Community

Trecadwgan farm to be sold by auction

Published

6 years ago

February 12, 2020

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has decided to sell Trecadwgan Farm by way of public auction.
The Council’s decision has been made in order to bring the sale process to a conclusion and give interested parties a fair and transparent opportunity to purchase Trecadwgan Farm.

The property was originally placed with a local agent for sale by way of public auction in July 2019 after the Council’s Cabinet resolved to sell the Farm on the open market to create a significant capital receipt.
However, it was withdrawn from public auction at the request of the community group known as ‘Save Trecadwgan Farm’ to give them an opportunity to prepare a business plan and seek finance in order to purchase the same on the open market.

Due to the interest shown in the Farm and the offers being made by interested parties, the Council decided that having withdrawn the property from public auction, to conduct the sale by way of private treaty.

Offers were made via the Council’s agent who undertook a standard sales process up to the set date whereby any party who made an offer were advised whether or not the offer made was the highest received.

As part of the process a local charitable foundation made the highest offer by the specified date to purchase the Property and accordingly the Council issued the draft documentation to their solicitors.

It is understood that the foundation had agreed to allow the local community group to use the Farm.

Notwithstanding that the terms and conditions of the transaction were disclosed to all interested parties in the particulars of sale, the foundation would not accept the contract conditions and subsequently withdrew their offer.

Having taken the advice of its agent, the Council agreed that the parties who made unsuccessful offers should be contacted to confirm whether they were still interested and if so to confirm the value of their offer.

At this time a third party who had not been part of the original offer process made the highest offer which again was accepted by the Council subject to contract.

Although the third party was not a party approached by the Council’s agent, as the third party had not previously made a bid, the offer was accepted on the basis of the Council’s duty under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 to obtain the best consideration which can reasonably be obtained. It is understood that the third party also intended to allow the Community group to occupy the Farm although the terms and conditions are unknown to the Council.

However, the statutory duty and supporting case law relevant to the sale of property by local authorities indicates that the Council has a duty to give consideration to any offer made to the Council.

The Council has now received a number of further higher offers to purchase the Farm.

“Having originally taken the property out of the auction at the request of the Community Group, the Council has, due to the statutory provisions found itself in a difficult and time consuming sales process,” said Cllr Bob Kilmister, Cabinet Member for Finance.

“Therefore to ensure that the sale process can be brought to a conclusion and ensure that all interested parties are given a fair and transparent opportunity to purchase the Farm, the Council has decided to sell the Farm by way of a public auction.”

Cllr Kilmister went on to explain that it is sound practice that local authorities should dispose of surplus land wherever possible.

“Generally it is expected that land should be sold for the best consideration reasonably obtainable,” he said.
“However, it is recognised that there may be circumstances where an authority considers it appropriate to dispose of land at an undervalue. Authorities should clearly not divest themselves of valuable public assets unless they are satisfied that the circumstances warrant such action.

“The General Disposal Consent (Wales) 2003 which enables the sale at an undervalue gives local authorities autonomy to carry out their statutory duties and functions, and to fulfil such other objectives as they consider to be necessary or desirable. However, when disposing of land at an undervalue, authorities must remain aware of the need to fulfil their fiduciary duty in a way which is accountable to local people.

“The Council has not resolved to use the general consent in this matter on the basis that the Farm will create a substantial capital receipt which is essential given the severe financial pressures the Council is presently facing.”

Charity

Voices at the Castle hailed a huge success for Paul Sartori Foundation

Published

7 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A MEMORABLE evening of music, warmth and community spirit filled Pembroke Castle as Voices at the Castle was hailed a huge success.

The event, held on Saturday (Jun 13), brought together local performers, an international star and a strong audience in one of Pembrokeshire’s most iconic settings, all in support of the Paul Sartori Foundation.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the historic castle, the evening offered an uplifting celebration of live music and charity. Organisers said the relaxed atmosphere, sunny setting and quality of performances helped make it a night to remember.

The event opened with Pembrokeshire Pop Voices, who entertained the audience with an upbeat set including their charity single Love the Bones of You.

They were followed by Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir, who delivered a rousing selection of classic male voice choir favourites, with many in the audience joining in.

The Paul Sartori Community Choir also impressed in one of its first outdoor performances, with a confident and spirited set which included a standout rendition of an ELO classic.

Bella Voce added to the occasion with a varied programme of melodic songs, their harmonies carrying beautifully around the castle walls.

Headline act Russell Watson brought the evening to a powerful close, captivating the crowd with his humour, warmth and remarkable voice.

His set included a mixture of classical and contemporary songs, with the audience joining him for a singalong of Volare before dancing along as the evening built to its finale.

He ended the night with a moving dedication to Paul Sartori staff, performing Someone to Remember Me.

Organisers also praised compere Rod Haynes, whose warmth, humour and natural stage presence helped the event run smoothly and created a welcoming atmosphere for all.

The charity said it remained extremely disappointed that Rock the Ramparts, due to take place on the Friday evening, could not go ahead.

High winds meant it was not possible to safely install the stage roof and associated sound equipment, forcing the cancellation of the event on health and safety grounds.

The charity thanked the bands The Candy Skulls, The Cleddau Kings, Milly and The Bandits, and Saltwater for their understanding, generosity and the time they had put into rehearsing and preparing.

Thanks were also given to the staging and lighting teams, who worked throughout the day in an effort to make the event happen despite the challenging conditions.

Special thanks were extended to staff at Pembroke Castle for their continued support and for providing the setting, as well as Wayne and the team at EPS, Magnum Sound, Bluesky Marquees, Merts Medical, Elite Security, Joshua Bennet and David Halsted for their contributions to food and drink provision.

The charity also thanked Ian Richards for photographing the event on behalf of Paul Sartori.

A spokesperson said Voices at the Castle stood as a testament to what could be achieved through collaboration, dedication and a shared love of live music, adding that organisers hoped the night would live long in the memory of those who attended.

The Paul Sartori Foundation, which operates as Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, provides end-of-life care and support for people with life-limiting illnesses across Pembrokeshire.

The charity says it is keen to dispel the belief that it is only a cancer charity, with almost a third of those it supports having a non-cancer diagnosis.

It operates an open referral system, with referrals coming from patients, family members, friends, district nurses, palliative care specialists and hospital staff.

The foundation was established in memory of Father Paul Sartori, a much-loved local priest who recognised the need for hospice care before his death from cancer at the age of 39.

Photo caption: Jon Williams from Pembroke Castle with Laura Hugman, CEO of the Paul Sartori Foundation, team members and headline act Russell Watson.

Community

Swiss granddaughter returns to Pembroke Dock to honour wartime heroine

Published

8 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SWISS woman has returned to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre to see a special display celebrating her grandmother’s remarkable wartime work helping Allied servicemen who escaped into neutral Switzerland.

Therese Burckhardt, from Zurich, is the granddaughter of Mrs Beryl Schaerer Morse, a former Pembroke Dock woman who was awarded the King’s Medal in 1952 for her service during the Second World War.

The rare medal, one of only around 2,500 awarded, is now on display at the Heritage Centre alongside photographs, family records and an information panel telling Mrs Schaerer Morse’s story.

Beryl Schaerer Morse was born in Pembroke Dock in 1887, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Thomas Harrison Morse, who lived in Pembroke Dock and later Tenby.

After marrying a Swiss banker in 1913, she settled in Switzerland for the rest of her life, but always regarded Pembrokeshire as home. She returned for many summers to the family’s house in Tenby, which her grandparents had built in the 1930s.

During the Second World War, Mrs Schaerer Morse led an organisation assisting Allied servicemen who had escaped into neutral Switzerland. Her work was later recognised with the award of the King’s Medal.

Therese first visited the Heritage Centre last summer with childhood friend Penny Tighe, of Pembroke, bringing the medal and family records with her. She has now returned with further documents and family photographs to add to the centre’s archive.

Joining her again was Penny Tighe, along with Ruth Waddington, who now lives in the Tenby house where Therese spent many happy childhood holidays with her brother Roland, known affectionately to his grandmother as “Chips”.

Mrs Schaerer Morse died in 1967 and had expressly wished to be buried near her father at Llanion Cemetery, Pembroke Dock.

Therese said: “I am very pleased with how my grandmother’s medal and her story are displayed at the Heritage Centre, and also pleased to bring more records to add to the archive there.”

Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre is based at the Royal Dockyard Chapel and tells the story of the town’s maritime, aviation, military, social and community heritage.

Pembroke Dock was Wales’ only Royal Dockyard, a major garrison town, and during the Second World War was home to the largest flying boat station in the world.

The centre is currently open Monday to Friday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Therese Burckhardt shows the King’s Medal, awarded to her grandmother, to Ruth Waddington at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre (Pic: PDHC).

Community

Pirates take over Pembroke Dock maritime museum

Published

8 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

VOLUNTEERS at West Wales Maritime Museum were praised after another successful Pirates Party brought crowds to Pembroke Dock.

The family event was held at Hancock’s Yard, Front Street, on Saturday (Jun 20), with visitors enjoying a day of maritime-themed entertainment, stalls, refreshments and fancy dress.

The museum, run by the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society, hosted the event with the help of volunteers, with activities including a tombola, raffle, barbecue, face painting, children’s games and a prize for the best-dressed pirate.

There was also live entertainment from the Cantabile Singers and the Barti Waves.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was a musket firing display by the H.M.S Wales Re-enactment Group, which drew strong interest from those attending.

County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, was among those who visited the event.

He said it had been “a fantastic afternoon” and praised the volunteers who had worked hard to put on “another brilliant event”.

Cllr Grimes said: “There was plenty to see and enjoy, but my personal highlight had to be the musket firing display from the H.M.S Wales Re-enactment Group — a real crowd-pleaser with live firing.

“It was wonderful to see so many people coming along and supporting yet another successful event at the museum.”

He also thanked Peter Kraus and everyone involved for their dedication in bringing the event to life.

The West Wales Maritime Museum is based at the historic Hancock’s Yard and is run by volunteers who work to preserve Pembroke Dock’s maritime heritage.

The society restores and maintains classic boats, operates a museum of maritime artefacts and offers visitors a chance to learn more about the town’s long connection with the sea.

The museum has become an increasingly popular community venue, with events such as the Pirates Party helping to bring families into the town while celebrating Pembroke Dock’s seafaring past.