A SWISS woman has returned to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre to see a special display celebrating her grandmother’s remarkable wartime work helping Allied servicemen who escaped into neutral Switzerland.

Therese Burckhardt, from Zurich, is the granddaughter of Mrs Beryl Schaerer Morse, a former Pembroke Dock woman who was awarded the King’s Medal in 1952 for her service during the Second World War.

The rare medal, one of only around 2,500 awarded, is now on display at the Heritage Centre alongside photographs, family records and an information panel telling Mrs Schaerer Morse’s story.

Beryl Schaerer Morse was born in Pembroke Dock in 1887, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Thomas Harrison Morse, who lived in Pembroke Dock and later Tenby.

After marrying a Swiss banker in 1913, she settled in Switzerland for the rest of her life, but always regarded Pembrokeshire as home. She returned for many summers to the family’s house in Tenby, which her grandparents had built in the 1930s.

During the Second World War, Mrs Schaerer Morse led an organisation assisting Allied servicemen who had escaped into neutral Switzerland. Her work was later recognised with the award of the King’s Medal.

Therese first visited the Heritage Centre last summer with childhood friend Penny Tighe, of Pembroke, bringing the medal and family records with her. She has now returned with further documents and family photographs to add to the centre’s archive.

Joining her again was Penny Tighe, along with Ruth Waddington, who now lives in the Tenby house where Therese spent many happy childhood holidays with her brother Roland, known affectionately to his grandmother as “Chips”.

Mrs Schaerer Morse died in 1967 and had expressly wished to be buried near her father at Llanion Cemetery, Pembroke Dock.

Therese said: “I am very pleased with how my grandmother’s medal and her story are displayed at the Heritage Centre, and also pleased to bring more records to add to the archive there.”

Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre is based at the Royal Dockyard Chapel and tells the story of the town’s maritime, aviation, military, social and community heritage.

Pembroke Dock was Wales’ only Royal Dockyard, a major garrison town, and during the Second World War was home to the largest flying boat station in the world.

The centre is currently open Monday to Friday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Therese Burckhardt shows the King’s Medal, awarded to her grandmother, to Ruth Waddington at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre (Pic: PDHC).

VOLUNTEERS at West Wales Maritime Museum were praised after another successful Pirates Party brought crowds to Pembroke Dock.

The family event was held at Hancock’s Yard, Front Street, on Saturday (Jun 20), with visitors enjoying a day of maritime-themed entertainment, stalls, refreshments and fancy dress.

The museum, run by the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society, hosted the event with the help of volunteers, with activities including a tombola, raffle, barbecue, face painting, children’s games and a prize for the best-dressed pirate.

There was also live entertainment from the Cantabile Singers and the Barti Waves.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was a musket firing display by the H.M.S Wales Re-enactment Group, which drew strong interest from those attending.

County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, was among those who visited the event.

He said it had been “a fantastic afternoon” and praised the volunteers who had worked hard to put on “another brilliant event”.

Cllr Grimes said: “There was plenty to see and enjoy, but my personal highlight had to be the musket firing display from the H.M.S Wales Re-enactment Group — a real crowd-pleaser with live firing.

“It was wonderful to see so many people coming along and supporting yet another successful event at the museum.”

He also thanked Peter Kraus and everyone involved for their dedication in bringing the event to life.

The West Wales Maritime Museum is based at the historic Hancock’s Yard and is run by volunteers who work to preserve Pembroke Dock’s maritime heritage.

The society restores and maintains classic boats, operates a museum of maritime artefacts and offers visitors a chance to learn more about the town’s long connection with the sea.

The museum has become an increasingly popular community venue, with events such as the Pirates Party helping to bring families into the town while celebrating Pembroke Dock’s seafaring past.

Michelle John founded PEGS in 2020 and has helped thousands of parents across the UK while driving national awareness of a little-understood issue

A PEMBROKESHIRE-born campaigner who has dedicated her career to supporting families affected by child-to-parent abuse has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

Michelle John, who grew up in Pembrokeshire and now lives in Shropshire, has been awarded an MBE for services to family support and advocacy.

Michelle is the founder of PEGS, a social enterprise established in 2020 to help parents and carers experiencing abusive behaviour from their children. The organisation also works with professionals, policymakers and employers to improve understanding of Child to Parent Abuse (CPA), an issue believed to affect up to one in ten households across the UK.

Since launching PEGS, Michelle has built a specialist team that has trained police officers, teachers, social workers and other frontline professionals to recognise the signs of CPA and provide effective support to affected families.

The organisation has also developed a range of services for parents, including daily practitioner-led support sessions, peer support networks and one-to-one assistance for those considered most at risk.

Michelle’s work has gained national recognition, with PEGS helping to shape policy discussions and working alongside government departments to raise awareness of the issue. The organisation also launched a Child to Parent Abuse Covenant for employers in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions.

In addition, Michelle has advised organisations including the Home Office, the BBC and Channel 4, helping inform storylines and coverage designed to increase public understanding of child-to-parent abuse.

Responding to the honour, Michelle said: “This honour is also shared with the parents who have trusted me along the way: they drive me, inspire me and I will always stand with them.

“I feel proud, privileged and very grateful – and I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me and PEGS along the way.

“There is much more to come for PEGS, and we will continue to work every day for the parents and carers who have been or continue to be affected by CPA.”

Reflecting on receiving the award, she added: “Being told I’d received an MBE will always remain a truly incredible moment that I’ll remember forever.”

The award recognises more than six years of campaigning, support work and advocacy aimed at bringing greater awareness to a problem that often remains hidden behind closed doors.

Child-to-parent abuse can include physical violence, verbal abuse, coercive control, intimidation, property damage and financial abuse directed towards parents or carers by their children.

Michelle’s work has helped shine a light on the issue nationally, ensuring that more families receive the support they need while encouraging professionals to better understand the challenges faced by those affected.

For many in Pembrokeshire, the honour will be a source of pride as one of the county’s own receives national recognition for helping vulnerable families across the UK.