Saturday April 1st Coffee Morning and Talk

Another enjoyable morning at Pembroke Town Hall on Saturday. From 10am visitors were able to enjoy a coffee morning, a visit to the museum and, for added interest, a film in the Council Chamber. This was a 2006 recording of ‘The Street' featuring Pembroke Main Street featuring local characters including Connie Brown and Roy Haggar. Also on display were PCC’s plans for the South Quay. At 11am all assembled in the Main Hall first for the raffle and then for the talk by popular local historian Terry John who spoke about a little known 17th Century author/poet named John Taylor.

John Taylor; the Water Poet

Pembroke & Monkton Local History Society meets again on Saturday April 1st with a Coffee Morning and Talk in Pembroke Town Hall, commencing at 10am. Our speaker this month is Terry John and the subject of his talk is ‘John Taylor; the Water Poet'. John Taylor was a remarkable writer of poems, epigrams and prose who was born in the reign of Elizabeth I and became famous for a number of journeys he made around Britain. He made an eccentric tour of Wales in 1652, visiting Pembroke, Tenby and St Davids and described it all in verse and prose. Doors will open from 10am for coffee and an opportunity to visit the Museum and Council Chamber, which are situated on the first floor of the Town Hall – a lift is available for disabled access. Following this, at 11am, assemble in the George Lewis Room for the talk. Everyone is welcome to attend - you do not have to be a member - and entry is free.

Meeting of March 4th

Yesterday's meeting of the History Society didn't quite go to plan - our advertised speaker, Father Gildas, was unable to make the trip from Caldey Island but we had an enjoyable meeting even so. Linda Asman gave a talk about Pembroke's great art heritage with a display of the museum's collection of engravings. Also discussed was the progress of our arts/sculpture trail. The museum attracted a lot of interest as usual and, displayed in the Council Chamber, were the plans for PCC's South Quay development along with heritage photographs of the old quayside.

Our AGM on February 17th

Our next event - Saturday March 4th

We look forward to welcoming Father Gildas of Caldey Island to our next meeting on Saturday March 4th. Father Gildas has spoken to us on other occasions - this time he will be talking about women's much neglected role in history. Largely overshadowed by men, we do not hear much about her story: it's very much his story!

Rose Blackburn is awarded the BEM

At a ceremony at County Hall, Rose Blackburn, Pembroke & Monkton Local History Society Trustee and Vice Chairman, received her award of BEM from the Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Sara Edwards. The award was announced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours last year, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year. Many congratulations from all of us in the Society – so well deserved. So many years of voluntary service to the community in many roles - from the youth justice board to animal welfare and the Pembrokeshire Community Health Council. Rose has been a Town Councillor for many years, a former Mayor and, as Town Crier, cut a colourful figure in Pembroke for 27 years!

Pembroke Stained Glass - a talk by Dr Martin Crampin

Saturday's meeting of the Society was a great success. Around 70 people assembled at Monkton Priory Church to hear Dr Martin Crampin talk about the church stained glass. We all then proceeded to St Mary's Church for the second half of the talk and were treated to coffee and homemade Welsh cakes by Church Warden Marcia James and her team of volunteers. A big thank you to them - catering for so many was a big undertaking! Dr Crampin also brought along his just published book 'Stained Glass from Welsh Churches' and was asked to sign a few. It was a lovely morning with so many joining us.