A well-known Hakin, Milford Haven, gentleman held 50 members of the Pembroke Probus Club spellbound with his very own interpretation of the message that art can bring to the discerning observer through the individuality of the professional artist and of the images he creates.

This particular guest speaker, attending the monthly repast at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel for the club in October, was one Philip Muirden, a professional artist of national repute.

Philip began his talk with a brief mention of his National Service in the '50s.

Because of his training as an art student, he had been appointed as a technical sketcher, affectionately known in the Army as a testicle scratcher and whose expectation of life in a war zone would be two weeks.

His job would have been to sketch a frontline situation which would then be taken by courier to safety behind the battle area, a similar task to those carried out today by photographers and television.

He has certainly moved on from that time as a national conscript to a time of almost being a national treasure who would use his God-given gift to provide us all with a long overdue wake-up call.

Philip certainly looked the part even without the smock and floppy hat de rigueur for a painter.

The paintings he showed during his powerpoint presentation were of several different sizes, some as large as six-foot by four-foot and all were highly unusual, even provocative; clown scapes particularly - images of circus clowns attempting to dive from a boat floating on pebbles in order to swim in a sea of pebbles. Another one of the same clowns fishing in pebbles from a boat floating on a sea of pebbles.

His explanation of the images and many others too was to explain his feelings that there is in the world today a misunderstanding of life.

In his other works, his ideas were amply illustrated by the many hidden meanings in the paintings such as that of the wrecks on Neyland beach, demonstrating his anger at the present day lack of respect for Welsh culture and heritage. Indeed a painter of great profundity.

Full appreciation of his near genius would be better understood by hearing the interpretation he places on his work at the same time as it is viewed.

The vote of thanks was given by George Lewis, a local artist well-known for his history of Pembroke through his many murals, which can be seen in Pembroke Town Hall.

The afternoon was further enhanced by the surprise visit to the club by a former president of 2003/4 John Horne who it seems is currently doing his worst at a Probus Club in Andover, Hampshire.

Members of the Pembroke Probus Club who missed this month's guest speaker can glean more information about Philip Muirden from an article in the October issue of Pembrokeshire Life.

An exhibition of his work can also be at the Waterfront Gallery, Discovery Quay, The Docks, Milford Haven.

For further details of Pembroke Probus Club programme for 2011/12, contact P. Vanner on 01646 683708.