On Thursday March 9th Pembroke Museum welcomed a very special artifact, a real echo from Pembroke's past. This was the old Kalee 12 projector from Haggar's cinema which, since 1986, has been looked after by the owners of Tenby's Fourcroft Hotel, Cath and Chris Osbourne who can be seen in the photograph presenting the projector to Vicki Haggar.
The projector had been on display in the Fourcroft Hotel's Hollywood bar but when Vicki heard that the Fourcroft Hotel was to be sold, she arranged that the projector be returned to Pembroke. It now forms an important addition to Pembroke Museum's Haggar collection which includes the complete archive of William Haggar's remaining silent movies which can actually be viewed there.
Last November, Pembroke & Monkton Local History Society published 'From Mummer's Booth to Silver Screen: the Life and Times of the Haggar Family' written by Vicki Haggar. Her great grandfather, William Haggar, was a pioneer of the early cinema in Wales and achieved international success with his groundbreaking moving pictures which were shown first in travelling cinemas or bioscopes. The Haggar family later established a chain of cinemas, including Pembroke which was opened in 1931 by Will Haggar Junior. On his demise it was carried on by Vicki's grandfather Walter Haggar, then father Len and finally brother John until it closed finally in 1984.
Vicki presented a copy of her book to Cath and Chris and the Museum Committee join her in thanking them for caring for this most important piece of Pembroke history. It will be much appreciated by Pembroke people who still regard Haggars with great affection as is demonstrated by the popularity of the History Society's Haggars' Nights.
Pembroke Museum is situated in the upstairs courtroom of Pembroke Town Hall and is open weekday mornings from 10am to 12.30pm, extending to 3pm from April 18th. Entry to the museum is free and there is a lift for disabled access.
