Heritage Project
A strong message to emerge from the Community Appraisal was the need for a museum for Pembroke. Few towns can boast of a richer heritage than Pembroke, yet since the closure of the excellent Museum of the Home, the town now has no museum, nothing to tell our story.
Our project is centred on the concept of the stories of Pembroke and its people – its notable inhabitants and ordinary people, how they lived and worked, the buildings, streets and houses, and the way the town has developed from a mediaeval walled town to a popular 21st Century tourist destination.
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Diary of Events |
LAUNCHING THE PROJECT
Pembroke Town Hall opened its doors on Saturday October 25th to host the launch of the Pembroke Story Heritage Project. The organisers of the Event, Project Officers Linda Asman and Nikki Anderson, were delighted with the enthusiastic response of Pembroke residents who attended in large numbers.
A day of events was planned with numerous exhibitons to peruse, opening with an entertaining talk by local character and artist George Lewis. George spoke about the painting of the amazing Pembroke murals which adorn the walls of the Town Hall.
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George impressed everyone with the huge amount of work undertaken by this task - not only the sheer achievement of the painting but by the painstaking research which preceded it. The Murals are a team effort by George and his wife Jeanne - and all this work was undertaken voluntarily as a gift to the people of Pembroke!
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This photo was taken after the talk with Nikki, Gareth Jones (Mayor of Pembroke) Jeanne and George Lewis and Linda.
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Local residents enjoyed exhibitions and displays put together by Linda and Nikki along with photos and stories from Pembroke’s past, touch screens featuring the voices and recollections of local people, and a timeline tracing Pembroke's story through the ages.
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Many people also took the opportunity to contribute to a “work in progress” on the buildings and businesses of Main Street, known as the Dolly Mixture Project.
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Histories of prominent local families were also featured. Here is Miss Joyce Colley who agreed to be interviewed about her family and share her family photographs with us.
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Miss Colley, whose father was twice Mayor of Pembroke, is pictured here with Linda and Nikki and the present Mayor of Pembroke, Gareth Jones. In the photo to the right, people are being entertained with silent movies of William Hagger, pioneer filmmaker and one of Pembroke's famous celebrities. A history of the Hagger family was also featured.
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The Dyfed Family History Group (pictured above - Barbara Chester, Jean Williams, Rosalie Lilwall), West Wales Maritime Heritage Society and Oriel Family History had stalls and displays.
Fairtrade teas, filter coffee and home made cakes were served throughout by cheerful volunteers.
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As an added bonus there were guided tours of the Town Hall by the Mayor.
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Another great Pembroke character, Mr John Russell, concluded the day by taking us ‘Down Memory Lane’. He had the audience sharing memories and enjoying anecdotes
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Besides being Pembroke's Town Crier, Rose Blackburn is able to turn her hand to refreshments. She announced that people has been so generous with donating cakes that there were some left over...
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So John, having been an auctioneer, agreed to auction them off!!
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And so ended an enjoyable day!
Grateful thanks to Gwen Griffiths who photograped the Event for us. And also to the many people who contributed to making it a success and to everyone who attended, proving that Pembroke's heritage is dear to us all!
The launch will be followed up in the new year with a programme of talks and workshops for anyone wanting to be involved in the project. These will be advertised nearer the time. Local schools will also be involved.
The Pembroke Story Project is funded thanks to a grant to Pembroke 21C Community Association from the Heritage Lottery Fund. We are also very grateful for all the help and support we have received from Sue Blantern of the CVC Circuit Riders Scheme for making this website possible.
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