Paul Sartori Foundation’s ‘Oral History Project’ hosted its latest community event at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre and announced it has already completed 25 interviews.

Not much is known about the man who inspired the charity, and the project aims to put that right by carrying out interviews with people who knew him more than 40 years ago.

Interviews, photographs and documents will become a permanent record of the inspirational Parish Priest and accessible to the public via the People’s Collection Wales and Pembrokeshire Archives.

The charity’s Project Officer, Simon Hancock gave people attending the event on February 14 an over-view of the life of Father Paul Sartori, but said more memories were needed to provide an answer to the question: “What was it that was so unique that he inspired a charity that bears his name?

“He was a man with boundless energy which endeared him to everyone. People knew him in lots of different ways and we want to hear about him in all these aspects.

“We also want to understand his impact on people, and the community decades beyond the grave,” continued Simon.

Kiara Quimby, the Project’s Assistant, gave people an update on the progress of interviews which began late last year.

“So far, we’ve interviewed 25 people and not one person has shared the same story,” said Kiara. “All of them mentioned his kindness and warmth.”

When Father Paul Sartori learned that he had little time left, he confided in friends: “I understand that God wants to take me, but I am going to put up a fight.”

He died at the age of 39 in 1980, not long after he’d started a campaign to create an end-of-life care provision in Pembrokeshire. Poignantly, his few worldly possessions were contained in four carrier bags.

The Oral History Project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and runs until the end of this year.

The charity has also issued an appeal for Welsh speakers to help on its Oral History Project.

The Charity have a number of volunteers assisting with the project and would be delighted to hear from Welsh speakers who could help.

The project is called ‘Voices from the Community, Father Paul Sartori’s Journey from Priest to Hospice Care’ and has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The project’s interviews, photographs and documents will soon be accessible to the public via the People’s Collection Wales and Pembrokeshire Archives.

If you’d like to volunteer and help with interviews or transcriptions (with training provided) the project team can be contacted by email: [email protected] or by telephone: 07796 973998.