Desmond Pugh

Monmouthshire, New Jersey

Photographer and Senior Reporter at Monmouthshire Beacon

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Articles

Monmouth Bee Festival: Local charity buzzes with success

6 days ago | monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk | Desmond Pugh

The Monmouth Bee Festival, organised by the locally based global charity Bees for Development, was a hive of activity and joy on Saturday afternoon in the charming surroundings of The Nelson Garden, Monmouth.
local litter volunteers targeted with mocking notice

6 days ago | monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk | Desmond Pugh

Two local litter volunteers are a familiar sight on the roads around Crossways and Newcastle in their MCC supplied hi-vis jackets and litter pickers. Also in the newsYvonne and Denise voluntarily pick litter with the blessing of the council, but their good deeds have been undermined in a rather malicious way. Noticing an unusual amount of litter one morning, they dutifully picked it up and then came across a notice written on cardboard with a message that seemed aimed at them.
Wonastow Road closure for urgent BT work scheduled on June 19

6 days ago | monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk | Desmond Pugh

The closure will be in place between Portfield Farm and Wonastow Lodge. Access for residents will be maintained.
Wild Wye Swim raises £1,500 for SARA charity

1 week ago | monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk | Desmond Pugh

56 runners from across the area took on SARA’s Wild Wye Swim on Sunday and raised over £1500 for the charity. In this unique race, competitors run from Chepstow Castle, through Tidenham Tunnel and then swim across the Wye at Livox, before running back to Chepstow and finishing in Piercefield Park. It has a reputation as being tough but incredibly beautiful, and the weather on Sunday certainly helped. SARA provides safety cover for the swim, which is timed for the slack water at high tide.
Celebrate Bees at the Monmouth Bee Festival 2025

1 week ago | monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk | Desmond Pugh

Join Bees for Development on Saturday 14 June for the Monmouth Bee Festival 2025, a vibrant community celebration of bees, pollinators, and the vital role they play in our lives. Taking place in the beautiful Nelson Garden in Monmouth from 12pm to 4pm, this free, family-friendly event promises something for everyone. Also in the newsChildren can enjoy face painting, seed ball making, and more, while adults browse stalls from local environmental charities and beekeeping organisations.
Battle of the Bands Monmouth: Finalists Announced

2 weeks ago | monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk | Desmond Pugh

The final line-up for Battle of the Bands Monmouth has been revealed and will play on Saturday June 29 headlined by Kira Mac. The finalists—Misha & the Kings, Superhouse, Four Act Riot and Fake Fame—will battle it out for a place on the main stage at Lakefest and Landed Festival. Under-18 local talents HZRD and Hillsy will compete for a prime slot at YFest.
Outstanding quartet returns to Wye Valley Music

2 weeks ago | monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk | Desmond Pugh

(The Carducci String quartet )Wye Valley Music is delighted that their next concert on Sunday, June 22nd at 3pm in St. Mary’s church, Ross on Wye will feature the internationally renowned Carducci String Quartet. The Carducci is recognised as one of today's most successful string quartets, performing over 90 concerts worldwide each year and releasing a bevy of acclaimed recordings.
Heroes and villians: The theme of this year's carnival

2 weeks ago | monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk | Desmond Pugh

Monmouth Carnival returns with a bang on Sunday 29th June 2025, promising a spectacular day of free family entertainment with something for everyone. This year’s theme is ‘Heroes & Villains’. From the historic carnival parade to the vibrant entertainment zones, Chippenham Fields will come alive with colour, music, and community pride. Expect to see everything from Starship Troopers and Indian Runner Ducks, to a thrilling BMX stunt display and a stunning lineup of supercars and vintage vehicles.
National Highways refutes misleading A40 landslide claims

2 weeks ago | rossgazette.com | Desmond Pugh

NATIONAL Highways has hit back at claims by a safety campaigner over the A40 landfall near Ganarew saying the information he put out was “misleading”. Andy Smith said the A40 Safety Group were “shocked” by the failure of the roads organisation to take note of past monitoring reports. Also in the newsThe group claims that two landslides in 2018 and 2019 should have been “advance warning” of the February 2024 landslide, which led to the closure of the carriageway.
Geologists slam National Highways on repeated A40 landslides

2 weeks ago | monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk | Desmond Pugh

An open letter to National Highways (NH) regarding the lack of action over the past seven years has been sent by a geologist monitoring developmentsAndy Smith says in the letter that The A40 Safety Group “continues to be shocked by the failure of National Highways” in noting recent monitoring reports on the geology of the hillside above the A40. He said there were two smaller landslides that occurred in 2018 and 2019 close to the 2023 landslide which led to the current closure of the carriageway.

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