Teenagers rescued from rocks as late-night tide trap sparks call-out

ANGLE lifeboat crew have responded to two emergency shouts this week, including a late-night rescue of three teenagers cut off by the tide.

Volunteers from RNLI Angle Lifeboat Station were first tasked at 6:23pm on Tuesday (Feb 10) to assist in the search for a missing surfer at Broughton Bay, on the Gower.

With Burry Port Lifeboat Station inshore lifeboats also responding and other all-weather lifeboats in the area unavailable, Angle’s crew began mustering for immediate launch.

However, the shout was cancelled before the lifeboat launched after the surfer was located safe and well.

Just two days earlier, at 11:24pm on Monday (Feb 8), the crew had launched to reports of three teenagers stranded between Hakin Point and Conduit Beach after becoming cut off by the incoming tide.

The lifeboat quickly located the group on rocks made slippery and hazardous by heavy rain. Unable to climb to safety, the teenagers were stranded as the tide rose around them.

The crew deployed the station’s inflatable Y-boat, allowing rescuers to reach the casualties and transfer them safely back to the all-weather lifeboat.

They were then brought a short distance into the marina and handed into the care of family members, alongside HM Coastguard Dale Coastguard Rescue Team and police.

With no further assistance required, the crew stood down and the lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service again by 1:00am.

RNLI volunteers are reminding the public to check tide times and sea conditions before heading onto the coast, particularly during the winter months when weather and visibility can deteriorate quickly.

A SPECIAL afternoon celebrating Wales’ rich tradition of hymn singing and sacred music will take place at Canolfan Bethlehem on Sunday (Feb 15) at 3:00pm.

Organisers say the event, titled Caniadaeth y Cysegr, will honour a musical heritage that has shaped Welsh life for generations. Hymn singing has long echoed beyond chapels and churches, heard on rugby terraces, at community gatherings and in village halls – a living tradition woven into the fabric of Welsh identity.

Central to that tradition is the Cymanfa Ganu, the much-loved hymn festival which has played a vital role across Wales, particularly in north Pembrokeshire. While attendance has declined in recent decades, supporters say the spirit of congregational singing remains strong and deserves renewed celebration.

The afternoon will feature a talk by broadcaster and academic Ceri Wyn Richards, who will explore the poets, composers and musicians from Pembrokeshire whose work has made a lasting contribution to Welsh hymnody and sacred song.

During her distinguished career in television and radio, Richards produced Caniadaeth y Cysegr, the BBC’s longest-running religious programme, first aired in 1942 and widely regarded as the forerunner to Songs of Praise. Before retiring, she undertook an ambitious nationwide project to record every hymn in the Welsh hymn book with chapels, choirs and musicians throughout the country.

The event will also explore the strong links between hymn writing and places such as St Davids and Blaenwern, while reflecting on the legacy of influential figures including W. Rhys Nicholas, Waldo Williams and Eirwyn George. Organisers will also highlight the surprising connections between traditional hymn tunes and modern popular music.

A simultaneous translation service will be available, and the event is open to all.

Organisers added: “Everyone is welcome to join us for an afternoon of song, history and community as we celebrate one of Wales’ most treasured cultural traditions.”

Youth-led ‘Think Outside the Block’ toolkit rolled out to secondary schools across Pembrokeshire

A wNEW mental health and wellbeing resource designed by young people for young people has been launched in Pembrokeshire to mark Children’s Mental Health Week.

The county’s Children and Young People’s Rights Office (CYPRO) has unveiled Think Outside the Block – an interactive booklet and game aimed at helping pupils better understand emotional health and feel more confident talking about it.

The resource, launched this week (Feb 9–15), encourages open discussion, challenges common misconceptions and builds awareness around issues including anxiety, self-esteem, neurodiversity and general wellbeing.

Importantly, the project has been created by members of the Pembrokeshire Youth Assembly, working alongside CYPRO and the Primary Mental Health and School In-Reach teams.

The idea grew out of the county-wide “What Matters to You?” consultation, where young people identified mental health and emotional wellbeing as one of their top concerns. Participants said terms linked to mental health and neurodiversity are often used without clear understanding, which can create confusion and stigma.

Think Outside the Block aims to tackle that by using accessible language and interactive activities to help children explore key topics and develop the vocabulary they need to speak openly about how they feel.

Over the coming days, CYPRO will distribute the resource to secondary schools across the county. Staff will be able to use it in classrooms, youth settings and dedicated wellbeing sessions.

A spokesperson for CYPRO said: “This project has been led by young people, for young people. Their voices and experiences have shaped every part of this resource.

“We are delighted to share it with schools across the county and support meaningful conversations about mental health, emotional health and wellbeing.”

The Youth Assembly continues to play a central role in representing the views of young people locally, with this latest initiative described as a strong example of co-production in action..

Picture: Members of the Youth Assembly launch the Think Outside the Block resource (Pic: Supplied).