Councillor Randell Thomas-Turner also became Haverfordwest Town Council’s youngest ever mayor in May, and described the joy as a chance for “unity, opportunity, and hope”
The first black mayor of the tourist town of Haverfordwest has hired private security guards following racist threats linked to his role.
Councillor Randell Thomas-Turner, aged 37, made history in May when he became the first Black elected mayor of the Pembrokeshire town of around 14,500 residents. At the time, he said his appointment reflected “how far our community has come.”
However, the mayor later arranged private security for the town’s traditional Beating of the Bounds ceremony, citing personal safety concerns. In a statement, Cllr Thomas-Turner said Haverfordwest Town Council “does not tolerate racism, discrimination, harassment or threatening behaviour of any kind” and added that any matters relating to individual councillors were personal issues being handled by the relevant authorities. He said he remained committed to serving the town “with pride, dedication and service.”
Questions were raised after security personnel were seen accompanying the mayor during the historic civic event, which involves a water-borne procession to assert the town’s fishery rights and has roots in medieval boundary-marking traditions.
The council confirmed the security arrangements were made privately by the mayor and were not commissioned or funded by the council. It said the decision was taken as a personal precaution and that all costs were paid by Cllr Thomas-Turner himself.
The council stressed that the presence of security should not be interpreted as evidence of a specific threat to the event, participants or members of the public. It said the ceremony passed without incident and remained a safe, family-friendly occasion.
In a further statement, the council condemned “all forms of abuse, intimidation and threatening behaviour” directed at those serving their communities, saying respectful public discourse was essential to local democracy.
Cllr Thomas-Turner, who is also the youngest person to hold the mayoralty in Haverfordwest for a century, said he was “honoured” by the appointment and hoped to help build a future based on “unity, opportunity, compassion, and community spirit.”
Pembrokeshire county councillor Michael Williams described the situation as “appalling but sadly not surprising,” arguing that some people had become increasingly emboldened to express racist views publicly. He called the reports “an absolute disgrace” and said those responsible should be ashamed of themselves.
