From young recruit to respected veteran, Phil Lees-Griffiths leaves lasting legacy

A TENBY firefighter whose career has spanned almost four decades has been honoured on his retirement after 37 years of service with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Photographs shared to mark the occasion show Phil Lees-Griffiths’ remarkable journey from a young firefighter at the beginning of his career to a respected and experienced member of Tenby’s fire crew, reflecting nearly four decades of commitment to protecting local communities.

Tenby Town Council has paid tribute to Phil’s dedication, courage and professionalism, describing his retirement as the end of an era for the town’s emergency services.

Mayor of Tenby, Cllr Dai Morgan, said: “Today, we celebrate not just the retirement of a firefighter, but the remarkable career of a man who has devoted 37 years to protecting the people of Tenby and our surrounding communities.”

OFFICERS investigating an alleged sexual assault in Carmarthen are appealing for the public’s help to identify a person who may have information.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the incident happened in front of F.Hinds jewellers on Lammas Street at around 4pm on Tuesday, May 12.

Investigating officers have carried out a number of enquiries and are now asking for assistance in identifying the person pictured.

Police stressed that the person may have information that could help the investigation.

Anyone who is the person pictured, or who knows who they are, is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online at https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Quote reference: 26000377639

FAMILIES are being invited to the Torch Theatre this July for a lively bilingual production that uses music, storytelling and interactive performance to explore the importance of bees and other pollinators.

We Need Bees, an original production from Theatr na nÓg, has been created by award-winning Welsh playwright Katherine Chandler and introduces important environmental themes to young audiences in an engaging and accessible way.

The show will visit the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven on Saturday, July 11, with performances in both Welsh and English, thanks to support from the ScottishPower Foundation’s Art for Climate Fund.

Fun, energetic and thought-provoking, We Need Bees explores biodiversity loss, climate displacement and environmental responsibility through the fascinating world of insects. By focusing on the lives of bees and other pollinators, the production encourages children to think about empathy, resilience and the real-world impact of climate change.

Featuring striking oversized bee costumes and original songs, the show promises a memorable experience for school and community audiences alike.

Director Phylip Harries said: “It’s a privilege to be part of a production that shares such important messages with young audiences. Theatre is a brilliant way to entertain children while encouraging them to think about the world around them, and We Need Bees does exactly that.

“At Theatr na nÓg, we create productions that leave audiences smiling but also talking and thinking afterwards. Morgan, Catrin and Aled are fantastic storytellers who bring so much energy to the show. We’re delighted that the school tour has sold out, and I’d encourage families to come along to one of the public performances and enjoy it together.”

The production features original music by Barnaby Southgate and will be performed in both English and Welsh at selected venues.

We Need Bees first toured schools in 2012 before later being adapted as an online podcast during the Covid pandemic. It returned as an outdoor theatre production at Theatr Brycheiniog in 2021 as part of a Welsh Government pilot scheme encouraging audiences back to theatres.

Thanks to ScottishPower’s Art for Climate Fund, the show will tour schools across Wales, reaching more than 1,200 children, ahead of the arrival of its brand-new companion production, Bug Hotel, in 2027.

Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee of the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our time, and we know the arts have a unique power to make complex ideas accessible, emotional and impossible to ignore.

“Through our new Art for Climate Fund, we’re backing bold, imaginative projects that give young people hope, confidence and a real sense of agency. Theatr na nÓg, a worthy beneficiary of this new fund, shows how creativity can spark climate action in classrooms and communities across the UK, and we’re incredibly proud to support them as one of the first recipients of this new fund.”

The cast includes Morgan Llewelyn-Jones, whose theatre credits include The Trial of Elgan Jones for Theatr na nÓg and The Snow Queen at Sherman Theatre; recent musical theatre graduate Catrin Lewis; and Aled Herbert, who returns for his twelfth production with Theatr na nÓg. On screen, Aled was most recently seen in the popular television series Rownd a Rownd.

We Need Bees is suitable for families and children aged four and over.

The show can be seen at the Torch Theatre on Saturday, July 11, at 11:00am in Welsh and 2:00pm in English. Tickets are £10 and can be booked at torchtheatre.co.uk or through the Box Office on 01646 695267.