A local band was presented with new musical equipment by George Parfitt, owner of Main Street Music in Pembroke, after a generous donation from Pembrokeshire’s Ascona Group enabled the Ukranian musicians to purchase the equipment.

The Top 10 UK independent forecourt operator donated over £1,000 to Malva, a band of five Ukrainians with some help from local Pembrokeshire musicians.

George said: “It was a pleasure to help the members of Malva source and select the equipment they needed. They can now continue to play traditional Ukrainian music to audiences around Pembrokeshire.”

Darren Briggs, founder and CEO of Ascona Group, added: “Supporting our communities has been at the heart of everything we do, so I am happy that we were able to provide the funds for Malva to purchase musical instruments; especially since they were able to be found from a local retailer.”

Natalie Panchenko of Malva expressed the band’s gratitude: “Although far from home, this extremely kind donation from Ascona Group, means we can continue to play music for the Ukrainian community in exile and our friends in Pembrokeshire.”