Festival Exhibition - a big success!

Our summer exhibition was held in Monkton Church Hall on July 2nd to coincide with the Pembroke Festival. The exhibition was based on the memories and photographs of local people and comprised an audio visual presentation with displays depicting changing times in our community – taking in a tour around the Quays, The Green, The Main Street, Commons, Orange Gardens and Monkton.

The exhibition was received enthusiastically by the community who attended in large numbers, reward enough for all our hard work. We are especially grateful to Jacky and her team of tea ladies who were rushed off their feet supplying refreshments and to all who baked the cakes – which were sold out by the end of the day! We thank also Monkton Voice for sponsoring the event, the WCVA Trust Fund for funding our equipment and, of course all the people who contributed their photographs and allowed us to record their memories.

Our Next Event - July 2nd

June 5th Event

Another good attendance - date clashing with other events fortunately did not affect us. The highlight was a film show taken in Monkton in the early 1950s by Mr Penfold. He came along to see it as did his daughter Sue Jones who originally contacted us about the film and permitted it to be copied. Sue did a commentary and everyone joined in with their recollections.

Update

I have been away for 3 weeks so have not updated this for a while - Stuart and I have been off in the camper visiting London and stopped at Portsmouth on the way back. Lived there as a child for a couple of years so was curious to see the old place - and Portsmouth has a special place in the history of Pembroke and Pembroke Dock as so many people left to find work there after the closing of the Dockyard in 1926. But my main reason was to see the Warrior, also a former Pembroke resident - and WOW!!! what a transformation! Last time I saw her was as a hulk on the side of the Cleddau, hardly worth a second glance and now! WOW - have to say it again, she is magnificent. Proudly floating in Portsmouth Dockyard, a multi million pound tourist attraction. Why can't the authorities here realise that regeneration is to be had in projects like this? What a difference she would have made to Pembroke Dock - all they can think of here is ruining the whole aspect of historic Front Street with blocks of flats and a marina. No vision at all.

Next Event June 5th

On June 5th we will be holding a coffee morning at Monkton Church Hall. We are being treated to an old cine film of Monkton in the early 1950s courtesy of Sue Jones - that will stir some memories!! If anyone has any old cine films taken locally we would love to hear from you.

Terry's Civil War Walk

Despite the rain, 20 brave souls turned up for our Civil War Walk led by Terry John who is an expert on the subject and a popular speaker. He makes it so interesting. We walked around the Castle and along the Millpond walk and were able to see where the guns were sited which did such damage to Pembroke during the Second Civil War when Poyer changed sides and backed the King. Bad move and bad for Pembroke as we lost our town gates, much of the walls and castle! An interesting detour was made courtesy of Margaret and Thalia - we were able to visit the Mediaeval Chapel which was part of the York where Cromwell made his headquarters after taking Pembroke.

A Visit to the Priory

Stories about walled up monks and ghosts kept the audience enthralled as Pauline gave her conducted tour around Monkton Priory Church on Bank Holiday Monday, May 3rd. Pauline bravely stepped in to do the tour as Dilwyn Davies, our expert on the Priory, was too ill - we all wish him well.
This was another successful Monkton event held at the Church Hall where the coffee morning was well attended and more new material emerged. The exhibition also contained many "new"photographs kindly donated as a result of the launch in March and subsequent publicity.