Over 30 pupils from Ysgol Bro Gwaun, Pembroke School, Ysgol Dewi Sant and Greenhill School were certificate and prize winners at an award-giving ceremony organised by the Pembrokeshire Historic Buildings Trust and hosted by Pembrokeshire County Council last Thursday.
The ceremony at the Picton Centre, Haverfordwest, recognised the hard work put in by Year 7 pupils for a competition run by the Pembrokeshire Historic Buildings Trust, in which the students were required to describe medieval sites and buildings in Pembrokeshire.
The judges were impressed by the quality of research, description and presentation exhibited by all pupils; a quality which made their task even harder.
After an introduction by Clr. Islwyn Howells, the cabinet member for children, young people and the Welsh language, the chairman of the Trust, Mr. William George, described the background to the competition and how the Trust hoped that the number of schools participating would increase from the present four to encompass all secondary schools in the county.
Before introducing the guest speaker, Mr. George thanked the Gwynne Morgan Trust for sponsoring the prizes.
Mr. Phil Roach from the National Park Authority brought past and present together in his tragic- comical analogy of personal care for a precious object being left solely to the professionals, whereas the real conscience for historic buildings and their care should be through everyone living in and visiting Pembrokeshire.
The Trust was very pleased with the support for the event shown by both the schools entering and the support from the Pembrokeshire County Council. The first prize was awarded to Jago Neath, of Pembroke School, who wrote on Manorbier Castle; second prize was awarded to Emily Howells, of Ysgol Bro Gwaun, whose subject was St. Brynach Church in Nevern, and the third prize was awarded to Lily Taylor-Henley, of Ysgol Dewi Sant, who wrote about Pembroke Castle. The winner of the Welsh prize was Catrin Raymond, of Ysgol Bro Gwaun, who wrote on Eglwys Sant Dogfael.
All the students who attended received certificates of merit, and a number of highly-commended and commended certificates were also awarded.