Charity
‘Wear red’ call in memory of Wales and British Lions star Peter Morgan
THE FUNERAL of former Chair of Pembrokeshire County Council and Llanelli, Wales and British & Irish Lions Utility Back Cllr Peter Morgan is to take place next Friday with “a final journey for Peter through his beloved Broad and Little Haven” the previous day.
Former Wales and British Lions star Peter Morgan passed away on July 27 at the age of 65 after a long illness.
Peter, of Little Haven, was a highly successful rugby player who toured South Africa with the Lions in 1980 and played for Wales five times throughout his career.
As a fast and skilful player, Peter was able to play at fly-half, centre and as a utility back he played in every three-quarter position for both the Lions and Wales.
One of the highlights of Peter’s career was when he captained Llanelli to victory over Australia in November 1984, beating the only Australian side to achieve a Grand Slam in the four tests against the home nations.
Morgan toured South Africa with The Lions in 1980 and captained Llanelli to victory over Australia in 1984.
Then, in 1985, he played in Llanelli’s WRU Challenge Cup final victory over Cardiff.
Meanwhile, in his earlier years, Peter played for Pembrokeshire at every level, including school and senior rugby.
Morgan toured South Africa with The Lions in 1980 and captained Llanelli to victory over Australia in 1984. (Image: Submitted)
Following the end of his rugby career, Peter sat as an independent member on Pembrokeshire County Council for 16 years, representing The Havens ward, and also served on Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
The funeral service will take place on August 16 with a service and interment 2pm at St Mary’s Church, Talbenny, Little Haven.
Funeral directors Roy Folland & Son have said: “The family would be grateful if all those attending could wear something red in memory of Peter.
“For anyone unable to attend the funeral service, or those simply wishing to pay their respects, Peter will make his final journey through his beloved Broad and Little Haven on Thursday August 15 between 5.30pm and 6pm before resting in Talbenny Church prior to the funeral the following day. This service will be for family only.
“Due to the limited space, only members of the family will be able to be seated in the church on the day of the funeral.
“A screen and speaker system will be provided for those standing outside so everyone can join in the celebration of Peter’s life. The family thank you in advance for your kindness and understanding at such a sad and difficult time.”
Following the funeral service, those attending are invited to join the family for refreshments at the front (the green) in Little Haven.
Tributes have been paid to Cllr Morgan by Pembrokeshire politicians.
Cllr Aled Thomas said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the loss of my colleague and friend, Cllr Peter Morgan.
“Peter has been a family friend for many years, and I could always rely on him for camaraderie, laughter and most importantly, telling me my tie was straight or if I have done a good enough job ironing my shirts!!!
“I will deeply miss his presence in county hall. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Cllr Jon Harvey, Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “On behalf of everyone at the council, I send our sincere condolences to Peter’s family and friends.
“Peter was such a character, always with a smile on his face but also fierce determination to do his best and fight for his constituents and the people of Pembrokeshire.
“Peter’s warmth, energy and sense of humour will be sadly missed in the council chamber and beyond.”
Tributes were also paid at recent Pembrokeshire County Council meetings, with a minute’s silence held at each of the meetings.
Tributes were also paid by Chair of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Cllr Di Clements, who said: “We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Cllr Peter Morgan, who was one of the Park Authority’s longest-serving members.
“Peter was a passionate advocate for the National Park, deeply invested in the success of Pembrokeshire communities, particularly in the Havens. Often described as a great character, he was known for his perceptive views, thought-provoking observations and support for staff and Members.
“Peter will be missed by all, and our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”
Peter leaves behind his wife Helen, daughters Nia and Lowri and his grandchildren Seren and Dewi.
There are family flowers only.
Donations for Neurological Surgery be made payable to Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and sent c/o Woodland House, Maes y Coed Road, Cardiff CF14 4HH.
Those wishing to make a donation online may do so at: [email protected].
Please use the reference “B4 Neuro Surgery – Fund Number 9165” on all transactions.
Charity
Welsh rugby great supports lifesaving charity in unique partnership
WELSH rugby great Shane Williams, MBE, has thrown his support behind Wales Air Ambulance and four of its medics who will be taking on Ironman this weekend.
Like Shane, the Charity’s medics Mike Palmer, Ruby Thomas, Simon Cartwright and Caroline Arter, will push their bodies to its limit to take on the ultimate challenge of Ironman Wales – swapping their flight suits for tri-suits.
The gruelling long-distance triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile sea swim, a 112-mile hilly bike course and a marathon through the streets of Tenby.
Shane’s new sportswear brand, AGILIS, has provided each of the medics with Wales Air Ambulance branded tri-suits free of charge, but the support doesn’t end there. The unique partnership will see AGILIS support the Charity in future events, providing discounted sportswear to enable the Wales Air Ambulance to raise even more funds.
Shane said: “I am very proud to say that myself and AGILIS will be working in partnership with Wales Air Ambulance. Obviously, it’s a fantastic Charity and cause, we’ve all seen the great work that they have done, how amazing they are and the difference they make to a lot of people’s lives, so I am very proud to be associated with them on this adventure.”
Since retiring from the professional game Shane has found a new passion for endurance sports.
As part of the unique partnership between the brand and the Charity, the former Wales and British and Irish Lions international rugby player will show his support to the lifesaving Charity by wearing one of the Wales Air Ambulance tri-suits.
Shane continued: “I can’t wait to get out there with all the great fantastic people. I’ve met the crew taking part on Sunday, there are some real good triathletes there. I’m looking forward to seeing them do their business on the Ironman course and what’s exciting is that I’m going to be running and cycling in the Wales Air Ambulance colours, red and green! I’ve got the Welsh colours back on! It will be a very tough day, but I’m very proud.”
AGILIS will be supporting the Charity moving forward and has also donated hoodies for the medics to wear on the day. Shane will also be meeting up with the medics on Saturday, prior to the triathlon.
Mike Palmer, a Critical Care Practitioner onboard Wales Air Ambulance, said: “Shane Williams is not just a legend of rugby, but also of triathlon. It means so much to me and my colleagues to have the support and mentorship of someone who has pushed his body to the limits numerous times on one of the toughest Ironman courses in the world.
“To have been gifted the suits, and to wear the same as Shane on Sunday is remarkable. Balancing 12-hour shifts, a master’s degree and the intense training hasn’t been easy. There’s been many times that I’d be going for a long run before starting my shift at 7am, but we’re so near now and I’m so excited (and nervous) to step foot on that start line.
“We’re all so passionate about the Wales Air Ambulance, and me, Caz, Ruby and Simon continue to see first-hand the impact this charity has on people’s lives. So, on Sunday, when we feel like we can’t go any further, we’ll think of our patients and our supporters – and that’ll give us the push to carry on.
“Thank you to Shane, AGILIS and to all those who have donated to our challenge so far. If you can, please donate via our JustGiving page, and cheer for us on Sunday.”
Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique Third Sector and Public Sector partnership. 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.
As a pan-Wales service, the dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
The 2008 World Rugby Player of the Year has further shown his commitment to the all-Wales Charity by signing up to another event alongside his AGILIS colleagues. The trio will be raising awareness of the lifesaving charity next month in the second largest half marathon event in the UK, the Cardiff Half Marathon.
Laura Slate, Communications and Engagement Manager for Wales Air Ambulance said: “Every day, our crews deliver advanced medical care to people across Wales, and alongside the 12-hour shifts, Caz, Mike, Simon and Ruby have been training for this massive challenge and raising money for our charity.
“We are absolutely delighted to be working with AGILIS and Shane and are incredibly grateful for the donation of tri-suits for the critical care practitioners. The company and the Welsh rugby great have already shown their dedication to our cause, and I offer my heartfelt thanks to all those who have been involved in creating this partnership. We are a proud Welsh charity, and Shane is a proud Welshman – it’s a perfect match, and we’re excited to see how the partnership will grow.”
The Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and its rapid response vehicles on the road.
Laura continued: “There are many ways in which individuals and organisations can support us. AGILIS is great example of how businesses can contribute to our lifesaving service by supplying goods and services at a reduced rate, alongside traditional fundraising activities. It all helps us to ensure that as much money as possible goes directly to our frontline service for the benefit of the people of Wales.
“Good luck to everyone taking part on Sunday, and a special thank you to Shane and our heroes of the sky.”
Show your support to the Wales Air Ambulance Ironman team by donating to their JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/page/caroline-arter-1710187476943.
Charity
St John’s mark Falls Awareness Week by announcing new rapid response service
SAINT John Ambulance Cymru has secured a contract to provide a new Welfare and Falls Rapid Response service in the Pembrokeshire area, which will see staff responding to incidents to assess and assist people, reducing demand on Emergency Medical Services.
The Haverfordwest-based scheme will be run in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB) and will initially run from October 1st 2024 until March 31st 2025.
The scheme will follow on from the Falls Response scheme which has been operated by St John Ambulance Cymru in partnership with HDUHB and Wales Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WASUT) in the same area since January 2023.
The announcement comes as St John Ambulance Cymru marks Falls Awareness Week from 16-20 September alongside fellow members of the National Falls Prevention Taskforce Wales.
The Falls Taskforce is an alliance focused on falls prevention for older people in across the country and includes Age Cymru, Age Connects Wales, Care & Repair Cymru, St John Ambulance Cymru, representatives from all seven health boards, as well as national and local government, public, private and other third sector organisations.
St John Ambulance Cymru’s Head of Ambulance Operations, Helen Coulthard said: “This new contract is a testament to the great service our staff have provided to people in this area of West Wales as part of the current scheme. To date the scheme has attended to over 1,000 people and saved an ambulance from attending on more than 500 occasions.
“St John Ambulance Cymru continues to build on its record of providing high quality help to patients all over the country and we look forward to continuing that work with this new scheme.”
St John Ambulance Cymru operates Falls Response schemes in communities across Wales, working in partnership with WASUT, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and the Vale of Glamorgan Council. In 2023 these schemes, together with the current Pembrokeshire scheme, helped a total of 12,815 patients.
Falls Response is just one of the services provided by the charity’s Ambulance Operations team, with more than 24,000 patients helped in 2023, including patient transport and other schemes such as the Taith Dda Mental Health Response Service.
For more information on the healthcare services provided by St John Ambulance Cymru, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/page/healthcare-services.
Charity
FRAME is looking for passionate leaders to join its Board of Directors
FRAME, one of Pembrokeshire’s leading charities, is excited to announce the recruitment of new directors to join its Board. As FRAME continues to grow and expand its impact on the community, we are seeking passionate individuals who want to help steer our charity toward an even brighter future.
Since 1994, Pembrokeshire FRAME has been at the heart of the community, providing life-changing support for individuals with additional needs, while also promoting environmental sustainability by reducing waste through the reuse of furniture and household items. Our social enterprises, such as furniture upcycling and gardening projects, have provided invaluable work experience for adults with learning difficulties, mental health issues, and disabilities. To sustain and enhance our impact, we need strong, dedicated leaders on our board.
What They’re Looking For:
FRAME are seeking individuals who are passionate about charity work, social enterprise, and environmental sustainability. We’re particularly interested in those with experience in the following areas:
- Finance (accountancy, financial management)
- Legal (charity law, governance)
- Retail
- Fundraising
- Marketing & Communications (digital marketing, PR)
- Social Enterprise Development
- Human Resources & Leadership
- Environmental & Sustainability Expertise
- Lived Experience (experience with disability, mental health, or social exclusion)
Why Join Our Board?
By joining our Board of Directors, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of our charity. You’ll help us continue making a real difference in people’s lives by providing opportunities for learning, employment, and community engagement while also supporting
If you are interested in applying, please visit www.pembrokeshire-frame.org.uk/vacancies for more information.
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