CENTURIES-OLD CEREMONY DRAWS FAMILIES TO THE RIVERSIDE

HAVERFORDWEST’S historic Beating of the Bounds returned on Sunday (Jun 14), with boats, music and crowds gathering along the riverside for one of the town’s most distinctive civic traditions.

The ceremony saw the Mayor of Haverfordwest and Admiral of the Port, Cllr Randell Thomas-Turner, lead a water-borne procession along the Western Cleddau to the White Stone, the painted boundary marker of the Borough and Port of Haverfordwest.

He was joined by Deputy Mayor Cllr Adam Benson-Davies, Town Sheriff Cllr Dani Thomas-Turner, Deputy Lieutenant Patricia Porter OBE and her daughter, the Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, the Chairman of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society, Reverend Sophie Whitmarsh, Andrew Merfyn Phillips the High Sheriff of Dyfed, and other invited guests.

A flotilla of boats from Neyland, Milford Haven and other parts of the Haven made its way upriver for the ceremony, with civic leaders and dignitaries travelling out to the White Stone.

Upon reaching the marker, Reverend Sophie Whitmarsh, the Mayor’s Chaplain, gave a blessing as the boats gathered around the painted white rock.

Cllr Thomas-Turner then delivered the traditional proclamation, formally reaffirming the town’s ancient boundaries and rights.

He declared: “Let it be known that I come to the White Stone and do this day acknowledge and maintain the ancient bounds and privilege of the Borough and Port of Haverfordwest.”

The ceremony was accompanied by a busy family event at the Quayside Car Park, where Pure West Radio broadcast live from the riverside and crowds enjoyed face painting, bouncy castles, ice cream and food stalls.

Local artist and musician Steve Bartram performed during the afternoon, while children from Vision Arts entertained the crowd with songs from Disney films and musical theatre, including I’ve Got No Strings from Pinocchio.

Milford Haven Town Band also performed, adding a traditional soundtrack to the occasion as the historic ceremony unfolded on the river.

With the Bristol Trader open and people sitting out on benches along the river enjoying the evening atmosphere, the event brought a relaxed summer feel to the town centre.

Security for the event was provided by RM Training and Security Solutions, helping ensure the celebrations ran safely for families and visitors.

First aid cover was provided by St John Ambulance Cymru, with four team members on site throughout the event.

Beating the Bounds is an ancient civic custom, once used to mark and remember parish or town boundaries before modern maps and records. In Haverfordwest, the tradition survives in a particularly distinctive form, with the Mayor travelling by boat to the White Stone to acknowledge the historic bounds and privileges of the borough and port.

This year’s event combined formal civic ceremony with music, family entertainment, river activity and a strong community turnout, helping to keep one of Pembrokeshire’s best-known traditions alive for another generation.

Photos by The Pembrokeshire Herald, Aad Oostermeijer and Darthy Media

MS WARNS CLOSURES COULD DAMAGE RURAL COMMUNITIES

CLAIRE ARCHIBALD MS has urged Pembrokeshire councillors to protect village schools ahead of a key vote on the future of Ysgol Clydau and Manorbier Church in Wales School.

The Member of the Senedd for Ceredigion Penfro has written to councillors before today’s meeting, asking them to consider the wider impact that losing small rural schools could have on children, families and local communities.

Ms Archibald said village schools provided a type of education that was becoming increasingly rare, offering smaller, more familiar settings where children were well known by staff.

She visited Manorbier Church in Wales School on Friday, where she met staff and saw the school for herself.

Ms Archibald said: “Small village schools provide families with a type of education that is increasingly rare. They offer a more homely environment where children are well known by their teachers and where strong relationships exist between the school, families and the wider community.

“Not every child thrives in a large, busy setting. For some children, particularly those who struggle with anxiety or additional learning needs, a smaller school environment can make a real difference.”

During her visit to Manorbier, Ms Archibald said she was impressed by the care shown to pupils and the strong sense of community around the school.

She added: “These schools are not simply buildings where lessons take place. They are an important part of village life and often sit at the heart of their communities.”

In her letter to councillors, Ms Archibald said the decision was not only about buildings or numbers, but about whether different types of education were valued for different children.

She also pointed to the exceptional circumstances faced by Manorbier following the fire at the school, and said the community had already shown how strongly it valued the school through local support.

Ms Archibald warned that once rural schools close, they are very unlikely to reopen.

She said councillors should support deferral if they were not satisfied that every question had been answered and every alternative properly explored.

The future of Ysgol Clydau and Manorbier Church in Wales School is due to be decided by Pembrokeshire County Council today.

PEMBROKESHIRE Chess Club is celebrating a fantastic weekend after being crowned champions of the Welsh Chess Union Premier League Under-1850.

The club played its final match of the season today, beating Abergavenny to win the league outright.

Earlier in the season, Pembrokeshire recorded wins against Castell Nedd, North Cardiff and Morriston, as well as drawing with Cardiff Tigers.

Although the club previously won the competition online during the Covid period, this is its first over-the-board league title.

A club spokesperson said it was “great to represent the county against teams from across Wales” and congratulated all the players who registered for the competition.

Those involved were Ben Brewer, Martin Jones, Scott Hammett, Mark Paffard, Henry Burton, Huw Jones and Kevin Heady.

Following its recent AGM, the club has now decided to enter two teams in next year’s competition, giving more members, especially junior players, the chance to take part.

It was also a successful weekend for two of the club’s juniors, Jozef Othen and Harry Harling, who played with distinction in an invitation Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire match against Carmarthenshire on Saturday afternoon.

Jozef also competed in an online Megafinals event on Saturday morning, progressing to the Gigafinals.

The club will hold its first ever Junior Rapid Tournament on January 24, with more details to follow.

Pembrokeshire Chess Club also praised FIDE Master Alexis Harakis, who has been coaching and supporting juniors and senior members of the recently formed Fishguard Chess Club.

The club said his involvement would help raise standards and benefit chess across the county.

Pictured are today’s winning team: Ben, Martin, Scott and Mark.

Pembrokeshire Chess Club are the 2026 champions of the Welsh Chess Union Premier League Under-1850.