On Friday
15th February, we held our 3rd AGM at Monkton Priory
Church Hall. Besides electing the
Officers and Committee, the AGM is an opportunity to report on the years
successes and I am glad to report that we have some new people voted on board –
anyone wishing to join us is very welcome.
Take a look at our website to see the range of work we are engaged in.
Also agreed by the AGM was the introduction of a membership of £3 per year for
those who wish to join.
Having got
the boring bits over with, we were pleased to introduce Simon Hancock who came
to talk to us about “the last man hanged in Pembrokeshire”. The tale of William Roblin hanged in
Haverfordwest is fairly well known but
Simon told us about an astonishing discovery made about two years ago, when he
came upon an eyewitness account buried in old newspapers. This gave a rather
different take on the story. Roblin’s
end came on 24th April 1821, executed by the High Sheriff of
Pembrokeshire, Joseph Harris. Apparently
there were 18 applicants for the post of executioner, but the identity of the
man who did the deed was never made known.
His body was anatomised and dissected then buried within the prison
grounds without Christian ceremony. But even then, he was not allowed to rest
in peace. His body was dug up and the
skeleton sold. After passing through
several hands, most of it was lost – except the skull. And that, dear readers, now lies in a box in Pembroke Castle.
How it got there remains a mystery.
