Pennant Homes presents Public Service award to local police chief

A local Chief Superintendent who has gone beyond the call of duty has been awarded the Public Service Award at The Wave & Swansea Sound’s Local Hero Awards in Swansea.

Mark Mathias, 49 and originally from Hendy, was presented with the award by sponsor Pennant Homes on the day he retires from service after being recognised for his services to the local community.
Mark started as a police cadet with South Wales Police in 1980 and rose through the ranks to become Chief Superintendent, covering Swansea and Neath Port Talbot and investigating some of the key cases in the area. Mark was also awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished service in the New Year’s Honours List earlier this year.

He has now been recognised for his efforts at The Local Hero awards 2012..

Held at The Dragon Hotel in Swansea, the Local Hero Awards are organised by local radio station The Wave & Swansea Sound and aim to recognise those individuals who make an impact in the local community, yet often go unrewarded.

Gerraint Oakley, Pennant Homes’ managing director said, “Awarding the Public Service award to Mark was an honour and a fitting way to recognise his work as he retires from the force. He has made a hugely positive impact to the local area in his 32 years in the police force.

“Sponsoring the Local Hero Awards is one of a number of ways we are supporting the local community in Swansea and we hope to continue these relationships as we develop more affordable housing in the area.”

Mark Mathias said, “I am honoured to be presented with the Public Service award by Pennant Homes. I joined the police force in 1980 with the aim of making a difference and this has never gone away. My career with South Wales police has been extremely rewarding, but to receive thanks from the local community for the work we do is very humbling indeed.

“As I retire from my post I am confident that local officers will continue to make great strides forward in reducing crime and the fear of crime in Swansea.”

Helen Bowden, The Wave’s station director said, “We’re very grateful to Pennant for sponsoring the Public Service Award and presenting the accolade to Mark Mathias. People like Mark work incredibly hard in the local community and don’t often get the recognition they deserve, which is why we developed the Local Hero awards. ”

Pictured:  Councillor June Stanton, Deputy Lord Mayor of the City & County of Swansea, congratulates Mark Mathias on receiving his award for Public Service from Pennant Homes managing director, Gerraint Oakley

Pontardawe pupils are right up Pennant’s street

Pupils (L-R) Cerys Jones, Serian Harries 

and Hannah Bate unveil the new street 

names at Parc y Dderwen, inspired 

by Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg's Year 6

Children from the Swansea Valley have the honour of naming three new streets in Pontardawe.

Year six pupils at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe were given the opportunity to leave their legacy in the local area by getting creative and entering suggestions for the street names in Pennant Homes’ new Parc y Dderwen development.

After approval from the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, the new streets will be named Oak Hill Way/Ffordd Tyle’r Dderwen, Clos Y Cwm, and Maes Yr Ysgol, thanks to the inspiring entries from the school’s pupils.

Mr Ceri Emanuel, headteacher of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe, said “The children can’t wait to see their creative ideas come to life when the new street signs are put in place. The development is going to be a big part of our lives whilst under construction and this competition means that the children have truly had a say in a small part of their community.”

Sandra Marsh, Pennant Homes’ commercial manager, said, “We were overwhelmed with the quality of the children’s entries and are very happy with the final approved names. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the school on this occasion and hope there will be more opportunities for us to engage with the younger members of our community in the future.”

Properties on the new housing development in Pontardawe are being snapped up months before the foundations are even laid, thanks to a unique first-time buyer scheme.

About Pennant Homes & Parc-y-Dderwen

The Parc y Dderwen development consists of 81 new homes – a mix of properties ranging from two bedroom bungalows to three bedroom townhouses.

Through Pennant Homes’ Homebuy scheme, new home owners own 100 per cent of their property, but only pay a mortgage on 75 per cent of it, keeping monthly repayments affordable.

Another benefit of the home buy scheme is that no part of the 25 per cent loan has to be repaid until the property is sold.

Pennant Homes, part of the Coastal Housing Group, has over 30 years experience of providing homes and creating communities. It offers affordable housing, built to high specifications, across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, with plans to extend its development area across the breadth of South Wales to Pembrokeshire.

It offers a fresh approach to the housing market, specialising in providing homes for first time buyers through its Homebuy loans, where up to 25 per cent of the cost of selected properties can be funded and the initial deposit reduced to 5 per cent or less subject to status. Pennant Homes offers opportunities for people to own their own home who might otherwise be unable to do so.

Pontardawe pupils have the word on the street

(L-R)Liz Howells Pennant's Sales Advisor,
Gareth Carsley Site Manager
& Mal Thomas,Contracts Manager congratulate Daisy,
LLyr & Cerys for their winning street names

Children from Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe have had the honour of naming three new streets in the local area thanks to Pennant Homes.

The competition, devised by property developers Pennant, asked pupils for street name suggestions for its new Parc y Dderwen development located opposite the school. It allows the children to leave a lasting mark on the community in which they are situated.

The winning street names, which were announced in a health and safety assembly delivered by Pennant’s construction team, were ‘Old School Road’, from 10 year old Daisy, ‘Y Dderwen Ddu’, from 10 year old Cerys and ‘Heol y Cwm Bach’ submitted by Llyr, also 10 years old.

Mrs. Myfanwy Rees, headteacher of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe, said, “We were so pleased to be involved in the street naming competition with Pennant Homes. Obviously the development is going to be a part of our lives for the next few years whilst it is under construction and this allows the children to take an ownership in what is happening within their locality.

“The children were very enthusiastic about the task and it certainly encouraged them to put their creative skills to good use. For the winners, it is an achievement they can cherish for years to come.”

Sandra Marsh, Pennant Homes’ commercial manager, said, “We were overwhelmed with the quality of all the entries and the judging process was made very difficult for us. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the school on this occasion and hope there will be more opportunities for us to engage with the younger members of our community in the future.”

The streets will be officially named once Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council has approved the suggestions made by the children.

(L-R) Pupils Daisy, LLyr and Cerys put their mark on their community

Properties on the new housing development in Pontardawe are being snapped up months before the foundations are even laid, thanks to a unique first-time buyer scheme.

The Parc y Dderwen development consists of 81 new homes – a mix of properties ranging from two bedroom bungalows to three bedroom townhouses.

Through Pennant Homes’ Homebuy scheme, new home owners own 100 per cent of their property, but only pay a mortgage on 75 per cent of it, keeping monthly repayments affordable.

Another benefit of the home buy scheme is that no part of the 25 per cent loan has to be repaid until the property is sold.

Pennant Homes, part of the Coastal Housing Group, has over 30 years experience of providing homes and creating communities. It offers affordable housing, built to high specifications, across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, with plans to extend its development area across the breadth of south Wales to Pembrokeshire.

It offers a fresh approach to the housing market, specialising in providing homes for first time buyers through its Homebuy loans, where up to 25 per cent of the cost of selected properties can be funded and the initial deposit reduced to 5 per cent or less subject to status. Pennant Homes offers opportunities for people to own their own home who might otherwise be unable to do so.