MS WARNS CLOSURES COULD DAMAGE RURAL COMMUNITIES

CLAIRE ARCHIBALD MS has urged Pembrokeshire councillors to protect village schools ahead of a key vote on the future of Ysgol Clydau and Manorbier Church in Wales School.

The Member of the Senedd for Ceredigion Penfro has written to councillors before today’s meeting, asking them to consider the wider impact that losing small rural schools could have on children, families and local communities.

Ms Archibald said village schools provided a type of education that was becoming increasingly rare, offering smaller, more familiar settings where children were well known by staff.

She visited Manorbier Church in Wales School on Friday, where she met staff and saw the school for herself.

Ms Archibald said: “Small village schools provide families with a type of education that is increasingly rare. They offer a more homely environment where children are well known by their teachers and where strong relationships exist between the school, families and the wider community.

“Not every child thrives in a large, busy setting. For some children, particularly those who struggle with anxiety or additional learning needs, a smaller school environment can make a real difference.”

During her visit to Manorbier, Ms Archibald said she was impressed by the care shown to pupils and the strong sense of community around the school.

She added: “These schools are not simply buildings where lessons take place. They are an important part of village life and often sit at the heart of their communities.”

In her letter to councillors, Ms Archibald said the decision was not only about buildings or numbers, but about whether different types of education were valued for different children.

She also pointed to the exceptional circumstances faced by Manorbier following the fire at the school, and said the community had already shown how strongly it valued the school through local support.

Ms Archibald warned that once rural schools close, they are very unlikely to reopen.

She said councillors should support deferral if they were not satisfied that every question had been answered and every alternative properly explored.

The future of Ysgol Clydau and Manorbier Church in Wales School is due to be decided by Pembrokeshire County Council today.

PEMBROKESHIRE Chess Club is celebrating a fantastic weekend after being crowned champions of the Welsh Chess Union Premier League Under-1850.

The club played its final match of the season today, beating Abergavenny to win the league outright.

Earlier in the season, Pembrokeshire recorded wins against Castell Nedd, North Cardiff and Morriston, as well as drawing with Cardiff Tigers.

Although the club previously won the competition online during the Covid period, this is its first over-the-board league title.

A club spokesperson said it was “great to represent the county against teams from across Wales” and congratulated all the players who registered for the competition.

Those involved were Ben Brewer, Martin Jones, Scott Hammett, Mark Paffard, Henry Burton, Huw Jones and Kevin Heady.

Following its recent AGM, the club has now decided to enter two teams in next year’s competition, giving more members, especially junior players, the chance to take part.

It was also a successful weekend for two of the club’s juniors, Jozef Othen and Harry Harling, who played with distinction in an invitation Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire match against Carmarthenshire on Saturday afternoon.

Jozef also competed in an online Megafinals event on Saturday morning, progressing to the Gigafinals.

The club will hold its first ever Junior Rapid Tournament on January 24, with more details to follow.

Pembrokeshire Chess Club also praised FIDE Master Alexis Harakis, who has been coaching and supporting juniors and senior members of the recently formed Fishguard Chess Club.

The club said his involvement would help raise standards and benefit chess across the county.

Pictured are today’s winning team: Ben, Martin, Scott and Mark.

Pembrokeshire Chess Club are the 2026 champions of the Welsh Chess Union Premier League Under-1850.

A CHARITY concert aimed at improving access to the coast for disabled people is set to take place at Dale Seafront later this month.

The event, called Music for Changing Places, will be held on Saturday, June 27, and will raise money for a new toilet and changing facility designed to help disabled people enjoy time on the water and at the beach.

Organisers say the project will support greater accessibility in Dale, helping more people enjoy watersports and the coastline through specialist facilities and equipment.

The afternoon and evening event will feature a range of live music acts, with free admission for visitors, although donations will be welcomed to support the cause.

Music will begin at 2:30pm with performances from the Music for Fun group, followed by the Cleddau Flutes at 3:45pm.

At 5:00pm, the Malva Ukrainian band will take to the stage, before the day concludes with folk music from the Varifolkals folk band at 6:15pm.

The fundraiser is linked to the Dale Changing Places project, which aims to create a specialist accessible toilet and changing facility for disabled visitors, helping ensure more people can enjoy Pembrokeshire’s coastline regardless of mobility needs.

The project also supports accessible water activities, with adapted equipment helping disabled users get onto the water safely.

Organisers are encouraging residents and visitors to attend, enjoy an afternoon of music by the sea, and support a cause designed to make Dale more inclusive for everyone.