FIFTEEN young chess players put their skills to the test when Pembrokeshire Chess Club welcomed visitors from Castell Nedd to Steynton for their annual summer fixture.

The match, held on Tuesday, July 21, saw players compete across four rounds, with each given 20 minutes on the clock.

Despite the start of the school holidays, the Royal Welsh Show and several late absences, organisers were delighted with the turnout and the high standard of chess on display.

The games were closely contested, particularly on the leading boards, with several decided by only the smallest of margins. Coaches said one of the main lessons from the day was the importance of taking time to consider each move rather than rushing.

Castell Nedd’s Advik Ram produced an impressive unbeaten performance. Pembrokeshire’s Harry Harling held him to a draw in one game before narrowly losing a second encounter during a tightly fought endgame.

Aarush Ram and Jakob Josh-Wright also performed strongly for the visitors.

For Pembrokeshire, Henry Malone and Emily Thomas each secured three points. Jozef Othen and Osian Griffiths collected two-and-a-half points apiece, while Sebastian Kummer finished with two points.

Pembrokeshire Chess Club said it was encouraging to see the standard of play continuing to improve each year and thanked Castell Nedd for making the journey west, with special thanks to Hywel Griffiths for helping to organise the visit.

Home advantage once again proved important, although the club said the greatest benefit was the opportunity for every player to gain experience against new opponents.

Pembrokeshire also recently played a friendly against the newly reformed Narberth Chess Club, giving its adult and junior members an opportunity to compete against different players. A return visit to Steynton is now being planned.

Pembrokeshire Chess Club, which has changed its name during its history, recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its formation.

The club will resume its regular meetings ahead of the new season in September. It welcomes adults and juniors of all abilities, from complete beginners to players interested in friendly or competitive matches.

Anyone interested in joining can message the Pembrokeshire Chess Club Facebook page or contact Martin Jones on 07884 384131.

Pembrokeshire team: Harry Harling, Jozef Othen, Sebastian Kummer, Osian Griffiths, Emily Thomas and Henry Malone.

Castell Nedd team: Advik Ram, Aarush Ram, Jakob Josh-Wright, Virat Nagari, William O’Connor, Oscar Purcell, Ethan Tirukoti, Misha Nigari and Cae Aubrey.

Inspectors highlighted positive pupil behaviour, effective leadership and strong support for children, while identifying attendance, literacy and curriculum planning as areas for improvement

ROCH COMMUNITY SCHOOL has been praised as a safe, caring and supportive place for children following its latest inspection by Estyn.

The education watchdog said pupils feel valued, behave well and demonstrate positive attitudes towards their learning.

Inspectors described the Pembrokeshire school as a close and caring community where children are confident that adults will listen to them and provide help when needed.

Nearly all pupils were found to be polite and courteous towards staff and one another, helping to create a calm and purposeful atmosphere throughout the school.

The report also praised the quality of teaching, saying lessons are generally well paced and provide pupils with an appropriate level of challenge.

Teachers were found to offer constructive feedback which helps children understand what they have done well and how they can improve their work.

Pupils were also praised for working effectively with partners and in groups, while the school provides meaningful opportunities for children to take on leadership roles and contribute to decisions about school life.

Inspectors highlighted the support available for pupils with additional learning needs.

Targeted literacy programmes and the school’s recently introduced nurture provision were found to be having a positive effect on pupils’ confidence, wellbeing and social development.

The report also said pupils have a strong understanding of online safety and routinely apply safe practices when using computers and other digital devices.

Safeguarding arrangements and the management of the school site gave inspectors no cause for concern.

The school’s leadership also received positive recognition.

The headteacher, who took up the role in September 2024, was praised for working thoughtfully with staff to develop an enthusiastic and increasingly collaborative team.

Estyn said a growing number of staff are contributing effectively to school improvement and professional development.

Governors were described as committed and knowledgeable, with a clear understanding of the school’s strengths and the areas where further progress is required.

County councillor, parent and school governor Nick Neumann welcomed the findings.

He said: “A fantastic Estyn report and a real credit to everyone involved.

“As a governor, parent and county councillor, it’s wonderful to see Estyn recognise the caring ethos, strong teaching and positive attitudes that make Roch Community School such a special place.

“Huge congratulations to the pupils, staff and families. This reflects your hard work, commitment and community spirit.”

Cllr Neumann said the report demonstrated that Roch offered a thriving and supportive environment for children.

He added that the school would be delighted to welcome more pupils and families into its community.

There were 126 pupils on the school roll at the time of the inspection, compared with 144 when the school was previously inspected in 2023.

While the report was broadly positive, inspectors identified three areas where further improvement is required.

The school has been asked to ensure that pupils’ knowledge and skills develop more systematically as they progress through the curriculum.

Estyn also recommended improvements to the teaching of phonics and the opportunities provided for pupils to produce extended pieces of writing.

The third recommendation concerns persistent absence.

Although the school has appropriate systems for monitoring attendance, inspectors said the proportion of pupils who are persistently absent remains too high and has continued to increase.

The school’s overall attendance rate has remained above the Pembrokeshire and Wales averages, suggesting the concern relates to a smaller group of pupils who are missing significant periods of education.

Inspectors also raised concerns about the school’s financial position.

The report said Roch Community School had developed a significant budget deficit over recent years.

While senior leaders and governors were aware of the problem, an agreed plan to reduce the overspend had not been finalised at the time of the inspection.

The report also said some grant funding was not always being used purposefully enough to secure the greatest possible benefit for pupils.

Despite those concerns, the school has not been placed into an enhanced Estyn monitoring category.

It will now prepare an action plan setting out how it intends to respond to the inspection recommendations.

The latest findings indicate progress in several areas since the school’s previous inspection, particularly in relation to safeguarding, classroom challenge, leadership and the effectiveness of governors’ oversight.

Photo caption: Pupils, staff and supporters celebrate outside Roch Community School following the publication of its latest Estyn inspection report.

Residents, businesses and visitors are being urged to provide evidence after two High Street cash machines were removed, leaving the town with just one ATM.

A COMMUNITY campaign has been launched to restore convenient access to cash in Narberth following the removal of both cash machines from the town’s High Street.

Until recently, the busy Pembrokeshire market town had three ATMs. The closures this summer have left just one cash machine, located outside CK’s supermarket on Spring Gardens.

Cash can also be withdrawn over the counter at Narberth Post Office, but that service is limited to branch opening hours and is not the same as having an ATM available throughout the day, at weekends and on Bank Holidays.

Campaigners say the loss of the High Street machines is causing particular difficulties for older residents, people who do not use online banking, visitors and businesses that rely on customers being able to withdraw cash locally.

They have now launched an urgent survey to collect evidence before the limited window to challenge an access-to-cash assessment closes.

Three-hour journey for cash

Among those supporting the campaign is Narberth pensioner Terry Pitts, who is approaching his 90th birthday.

He said: “I prefer paying for things in cash, but the one cash machine we have left is often empty when I try to use it.

“A round trip from Narberth to Kilgetty can take up to three hours by bus, and it really takes it out of you at my age.”

LINK, the organisation responsible for assessing communities’ access to cash, has concluded that the approximately 7,000 adults living in the Narberth area have adequate access to alternative facilities.

These include banks in Haverfordwest, Post Offices in Narberth and surrounding communities, an ATM at the Co-op in Kilgetty and a cash machine at Folly Farm.

Campaigners argue that the assessment does not reflect the practical difficulties faced by residents who do not drive or cannot easily travel outside the town.

Folly Farm cashpoint included

The inclusion of the Folly Farm ATM has attracted particular criticism.

The cash machine is situated by the attraction’s gift shop, and campaigners say it is within the paid visitor area. Standard on-the-day adult admission to Folly Farm is £29.

Henry Tufnell, MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, said: “Paying £29 for a ticket to an attraction just to access a cashpoint is absurd.

“Local residents need free-to-use cashpoints restored to Narberth High Street.

“I will continue to engage with constituents, local businesses, the council, LINK and colleagues in Parliament to ensure better access to banking services right across our county.”

Concern for businesses

There are also fears that the loss of convenient cash access could damage Narberth’s independent businesses during the important summer tourism season.

Visitors who cannot withdraw money in the town centre may spend less, avoid businesses that prefer cash or leave Narberth to find another machine.

Traders can also face difficulties when paying cash takings into their accounts, particularly when nearby bank branches have closed and alternative services are only available during restricted hours.

A campaign spokesperson said: “We need to show clearly how these closures affect residents, businesses and visitors.

“Whether it means travelling further, struggling to withdraw cash or losing trade, we need to hear people’s experiences.

“The evidence collected through this survey will be used to challenge LINK’s decision. Every response counts.”

Narberth’s urban and rural county councillors, Marc Tierney and Elwyn Morse, are supporting the campaign.

They said: “We need strong evidence from local people and businesses to demonstrate why convenient access to cash still matters in Narberth.

“Every response will help build the case for better local cash services, so please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share it with others.”

Members of the Narberth Civic Week Committee and local businesses are also distributing campaign posters and encouraging people to respond.

The survey is open to residents, visitors, people who work in Narberth and anyone who runs or uses a local business.

It closes on Friday, August 7, and can be completed by scanning the QR code displayed on the campaign poster.

What cash access remains in Narberth?

• One public ATM outside CK’s supermarket, 7 Spring Gardens.
• Over-the-counter cash withdrawals at Narberth Post Office, 19 High Street, subject to opening hours and the customer’s bank.
• No remaining ATM on Narberth High Street.