News

Couple clock up 101 years volunteering

Published

10 years ago

June 4, 2014

THE BRITISH RED CROSS is marking national Volunteers’ Week, which runs from June 1 to 7, by thanking the hundreds of people who give their time and skills to the charity. This includes Pat and Roy Thomas, a married couple from St Davids, who between them have been volunteering with the charity for over 100 years. Roy joined the Red Cross in 1957 as a first aid volunteer and later became a trainer and assessor of first aid competencies and Pat joined in 1970, the year they were married, as a first aid volunteer and later as an assistant cadet officer. Over the years, the couple have spent countless hours providing first aid cover at many events across Wales and the UK. They are also part of emergency response team in Pembrokeshire. Pat and Roy have also worked alongside the Welsh Ambulance Service to set up a Community First Responder scheme in St Davids. The couple are on call to respond to emergency calls in their local area, providing crucial first aid before the ambulance arrives. Pat explains: “Both Roy and I are retired and have lots of first aid experience, so when we get a text come through – no matter what time – we are ready to help. We have dealt with lots of different situations and saved two people who were suffering cardiac arrests so the service really is invaluable.” Pat said: “Volunteering at the Red Cross has been a huge part of our life for a very long time. I also help arrange fundraising in the local area for all the fabulous services the Red Cross offers here in Pembrokeshire. I always find the local people incredibly generous. In fact, last month during Red Cross Week collections we raised over £1,000, so thank you to everyone who contributed.” The couple, who have both been awarded MBEs for their services, are also members of the Red Cross Volunteer Council and encourage other members of the community to support the work of the charity. Pat continued: “Volunteering is incredibly rewarding and I would definitely encourage anyone interested in doing something positive in their community to contact us. The training offered by the Red Cross is superb and you learn lots of new skills. You don’t need to give lots of time either; just a couple of hours a week can make a big difference to someone’s life. “Roy and I have enjoyed volunteering immensely. It has become such a huge part of our lives now. I never knew when I retired that I would be so busy.” The Red Cross offers a broad range of volunteering opportunities including health and social care, event first aid, patient transfer and retail. People are encouraged to learn more about the rewards of volunteering by calling the charity to discuss the opportunities. Those who wish to find out more about volunteering can call Cara Evans on 01239 615 945 or e mail [email protected].

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property

Published

12 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.

Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.

The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.

The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.

The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.

News

Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’

Published

12 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”

The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.

Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”

NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.

“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.

“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”

The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”

This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.

Community

Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed

Published

14 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.

The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.

Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.

Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.

The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.

With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.

“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”