Community
Milford Haven: Two bowling club members given life bans
TWO members of Milford Haven Bowling Club, among the best players at the local green, have been suspended and subsequently received life bans from the Club’s management committee.
The trouble started for Heather Griffin, 59, and her friend Jimmy McSparron, 68, when Jimmy asked the organisers ofa friendly away game if Heather could bring her Jack Russell Terrier, who suffers from diabetes, on the bus journey.
The coach trip, scheduled for June 2, was organised by the club, but operated by Narberth Travel.
The club told Jimmy that they would find out from the operator if the dog was allowed on board.
A short time later, the club said that the dog was not allowed to travel. A curious Heather contacted Narberth Travel with a general enquiry about whether dogs were allowed on the bus journeys. She was told they were.
Believing she had been misled, Heather wrote a letter of complaint to the Bowls Club Committee. Her letter was supported by a further letter from Mr McSparron.
Both were horrified by the Club’s response. Instead of responding to the complaint, the Club told them they were suspended until further notice.
The letter sent to Heather included a section of the Club’s constitution dealing with disciplinary behaviour and she drew the inference that action against her would follow.
Confused and upset, Heather wrote a further letter and hand-delivered it to the management committee meeting on Tuesday, June 11.
Arriving just before the meeting started, Heather was asked to wait outside before entering the meeting. Mr McSparron accompanied her.
After a brief adjournment, Heather and Jimmy were called in front of the committee and told that the letter had been considered and that a formal reply would follow.
According to the pair Club Secretary, Adrian Lewis called Heather a ‘stupid bitch’.
On being asked to repeat his remark, Mr Lewis did and, according to both Mr McSparron and Ms Griffin, added, “I have resigned anyway – and you’ll get what’s coming to you.”
As the pair left the meeting, at the request of the Club Chair, they say another committee member approached them and a further verbal altercation took place.
After getting home Heather called the police and reported Mr Lewis’ remarks.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police has confirmed to The Pembrokeshire Herald: “We received a report of a dispute at the bowling club and spoke to two men [at the police station].
“Words of advice have been given.”
Milford Haven Bowling Club was asked to comment but only confirmed that two members had been banned for “a breach of the rules”.
Speaking on Wednesday, Heather Griffin said: “I feel totally demoralised and upset. I do not even know why I was banned as my last letter and email have been ignored.
“I now am in contact with the Welsh Women’s Bowling Association.”
Jimmy McSparron said: “I feel totally dumbfounded by the situation By supporting Heather, I have had a life ban. If you cannot support a fellow bowler, then something is radically wrong.
“It has been one-sided throughout.
“This is unfair, and we are both hoping that this will not affect our choosing a new club in the future as we are both avid players.”
- Mike Burgoyne from the club requested to comment further after reading this story in our print edition and said: “The information you have been given does not state all the facts only snippets that can be misconstrued.”Members of the club attended an EGM to discuss the banning of the two members concerned and gave full backing to the committee in their handling of this situation and the resulting bans. Milford Bowling Club now considers this matter closed.”
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)
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.
Community
Restoration of a pond hopes to support biodiversity in Pembrokeshire
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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