News

Two brothers unite for rescue mission

Published

10 years ago

April 19, 2016

Matt and Dan Church: Brothers 100 miles apart join forces in RNLI rescue mission

TWO brothers, who are usually stationed over 100 miles apart, recently joined forces to attend an emergency call-out for Penarth’s volunteer lifeboat crew.

31-year-old Matt Church and his brother Dan Church, aged 27, were called away from their Mother’s Day celebrations with their family to aid a broken down vessel.

Dan joined the RNLI seven years ago and is stationed at Little Haven and Broad Haven.

Following in his little brother’s footsteps a year later, Matt is a volunteer crew member at Penarth RNLI.

Consistency in training across all of the RNLI’s lifeboat stations allowed the two to work together seamlessly with the other members of the volunteer lifeboat crew.

The defective six metre Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) was towed back by the Penarth lifeboat and its crew to its home in Cardiff Bay.

Matt said: “We were both brought up on the water in Pembrokeshire, so joining the RNLI seemed natural to both of us. We are very close as brothers so it felt second nature – we’re naturally on the same wave length.

“Even though we’ve both been volunteering for a number of years, we’ve not been at sea together before. The call came whilst we were in Penarth for Mother’s day.

“Mum was fine with it, and proud we were called out to help together. My flat overlooks the channel so the family were watching the whole shout from my balcony.

“We both respect the sea, and have a willingness to help. For me, not being from Penarth, it has helped me integrate into the local community and be part of a ready-made lifeboat family.

“Both of us intend to be helms eventually, but I am expecting my first child and Dan has regular shortterm contracts in Australia for a few months at a time, but progression is very much on our ‘radar’.”

Matt works as a commercial manager at Cardiff Blues and Dan is a self-employed carpenter, but both have found the time to volunteer with the RNLI.

Paul Eastment, RNLI Divisional Operations Manager for South Wales, said: “The fact that a crew member from a different station was able to join his brother on this call at Penarth shows the strong commitment to lifesaving possessed by our volunteers.

“Even though Dan was not at his home station, his skills were able to benefit another community. This really is an excellent example of professionalism and transferable skills across the RNLI.”

News

St Davids Cathedral marked Easter Sunday with full day of worship

Published

10 minutes ago

April 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FROM dawn vigil to choral evensong, the cathedral welcomed worshippers for one of the most important days in the Christian calendar

ST DAVIDS Cathedral marked Easter Sunday (Apr 5) with a full programme of worship, music and celebration.

The day began at 6:00am with the Easter Vigil at the West Front and Nave, sung by the Vicars Choral and Choral Scholars. The service included the lighting of the Easter candle, readings and the first Eucharist of Easter morning.

Worship continued later in the morning with Holy Eucharist at the High Altar at 8:00am, followed by Cymun y Plwyf in the Lady Chapel at 9:30am.

The main Easter Day service took place at 11:00am in the Nave with a Choral Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Choir. The service featured Easter hymns and music, with the Bishop presiding and preaching.

The cathedral’s Easter Sunday celebrations concluded at 4:00pm with Choral Evensong in the Nave, again sung by the Cathedral Choir.

The programme formed part of St Davids Cathedral’s observance of Holy Week and the First Week of Easter, with worshippers and visitors gathering for one of the most significant days in the Church calendar.

Community

Johnston FC pays tribute after sudden death of Rhyan Nolan, 27

Published

1 hour ago

April 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Community rallies around grieving family as club honours much-loved player at weekend fixture

JOHNSTON FC paid an emotional tribute at the weekend to Rhyan Nolan after his sudden death at the age of 27.

The club marked the occasion with a flawlessly observed minute’s silence before kick-off, as both teams, officials and supporters came together in his memory.

A signed match ball and Rhyan’s much-worn number ten shirt, covered in messages from team-mates and friends, were also prepared to be handed to his family, who were present for the tribute.

The death of Rhyan has sent shockwaves through the local community, with many gathering around his loved ones in the days since the devastating news emerged.

A fundraiser set up on GoFundMe says his family received the heartbreaking news on Monday that they had lost their “precious, loving son and brother” suddenly at such a young age.

The appeal names his close family as Nichola, Shamus, Brandon, Callum and Lilly, and says relatives are hoping to ease the financial burden while giving Rhyan the send-off he deserves.

It states: “Rhyan deserves a celebration of his short life.”

Johnston FC said it had been a difficult week for all those who knew and loved him, but said it had also been heartwarming to see such an outpouring of love at the match.

The club thanked everyone who helped make the tribute possible, along with those who had sent messages of support and donated towards helping the family.

Photographs shared after the game showed the scale of the moment, with both sides lined up in silence and the orange number ten shirt left covered in handwritten tributes.

For many in attendance, it was a powerful and deeply personal farewell to a young man clearly held in enormous affection.

A GoFundMe appeal has now been launched to support the Nolan family.

Crime

Neyland man spared immediate jail over aggravated vehicle taking

Published

1 hour ago

April 5, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant given a suspended prison sentence after magistrates heard the offence was serious enough to cross the custody threshold

KRISTIAN DAVIES, aged 35, of Rock Cottages, Neyland, pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court to aggravated vehicle taking.

The court heard that on January 26, 2026, at Narberth, Davies took a Ford Focus without the consent of the owner or other lawful authority. The vehicle was damaged before it was recovered, with the damage assessed at less than £5,000.

Magistrates sentenced Davies on Tuesday (Mar 31) to 18 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

The bench said the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified, citing Davies’ relevant previous convictions and the fact he was already subject to a court order at the time, which he is now in breach of.

However, the prison term was suspended because the court found there were real prospects of rehabilitation in the community.

Davies was also made subject to an 18-month supervision requirement, a non-residential drug rehabilitation requirement with reviews, and up to 15 days of rehabilitation activity.

As part of the order, he must engage with Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service and provide samples for a 12-month period.

He was also banned from driving for 24 months.

The first review hearing is due to take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on April 27 at 10:00am. Bail conditions were cancelled as a matter of urgency.