At Pembrokeshire Leisure, we are incredibly fortunate to have colleagues whose dedication, commitment and passion have helped shape our centres and communities over many decades.
This year, we are proud to recognise five remarkable individuals whose combined service represents well over 200 years of commitment to Pembrokeshire Leisure. From long-service milestones to well-earned retirements, each has made a lasting impact on colleagues, customers and the communities they have served.
While we celebrate their achievements, we also want to take this opportunity to say thank you for everything they have contributed throughout their careers.
Tracy
This year, we say a heartfelt farewell to Tracy as she begins her well-earned retirement after nearly 40 years of dedicated service at Milford Haven Leisure Centre.
Throughout her career, Tracy has been a valued and respected member of the team, helping to create the friendly, welcoming environment that customers have come to know and appreciate. Over the years, she has supported countless colleagues, built lasting relationships with customers and played an important role in the centre's continued success.
For many members of the local community, Tracy has been a familiar face and trusted source of support for decades. Her professionalism, commitment and warmth have left a lasting impression on everyone she has worked with.
Away from the centre, Tracy has also demonstrated a longstanding commitment to local football, reflecting the same passion for community, participation and teamwork that she has brought to her role throughout her career.
As she begins this exciting new chapter, we would like to thank Tracy for her outstanding contribution and wish her many happy years enjoying retirement, family, friends and new adventures.
Ryan
We are also proud to recognise Ryan, who is retiring after more than 50 years of dedicated service at Milford Haven Leisure Centre.
Spending over half a century serving the local community is a truly remarkable achievement. During that time, Ryan has witnessed significant changes and developments at the centre while remaining a constant source of knowledge, experience and support.
Many will remember Ryan's talent as a young swimmer, a passion that helped shape his connection to leisure services and the swimming community. Throughout his career, he has shared that enthusiasm with customers and colleagues alike.
Outside of work, Ryan is also well known for his love of rollercoasters and theme parks, with many colleagues regularly hearing stories of his latest adventures and favourite rides. It is a passion that reflects the same sense of enthusiasm, energy and enjoyment of life that he has brought to his work throughout his career.
His dedication to both customers and colleagues has helped shape the centre into the community-focused facility it is today. Generations of visitors have benefitted from his commitment, professionalism and willingness to go above and beyond.
Ryan's contribution extends far beyond the years of service he has accumulated. He has been an integral part of the Milford Haven Leisure Centre family and leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered for many years to come.
We thank Ryan for his exceptional commitment and wish him a long, healthy and happy retirement.
Glyn
After an incredible 49 years at Pembroke Leisure Centre, the time has finally come to say a very well-deserved happy retirement to Glyn.
Glyn has been a huge part of the Pembroke Leisure Centre family for almost five decades, dedicating his time, knowledge and passion to both the centre and the local community.
His contribution to swimming development has been immense. Over the years, Glyn has taught countless children and adults to swim, helping generations gain confidence in the water and develop a life-saving skill. Alongside this, he has played a key role in developing lifeguards, passing on his knowledge, experience and high standards to colleagues who have gone on to serve communities across Pembrokeshire.
Over the years, Glyn has worked alongside countless colleagues, supported generations of customers and played a significant role in making Pembroke Leisure Centre the place it is today. His commitment, professionalism, humour and willingness to help others have earned him the respect and admiration of everyone who has had the pleasure of working with him.
For those fortunate enough to have worked alongside Glyn, his contribution goes far beyond the 49 years he has spent at the centre. He has been a colleague, mentor, friend and role model to many, always willing to share his experience and lend a helping hand.
As Glyn begins his retirement, we would like to thank him for his remarkable service and dedication. His presence will be greatly missed, but his contribution to Pembroke Leisure Centre will never be forgotten.
Enjoy your retirement, Glyn. You have certainly earned it.
Gaynor
We are delighted to celebrate Gaynor, who has been invited to attend the Long Service Awards in recognition of more than 40 years of dedicated service with Pembrokeshire Leisure.
Known by many as a wonderful swimming teacher and fitness class instructor, Gaynor has inspired generations of people to develop confidence in the water, improve their wellbeing and enjoy being active. Her enthusiasm, encouragement and passion for teaching have had a positive impact on countless customers throughout her career.
Her outstanding contribution to swimming teaching has also been recognised nationally. In recent years, Gaynor had the honour of visiting Buckingham Palace in recognition of her exceptional service to swimming education, an achievement that everyone at Pembrokeshire Leisure was proud to celebrate alongside her.
Gaynor's dedication, professionalism and commitment to helping others make her a truly deserving recipient of this recognition, and we congratulate her on reaching this remarkable milestone.
James "Wally" Walters
We are also delighted to recognise James Walters, known to colleagues, customers and friends simply as "Wally", for what is more than 41 years of dedicated service to Pembrokeshire Leisure.
Over the course of his career, James has undertaken a wide variety of roles including Lifeguard, Swimming Instructor, Squash Coach, Duty Manager and, for the last 30 years, Centre Manager. While predominantly associated with Milford Haven Leisure Centre, he also spent a number of years as Manager at Pembroke Leisure Centre, making a significant contribution to leisure services across the county.
James is perhaps equally well known for his passion and talent for squash. Widely recognised as one of the finest squash players in Pembrokeshire over many years, he has represented the sport with distinction and inspired countless others to participate. His commitment to squash mirrors the dedication and professionalism he has shown throughout his career.
Like Ryan, James spent part of his early career working at the old Rath outdoor pool and has many fond memories and stories from that era. Those stories, and the friendships formed over many years, are a reminder of the strong sense of community that has always existed within Pembrokeshire Leisure.
Alongside Ryan, Tracy and Gaynor, James has been one of the defining faces of Milford Haven Leisure Centre for a generation. Together, they have witnessed, supported and shaped the development of the centre through every major addition and improvement, from the original swimming pool through to the sports hall, dance studio, bowls hall and fitness suite. Their collective knowledge and experience provide a living history of the centre's development and its importance to the local community.
Yet while facilities and buildings are important, they are only part of the story. The success of Milford Haven Leisure Centre has ultimately been built on the dedication, professionalism and commitment of people like James and his colleagues. Through his leadership, passion and unwavering commitment to public service, James has influenced the lives of countless residents, sports clubs, community organisations and families across multiple generations.
His contribution to Pembrokeshire Leisure and to the wider community is exceptional, and his long service is a testament to the difference that one dedicated individual can make over a lifetime.
Thank You
Together, James, Tracy, Ryan, Glyn and Gaynor represent the very best of Pembrokeshire Leisure. Their combined years of service reflect an extraordinary commitment to our customers, colleagues and communities.
Between them, they have taught generations to swim, trained lifeguards, managed facilities, developed sport, supported clubs, inspired healthier lifestyles and helped create welcoming spaces at the heart of our communities. They have brought with them a passion for sport, community and people, whether through James' achievements in squash, Ryan's love of swimming and rollercoasters, Tracy's commitment to local football, Glyn's dedication to teaching swimming and developing lifeguards, or Gaynor's inspirational work in swimming and fitness.
They have witnessed the transformation of our leisure centres over many decades, but more importantly they have been instrumental in making those centres what they are today. They have seen facilities added, expanded and modernised, helping centres evolve to meet the needs of changing communities.
Buildings can be extended, facilities can be upgraded and programmes can evolve, but it is people who truly make a leisure centre successful. For countless residents across Pembrokeshire, these individuals have been familiar faces, trusted mentors, dedicated colleagues and valued friends. Through their service, they have touched the lives of multiple generations of local families and helped create lasting memories that stretch far beyond the walls of our leisure centres.
On behalf of everyone at Pembrokeshire Leisure, we extend our sincere thanks and congratulations. Your dedication, friendship and contribution have made a lasting difference, and we wish you all the very best for the future.
Thank you for your remarkable service.
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