News

Governors show their quality

Published

12 years ago

October 28, 2013

A PEMBROKESHIRE school’s governing body is celebrating achieving a key award.
Pembroke School’s Governing Body has become the first in the county to be awarded the Governors Wales Quality Mark Bronze Award.
Supported by the Welsh Government, the award recognises good practice and procedures in the support a Governing Body provides to the management of its school.
Councillor Ken Rowlands, Cabinet Member for Education, said the role of governors was crucial for schools.
“By achieving this award Pembroke School’s governors have shown their commitment and dedication to their role,” he said.
“If governing bodies have the right procedures and processes in place then their contribution and influence can make a real difference to the leadership and management of schools – and in raising standards.”
To complete the award governors have to submit evidence about the way they work and successfully meet a minimum of 43 criteria from a total of nearly 50 measures of effectiveness.
Chair of Governors, Stuart Walder said it had been an exceptionally useful exercise.“It showed that although we met best practice for many criteria there were a number of areas, where we could improve our support for the school,” he said.
“Although we were only half-way through the award process in December last year, Estyn inspectors recognised the robust challenge provided by the governing body as being a factor in good prospects for future improvement by the school.
“Since then, and having completed the Bronze Award, I am confident we are even better placed to support the development of the school – and particularly the implementation of the Pembroke Learning Campus proposed by Pembrokeshire County Council.”

Caption
Stuart Walder (centre) is pictured along with Councillor Ken Rowlands, (left) and Councillor Arwyn Williams, Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council and also a Pembroke School Governor.

Crime

Drink drive allegation denied

Published

9 minutes ago

February 18, 2026

Tamsin Mathias

Trial date fixed by magistrates

A MOTORIST has denied a drink-driving allegation when the case came before magistrates.

Michael Miles, 39, of Milford Road, Johnston, Haverfordwest, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court charged with driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that on January 24, 2026, it is alleged that Miles drove a Ford Transit on the A477 at Jordanston after consuming so much alcohol, that the proportion in his breath was 52 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35.

Miles entered a not guilty plea on February 10, 2026.

The matter was adjourned for trial on May 21 at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court. He was remanded on unconditional bail.

Crime

Repeat drug-driver banned for three years after Pembroke stop

Published

9 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist was over legal limits for both cannabis and cocaine metabolite, court hears

A 35-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire motorist has been disqualified from driving after being caught behind the wheel while over the legal drug-drive limit.

Police received information on November 11 that David Webb had been driving a Kia Sorento along Buttermilk Lane, Pembroke, after taking drugs.

When stopped by officers, Webb admitted he had smoked cannabis the previous night. A roadside drug swipe tested positive, and subsequent blood analysis at the police station revealed 101 micrograms of benzoylecgonine — a cocaine metabolite — per litre of blood, along with 2.3 micrograms of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The legal limits are 50 and 2 micrograms respectively.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this was Webb’s second drug-driving conviction, following a previous offence in October 2023.

Webb, of Strongbow Walk, Pembroke, was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order requiring him to complete 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Driver banned after refusing breath test despite admitting drinking

Published

9 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist also damaged police cell blanket after arrest, court hears

A PEMBROKESHIRE motorist has been banned from the roads after repeatedly refusing to provide a breath sample despite admitting he had been drinking alcohol.

Police were called to Glenview Avenue, Pembroke Dock, on the evening of January 3 following a report from a member of the public who was concerned about a man sitting in a car who appeared to be under the influence.

Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court that officers found the man, later identified as Sean Cook, appearing intoxicated while sitting in the vehicle.

“He appeared to be intoxicated and said he was listening to the radio,” she said.

Cook told officers he was not fit to drive because he had consumed alcohol. He was asked on three separate occasions to provide a breath test but refused each time.

The court heard he was obstructive throughout the encounter and refused to answer questions about his alcohol consumption.

Following his arrest, Cook was taken to Haverfordwest Police Station where he damaged a custody cell blanket by pulling out its stitching.

Cook, aged 58, of Glenview House, Glenview Avenue, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and causing criminal damage.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, which includes 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and a 120-day Alcohol Abstinence Monitoring Requirement.