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Pembrokeshire College appoints new Principal

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Pembrokeshire College Principal, Dr Barry Walters

PEMBROKESHIRE COLLEGE is pleased to announce Dr Barry Walters as its new Principal following a rigorous two-day selection process. Barry took up the role with immediate effect after a period as Interim Principal following the retirement of Sharron Lusher at the end of June last year. He takes over the helm at an exciting time for the College with plans in place for a £7 million development at the Merlins Bridge campus.

Following the appointment by the Corporation Board, the Chair of the Board, Caroline Oakley, commented: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Barry Walters as the new Principal of Pembrokeshire College. We are confident that Barry will continue to work to ensure that the learners of Pembrokeshire receive the best educational opportunities possible and to lead the College in its next stage of growth and development.”

With a PhD in Electrochemistry, Barry has undertaken research projects in universities in China and Sweden. Prior to joining Pembrokeshire College, he worked for Kingston University with his final role as Head of School of Business and Information Management. He joined Pembrokeshire College in 2000 as Head of Faculty for Business, progressed to the role of Assistant Principal in 2002 and Deputy Principal in 2011.

Barry has a broad range of experience in both further and higher education sectors and is a Director of the College University Skills Partnership with Swansea University and the Darwin Centre for Biology and Medicine and is Vice Chair of a Local Primary School Governing Body. He sits on a number of other boards including the City & Guilds National Advisory Panel for Wales, Pembrokeshire’s Public Services Board and the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership’s Provider Group.

Speaking after the announcement, Barry commented: “I am extremely proud to have been chosen to lead one of the best performing colleges in Wales. We have a strong Estyn profile for both further education and work-based learning and continue to put learners at the heart of everything that we do.“

“There are challenging times ahead for post-compulsory education and training but we have an outstanding team of staff who are committed to helping our learners to achieve the skills that will allow them to progress to higher levels of study or to employment. I am particularly keen to continue the partnership work with the local authority to ensure education in Pembrokeshire offers the best opportunities to the young people of the county. At the same time, we are committed to working alongside local employers to ensure that we are doing everything we can to support them to prosper and grow.”

 

Community

New town map unveiled in Fishguard

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A NEW town map has been installed in the heart of Fishguard to help residents and visitors discover more of what the area has to offer.

The map, created by Visit Fishguard & Goodwick’s in-house graphic designer, has been placed on the Abergwaun Hotel tunnel, near Offshore Surfwear’s new shop.

The group said it was “incredibly proud” of the finished result and thanked the building owner for allowing the map to be installed on the premises.

Visit Fishguard & Goodwick is now hoping to create a similar map for Goodwick and is asking for help from a centrally located building owner who may be willing to host it.

Anyone who can help, or knows of a suitable location, is being asked to get in touch with Visit Fishguard & Goodwick.

 

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Community

Tenby Summer Spectacular cancelled amid council row over harbour access

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Organisers say popular charity events cannot safely go ahead without clear powers to control crowds

TENBY ROUND TABLE has announced that this summer’s Tenby Summer Spectacular events have been cancelled until further notice amid a dispute with Pembrokeshire County Council over crowd control at the harbour.

The events, which were due to take place on Sunday, August 16 and Sunday, August 30, have been a major feature of Tenby’s summer calendar for decades, drawing large crowds to the harbour for entertainment, food, drink and fireworks.

In a statement, Tenby Round Table said the decision had been made “with enormous sadness” and claimed it had been forced on organisers because of unresolved issues over the safe management of pedestrian access.

The organisation said it needed the council’s Public Realm department to use statutory powers to temporarily restrict pedestrian access through the event area when capacity is reached.

Organisers said the matter had first been raised with the council in September 2025 and again formally in writing in May 2026.

They said volunteers had attended meetings, commissioned professional health and safety consultants and worked on Event Management Plans, but claimed the council had still not provided a clear answer.

Tenby Round Table said: “PCC’s Public Realm department has had nine months to answer one question on safe and controlled access to the harbour. It has not done so.”

The group also alleged that recent written responses from the council contained factual inaccuracies and misleading statements about the relevant legislation.

It added that the council’s legal advice was understood to be provisional and still under internal review.

The cancellation is currently described as provisional, with organisers giving the council a final deadline of June 25 to provide what they describe as a clear, accurate and legally grounded answer.

Tenby Round Table said that if this is provided, it will do everything possible to reinstate the events.

The group said the Summer Spectacular had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, sports teams, community groups and worthy individuals since it began.

It said the cancellation would be a devastating blow to those who benefit from the funds raised.

The statement added that organisers are still working with Dyfed-Powys Police and other relevant authorities ahead of a council licensing committee meeting in July, which is expected to consider whether the event licence should be renewed, amended or withdrawn.

The Herald has asked Pembrokeshire County Council for comment.

 

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Charity

Sea shanties and street food bring crowds to Cardigan RNLI festival

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SUNSHINE, sea shanties and street food helped draw hundreds of visitors to Cardigan RNLI Lifeboat Station on Saturday (Jun 20).

The station’s Sea Shanty and Street Food Festival brought together families, supporters and visitors from across the region for a day of maritime music, food and community spirit.

Traditional sea shanty groups performed throughout the event, with songs echoing around the lifeboat station, while street food vendors served a range of refreshments.

The event also gave visitors the chance to learn more about the lifesaving work carried out by the RNLI and its volunteer crews.

Cardigan RNLI thanked the performers, food vendors, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who helped make the day a success.

Bruce Harris, Launch Authority and event organiser, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people come together to support the station, enjoy the entertainment, and celebrate our maritime heritage.

“The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, and contributed to such a memorable event.”

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts.

The charity operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 146,700 lives.

 

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