Community

Service marks memorial for stillborn babies

Published

11 years ago

November 20, 2014

At the service: Rev Geoffrey Eynon;
James Allen, Superintendent and
Registrar; Shane Morgan of Tom
Newing & Son; Canon Geoffrey
Gwyther; Robin Folland of Roy
Folland & Son; Elfyn Evans, former
gravedigger City Road Cemetery; Pat
James and Father Liam Bradley.

ON MONDAY (Sept 29), a memorial was unveiled at a special remembrance service in order to remember Pembrokeshire’s lost children. Members of the public attended the service at City Road Cemetery, Haverfordwest, placing flowers around the memorial to remember the hundred’s of stillborn babies in Pembrokeshire, who lie in unmarked graves. Maureen Colgan, aged 80 of Pembroke Dock lost two babies over 50 years ago, and said the memorial helped a lot. She said: “I have grieved every year since I lost them and I have never forgotten them. In those days, nothing was done when your babies died.

I did not even know where they were buried. The memorial means a lot.” Between 1928 and 1975, it is estimated that 400 stillborn babies were born. At that time, it was also common practice to take them from their mothers without any ritual. Most of the babies were buried at City Road Cemetery, and the memorial is the culmination of years of campaigning by Pat James from Milford Haven, who is Pembrokeshire County Council’s Crematorium Assistant at Parc Gwyn, Narberth. Pat said she is pleased that parents would not be able to get ‘closure’.

She said: “Today, parents of stillborn babies are given a chance to say goodbye to their children with proper burials or cremations, but it wasn’t always so in the past. I hope this new memorial will give those mothers and fathers some solace. Hopefully it will be a place for them to come and reflect.” Pat thanked those who had contributed to the funding, such as J Cecil Jones of Monumental Masons in Swansea, Milford Haven funeral director Tom Newing and Sons, and Haverfordwest undertaken Roy Folland and Sons, who provided four trees to mark the area.

Community

Community gathers to remember Corrina Baker

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Lanterns and balloons released in emotional acts of remembrance

FAMILY, friends and members of the local community came together to remember Corrina Baker at a series of moving events held across west Wales this week.

Corrina’s funeral took place on Monday (Dec 15), a month after her death, with a public service held at St Mary’s Church. Mourners lined the route as her coffin was carried on its final journey in an elegant horse-drawn carriage, before a private cremation later took place at Parc Gwyn crematorium in Narberth.

Later that evening, shortly after 6:00pm, friends and relatives gathered at the Quayside in Cardigan for the first of two acts of remembrance to celebrate her life. Lanterns were lit and released into the night sky above the town as some of Corrina’s favourite songs were played.

On Tuesday afternoon (Dec 16), a second tribute was held near the location where Corrina was found. Twenty-one pink balloons — one for each year of her life — were released into a clear blue sky, each carrying personal messages in her memory.

Floral tributes continue to be laid at the Netpool, while a GoFundMe appeal set up in Corrina’s memory has raised more than £2,300. She has been described by those who knew her as “funny and bright”.

Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed that their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms Baker’s death is ongoing. A 29-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail while inquiries continue.

(Photos: Stuart Ladd/Herald)

Community

Six untaxed vehicles seized in Milford Haven police operation

Published

4 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SIX untaxed and abandoned vehicles were seized during a joint roads policing operation in Milford Haven on Tuesday morning.

Officers from the Milford Haven Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Team (NPPT) worked alongside the Pembrokeshire Roads Policing Team as part of targeted enforcement across the town.

In addition to the vehicle seizures, a number of traffic offence reports were issued to drivers during the operation.

Police said the action formed part of ongoing efforts to improve road safety and tackle vehicle-related offences in the Milford Haven area.

Community

Candlelit carol service brings community together in Milford Haven

Published

4 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

ST KATHARINE and St Peter’s Church in Milford Haven hosted its annual Candlelit Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, bringing together members of the community for a traditional celebration of Christmas.

The service featured readings from the Mayor of Milford Haven, representatives of the Soroptimists, Milford Haven Amateur Operatic Society, the Headteacher and Head Prefects of Milford Haven School, Milford Haven Town Band, and NCI Wooltack Point.

Music for the evening was provided by organist Seimon Morris, Milford Haven Town Band and the Milford Haven Cluster Band, whose performances added to the atmosphere of the candlelit service.

The Friends of St Katharine and St Peter’s Church thanked all those involved and wished the community a happy Christmas.