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Wales Air Ambulance unveils the newest additions to its fleet

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THE WALES Air Ambulance Charity has today unveiled its new aircraft, which has been named by the people of Wales, and its new Rapid Response Vehicles.

The lifesaving service, funded through charitable donations, funds a fleet of rapid response vehicles and aircraft. They are equipped with some of the most advanced medical equipment in the world which enables the medical crew to deliver emergency department treatments at the scene of an emergency.

In 2022, the Charity underwent a rebrand and today the public gets a glimpse of a new aircraft which carries the new design. During the summer, Charity supporters were given the opportunity to name the helicopter. They took part in an online vote to choose their preferred aircraft registration from a list of five options. The clear winner was G-LOYW, which means bright or shining in Welsh.

Earlier this year, Wales Air Ambulance announced that Gama Aviation Plc had successfully bid for a seven-year aviation contract, which covers the operation and maintenance of a primary fleet of four Airbus H145 helicopters. Currently, the service has three H145 helicopters and one smaller H135 helicopter. As part of the new contract, the H135 aircraft will be upgraded to a H145, giving the Charity a consistent fleet of advanced helicopters to deliver Wales’ vital air ambulance service.

The Charity is also updating its fleet of rapid response vehicles, with the recent introduction of two Volvo CX90s. This allowed for the new branding to be introduced onto these vehicles alongside the aircraft.

The whole design process was delivered in-house by the Charity’s Communication Team, co-managed by Lauren Berry, Creative Digital Designer and Laura Slate, Communications and Engagement Manager.

Laura said: “Working on the livery for an aircraft and rapid response vehicle was something none of us had ever done before. It was a challenge for the Charity’s Communications Team but one we took great pride in. To have been able to complete the project in-house is a huge achievement for us, and we’re incredibly grateful to have been given this opportunity.”

Lauren added: “There were a lot of things to consider during the design phase, from identifying the best materials to use and understanding the legislation in place for both vehicles. Both vehicles presented challenges, but with the support of the Charity’s partners, we have been able to create something that we are proud of.”

The team collaborated with Charity partners, Gama Aviation and The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) throughout the process to ensure compliance with the safety guidelines.
Both the aircraft and rapid response vehicles maintain their strong Welsh identity, with a bold red colour and distinctive green dragon’s tail that matches the Charity’s new logo. The design also includes contour lines, which are green on the aircraft and yellow (high-vis material) on the RRVs. They are representative of the diverse geographical landscape of Wales, much like those on an Ordnance Survey map, and are symbolic of the different areas and communities that the Charity serves.

While the design was added to the aircraft by Gama Aviation, the new rapid response vehicles underwent a complete transformation to adapt them from standard road cars to emergency service vehicles. This was undertaken by a Welsh company, Polaris.

Dr Sue Barnes, Wales Air Ambulance Chief Executive, said: “Whenever we survey our supporters, the Charity’s strong Welsh identity is always highlighted as a source of pride. It’s important that the passion for our nation is visible through the vehicles that we use, both in terms of their design and the Welsh language registrations for our helicopters.

“Both the helicopters and cars are funded by the people of Wales, so it is incredibly important to us that they reflect the country and communities that we serve.”

Mark Smith, Managing Director Special Mission for Gama Aviation, said: “It has been great to work with the Charity to implement the evolution of their brand onto the helicopter and road vehicle fleet, allowing us to bring both design teams together to collaborate on how we can realise a 2D design on a 3D shape.

“For me, the change is also symbolic. The delivery of the helicopter in the new livery represents the commencement of an exciting new partnership between us, EMRTS and the Charity. Operations will commence in earnest shortly and we are looking forward to playing our part in the delivery of pre-hospital support to the people and communities of Wales.”

Mark Winter, EMRTS Operations Director, said: “Our response cars play a vital part in taking critical care to our patients, the new livery for the response vehicles has been worked through with our Charity colleagues following feedback from our communities.

“We are very pleased with the design and the collaborative spirit shown by all those involved.”

The air ambulance service in Wales is delivered via a unique Third Sector and Public Sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road. The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles. 

 

Entertainment

Dinosaur adventure stomps into Milford Haven

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A FAMILY dinosaur show 65 million years in the making is heading to Milford Haven this summer.

Dinosaur Adventure Live: Danger on T-Rex Mountain will headline the Torch Theatre on Thursday, July 30.

The interactive stage show promises storytelling, puppetry, humour and science as young audiences join a team of rangers on a mission to recover a data crystal, restore power to the island and save the dinosaurs.

Children will be encouraged to stomp, roar and swish their tails as they meet baby dinosaurs, learn “Dino-Facts” and come face-to-face with a roaring T-Rex.

Created by Mike Newman, the producer behind Exciting Science, the show is now in its fifth year and is aimed at families with children aged four and over.

The performance lasts one hour, with no interval, and there will be a meet-and-greet after the show.

Tickets are available from the Torch Theatre.

 

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Farming

Imported meat bill hits £5bn as Co-op calls for stronger backing for UK farmers

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RISING IMPORTS RAISE FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS

THE CO-OP has called for stronger government support for British farmers after new figures showed the UK’s imported meat bill rose to more than £5bn last year.

HMRC data obtained by the retailer shows the value of meat imported into the UK increased by 15 per cent year-on-year, from £4.33bn in 2024 to £5.06bn in 2025.

The Co-op said the figures raised fresh concerns about the resilience of Britain’s food system at a time of climate change, global conflict and disruption to international supply chains.

Poultry was the most imported protein, worth almost £2bn in 2025. Poland and the Netherlands accounted for the largest share, while poultry imports from Thailand rose by almost 50 per cent compared with the previous year.

The retailer, which says it sells and uses 100 per cent British meat and poultry, said the UK’s growing reliance on overseas supply chains left shoppers and farmers more exposed to global shocks.

It is now backing proposals from the Co-operative Party calling for agricultural co-operatives to be scaled up and better supported as part of the Government’s long-term farming plans.

The policy paper argues that farmer-owned co-operatives can help producers share costs, reduce risk, invest collectively and secure stronger bargaining power in the food supply chain.

There are currently estimated to be more than 500 agricultural co-operatives in the UK, generating income of more than £9bn.

Paul Gerrard, Director of Public Affairs and Campaigns at Co-op, said: “The issue of supply chain resilience is upon us now and there is a clear and demonstrable benefit to the co-operative business model in agriculture.

“An expansion of agricultural co-operation is both an economic opportunity and a political imperative: it directly addresses the need for a more secure and sustainable food system, one less exposed to the volatility of global markets and the instability in a rapidly changing world.”

Joe Fortune, Leader of the Co-operative Party, said co-operation was “a form of strategic resilience” and called on Government to help grow the sector.

The party’s proposals include clearer government guidance for farmers, stronger representation for co-operatives in policy-making, improved access to finance, support for producer organisations, and greater use of public procurement to back British farming.

 

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Community

Tenby phone signal crisis goes national as businesses warn of summer disruption

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TRADERS SAY CARD PAYMENTS, TAXIS AND VISITOR SAFETY ARE BEING HIT BY ‘DEAD ZONE’ COVERAGE

TENBY’S long-running mobile phone signal crisis has become a national story, with businesses and visitors warning that poor coverage is now affecting card payments, taxi bookings and the town’s reputation as a major tourist destination.

The seaside town, one of Wales’ best-known holiday hotspots, has been named as having the worst mobile network quality in the UK, with consumer group Which? reporting that users in the SA70 postcode experience a good connection only 54.3 per cent of the time.

The problem has been made worse by the decommissioning of a local phone mast earlier this year, affecting O2, Vodafone and Three customers.

The Herald has repeatedly reported concerns from residents, traders and visitors, including more than 500 complaints gathered through a public appeal by Around Tenby and Tenby Chamber of Trade & Tourism.

Businesses say the issue is no longer just an inconvenience, but a serious trading problem.

Taxi drivers have reported missing bookings because messages cannot be answered in the town centre, while shops and hospitality venues say customers are sometimes unable to pay by card.

One Tenby taxi driver told BBC Wales that the town had become a signal “dead zone”, adding that he had begun warning customers that some journeys may have to be cash-only because card machines cannot connect reliably.

Retailers have also warned that tourists who cannot make a payment often say they will “come back later” — but never do.

The issue is particularly acute as Tenby prepares for the summer season, when tens of thousands of visitors can be in and around the town on busy days.

Pembrokeshire’s visitor economy is worth hundreds of millions of pounds a year, and Tenby remains one of the county’s flagship destinations.

But visitors interviewed by the BBC said they had struggled to call taxis, check the weather or keep in touch with work while staying in the town.

Some said the lack of signal would make them think twice about returning.

Mobile operators have apologised and said work is ongoing to find a solution.

O2 said the issue was linked to a decommissioned local mast and that Vodafone, its infrastructure partner, was working to locate and install a replacement. Vodafone and Three said they were exploring temporary options while working on a longer-term fix.

EE, which was not involved in the removal of the mast, said it was looking at ways to improve connectivity in Tenby and the wider area, including upgrades at an existing mast site in Penally.

Local MP Henry Tufnell has already written to telecoms operators demanding answers, after being told that the removal of the Slippery Back Lane mast had left parts of Tenby with very limited mobile signal.

Campaigners say the pressure is now on for a temporary fix before the height of the tourism season, rather than waiting months or years for a permanent replacement.

The Herald understands traders are continuing to gather evidence from residents, visitors and businesses to present to mobile networks.

For many in Tenby, the message is simple: a town that helps sell Wales to the world should not be left struggling to make a phone call.

 

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