A former English teacher, who has been awarded a BEM in the Queen’s New Year Honours List, has said she is “proud and honoured” to accept the award on behalf of everyone at Narberth Museum.

Pauline Griffiths, curator at Narberth Museum, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to heritage and to the community.

“I’m proud and honoured to accept the award on behalf of everyone at Narberth Museum who worked long and hard to save it from closure and make it what it is today,” said Mrs. Griffiths, who has been involved with the museum for nearly 30 years, originally as a volunteer.

“Museums, libraries, galleries and art centres are vital elements in the way a community sees itself and need to be championed,” continued Mrs. Griffiths, who learned at the end of November that she was to be awarded the BEM, and admits it wasn’t easy keeping the news to herself!

Born and brought up in Port Talbot, Mrs. Griffiths lived in Bristol and Liverpool before returning to Wales, where her involvement with Narberth Museum began shortly after she moved to the town in 1986.

“As a volunteer, I helped out with all aspects of museum work and when, in 1998, the curator, Ann Keen, retired, I took over,” she explained.

Narberth Museum had a long association with the firm of James Williams and when they were taken over by Brains SA in 2003, the Museum’s future was threatened.

“A group of loyal and incredibly hard-working volunteers undertook to save the Museum by restoring the old Bonded Stores as a new home for the collection.

“It took much longer than expected - nine years, in fact, but with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Welsh Government and a lot of fundraising by the Friends Association, the new museum re-opened in 2012.

“In this way an historical building and a collection that had been donated by local people were saved for future generations.

“It has achieved much in the last three-and-a-half years, establishing a reputation for itself as a lively centre where local people and visitors to the town can enjoy and learn about how people used to live in this part of Wales.

“The collection acts as a springboard for a whole range of cultural and heritage-based activities that attract people of all ages,” continued Mrs. Griffiths.

In 2013, the Museum was honoured to be one of 10 finalists in the prestigious ‘Museum of the Year’ award and in 2014 it achieved full Accreditation status.

“This award acknowledges this outstanding achievement and it is gratifying and very pleasing to know that what we did is recognised and valued,” she added.

Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Clr. Wynne Evans, said that the honour was “truly deserved.”

“I have known Pauline and her family for many years, and her dedication to the Narberth Museum project has been staggering,” he said.

“I look forward to seeing her and the family in County Hall in early spring, when I host the awards ceremony, where the presentation of the medal will be made by the Lord Lt of Dyfed,” added Clr. Evans.