'Hayston' at Merrion, Castlemartin, was the venue for this year's Pembroke Ladies' Lifeboat Guild Christmas party. A sellout of tickets for the fundraising event, in aid of the RNLI, assured the organisers that over 120 people were expected from all over South Pembrokeshire, including a number from the Tenby area. Guests were treated to a welcome drink on arrival and then tucked into a sumptuous buffet lunch. There was plenty of time to socialise with friends, patronise the raffle and purchase Christmas gifts and cards at the lifeboat souvenir stall. Guild chairman, Viv Kerrison, thanked everyone for coming, some from quite a distance, and described the gathering as "a brilliant crowd." She paid tribute to Col. Johnny Rogers and his wife Nicky for allowing their lovely home to be used for the occasion and read out seasonal greetings and best wishes from Guild president, Mrs. Carola Ramsden. Everyone congratulated the committee on the wonderful food and Mrs. Kerrison noted that the sellout of tickets left some applicants disappointed, so the moral was to apply early. The raffle was drawn, with Beryn Lewis acting as master of ceremonies, and 13 lucky winners carried off a wide range of gifts. Mr. John Russell auctioned a beautiful painting of Church Rock, most kindly donated by artist Cliff Jones, and Mrs. Pam Russell was thrilled to purchase this for £40. The party raised a most gratifying total of £1,723.84 for the RNLI, with the souvenir stall taking another £120.