Cyclist visits nine lifeboat stations from St Davids to Pwllheli in four-day coastal endurance fundraiser

A PEMBROKESHIRE supporter has cycled more than 200 miles along the Welsh coast, visiting nine lifeboat stations and raising over £1,000 for the RNLI.

Jonathan Bradley took on the solo endurance challenge in November 2025, starting at RNLI St Davids Lifeboat Station and finishing four days later at Pwllheli. Along the way he stopped at every RNLI station on his route, including Fishguard, Cardigan, New Quay, Aberystwyth, Aberdovey, Barmouth and Criccieth.

The RNLI said Jonathan had been a long-time member of its Storm Force youth programme and had always remained a keen supporter of the charity’s lifesaving work.

The fundraising effort covered around 200 miles of coastal roads and terrain, with Jonathan completing the journey alone while carrying his own equipment.

An RNLI spokesperson praised his commitment, saying the funds raised would help support volunteer crews who provide lifesaving services around the coast of Wales and the wider UK and Ireland.

The charity relies heavily on donations and community fundraising to maintain its lifeboats, stations and rescue equipment, with volunteers responding to thousands of incidents each year.

Jonathan’s journey began in Pembrokeshire at St Davids — one of the RNLI’s busiest stations — giving the challenge a strong local connection before continuing north along Cardigan Bay to Gwynedd.

The RNLI added its thanks to everyone who supported the challenge through donations and encouragement, describing the effort as an inspiring example of community fundraising in action.

POLITICIANS in the Senedd have voted in favour of legislation that could allow assisted dying services to be provided through the Welsh NHS in future, marking what ministers described as an “unusual constitutional moment” for Wales.

Members of the Senedd voted 28 in favour, 23 against, with two abstentions, to give consent to elements of a UK bill currently progressing through Parliament that would legalise assisted dying in England and Wales for terminally ill adults.

The vote does not itself make assisted dying legal. The proposed law is still being scrutinised in Westminster and remains some distance from becoming law, with more than 1,000 amendments tabled during its passage through the House of Lords.

However, the Senedd’s decision means that — if the legislation is ultimately approved by the UK Parliament — Welsh ministers would have the authority to establish assisted dying services within NHS Wales.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles told members the vote represented a rare constitutional situation because assisted dying itself is not devolved to Wales, but the delivery of health services is.

He said the debate had been approached with “care” and recognition of the seriousness of the issue, adding that without the motion the Senedd would have had no opportunity to express a view on how services might operate in Wales.

The motion also included a Plaid Cymru amendment criticising what was described as a lack of thorough consideration by Westminster of the constitutional implications for Wales.

Divided political opinion

The debate revealed deep divisions across parties.

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar opposed the motion, arguing the legislation effectively sanitised what he described as “assisted suicide” and warning about the ethical implications for medical professionals.

Others supported the measure on practical grounds rather than principle. Labour MS Julie Morgan said failing to approve the motion could leave Wales without access to services if the law changed elsewhere.

She told the chamber that only a small number of people would likely seek assisted dying, but that access should not depend on whether someone could afford private care.

Plaid Cymru politicians also expressed mixed views. Former party leader Adam Price said the Senedd had been placed in an “invidious position” but argued withholding consent would not prevent assisted dying — only risk a private-sector-only system.

Meanwhile, some MSs raised concerns about vulnerable people feeling pressured to end their lives, while others warned about the potential impact on palliative care services and the doctor-patient relationship.

Reform UK’s James Evans abstained, saying he supported the principle of assisted dying but believed the legislation still required significant clarification.

What happens next

The bill itself remains under consideration in the UK Parliament and is not guaranteed to pass.

If it does become law, the decision about whether to introduce assisted dying services in Wales would fall to a future Welsh Government.

The issue is likely to remain politically sensitive, particularly ahead of the Senedd elections scheduled for May, where questions around health policy, personal autonomy and ethical legislation may feature prominently in campaign debates.

Concerns grow over emergency surgery and stroke care proposals in west Wales

LOCAL Senedd Members have called on the Welsh Government to intervene urgently amid fears that key services could be removed from Withybush Hospital.

Paul Davies MS and Samuel Kurtz MS have written jointly to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care following last week’s meeting of Hywel Dda University Health Board, where proposals affecting Withybush and Bronglais hospitals were discussed.

The politicians warned that removing emergency general surgery and stroke services from Withybush could have serious consequences for patients across Pembrokeshire and the wider west Wales region.

In their letter, they said the plans could significantly increase travel times for critically ill patients, place further pressure on ambulance services and risk widening health inequalities in rural communities.

They also raised concerns that stripping back core acute services could threaten the long-term viability of the hospital’s Accident and Emergency department.

Stroke treatment was highlighted as a particular concern because outcomes are highly time-dependent, with delays potentially leading to life-changing consequences for patients.

The MSs also pointed to uncertainty surrounding proposed changes at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, warning that communities across mid and west Wales were already facing geographic barriers to accessing urgent care.

They have formally called on the Welsh Government to step in to ensure services remain at both hospitals.

Samuel Kurtz said the issue had caused “deep concern” locally, adding that rural communities deserved safe and equitable access to emergency healthcare.

Health Board response

Hywel Dda University Health Board has previously said the changes are being considered because some services are “fragile and in need of change,” with workforce pressures, recruitment challenges and increasing demand affecting sustainability.

Following its extraordinary meeting on February 19, the Board confirmed that no immediate changes would take place and that services would continue as normal while detailed implementation plans are developed.

Mark Henwood, the Board’s Executive Medical Director, said: “I would like to reassure members of our community that our services remain safe, but are fragile and need to improve to provide the best patient outcome and experience.

“No immediate changes will take place because of the decisions we made as a Board today… patients should attend their appointments as usual.”

The Health Board has also said changes would likely be introduced in phases over several years and that further engagement is planned, particularly around stroke services, before any final decisions are made.

Longstanding concerns

The latest intervention from politicians comes amid longstanding public concern in Pembrokeshire over the future of services at Withybush, with campaigners repeatedly warning that downgrades could lead to longer journeys to hospitals such as Glangwili in Carmarthen or Morriston in Swansea.

The Herald has approached the Welsh Government for comment.