October Events

Pembroke & Monkton Local History Society begins its new Autumn/Spring programme on Saturday October 7th with a Coffee Morning and Talk in Pembroke Town Hall. Our speaker this month is popular local historian Gareth Mills who will talk about Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII - the woman who forged the Tudor dynasty. A subject of great interest to us here in Pembroke! Perhaps too we will have some update about the progress of the Henry Tudor Centre. 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, we 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.

Later in the month, on Friday October 20th at 7pm, the Society will be holding a Quiz Night at Foundry House Community Centre, the Commons, Pembroke. Tickets cost £5 and this will include a buffet.

Down on the Range

Down on the Range - Pembroke Museum volunteers went on a PCNP guided minibus tour of the Castlemartin Range yesterday. This was a great opportunity to enjoy the amazing coastal scenery of this restricted area as well as to visit the historic, derelict buildings, buildings, some - like Flimston and Pricaston - dating back to the Middle Ages. So sad to think that these were once thriving farmsteads until the WW2 requisition of this beautiful place for a tank range. It was a most enjoyable tour with Peter Royle, an excellent, interesting guide.

Sunday 23rd July - Farewell HMS Pembroke

An historic occasion on Sunday 23rd July as HMS Pembroke exercised their Right of Freedom for the final time, before being decommissioned. They marched through Pembrke Main Street, saluting the Mayor of Pembroke as they passed the Town Hall before entering the Castle for the ceremony. They finally exited the castle to the sound of bagpipes played wonderfully by Graham Phillips. The sailors of HMS Pembroke were supported by the Sea Cadets of Milford, Tenby and Fishguard and the Royal Marine Cadets and all were invited back to a reception at Pembroke Town Hall.

Pembrokeshire and slavery - Saturday's talk

Saturday's meeting was very well attended - a fascinating talk by Paul Muller on the slave trade and how it affected the country in general and the Pembrokeshire people who were involved in it. Interestingly, In October 1830 an anti-slavery meeting was held here, in Pembroke Town Hall. A powerful speech was delivered by Sir James Mackintosh, a Scottish MP who campaigned against the use of slave labour in Britain’s colonies: (his second wife Catherine (nee Allen) hailed from Cresselly). Other speakers included Anglican clergymen, including Rev James Byers, vicar of Lamphey. There was unanimous support for the Earl Cawdor and Sir Hugh Owen MP to present anti-slavery petitions to the Houses of Parliament

Our next event - Saturday May 13th

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.