At the October meeting of the Pembroke Dock branch of the Royal Engineers Association, held at the Star Social Club, the members were given an update on the future programme, including the Annual Dinner, which will be held on February 24. Members were advised that the menus would be given out at the November meeting. Volunteers were nominated for the wreath-laying services which would be held at Freshwater West, Llanion Military Cemetery and at St. Johns Church, Pembroke Dock. Following the branch meeting, members and their ladies were given details of the Martin Roberts Children's Fund by Peter Kraus, who for the last nine months has been raising finance for the charity. He went on to say that the fund was started by Martin Roberts, a neuro surgeon at Withybush Hospital, in 1999. Unfortunately, he died on his way home from work, which was a huge shock to everyone at the hospital, and his loving family and their children decided to carry on with his own work. The fund was started to care for children in the community who had been abused, neglected, bullied, suffered drug abuse and many other things. At present, there was one specialist nurse, Kirstie Thomas, who tried to help as many of these children as possible. The funding only enabled her to work for two days a week, which was completely inadequate as there were over 400 cases in Pembrokeshire alone. Peter explained that he had pledged £20,000 for this year to have Kirstie work full-time and for next year £40,000, which would allow them to have two specialist nurses. He went on to say that they were now opening a charity shop in Willings Passage in Pembroke, which would be selling almost everything which was donated to the shop, so if you know of anyone who has any unwanted presents, gifts, furniture or house clearances, please bear them in mind. "Yes, £60,000 is a lot to find each year, but I am going to make sure this task is fulfilled," said Peter. John Richards gave a vote of thanks for such an informative talk concerning the suffering of children in their own county. Peter Kraus was then invited to join the branch members for a buffet which had kindly been supplied by the ladies' section.
