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| Mr Peter Hancock with David James (centre) and ex employees of Hancock's Company |
Saturday afternoon saw the
launch of David James’ latest book ‘Hancock’s Shipbuilding Company in Pembroke
Dock: the ships and the men who built them’.
Appropriately, the event took place in Hancock’s Yard, which is now the
home of the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society, an organisation of which
David is secretary.
David is a well known local
personality, author of several maritime books and a popular speaker. His popularity is such that the book launch,
organised by Pembroke & Monkton Local History Society, drew large numbers. The Society has a publications arm and this
is its third major local history book.
Chairman Linda Asman opened
the event by thanking Mr Peter Hancock MBE for travelling back to Pembroke Dock
to attend. Mr Hancock spoke of the time
he set up his company, returning to Pembrokeshire in 1962 wanting to live his
dream of building ships like his grandfather had done – and for almost the next
20 years he did just that. He thanked
David for gathering together the stories and memories of the company, stating
that it was a privilege to have worked as part of that wonderful community of
men who displayed such pride in their work.
Together they built over 40 craft of one sort or another.
Many ex employees attended
the event and enjoyed the opportunity to reminisce, wander around the boat yard
and visit the maritime museum which the WWMHS has set up in one of the buildings. The book proved popular too – 105 books were
sold during the course of the afternoon!
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| David James with Mr Peter Hancock (right) |
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