News

Angle RNLI 110-mile round trip for search and recovery of missing yacht

Published

3 years ago

July 6, 2023

ON THURSDAY (Jun 29), the Angle All-Weather Lifeboat embarked on a demanding mission, coordinated by Milford Haven Coastguard, to aid in the search and recovery of the missing yacht ‘Minke.’ The vessel had been overdue for six days, prompting an Irish fishing vessel to report its discovery. The yacht’s approximate location was identified as around 50 miles southwest of St Anne’s Head.

Following a distress call to the coastguard, the lifeboat was swiftly launched and set off towards the designated area, anticipating a two-hour journey. En route, an Irish coastguard helicopter, Rescue 117, reached the scene and deployed a winchman who confirmed the absence of anyone aboard the yacht. The fishing vessel that initially located the yacht remained in the vicinity as well.

At 6:10 pm, the lifeboat arrived at the scene, at which point Falmouth Coastguard took over coordination. The crew members were requested to transfer onto the yacht to investigate any possible information that could shed light on the occupant’s last known position.

At this juncture, R117 departed the scene, making way for Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R924 from Newquay, Cornwall. Given the extensive search area, a coastguard search plane, Rescue 51, was also deployed and promptly arrived, followed shortly after by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R187 from St Athan.

With the Angle crew members now on board the yacht, new information emerged regarding the occupant’s last recorded position. As the lifeboat was out of VHF range, the information was relayed to Falmouth Coastguard via Rescue 51. Armed with this updated data, all search assets were stood down, as the search area had shifted significantly south.

Subsequently, Padstow Lifeboat was assigned the task of towing the yacht back to Padstow harbour. The Angle Lifeboat crew established the towline connection and began towing the vessel southward towards the rendezvous point with the Padstow Lifeboat.

After approximately an hour of towing, Padstow Lifeboat reached the scene. The Angle crew members released the towline and assisted the Padstow crew in securing their own towline to the yacht. Once confirmed that the tow was safely rigged, the Angle crew was recovered from the vessel and stood by momentarily.

With the towline and fenders stowed, the Angle Lifeboat commenced the two-hour return journey to Angle, where it was recovered, refuelled, and made ready for further service by midnight.

A heartfelt expression of gratitude goes to Milford Haven and Falmouth Coastguard MRCC’s, R117 from Ireland, R924 from Newquay, R187 from St Athan, Fixed-wing aircraft R51, Padstow Lifeboat, and the Irish fishing vessel. This remarkable operation exemplified the effective collaboration of multiple agencies working together seamlessly.

Crime

Man bailed after serious assault in Fishguard town centre

Published

37 minutes ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault in Fishguard that has left a man in hospital.

The incident happened on Main Street at around 11:00pm on Saturday (Mar 21), when the victim was reportedly punched, sustaining head injuries. He remains in hospital receiving treatment.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm (GBH) and has since been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Dyfed-Powys Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have information that could assist the investigation, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting reference: 26*227686.

Information can be provided online via the Dyfed-Powys Police website, by emailing [email protected], by calling 101, or by sending a direct message on social media.

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

News

Childcare funding boost announced in Wales

Published

1 hour ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Hourly rate to rise as costs increase

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has confirmed an increase in the hourly rate paid to childcare providers under its Childcare Offer, following a review of funding levels.

The Minister for Children and Social Care, DAWN BOWDEN MS, announced that the rate will rise to £6.67 per hour from April 6, 2026. The increase of 4.18% comes after feedback from childcare providers and sector data gathered during 2025.

The Welsh Government said the change is designed to help providers cope with rising costs, including increases to the National Living Wage.

The Herald understands the review drew on responses from the Childcare Offer’s Annual Survey, as well as information from Care Inspectorate Wales’ Self-Assessment of Service Statement (SASS).

The move follows a policy shift announced last year to review the rate annually, rather than every three years, in a bid to make funding more responsive to pressures facing the sector.

As part of the update, the maximum charge for meals will also increase by 4.18%, which ministers say is intended to balance affordability for both providers and parents.

Dawn Boden said the Welsh Government remains committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of childcare services, adding that officials will continue working with the sector to explore further improvements.

Health

Doctors say Wales is failing to value NHS staff over new pay award

Published

1 hour ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

BMA Cymru Wales accuses ministers of falling short on pay restoration as Welsh Government accepts DDRB recommendations for 2026-27

DOCTORS in Wales have accused the Welsh Government of failing to properly value NHS staff after ministers accepted this year’s independent pay recommendations for medical and dental professionals. The row centres on whether the award represents fair recognition for frontline staff — or yet another missed chance to reverse years of falling real-terms pay.

In a written statement published on Wednesday (Mar 25), Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said the Welsh Government had accepted the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body recommendations on headline pay for 2026-27. Under the decision, consultants, specialty and associate specialist doctors, resident doctors, dentists and locally employed doctors will receive a 3.5% consolidated uplift from April 1, 2026, while salaried dentists in Community Dental Services and the Public Dental Service will receive 3.75%.

But while the Welsh Government also said it accepted in principle a 3.5% uplift for contractor GPs and a 3.75% uplift to the pay element of dental contracts, ministers made clear that final decisions on how those increases are applied alongside wider contract changes would be left to the next government.

That has triggered an angry response from BMA Cymru Wales. In a press release issued on Wednesday, Dr Iona Collins, chair of the BMA’s Welsh Council, said ministers had “once again chosen to impose an award that falls short” of repeated promises to deliver full pay restoration for doctors employed by NHS Wales.

She said the award failed to reflect the “superhuman” efforts of doctors working under intense pressure and warned that inadequate pay would make it harder to retain staff in the Welsh NHS at a time when many are considering leaving for better pay and conditions elsewhere.

The BMA also raised concerns about general practice, saying GP pay had effectively been left hanging because the Cabinet Secretary linked the award to ongoing General Medical Services contract discussions with the incoming administration. The union said this left general practice “out in the cold” compared with other branches of the profession and called for urgent talks.

The Welsh Government said the award would apply from April 1 and added that wider DDRB recommendations not directly related to headline pay would be considered separately with partners. Ministers thanked NHS staff for their “ongoing dedication and hard work”.

The dispute is likely to reignite the wider argument over recruitment, retention and morale in NHS Wales, with doctors’ leaders insisting that pay restoration is no longer simply about reward, but about preventing more clinicians from walking away from the service.