Another new venture got underway at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery recently as part of the museum's developing education policy.
On Friday, Tenby Blue Badge guide Marion Davies undertook a storytelling session, based on a local theme, with St. Teilo's Roman Catholic School. This first talk was entitled 'Our Locality' and the children, aged between nine and 11, heard stories of the history of Tenby and the surrounding area from the earliest recorded times.
Marion traced the rise of Tenby as an important port and trading centre, using Eric Bradforth's depiction of 'Tenby in 1586' to show how it developed as a walled town, through to the ruinous decline in the 16th century and finally to the town's resurgence in the 19th century as a seaside resort, with stories detailing tales of piracy and plague.
The talk also highlighted 2002 as a year of celebration for Tenby, referring to the 600th anniversary of the 1402 Charter which granted mayoralty to the town, the 200th anniversary of Nelson's visit to Tenby, the 150th anniversary of Tenby's first lifeboat station and the royal celebrations from 1897, 1977 and the current Jubilee celebrations, all of which are illustrated in the Celebrations display in the museum's 'Story of Tenby' Gallery.
Children were encouraged to follow up the talk with further visits to the museum and the preparation of their own charter in which they can suggest the concessions they would like to see granted to the town.
Bookings from six local schools have so far been received.
For further information on storytelling sessions, please contact the museum on (01834) 842809.
M. L.