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Narberth dad celebrates London Marathon triple crown

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Martin Bowen: Took part in the gruelling 26 mile run for Diabetes UK

Martin Bowen: Took part in the gruelling 26 mile run for Diabetes UK

MARTIN BOWEN crossed the finish line at this year’s London Marathon for Diabetes UK Cymru to help raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes.

This marks the third time that the 44 year old from Narberth has completed the marathon after being diagnosed with the condition 16 years ago. Martin previously ran the 2006 and 2009 London Marathons.

This time he completed the 26.2 mile race around some of London’s greatest landmarks in three hours and 55 minutes, beating his previous personal best by four minutes.

So far Martin has raised £1,100 for Diabetes UK but hopes further donations might help him to raise even more.

After crossing the line, he said: “I am so proud to have completed my third marathon and would like to thank everyone who has donated to my fundraising or helped me raise awareness of diabetes.

“The support from the crowd on the day is incredible, it is amazing to have people who didn’t know me shouting my name and offering words of support. It was really inspiring, and gave me the impetus to keep going through the pain.

“I’ve been living with Type 1 diabetes since I was first diagnosed in my late twenties and I’ve never let it stop me from achieving my goals. I want people to know that this is a serious condition but that with the right training and preparation you can still be active every single day. It doesn’t need to hold you back and completing the marathon is my way of showing this.”

He added: “Would I do it for a fourth time? Never say never.”

There are around 18,000 adults living with Type 1 diabetes in Wales. It isn’t known what causes the condition but it cannot be prevented and has nothing to do with being overweight.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children or younger people where the signs and symptoms are usually very obvious and develop very quickly, they include feeling tired, thirsty, losing weight and needing to urinate more often.

However, as in Martin’s case it can develop at any age so it is important to be aware of the symptoms.

Diabetes UK Cymru’s Director Dai Williams said: “We are so proud of Martin for taking on such a huge challenge for Team Diabetes UK and we send a huge congratulations and a massive thank you to him for putting in the months of training and dedication to support us.

“Martin’s achievement goes to show how much people living with a long-term condition can achieve with the right support. The money he is raising will help us to improve things for people living with diabetes, fund research and raise awareness of the condition by the time he signs up for a place in his fourth marathon.”

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Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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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)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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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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Community

Restoration of a pond hopes to support biodiversity in Pembrokeshire 

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AN OLD millpond at the heart of the Wallis and Ambleston community, and a site of Special Scientific Interest, has now been improved to benefit water quality and increase biodiversity in an area of South Wales, thanks to funding from Nestlé Waters UK. 

Wallis Pond was created in 1836 as part of the tributary of the Wester Cleddau River to supply water to a local mill. Back in 1978, it was restored and later re-opened by HRH King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales.  

Over the years, the pond had become completely silted up, restricting the waters passage and the pond’s ability to retain water, resulting in a reduced diversity of habitat in and around the millpond.  

Pembrokeshire County Council, Heavyside Landscapes and Nestlé Waters UK have come together to restore the millpond with regulatory guidance from Natural Resources Wales and support from the Ambleston Community Council. 

The project saw the pond re-dug and de-silted, and the old sluice gate replaced to re-establish the millpond. With the pond now able to hold more water, it is hoped to help build resilience to the increased frequency and intensity of storm events, alleviating the risk of flooding in the local area.   

Retention of flows in the pond for a longer time should help reduce silt build-up and prevent nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates from travelling downstream in the Cleddau catchment, helping to protect water quality, improve aquatic habitats, and encourage eels, otters, damselflies, and other wildlife species.  

Restoration of Wallis Pond is one of the projects that Nestlé Waters is working on as part of its efforts to help regenerate local water cycles and create a positive water impact everywhere the company operates. 

Matthew Faulkner, Factory Manager at the Nestlé Waters site in Princes Gate, said: “We are proud to be a part of the Wallis Pond restoration work, aimed at delivering long-lasting benefits in Pembrokeshire, where we bottle at source Princes Gate and Nestlé Pure Life waters. This beautiful landscape is not only our home, but also home to some incredible flora and fauna which are vital for keeping the area rich and thriving in biodiversity.  

“We’re working hard to protect this land and the water beneath our feet. Water is a shared resource and a shared responsibility, and caring for it takes the whole community. That’s why we’re grateful to be working with partners on this project that will hopefully have a positive impact on the local ecosystem and community.” 

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services at the Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “We welcome this funding to enhance the biodiversity in Wallis Pond which can be enjoyed by the residents of Ambleston, the wider communities in Pembrokeshire and the visitors to our fantastic county. 

“This is an excellent example of partnership working that has significant benefits for the environment and the wellbeing of generations to come.”  

Eirian Forrest, Clerk at the Ambleston Community Council, said: “We are grateful to Nestlé Waters UK for the funding and wish to thank everyone who has been involved in this project, especially the Pembrokeshire County Council team, for pushing the project forwards. 

“The Community Council are delighted that the work has finally been done and look forward to the positive impact it will have on biodiversity. We have already received many positive comments from members of the community. The improved pond encourages locals to take a walk around the area, as well as sit down to watch and enjoy the wildlife.”   

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