Pembroke Street Pastors are ‘well and truly back’ according to local coordinator Lyn Edwards. Giving her report at the recent AGM held at Pembroke Town Hall she said:

“Due to the outbreak of COVID across the world and the changing ‘shutdowns’ and restrictions Street Pastor patrols have been very different during 2020 and 2021.

“We have followed all COVID guidelines and operated when and where we could.

“Our available team numbers were reduced due to these circumstances, but we praise God that one new Haverfordwest and six new Pembroke Street Pastors were commissioned in November 2020. Their training first took place in person, then on Zoom and, in fact, we had the first Street Pastors to be commissioned on Zoom in the UK!

“We continued working with the police, local councils, the Tanyard Youth Project and a range of voluntary and statutory organisations in these strange times in order to reach out and help those in need.

“All our patrol times and the places we patrolled were constantly changing due to Covid rules and guidance and the needs within our local community”.

She added: “One of the patrols stands out to me. It was when beer gardens in pubs were allowed to open. As we visited them, one after another, we were met with applause and ‘thank you’s. Many people were so pleased to see us, saying they felt safe when we were out and it seemed that things were beginning to get back to normal. What a privilege to serve our community.”

“We have taken out four observers over the last two years, three of whom are now training to be Street Pastors. I, along with our two Prayer Pastor Co-ordinators, had a meeting with Samuel Kurtz MS - at his request - to learn about the work of Pembroke Street Pastors and to arrange for him to come out on patrol with us as an observer.”

As well as continuing to walk the streets, Pembroke Street Pastors have continued to support local events including the Michaelmas Fair, Remembrance Day Parade, events at the Tanyard Youth Project, Dezza’s Cabin, events in Pembroke Castle and the night time economy. They ended 2021 by celebrating in the New Year with their friends out on the streets.

Lyn continued “I would like to thank all those who have helped us over the last two years; those who have given up their time to serve our community; for the gifts of money, equipment and supplies we have received; those who have helped with training and administration, and for the constant prayers that have kept us going in these difficult times.”

Lyn Edwards is also hoping that there will be those who will rise to the challenge and get involved in this important work too:

“We have 13 active Street Pastors but we are looking for more recruits.” Lyn said. “If anyone is interested, we would love them to make contact with us. We are also looking for more Prayer Pastors. God is at work as we serve Him. We are His hands and feet, and He calls us to go and share His love.”

Pembroke Street Pastors have certainly found a supportive friend in Mayor-elect Dennis Evans. Reflecting on his involvement he said:

“When I became Mayor in 2016, I was aware of the Street Pastors but I was not too sure what they did in the community. I was invited to a couple of meetings and then had the privilege of going out on patrol as an observer.

“It soon became apparent that the youngsters out on the street saw the Street Pastors as friends rather than a group of ‘oldies’ trying to spoil their fun. They knew the Street Pastors by name and there was evidence of a true friendship between both groups. I heard the following comment many times and I believe it sums up the value of the Street Pastors in the community – ‘Many thanks for being out tonight, we now feel safe.’

“I was asked to join the Management Committee and I regularly liaise between the town council and the Street Pastors. The Street Pastors attend many of the Council events and are easily distinguished by the uniforms that they wear. Their service to the community is invaluable and they certainly deserve to be supported and recognised for the work that they do.”

Chair of the Management Committee Les Johnson was also keen to voice his appreciation of the Street Pastor’s work. He said:

“These have been challenging times for everyone within the community but, thankfully, we are beginning to see some semblance of what was seen and enjoyed as normal. As a result people are back out on the streets and Street Pastors are out there with them.

“The first time they returned to the streets they were applauded, and I would like to pay tribute to them for their commitment to serve our community, as well as to the Prayer Pastors and Management Committee who support them so faithfully.”