So that's a wrap...

Well, that's it then. All over for another year. 

Here's to a happy, healthy and successful 2012.

Festive greetings...

Just a little festive picture to wish you all a very merry Christmas! 

My favourite yuletide bird (after turkey).

Farewell to Shane - a Welsh rugby legend

It was a fitting end to an illustrious sporting career as Shane Williams pulled on the red jersey for the final time yesterday in the Wales v Australia match at the Millennium Stadium.

The clash hadn't been a classic, not even close, but in the last move of the game Shane crossed the line for his 58th Test try - and everyone's wish came true - he'd scored his last try in his last game before retirement.

At 34 he will now hang up those daffodil-coloured boots and Welsh rugby fans will be left to reflect on the ingenuity of their twinkletoes wing. 

There were tears before the game and after the final whistle - and not just Shane's - as the man who always inspired a nation's collective hope said: "I've had the time of my life."

In August I got the chance to photograph Shane as he signed autographs in a brief appearance at the Pembrokeshire County Show, along with former Scarlets and Wales player Dafydd Jones.

Shane was running late, caught up in show traffic, as the crowds gathered at the Oil 4 Wales stand. Young and old were all waiting expectantly for a glimpse of their hero. I was getting twitchy as there were other things on my pic list which were now going to clash, but there was no way I was going to miss him.

When he arrived I had to wait a while for the clamour to die down before I grabbed no more than two minutes to take the shot before heading off to the other far-flung corners of the showground.

Thanks for the memories Shane, we'll miss you.

Snapping the lights fantastic

Last month saw the second Secret Light Garden weekend held at Picton Castle. It's a great family night out and this year's effort was even better than 2010 - and there were definitely a lot more people there.
It also makes an entertaining night for photographers and there were quite a few of us to be seen wandering around with cameras armed on tripods.
Here are a few of my images taken on the night. I was relieved when they printed really well on our newsprint - cause you just never know sometimes. Some are also featured in the latest edition of our magazine. I'll post a link when it's out.

Lest we forget

As the country prepares to reflect on conflicts past and present and those who never returned home, here are a few of the Remembrance Sunday pictures I took at last year's service in Milford Haven.

Snow White and the Huntsman

Last week Pembrokeshire once again became the playground for Hollywood directors and actors.
Following in the footsteps of Harry Potter and Robin Hood, Snow White and the Huntsman rolled into town to film at the stunning Marloes Sands.
Starring Kristen Stewart (of Twilight fame) as Snow White and Chris Hemsworth as the huntsman, the arrival of a vast film crew attracted the interest of locals who made the most of a day out at the beach basking in the glorious late summer weather.
Taking advantage of a day off, I headed to the coast on the penultimate day of filming. Kristen had already done most of her filming earlier in the week, but I did catch a glimpse of her while trudging back up the coast path at the end of the day. I hope they managed to get that scene shot because by then the tide was coming in!

I'm sure I don't need to remind anyone, but all of the following images are © Lisa Soar and are not for reuse without prior permission. All rights reserved.

A couple of shots of Kristen, in the billowing black dress...

London calling... part 2

A couple of weeks later it was back to the capital. This time it was for the handover of the Save Milford Haven Coastguard petition at Number 10 Downing Street. I was lucky enough to be the photographer covering the event with five representatives of the campaign group, including round-the-world adventurer Rosie Swale Pope.
For picture purposes I really could have done without the thunderstorm overhead, but in truth it added to the memories of a great day when we got to stand in front of the most famous door in the world. Among the highlights of the trip were: Being told our names weren't on the list when we arrived at Downing Street (soon rectified); what must have been the loudest knock Number 10 has ever heard when petition organiser Mair Williams climbed the steps; and Rosie calling me 'rugged' , adding I could 'survive Siberia and beyond'.

The Pembrokeshire group delivered the 20,000-signature petition to save Milford Haven Coastguard Station and they also presented a national petition of more than 15,000 signatures.
Mair Williams has been the driving force behind the Milford Haven petition. Originally from Anglesey, she has lived in Milford Haven for ten years.
With the help of her husband David, she has been out collecting signatures to help save Milford’s coastguard station.
She said: “I got involved because it meant something to me. I’ve lived around the coast all my life and my family are fishermen. When I heard the proposals I thought ‘no you can’t do this, I’ve got to do something’.
“I’ve never done anything like this before, but my husband said he’d help. We didn’t even know how to set up a petition, so we started with trying to get 500 signatures and we’ve ended up with 20,000 which is wonderful.”
David added: “To be representing such a wealth of opinion gives me a real sense of pride. We felt we had to make a stand. We’re amazed and grateful to everyone for their support.”
Adventurer and sailor Rosie Swale Pope said: “I’m very privileged to go to Downing Street with Mair and the group.
“I sailed across the Atlantic in 1983. I sailed for 70 days from Pembroke Dock to New York harbour. One of the last voices I heard as I set sail was the Pembrokeshire coastguard.
“These people do such a great job for sailors, tourism, businesses and wildlife. We live in a fragile world and so many people rely on the coastguard and it takes years to build up such a team. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The group was met at Downing Street by MP Maria Eagle, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport.
She praised the campaigners for highlighting the concerns and worries of so many people.
The MP for Garston and Halewood, in Liverpool, said: “I live on the coast and know how important the coastguards are. It is a personal and constituency interest, as well as representing the view of the Shadow Cabinet."
Group spokesman Dennis O’Connor added: “I’m delighted - the fact we’ve handed in a 20,000-signature petition from the people of west Wales is phenomenal.
“It is important to us that the voices of the people of Pembrokeshire are heard.
“We’ve given the Prime Minister a message and it’s one he can’t ignore.”
And it seems it was a message David Cameron couldn't ignore, because on Thursday Milford Haven Coastguard Station won a dramatic reprieve from the Government.
Speaking in Parliament, Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond said Milford Haven would now remain open as a 24-hour facility. 
Holyhead Coastguard Station also won a reprieve.
But Swansea, which had originally been due to stay open, will now be closed.
A new period of consultation on the changes to the original plan has also been announced.
In light of the latest announcements a new national petition has been set-up. For more information click here: http://t.co/aSNUSFz

Petition organiser Mair Williams, her husband David and Rosie Swale Pope outside Number 10...

Dennis O'Connor and Andy Kuruc deliver the national petition...

The group celebrate after the handover of the petitions...

After the TV interviews in the rain it was time for some more snaps...

We weren't the only ones smiling through the downpour, a group of schoolchildren were also managing to make the most of their trip to Downing Street...

Fortunately I wasn't confined to the press area and had free access to set up the shots in front of Number 10...

London calling... part 1

A bit like buses - when you wait ages for one to arrive and then three come along at once - I had the opportunity to make two trips to London last month.

It's been quite a while since my last visit to the capital; my old student stomping ground. The first trip was to attend a press photography exhibition and seminar at the Guardian newspaper offices and the second was to accompany the Save Milford Haven Coastguard Group to Downing Street for the handover of their campaign petition - more on that in part 2.

The press photography exhibition was staged by the NCTJ, celebrating its 60 years of training journalists and press snappers. 

I travelled up by train and arrived a bit early so decided to shelter from the rain at the British library. Well worth a visit when you're in the capital. Once the rain had passed I headed over to the Guardian offices. The exhibition was a like a pick 'n' mix heaven of press photos and featured some great work. Here's a taste of the exhibition with a few quick snaps taken on my iPhone…

Pembrokeshire Fish Week drops anchor

The hugely popular Pembrokeshire Fish Week has sailed in once again, casting off with the open day at Milford Marina.
Despite the weather - and for the first time this year, an entry charge - crowds of visitors sampled what was on offer.
An array of food, arts and crafts and charity stalls, cookery demonstrations, children's activities, street performers, dancers and sea shanty crews guaranteed that locals and tourists alike were left hooked.
For more information about what's on for the rest of the week, visit the Pembrokeshire Fish Week site.
Here are a few of my shots from the opening event...