A major project is under way this summer and autumn as part of the renovation and reopening of the Reading Room (formerly the Village Hall) in Manorbier.

The project is to commemorate 20 years since the Sea Empress oil spill polluted Pembrokeshire beaches. Led by artist Abigail Sidebotham and historian Tudor Thomas, the aim is to create a visual and verbal record of the disaster from the memories of people who were affected at the time.

The project now needs to find about 40 of those people from across Pembrokeshire who are willing to be interviewed about their involvement at the time, what they did and equally important, how they view the event 20 years later.

Together, these recordings will form part of a record to be lodged nationally at the People’s Collection, Wales and at the Welsh National Library, and locally at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery.

To collect these interviews, the project also needs to recruit 10 volunteers for this summer and autumn, from a mix of ages and sex, to carry out the interviews. Of course, the project will train them in interviewing and recording techniques before sending them out. Travel costs will be covered and the volunteers will also receive a nationally recognised qualification from Agored Cymru at Level 2 in interviewing skills.

The project is based in Manorbier, but the disaster affected a much wider area, so people from Amroth to Milford are being looked for. To find out more send your details and why you want to take part to Tudor Thomas at [email protected]