Pembroke Dock's centenary lamp is a long time testimony to the town's historic past and has been refurbished by Pembroke Dock Town Council in readiness for the town's bicentenary celebrations next year.

The lamp, which stands in Albion Square, was erected by public subscription to commemorate the centenary of the town and the Royal Dockyard in 1914.

For the past 100 years, it has been observed by numerous visitors, including the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh when they visited for the Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977 and Harold Wilson when he visited the now demolished Albion Hall in the early 1970s.

Until comparatively recently, all civic parades would stop to take the salute by the memorial lamp and generations of children will remember handing their letters to Father Christmas when he stopped there to switch on the lights on the adjacent Christmas tree.

The lamp is a proud monument to the town and its people and one of the photographs shows Albion Square crowded for its official unveiling in 1914.

At a meeting of Pembroke Dock Town Council held on April 4, it was agreed that the lettering on the lamp should be restored as part of the bicentenary celebrations. Members of the council agreed for the restoration to be completed as their part towards the celebrations. Pembroke Dock Town Council agreed on a quote received from EP Monumental Masons at a meeting held on September 5, with the restoration now completed.

Earlier this week, Pembroke Dock's Mayor, Clr. Jane Phillips, and Deputy Mayor and chairman of Pembroke Dock 2014 Committee, Clr. Mrs. Pam George, inspected the new gold lettering on the side of the lamp and were absolutely delighted.

The Mayor, Clr. Jane Phillips, said: "I think it's fantastic that this iconic memorial lamp is being restored to its former glory in time for the bicentenary when Albion Square will play an important role in the upcoming celebrations."