Community
Pembrokeshire care home worker scoops national award ceremony
A PEMBROKESHIRE service manager has been recognised for their outstanding contribution during the past year at the annual Shaw Star Awards 2023.
The 14th Shaw healthcare national awards ceremony took place at The Tortworth Court Hotel in Gloucestershire on Thursday 23 November and was hosted by Welsh singer, TV presenter and actor Wynne Evans, best known as the face of GoCompare, and the recently crowned winner of Celebrity MasterChef 2023.
Sarah Lees, a service manager at Pembroke Dock in Pembrokeshire, won the ‘Outstanding Management Contribution’ award after being nominated by staff members and residents’ families. The award – sponsored by Nexon Group – recognises and celebrates those within management roles who demonstrate a high level of expertise combined with exceptional leadership skills.
She was commended by colleagues for showing an unwavering commitment to her work and exceptional leadership skills, which has resulted in the care service having a healthy waiting list for people wanting the best care.
Ms Lees said: “It’s been really rewarding seeing Pembroke Dock develop positively in the time that I have been here. It’s been a brilliant team effort. To be recognised with this award for the work I do is wonderful.”
Her colleague, Laura Holbrook, was also a finalist in the ‘Rising Star’ category which recognises and celebrates team members who are new to Shaw but have made a positive impact on their team and residents in a short period of time.
The care home in Pembroke Dock provides rehabilitation and enablement for residents, many of whom have experienced extended periods of hospitalisation.
Ms Lees was one of eight award winners who were recognised at the event, which aims to celebrate the achievements of outstanding staff members across Shaw’s 60 UK facilities.
Russell Brown, CEO of Shaw healthcare, added: “The Shaw Star Awards are always the highlight of our calendar and this year’s event was no exception. The quality of submissions was terrific, and it was – as always – extremely hard to pick a winner from the incredibly talented pool of finalists.
“As an employee-owned company it is important that we celebrate the Shaw family, so I want to say a huge congratulations to Sarah, our other winners and also all the nominees – all of whom exemplify Shaw’s ethos of going above and beyond to provide the best possible care to our residents.”
As part of the event, the guests were treated to a powerful burst of song from Wynne Evans and also to music from rock and pop covers band, The Forgery, and a prize draw sponsored by Arjo.
Community
Steam car set to star at Pembroke Dock classic vehicle show
Classic and vintage vehicles will gather at Hancock’s Yard this Saturday for a free family event
A RARE steam-powered car will be among the star attractions when classic and vintage vehicles gather in Pembroke Dock this weekend.
The Classic and Vintage Car Show takes place at the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society’s historic boatyard at Hancock’s Yard, Front Street, on Saturday, July 18.
Running from 11:00am until 4:00pm, the event will give visitors the chance to admire a varied collection of carefully preserved vehicles and speak to the owners who keep them on the road.
Organiser Peter Kraus said there was particular excitement surrounding one highly unusual exhibit.
“We even have a steam car coming,” he said.
Steam cars were among the earliest mechanically powered road vehicles, using a boiler and steam engine rather than the petrol or diesel engines found in most classic cars.
The show will offer motoring enthusiasts a chance to take a closer look at vehicles from different periods of road transport history, while providing an enjoyable day out for families and visitors to Pembroke Dock.
The event is being held within the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society’s working boatyard, where volunteers preserve the area’s maritime history.
Visitors will also be able to explore the society’s museum, restoration workshops and collection of historic vessels and maritime artefacts.
Admission and parking are free, although donations to support the work of the volunteer-run society are welcomed.
The Classic and Vintage Car Show takes place at Hancock’s Yard, Front Street, Pembroke Dock, SA72 6JY, from 11:00am until 4:00pm on Saturday, July 18.
Community
Coastal path section hit by weekend landslide has now reopened
A SECTION of a south Pembrokeshire seaside coastal path, closed once again after a landslide at the weekend, has now reopened.
After a landslide on July 12, Dyfed-Powys Police reported delays on the footpath between Coppet Hall and Wiseman’s Bridge, advising people to use alternative routes where possible or allow extra time for their journey.
The section of the south Pembrokeshire beach-side coastal path has been closed several times since late 2023 after it experienced ‘substantial rock falls’.
The footpath was last closed in January 2025, following a number of landslips in the space of one week.
The path, known as the Tramway, which connects Wiseman’s Bridge to Coppet Hall in Saundersfoot is a popular and accessible stretch of the Wales Coast Path.
Following Sunday’s rock fall, Pembrokeshire County Council has said: “The footpath between Coppet Hall and Wiseman’s Bridge has re-opened following a rock fall at the weekend.
“The rock fall has been assessed as localised and from a low level. The path has therefore re-opened and work to remove the fallen material will be carried out in due course.”
The path was previously closed after it experienced ‘substantial rock falls’ in late 2023 and early 2024, with substantial investment made by the council to reopen the route.
In January 2025 a further fall happened towards the western end of the Wisemans Bridge to Coppet Hall cycleway, between the Coppet Hall and Wisemans Bridge tunnels, affecting access between Wisemans Bridge and Coppet Hall beach.
Costs of the works for the multiple incidents had, back in March 2025, amounted to nearly £700,000.
During 2024’s works, local councillor Chris Williams hit out at “selfish” path users putting others at risk by repeatedly cutting open safety barriers and fencing while the repair works were being undertaken.
Community
Tenby lifeboats launched to two separate kayak incidents
RNLI crews were called to Pendine and Amroth within minutes of each other on a busy Sunday afternoon
BOTH of Tenby’s lifeboats were launched on Sunday afternoon following separate reports involving kayakers along the Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire coastline.
The all-weather lifeboat was requested shortly before 4.30pm on July 12 after RNLI lifeguards at Pendine raised concerns about a kayaker who had left the beach earlier in the afternoon but had not returned.
The kayak could no longer be seen from the shore, prompting Tenby’s volunteer crew to launch and make their way towards the area.
As the lifeboat arrived, the Coastguard received a call from the kayaker confirming they were safe and well at Morfa Bychan beach and did not require assistance.
The crew was stood down from the search but was immediately redirected to assist Tenby’s inshore lifeboat with a second incident off Amroth.
The inshore lifeboat had been launched after a member of the public dialled 999 and reported seeing a kayaker who appeared to be waving between Amroth and Monkstone.
A local fishing vessel, which had heard the Coastguard broadcast asking nearby boats to look out for the kayak, located the man before the lifeboats arrived.
The inshore lifeboat was soon alongside, where the kayaker confirmed he had been fishing and was not in difficulty.
Both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats were then stood down and returned safely to Tenby.
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