News
Town Council makes history
THE NEW mayor of Milford Haven is set to become the town’s youngest ever mayor. Cllr William Elliot is due to take the reins from Cllr Stephen Joseph in May.
The new deputy mayor will be Cllr Colin Sharp.
In another first for the town, Milford Haven will have the first town council with an openly gay mayor and deputy mayor.
28-year-old William Elliott, who is currently deputy mayor, was elected for the position on Monday (Apr 25) by fellow councillors to succeed the current mayor, Cllr Stephen Joseph.
Cllr Elliott is a qualified primary school teacher, and teaches children at Manorbier and Milford Haven Junior School. He also leads the town’s cadet group.
He said that it was a huge achievement for him, and felt honoured to have been elected for the position. Cllr Elliott also thanked fellow councillors and voters for getting to this point in local history, showing Milford Haven is open and accepting of anyone, regardless of religion, race, gender or sexuality.
Cllr Colin Sharp narrowly beat Cllr Carol Stevens by one vote to get the position of deputy mayor (7 votes to 6).
Cllr Sharp has been involved with a huge amount of local charities since he moved to the area nine years ago, including the Business Circle and Pembrokeshire Action To Combat Hardship (PATCH).
Cllr Sharp helped save Pill Social Centre from closure and is still involved in the running of the hall. He also governs the Meads School and Milford Haven Junior School, is the chairman of Milford Haven Museum, and organises Milford Haven’s annual Christmas Together with his husband, Cllr Guy Woodham.
Speaking to The Herald after the council meeting on Monday (Apr 25), Cllr Sharp said: “I am delighted to have been elected as Deputy Mayor in the coming year.
“I will endeavour to support the new Mayor Elect in his duties, and am proud to be representing a town I’m very proud to call my home.”
Cllr Sharp also spoke of how Milford Haven has seen many “firsts”, having elected Milford Haven’s youngest mayor, and first openly gay mayor and deputy.
He said: “Guy was the first openly gay mayor, and now we will have both!”
He finished, by stating he feels honoured having been backed by fellow councillors, and guaranteed he will not let them down.
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.
Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.
The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.
Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.
Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.
(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.
The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.
The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.
A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”
Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.
From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.
Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend
ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.
In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”
Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.
Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.
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