Entertainment

The importance of the horse in Welsh history

Published

1 year ago

September 4, 2024

It is estimated that there are over 400 breeds of horses in the world. While many are bred for racing and beauty, some are alive just for their hardiness and ability to work. In Wales, some of the toughest of these were named pit ponies and are a symbol of the industrial heritage of the country. In this article, we discuss the importance of the horse in Pembrokeshire and Welsh history.

The pit pony

From the 18th to the mid-20th century, the pit pony was a staple of Welsh mining. These horses, ponies or mules were used to work underground and have been recorded as being used as far back as 1750. This horse would generally work an eight-hour shift each day. They would haul coal in tubs, living on a diet of hay and any scraps the miners fed them. In some instances, they were even stabled underground.

This horse came from a range of breeds. Welsh horses were the most common, but Shetlands, Devons and Dartmoor breeds were also used. Even larger horses like Cleveland Bays were used in some instances.

Way outside Pembrokeshire, but worth a visit nonetheless, is Sultan the Pit Pony. Resting in Caerphilly, from the ground it seems like a formation of small hillocks. Yet from far away, the Sultan takes shape and is a fantastic earthen sculpture to commemorate the pit ponies.

Ffos Las

Ffos Las racecourse is a fitting tribute to the country’s link between the horse and its industrial heritage. The track was the first National Hunt racecourse built in the United Kingdom for 80 years when it opened in 2009. Previously, it had been the site of an open-cast coal mine, that was left without a purpose once mining there had ceased.

Racing has now become bigger than ever, and Ffos Las is one of the few courses that is based in Wales. Recent developments in communications, such as the ability to watch races through streaming technology, have increased popularity and Ffos Las is thriving. Even the ability to participate in racehorse ownership has been made much easier, due to online syndicates. They allow racehorse ownership for attractive entry prices, providing all the information members need to follow their horses to Ffos Las and beyond. Thus, the industry is in a boom period and Ffos Las is one of many UK courses at the forefront of this.

The horses that built the henge

To the northeast of Pembrokeshire in Eglwyswrw is Carn Goedog. For many, it may look like quite an unremarkable rocky outcrop in the Welsh wilderness. Yet modern methods of analysis have managed to trace it as the place where the materials for the famous Stonehenge were mined. This is believed to have happened around 2500 BC. Weighing two to five tonnes each, it is unlikely these stones would have been moved without the help of Welsh horses.

In the age of petrol and electric transportation, the horse may not play as important a part in the economic structure of the country as it once did. Yet it remains a strong image, a metaphor for Welsh work ethic and spirit. Wherever the Welsh work hard and maintain their identity, the horse will be there to guide them.

Entertainment

Community film season launches at Torch Theatre with audience-picked programme

Published

17 hours ago

February 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Grant from Ffilm Cymru Wales helps bring affordable independent cinema to Pembrokeshire

A SEASON of independent films chosen by local audiences is coming to Milford Haven this spring, as the Torch Theatre hosts a special programme designed to celebrate bold storytelling and community cinema.

Running from February through to mid-April, the Community Choices season has been made possible thanks to Wales-wide grant funding from Ffilm Cymru Wales. The scheme supports independent exhibitors to bring diverse and inspiring films to screens across the country.

At the Torch, audiences were invited to take part in programming workshops to help select the titles themselves. The final line-up reflects a mix of Welsh-language work, environmentally themed films and stories that break down social and economic barriers, ensuring something for all tastes.

Chelsey Gillard, the theatre’s Artistic Director, said: “We asked you, the people of Pembrokeshire, what films you wanted to see at the Torch – and we listened. There’s a terrific variety in this season, from family favourites to powerful dramas. We’re very grateful to Ffilm Cymru Wales for the funding that allows us to bring these wonderful films to the big screen, and we look forward to giving everyone a warm Torch welcome.”

The programme opens with Mr Burton on Sunday, February 8 at 4:15pm, followed by Flow on Tuesday, February 17 at 4:45pm. Fantastic Mr Fox screens on February 19 at 4:45pm, with Moonlight closing the month on Friday, February 20 at 6:15pm.

March’s line-up includes Born Free on March 4 at 2:15pm, Earth on March 12 at 11:00am, Sinners on March 15 at 7:00pm, Booksmart on March 22 at 2:00pm, and Gwledd (The Feast) on March 27 at 8:00pm.

The season continues into April with I Swear on April 2 at 2:00pm, One Battle After Another on April 5 at 4:00pm, and This is Spinal Tap on April 12 at 4:00pm, bringing the Community Choices series to a close.

All tickets are priced at £4 and include a free tea or coffee, helping to keep the screenings affordable and accessible for everyone.

For tickets and full details, visit the Torch Theatre website or call the box office on 01646 695267.

Entertainment

One Night in Dublin returns to the Torch with a brand-new show

Published

3 days ago

February 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

ONE NIGHT IN DUBLIN is heading back to the stage at the Torch Theatre with a lively new production fronted by renowned Irish singer Danny Muldoon.

Tickets are already selling fast for the feel-good celebration of Irish music, which promises two hours of songs, stories and plenty of craic.

Backed by an award-winning five-piece band, Muldoon leads audiences through a packed set of sing-along favourites including Galway Girl, Tell Me Ma, The Irish Rover, Dirty Old Town, Whiskey in the Jar, The Wild Rover and The Galway Shawl, along with many more well-loved classics.

The show recreates the atmosphere of a bustling Dublin pub, complete with fiddle, whistle, guitars, banjo, bodhrán, accordion and driving drums, transporting the audience straight into “Murphy’s Tavern” for an unforgettable night of live entertainment.

Fans can also expect hits from Irish legends including The Pogues, The Saw Doctors, The Dubliners, The Fureys, Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys.

One Night in Dublin comes to the Torch Theatre on Thursday, March 26 at 7:30pm.

Tickets cost £26.50. Visit the theatre website or call the Box Office on (01646) 695267 to book.

Entertainment

New appeal in search for missing Manic Street Preachers musician

Published

6 days ago

January 31, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Family and charity issue fresh appeal for information about guitarist 31 years on

THIRTY-ONE years after the disappearance of Richey Edwards, a new public appeal has been issued urging anyone with information to come forward.

Edwards, guitarist and lyricist with Manic Street Preachers, vanished on January 31, 1995, in a case that has become one of the most enduring mysteries in British music history.

***Missing for over 30 years: Richey Edwards***

The then 27-year-old was last seen at the Embassy Hotel Bayswater in west London, where he had been staying ahead of a promotional trip to the United States. He checked out of room 561 but never reached his destination.

Despite numerous reported sightings over the years, none have ever been confirmed. Edwards was officially declared presumed dead in 2008, though his family continue to mark the anniversary of his disappearance and keep hope alive that answers may still emerge.

Anniversary appeal

The charity Missing People has released a statement in collaboration with Edwards’ sister Rachel, asking the public to remember the case.

In a social media post, the organisation said: “It is 31 years since Richard went missing, please keep his family in your thoughts.”

They also repeated key identifying details from the time he vanished. Edwards was described as white, around 5ft 7in tall, slim, with brown eyes and a shaved head. He had several distinctive tattoos, including a rose with the words ‘Useless Generation’, the phrase ‘I’ll surf this beach’, and a scar on his lower left arm where he had scratched the words ‘4 REAL’.

Unanswered questions

His car was later found near the Severn Bridge services, close to the Welsh border, prompting widespread searches but yielding no firm clues about what happened next.

At the time of his disappearance, the band were on the brink of international success. Edwards’ intense, literate songwriting and striking image had already made him a defining figure in Welsh rock music. More than three decades later, fans still hold vigils, create murals and share tributes across Wales and beyond.

Police say the case remains open.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police Service on 101 or use their online reporting service, quoting reference CONNECT REF 01/764429/24. Missing People also operates a free, confidential helpline on 116 000.