COMMUNITIES gathered in Milford Haven on Saturday (Jun 6) to mark the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.

The service, held at The Rath, brought together veterans, standard bearers, councillors, local church representatives, members of the Royal British Legion Milford Haven Branch, and residents for a solemn act of remembrance overlooking the waterway.

Wreaths were laid at the town’s war memorials, including the Cenotaph on Hamilton Terrace, as tribute was paid to the thousands of Allied servicemen who crossed the Channel on June 6, 1944.

D-Day marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation and remains one of the most significant military operations in history.

Milford Haven’s own wartime role gave the commemoration added meaning. During the Second World War, the Haven was home to a major US Navy Advanced Amphibious Base, where landing craft were prepared, maintained and repaired ahead of Allied operations.

The town’s harbour and maritime workforce formed part of the huge logistical effort that made the Normandy landings possible.

One of the most striking moments of Saturday’s commemoration came from the waterway itself, where Port of Milford Haven tugs staged a moving water salute.

As the service took place, the tugs sent great arcs of water into the air, creating a powerful visual tribute linking the town’s seafaring identity with its wartime service.

Those attending stood in quiet reflection as the community remembered not only those who landed on the beaches of Normandy, but also the men and women at home whose work supported the invasion.

With the number of surviving D-Day veterans now sadly dwindling, events such as Milford Haven’s commemoration carry growing importance.

They ensure that younger generations understand the courage, sacrifice and shared effort behind the events of June 1944.

In Milford Haven, the service at The Rath, the laying of wreaths, and the dramatic tug salute combined to create a fitting tribute from a town with a proud place in the story of D-Day.

The message of the day was simple and enduring: lest we forget.

TWO YOUNG St John Ambulance Cymru Badgers have been praised for using their first aid skills after their grandad suffered a head injury at home.

Menna and Bronwen Laurence-Elias, who are members of the Carmarthen Division, were being looked after by their grandad when he had a small fall and cut his head.

The girls had recently completed a First Aid Badger module with their local Badger Sett and quickly put what they had learned into practice.

They stayed calm, called their dad to explain what had happened, remained with their grandad, and made sure the door was unlocked so help could get into the house.

Calm response

Their parents, Daniel Elias and Jemma Laurence, both work in healthcare and are also St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers. They had taught the children to call them if there was a problem, and to only ring 999 in an emergency.

Daniel said: “They both stayed really calm, rang me and were completely calm telling me what had happened.

“Bronwen said Menna was putting pressure on the cut and had even unlocked the door for me before I got there.

“I gave the cut a quick clean and applied some steri-strips with Menna’s help, whilst Bronwen instructed me on what to do.

“I cannot be prouder of them for what they have learnt in Badgers and how calm they both were in what must have been quite a stressful situation for such young people.

“We’re grateful for the fantastic work of the Badger Leaders, teaching our future generations first aid and how to deal with emergencies.”

‘Quick thinking’

St John Ambulance Cymru’s Badger groups are for children aged five to eleven. As well as first aid, members learn about a range of other subjects, including communication and outer space.

Donna Jones, who leads the St John Ambulance Cymru Badgers in Carmarthen, said: “We are so delighted to hear of their quick thinking and sensible, calm response in a real-life situation.

“We presented them both with their own little Badger during our next session. Whilst they were both shocked and humble, we felt it was really important to acknowledge how smart they were on that day and how proud we are of them.”

St John Ambulance Cymru says its young people’s programmes help children and teenagers learn confidence, teamwork and lifesaving skills.

More information about Badgers, for children aged five to eleven, and Cadets, for young people aged eleven to fifteen, is available at www.sjacymru.org.uk/young-people.

Caption:

Quick thinking: Menna and Bronwen Laurence-Elias used the first aid skills they learned as St John Ambulance Cymru Badgers to help their grandad after he cut his head at home (Pic: St John Ambulance Cymru).

OLDER adults in Wales are becoming more active, with new figures suggesting more people over 55 are embracing walking, strength training and regular exercise to stay independent for longer.

Analysis of national physical activity data by Foxholes Care Home found that 64.3% of adults aged 55 to 74 now meet recommended activity guidelines, up from 59.8% five years ago.

Among those aged 75 and over, the figure has risen from 37.6% in 2019-20 to 44.3% in 2024-25.

The findings come as Wales continues to have an ageing population. People aged 65 and over now account for more than one in five of the population, while Wales also has one of the oldest age profiles in the UK.

Strength training

The data also suggests that more older adults are taking up muscle-strengthening exercise.

The proportion of over-55s completing two or more strength sessions a week has increased from 38% in 2019-20 to 41% in 2024-25.

Walking remains the most popular form of exercise, with experts encouraging older people to make use of Wales’ parks, coastal paths and green spaces to support mobility, confidence and wellbeing.

However, the figures also show that many older people are still not active enough. Around 42% of adults aged 55 and over remain physically inactive, compared with 29% of the wider adult population.

Neil Gandecha, older adults exercise specialist at Foxholes Care Home said: “There is a persistent stereotype that strength training is only for younger people, but the data tells a very different story.

“Building strength becomes increasingly important with age because it supports balance, posture and independence. It can make everyday tasks such as climbing stairs, carrying shopping and getting in and out of a chair much easier.

“Across Wales, there are many opportunities for older adults to stay active, whether that’s walking locally, spending time outdoors, attending community exercise classes or taking part in adapted strength training.

“Mobility challenges should not prevent anyone from enjoying the benefits of exercise. Adapted strength training can be highly effective for people who use walking aids, rollators and wheelchairs.”

Simple steps

Mr Gandecha said staying active did not have to mean long walks or intense exercise.

He advised older adults to start small, such as taking a short trip to the garden, a local park, the seafront or town centre.

He said routes with flat paths, benches, shade and accessible toilets could help people feel more confident when going outdoors.

He also encouraged people to use mobility aids without embarrassment, stay hydrated, avoid the hottest part of the day, wear sun protection and take a friend, family member or carer when needed.

Wheelchair users and people with limited mobility can also benefit from seated stretches and resistance-band exercises in the garden or park.

Mr Gandecha added: “Being active looks different for everyone.

“Whether you take a walk with a rollator, use a wheelchair to explore your local park, or simply sit in the sunshine and do a few gentle stretches, spending time outdoors can have a meaningful impact on health and wellbeing.”