Since August 2010, a group of volunteers at the ancient parish church of St. Nicholas and St. John Monkton Priory, Pembroke, have undertaken the task of improving the visual appearance within the churchyard, mainly by the removing 25 years of ivy growth which had progressively invaded the exterior church and boundary walls.

After a short winter recess, the working party reconvened in March this year and completed the mammoth task of disposing of the ivy.

However, the swathe of ivy growing from the tower clock face at a height of almost 45-feet from ground level eluded the work group.

Church parishioner, Mrs. Liz Jenkins, contacted Mr, Chris Davies, manager at CAN inspection department Chevron oil refinery, and arrangements were made for a rope access team to visit the church to assist with removing the ivy from the tower.

It was a sunny afternoon when CAN team members Dean Cardy, Mark Newnham and Sonny Odell, who normally carry out high level pipework inspections at Chevron oil refinery, abseiled from the top of the church tower and working at 45-50-feet cleaned the ivy from the clock face and tower wall.

The parishioners at Monkton Priory wish to extend their gratitude to Mr. Chris Davies and the rope access team members at CAN for their assistance.