ON MONDAY(Aug 26), Pembroke was treated to a delightful and unexpected musical experience as local harpist Jess Ward performed outside the historic Pembroke Castle. In a touching display of community spirit, Ward played her harp and sang to raise funds for the ongoing restoration of the bells at St. Mary’s Church, a project close to the hearts of many Pembroke residents.

The bells, which have been a part of the town’s soundscape for centuries, were recently removed from the Norman tower of St. Mary’s Church due to safety concerns. The oldest of these bells dates back to 1763, and their silence has left a noticeable void in the town. The St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Ringers, led by Tower Captain Anne R. Bunker, have been working tirelessly to raise the £200,000 required to restore and reinstall these historic bells. To date, a significant portion of the funding has been secured, but approximately £16,000 is still needed to complete the project.

Onlookers gathered as the soft melodies of Ward’s harp filled the air, complementing the backdrop of the castle’s stone walls and evoking a sense of timelessness. Her performance was not only a reminder of the town’s rich cultural heritage but also a call to action for the community to come together and support the bell restoration project.

“I spent a rather lovely hour or so listening to Jess Ward playing harp and singing beautifully outside Pembroke Castle,” remarked Will Scott, a Pembroke resident. “It was a moving experience, knowing that the music was in aid of bringing back our bells, which have been such a vital part of our town’s identity.”

In a letter addressed to Pembroke residents, Anne R. Bunker expressed the importance of the bells, not just as historical artefacts, but as integral to the town’s special moments. The restoration project aims to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the bells’ sounds, and that the skills of bell ringing are not lost.

“Through a lot of hard work, we’ve secured the majority of the funding for the restoration of the bells,” Bunker stated. “We would like to get the bells ringing again as soon as possible, before the ringing skills are lost and so our town can again have bells to mark its special moments.”

Bunker encourages even small donations, such as £1 a month, to help secure the bells for hundreds of years to come. For those interested in contributing, donations can be made directly to the St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Restoration Project Fund.

As the town rallies around this cause, the sight and sound of Jess Ward playing outside Pembroke Castle serves as a poignant reminder of the community’s resilience and the shared desire to preserve Pembroke’s rich history. With continued support, it is hoped that the bells will soon ring out once more, marking the town’s special moments as they have done for centuries.

To donate to the St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Restoration Project, you can make a bank transfer directly to the project’s dedicated fund. Here are the details:

• Bank Account Name: The St Mary’s Pembroke Bell Restoration Project Fund
• Sort Code: 30-16-20
• Account Number: 07358466

Additionally, if you are a UK taxpayer, the project fund can claim Gift Aid on your donations, which increases the value of your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you.

If you wish to know more about the project or discuss other ways of contributing, you can contact Anne R. Bunker, the Tower Captain of St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Ringers, on 07977 541520.

Your support will help restore the bells, ensuring they continue to be a part of Pembroke’s heritage for generations to come.

(Images and video by Martin Cavaney)

ON SATURDAY evening (Aug 24), a cheque presentation took place at Swansea City’s stadium with the Pembrokeshire Jacks, marking a significant contribution to the Wales Air Ambulance charity. The presentation followed the last home game of the 2022/2023 season, during which the Pembrokeshire Jacks generously donated £408.

The funds were raised through a football scratch card initiative held at every home game. In this initiative, one of the passengers wins half of the scratch card proceeds, while the other half is donated to charity. For the 2022/2023 season, the chosen charity was Wales Air Ambulance.

A big thank you goes out to the Pembrokeshire Jacks for their kind donation and ongoing support of the Wales Air Ambulance service.

THE RESIDENTS of Newport, Pembrokeshire, have raised £50,000 in just one week in a bid to save the historic Bethlehem Baptist Chapel. The chapel, which has stood as a cultural and spiritual landmark in the town for generations, is set to go to auction on Friday, 30th August, and the community is determined to keep it from falling into private hands.

The fundraising effort, led by a group of dedicated volunteers, aims to transform the old chapel into a Heritage, Arts, and Cultural Centre that will serve as a hub for the town’s rich Welsh heritage. However, time is running out, as the group must raise an additional £100,000 in less than a week to secure the building at auction.

Support for the project has come from both local residents and people further afield, with donations ranging from £3,000 to £20,000. The project’s organisers have expressed their gratitude to all those who have contributed, emphasising the importance of keeping Bethlehem Chapel as a community asset for future generations.

A recent meeting held at Newport Memorial Hall saw a large turnout, underscoring the community’s passion for preserving the chapel. A video featuring Jean Young, the chapel’s last organist, has also been released on the campaign’s website, where she shares her memories of the chapel and urges others to help save this vital piece of the town’s history.

Bethlehem Chapel, an iconic building in Newport’s town centre, has played a significant role in the community’s life for years. Despite efforts to negotiate an exclusive agreement to purchase the building, the chapel will now go to public auction. The urgency of the situation has prompted the campaign’s organisers to call for last-minute support from those who may be able to provide bridging funds.

Cris Tomos, a coordinator with PLANED, a local community development charity that has been supporting the project, highlighted the success of similar community-led initiatives across Wales. He cited the example of the old Police Station and Courthouse in Cardigan, which was purchased by a local cooperative with the help of a £250,000 loan from a single family, and Ty’n Llan, a Georgian coaching inn, which was saved by a community effort that raised £460,000.

Tomos emphasised that the Newport Bethlehem project offers private lenders competitive interest rates on their loans, with larger lenders receiving a legal charge on the building. Additionally, UK taxpayers may be eligible for a 30% tax relief through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).

As the auction date rapidly approaches, the organisers are appealing to anyone who can help to get in touch. “We have a short window of opportunity to save this building,” said Tomos. “If you or someone you know can assist, please contact the project team.”

For more information or to contribute to the campaign, visit www.canolfanbethlehem.cymru, or contact John Harries, a project team member, via email at [email protected].