Swansea couple jailed after police smash large‑scale Class A drug operation

David Davies, 36, of Glebe Road, Loughor, was arrested in July after South Wales Police executed a warrant at his home. Officers uncovered drugs, cash and paraphernalia, before intelligence led them to a self‑storage unit in Gorseinon. Inside, police found four kilos of cocaine — two hidden in a safe — along with ketamine and ecstasy.

Davies’ phone revealed the scale of his operation, including messages about buying cocaine worth £98,000, laundering cash through his plastering business, and even offering a reward after £20,000 and drugs were stolen from his home while he attended an Oasis concert in Cardiff. Investigators also discovered a crypto wallet containing almost £20,000.

Partner jailed for assisting

Davies’ partner, Linzi Jones, 35, of Heol Eifion, Gorseinon, was found to have prepared cocaine deals, collected debts and continued chasing payments even after Davies was remanded. Police searching her home seized £2,294 in cash, weighing scales and luxury watches including a Rolex.

Jones pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession of criminal property. She was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

Judge condemns “avarice”

At Swansea Crown Court, Judge Huw Rees said drugs were a “blight on society” and condemned both defendants for perpetuating their use out of “avarice” and without regard for the impact on others.

There were tears in the public gallery as Jones was led to the cells. A proceeds of crime hearing has been scheduled for March 18 next year to investigate Davies’ finances.

Police: “The streets are better off”

Sergeant Luke Tucker of South Wales Police said:

“David Davies and Linzi Jones were involved in a large‑scale operation of peddling Class A drugs onto the streets of Swansea and the surrounding areas.

This will have done untold damage to those who purchased the drugs and also to their families and wider communities.

The scale of David Davies’ offending has got him a long stretch in prison. The streets are better off with both Davies and Jones in jail.”

Police urged anyone with concerns about drug dealing or vulnerable people being targeted by organised crime groups to call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

#classASupply #cocaine #davidDavies #drugs #ecstasy #gorseinon #ketamine #linziJones #loughor #southWalesPolice #swanseaCrownCourt #swanseaDrugs

New health monitors installed in local GP surgeries

Patients across parts of Swansea can now monitor their blood pressure, weight and body mass index (BMI) in their GP practice waiting rooms, thanks to new health pod machines designed to encourage healthier lifestyles.

Available in local surgeries

The monitors have been installed at Gowerton Medical Centre, Penclawdd Health Centre, Penybryn Surgery, Princess Street Surgery in Gorseinon, Talybont Surgery and Ty’r Felin Surgery in Loughor. Patients can use them without booking an appointment, simply by dropping in during practice opening hours.

How the machines work

The pods guide patients through a short process: entering their date of birth and gender, answering lifestyle questions, and then measuring height, weight and blood pressure. Results are stored directly on the patient’s clinical record, and a printout can also be taken home.

‘Convenient and accessible’

Dr Sowndarya Shivaraj, who leads the project locally, said:

“The introduction of the health pod monitors in our GP surgeries offers patients a convenient and accessible way to check their blood pressure and BMI without needing to wait for a nurse appointment. By flagging risks early, we are better able to offer timely health advice and support.”

Supporting healthier lifestyles

Lorraine Thomas, practice manager at Princess Street Surgery in Gorseinon, said the machines were already proving popular.

“Everything appears on a screen and there’s a questionnaire where patients are asked if they smoke and want help to quit, and it will ask about alcohol intake too. The information then gets stored on their clinical records so GP practices can monitor them.”

She added:

“Most people aren’t aware of their blood pressure and other readings, such as their BMI, so it is helpful for them to be able to come in and check and then they can monitor it.”

Early detection of health risks

Staff will review the results and contact patients if readings are higher than recommended.

Dr Shivaraj said:

“High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke, so regular monitoring is vital for early detection and management. If the health pod detects high blood pressure, our teams will be alerted and the patient will be offered a follow‑up appointment for further assessment.”

The initiative is part of wider work to encourage people to take an active role in monitoring and maintaining their health, with additional support available for smoking cessation and reducing alcohol use.

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#bloodPressureMonitor #BMICheck #GorseinonGP #Gowerton #GowertonMedicalCentre #Loughor #Penclawdd #PenclawddHealthCentre #PenybrynSurgery #PrincessStreetSurgery #selfServiceHealthPod #Swansea #SwanseaBayNHS #TalybontSurgery #TyRFelinSurgery

Rugby pays tribute to Roy ‘Shunto’ Thomas, Llanelli and Swansea stalwart, who has died aged 82

Scarlets confirm passing

In a statement, the Scarlets said they were “deeply saddened” to hear of Thomas’ passing. Between 1970 and 1977 he played 184 games for Llanelli, including that unforgettable 9–3 victory over New Zealand at Stradey Park.

“The thoughts of us all at the Scarlets are with Roy’s family and friends at this time,” the club said.

Swansea RFC: “A great club man”

Swansea RFC paid tribute to Thomas’ toughness on the field and humour off it. He made 169 appearances for the All Whites between 1966 and 1970, featuring in the 1966 win over Australia at St Helen’s and the 1969 clash with the touring Springboks.

The club noted his unenviable record of being named as Wales’ reserve hooker 25 times without winning a full cap, sitting behind internationals Jeff Young and Bobby Windsor.

“He will be remembered in Swansea not for that unwanted statistic, but for his tough uncompromising play and his great sense of humour off the field,” the club said.

Loughor RFC: “A true legend of the game”

Thomas’ home club, Loughor RFC, described him as a “true legend” and highlighted his family ties, with his daughter Karen now coaching at the club.

“Our minis paid their respects to not only a great figure in Welsh rugby, but also to a much‑loved father of their coach, Karen,” the club said.

The ‘nearly man’ of Wales

Despite never winning a full cap, Thomas was a near‑permanent fixture in the Wales squad throughout the 1970s. In an era when substitutions were only permitted for injuries, he was repeatedly named on the bench but never took the field.

He was later awarded a Welsh Rugby Union President’s cap for appearing in an uncapped match against Tonga in 1974 — a prized possession he kept on display at his Loughor home.

Memories of 1972

Thomas’ career highlight came on 31 October 1972, when Llanelli stunned the All Blacks 9–3 at Stradey Park. He recalled the pitch invasion and wild celebrations that followed:

“The All Blacks players couldn’t believe it. After the game, when we were sitting together and drinking, they were telling us you were much better than us on the day.”

It was, famously, the day the pubs ran dry in Llanelli.

“I had a load. I had a lift home to Penclawdd. They took me back to the club at about 8pm. I was well‑oiled!” he laughed in a later interview.

Life beyond rugby

After finishing with Llanelli in the late 1970s, Thomas returned to Penclawdd RFC for a spell as coach and remained a regular supporter of “The Donkeys”. Away from rugby, he worked delivering coal around Gower, transporting cockles across the UK, and later for British Steel.

Reflecting on his career, Thomas once said he would never have swapped the All Blacks victory for a full Welsh cap:

“No, I wouldn’t give that up. No‑one can ever take that day away from me.”

Legacy

Known for his fierce scrummaging, quick left foot, and lineout accuracy, Thomas was admired by teammates and opponents alike. He will be remembered as a determined player, a loyal club man, and a gentleman of the game.

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New data reveals rising coal tip risk in Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot

Coal tip danger escalates in South West Wales

The risk rating has increased to the highest levels for five more coal tips in Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot, bringing the total number of high‑risk tips in these former mining communities to more than 80.

The newly classified tips include two in the Llynfi Valley above Caerau and Maesteg, and three in the Godre’r‑graig area of the Swansea Valley — the same community where a primary school was closed and later demolished because of fears a spoil tip could collapse.

Neath Port Talbot: Godre’r‑graig in the spotlight

Neath Port Talbot has 41 high‑risk coal tips in total. The latest update confirms that three tips at Godre’r‑graig have been reclassified to Category D, the highest risk level.

The reclassification comes just six years after Godre’r‑graig Primary School was evacuated and later demolished because of the threat from a spoil tip above the playground. Families in the village are still waiting for a permanent replacement school.

Other high‑risk tips in Neath Port Talbot are concentrated in the Afan Valley (Cymmer, Croeserw, Glyncorrwg), the Dulais Valley (Crynant, Seven Sisters, Onllwyn), and around Resolven and Blaengwrach.

📊 Table: Neath Port Talbot high‑risk tips

Bridgend: Valleys carry the heaviest burden

Bridgend has 42 high‑risk tips — the highest number in South West Wales. The Garw and Llynfi valleys carry the greatest concentration, with clusters above Pontycymmer, Blaengarw and Caerau.

Two tips in the Llynfi Valley were reclassified to Category D in the October 2025 update, adding to long‑standing concerns in communities where spoil heaps sit above homes and schools.

📊 Table: Bridgend high‑risk tips

Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire: lighter but not risk‑free

Further west, the numbers are smaller but the risks remain. Swansea has five Category C tips, spread across Cadle/Portmead (2), Pontardawe, Felindre and Loughor. None are currently rated at Category D, but all require annual inspections.

Neighbouring Carmarthenshire has just one Category C tip, located at Ammanford in the Amman Valley — the only high‑risk site in the county.

In Pembrokeshire, no Category C or D tips are recorded, reflecting the county’s different mining history.

The city and county have also faced other mining‑related legacies. In January 2021, homes in Clydach were flooded after water surged from old mine workings, underlining how the impact of coal is not confined to spoil tips alone.

📊 Table: Swansea & Carmarthenshire high‑risk tips

➡️ Pembrokeshire: No Category C or D tips recorded.

A legacy of tragedy and neglect

It is almost sixty years since the Aberfan disaster, when 116 children and 28 adults were killed as a coal tip collapsed onto a school and nearby homes.

Coalfield historian Ben Curtis said that while some tips were removed or made safe after Aberfan, the danger has never gone away.

“It is a potential problem that continues to remain for some of these tips to become unsafe over time, perhaps because of factors like the effects of climate change and increased rainfall,” he said.

For decades afterwards, little was known about the precise locations or conditions of Wales’ thousands of disused coal tips. That changed only after a landslip above Tylorstown in Rhondda Cynon Taf five years ago, which prompted the creation of a national register and new legislation to ensure tips were monitored and made safe.

Today, more than 2,500 disused coal tips have been identified across Wales, the majority of them in the south Wales coalfield. Of these, 360 are classed as Category C or D — the higher‑risk sites that must be inspected once or twice a year. Lower‑risk tips are categorised as A or B.

Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Caerphilly remain the counties with the highest concentrations of Category C and D tips, each with more than 50. But the latest figures show that communities in Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Carmarthenshire are also living with dozens of high‑risk sites on their hillsides.

New dataset and map

The figures come from the latest update to the Welsh Government’s national coal tip database, published on 3 October. The database, first launched in 2023, is updated twice a year and is available through an interactive online map that allows residents to check the location and risk category of tips near their communities.

Coal Authority chief executive Lisa Pinney said managing tips on hillsides was key to reducing risk.

“Just under 300 are higher‑risk sites but that really just means that they need much more regular attention and inspection to make sure they stay safe. Any tip which is old mining material sitting on a hillside can pose a risk, obviously, but the key thing to their safety is to manage water and keep it away. And that’s why these inspections and maintenance are so important.”

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca‑Davies added:

“The regular updating of this national, publicly available data demonstrates our unwavering commitment to coal tip safety across Wales, and our absolute dedication to protecting people. I want to reassure people living near to where tips have moved categories that this means they will receive increased monitoring and management.”

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Investment and legislation

The Welsh and UK governments say they have now committed more than £220m to coal tip safety, with £118m pledged by Westminster over three years and the remainder from Cardiff Bay. Officials say the funding is being used for inspections, maintenance and remediation works.

But ministers have also warned that the true cost of remediation could reach £500–600m over the next 10–15 years, far above the sums invested so far. In Neath Port Talbot alone, more than £6.3m has been earmarked for safety works, including drainage improvements at Cwmgwrach where one tip was recently upgraded to Category D.

A new law — the Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Act — received Royal Assent last month. It will establish a dedicated Disused Tips Authority in 2027 to oversee monitoring and management. The legislation builds on proposals first set out in 2022, when ministers argued that the old law was “no longer fit‑for‑purpose” and called for a supervisory body with enforcement powers and rights of access.

⚠️ What do coal tip categories mean?

Category D
Highest risk. Potential to endanger life or property. Inspected at least twice a year.

Category C
Significant risk. Potential to impact public safety. Inspected at least once a year.

Category A & B
Lower risk. A = very low, B = low. Inspected less frequently.

Why it matters: Category C and D tips are the focus of safety works and new legislation, as they pose the greatest potential danger to communities.

Communities still living with coal’s legacy

Across South West Wales, more than 90 high‑risk tips remain on hillsides above towns and villages. For residents in places like Godre’r‑graig and Caerau, the latest reclassifications are a reminder that the scars of coal mining are not just historical — they continue to shape daily life.

Campaigners say the figures underline the need for long‑term solutions, not just inspections. As one local activist put it: “We’ve lived with these tips for generations. Every reclassification is a reminder that the risk is still with us.”

The risks are not confined to spoil tips alone. In 2021, a burst mine shaft in Skewen caused catastrophic flooding, leading to a national mines safety summit. First Minister Mark Drakeford warned then that climate change and heavier rainfall would increase the likelihood of such incidents.

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#AfanValley #Ammanford #Blaengarw #Blaengwrach #Cadle #Caerau #coalTip #coalTipRisk #coalTipSafety #Croeserw #Crynant #Cwmgors #Cwmgwrach #Cymmer #DulaisValley #featured #Felindre #GarwValley #Glyncorrwg #GodreRgraig #HeolYCyw #HuwIrrancaDaviesMS #LlynfiValley #Loughor #Nantymoel #OgmoreVale #OgmoreValley #Onllwyn #Pontardawe #Pontycymmer #Portmead #SevenSisters #SwanseaValley #ValeOfNeath #WelshGovernment

Loughor man jailed for running multi‑drug supply operation

Oliver Nancarrow, of Beili Glas, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court to three years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to possession and being concerned in the supply of cocaine, ecstasy, psilocin, ketamine, cannabis, LSD and MDMA, as well as possessing criminal property.

The court heard Nancarrow came to police attention during an unrelated investigation when officers identified his number in seized phones. Subsequent enquiries linked him to a drugs line offering a range of substances, with bulk text messages advertising prices and even “tester” samples of cocaine to potential customers.

When South Wales Police’s organised crime team searched his home on 7 July, they found quantities of Class A and B drugs, £3,410 in cash, and six mobile phones — two of which contained messages tying him to the supply of a large list of drugs. Officers also recovered packaging branded “Head Chef”, hidden storage containers, and lists of debts.

In total, police seized cocaine, ecstasy tablets and powder, LSD tabs, magic mushrooms, cannabis and ketamine, with an estimated street value of more than £13,000.

Judge Geraint Walters described the operation as “sophisticated”, noting concealment methods including magnetic storage boxes designed to attach to vehicles.

Sergeant Luke Tucker, of South Wales Police, said:

“Oliver Nancarrow is another young man who has now thrown away years of his life due to involving himself in the illegal drugs trade. Like so many others before him, he was motivated only by financial greed, and did not care for how many lives would be damaged as a result of the drugs being used. He is rightfully starting a sizeable sentence in prison.”

Nancarrow will serve up to half his sentence in custody before being released on licence.

#Cannabis #cocaine #Crime #drugs #Ecstasy #ketamine #Loughor #LSD #MDMA #psilocin #SouthWalesPolice

Gower volunteers’ success in winter-water testing to fight sewage in the sea

Volunteers have taken more than 275 samples across 16 sites on 13 beaches from Loughor, Rhossili, Horton, Pobbles, Pwll Du, as well as a few around Swansea Bay.  The samples are tested for bacteria found in sewage, particularly intestinal enterococci, E. coli and coliforms, which can be harmful to health.

The majority – 94.6% – of the samples provided excellent results. However 5.4% of the tests showed high levels of bacteria – most were associated with wet weather.

Nature Days scientist Dawn Thomas, who has been overseeing the project, says: ‘We are very lucky and proud to say that the majority of beaches around Gower have excellent water quality.’

All of the samples were sent to a pathology lab in Manchester used by Surfers Against Sewage. The Gower Society says the data is needed to help agencies including Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Water, Swansea Council and Welsh Government to target their resources at the worst affected beaches.

The project was started last year by Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi to address a critical gap in testing, as regular water quality measurements are not typically done during winter. Natural Resources Wales only has the budget to measure between May to October. It has now taken over the testing.

Tonia Antoniazzi MP praised the volunteer team who’ve made it all possible: “I think the community involvement has been magic. Seeing the enthusiasm of our volunteers – especially the school children from Penyrheol and Knelston, the generosity of local businesses and the hard work done by the Gower Society. It’s fantastic. I think this project is a blueprint for the future. I shall be sharing the idea with other coastal MPs.”

The organisers are keen to restart again this winter.

Sarah Samuel from the Gower Society said: “There’s a need to carry this on. We need to keep collecting this data so we can keep our seawater clean.  We have the support of the volunteers we just need more businesses to come forward to help us fund the testing kits.”

The 275 testing kits used so far have been bought for £22 each. They were funded by local organisations including the Gower Society, Nature Days, Surfside Cafe, Penguin Recruitment, Bay Studios, St Mary’s Square Developments, The Morgans Collection and Burrows Caravan Park.

#GowerSociety #Horton #Loughor #PobblesBay #PwllDu #Rhossili #sewage #ToniaAntoniazziMP #waterQuality

Police to crush e-scooters and off-road bikes used anti-socially within 48 hours

Perpetrators of anti-social driving face having their cars, e-scooters or off-road bikes seized and destroyed after 48 hours under stronger powers proposed by the UK Government. Currently, police must wait 14 days before being able to dispose of a vehicle, making it easier for offenders to reclaim their vehicles and with a limited deterrent to repeat offending.

The measures to fast-track the disposal of vehicles comes alongside additional proposals to give police stronger powers to seize any vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing them.

Communities across Swansea have been plagued by people riding offroad bikes in an antisocial way.

Police say they have received an “increase in calls regarding off-road bikes in and around the Loughor and Pontarddulais areas in recent weeks”.

Just last week, Swansea Bay News reported photos taken by a local resident that showed five offroad motorbikes being driven through Loughor, with riders – some of which are wearing balaclavas rather than helmets – pulling wheelies and driving in a dangerous manner.

Residents say this is a “massive problem” and that offroad bikes “ride on pavements, footpaths, play areas and roads and have no regards for their own or others safety.”

Gower MP, Tonia Antoniazzi says she supports the UK Government’s crackdown.

Ms Antioniazzi said: “It’s sad that it’s come to this, but people have the right to feel safe in their streets. If off-road bikes and scooters are being deliberately driven in residential roads to cause a nuisance and intimidate people tough action is needed. I welcome what the government is doing to support the police to tackle antisocial behaviour and prevent reoffending”

South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Wools said: “These new powers send a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities in Wales: swift justice will be delivered and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.

“Sales of e-scooters and off-road bikes have rapidly increased, so today is an important step in tackling more serious crime in Wales, with the vehicles often used to facilitate drug dealing, organised acquisitive crime and serious violence.”

#antisocialBehaviour #Loughor #offRoadBikes #PoliceAndCrimeCommissioner #SouthWalesPolice #ToniaAntoniazziMP #UKGovernment

Residents terrified of ‘intimidating’ off-road bikes in Loughor are demanding action

Photos taken by local resident, Robert Neil on Tuesday (20 May) show five offroad motorbikes being driven down Castle Street in Loughor, with riders – some of which are wearing balaclavas rather than helmets – pulling wheelies and driving in a dangerous manner.

A 67-year-old local resident, who didn’t want her name published for fear of reprisals, said: “I was intimidated by these idiots. I had to stop to let a car through and they drove right up to by bumper revving their bikes constantly. I had to pull to the side to get rid of them. They went speeding off four in a line and easily could  have killed or injure someone.”

Local resident Sara Nabialek said: “It is a massive problem. I live in Gorseinon near the cycle paths and we regularly get off road bikes driving around Parc Melyn Mynach where there is a children’s play area, kids in their bikes and lots of dog walkers.

“Yesterday a lady with sight difficulties and a white stick was walking towards the path with her child when an off road bike went shooting from the main road up the path towards the play area.

“I saw three of these lunatics driving from the housing estate by Asda on the roads, Out onto Valeo roads. These are off road bikes so have no tax MOT or insurance.

“Over the years I’ve reported bikes to the police, I’ve raised the issue with our MP twice and still the problem continues and worsens.

“They ride on pavements, footpaths, play areas and roads and have no regards for their own or others safety. They know the police won’t and can’t do anything to stop them so they continue. I fear nothing will change until someone is injured or worse killed by one of these clowns.”

Writing on social media, Megan Johnson said: “The ones with no helmets and balaclavas I’ve seen around Gorseinon before. These and the E scooters on pavements and roads need to be stopped. Speed bumps don’t work with these kids.”

An anonymous poster added: “They were at the estuary foreshore earlier. Riding along the path while people were walking dogs there. A matter of time before someone gets injured.” 

The police have said they have had an increasing number of calls about off-road bikes in the area, and are calling on the public to report sightings so they can respond more effectively.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “We received a report of off-road bikes and/or e-bikes being ridden anti-socially in the area of Castle Street, Loughor, Swansea at around 6.45pm on Tuesday May 20.

“We have had an increase in calls regarding off-road bikes in and around the Loughor and Pontarddulais areas in recent weeks.

“The local Neighbourhood Policing Team are aware of this matter and looking at possible solutions to address the issue. PCSOs have attended the area to reassure the community.

“We encourage reports from members of public so that we can identify patterns and trends to respond more efficiently. If you know the identity of any of the riders involved in this anti-social behaviour, please report it to us via 101, quoting 2500159794.”

#antisocialBehaviour #featured #Gorseinon #Loughor #offRoadBikes #Pontarddulais #SouthWalesPolice

Kingsbridge school visits Downing Street as part of Ukraine twinning scheme

YGG Pontybrenin, in Kingsbridge, Gorseinon is amongst more than 750 schools from across the UK and Ukraine who have applied to take part in the scheme, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership in January.

The programme will further cement the unbreakable ties between the two countries, fostering classroom friendships, cultural understanding and inspiring future generations of world leaders, diplomats and business leaders.

Year Six teacher Sophie Dark was thrilled to accompany YGG Pontybrenin pupils to the official launch event at No10 on April 25 – also attended by children from Kyiv School Number 219 which the Prime Minister visited in January.

She said: “It was an incredible, surreal experience. I had to get the kids to pinch me because it was something I hadn’t expected, and to be able to give that opportunity to the students as well is something that I, and certainly they, won’t forget.

“The pupils absolutely loved the tour, but their first impression of 10 Downing Street was meeting Larry the Cat. For myself, it was climbing up those stairs from Love Actually.

“It was just incredible to have a tour, to see the Cabinet Room, and to see where the Second World War ended, but with the future of tomorrow in the room with you. That was a pinch me moment.”

YGG Pontybrenin has been paired with a school in Kryvyi Rih, a city in central Ukraine and Sophie says the children are already finding common bonds despite the horrors of war being inflicted on Ukraine following Russia’s barbaric invasion.

Sophie explained: “We’ve already started the project back in March and we’ve already made contact with the children there.

“For us, with the school we’re linked with in Kryvyi Rih, we’ve been exchanging videos and in those videos we’ve seen sirens go off in the background, so our students have got an understanding of what is going on in Ukraine.

“They also know that they are learning online and they go to school one day a week and they go to school in the church sometimes because the church has a cellar underground, so it is the safest place for them to get together.

“But our students know the children in Kryvyi Rih are safe and they know they are giving those children hope that there is life outside of Ukraine and that there is life outside of the war and the conflict.

“The situation in Ukraine is pretty different to the situation in Wales. However, they’ve seen so many parallels between life here and life there.

“There’s mines and steelworks in Ukraine, they’ve got a national costume, they’ve got a national dance. We did some dancing in Downing Street and it was so similar to the dawnsio gwerin in Wales.

“So, the children can see that they are similar and not everyone is completely different, which was really great.”

Sophie added: “They got an opportunity to write letters and you could really see it was children because they were asking simple questions like ‘What’s your favourite colour?’, ‘Do you prefer cats or dogs?’.

“Hopefully it is a partnership that is going to go on for a hundred years and I just hope it does because we all remember the pen pals we had as children, so you hope that that is going to be the same for them.

“At the moment, we’ve been doing sharing a book together and it is a book about colours. We’ve been learning the words in Ukrainian and they’ve been learning the words not only in English but in Welsh, so it’s a three language project for us, so it is really special.”

Children from YGG Pontybrenin, St Marie’s Catholic Primary School & Nursery, Rugby, Warwickshire,  and English Martyrs Catholic Primary School attended the event hosted by Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty.

The children will also mark the launch of a new commemorative stamp, designed by both the UK and Ukrainian governments, which will be entered into circulation by the Ukrainian postal service Ukrposhta from the end of this month.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The unbreakable bond between the UK and Ukraine is often best reflected in the friendships formed among our children. These young minds are the architects of our future and security, fostering connections that transcend borders and cultures, and this partnership will deliver brighter futures for children in both countries.

“Our support is not only about providing military assistance, which remains crucial in ensuring Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, but also about standing by Ukraine for generations to come, as it seeks a just and lasting peace.

“That’s why our support matters not only now, but for our future, as all ages stand up for the values we hold dear, which are fundamental to our national security and Plan for Change.”

The schools are being supported through the British Council’s UK-Ukraine School Partnerships programme.

Head of UK Schools at the British Council, Shannon West said: “Creating opportunities for young people has been at the heart of the work of the British Council for the last 90 years.

“We are delighted to be working with so many schools on this programme, which will give young people the international outlook and skills to thrive in our global society and strengthen ties between the UK and Ukraine.”

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Local volunteers to be honoured at Eisteddfod yr Urdd after decades of work for the youth organisation

Each year, individuals who have made a special contribution to Wales’ largest youth organisation are honoured by the Urdd. This year, attention turns to West Glamorgan, and four volunteers will be named Honorary Presidents of Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2025 in a special ceremony on the Maes (the festival ground).

The four Honorary Presidents of Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr 2025 are Davida Lewis, Janet Jones, Menna Bennett Joynson and Wayne Pedrick.

Llio Maddocks, Director of the Arts, Urdd Gobaith Cymru said: “The four who are being honoured this year have given over 160 years of support to the movement. Volunteers play a vital role in the work and reach of the Urdd, and we’re delighted to recognise the dedication of these particular four volunteers at a special ceremony at the Eisteddfod on Monday, 26 May.”

Davida Lewis

Brought up in Swansea, Davida Lewis has spent her life in the Eisteddfod’s local area. She established two local choirs: ‘Côr Plant Waunarlwydd’ in 1965 and ‘Côr Waunarlwydd’ in 1970. The choirs have had considerable success locally and internationally for 60 years. The choirs still exist, and even though Davida has transferred the reigns to a new conductor, she still enjoys participating as a member. Being awarded the title of Honorary President at the Eisteddfod in her own area will be a crowning achievement, after her wealth of experiences and successes in Eisteddfodau over the decades.

Janet Jones

Brought up in Loughor, Janet has lived in Neath for over 40 years. Music is in her blood and over the years she has competed regularly on stages, winning several major prizes at Eisteddfod yr Urdd and at the National Eisteddfod.

Janet is the conductor of ‘Parti Llwchwr’. She has shared her musical talents by teaching children to sing and perform at Eisteddfodau and numerous events over the years. She established ‘Adran Nedd’ in 1993 to offer cultural and Welsh experiences to the youth of the area. Following the success of the group, she established ‘Uwch Adran Nedd’ to continue to provide experiences to older children.

She has also been an active member of the Neath and Afan Local Committee, as well as Chair of the Regional Committee. Janet is one of the Vice-Chairs of the Executive Committee for this year’s Eisteddfod yr Urdd.

Menna Bennett Joynson

Menna was born in Llanidloes before her family moved to Llanuwchllyn and then to Aberystwyth. She grew up in a musical and cultured household and was familiar with singing and participating in Eisteddfodau from an early age. At Eisteddfod yr Urdd, she has had considerable success in the field of ‘cerdd dant’, while she also coached pupils to sing and compete in her role as a music teacher at Ysgol Rhydfelen.

In 1976 she moved to Swansea with her husband and raised three children locally. Menna established ‘Adran Sgeti’ in 1978 which later developed into ‘Aelwyd yr Urdd Sgeti’. Over the years, they went on to have considerable success at Eisteddfod yr Urdd. Menna was appointed music teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr and a peripatetic harp teacher in the area. She talks of her gratitude to the Urdd, adding that all the experiences she and her pupils have had have greatly enriched her life.

Wayne Pedrick

Wayne’s first experience of Eisteddfod yr Urdd was through his children, Lisa and Aled, when they were pupils at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Gwaun Cae Gurwen and Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera. Both loved to compete, with Aled winning the 2003 Bryn Terfel Scholarship at the Tawe, Neath and Afan Eisteddfod.

Wayne worked at the local coal plant, and in 1998 he got a job as a peripatetic brass teacher. In that role, he encouraged and supported his pupils to compete at Eisteddfod yr Urdd, both as soloists and as an ensemble.

He was appointed Head of the Peripatetic Music Service in Neath Port Talbot in 2016 and helps run three youth and junior orchestras, three youth and junior brass bands and a Youth Choir and Big Band. Wayne also regularly adjudicates instrumental competitions at regional and national Eisteddfodau.

Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr will be held at Margam Park between 26 and 31 May. Tickets for Eisteddfod yr Urdd, including for the Triban Festival which will be held on the festival ground, are available at www.urdd.cymru/en/eisteddfod/ 

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