Monmouth's pedestrian subway is transformed with murals, engaging the vision-impaired community in art appreciation. Mural designs have transformed a pedestrian subway in Monmouth, and were brought to life to be enjoyed by a local support group living with sight loss. The Monmouth Vision Impaired Group were recently met by Monmouth Town Mayor, Cllr David Evans, who gave detailed descriptions to showcase the murals which are on display along the subway which runs underneath a part of the A40. The mural installation, which was created by local artist Paul Shepherd, was part of a Monmouth Town Council initiative, which was funded by Wye valley National landscape Sustainable Development Fund. The project began in 2024 with a grant of over £9,000 from the Wye Valley National landscape and was match funded from the Town Council, making a total budget of over £12,500. The Macular Society Volunteer Support Group’s chairperson Angela Hoyle said: “I was very excited to bring the murals to life for our group members, so I came up with the idea of projecting them onto a large screen in a dimmed environment. “ The Mayor, David Evans said: “it was impressive to know how young people had played a part in the subject matter and designs. This led to members airing their personal recollections of the Wye and made for interesting discussions.” The group said: “Our thanks go to the Wyesham Christian fellowship for hosting us, to Pastor Ian Roberts and to the mayor who generously gave their time.” The Monmouth vision impaired group, overseen by national sight loss charity, the Macular society, meet every first Thursday of the month between 2-4pm at Wyesham Christian fellowship. Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK. Nearly 1.5 million people are currently affected and many more are at risk with around 300 new diagnoses every day. Comments Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Join us on May 18th for a tour of Monmouth's historic Nelson Garden, commemorating Lord Nelson's 1802 visit. The Nelson Garden commemorates Lord Nelson’s visit to Monmouth in 1802. Travelling with Sir William and Lady Emma Hamilton, his visit caused great excitement and included a grand dinner at the Beaufort Arms in Monmouth. “About eight o’clock, his Lordship and friends took …… accompanied Colonel Lindsay to the beautiful summer House in his garden ... there to enjoy the refreshments of tea and coffee, and pass the remainder of the evening in that charming retreat” Extract from Charles Heath’s PROUD DAYS FOR MONMOUTH Thursday August 19, 1802 The present garden pavilion, possibly designed by George Vaughan Maddox, the Monmouth architect, dates from about 1840 and contains the seat from the original pavilion and a plaque commemorating Nelson’s visit. The garden is cared for by the volunteer Friends of the Nelson Garden and the planting features species that would have been popular in ornamental gardens of the late 18th/early 19th centuries. The 18c North wall is a rare surviving example of a “hot wall”, heated to help the ripen the fruit growing against it. Nearby is the entrance to the formal walled garden of St. Johns. This charming garden has been beautifully restored with a sunken central lawn and deep herbaceous borders. The house has a beautiful 19c verandah, from the Coalbrookdale foundry near Telford. This garden is Grade II listed in Cadw’s register of Parks and Gardens of special interest in Wales. The gardens of North parade house and Cornwall House are also part of Monmouth Open Gardens on Sunday, May 18th from 11.30am to 5. 30pm. https://ngs.org.uk/gardens/monmouth-gardens-np25/ A day ticket is £10 – children free – buy your ticket at the first garden you visit. There will be home made teas at St.Johns and a plant sale at the Nelson Garden. Tel: 01873 852187[email protected]Follow us Further Links formerly known as Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) Having sailed across the world for 28 years needing a time-consuming and costly refit to remain in service The sale of the ship was advertised by the DE&S team for recycling only the team specialises in the responsible disposal of vehicles vessels and equipment no longer needed by UK Armed Forces Expressions of interest were requested from recycling yards on a European list of ship recycling facilities and after a robust tender process and evaluation ship recycling company Leyal Gemi Sokum Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd Sti were awarded the contract Head of the Exports and Sales team at DE&S who served as a Lieutenant in HMS Monmouth for her first commission “It is always a sad day when you see a ship that was a significant part of your life heading for disposal but I am happy at least that the sale of HMS Monmouth for recycling in Turkey will provide an ethical and responsible method of recovering metals and other valuable assets which provides a financial return for the Royal Navy A fitting end for a ship that has served the nation well.” Originally commissioned in 1993 as a Cold War submarine hunter HMS Monmouth was nicknamed the ‘Black Duke’ HMS Monmouth helped to provide humanitarian aid during the Sierra Leone Civil War and hunted pirates off the Somalian coast She was deployed across the world including the Antarctic She was briefly used as a harbour training ship but her last major deployment was in 2018 when she accompanied HMS Queen Elizabeth to the USA HMS Monmouth was taken out of service on 30 June 2021 after being stripped of her weapons and sensors She left Portsmouth harbour on 3 April 2025 to be towed to her final destination Type 23 frigates are known as the Duke class because they are named after British Dukes currently being built by BAE Systems in its Govan and Scotstoun shipyards in Glasgow will replace the Anti-Submarine Warfare retiring Type 23 fleet will be flexible and advanced warships with the primary purpose of Anti-Submarine Warfare protecting the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent and Carrier Strike Group The Type 26 contract sustains approximately 6,000 jobs across the UK maritime supply chain More than 100 UK suppliers have been contracted for the programme are also being built and integrated at Babcock’s Rosyth facility in Scotland and these will replace five general purpose T23 frigates as they come out of service including 1,250 jobs across the wider UK supply chain Type 31s will be flexible and adaptable by design with mission bays to allow them to be re-equipped to fit whatever missions they are tasked to undertake – such as interception and disruption of those using the sea for unlawful purposes Find out more about what we do at DE&S DE&S helps our armed forces protect the nation Few other organisations have a higher collective purpose It’s this purpose that drives our experts to deliver every day sailors and aviators serving our country have what they need to succeed Our commitment extends beyond delivering world-class equipment and support to the UK Armed Forces; we are dedicated to supporting UK economic growth championing sustainability and creating social value across our operations and the contracts we place with industry every UK military operation no matter where it is in the world across land is also backed by the support we provide 24/7 Join the Monmouth Fire Department in Monmouth for a 6-minute audio tour of their innovative new training facility constructed from repurposed shipping containers They dive into how firefighters are honing their skills with live burn drills and exercises using their 107-foot Ladder 40 truck Learn about the facility’s practical design for real-world scenarios and its potential to serve as a regional training hub this setup is a game-changer for keeping Monmouth’s firefighters sharp and ready Perfect for listeners interested in firefighting By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Prairie Communications, 55 Public Square, Monmouth, IL, 61462, https://977wmoi.com/. 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Emails are serviced by Constant Contact this new addition will bring many changes in your life State Senator Mike Halpin has secured over $3.5 million dollars to revitalize 15th Avenue in East Moline and a reconstruction of Main Street in Monmouth “These projects are an exciting development At the recent United Board of Education meeting the newly elected board members were officially seated reports Superintendent Tom Hawkins: “We had our special More than $14,000 was awarded to 31 teachers through the Teacher Mini Grants with the Galesburg Community Foundation explains Director of Grants and Programs Jillian Isaacson: “This year we were Working alongside the hospitality and retail industries State Senator Mike Halpin outlined his measure at a press conference Thursday to create a more targeted approach to combatting human trafficking would like to announce the arrest of a Knox County local registered offender Prairie Communications, LLC which is a part of Robbin’s Treat Resources, LLC. © 2022. All Rights Reserved. Developed by Clear Profits Digital Marketing THE opening date for a new council-run children’s home in Monmouth has been pushed back again by up to three months. Approval to buy and convert the four-bedroom house in the Dixton area was given by Monmouthshire Council’s cabinet in March 2024, and although it was originally intended to open by December, the launch date was pushed back to April 2025. But councillors have now been told the earliest date for works to be completed is June 30, although the council’s children’s services department is “pressing for this to be brought forward”. Council residential service manager Scott Hereford said problems had been discovered after work started on the property, which the council had bought, with grant funding, for £795,000 in March 2024. “Until you start taking plaster off the walls and doors off you don’t know what’s underneath,” Mr Hereford told the council’s performance and overview scutiny committee, but said it had also carried out detailed surveys. Mr Hereford said the service, which is also establishing a four-bedroom children’s in Caldicot, which isn’t expected to open until December, and is looking for a further property in north Monmouthshire, will learn to take account of potential delays. Refurbishment works eventually started in January and the council has appointed staff to run and manage the county’s first council-run children’s home – the location of which hasn’t been revealed publicly, but reportedly in the Dixton area according to neighbours who have been notified – with training to run from May. The council is establishing its own in-house provision to try and meet the rising costs of social care placements and in response to the Welsh Government’s “eliminate agenda”, which is to remove profit from children’s care. Four children currently placed in out of county “for profit” placements will be offered places in Monmouth and the council says “transition planning” has begun with “careful consideration of the potential for a change in service opening date”. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Monmouth Comprehensive School Seniors Welsh Cup Champions 2025 The final whistle goes and Monmouth Comprehensive School are Welsh Schools U18 champions 3-2 - 3 mins to go - skipper George Gouldingay scores with a fantastic finish MONMOUTH Comprehensive’s senior football team are battling it out in the final of the Welsh Schools U18 Cup against Bryntirion at Merthyr FC’s Penydarren Park this afternoon They were presented with new football kit by the Mayor of Monmouth David Evans before setting off and posted: “A massive thank you to the Mayor of Monmouth for presenting our new football kit to our senior football boys on behalf of Monmouth Town Council “The kit looks fantastic and it’s great the boys will be representing the school and town.” Go to Monmouth Comprehensive School’s Twitter page for updates on the match. Tel: 01873 852187[email protected]Follow us Students from Haberdashers Monmouth School delivered a stunning choral and orchestral performance at Hereford Cathedral. Students from Haberdashers Monmouth School enjoyed an evening on Wednesday where they delivered a joyous and moving choral and orchestral concert in the setting of one of England's most sacred spaces. This concert was the annual choral and orchestral concert and it's the second time it's been held in Hereford Cathedral and music department. The music department appreciated the effort from many people who made it possible includingh he staff at Hereford Cathedral, tutors who guided people through rehearsals, Tina Kenworthy the music administrator who has made sure that the evening runs smoothly along with students who performed in the concert and staff who co-ordinated it. The concert was on April 30 at Hereford Cathedral and opened with the senior string Ensemble playing Mozart’s Divertimento before ending on a jazzy- toe tapping rendition of Blue Tango. The Haberdashers Monmouth School symphony orchestra followed with a dramatic plunge into the shadows of Don Giovanni before whisking the audience away with Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite which included a take on In the Hall of the Mountain King. Chicken Run was performed twice in the cathedral. The encore invited the audience to join in with 300 kazoos which filled the cathedral with buzzing delight. After the interval the mood shifted to something altogether more serene and reflective. Year seven students joined the chapel choir to present Faure’s Requiem which was performed in a sensitive arrangement for choir, organ, harp violin and cello. The performance, reverent ad richly textured was marked by solo moments for students Edward and Claire whose voices brought together clarity and emotion to the cathedral The performances were directed by the school’s director of music, Derek Harris and supported by tutors and music administrator, Tina Kensworthy. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us The Boat House Gallery in Monmouth celebrated opening day by featuring the work of 30 new artists. The event, held across two shops, provided a platform for emerging talent to display their creations. The Boat House is an ideal place for upcoming and already established artists to display their works to the wider community with a special exhibition opening day taking place in Monmouth last month when the shop to welcomed a new selection of guest artists. The work of around 30 new artists and makers will now be on show across both shops for approximately 12 weeks. Jenny Chuter, owner of the shop, said: “We had a lovely day - we had lots of artists and makers come down to meet the customers. One of the artists is a violinist who performed during the day.” “We had an artist at the main shop doing a demonstration and because it was such a lovely day they also sat outside and were painting as people went past.” “Pasty Heaven donated some sausage rolls for us as well which made it even more special and enjoyable,” she said. “I have two windows in the high street, and I use one for a mixture of everyone's work and the other one for a spotlight on a certain artist .” With her previous experience working in retail Jenny was able to use her skills to develop her new business which began when she started trading at a market stall and craft fairs which inspired her to take the leap into opening her two shops She explained that while attending craft fairs she met lots of artists whose work would go unseen in the weeks between the events and found that many of them were desperate for somewhere to display their work on a more permanent basis without having to be tied to a particular venue. She added that opening her first shop had been a “steep learning curve, with the business constantly evolving.” Jenny offers artists a 12 week window to display their works in her shops and now has a lengthy waiting list which of around 250 people, which she hopes to be able to work her way through, giving as many artists as possible an opportunity to display their work. She says the most rewarding part of the job is seeing artists’ work, which they have spent so long on, purchased by paying customers as well as watching the artists confidence grow. The owner says other local entrepreneurs looking to do something similar should chose the right location and make sure their shops to be well layered to reduce the chances of it looking empty on a busy day. She also stresses the importance of working out the figures behind starting a business to make sure any potentially hidden costs are accounted for. Jenny has many aspirations for the business in the coming years including moving it online in addition to her high street shops, so people who aren't in the local area can still purchase from talented local artists. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Discover the latest Sunday service times for Monmouth churches this May, including St Thomas, St Mary, and more. Join the community worship and enjoy light refreshments. 4th May 3rd Sunday of Easter, 8am St Mary- 9.30am St Thomas- 10am St Mary- 11am, Wyesham – Sunday Praise- St Cenedlon, St Maughan and St Michael’s- 4pm Priory The 10.30am Service at the Methodist Church, St James Street on Sunday 4th May will be led by Rev Kim Kerchal. Light refreshments will be served in the Church hall following the Service. Wed 7th May 9.30am St Michael- 10.30am St Mary Monmouth Baptist Church- www.monmouthbaptistchurch.org.uk - 10:30am Morning Worship with Sunday Club for children and creche area. 6:30pm Evening Worship. Norton Baptist: 11am Morning Worship. 3rd Sunday's at Cross-Ash Village Hall. Wyesham Christian Fellowship- Sunday morning service 10.30am with Sunday school. Norton Baptist: 11am Morning Worship. 3rd Sunday's at Cross-Ash Village Hall. Wyesham Christian Fellowship- Sunday morning service 10.30am with Sunday school. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Margaret French, a vibrant centenarian from Monmouth, attributes her longevity to 'Being happy and being yourself'. Celebrating her 100th birthday, Margaret enjoys a trishaw ride and a festive tea with friends, honouring her remarkable life journey. Margaret French celebrated her 100th birthday in style with a trishaw ride around Monmouth and then a birthday tea with her friends from Social Circles. The Mayor of Monmouth and his wife Fiona, popped by with a celebratory bottle of fizz and some flowers from the town council. Margaret was born in 1925, the daughter of a ladies maid, her father was a tailor for the armed services mainly the Royal Navy. Her grandmother was a farmer in Sussex and Margaret spent a lot of time there helping with the animals and around the farm. She was a successful athlete with hurdles being her major with many medals to show for it. She was also a keen amateur actress, Sunday schoolteacher, librarian and book-keeper. She met her late husband in a branch of Sainsbury's - she was in accounts, and he was a butcher. They were happily married for more than forty-five years, but he passed away over 20 years ago. She moved from Cornwall to Monmouth to be near to her family and now lives with her daughter and son-in-law. She had two children although her son has passed away. She has six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, who love to visit and hear her stories. Her grandson, who lives in San Francisco, came over especially to join in the fun. Although she is living with Vascular Dementia, she always remains positive and as her eldest great-granddaughter says, “she does a very good impression of knowing what is happening.” She enjoys the weekly visit to the Social Circles club at Bridges, run by Emma Hartley, where she loves to sing and do puzzles joining in with all activities and is a popular member. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Monmouth's car boot sale is back at the showground every Sunday from April 20. Enjoy a day out with family, browsing stalls, and refreshments. Monmouth's popular car boot sale is set to return to the town’s showground every Sunday from this weekend untll the end of the summer. The first sale of this year is being held on Sunday April 20 from 11am until 2.30pm. Cost for sellers are £10 for a car and from £14 for a van with entry costing £1 for buyers. There is space f for more than 200 with there are snacks and refreshments along with an ice-cream van to get you through the summer heat. The car boots will run weekly from April until October depending on the weather. Stalls include clothes, china, bric-a-brac, jewellery, toys and tools and many more. This event will be a great day out for the family. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us The next instalment in Peter Bere’s exploration of Monmouthshire through the ages This week’s image features Monmouth Wye Bridge All printed images are available from Rhodri Clarke at the Monmouth printers The printing cost for an A3 colour image is £10 which includes £3 for the charity ‘Friends of The Earth’ to help tackle Climate Change Any questions regarding images can be directed via email [email protected] Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Join the Monmouth community at Tŷ Price St Thomas’ Community Hall on May 17 for a coffee morning and tabletop sale to support Megan's M.P.S treatment. A Coffee Morning and Tabletop Sale will be at Tŷ Price St Thomas’ Community Hall in aid of the M.P.S Society. A group of friends are raising funds for Megan who suffers with Alpha Mannosidosis as well as helping to raise awareness. They are helping raise funds for Megan’s continuation of a weekly infusion which she needs to keep her well and the on-going support by the M.P.S nursing team and organisation. The coffee morning will take place on May 17 from 10am until 12.30pm. It will include cakes, crafts, books and tombola, coffee, tea, squash, cold drinks and scones with jam and cream pots. Traders in Monmouth donated raffle prizes towards this coffee morning along with snacks and refreshments. There will also be a plant sale. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Catherine Fookes visited Monmouth Comprehensive School to talk about her campaign to protect the River Wye, inspiring students to create their own river protection campaign. Catherine Fookes has been an MP since 2024 and has been helping raise and look at issues or concerns people in the community have Monmouth Comprehensive School invited Catherine Fookes following her ongoing campaign to clean up and protect the River Wye and Usk During Ms Fookes’ visit she spoke to students about the progress of her campaign so far including the development and passing of the Water (special measures) Bill and securing £1 million of investment to help restore the Wye Students at MCS then took part in a lively activity to come up with a slogan for their own river campaign “I was really impressed by the passion and knowledge of the students at Monmouth Comprehensive,” she said “It’s clear they care deeply about the environment and our rivers and it was inspiring to speak to some of the students and hear more about their ideas on how we can all do more to protect our rivers.” students also raised an impressive £225 through a school bake sale with all proceeds going to Friends of the River Wye an organisation working to protect and restore the river “There fundraising efforts show just how much these young people care about our rivers and want to make a real difference It gives me real hope for the future.” Said Catherine As the Labour MP for Monmouthshire, Catherine Fookes continues to lead on her campaign to clean up our rivers lobbying the UK and Welsh Government and Welsh Water, working with environmental organisations and urging authorities to take urgent action. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Newly built cabins at Jamie's Farm in Monmouth offer struggling students a chance to thrive through hands-on experience with nature and agriculture. One charity’s bespoke cabins set in the Wye Valley are set to help support young people who are struggling at school. Jamie’s Farm in Monmouth was launched in 2018 and is one of six working farms run by the charity across England and Wales. Together, the farms welcome students who may be struggling in school with behaviour, attendance or mental health issues. All mobile phones and electronics are handed in and students undergo a digital detox from the online for the five days the spend on the farm. They are given the opportunity to look after animals, grow, cook meals for each other and explore the countryside. The latest addition to the farm will be a number of bespoke cabins, which young people have been instrumental in supporting the construction of. The farmers cabins, which are nestled into the farm’s hillside and command panoramic views of Monmouth’s sweeping valleys, will be unveiled on May 1st. Building the cabins has been a team effort, bringing young people together with a dedicated group of contractors and employers. Their scened location has proven quite the challenge in their construction, and will be documented in the Channel 4 documentary, ‘Impossible Builds.’ The cabins were designed by architect Roderick James, with all proceeds from guest visits supporting the work of Jamie’s Farm, Monmouth which aims to transform the lives of young people through its programme of residential farm stays. Since the first Jamie’s Farm was founded in bath 15 years ago by mother and son Tish and Jamie Feilden, the charity has worked with over 17,000 primary and secondary children. The farm is run on a small scale and in a sustainable way that enhances the ecology of the Wye Valley, with homegrown food and a small hillside woodland on site. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us A sunny Monmouth seemingly was the place to be for these bouncing birds. Looks like they had a quacking time! Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Haberdashers’ Monmouth School Simon Dorman has given 15 years of dedicated service to Monmouth first as Second Master and then Headmaster of Monmouth School for Boys Latterly he became Head Designate and then Executive Head of the newly formed coeducational school He has worked tirelessly and selflessly for the school community in these various demanding roles and we all owe him a very great debt of gratitude He has now decided that the time is right to hand over the leadership of the school for the next stage in its development and he will be leaving at the end of this summer term The Governors and the Haberdashers are delighted to announce that Simon’s successor from August this year will be Melvyn Roffe a hugely experienced and greatly respected educational leader who is currently CEO of the Clifton College Education Group having previously been Principal of George Watson’s College in Edinburgh for ten years Melvyn’s contributions to debates on educational and related matters have often been influential and he is one of the few people to have served during his career as Chair of both the Boarding Schools’ Association and HMC – The Heads’ Conference the organisation representing the Heads of leading independent schools in the UK and internationally Tel: 01600713143Email: enquiries@habsmonmouth.org24 Hereford Rd Haberdashers’ Monmouth School Limited | Registered in England and Wales | Company Number 09177946Registered Office St Catherine’s House Online searches for mobility aids in Monmouth have increased by 23.53%, raising concerns over local health issues as the government tightens welfare access. SEARCHES for mobility aids in Monmouth have jumped by nearly a quarter since 2022, sparking concern that more local people could be struggling with their health as government welfare reforms loom. New data shows that online searches in Monmouth for terms such as ‘disability equipment’ rose by 23.53% between January 2022 and January 2025, from 340 to 420 searches. The figure mirrors a national trend, with the UK overall seeing a 7.52% rise in such searches. Monmouth ranks third in Wales for search increases by percentage. Mobility expert Alex Muir from EMS Lifts, warned the figures could point to a growing crisis: “Seeing a rise in numbers like this is concerning when the government is seeking to make accessing support through things like PIP more difficult. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us The first of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates to be disposed of was towed out of Portsmouth this morning to be scrapped in Turkey HMS Monmouth was the sixth ship of the class and was built by Yarrow shipbuilders on the Clyde The ‘Black Duke’ served all over the world from the North Atlantic to the Gulf and circumnavigated the globe in 2007 Monmouth’s last major deployment was in 2018 when she accompanied HMS Queen Elizabeth on the Westlant deployment to the US She sailed for the final time in April 2019 and was laid up This was eventually abandoned as a cost-saving measure and she is the only ship of her class never to have had a mid-life upgrade briefly serving as a harbour training ship She was used by the replacement crews preparing to take over the Type 23 frigate forward-deployed in the Gulf There we briefly rumours she might be sold to Greece as part of a deal to sell the Hellenic Navy Type 31 frigates but this was always extremely unlikely She was subsequently towed to Portsmouth in 2021 and handed over to DSRO for the final stripping of equipment She never received a proper decommissioning ceremony and was officially withdrawn from RN service on 30 June 2021 The ship’s bell was handed over to the mayor of Monmouth in Wales for safekeeping having been on board for the 28 years the ship was in commission during which time she sailed more than half a million miles and visited over 200 ports At least 2,000 sailors served on board this ship during its lifetime The long list of Royal Navy warships and RFAs that have been disposed of in the last two decades have mostly ended up at the Leyal scrapyard at Aliaga on Turkey’s Aegean coast The UK does not have a facility where ships can be dismantled safety and environmental regulations making it financially unviable despite the rise in the price of scrap steel in the last decade Monmouth is the first of all the Type 23s to be scrapped (The 3 older Type 23s sold to Chile are still going strong) Disposing of a warship that is over 30 years old would not be at all remarkable if there was a replacement ready to take her place in the fleet currently on the trots in Portsmouth harbour She never got a refit We also don’t have enough crew I recall she was supposed to have got 80% through the refit and was scheduled to go to BAES as a training ship That is what going to happen to her going to BAES as a training ship We don’t have enough crew because we keep scrapping vessels I’d argue that is only a small part of the issue even just last year we only had 7 frigates crews (barely) for around 9 frigates Read somewhere that 23 of that ships will be going to brasil Anyone wondering what happens in Aliaga might find this website of interest DESA ship recycling reports – GOV.UK Thanks @NAB – Interesting read on the recycling of decommissioned warships Very informative on the process and the regulations under which job is done Wonder why such a similar installation is not setup in the UK since regulation under which the breaking up of ships is done in Turkey is essentially EU regulations Only real issue I see for UK is labor costs but I am sure the UK operator of such a facility would be more automated than in Turkey same way shipbuilding in UK is less labor intensive than in Turkish shipyards It exists = it is just that the RN has not found it yet…… You can’t really automate shipbreaking in any meaningful way particularly if you’re separating the different materials etc Someone still has to go in and dismantle the outfit components and separate the sheet metal (furniture and HVAC ducting) from the ferrous and non-ferrous pipework I wouldn’t say UK build yards are any more automated than Turkish to be honest – main automation in both is steel prep Once you’re into outfit it’s still very manpower intensive – the degree depends on when in the build stage you install things UK / scrapping ships vs UK / scrapping cars — the cant be ersed vibe is strong in that one I wonder how many gold plated regulations are included in the ship process that have been worked away / around in the car process Surprised that no-one wanted to take over the carcass and do some real world prototyping New bow in the modern PSV mould would have been a good start I wonder what value was put on those parts Or is it cannibalizing in true Vietnam mode to keep the rest moving “The UK does not have a facility where ships can be dismantled despite the rise in the price of scrap steel in the last decade” Dear Mr Editor = it should either have been published two days ago I am afraid to have to be the one to tell you that the UK does have such a facility It is so well hidden up in Hartlepool that only the US intelligence has ever found it And the US has certified it as being environmentally friendly: to the onerous US standards Able Marine Decommissioning — Able UK (see more details under “marine decommissioning” tab) A tough no-nonsense North Eastern company = and thus very good at what they do Some of you old gits may well remember the huge enviromental protest which hit this yard when the USN tried to scap its old supply ships (many years back) The legacy of Hartlepool’s US Navy ‘ghost ships’ – BBC News The RN and DES really needs to look them up in the yellow pages!Peter (Irate Taxpayer) PS Having just said that: getting into Hartlepool by road or rail is right pain in the backside It is is a very long way north of the Watford Gap however one gets a very warm welcome when one is bringing much needed jobs into the region…. Not that I know of …….and that is despite the fact that the RN and NL have never even having heard of them they were still recruiting for “a few good men” (note1) Careers — Able UK So why don’t you apply for one of their vacancies You might find that intelligent life exists outside of Pompey Some will say that not too much intelligent life lives in Pompey either (if the crowds at Fratton Park are anything to base a judgement on!) will be publishing it`s accounts on 22nd of May for 2024 Ghost ship stushie — remember it well Website points to property development / land banking and offshore wind They seem to be a very active company so they must have found a niche The big dock could do with some investment — 3 sperate units HMG have run scared from the wimmin of the local FoE branch ever since the “Ghost ships” which is why the only two RN ships recycled in the UK since were ex-Intrepid (in Liverpool) and ex-Cornwall in Swansea hence much easier to ask those nice folk from Leyal Able also did ex-Clemenceau as well (after another environmental odyssey precluded her going to Alang) and indeed MOD have not run scared of in recent decades?…..they currently seem to be scared of their own shadows It is bit of a shame that all of these old ships were exported Had these RN ships been cut up and recycled here in the UK: then the MOD payment would have been recycled back into the UK economy via wages and taxes spent locally etc (instead of the taxpayers money being exported out to Turkey) I think the issue is more the terms of sale Nominally the scrapper pays MoD to remove the vessel and makes their profit on the difference between the cost of recycling and the amount they recover in scrap value I suspect Able would struggle to keep the cost of recycling sufficiently low to make a profit from the scrap value of materials recovered They might be better off now with the freeport scheme They’re certainly dealing with more competent and coherent customers in the O&G market not sure they’d want to engage with chimp-central again The whole Ghost ship fiasco was a great shame – had they been able to do them quickly and without fuss they could have stolen a march on the competition and become the default established solution Back then they were absolutely set up to do it and in a really good position Amazing the damage a bunch of hippies with GWB derangement syndrome can do Do your research before making false statements Shell Brent Charlie Rig Arrives at Able Seaton Port — Able UK ABLE Seaton Port – Teesside Freeport I would be the first to admit that Able seem to have mostly been concentrating on cutting up old oil and gas rigs over recent years However absolutely no reason whatsover why they could not cut up an old RN warship (hey are much smaller and simplier) This one (Brent Charlie) was reportedly 97% converted into razor blades Able have several companies – their one for disposing of warships went bust years ago They do not currently have a license to cut up warships they have permission/license what ever you wish to call it to deal with rigs but they do not have a company that allows them to cut up warships they never had one from The UK they were using one from America so they could dispose of some of the ghost fleet (even then they used quite a few loopholes) – Your information is nearly a year old To cut up a British warship in The UK requires lots and lots (and lots more) licenses and specific requirements – due to H&S However it is cheaper and there are less stringent laws in Turkey which makes it easier Go look up what happened when HMS Cornwall was scrapped in The UK – such a monumental screw up I am no longer going to waste my time replying to you if you cannot look up simple things Thus there is now very little difference in the safety and environmental standards between what MOD has recently required the Turks to do with HMS Diligence over in Turkey – and the usual long-standing safety and environmental applied here in the UK Note that MOD went out to Turkey to photograph things “being done proper like” PS However please can you also note that the MOD always goes for lowest price (that is also in that link about Diligence) Thus I strongly suspect that Turkey was cheapest on price has a very good maritime museum in the old dock yard Agreed – a surprisingly worthwhile visit (if well off the normal tourist trail…) National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool | National Museum of the Royal Navy Last time I was up there in town was when Durham University were thinking of moving their marine research department to the seaside ((It is currently well inland) That was all go go go for a while…… I never really understood why they pulled the plug That one investment really could have really transformed Hartlepool PS Don’t tell them the RN is now exporting scrap steel to Turkey Durham to lead new £21.3m research hub to decarbonise UK maritime sector – Durham University Was an answer to a written question in House of Commons That’s a fair bit higher than public numbers And I inagine the same will go for the new frigates We should be working towards 50 plus mission support Better comms should mean more can be done on dry land That is bonkers mental — they have to crew it not build it Where does the helicopter crew / aviation department sit Engineering includes weapons and electronic engineering For every specialist system you need specialist maintainers…. T45:- SAMPSON 1850 ASTER 4.5” 30mm Phalanx NSM – soon Sea Ceptor – soon GTs DGUs ELINT/EW Decoy system EO system General electrical and plumbing trades to keep things working at sea If you want a full fat warship expect a full fat crew One of the main reasons for T31 smaller crew was…..simpler…. Still seems high — we are using it / servicing it not rebuilding it / upgrading it No support effort available in the user base Plus there must be some sort of multi tasking capability Radar knowledge on the water / specific system knowledge on land Outsider so please help — what kind of on the water support are we able to do on the Aster missiles Service servos / rocket motors / upload software patches No matter — the crew numbers need to halve There is all this breathless chat about autonomous systems And then we have the current high human local effort reality Bare bones crew for the new “autonomous” units Shame she cannot be cleaned up and sunk as part of a SINKEX to make an artificial reef off the UK coast Would be great for marine life and make a nice attraction for scuba divers The process is very expensive and no one wants to pay With a Lifex she could have given many more years service specially if she had received the engine upgrade let’s just scrap it instead despite the fact we di not have a replacement for her Even with Lifexs many of our T23 are unreliable and prone to issues There’s no guarantee an expensive refit would’ve done Monmouth any good It might well have had something to do with the one key fact that the structures and especially the hull plating of the T23 was only ever designed for 18 years use out in the cold North Atlantic Thus the T23 are now suffering from what your NHS doctor would call “old age” Is their anything in the RN that is reliable Regarding this unit — she should have trialled a fully diesel powertrain plus some batteries Rough as a badgers erse conversion as a proof of concept Two 40′ containers worth of batteries And 20MW’s worth of medium speed diesels Reclaimed units from a fast ferry to keep the cost down We desperately need to get into mild steel prototypes Use them as training vessels once they have served their testing purpose Uckers about the only thing the RN is good at……if you are of a certain age possibly 🤔 They have all had a Lifex and are laid up The grown ups are in charge and wasting money is not top of their list Joined Argyll brand new in 91 Seems like only yesterday Thought she had been sold to either The Clyde for marine work or for foreign navy no update on either of the previous stories for her Iv been lucky enough to have been invited on both HMS Somerset and HMS Monmouth as part of the PACAS ( parents and Children at sea ) scheme my son was a serving member of the Fleet Air Arm company but I’m sure it was an honour for all of us to see our family members at work I loved every minute of it including watching them at play in Lisbon and Gibraltar I’m sure I have board lots of friends and family reliving my time in the Navy 😎😎😎 He is about to retire and I know he would serve his time all over again with the people he calls life long friends an old hull is better than swimming g to war with a cutlass between your teeth As for can’t find somewhere to cut her up in the UK ai have never read such errant and stupid nonsense No point in a rust bucket that won’t be able to get to sea Looking at the dead and decrepit hull on the photo I can see it comes to life with all of the memories from every inch of the upper deck 25 years of active service for a ship designed and built for a 18 year service life isn’t bad The T23’s were never intended get a middle life refit After the horrendously expensive Leander conversions an assumption was made in the early 1980’s that it would be cheaper to just replace the T23’s than a try to modernise them This of course allowed some “economies” to made in the design (e.g which proved to be a financial disaster when it was decided in the early 2000’s to keep them in service for 30 years rather than start to order their replacements I would add that the T23’s have never really been used as first intended for tracknig and destroying soviet submarines up in the cold regions… It was always a great shame that the RN did not order the extended version of the T23 House of Commons hearing doesnt say this at all ‘service life of that particular huge substation had been extended…..and extended… and extended – and thus that it was already long overdue for replacement“ Nothing at all about North Hyde – which was 3 high voltage ‘supergrid transformers’ and a separate low voltage compound run by the major grid and local grid operators- was beyond its service life. https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/15701/html/ NESO review into the North Hyde Substation outage: terms of reference – GOV.UK The North Hyde subvsbtaion has been a known “weak link” in West London for many decades This is because of the growth in population and in particular the huge number of new data centres built along the M4 corridor The lack of an electricity supply was why the previous government banned the building of thousands of new homes in this area only a few years back Furthermore that substation was suffering from old age: about 60 This is the latest report from national grid: dated December 2024 north-hyde-grid-supply-point—strategic-development-plan—for-consultation.pdf I read your sources so you dont have to The thing puzzling me is after relative stability post 2010 we’ve withdrawn Ocean the 2 Echo’s and now Albion/Bulwark from RN service in the last few years That’s despite manpower numbers only shrinking slightly Is it all down to having both carriers in active service which was always due to leave service when they entered service It’s everything to do with not having a “new” surface combatant enter service since HMS Duncan and the T23s ageing badly Plus having five RCB2 operational as well as three of the RCB1 (which wasn’t planned) There’s also an element where the box-ticking qualifications process is leading to particular manpower shortages in engineering Good point about the re-growth of the OPV fleet The T23 saga is clearly more about the condition of the vessels rather than manpower It was a further risk not trying to LIFEX Monmouth and choosing to burn through Montrose/Lancaster’s remaining life on station assuming that all 8 ASW frigates would be around for a lot longer sudden removal of the Echo’s and now deciding to sell a fresh from refit Bulwark all seems to be manpower driven As you say overall headcount isn’t the same as numbers in specialist areas that are fundamental to getting ships to sea The Sandown run-down is largely due to the fact the RN went through a phase round about the S2C2 stuff in 2006/7 where in a wizard wheeze to get some more funds into (at the time) the FSC programme the RN adopted the idea that “the answer is autonomy Combined with the idea that the C3/MHC “platform” could cover off all the roles that essentially identified the Sandowns in particular as easy to delete but also because there’s absolutely no chance of an upgrade to work with autonomy The Hunts being a bit bigger had more potential (but of course thats been OBE by the whole LSV/OSV concept) Echo/Enterprise were similarly knee-capped by the autonomy bug not least as that was the easiest of the capabilities to automate They were also reaching the end of their lives from a design PoV You don’t need a 20000te command platform with multiple landing craft and room for hundreds of Booties if your operating concept is light raiding from distance The FSC ( later known as T26) got its extra money was because the last 2 options on top of the then 6 hulls T45 construction contract (last builds cost £650mill each in 2005 pounds) was diverted to the FSC program to ‘speed it up’ While that was certainly part of the funding line the machinations of the S2C2 exercise is what led to the cessation of what had been a Long-Term Costing line for FMCMV and it’s inclusion in the overarching FSC programme did you figure out which bit of your BAES promo video gave the game away as to whether FSC/GCS/T26 was ready to build in 2010 – or not “You don’t need a 20000te command platform with multiple landing craft and room for hundreds of Booties if your operating concept is light raiding from distance.” Wasnt the RM and amphib force mission still to land major forces in Northern Norway The Norwegians are certainly sending one of their frigates for the full CSG25 deployment to the pacific “Wasn’t the RM and amphib force mission still…” There isn’t a formed 3Cdp Bde anymore it’s now just an administrative organisation 65 million people in the UK and 30,000 of them in the RN but “you don’t have crews” Just build more T31s until you get your surface fleet numbers up to something approaching a minimal floor I would suggest 28 or even 26 total vessels though you would be lucky to get to 24—which is what was supposedly going to happen with the T32 This ship has never made any sense to me whatsoever Why spend any money at all on a cleansheet design that will only be built in small numbers (5) Just order more 31’s and take advantage of economies of scale and once the death spiral is eliminated and the fleet is stabilized THEN you look at a 32 or some other future design(s) Why is this so difficult for your political class Donations via PayPal towards running costs of this site would be most welcome Monmouth Town Council will host events on May 8 for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, including a flag raising, tree planting, and bell ringing. Monmouth Town Council is hosting a series of events to commemorate VE Day. The events in Monmouth will be taking place on Thursday May 8, and will mark 80 years since the declaration of victory in Europe There will be a number of events in the town to mark the day Germany officially surrendered to the allies . Proceedings will begin with an official ceremony. The day will begin 9.30am with the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers flag raising, at 11.30am there will be tree planting on the town field, at 3pm public service at the castle, Monmouth, 6.30pm quarter peal bell ringing at St Mary’s Church and at 9.30pm lighting up of Monmouth landmark. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us They arrived at the car park overnight surprising members of the public as many spaces were obstructed and caravans were parked in front of some spaces creating difficult access for people to park their car. A concerned member of the public spoke to The Monmouthshire County Council and MCC said: “Police were called earlier this morning about a number of caravans which have set up in the Cattle Market car park in Monmouth, who have since alerted environmental health.” “Environmental health and Gwent Police are now working together to find a solution for all parties to free up the spaces, and Monmouthshire County Council will be updated as the situation develops.” Martin Newell, County Cllr for the ward said: “I was alerted by local residents this morning to a number of caravans pitched up on the pedestrian street car park.” “I notified the county council and the local police and continued to monitor the situation I reassured concerned residents that we would do all we could to make sure the situation was handled correctly and I kept in touch with the local authority for any update in the process of speaking with the owners of the caravans.” A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said: “Monmouthshire County Council has received reports of people occupying a car park in Monmouth which is currently being investigated. MCC will engage with any occupants at the site directly considering their welfare needs and intentions. The caravans started to leave at 1pm and by 2pm the majority had gone. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us OCEANPORT – It was a groundbreaking moment for horse racing A racetrack that wasn’t Saratoga or Del Mar organizing a boutique summer meet with big names chasing large purses driving massive betting numbers But Monmouth Park’s so-called “Elite Meet” in 2010 turned out to be a one-off with then-Gov Chris Christie committed to privatizing New Jersey’s racetracks while debate about the 50-day meet’s merits continue to this day “If someone gave us the same money - we got $50 million that year – and we could do the Elite Meet again I’d do it every year until I die,” said Dennis Drazin More: Preakness 2025: Early contenders after Sovereignty wins Kentucky Derby They don't have $50 million - more like $23 million in purse money will be available during the 50-day meet which opens Saturday - but it was an important blueprint Kentucky Downs will run seven days in August and September with average daily purses of nearly $5 million Colonial Downs in Virginia is expanding its summer meet to 41 days this summer running four days a week with average purses of more than $650,000 daily And while there remain widely divergent opinions on the subject of cutting racing days fiscal reality could be a determining factor as the sport’s landscape shifts Phil Murphy’s proposed budget recommends a $5 million decrease in the state’s annual $20 million purse subsidy to the horse racing industry which would trim Monmouth Park’s share from $10 million to $7.5 million It also calls for the tax on sports betting revenues a critical revenue stream for the state's racetracks There’s also a legislative push in Trenton to reduce the number of days Monmouth Park is required to run each year from 50 to 25 while many local horsemen push back on the idea higher purses and more cooperation between tracks “But you have to take care of the horsemen watched as one of his Jersey-breds stepped onto the track Friday morning before taking a seat near the rail His stable of state-breds bankrolled $654,474 at Monmouth Park last year with Sea Streak winning the Long Branch and Charles Hesse III Stakes while running fifth in the $1 million Haskell Stakes And after winning just once in 16 starts at Gulfstream Park over the winter he’s looking forward to the summer at the Jersey Shore “I go down to South Florida but it’s tough Chuck Spina’s runners amassed $691,532 in purse money last summer But having been a fixture at Monmouth Park since 1972 back when the state had a year-round racing circuit he understands the impact a reduction to 30 days would have with purses averaging nearly $800,000 per day generated a 213% increase in average daily handle a 79% increase in online handle and a 47% increase in attendance Monmouth Park regulars argue big outfits swooped in from out-of-state to take a large chunk of that purse money While the shorter meet reduces the amount of time trainers can stable and train at the track But could a shorter meet with higher purses help Monmouth Park remain relevant at least until revenues materialize down the road from the proposed development on the property which includes 298 units of senior rental housing and a hotel Executive Director of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association It involves 275 days of racing in the Mid-Atlantic region “What are the meets that are successful anymore We have to get younger people to the track The only way you are going to do that is event-driven kind of weekends the plan would require cooperation between state racing organizations something that's been seriously lacking over the years with meets and big races run on top of each other creating a challenging situation at a time when the number of horses is decreasing “We might have 60 or 70 Jersey-breds born this year “We’re getting to the point where in order to survive if nothing happens for us in the next few years featuring four stakes races and $800,000 total in purses generated a total handle topped $10 million second highest for the meet behind the record $21.7 million wagered on Haskell Day And the revenue generated helps fund purses at all levels And if it doesn’t it’s time for everybody to go home.” Stephen Edelson is a USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey sports columnist who has been covering athletics in the state and at the Jersey Shore for over 35 years Contact him at: @SteveEdelsonAPP; sedelson@gannettnj.com Former Monmouth Student Becky Ashford Rows Cambridge to Victory in the 2025 Boat Race Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, Sport who triumphed over Oxford’s Osiris with an impressive time of 19:17 Becky’s contribution to the Blondie crew highlights the exceptional talent and determination she has shown since leaving Haberdashers’ Monmouth School During her time at Monmouth, Becky was a keen tennis player, but it wasn’t until she began her studies at the University of Exeter that she discovered a passion for rowing. Her dedication to the sport has continued to flourish, and she is now undertaking an MPhil in Environmental Policy at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge According to The Boat Race.org the 2025 Boat Race drew an impressive audience with a peak UK viewership of 2.82 million—surpassing figures for both The Masters and the Bahrain Grand Prix the Women’s Boat Race achieved a peak audience of 2.18 million making it the most-watched women’s sporting event of the year over 200,000 spectators lined the banks of the River Thames to witness the iconic event in person (source: Kantar analysis We congratulate Becky on her incredible achievement and look forward to seeing where her academic and sporting journey takes her next Exhibition opens this week in Taunton Castle where mass death sentences were infamously issued during Bloody Assizes A fresh look at an ill-fated 17th-century uprising that haunts the English West Country – and may hold lessons for the world today – is taking place close to the spot where many of the rebels were condemned to death An exhibition at the Museum of Somerset tells the story of the Monmouth rebellion which ended with defeat for the rebels who fought alongside the charismatic Duke of Monmouth with many condemned to death at the notorious Bloody Assizes led by lord chancellor George Jeffreys may have been forgotten by many people in the UK but still had a deep resonance in Somerset He said: “The rebellion remains vividly imprinted on the minds of West Country people as a defining event in the history of the region It made such an impact because the consequences of the rebellion were so cruel The rebels were utterly motivated by principle and religion and were met with a tidal wave of violence.” The Morning of Sedgemoor (1905) by Edgar Bundy depicts rebels sheltering in a barn after the Battle of Sedgemoor. Photograph: Tate Images/Tate/Tate ImagesThe setting for the exhibition is poignant as the museum is housed in Taunton Castle where rebels were told they were to be hanged Jeffreys, the judge at the trials, is certainly not forgotten here. When two years ago an information board of Taunton’s history was placed in the town, someone scratched out Jeffreys’ eyes and inscribed the word “bastard” next to the image. “It showed that this defining event in West Country history has not been forgotten,” said Mayberry one is forcibly reminded that some of the triggers to rebellion and to conflict 340 years ago are the very same ones which we are now rediscovering today – how charming and persuasive leaders can lead us to disaster how societies divide according to religion and ideology and how it’s really the luck of the draw whether they find a way through to reconciliation.” Monmouth’s buckle and button The duke reputedly gave the buckle to a child when he stopped to change horses during his escape from Sedgemoor; the button is said to have been cut from his coat Photograph: South West Heritage TrustThe rebellion came 34 years after the end of the English civil war and three years before the “Glorious Revolution” It was a failed attempt by dissident Protestants led by James Scott called After Sedgemoor: Remembering the Monmouth Rebellion are two paintings loaned by the Tate and Manchester Art Gallery Edgar Bundy’s The Morning of Sedgemoor (1905) shows rebels sheltering in a barn after the Battle of Sedgemoor while John Pettie’s The Duke of Monmouth’s Interview with James II (c1882) captures the rebel leader vainly pleading for his life Also on display is an ostrich plume reputedly worn by Monmouth at the battle and 200 musket balls recently found at the site Documents being exhibited include an order by a royalist commander that a mound should be built over the dead who lay shallowly buried on the battlefield Sam Astill, the chief executive of South West Heritage Trust said: “The rebellion has a fundamental place in the story of Somerset and the events that followed it have never been forgotten There couldn’t be a better setting for the exhibition than Taunton Castle which still echoes with the events of 340 years ago.” The exhibition runs from 29 March to 6 July 2025 TREE felling will see a rolling road closure on the A466 from St Weonards (///mergers.elders.enjoy) to the Herefordshire-Monmouthshire county boundary at Welsh Newton (///frizz.outfitter.pounces) March 27 at the latest between 9am-3.30pm with no weekend working The closure is necessary while Balfour Beatty fell a number of trees affected by Ash dieback As part of the diversion route there will be a time where it will be necessary to divert traffic into Monmouth John Young of Balfour Beatty has agreed with Monmouthshire Streetworks a plan of what signage will be deployed to make road users aware and where they will be deploying it Their plan is to deploy signage at the junction of the A466 and Dixton Road/ B4293 to send road users round the diversion with further signage present at Buckholt Despite current signage just below the Buckholt warning of the upcoming road closure further ahead it shouldn’t affect either end of the single track Manson Lane so road users should not try and divert along that road Further information can be found via the link https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/roads-1/roadworks Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Graham Taylor and Gary Raymond, inspired by their love for music, have opened 'Grinning Soul Records', a new record shop in Monmouth. The owners have been friends since they were at school together in Newport and last year decided to begin a new adventure by opening their very own record shop and putting their passion for the music industry into a career they both enjoy. Graham told the Monmouthshire Beacon: “The welcome in Monmouth was lovely”. “I just love music as Gary does and we realised there was no record shop in Monmouth - and then we found this lovely place.” “Graham said he and his co-owner wanted Grinning Soul Records to be ‘ a bit of a hub’ for local music lovers. “ We want it to be a place where people can come in and listen to music and - as a lot of record shops have been - we hope it will become a bit of a creative magnet for people. There’s usually a good little social scene in a record shop,” said Graham. The business caters for ‘everyone and anything’ and the owners are proud of its local links - “We’ve got a nice little selection of stuff recorded at Rockfield Studios,” said Graham. The shop has a chilled and relaxed atmosphere: “I love people who are passionate about records, collecting and listening to music,” said Graham Despite Grinning Soul Records only opening a few months it has already become popular with local music lovers with many heading to the shop to do some of their local Christmas shopping. Graham said that one of the most rewarding aspects of opening the shop was seeing people enjoying music. Grinning Souls’ mission statement says it’s aim is to ‘create a welcoming and inclusive space for all music lovers and especially those who have often felt marginalised in traditional music scenes’ and its shelves are thoughtfully curated showcasing their ethos, amplifying diverse voices and reshaping the cultural narrative around who belongs in music. So far the shop’s busiest times have been between November and December and around the Christmas period when they typically sold between 25-30 records in a day on a weekend. “It's amazing how much footfall we have had,” said Graham. Away from the shop, Graham and Gary have been successful in their own careers - Gary is a BBC broadcaster and is an author and Graham is a member of Welsh band “Goldie Lookin’ Chain”, which has just celebrated its twentieth anniversary and has this week released it’s new album - Newport Banksy ahead of a tour in September. With Gary’s background of writing, he is is also planning a writing workshop which will be held on Tuesdays and both owners are looking forward to this year’s Record Store Day is on April 12. Martin Newell has been elected as a ward member for the Town Ward in Monmouth Martin Newell (Local Conservatives) has been confirmed as the new County Councillor for the Town Ward in Monmouthshire The election was held for the Town Ward in Monmouth after Cllr Catherine Fookes resigned upon being elected as the MP for Monmouthshire For more information about Councillor Martin Newell, please visit: https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=34 Privacy Notice © Copyright 2025 Monmouthshire County Council Staff Login We use Javascript to set most of our cookies Unfortunately Javascript is not running on your browser so you cannot change your settings using this page To control your cookie settings using this page try turning on Javascript in your browser We use essential cookies to make this website work and additional cookies to optimise functionality and experience We use industry-standard web analytics tool to measure how you use the website so we can improve it based on our user needs These tools set cookies that store anonymised information about: For the promotion of our services we may use retargeting cookies They may be set by ourselves or third parties These cookies allow us or the third parties to display promotional material (for example advertisements) to you on other websites you visit to measure the performance of promotional material and content and derive insights about those who viewed them These cookies do things like remember your preferences and the choices you make to personalise your experience of using the site Find out more about cookies of developmentbank.wales Important update: changes to online applications - If you haven’t started or completed your application yet, please review the updated information to avoid any disruptions. Find out more Goldie Lookin’ Chain rapper Graham Taylor and novelist and broadcaster Gary Raymond are using a start-up loan from the Development Bank of Wales to share their love of vinyl records in Monmouth with the opening of Grinning Soul Records.  Grinning Soul Records can be found at White Swan Court on Priory Street The micro loan from the Development Bank has been used to part-fund the kit out of the new shop and purchase stock.  Having been close friends since their school days in Newport Goldie Lookin’ Chain and BBC presenter and author Gary Raymond had a childhood ambition to open a record shop.  Gary Raymond said: “Music fans come from all over the world to visit Monmouth as the home of Rockfield Studios Bohemian Rhapsody was recorded here yet there was no record shop in the town Grinning Soul Records will give local people and visitors like the opportunity to buy traditional vinyl records that were made here in Monmouth made possible by the loan from the Development Bank.” Donna Strohmeyer is an Investment Executive with the Development Bank She said: “Gary and Graham are both passionate about music and have a great opportunity to capitalise on the booming vinyl industry and the international market created by Rockfield Studios Grinning Soul Records is already proving to be a popular hub for music lovers in the Monmouthshire area and beyond It’s a great addition to the vibrant market town of Monmouth.” The loan for Grinning Soul Records came from the £32.5 million Wales Micro Loan Fund loans between £1,000 and £50,000 are available for small businesses sole traders and social enterprises based in Wales Repayment terms range between one and ten years.  Please don't include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details We recognise the strength of the feelings residents have expressed concerning the future of the Monmouth Library and Hub and we want to reassure them that there are no plans to move them out of the Rolls Hall the user survey conducted at the Library and Shire Hall created a misleading impression that there was a firm proposal to move the library and hub Monmouthshire County Council is moving forward with a grant application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund This funding will support the development of a fully accessible cultural community facility and visitor attraction that integrates the museum into the Shire Hall This initiative aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of Monmouth’s cultural and heritage offerings Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, Senior 11-18, Sport A ground breaking moment for Haberdashers’ Monmouth School as our girls’ rugby team made history by taking to the field for their first-ever competitive fixtures This landmark achievement marks the beginning of an exciting new era for girls’ rugby at our school with participation and enthusiasm reaching unprecedented levels our boys’ teams continued to demonstrate their exceptional skill and teamwork at the prestigious West of England 7s tournament reinforcing our school’s reputation for rugby excellence Our newly formed U16 girls’ squad made history by competing with passion and resilience in their debut tournament they faced three highly competitive matches demonstrating outstanding commitment and sportsmanship over half of the team were playing in their first-ever rugby match yet they represented the school with immense pride and enthusiasm This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for girls’ rugby at Haberdashers’ Monmouth and we could not be prouder of their incredible efforts “This is a truly historic moment for rugby at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School To see our girls’ squad take the field for the first time competing with such determination and pride The level of commitment and enthusiasm we’ve seen at training and in matches highlights the bright future of girls’ rugby here and I have no doubt that we will continue to grow and achieve great things.” The enthusiasm for girls’ rugby at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School has been truly inspiring Our weekly training sessions have seen an incredible turnout with between 30 and 40 girls consistently attending each week coupled with the expert coaching and supportive environment is laying the foundation for a thriving girls’ rugby programme our boys’ teams continued their legacy of excellence at the West of England 7s The U18s delivered an outstanding performance securing victory in the Shield competition The U16s fought valiantly to reach the semi-finals of the Cup competition while the U14s triumphed in the Plate competition further cementing our school’s reputation for producing outstanding rugby players This extraordinary weekend stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication hard work and sportsmanship of all our players Haberdashers’ Monmouth School remains committed to fostering rugby excellence and inspiring young athletes to reach new heights Congratulations to all involved—this is just the beginning of an exciting journey for Haberdashers’ Monmouth School girls’ rugby Follow the link to watch our U16s in action >>> Live Rugby: West of England U16 School 7s Game Recap: Softball | 5/3/2025 3:07:00 PM | Nick Kapatos Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here said: “It is always a sad day when you see a ship that was a significant part of your life heading for disposal but I am happy at least that the sale of HMS Monmouth for recycling in Turkey will provide an ethical and responsible method of recovering metals and other valuable assets which provides a financial return for the Royal Navy HMS Monmouth was taken out of service on 30th June 2021 after being stripped of her weapons and sensors She left Portsmouth harbour on 3rd April 2025 to be towed to her final destination Dorset - has achieved two significant accreditations that position the company as a trusted supplier for military and defence contracts The Royal Air Force’s new UK made drones - known as StormShroud - came into operation today British company Arondite - which is building AI to transform how defence organisations safely deliver 'human-machine' teaming at scale - has secured over $12 million in funding from leading global investors British advanced maritime tech company SubSea Craft (SSC) has unveiled a new Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) capability marking the company’s second product offering following the success of its VICTA diver delivery platform SEA has secured a 15-year contract with Thales as part of the Maritime Sensor Enhancement Team (MSET) programme Kahootz and Shipley UK have announced a strategic partnership to enhance opportunity capture and bid management capabilities Website by Silkstream The views expressed are not necessarily those of ADS or its members No responsibility or liability is accepted by ADS the editorial team or the publisher for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any statement expression of opinion or belief contained within this site We’re Officially an LTA Registered Venue We are thrilled to announce that Haberdashers’ Monmouth School is now an officially registered Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) venue This prestigious accreditation allows us to host LTA-graded tournaments giving our students and junior tennis players fantastic opportunities to compete in structured match play at every skill level “It’s fantastic that Haberdashers’ Monmouth School has become the first—and currently only—school in Wales to deliver LTA Graded Competitions We’re excited to see them host both Play Your Way to Wimbledon County Finals and the South Wales Division 1 Secondary School Finals this year.” we can guarantee ample match time for all participants Our tournaments will be overseen by Ross Eddy an integral part of our school’s tennis coaching programme For any questions, please contact Coach Ross at 07724743064 or email Rosseddytennis@gmail.com we proudly offer the LTA Assistant Coach Training Programme a professional pathway combining on-court training with online assessments This programme equips students with valuable coaching skills and qualifications and Holly (Year 13) and Morgan (Year 12) – are enrolled in this fantastic course LTA Assistant Coach and a key member of our School Tennis Programme “I’m absolutely thrilled that the school is now an officially registered LTA venue This accreditation cements our status as a recognised tennis competition centre It opens up incredible opportunities for students in both competitive play and coaching development.” I’ve mentored over 40 students through the LTA Assistant Coach course as it not only provides a prestigious LTA certification but also enables students to earn a good income from coaching whether they continue into university or follow other career paths.” We are incredibly proud of this milestone and the opportunities it brings to our students and the wider tennis community there’s never been a better time to get involved Click to find out more about the LTA >>>> The Official Home of Tennis For Britain | LTA Two Members of the Haberdashers’ Monmouth Community Honoured in the New Year Honours List Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, Alumni The Haberdashers’ Monmouth community has much to celebrate as two of its distinguished members have been recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours List and a profound commitment to making a difference Sir Warren East: A Visionary Leader in Global Sustainability Former Monmouth School student and Trustee has been awarded a knighthood for his exceptional contributions to the power systems sector and his leadership in driving sustainability and innovation As the Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce from 2015 to 2022 Sir Warren spearheaded the company’s transition towards a greener future Among his key achievements was developing Rolls-Royce’s first-ever roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050—a transformative strategy that has redefined the company’s role in addressing climate change Rolls-Royce doubled its manufacturing capacity while modernising its design and production processes ensuring continued economic impact and job creation His leadership not only strengthened the company’s global reputation but also enhanced its contributions to UK prosperity with Rolls-Royce accounting for 1.5% of all UK goods exports in 2021 Sir Warren was a founding signatory of the UN Race to Zero initiative and a prominent voice at COP26 he has continued to champion sustainability as Chair of NATS (National Air Traffic Services) and through his involvement in businesses dedicated to tackling climate change Rowena Christmas MBE: Honoured for Services to General Practice a long-standing member of the Haberdashers’ Monmouth School community has been awarded an honour for her outstanding contributions to general practice in Wales “This honour is not something I ever imagined but it is a really wonderful feeling to be recognised for ‘services to general practice.’ I am especially grateful for the recognition of the value of quality general practice to people living in Wales where we strive every day to offer our patients holistic Christmas has worked tirelessly in the Wye Valley for 25 years providing exemplary care to her patients and leading by example in her role with the RCGP Wales team She was quick to emphasise the collaborative nature of her work “General practice is very much a team game and I am lucky to work with the best teams imaginable.” Her connection to Monmouth School runs deep contributing his expertise in the Design and Technology Department Christmas’ recognition highlights the vital role of primary care in our communities and serves as an inspiration to all Christmas and Sir Warren East exemplify the values of the Haberdashers’ community—dedication and a commitment to improving the world around them Their achievements serve as a powerful reminder of the impact individuals can have when driven by purpose and passion We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Christmas and Sir Warren East on their well-deserved honours They are outstanding representatives of the extraordinary talent and dedication within our Haberdashers’ family and their stories inspire us all to aim higher and make a difference a Type 23 frigate who has served in the Royal Navy's fleet for 28 years Equipment and Support (DE&S) exports and sales team sold the ship who had sailed beyond her intended lifespan with the frigate needing time-consuming and costly refits to have remained in service The sale was advertised by DE&S's team Expressions of interest were requested from recycling yards on a European list of ship recycling facilities with ship recycling company Leyal Gemi Sokum Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd Sti awarded the contract.  who is head of the exports and sales team at DE&S served as a lieutenant on HMS Monmouth for her first commission He said it is always a "sad day when you see a ship that was a significant part of your life heading for disposal" But he said he was happy the vessel would be recycled in an "ethical and responsible method of recovering metals and other valuable assets which provides a financial return for the Royal Navy".  "A fitting end for a ship that has served the nation well," he added The ship was originally commissioned in 1993 as a Cold War submarine hunter HMS Monmouth helped to provide humanitarian aid during the Sierra Leone Civil war and hunted pirates off the Somalian coast the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.  After being briefly used as a harbour training ship her last major deployment came in 2018 when she accompanied HMS Queen Elizabeth to the United States.  She left Portsmouth Harbour on 3 April 2025 to be towed to her final destination Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe to: Sniffer Dog Impresses Students in Assembly  Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, Senior 11-18, Pastoral we had the privilege of welcoming Luci Sutton and her highly skilled sniffer dog Jura Luci Sutton is an expert search specialist dog handler and her team includes Jura a 4-year-old Labrador/Collie cross; and Reggie Luci and her team has had an impressive career working at major football stadiums such as Manchester City and Newcastle United racecourses and large-scale music festivals like Creamfields and Reading it was an honour to witness the extraordinary skills that have made him an invaluable asset in safeguarding public spaces Luci spoke to students about the important role that sniffer dogs like Jura play in ensuring public safety By introducing students to the dogs’ abilities and explaining their work around drugs Luci helped raise awareness about the broader importance of security and prevention in creating safe environments for everyone “It was a pleasure to welcome Luci and Jura to our assembly this morning Luci spoke to the students about her vital work and the crucial role Jura plays in supporting her team in detecting drugs and other substances across various environments This visit not only showcased their impressive skills but also reinforced our firm stance as a zero-tolerance school when it comes to drugs.” Luci also shared insights into the extensive training process that her team undergoes She explained how they carefully select breeds that are highly reward-driven to ensure they have the right temperament for the job the reward shifts to the successful identification of substances Luci mentioned that these dogs can be trained to detect a wide range of items This flexibility makes them highly valuable in various security and safety settings Luci demonstrated sniffer dog Jura’s remarkable abilities by tasking him with locating a pre-planted item among the rows of The Blake Jura quickly and efficiently located the hidden object The demonstration was both entertaining and educational reinforcing the importance of safety and vigilance in all public spaces “I want our pupils to understand that the reason for this robust approach is two-fold; firstly by being clear that there is no place for drugs or the people who use them in our school we can provide a safe environment in which our pupils can fulfil their potential (and supported by our HABSMON PSHE programme) we aim to help pupils understand that their brains are at a crucial stage of development and this same ‘super-strength’ makes them particularly vulnerable to the physical and mental risks associated with the misuse of substances We want to educate them and give them the knowledge and skills to make good life choices that enable them to ‘be’ well Luci and her team from K9 Deployment conducted checks throughout the school to help ensure that our environment remains safe and secure for all students and staff K9 Deployment is a leading provider of highly trained patrol and detection dogs offering tailored security solutions across the UK for over 20 years Their expertise in security and safety patrols has been instrumental in enhancing security measures in various sectors we are committed to providing a secure and supportive environment where all students can thrive We are dedicated to maintaining a space where safety is a top priority we will be inviting Luci and her dogs back to visit over the coming terms for scheduled checks These visits will support our broader commitment to a safe and positive learning atmosphere we will be inviting Luci and the dogs back to visit over the coming terms for scheduled checks We will also invite them back to school in light of any specific information relating to the presence of substances on any of our sites.” Find out more about K9 Deployment and their role within schools  >>> k9deployment Game Recap: Softball | 5/2/2025 3:00:00 PM | Nick Kapatos Thanks for visiting Richie Rees Leads Outreach Coaching Masterclass As Director of the newly established Sports Academy at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School having previously worked with the Tonga national team and managed academy pathways at Cardiff and Dragons Rugby The session was designed to strengthen the relationship between the school and Monmouth RFC ensuring a shared approach to rugby development and increasing participation in the sport among students and young players coaches engaged in discussions covering video analysis and individual player development This event was the first in a series of planned sessions aimed at enhancing coaching standards and further integrating the school’s sporting philosophy with Monmouth RFC’s grassroots efforts The collaboration has already seen significant developments including the creation of a Rugby Technical Training Area at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School a project initiated by the school in partnership with Monmouth RFC the club has provided a Silver Fern Live Scrum Machine to the new Sports Academy highlighted the importance of this collaboration: “It has been fantastic to work alongside Richie in ensuring our coaches continue to refine their skills Aligning our coaching philosophy with that of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School strengthens our approach and enhances player development at all levels.” Rees expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership “It was a privilege to lead this CPD session for Monmouth RFC’s dedicated coaches Their commitment to nurturing young players is truly inspiring The aligned development between Haberdashers’ Monmouth School and the local rugby community is vital in providing every player with the opportunity to progress and enjoy the game I look forward to seeing this partnership continue to grow.” The Haberdashers’ Monmouth School Sports Academy and Monmouth Young Rugby provide opportunities for players from U6s through to U16s. For more information or to attend a trial session, contact membership@monmouthyoungrugby.co.uk Thanks for visiting Monmouth Carnival has had a very busy few months, following the introduction of new main arena entertainment and school competitions in 2024, we thought we'd go bigger for 2025! Last year, they asked what would you like to see in 2025 and there was a resounding call for live music! With the support of Monmouth Town Council and Monmouth Music Festival they have an amazing line-up of entertainment and their Battle of the Bands Monmouth is currently live, with amazing prizes! Their under 18 category will have a day in a professional recording studio plus a slot on the main stage at YFest, getting the opportunity to share the stage with big names such as DJ Dave Pearce! The Over 18 Band category gets to play at two festivals! Lakefest and Landed Festival, sharing a line up with Busted, Faithless, Billy Idol and Groove Armada with tickets to enjoy the weekend! All winners will get a day in a Recording Studio and a professional photo session. Monmouth Carnival is keen to support new talent, and are very fortunate to secure a panel of judges who have a wealth of knowledge in the music industry. They will be hosting the live Auditions at the Pavilion, Monmouth, while this is a free event, tickets are available on our website, if you fancy a great evening full of bands battling for votes, local street food and bar, the opportunity to see the judges at work and get the chance to vote for your favourite, you need to secure your ticket now. Live Auditions will be between 5 - 8pm on Mon 14th and 6:30 – 10 Tues 15th and Wed 16th April. The final battle will be at Monmouth Carnival between 4-8pm and then for our finale, we are pleased to announce that Kira Mac will be closing our carnival. The band’s first three singles all made it on to the A-list of Planet Rock radio. You may remember the lead singer Rhiannon from The Voice in 2022, Will-i-am turned within seconds! The band are keen to support up-and-coming artists and are excited to see the final battle of the Bands. 2025 will be an amazing Carnival with the renowned parade, death defying stunts, Indian Runners, Cocktail bars, Kids Entertainment, performances from Monmouth Comp Performing Arts students, Battle of the Bands Final and Kira Mac to rock the night away! We would like to thank Cllr David Evans who reached out to us, "Monmouth Town Council has a longstanding partnership agreement with Monmouth Carnival; one of the jewels in the crown of Monmouth.” Monmouth Carnival express sincere gratitude to the Monmouth Music Festival for their generous sponsorship. Thanks to their support, the community will be able to enjoy vibrant, high-quality performances at our free carnival. They are incredibly grateful to the Monmouth Music Festival for their commitment to supporting live music and community events. Monmouth Carnival will take place on Sunday 29th June at Chippenham Field, featuring a variety of family-friendly activities, food, and of course, outstanding live music. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Thanks for visiting “These projects are an exciting development for East Moline and Monmouth we have a chance to preserve our local culture while dressing up our towns for the future,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island) “This grant money will go to good use making our towns hubs of commercial activity and pleasant downtowns for folks in the community.” The grant includes $2 million for East Moline Improvements will support economic growth by transforming 15th Avenue – the city’s “Main Street” – into an accessible connected corridor that prioritizes space for pedestrians The Monmouth project includes the reconstruction and streetscaping of Main Street from 2nd Ave to 1st Avenue and from Archer Avenue to Boston Avenue with the previously reconstructed Public Square between the two sections of the project These renovations will spruce up and revive the downtown area “We appreciate Senator Halpin’s help and support to get this vitally important grant for Monmouth to complete our downtown revitalization project,” said Mayor Rod Davies we are further investing in the future of our downtown making it a more inviting destination for shopping We’re proud to partner with the State of Illinois to bring this vision to life.” A full list of awardees can be found here The City of Galesburg celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by planting a Swamp White Oak at King Elementary School