Community
Posters recall key Airlift role for Sunderlands
MEMORIES of the unique part that Sunderland flying boats played in the Berlin Airlift soon after World War II have been rekindled at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, thanks to artefacts donated by a former RAF airman. The centre, in the Royal Dockyard Chapel, has been given two large display panels which show the lifesaving aerial supply routes into besieged Berlin.
These were found in Berlin in the early 1970s by Owen Vaughan, then stationed at RAF Gatow. He kept them for 40 years before donating them to the Heritage Centre. In the late 1940s the Soviet Union and its allies blockaded Berlin and the only way to keep the city supplied was by air. In the early days of the Berlin Airlift Sunderlands played a major part carrying bulky cargos, particularly salt, into a lake, the Waan See, near the city from their base at Finkenwerder on the Baltic.
It was only when ice formed on the alighting areas that the Sunderlands were withdrawn from the operation. Many airmen stationed at RAF Pembroke Dock took part in the Airlift and Owen’s generous gift recalls a very important peacetime role for the Sunderlands. This is one of the Sunderland stories featured in the Heritage Centre’s education programme. Recently Owen, who lives in Pembroke, visited the Heritage Centre and presented the panels to Sunderland Trust Volunteers Malcolm Miles and Steve Fletcher.
Community
St Ishmaels war memorial gets the go-ahead
PLANS for a new war memorial in a Pembrokeshire village have been given the go-ahead by national park planners.
St Ishmaels Community Council/War Memorial Group sought, through agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Development & Planning Ltd, permission for the new, modern, war memorial and associated ecological enhancements, on land adjacent to St Ishmaels Sports Ground.
Also included in the application is a replacement ‘welcome’ sign for the St Ishmaels Sports and Social Club, two benches and tree / shrub planting.
In 2019, the St Ishmaels Community Council decided to sell the Memorial Hall due to its state of disrepair, which made it unfit for use. As a result, community activities have been relocated to the sports club. A new war memorial proposal is being considered to replace the old one.
Hayston Development & Planning Ltd, in a supporting statement, said: “The ‘new’ War Memorial is required as St Ishmaels Community Council resolved to sell the Memorial Hall in 2019 as the building had fallen into a level of disrepair that prevented it from being used, and community activities are now held in the sports club.
“Numerous quotes for the re-siting of the original stone, and extensive correspondence with the War Memorial Trust has proven a route which is deemed currently unviable.
“The council and community remain committed to a replacement memorial that honoured the original intention and emotional context of the hall. This application is the result of their endeavours. The new war memorial will also include those who had fallen during WW2 and, sadly, space for any future names.”
A description of the proposed war memorial and village marker as prepared by the artist / designer Howard Bowcott and commissioned by the St Ishmaels War Memorial Group, submitted in the statement said: “Whilst the aesthetics of the design are important, particularly for a war memorial, it is important that old red sandstone has been chosen for the principal component of the village marker as it is also a common rock form occurring across the Marloes peninsula and therefore promotes ‘local identity’.
“Welsh slate will also be incorporated on which the names of the fallen will be etched. Timber has been chosen for the ancillary structures of the bollards, the replacement sign for the St Ishmaels Sports and Social Club and for the two benches. A similar proposal was approved and built in Narberth and has proven very popular.”
The statement concluded: “Due to changing circumstances which involved the required closure of the Memorial Hall and the desire to maintain a tangible connection with the fallen of St Ishmaels the community and the council, in consultation with the War Memorial Trust resolved to find another location for a ‘new’ War Memorial and Village Marker.
“The new memorial, constructed using Old Red Sandstone with insets of Welsh slate, will have a striking vertical presence (it will be 3.8 metres tall / 12ft 6” high) and could be compared to ancient standing stones which are a common sight in Pembrokeshire. The proposed two benches will be constructed of timber as will be the bollards separating the Memorial site from the public highway.
“Because of its location on the eastern edge of the village, there will be no loss of privacy or amenity for any dwellings nor on the club building which lies to the south-east of the sports ground.”
The application was conditionally approved by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners.
Community
Mayor of Bergen visits Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre
IT was a Mayoral gathering when the Burgermeisterin of Bergen, in Germany, paid a visit to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre in the company of Councillor Aden Brinn, the Mayor of Bergen’s twin town, Pembroke.
There to meet Burgermeisterin Claudia Dettmar-Muller and her colleague Silvia Bothe were two former Mayors of Pembroke Dock, Councillors Pam George and Maureen Colgan, and trustees and volunteers who run the Centre. Joining them was Pembroke’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ann Mortenson.
Trustee Peter Mitchell and colleagues gave a guided town of the Centre which has extensive displays on Pembroke Dock’s rich maritime and military history spanning just over two centuries, and its connections with RAF flying boats.
Pic By Martin Cavaney.
Community
Wonderful night at Haverfordwest Library for special Poet Laureate event
HAVERFORDWEST Library was delighted to be part of the prestigious Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024 with a special event on Friday, March 8.
Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman, Cllr Thomas Tudor extended a special welcome to the guests of honour: Poet Laureate Simon Armitage; his guests Owen Sheers and Bethany Handley; plus the winners of the recent library Poetry Competition.
The poetry began with writer, poet and disabled activist, Bethany Handley. Bethany campaigns for better access to nature for disabled people, and her work explores nature and disability, challenging the barriers that disabled people experience.
Bethany’s first poem was heartfelt and humorous about her experience of visiting a beach in her wheelchair. Her final poem also drew on her experiences, being a compilation poem of many well-intentioned, yet impractical or inappropriate, advice that she has received as a wheelchair user.
Owen Sheers is an award winning Welsh poet, author and playwright. He has twice won the Wales Book of the Year as well as the Hay Festival Poetry Medal.
His film-poem, the Green Hollow, about the Aberfan disaster, was BAFTA and Grierson nominated and won three BAFTA Cymru awards, including best writer.
Owen read an extract from the Green Hollow, bringing the horror of the disaster to life. He also read poems about parenthood and his experiences as a son and as a father.
The Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards, including the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.
Simon launched into a poem about humanity, the universe and working as one. He then used his back catalogue of poems written for music. His poems covered some unusually random themes, particularly those he crafted during the Covid pandemic.
He said that he’d even written a poem inspired by a Velux window and read a beautiful poem about laying in a hammock watching a pair of newly-weds sail overhead in a hot air balloon.
His performances were engaging, humorous and moving and he brought the words to life.
Simon also spoke warmly about the importance of libraries as a child but also as an adult travelling about the country, with libraries always offering a warm welcome.
Ashok Ahir, President of the National Library of Wales thanked the three poets and introduced the new exhibition in the gallery, Dylan: The Lyrical Life of Dylan Thomas.
The exhibition is open to the public until 14th September 2024. Further information can be seen online.
The event drew to a close as Cllr Tudor issued the prizes to the winners of the recent poetry eisteddfod competition. The competition celebrated the language, culture, heritage and literature of Wales.
The theme was Dylan Thomas. Entries could draw inspiration from any of his works or seek inspiration from a specific quote: “from where you are, you can hear their dreams”.
Entries received were of a high standard and were judged by Wendy Morse (leader of the Haverfordwest Library Poetry Group, who would welcome new members, contact Haverfordwest Library for more information); representatives from the Library staff and the National Library of Wales staff. The poems will be on display at Haverfordwest Library until the end of the Easter Holidays.
Prizes have been awarded to:
• Sian Davies: Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, adult written poem category
• James Purchase: I Shall go Gentle into that Good Night, adult written poem category
• Philippa Davies: Dylan is in the Library, adult spoken word category
• Tony Potts: Windfall, adult illustrated poem category
• John Matthews: Dylan Cwmdonkin, adult Welsh language category
• Ellie McGrath: It was all a Dream, 11-14 age category
• Skye-Lea Jones: Are you Listening?,11-14 age category
Thanks to the judges of the poetry competition and to Faber & Faber, who donated the book prizes in support of the Poet Laureate’s Library Tour.
Cllr Thomas Tudor said: “The Riverside opened its doors in December 2018 and has enjoyed many fascinating exhibitions since thanks to the continued partnership with the National Library of Wales.
“The Riverside was one of just six libraries to host this Poet Laureate Library Tour for 2024.
“It is a fantastic achievement for Haverfordwest Library to be a part of these significant events, helping to raise the profile and regeneration of the County Town and I thank everyone who has worked hard to make the event a success.”
The event would not have been possible without the continued support from The National Library of Wales and Haverfordwest Town Council. The President of the National Library of Wales and the Mayor, Sheriff and Clerk of Haverfordwest Town Council were all present.
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