Statue: Erected ahead of its official unveiling (pic. Mike Hillen)

WORK to erect a statue of Henry VII in Pembroke has started this afternoon (Jun 8), prior to its official unveiling on Saturday ​(Jun 10​).

The much–anticipated ceremony will take place at 2pm on Mill Bridge, where the statue will stand against the picturesque background of Pembroke Castle, Henry’s birthplace.

Mill Bridge has also been enhanced to make the area an attractive public space with improved seating and flowers.

Project Leader Linda Asman said: “It is marvellous that this project has generated huge public interest, but we could not have got to the place we are now without the combined support of town and county councils.

“It was Pembrokeshire County Council’s Town Centre Support Programme which started it all. This programme offered grants to help fund schemes to enhance our towns, as a result of which Pembroke Town Council formed a Regeneration Committee, chaired by Cllr Dennis Evans, to develop projects.

“The statue was one of the projects put forward for consideration and we were successful in our bid for funding; we were promised £20k provided we could match fund it; £40​k being the total amount needed for an 8 foot high bronze statue.”

Pembroke Town Council commissioned local sculptor Harriet Addyman to make the statue. A director of the model making company, Autodromo Ltd of Narberth, Harriet is a model maker and sculptor, having trained in sculpture restoration at CCTA in Carmarthen, followed by a degree in sculpting in Bristol.

Ready for reveal: Workman surround the statue (pic. Mike Hillen)

A short distance away in Clunderwen, the statue was cast in bronze by Martin Bellwood of MB Fine Arts.

In January last year, at a meeting organised by Pembroke & Monkton Local History Society, Harriet’s maquette (miniature) of the statue was displayed for public inspection and the fund raising campaign was launched.

It was greeted with great enthusiasm and generosity from both individuals and local organisations, although the task of raising so much was greatly facilitated by donations from Valero and Mr Richard Evans.

The unveiling will be followed by a community party on the South Quay. The event will feature a marquee, as well as a programme of entertainment, music and games to run through the afternoon and evening.

This will include a performance by Pembroke Male Voice Choir at 2.30pm; Welsh Dancing on the Quay with Dawnsyr Tawerin at 3pm; ‘The Mummer’s Play’ by the East End Flyover Company at 3.30pm; Medieval Music by La Volta at 4pm; and a series of bands performing in the marquee from 5pm–10.30pm.

There will also be an exhibition entitled ‘The Making of Henry’ by the History Society close by in St Mary’s Church. Henry was baptised in St Mary’s, which is also the home of a Thomas Kempe stained glass window of the prestigious, Pembrokeshire-born monarch.

The event is open to everyone. For more information, contact Pembroke Town Hall by calling 01646 683092, or email [email protected].com.