Nathen Amin draws a crowd of 120 with Owain Glyndŵr lecture, while John Brandrick is set to speak in Pembroke on Saturday, 7 February

PEMBROKE & MONKTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY began the New Year in fine style with a talk by Nathen Amin, which proved hugely popular, with 120 people filling Pembroke Town Hall. Nathen is nationally recognised for his work on the history of Henry Tudor, but this time he delivered an impressive and engaging talk on the great Welsh patriot, Owain Glyndŵr. So warmly received in Pembroke, he has already promised to return as part of next year’s programme – something to look forward to.

The Society’s next talk will take place on Saturday, 7 February at Pembroke Town Hall, continuing the Welsh theme. We are pleased to welcome John Brandrick, who will speak on: ‘The foundation, development and decline of Whitland Abbey’.

Whitland Abbey was an important Cistercian abbey founded in 1151. Under the patronage of powerful Welsh princes, it developed a strong Welsh cultural identity and grew in influence to become the motherhouse of the Cistercian order of monks in Wales. Several daughter houses were established, including Strata Florida, Strata Marcella, and Cwmhir. The abbey flourished during medieval Wales, before gradually declining and eventually being dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539.

John Brandrick is a retired engineering draughtsman whose main interests now include illustrating and researching Whitland Abbey, as well as drawing the machinery found in wind and water mills throughout Wales and beyond, helping to preserve an important record for the future. His talk is a detailed, illustrated presentation covering who the Whitland Abbey monks were and where they came from; how the abbey was built; how it interacted with the nobility; and how it weathered the upheavals of the period from 1150 through to the dissolution. John will also explore the abbey’s later story – its gradual disappearance from view, its rediscovery in the 1800s, and the excavations carried out since, as well as its future. He is a member of the Friends of Whitland Abbey, a voluntary group that helps care for the site, which is open to the public at all times.

As usual, Pembroke Town Hall opens at 10:00am for the Coffee Morning, followed by the talk at 11:00am. Also open on the day will be Pembroke Museum and the Council Chamber, situated on the first floor of the Town Hall. A lift is available for disabled access. All are welcome to attend, and entry is free.

For more information, visit www.pembrokeandmonktonhistory.org.uk, and follow the Society on Facebook. Queries can be sent to [email protected].

Welsh-language text spray-painted at North Beach and other tourist hotspots as council arranges clean-up

TENBY’S Welsh-language signage has been targeted by vandals in a spate of graffiti attacks across the town.

Black spray paint has been daubed on a number of bilingual information boards at some of the resort’s busiest visitor areas, including around North Beach. In each case, the markings appear to focus on the Welsh-language text, while the English information has been left untouched.

Signs affected include those giving practical guidance to visitors – such as parking instructions, motorhome information and notices about dog restrictions on local beaches.

A newly formed campaign group, Mudiad Eryr Wen, said it felt “compelled to respond” after images of the vandalised signs circulated online. The group – which describes itself as youth-led and focused on defending Wales and campaigning for independence – claimed the graffiti amounts to an attack on the Welsh language itself.

In a statement, a spokesperson said the incidents differ from previous cases where Welsh place names were targeted, arguing that this time the Welsh wording on everyday public signage appears to have been deliberately singled out. The group alleged the vandalism was driven by anti-Welsh sentiment and criticised figures and parties it believes have helped to fuel hostility.

Pembrokeshire County Council confirmed it is aware of the damage and said arrangements are being made for signs to be cleaned or replaced where required.

A council spokesperson said: “Pembrokeshire County Council is aware of the vandalism of a number of signs around Tenby. The Council is currently arranging for the signs to be cleaned or replaced where necessary. Deliberate vandalism of this kind diverts time and resources away from important public services.”

Tenby’s Mayor, Cllr Dai Morgan, also condemned the graffiti, describing it as unacceptable and costly.

He said: “Tenby Town Council strongly condemns graffiti and vandalism anywhere in our town. Such behaviour is unacceptable. It damages property, spoils public spaces, and costs the community time and money to put right.

“It shows a lack of respect for Tenby and for the people who live, work, and visit here. The vandalism will be reported, and we encourage anyone with information to do the same.”

A PETITION call for backing for a Pembrokeshire council group looking at its previous climate change commitment will be heard by councillors.

Last July, councillors agreed to set up a group to review its own decision to declare a climate emergency some six years ago.

In May 2019, the council declared a climate emergency following a notice of motion by Cllr Joshua Beynon, committing to becoming a zero-carbon local authority by 2030.

At the July 2025 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, a successful notice of motion by the late Cllr Mike Stoddart called for the establishment of a working group to review that decision.

That led to a recent petition, by Lynda Duffill of West Wales Climate Coalition, which attracted 725 signatures, calling on the council to reaffirm its Declaration of a Climate Emergency, and retain the ambition to deliver Net Zero Council operations by 2030.

That petition was considered at the October meeting of full council; members agreeing the working group be asked to ensure the petition is included as evidence in its consideration of the matters referred to it by the council resolution in July 2025.

This led to a further petition, concerned at a potential increase in council tax from a re-affirmation of a Declaration of a Climate Emergency.

The latest e-petition, on the council’s own website, created by Carolyn Ellis, reads: “We call upon all elected members of Pembrokeshire County Council to support and to take seriously the working group tasked with the review of the ‘climate emergency’ called in 2019 (by the-then 21-year-old councillor Joshua Beynon) and to question the hefty funds needed to spend on ‘net zero’.

“We refer to the recent petition by the West Wales Climate Coalition which purports to speak for the residents and council tax-payers of Pembrokeshire.

“There is potentially a far higher number of residents who do not share this unsubstantiated view and who are extremely concerned about the potential for huge hikes in council tax, especially if this tax is linked in future to the carbon efficiency of homes and businesses.

“This was hinted at as a possible lever for encouraging ‘compliance’ with decarbonising homes in the ‘Better Homes, Better Wales, Better World’ report. Therefore, not only could we be faced with more taxes, but also inevitable deterioration in service provision by PCC.”

The current petition runs to March 26, and has attracted 253 signatures to date.

Any petition of between 100 and 499 signatures triggers a debate at one of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees, and any over 500 a debate at full council.