The presentation of prizes in a competition organised by the West Wales branch of the Aircrew Association, was made at the County Hall, Haverfordwest, on Friday.

The competition was based on a number of photographs of War Graves in Carew Cheriton, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock churchyards, which were allocated to all eight secondary schools in Pembrokeshire and all eight schools agreed to participate in a competition to research and write about the Second World War, its particular effects in Pembrokeshire and the airmen who were buried here.

In the event, four schools failed to enter any of their pupils, despite having said that they would do so. The four schools who did work on the project were - Ysgol Dewi Sant, St. David's (head of history, Ray Bevan); Ysgol Bro Gwaun, Fishguard (head of history, Sue Blaxland); Milford Haven Secondary School (head of history, Christine Hathaway); and Greenhill County Secondary Schoo (head of history, Margaret Jones).

The work produced by the Year 9 pupils (14/15-year-olds) was of an exceptionally high standard and all the participants had enjoyed their task, so much so, that many of them were continuing with their research even though the competition was over.

Pembrokeshire County Council chairman Leslie Raymond welcomed the young students, brothers and sisters, parents, teachers, members of the council and members of the Aircrew Association, plus the two local MP's, Jackie Lawrence and Nick Ainger.

Norman Spence, on behalf of the Aircrew Association, praised and thanked the students and teachers for their hard work and enthusiasm, saying that "those here today epitomise what good education and good teaching are about."

He paid particular tribute to Ray Bevan from St. David's, noting that without his help and drive the competition would not have taken place.

He also expressed his gratitude to the people and organisations who very kindly donated prizes to reward the young people who had worked hard on the project.

"We thank them for their generosity, and for caring enough to encourage initiative, greater understanding of what wars are really like for the people who get caught up in them and for the sacrifices made by so many," he said.

"We hope that this greater understanding will give young people an abhorrence of war and that they will always survive to prevent wars happening. We also hope that they will have learnt of the results that can be achieved when people work together in common cause, and of the true meaning and value of giving service to one's family, friends and to the society that we live in together, without through of personal reward."

Prizes were generously donated by Nick Ainger MP; BBC; BT; Dale Sailing; Folly Farm; Christine Gwyther AM; HSBC Bank; Jackie Lawrence MP; Oakwood; RAF St. Athan; John Rees; Withybush Flying School; Tenby Observer; Tesco, Pembroke Dock; Texaco; Western Telegraph; Owen Fuels/OJ Williams; Woolworths, Haverfordwest.

Greenhill winners (who also received a BT gift pack as part of their prize) were:

Tiffany Clewer - £25, plus £10 voucher for WH Smith (Research) and spend a day as a reporter with Western Telegraph.

Fiona MacKenzie - £25, plus 'The 1940s House' by Juliet Gardiner, about the life of a British family during the Second World War.

Emma Grififths - £25, plus 'What did you do in the War Mummy?' by Mavis Nicholson.

Ray Bevan proposed a vote of thanks to the Aircrew Association for organising the competition, to the prize donors who had given so generously and to the council for providing the venue and light refreshments.