Community

Tenby still waiting as Wales hits 50 rural mobile mast upgrades

Published

3 months ago

March 9, 2026

Seaside town plagued by signal congestion again absent from latest government-backed coverage improvements

A NEW milestone in the UK Government’s programme to improve mobile coverage across rural Wales has once again highlighted the continuing connectivity problems facing Tenby.

Officials confirmed this week that fifty government-funded mobile mast upgrades are now live in Wales as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN), a joint initiative between government and mobile operators aimed at expanding 4G coverage in rural communities.

Across the UK, 119 upgraded masts are now operational, providing reliable 4G access from all four major operators – EE, Vodafone, Three and Virgin Media O2 – in previously underserved areas.

However, as with earlier announcements linked to the programme, no locations in Pembrokeshire were listed among the latest upgrades, leaving ongoing questions about when improvements will reach one of Wales’s busiest tourist destinations.

Longstanding problems

The absence of any Pembrokeshire sites in the latest round is likely to fuel frustration in Tenby, where residents and traders have repeatedly complained about unreliable mobile coverage.

Last year, The Herald reported growing anger among locals who described the town’s mobile signal as “worse than the 1990s.” Residents said dropped calls, slow data and intermittent service were affecting everyday life and business operations.

One disabled resident said he had missed hospital calls because his phone repeatedly lost signal, while traders said customers were sometimes unable to make card payments due to network outages during busy periods.

The issue tends to intensify during the summer tourist season, when visitor numbers place additional strain on existing infrastructure.

Capacity rather than coverage

Unlike many communities targeted by the Shared Rural Network, Tenby is not classified as a complete mobile “not-spot”.

Instead, the town suffers from capacity issues, where networks become overwhelmed by the sheer number of users during peak periods.

This distinction means Tenby has often fallen outside the main focus of national programmes designed primarily to address areas with little or no coverage at all.

Earlier announcements under the SRN scheme also failed to include any sites in Pembrokeshire, despite dozens of upgrades elsewhere in Wales.

Political pressure

Concerns about the issue have even reached Parliament.

Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell recently asked ministers what action is being taken to improve connectivity in the county, naming Tenby specifically after it was omitted from previous upgrade announcements.

Independent data has suggested Wales continues to lag behind the rest of the UK in mobile performance, with some areas of Pembrokeshire recording relatively slow download speeds compared with national averages.

Attempts to improve infrastructure

There have been some attempts to strengthen mobile infrastructure around Tenby.

Plans were previously submitted to replace an existing telecommunications mast near Penally with a twenty-metre structure designed to support improved 4G capacity for multiple operators.

Developers argued the upgrade was necessary to improve digital connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors across the wider Tenby area.

However, progress on mobile infrastructure in the area has sometimes faced challenges, including planning concerns linked to the town’s location within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Rural upgrades continue

Despite the continuing issues in coastal towns like Tenby, the Shared Rural Network programme is continuing to expand across Wales.

Government figures say the scheme has already delivered 4G coverage from all four operators across an additional 34,000 square kilometres of the UK, while improving connectivity for 280,000 premises and more than 16,000 kilometres of roads.

Ministers say the programme will continue until at least 2027, with further upgrades planned.

For Tenby residents and businesses, however, the key question remains unchanged: when – or if – the town’s well-documented mobile congestion problems will finally be addressed.

With another busy tourist season approaching, local traders say reliable connectivity is no longer a luxury but an essential part of running a modern seaside economy.

Community

Bellringers praised at St Davids Cathedral service

Published

51 minutes 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

1 hour 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

2 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).