Ancient Connections Pembrokeshire Ambassadors
| Name | Ambassador Focus | Biography | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Christine Smith | chris@guidedpilgrimage.co.uk | - Supporting pilgrims along the pilgrim route - Supporting travel journalists and travel trade fam trips | I moved to West Wales 20 years ago with my husband looking for somewhere rural and less pressured than south-east England to bring up our daughter and certainly found that here. Qualified as an alternative health practitioner, I imagined I would start my own practice but life had other ideas and I ended up working in web design. However at the same time, I was following a passion of exploring my own spirituality in greater depth and I was realising the benefits to spiritual health of the great outdoors and in particular the wild Celtic landscapes of West Wales. All those strands have now come together and my work is about providing guided pilgrimage for those looking for a deeper spiritual connection. I love being involved with the Ambassador programme because that is about telling the story of the people and the land which are key elements of pilgrimage. |
 | Rose James | roseodig@gmail.com | - Short meet ups for some orientation of the area - Short guided walks of particular localities or heritage sites - Supporting pilgrims along the pilgrim route - Storytelling | Born in a small historic village on the Welsh Coast I have a vivid sense of belonging by the sea and although spending many years wandering I returned to Wales 40 years ago. I love to share this unique place with friends so they can enjoy the magnificent coast, the sea, sky, hills and clouds, the turning of tides and seasons, awakening the senses. The stories, myths and folklore past down through the ages. I am a sheep farmer, an artist, a hoarder of sea shells, pebbles, feathers and bones and recently a storyteller. |
 | Sian Bushell | bushellsian@gmail.com | - Short meet ups for some orientation of the area - Short guided walks of particular localities or heritage sites - Storytelling | I'm Pembrokeshire born and bred and have lived here all my life. I have felt a very close connection with this land from childhood. I've always been interested in local history particularly the stories of ordinary people, especially the amusing ones. Much to my surprise I'm still learning new facts about this wonderful county. Coming from a farming background I appreciate the flora and fauna of the area. Also I'm very keen to keep the old traditions, the Pembrokeshire accent and the unique Pembrokeshire dialect words. I have also learned Welsh as a second language. I enjoy walking and telling stories - some of them may even be true! I have thoroughly enjoyed becoming an ambassador for Ancient Connections. In fact I'm an embodiment of the ancient connection between Ireland and Pembrokeshire as my maiden name is Ormond - definitely an Irish connection. |
 | Neal Batchelor | nealbatchelor@btinernet.com | - Short guided walks of particular localities or heritage sites - Supporting pilgrims along the Wexford & Pembrokeshire pilgrim route - Meeting and greeting visitors and small groups | I am currently relocating to North Pembrokeshire to live as this is where I feel the most physically and spiritually connected within Wales through my deep love of Pembrokeshire’s ancient landscapes, stunning and dramatic coastline, wealth of ancient heritage and pilgrimage sites and the endless opportunities for wild walking. Connecting people with places is my passion. I already do this through a combination of guided walks in West Wales and my landscape photography inspired by my journeys through Wales. (my_new_life_in_wales - Instagram). Consequently, I see the Ambassador role as a natural progression where I can continue to promote Pembrokeshire’s unique attractions through my talks, walks and stories thereby enabling a better visitor experience. |
 | Becky Lloyd | - Meeting and greeting visitors and small groups - Supporting visitors with itineraries for their visit - Short guided walks of particular localities, heritage sites, places of interesting nature - Supporting pilgrims along the pilgrim route - Providing visitor information and a welcome at events - Providing visitors with information and a welcome at key seasonal hot-spots or sites | Having grown up in a hotel overlooking the wild Atlantic Coast in St Davids the tourism industry and hospitality has had a huge influence on me. Initially pursuing an artistic career by studying at art college and practising my own art, I was then drawn to my roots and studied a Tourism Degree. I was motivated by wanting to work to help develop sustainable practices within the Tourism Industry. I wanted to help conserve and manage the special place and community where I live, as I saw how it might be under threat from mass tourism. I am very much involved with local CIC Eco Dewi as I am so passionate about the local environment and my community. My favourite place is the beach and being in or on the water. I feel a deep connection to this remote wild coast, the plants and creatures that live here and its stories. | |
 | Carole Lloyd | carolelloyd41@gmail.com | - Meeting and greeting visitors and small groups - Supporting visitors with itineraries for their visit - Short guided walks of particular localities, heritage sites, places of interesting nature - Supporting pilgrims along the pilgrim route - Providing visitor information and a welcome at events - | My family first came to St Davids on holiday over 60 years ago and were keen naturalists and conservationists, which are passions I also share. I grew up in Worcester, then trained as a nurse in Oxford after leaving school and a midwife in London. I married into a local family, who ran a hotel in St Davids, and have lived here for over 55 years. Over the years I worked in the family hotel and Tourist Information Centre, a local doctor’s surgery and then the Hospital. I’ve been a volunteer for the RNLI, involved in fundraising for 10 years. For over 20 years I have been an active committee member of the local historical society, compiling extensive research into family and house history, contributing to their yearly exhibitions. My children grew up here, went to school here and still live in Pembrokeshire. I wouldn’t live anywhere else and enjoy passing on my knowledge to others. |
| Ruth Goodyear | ruth114@hotmail.co.uk | - Meet and greet small groups - Welcoming cruise ship visitors - Providing visitor information and welcome at events - Providing visitor information and welcome key spots or sites. | I have lived in Wales for twenty years and for much of that time I have lived in the lively village of Saint Dogmeals in Pembrokshire. Originally, I came for work and then to get to grips with art, a process that I realise is lifelong. Among many of the good things about Pembrokeshire are the opportunities for getting out and about, engaging in so many activities and meeting lovely people. I have walked much of the Pembrokeshire Coastal path which has amazing views that would rival anywhere in the world. Many of the walks, the woods and the bays are special because they are so little known and so you can choose to walk alone or in company. The role of ambassador to help visitors by sharing our enthusiasm and experience and we ourselves gain by having a deeper knowledge and understanding of the landscape and all that Pembrokeshire has to offer. | |
| Philippa Kohly | p.kohly@btinternet.com | |||
| David Kerrison | davekerrison@btinternet.com | |||
| Alan Willis | alan@pantywylan.org | |||
| Moira Lewis | moiralewiscymru@gmail.com | |||
| Daniel Bullivant | dbullivant27@gmail.com | |||
| Buffy Wheatley | buffywheatley@hotmail.co.uk | |||
| Emyr Bateman | emyrb@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk | |||
| Renate Thome | renatethome@gmail.com | |||
| Amy Carter | amycarter41@gmail.com | |||
| Caroline Pickett | caz.pickett@hotmail.co.uk | |||
| Elen Beynon | elenbeynon@hotmail.com | |||
| Jill Hedley | jill.hedley@yahoo.co.uk | |||
| Pol Van Steelant | polvansteelant@me.com | |||
| Laura Rees | info@vipwales.co.uk |