinator of Ceredigion Preseli WASPI, said the development marked a major step forward.

“This is a major success for WASPI and would not have happened without WASPI’s legal action,” she said. “With Ben Lake’s help we launched our campaign locally nearly seven years ago when the national campaign was already in full swing. It’s taken a long time to get this far.

“The Government has now raised our hopes by saying, quite rightly, that it will consider the matter of compensation afresh. Our hopes must not be dashed again.

“We know the Government can do the right thing. It is already compensating victims of the contaminated blood scandal, the postmasters who suffered losses due to faulty accounting software, and it has revised the Windrush compensation scheme. It’s time the WASPI women were treated fairly too.”

Ben Lake MP for Ceredigion Preseli said he welcomed the development.

“I am pleased that the Judicial Review does not need to go ahead as planned and that the Government will reconsider evidence that wasn’t previously available to the former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

“The UK Government must now give a speedy decision on their reconsideration of the Ombudsman’s findings. After years of disappointment, these women deserve certainty and long overdue redress.”

The Government’s reconsidered decision is due by 24 February 2026.

Community

Bellringers praised at St Davids Cathedral service

Published

10 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SERVICE was held today at St Davids Cathedral for the annual meeting of the Diocesan Guild of Bellringers.

Fr Jim, the guild’s chaplain, led the service, during which the Bishop of St Davids preached and thanked members for their dedication to churches across the diocese.

He spoke about the important role bells play in marking moments of worship, celebration and remembrance, and said he had been personally moved when bells marked significant points in his own ministry.

The guild is keen to encourage new people to take up bellringing and says it is a friendly and approachable group for anyone interested in getting involved in church life.

Community

Hundreds of pupils unite for special Eisteddfod song

Published

10 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MORE THAN 500 CHILDREN FROM 50 SCHOOLS HELP CELEBRATE BRO’R GARREG LAS

HUNDREDS of primary school children from across west Wales have come together to release a special song celebrating the communities, language and landscape of Bro’r Garreg Las.

The song, Croeso i Fro’r Garreg Las, has been recorded by pupils from 50 schools across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire ahead of this summer’s National Eisteddfod in Llantood.

The project marks the countdown to the festival, which will be held from August 1 to August 8.

More than 500 children have taken part, with the song celebrating the area’s Welsh language, local communities, culture and sense of identity.

The track has been released on digital platforms alongside a colourful video filmed at some of the region’s best-known locations.

Pupils travelled to sites including Cardigan, Tenby, St Davids, Pentre Ifan and Drefach Felindre to perform and help bring the song to life.

The lyrics were written by poet Ceri Wyn Jones, with the melody by Einir Dafydd. The track was produced by Mei Gwynedd and the video was filmed by Gareth Bull.

Pembrokeshire County Council leader, Cllr Tessa Hodgson said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the National Eisteddfod to Llantood this summer.

“It’s been a pleasure to see young people from the three counties come together to create a special song that celebrates the area, and builds excitement as we look forward to the Eisteddfod.

“Collaboration across Bro’r Garreg Las has been at the heart of this project.”

Cllr Catrin M S Davies, Ceredigion County Council Cabinet Member responsible for Culture, said: “This song celebrates the Welsh language and the unique character of the whole area – from the coast to the countryside.

“Ceri Wyn’s lyrics also offer a taste of our history and heritage. There will be an opportunity for the whole of Wales to enjoy our area in August and to hear some of our stories – come along!”

Cllr Glynog Davies, Carmarthenshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, said: “It has been a privilege to work with Welsh and English-medium schools across the counties to create this special song.

“Over 500 children have contributed to it, which is an incredible achievement. It is wonderful to see that the Welsh language and the Eisteddfod belong to everyone.”

The song can be heard on digital platforms now, while the video is available to watch on YouTube.

Photo caption: Children from schools across Bro’r Garreg Las have joined forces to record a special song ahead of this summer’s National Eisteddfod.

Community

Ceremonial gown linked to Prince Charles’ 1969 investiture discovered in Saundersfoot

Published

11 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A CEREMONIAL gown worn by the grandson of former Prime Minister David Lloyd George during the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles has been discovered at an antiques roadshow in Pembrokeshire.

The gown, worn by Owen Lloyd George, 3rd Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor, was found alongside his original invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to take part in the historic ceremony at Caernarfon Castle.

The items were brought to a WeBuyVintage roadshow in Saundersfoot by a member of the public who had acquired them after they were removed from Ffynone House, near Boncath, the Earl’s former Pembrokeshire country seat.

The Earl, who lived from 1924 to 2010, was the grandson of David Lloyd George, Britain’s wartime Prime Minister. He was given a prominent role at the investiture on July 1, 1969, carrying the ceremonial sword during the nationally televised event.

The red ceremonial gown bears the Earl’s name on a label inside and is believed to have been made especially for him for the ceremony. It was kept at Ffynone House for decades.

The current owner said she rescued the items in 2021 after seeing possessions from the house being advertised for sale.

She said: “The owner explained that many historic possessions connected to the Lloyd George family were likely to be discarded following the sale of the house and its contents.

“I felt I could not let that happen with the gown and the letter, as these felt like genuine pieces of Welsh history and I wanted to make sure they were preserved.”

Antiques specialist Neil Church, of WeBuyVintage, said the discovery was immediately significant.

He said: “Every so often, something comes through the door that truly stops you in your tracks, and this was one of those moments.

“Far more than an old ceremonial garment, it was a remarkable discovery directly connected to one of the most significant royal and historic moments in modern Welsh history, the investiture of the now King Charles.

“What made it especially fascinating was its provenance, tracing it back to the grandson of the former Prime Minister of Britain and the family’s historic country seat, Ffynone House.

“While we valued it at around £600, its historical significance reaches far beyond its monetary worth.”

The gown and invitation are now being described as a rare surviving piece of Welsh and royal ceremonial history, rediscovered in west Wales more than half a century after they were used at Caernarfon Castle.

Photo caption: Historic find: The ceremonial gown worn by Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor at the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles was discovered at a Saundersfoot antiques roadshow (Pic: WeBuyVintage).