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Christian Bookshop to shut its doors

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Screen Shot 2016-02-12 at 09.55.23ANOTHER familiar Haverfordwest landmark will be lost following the announcement that the much loved Emmanuel Christian Bookshop is set to open for the last time at Easter.

The Bookshop, which is currently situated in the Riverside Market, has a long and illustrious history, as Pastor John Welsby’s wife Cherrie explained in an interview with Pastor Rob James for The Herald: “When John and I came to work with Rev and Mrs Norman Ellison in Emmanuel Missions, Pembrokeshire in 1979 we had the weekly job of helping Mrs Ellison with her Christian bookstall in the old Haverfordwest Market. It was a busy, happy day sharing with the entertaining butcher giving out tasters of his hams and crowds doing their Saturday shopping.”

Mrs Ellison started her book room in their house at 71 Pembroke Road, Merlins Bridge in the 60’s and many teachers with their Sunday School classes from all over the county would come to visit Cherrie said: “They would come to choose annual prizes and enjoy one of Mr Ellison’s Fact and Faith films, games and a good supper.”

In 1982 the Riverside Market was built, and as existing table holders in the old Market, the book room was offered the choice to have a unit there.

Cherrie said: “It was a daunting adventure to agree to open the shop 6 days a week! But together with some other friends who valued Bibles, Christian literature, and quality children’s books, we bit the bullet and set up shop in 23 Market Courtyard.”

34 years on and Cherrie thanks God for their successes: “as we look back down the years we see how God has increased our small beginnings from one unit to the present day four, blessed a very willing, happy stream of volunteers working in the Emmanuel Christian Bookshop”.

Other the years the volunteers have been under the leadership of three manageresses: Mrs Ellison (1982– 1985), Mrs Carol Smith (1985-2007) and the present day Manageress, Mrs Jane Jones.

Mrs Welsby said: “It has been the joy of all who worked there to see customers appreciate the feel and smell of a good leather Bible and hear the rustle of gilt-edged pages as they examine the print size and consider their purchase”

She also explained of the book shops’ un-surprising influence was helped by Pembrokeshire’s popularity as a holiday destination: “Holiday– makers and school teachers from all over the UK have stocked up on resources for Assemblies and RE classes.”

Since the beginning of the Emmanual Christian Bookshop’s venture many churches throughout Pembrokeshire have had bookstalls on loan from the shop and benefited from their discount policy for account holders.

Cherrie continued: “It has been a special delight to see children in the county’s Sunday Schools receiving Bibles and Bible story books, biographies and autobiographies of Christians who left stories of God’s goodness for future generations”.

“Haverfordwest is a much changed and changing county town” she added: “And we have become aware of the shifting shopping habits of the local population and have had to seriously consider our usefulness in the town. No longer is Saturday the busy weekend shopping trip to town! I have noticed over these last couple of years as I work in the bookshop on Wednesdays, that I have much more time to “have my nose in a book” between customers”.

The decision to close has not been taken lightly by anybody involved with the shop but those responsible for it have come to the conclusion that it is time to move on to something new: “It has been a very difficult decision on the part of our Trustees and shop staff, but we are all of the same opinion that the Bible verses in Ecclesiastes 3v1 and 11 sum up our situation, Mrs Welsby said: “To everything there is a time and a season and a purpose under Heaven.”

The Bookshop has also been a big part of the work of Emmanuel Christian Centre at 87 Pembroke Road, Merlins Bridge, Haverfordwest. Before the shop started, Emmanuel has had Sunshine Centre on Saundersfoot beach every year in July and August with teams of young people, students and families sharing Bible lessons, games, drama and music.

She concluded: “This year is our 60th anniversary and there are plans afoot for a special weekend of events in Saundersfoot on August 6.

“While the shop has been in business and the Beach Mission rolls along, Emmanuel Church which was planted in 1983 has grown and developed in Merlin’s Bridge As a church family, we feel the loss of the Bookshop very sorely and at the moment we feel a big space in our usefulness. However, there is a fresh wind of new ideas blowing round and while these settle and become reality, perhaps it is time to re-read a few good old books that have been sitting too long on our bookshelves!”

Voicing his sympathy for the trustees and staff Baptist Pastor Rob James of Pembroke added: “We are truly grateful to all who have made this wonderful bookshop such an enduring blessing over the years. It will be strange for it not to be there. It has been an important part of the Christian landscape ever since I came to Pembrokeshire and I have valued its ministry very, very highly. But I know that while they are feeling sad they are also looking to the future because the cause they serve is unstoppable. Lots of Christian bookshops have closed in recent years but changing times always bring fresh opportunities”.

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Rugby Weekly – Tenby’s promotion push continues

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It’s crunch time for all rugby clubs around the county, whether promotion is their aim or fighting relegation or even just trying to improve their league position, it’s now or never. 

Last weekend saw an important win for Fishguard in division two west which should put any relegation fears to bed completely. James Griffiths added an impressive 18 points for the Seagulls as they defeated Nantgaredig 33-19. 

Elsewhere in the second division, Milford were beaten 32-8 by a good Lampeter outfit. The Mariners are still a little too close for comfort with the drop zone but should have enough quality to see them safe. 

At the other end of the table Tenby sit in second place and have played fewer games than leaders St Clears and third place Lampeter. They won impressively again last weekend, beating Pontyberem 64-19 at Haywood Lane. Fletcher Broadhurst impressed with two tries as did Hywel Baker who also grabbed himself a brace. Another excellent performance in an outstanding season so far in which promotion would be the absolute icing on the cake. 

In Division Three West, Pembroke were well beaten by Laugharne 74-15 in which the outstanding Liam Price and Nico Setaro both crossed the whitewash 4 teams a piece. The latter also added 7 successful conversions. 

There was a local derby at Pill Parks where Llangwm hosted Pembroke Dock Quins and it was an exciting clash. The visitors won narrowly 28-23, Craig Barnett and Gethin Bradney both scored two tries for the Quins. The Wasps battled hard and will be proud of their performance, Gethin Thomas impressed for the hosts with two tries of his own but it wasn’t enough to secure the points. 

St David’s hosted the high flying Cardigan outfit and were unable to score in reply to the visitors 20 points, with it ending 20-0. The Saints however won’t be losing too much sleep over it as they have had a great season so far. 

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Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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