ON SATURDAY June 29 the community gathered outside the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre to celebrate Armed Forces Day, honouring the service and dedication of military personnel. The event featured historical military vehicles and reenactors in authentic uniforms, capturing the spirit of the past.

The Milford Haven Sea Cadets were in attendance, joining veterans and other participants in showcasing their pride. The cadets displayed impressive skills, reinforcing the event’s focus on teamwork and dedication.

The Mayor of Pembroke Dock delivered a heartfelt speech, highlighting the significance of the day and expressing the community’s gratitude for the Armed Forces’ contributions. The ceremony included a presentation of colours, adding to the sense of tradition and respect.

In addition, a smaller event took place at the Royal British Legion in Milford Haven, which was also well attended. This gathering further emphasised the community’s support for the military.

Armed Forces Day in Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven was a memorable occasion, fostering a strong sense of community and appreciation for those who serve.

Pictures by Martin Cavaney

LOCAL residents and visitors are up in arms after discovering that several key attractions at Oakwood Theme Park were closed during a recent visit, despite the park charging full admission prices. James Peniket, a visitor, sparked the debate with a Facebook post expressing his frustration over the situation, which quickly garnered numerous supportive comments from others who had similar experiences.

Mr Peniket’s post stated, “How can you charge full price when at least 5 of your main rides are closed? You only had a notice on your website for one of the rides being closed… £45 for a 13-year-old child to go and see a theme park full of closed rides… absolute shambles of a place… Robbing the public of money!”

The reaction was swift, with many people sharing their own stories and grievances about the park. Andrew Graham Feetham echoed the sentiment, calling the situation “unsafe” and the supervision “horrendous.” He added, “£20, fair enough, but £45 for half a theme park is robbery.”

Darren Briggs, a former employee of the park, reminisced about its glory days in the late 1980s. “Back in the day, we would regularly see attendance figures over 12k people a day. Yesterday was probably less than 3k. Very sad. Staff looked totally unhappy and disengaged,” he commented, highlighting the park’s decline and lack of investment.

The closure of multiple rides without prior warning was a common complaint. Alanda Williams and Andrew Morse also joined the conversation, suggesting alternative attractions such as Hangar 5, where all trampolines are open and operational. Joshua J Peniket quipped, “Should have gone to Hangar 5 then. All trampolines are open,” reflecting the public’s disillusionment with Oakwood.

The underlying issue appears to be a lack of transparency and investment. Several commenters, including George Coles, pointed out that the theme park had been sold to new owners, Aspro-Ocio S.A., a Spanish company known for operating water parks. Despite this change in ownership, there has been no noticeable improvement in the park’s conditions.

Visitors like Wayne Scourfield, who had pre-booked tickets for their families, expressed their frustration and disappointment upon learning about the closed rides. “I’ve booked to bring family on Thursday… they’re so looking forward to it,” he lamented, highlighting the broader impact on families planning visits during the school holidays.

In response to the public outcry, Oakwood Theme Park has issued refunds to some visitors, including Mr Peniket, who confirmed receiving an email from the park regarding his refund. However, this measure seems to be a case of too little, too late for many disgruntled customers.

The recurring theme in the comments was a nostalgic longing for the park’s past and a call for significant investment to restore its former glory. As Louise Burgin reminisced, “It used to be amazing when we were kids. It was such a treat to go. You knew you’d spend all day having fun, and it was value for money.”

Oakwood Theme Park, once a beloved local attraction, now faces mounting pressure to address these issues and restore public trust. Without immediate and substantial improvements, the park risks losing its place as a cherished destination for families in Pembrokeshire and beyond.

A MULTI AGENCY operation took place on June 27 in the St Davids area after a man got into difficulty in water.

Following a 999 call, police, fire, and ambulance attended the gentleman, but sadly he died at the scene.

The fire service confirmed that its Swift Water Rescue Team located and retrieved the man from a three-metre-deep pond, measuring 40m x 20m.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We attended after a report of a male who had got into difficulties in water at an address in St David’s on Thursday, June 27.

“Officers attended, along with colleagues from the fire and rescue service and ambulance, however, sadly, a 74-year-old man died at the scene.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious.

“His next of kin have been informed of the incident, as well as HM Coroner.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 3.55pm on Thursday, June 27th, Mid and West Wales Fires and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) crews from Haverfordwest, St Davids and Carmarthen Fire Stations were called to an incident near St Davids.

“One male was located and retrieved from water by the Swift Water Rescue Team from a pond measuring 40m by 20m and 3m deep.

“The incident required a multi-agency response, with Dyfed-Powys Police, Air Ambulance and paramedics also in attendance.

“MAWWFRS crews left the scene at 6.05pm.”