Latest news with #MichaelPugh
Western Telegraph
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Llangwm Literary Festival to put children centre stage
Llangwm Literary Festival, taking place in Pembrokeshire from August 8 to 10, will feature a packed programme of events designed to inspire and engage young readers, including storytelling, workshops and interactive experiences led by acclaimed authors and educators. Michael Pugh, director of the festival, said: "We have more events for children at the litfest this year. "We have not had to look far to find amazing Welsh writers for our children's events." The festival will open with a session led by retired schoolteacher John Roach on the origins of the Welsh Red Dragon, blending history with hands-on writing and craft activities. Mr Pugh said: "This is a multi-layered session to develop children's understanding of their own history, but also to develop their creative skills through writing and craft." Returning by popular demand is Cardiff-based author Jack Meggitt-Phillips, whose internationally translated book The Beast and The Bethany is set to be adapted for film. Mr Meggitt-Phillips will lead a creative writing workshop for children and a community session on Sunday, August 10, exploring what it takes to succeed as a children's author. Saturday's line-up includes a philosophy, storytelling and art session led by Beth Mackintosh and best-selling nature writer Gill Lewis. The Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park team will also make their festival debut, offering children immersive activities inside a biofluorescence dome. Mr Pugh said: "It's the closest you get to visiting another planet." In the afternoon, Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck, founder of Lie Detectors, will lead a session on media literacy, helping children spot misinformation and understand the risks of mobile technology. Family-friendly events include foraging sessions with Really Wild Julia, a talk on preserves by Angharad, and Ryan's Triple C project, which looks at removing barriers to participation. The festival will conclude with a talk from Pembrokeshire's Cruising Free Rowing team, who will share stories from their recent transatlantic journey. This year, Llangwm Literary Festival is also offering internships for students interested in gaining experience behind the scenes at an arts event. The festival runs from August 8 to 10 in the village of Llangwm, Pembrokeshire. For more information, visit the website or email llangwmlitfest@
BBC News
30-07-2025
- BBC News
Swaleside prisoner under observation dies after staff failings
A prisoner in Kent who should have been checked every hour was found dead in his cell after staff failed to monitor him, a report has Pugh, 29, who was in HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey for wounding with intent, was left unattended between 07:22 BST and 09:57 on 29 June last findings form part of a prevention of future deaths report, which is issued when a coroner believes action is required in order to protect Prison & Probation Service said it would carefully consider the findings of the report, published on Monday, and respond to them in due course. In the report, senior coroner in Kent and Medway Patricia Harding said the last Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) review to take place before Pugh's death determined he should be subject to hourly ACCT is the care planning process for prisoners identified as being at risk of suicide or self-harm."Observations were carried out on the afternoon of 28 June, but recorded incorrectly," Ms Harding said."No observations were carried out on 29 June between 07:22 and 09:57, when Mr Pugh was discovered having died, but the ongoing record was completed retrospectively to show that they had been carried out." Inexperienced prison officers The two prison officers who gave evidence in relation to the observations on 28 and 29 June were "relatively new recruits", Ms Harding said that one officer had three months experience following basic training – known as Prison Officer Entry Level Training – while the other had one month of officers gave evidence stating their understanding of the ACCT process was "incomplete".One said: "Observations were explained, but I didn't have a fair idea what to do or how to undergo the process."The other said: "I didn't understand the importance of observing a prisoner at unpredictable times."Even though I was told the observations should be hourly, it was not explained to me how to stagger timing." If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, you can visit BBC Action Line.
