News

Badger and the pick of the pops

Published

11 years ago

February 26, 2015

OVER the last couple of weeks, even by his own benighted standards, Badger has been a gloomy soul. However, readers, this week Badger resolved to strike an altogether lighter and less sombre note; with what is, admittedly, variable success.

As Badger was listening to the wireless the other day he slipped back into a time warp. There he was, Tony Blackburn, who sounded as gruesomely cheery as Badger remembered from his childhood. Tone was playing the top twenty selling singles from 1985. At that time it took significant sales to get into the top twenty, let alone the top ten, and it was not uncommon for singles to sell in the hundreds of thousands.

For those of Badger’s readers who are not familiar with the concept, a swift history lesson is in order. In a world before CD’s, and long before downloads, the purchase of seven inch disks of vinyl to be played on a Hi-fi turntable – or even, if one was lucky enough, a music centre. In fact, music centres gave one the option of just recording the top forty and adeptly editing out the disc jockey banter between records: particularly useful for avoiding Bruno Brookes.

Anyway, Badger digresses. There Badger was, back in 1985, with Tony Blackburn doing the top twenty-selling singles of the year.

1985: The year of The Smiths, The Cult, The Cure, The Style Council, Bruce Springsteen, Prince. Badger settled down for a treat.

Oh dear, readers, oh dearie, dearie, dearie me.

Badger listened aghast.

Apparently, when Morrisey sang the lyrics ‘the devil will find work for idle hands to do’, the thing the devil found for idle hands to do was to buy singles perpetrated by Jennifer Rush, Barbara Dickson & Elaine Paige, and Foreigner.

Asbestos-lunged American power-ballad diva, Jennifer Rush bellowed The Power of Love to five weeks at the top of the chart in October. As Badger discovered to his horror when researching this article – La Rush had recorded the UK’s best-selling single by a solo female artist until overtaken by something equally interminable by Whitney Houston several years later.

Memory, not the most reliable of mediums at the best of times, had somehow preserved for Badger the memory of Walls Come Tumbling Down, Between the Wars, and Close to Me, but erased Easy Lover, and the knuckle-whitening horror of Frankie.

Now, Badger is many things but he is no musical elitist. He can be found a-shuffling his paws along to tunes – if you excuse the pun – of any stripe. But the discovery of precisely what had been a hit when the world was young and green came as a mortifying surprise to Badger. 1985 was no golden age of popular music, it was an age right up there with the horror of times when young girls chanted for the Bay City Rollers or David Cassidy.

Readers, it was an age of Phil Collins.

Phil-bloody-Collins. I mean it is not as if Genesis was not quite bad enough, Phil had to distil its essence, cube it and record it. Those are not only musical crimes, readers: they are crimes against humanity. Phil Collins constitutes the final proof of the proposition that the only band in which the drummer was the most talented member was Nirvana.

And it came to Badger that much of the mid-80’s had been erased from Badger’s mind by a combination of Phil Collins and Margaret Thatcher. Shaken by the sheer awfulness of the period, musically and politically, Badger had expunged its recollection and retained only the memory of little shafts of light to illuminate the gloom.

On reflection, the whole period from, say, 1982 to the end of 1990 seems a little hazy. Not so much never glad confident morning again, as an abrupt break in cultural transmission that only picked up again a long time later. Lager and despair might have had something to do with that, readers.

But still Tony Blackburn endures: we are now past post-modern irony – way past Smashy and Nicey territory -and into the realms of complicity.

We know he is corny, we know he has hung around longer than a fart in a freezer, but Tony Blackburn is a reminder to us of a time when what went to the top of the charts had a certain cultural currency.

Popular music is less a sign of our times than a diary marker in our memories. If pressed to remember a specific day or month, you might fail. But people always remember what they were doing when they first became aware of a certain song, or a certain artist.

The old joke about innumerable progeny being conceived to the melodic rumbling of Barry White probably has a certain ring of truth about it; although in Pembrokeshire in the 1980’s, Badger is pretty sure that it was more likely to be to the strains of Hi Ho Silver Lining leeching through the windows of the village hall into a darkened car park at the end of a disco. Or possibly to the apparently endless long version of Freebird if you ventured out to The Old Rectory near Nash of fond Badgery memories.

The truth about the eighties, is that like Auden’s 1930’s, they were a low, dishonest decade. Their altitude and dishonesty is worse than some and better than others. (Don’t get Badger started on the 1970’s and the type of modern comedian who asks the audience whether it remembers Spangles.)

For all the gleaming newness of the now, and in the knowledge of its gloomier corners, the past still has its pull. Even now, even after Badger has discovered the unfortunate musical truth about 1985, his memory insists that for the portion of the year that Little Red Corvette was not number one, She Sells Sanctuary was in its stead.The thing about nostalgia, readers, is that nothing can kill it. Not even the truth.

News

Welsh Government criticised after Russian-linked drone image used in defence announcement

Published

2 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has been forced to apologise after mistakenly using an image of a Russian-linked attack drone to illustrate a major defence investment announcement — just one day after concerns were raised about potential security threats to the UK.

Ministers had been promoting a £50m Defence Growth Deal, signed at Cardiff Castle by UK Defence Secretary John Healey, First Minister Eluned Morgan and Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens. The agreement aims to position Wales as a centre for autonomous technology and uncrewed systems, including drones used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

However, the image used on the Business Wales website to promote the initiative was identified as a HESA Shahed-136 — an Iranian-designed drone widely used by Russian forces in attacks against Ukraine.

Aberporth fears raised after Russian claims and spy ship incidents off Welsh coast

Our reporting on 24 Feb 2026

The error was spotted by technology author Gavin Harper, who criticised the choice of imagery as “tone deaf” given the ongoing war and the presence of Ukrainian refugees living in Wales.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said the incident was a genuine mistake.

“This was a genuine mistake. A stock image from an external library was used on a business support social media platform and was removed as soon as the site became aware,” the spokesperson said.

The Shahed-136, also known by its Russian designation Geran-2, is a so-called “one-way attack drone” or kamikaze drone designed to strike ground targets from long distances. The weapon has become closely associated with Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian areas since the invasion began.

Security context

The incident comes amid growing discussion about defence preparedness in the UK and potential threats from hostile states.

As reported by The Herald on Tuesday (Feb 24), concerns were raised about the vulnerability of British military infrastructure following warnings that cruise missile-equipped submarines could theoretically threaten airbases. The story also referenced recent reports of suspected Russian maritime intelligence activity off the Welsh coast, including incidents near Aberporth.

Against that backdrop, the use of imagery linked to a weapon deployed by Russian forces has drawn criticism online and prompted questions about the vetting of official communications.

Economic ambitions

Despite the controversy, ministers say the Defence Growth Deal represents a significant opportunity for Wales, with investment aimed at boosting advanced manufacturing, research and technology development linked to the defence sector.

The agreement is intended to help Wales capitalise on emerging defence technologies, including autonomous systems, while supporting jobs and economic growth.

Opposition figures have yet to comment formally on the image error, but political observers say the incident highlights the risks of relying on generic stock imagery in sensitive policy areas such as defence and security.

The Welsh Government has since removed the image from its promotional material.

This story was first reported on Nation Cymru and you can read their article here.

Community

Pub reopens with VIP club launch and free drink offer

Published

4 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A POPULAR Pembrokeshire pub is reopening its doors this week with a new loyalty scheme aimed at rewarding regular customers.

The Griffin Dale Pembrokeshire will reopen for the season on Thursday (Feb 26), with owners Sian and Simon promising roaring fires, fresh seafood and a warm welcome for returning customers.

To mark the reopening, the team has launched a new Griffin VIP Club, designed to give regular visitors small perks throughout the year.

The scheme includes a loyalty drinks stamp card, occasional meal offers, discounts on drinks, birthday treats and early access to events and promotions.

As part of the launch celebrations, customers visiting on reopening day will receive a complimentary drink along with 20% off food and drinks during a special “Thirsty Thursday” promotion.

The owners said the club was intended as a simple way of giving something back to loyal customers rather than a formal membership programme.

“We’re so excited to be reopening for the season and welcoming everyone back,” they said. “It’s just our way of saying thank you to those who support us and pop in regularly.”

Customers interested in joining the VIP Club can sign up at the bar when visiting the pub.

Health

Petition calling for Withybush intervention nears 5,000 signatures

Published

4 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Campaigners warn patient safety at risk as pressure grows on Welsh Government

A PETITION calling for urgent Welsh Government intervention into services at Withybush Hospital has attracted almost 5,000 signatures, highlighting growing concern across Pembrokeshire about the future of local healthcare.

The petition, titled “Urgent Pembrokeshire Healthcare & Resident Safety – Withybush Hospital & Health Board Intervention,” demands immediate action to oversee Hywel Dda University Health Board and restore essential services to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents.

It has so far gathered 4,875 signatures and remains open until August 23, 2026.

If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, it will be considered for a debate in the Senedd. Under Welsh Parliament rules, petitions with more than 250 signatures are automatically discussed by the Petitions Committee once the signature-gathering period ends.

The petition was created by Ajay Owen, who argues that current healthcare pressures are placing unacceptable strain on communities across Pembrokeshire.

The petition states: “We demand immediate government intervention to oversee the Health Board at Withybush Hospital and restore essential services to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Pembrokeshire residents. The residents, GP’s, Ambulance Services & Voluntary Sectors do not need the strain or anxiety the health board is causing locally.”

The campaign comes amid ongoing controversy over proposed service changes affecting hospitals in west Wales, including concerns about the future configuration of emergency and specialist care.

Local politicians have already voiced alarm over potential impacts on patient safety, travel times, and ambulance pressures if services are moved further from Pembrokeshire.

The Herald understands that concerns about rural access to emergency treatment have been raised repeatedly in recent months, particularly in relation to time-critical conditions such as stroke and major trauma.

Health boards across Wales continue to face significant workforce shortages, financial pressures, and recruitment challenges, which have contributed to difficult decisions about service configuration.

A spokesperson for Hywel Dda University Health Board has previously said any proposed changes are aimed at improving patient safety and ensuring services are clinically sustainable in the long term.

Campaigners, however, argue that removing services from Withybush risks undermining confidence in local healthcare provision and increasing inequalities for rural communities.