Much of the work of our Local History Society is concerned with gathering material on the social history of the past century and looking back on the pastimes and occupations that people did in past times. It makes me wonder what people will think of our antics in 100 years time, like for example driving around in a camper van as my husband and I have been doing for the past week. They may think it rather quaint.

History addicts that we are, travelling around in the motorcaravan has enabled us to visit a vast number of historical sites and museums throughout the country. Some time ago, whilst staying at the Caravan Club Site in Bristol, we visited the Industrial Museum and discovered the beginnings of this popular, modern pastime. Here was displayed 'The Wanderer', the first purpose-built holiday caravan ,and yes it does seem rather quaint viewed through modern eyes.

It belonged to a Dr. W. Gordon Stables. He was fascinated by the Romany way of life and in 1883 he commissioned the Bristol Wagon Works Company to build him a caravan in which to live the part of a Gentleman Gypsy. Gentleman being the operative word as he was accompanied by two servants as well as family in the large two-ton vehicle which required two horses to pull. He had a coachman to drive and care for the horses and a valet, who was expected to ride ahead of the van on a tricycle all day to warn others of its approach.

A retired surgeon, Dr. Stables became a prolific story writer and did most of his writing when travelling in the Wanderer. The result of this was a craze for caravanning amongst the landed gentry and eventually led to the establishment of the Caravan Club, of which Dr. Gordon Stables was an early vice-president.

Locally there is a large Caravan Club campsite at Freshwater East, which has long been a favourite place for outings and camping with Pembroke people. This week's old photograph was given to me by Dilys Hanmer. The four Edwardian gentlemen in this photograph, taken in the early 1900s, were pioneer campers in Freshwater East.

The pioneer campers

At the left of the photograph, in the back row, is Hedley Griffith, son of Giffiths the Brewery (where Barclay's Bank now is in Pembroke). Back right is Arthur Owen, of Kingsbridge, in whose garden the group are standing. Dilys is unsure of the name of the man in the front centre holding the pipe, but in front of him stands her uncle, William Watkins, who was then manager of Williams Brewery, of Narberth.

Dilys informed me that these smart gentlemen were the first to camp at Freshwater East, where they set up camp on the Burrows, which was later to become a popular camping site. Dilys herself remembers camping there in the '30s in an ex army tent with the late Lena Hubbard and friends.

Next meeting

ocal History Coffee Morning on Saturday, November 5, 10.30 am - 1 pm, at Monkton Priory Church Hall. We are looking for old photographs on a military theme as Remembrance Sunday is near- if you have any wartime pictures taken in Pembroke, please share them with us. Also included will be an old home movie belonging to the Haggar family, with some really interesting footage of Pembroke in the '40s, 5'0s and early '60s.