Coffee Morning

At a well-attended meeting of the Pembroke and Monkton History Society on Saturday, we were pleased to welcome as our guests John Brock MBE and his son Deric Brock who came to talk to us about the Carew Cheriton Control Tower. John has fond memories of Monkton and began by recalling some of his experiences in the war, when, as a young lad, he would cycle over to Monkton school which he attended during the bombing raids on Pembroke Dock.

Carew Cheriton Control Tower

He then told of the WWII Control Tower restoration project: now fully restored to its 1940s condition. John informed us that The Carew Cheriton Control Tower Group was formed in the spring of 2000 after the landowner approached the Carew Historical Society with the offer of the building on a long-term lease. The building, situated on the disused Carew airfield, was in danger of being taken down and therefore lost to future generations. Its restoration was a lot to take on but, as a result of a parish meeting, a group was formed composed of members of the historical society and other interested people who were keen to see this building restored to its original state: 35 members ranging in age from 13 to 80. The Welsh Assembly had then given grants to begin restoration work: fortunately there were people who could still remember the Control Tower as it was enabling them to put it back to its 1940s condition.

A great tribute

Deric, who is author of 'Wings over Carew', then took over with a slide show of some of the large archive of photographs collected and the stories behind them. Another achievement of the group has been the production of a DVD of wartime memories and photographs resulting from the project.

John concluded that he is so proud of what has and is still being done in recording the history of what happened at Carew. He pointed out that over 100 people lost their lives in the bombing raids on this airfield: what has been achieved here is a tribute to the many who lost their lives.

Donations

Interest has been huge and visitors come from far and wide. Artefacts fortunately have been given and continue to come in. At our meeting, John and Deric were delighted to be presented with an Irvine jacket from Don Hood, a very generous and valuable gift. Another interesting artefact, brought along by Thalia Campbell, was a 'widow penny'. Thalia told us that this mini plaque measuring 6" across was found under the floorboards of their attic. They have traced it to Morgan Price who died in action on September 25, 1915. These bronze Memorial Plaques 'widow pennies' were awarded to the next-of-kin of those who lost their lives whilst on active service during World War One. The inscription around the edge reads: 'He (or she) died for freedom and Honour.' Over one million 'He' plaques were issued compared to approximately 600 'She' plaques.

True volunteers

John and Deric have achieved such a great deal; just think of what would have been lost had they not taken a lead and devoted so much of their time to this project. It just goes to show is that so much can be done for the community out of true voluntary effort.

Looking back, one of the first meetings of our newly-formed society was a visit to the control tower in December 2009 - a return visit is well overdue. I will therefore be arranging a group visit and am taking names of anyone interested.

Pembroke Michaelmas Fair

At the time of writing, I am looking forward to the opening of the Fair on Thursday - a great tradition in Pembroke and a real link with our past. Its origins lie in the town's mediaeval charters and it was formerly a hiring fair when farm workers from the area would come seek employment. Although now a fun fair, it still takes place in Pembroke Main Street and is still opened with great ceremony by the Town Crier. Rose Blackburn will be donning her Town Crier's garb and reading out the 'Cry of the Fair' as her predecessors have done for centuries, albeit now from the Waltzers on Wesley Square. I am told this used to take place on Elm Square underneath the old Elm Tree.

A few months ago, I featured some stories of the fair from Colwyn Walters which many enjoyed reading. Our Mayor, Mel Phillips, wrote to me soon afterwards with some memories told to her by her mother and I thought these would bring back some memories.

Some Fair memories

"My mother has some great memories of the fair. On a Saturday night, the girls would all wear plastic macs to the fair because the boys squirted them with water from the Teasers. Townspeople filled the Teasers and one old man called Cockney Green(he might still have relatives) filled his tubes from the contents of his outside lavatory!!

"There was huge man with very dark skin dressed as an Indian beckoning you into his tent bellowing out the words 'Ay Zigga  Baya Dyrma' (Welsh for come here but I can't spell it). He was from the Welsh valleys and recited a load of gibberish but the audience thought that he spoke in a foreign tongue! An old lady sat underneath the town clock selling pieces of solid cold rice pudding which she sold in chunks for a halfpenny a slice.

"Another tent had these words displayed outside: 'Come and see my bare ass and cock!' All the men eagerly paid their money, only to see a teddy bear, a donkey, and a cockerel. They let other mugs be had like them and didn't let on when they came out shamefaced.

"One of the Studt or Danter children became very ill on one of their visits to Pembroke and was rushed into Pembroke Cottage Hospital.  He recovered and the fair people were so grateful to Pembroke that they donated an extra ward for the hospital's use.

"Abe Danter comes to the town hall every year and his wife Margaret who was a Studt. Abe owns the Waltzers and I think the Dodgems. Go into the town hall and see the magnificent Galloper that the fair people have given to Pembroke. Pembroke remains their favourite fair.

"I have fond memories of the Tunnel of Love. A dark tunnel where, if you were lucky a handsome boy would ask you to accompany him (more importantly pay for you) to go into the tunnel with him. If you were lucky you had a kiss!

"Long may Pembroke fair last. It is loved by the local people of the town."

Contact

If you have any stories or photographs for this column, please contact me, Linda Asman, on 01646 622428, email [email protected]">[email protected] and visit our website http://www.pembrokeandmonktonhistory.org.uk">www.pembrokeandmonktonhistory.org.uk

Next event

On Friday, October 19, we have another of our popular quiz nights at Monkton Priory Church Hall, 7.30 pm. £3.50 includes a lovely buffet - bring your own bottle if you wish.