Pembrokeshire | Archive | 2005 | February
How many children can claim to have rested their bottom on a chair once occupied by Her Majesty? My son enjoyed that honour during a tour of Picton Castle this summer and enthusiastically recounted his brush with royalty for some time after the big event. The delightfully patient and knowledgeable tour guide led our party into the elegant dining room where we were told that members of the Royal family, including the Queen, had dined with the Philipps family during official visits to Pembrokeshire. The children were all invited to sit around the Regency mahogany table. Imagine George's delight when told he had plumped for the Queen's throne? He beamed for the rest of the day. That sums up the appeal of Picton Castle, a building swathed in wonderful history but accessible to the public. Priceless china, ancient tapestries, fine antiques and valuable paintings, including a small, unsigned painting thought to be by Renoir, adorn the rooms, somewhat vulnerable but duly respected by the hundreds of people who visit every year. Perhaps it is the sense of being under the watchful eye of generations of the Philipps family that keeps everyone in order. Their paintings hang from every wall, descendants of Sir John Wogan who built the stone Edwardian hall-keep in the 13th century. The Philipps' had occupied the castle, with its semi-circular flanking towers at the corners and a small twin-towered gatehouse, for eight centuries. The principal rooms were re-modelled in the 1750s by Sir John Philipps, the sixth Baronet, to provide fine Georgian rooms with plastered ceilings and fireplaces by Sir Henry Cheere. It retains its medieval features in the undercroft. A vast tapestry hangs in one of the hallways, purchased by Jeremy Philipps' grandfather, Sir Laurence Philipps. He had owned a string of race horses and bought the tapestry with his winnings, from a major race. Many famous people have stayed at the castle over the centuries including Horatio Nelson. A ball was held in his honour and all the local gentry were invited to this lavish event. The castle has a charm all of its own but there are many people who will visit Picton between April and October for its gardens alone. Forty acres of woodland gardens, at their best in May and June, and a well-preserved walled garden complete with a fish pond, fountain and fernery, are sufficient reason to spend a day there. Picton Castle is managed by the Picton Castle Trust, a charitable trust established in 1987, which oversees a repair, conservation and refurbishment programme to secure the castle's long term future. Jeremy Philipps and his family live elsewhere on the estate. Upkeep of the castle and its grounds is expensive and the need to generate income was the principal reason for licensing the site as a wedding venue. The Trust's administrator, David Pryse-Lloyd, says the venture has been very successful. Other revenue raisers include open-air concerts, plant sales and conferences. more...
The cake is another big item on the list - there are lots to choose from - traditional white tiers, or more modern and funky columns and stacks. Talk to a professional like Dec 'O' Cake in Pembroke Dock, who can offer all the choice and advice you could wish for. If you are catering for the wedding yourself, you can order the drinks on a sale or return basis. If the reception is to be held at an hotel, keep the manager informed about the number of guests who are coming to the wedding, not just the number you have invited. The traditional wedding party drink is champagne, but less expensive sparkling wines are perfectly acceptable. Soft drinks should always be provided for children and for adults conscious of the drink/ drive laws. It has always been traditional for the bride's parents to pay for the wedding. But today the parents of the groom may also contribute, as may the couple themselves. It is not unusual for the bride and groom to pay for the whole wedding themselves if their financial situation warrants it. If you are compiling a wedding present list, remember that not all your friends or relatives have bottomless wallets, so include a few smaller items! To avoid duplications you could use a loose leaf notebook, putting one item on one page. Once a relative chooses a gift, they simply pull out that page. Simple, but it avoids headaches of having three toasters etc. There are no hard and fast rules governing what you should ask for when putting together your wedding gift list. Anything can be added, from the practical to the funny, old or new, valuable or cheap. Obviously, your personal situation will affect the choices you make, but a sound principle to follow was laid down by William Morris, who wrote: "Have nothing in your home which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." Aim for a list that gives the widest possible choice and price range; while there will be friends and colleagues who will club together to buy you a present, others will want to buy something on their own. If a major item such as a dinner service is on the list, make it clear that you're are happy to receive only one cup and saucer from the range. Finally, try not to make your list too long - this will ensure that the items you really want are chosen first and if necessary it can be added to at a later date. If you are organising the list yourself, first draw up a master list of items stating their make, colour, price and where they can be bought. Alternatively, you can enlist the help of your mother or best man to coordinate events. Keep a note of who has promised to give what, as this will be a useful source of reference when it comes to writing 'thank you' letters. If you decide to place your wedding list with a shop, it will save time if you think about the kinds of things you want before hitting the shop floor. It's also a good idea to arrange a list at one or two shops, one with a sensibly-priced households store and another with a specialist, more decorative gift-type shop. The service is free, and you will find that most stores prefer you to place your list with them eight to 10 weeks before the wedding. You simply wander around your chosen stores or shops making a note of the items you want. The list is typed; a master copy is held by the store and another is sent on to you. Friends and relatives can either visit or telephone (if paying by credit card) the store where your list is held to make their choice. As items are chosen, they are crossed off the list to avoid duplication, and a note will be made of the donor's name. There will always be friends and family who object to being directed by a wedding gift list, preferring to make their own choice. In such cases it is best to leave them to their own devices. However, do make sure that they see a copy of the list first. This will avoid duplication, and if you are using a store to organise your list do remember to inform them, so they can add it to their list as having been bought. All gifts should be sent to the bride at the address she is living at before the wedding, or to the couple's address after the big day. Many guests will want to deliver their present personally at the reception, so remember to have your bridesmaids or best man on stand-by to ensure that they are taken care of. Invitations for anything other than a very small wedding are usually printed or engraved. Good stationers, such as Cleddau Press, in Haverfordwest, will be able to show you a sample book, with a huge choice of top quality invitations to choose from. In usual circumstances, the invitations will be sent from the bride's parents. Transport to and from the wedding venue will need to be arranged. For most couples cars will be just fine, but for others wanting something more unusual consider a horse and carriage, or contact Top Notch, in Haverfordwest, for details of their stretch limousines, midnight blue Cadillac, Daimler or other limos, and really arrive in style. It is sometimes difficult amid the chaos of organising a big wedding to grasp that it is not mum's day, dad's day or anyone else's day. It's the bride and groom's day and with careful planning it will be a day for them to remember for the rest of their lives. more...
A 40th birthday is often approached with some trepidation. But not so by Texaco's Pembroke refinery. Not only did management and staff celebrate in style last year, but the company also continued its magnificent fundraising for local charities and community groups. To match its birthday, Texaco set a target of £40,000 by the end of 2004. The final total reached was over half that much again - £72,300. more...
ON THE site of the old Great Western railway station stands a bronze figure that captures the very essence of what Neyland is. That statue which watches over the marina is the emblematic figure of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the single-most important person in the town's 149-year history. "He's such a legendary figure in the history of engineering and technology in the 18th Century," says local historian, Simon Hancock. "But it's with Neyland that he has a unique relationship of international stature. "He had connections with other towns, but to be created by that one individual gives us a very special relationship that other towns just do not have." The small hamlet, once referred to as 'Nayland', was levelled by the South Wales Railway Company in 1855, leaving a blank canvas on which the engineer was to have unprecedented influence. On Tuesday, April 15th, 1856, when the railway officially opened, the insignificant village was reborn and Brunel's decision to site the railway's terminus on its banks assured that he, not only captured the town's heart, but also an iconic place in its history. "He is regarded as the founder of the community," says the local historian. "When you bring new means of transportation it has an enormous impact on the social and economic conditions of the town. "Neyland acquired an importance and status which the inhabitants of the sleepy little village could never of dreamed of." It signified a time of complete transformation and unprecedented expansion. Streets and shops were created, the landscape altered and the make-up of the population changed, with a mixture of Irish workers, English engineers and locals all contributing to "a true railway boom town." Employment, prosperity, and nationwide interest rolled out of the railway as steamships sailed and the erection of a high pontoon, designed by Brunel himself, facilitated the transport of passengers and livestock to the wider world. "Brunel's Great Eastern, one of the greatest ships in maritime history, also came to Neyland on two occasions to be repainted and repaired. Just another strong connection with our community and Brunel," reveals the Neyland-born historian. Neyland may be buried in a long and distinguished CV, which resulted in Isambard Kingdom Brunel being honoured one of the greatest Britons of all time, but today there are still tangible reminders of the engineer's work, from street names to statues, and from town signs down to the naming of the primary school's sport's teams. He achieved in his 53 years more than most could ever hope for, but his vision for progress and technological advance still inspires those that live in the world he created. "He created a whole town and I don't think you can ever overstate his significance." more...
Pembrokeshire Craftsmen's Circle more...
On this trip he's been at sea for thirteen days and they've caught five tons of fish. His wife, a local woman, meets him on the quay. The trawlers are Anglo-Spanish, and to comply with EU law a portion of the catch must be landed and sold here. The skipper launches into a tirade over fishing quotas and says he doesn't want his kids to go to sea, because the glory days are over. I ask him for his solution to the crisis in fish stocks. 'Smaller boats and an end to the factory ships,' he suggests. Dirk says his crew are leaving to work on the dredging boats back home because it's more lucrative. None of them goes to the electronic auction - they don't need to ask the market prices for their catch. more...
The serene and stunning west Wales countryside has long been regarded as one of the most idyllic places to retire to at the end your working life. But rather than long walks, what delights the residents of one retirement home in St Dogmaels, is the long grass. The Veteran Horse Society's rehabilitation centre in St Dogmaels is the picturesque home to over 20 elderly horses and ponies, who have have been, one way or another, mismanaged or mistreated. A registered non-profit making organisation, the VHS is totally funded by donations, both from many organisations and companies - this year's new sponsor is feed company Blue Chip - and invites contributions from the public towards the not inconsiderable costs of feed, equipment, vets, farriers and equine dentists that make up the foundations of good horse care. Said Julianne Aston: "No horse or animal should be left to get into a poor condition. Some owners just don't understand what it takes to look after a horse. We do not judge anyone, and offer advice to anyone wanting our help. We never close our books for rehoming. Our books are never full, we just ask for a small donation to help with the ever-increasing costs." The centre is just one wing of the work of the society, which was founded by Julianne. The society also has a distinct welfare arm, deals with rehoming and generally promotes the advantages of owning an older horse - even running a Veteran Horse of the Year competition, which culminates at the prestigious Olympia event each December. One past winner is Hudson Bay, known as Crispin, a 30-year-old former police horse ridden by Sarah Frazer. Said Sarah: "I tried to retire Crispin once before, but he loves working and being the centre of attention, so he got very depressed." The newly-crowned champion, honoured at Olympia in December 2004, was Tracy Peters. At the same event, the Achievement Award 2004/5 was given to the magnificent Welham, ridden by John Whitaker. Ageism isn't only encountered within the workplace, but also in show ring. Twelve years ago, and long before the idea of the VHS had been born, Julianne's horse Minty, a 40-year-old Irish Draught cross, who had won many awards at the Riding Club Championship, started to be refused entry to many events. Julianne, his owner for over 20 years, had had enough. She wanted to stop this sort of discrimination against veterans, many of whom were perfectly fit and, like Crispin, champing at the bit to get out and about. So she started research into the veteran and the welfare issues surrounding equines of a certain age. After years of calling on and writing to owners and associated companies the process began of setting up a society that dealt with nothing other than horses aged 15 and over. The society was founded in 2001. Her elderly horse Minty had such a profound impact on Julianne that, on his death, she named the Veteran Horse of the Year trophy after him. The only centre in the UK dedicated to the rehabilitation of older equine, its website has received industry accolades and can be viewed at www.veteran-horse-society.co.uk, from where you can keep up to date with the residents, and donate money. They have also hit the headlines recently with one of their ponies, 50-year-old Shetland King Arthur, who was officially named the oldest living pony in the world by the Guiness Book of World Records. Said Julianne: "This was my dream brought to reality. But it would not have happened without the support and dedication from the staff and members of the Veteran Horse Society. This year's veteran champion, crowned at Olympia, was Tamarnie, or Marnie as she is known at home, a 20-year-old 15.3hh bay mare of unknown breeding. She has been with her owner Mrs Julia Kirby for the last 16 years. She was a showjumper in her youth and has been ridden by Tracy Peters for the past three years. Said Tracy: "It was so nice to find a society that promotes the fact that older horses do have a very important place, as all too many people are quick to trade them in for a 'newer model'. "To just qualify for Olympia was a dream come true, but Marnie, true star that she is, went one better and won it for us. Being able to show her off at Olympia was a small tribute to her of just how much she has given us over the years." more...
IF you ask Graham Brace what life has been like since he broke free from the shackles of nine to five to discover the artist within, the delight and enthusiasm is difficult to hide. "Life is fantastic, quite simply," he says, as the corners of his mouth curl up with complete contentment. " I'm doing now what I've always wanted to do. "Back in 1976 when we moved back to Pembrokeshire from London my intention was to develop my art and do non-graphic things - be more creative like I am now - but it never happened. Family came along and with that responsibilities." He chose the conventional life instead, relying on his graphic design expertise to create a flourishing business, which following a merger in 1999 provided a long awaited opportunity. "It was the turn of the millennium - I'd just turned 50 - and I thought if I don't do it soon it's never going to happen," explains Graham. Initially he juggled both an office job with drawing, often until the early hours, a move he readily admits became quite obsessive. But his persistence to do what he felt was "absolutely him", coupled with a disenchantment with the graphic design industry punctured by a technological revolution, has made Graham Brace into a well-respected, and popular Pembrokeshire artist. "I've got a whole new lease of life since finishing completely with the business in December. I'm so happy doing what I've always wanted to do and I count myself very lucky indeed," he says with absolute appreciation. His zest for art, combined with an inherent compulsion for detail, naturally flows into his work, with every one of his 130 paintings produced since his renaissance in 2000, a precise and vivid portrayal of the rich world that surrounds him. "I've got all the inspiration I need on my door step," he says. "I cannot think of anywhere better to practice art. "My daily walks around the shores, fields and woods in the vicinity of Llangwm provide an endless supply of subject matter. So much so that frustration sets in at the inability to capture it all." Through his predominantly coloured pencil work, Graham is also helping to erase the misplaced notion that pencils are predominately used by children for "colouring in". "They're still regarded as an unacceptable medium by the art establishment," says the founder member of the United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society (UKCPS). "But I am keen to show what can be achieved in this very versatile medium. "The quality of artwork currently being produced in coloured pencil around the world and demonstrated by members of the UKCPS and Coloured Pencil Society of America (CPSA), signifies that recognition as a fine art medium in its own right is long overdue." So resolute is he about the integrity of his art, it's not surprising when asked if he has any reservations about trading in the security of a well-run business for the free-spirited life of an artist that he is equally as unwavering. "Absolutely not," he says. "Once I've set my mind on something I have a great belief in fate and that things will work out for the best. Some people regard that as a flaw, but it's just one aspect of my character." Graham's admirable drive combined with a tempered ambition to spread his talents further afield, confirms the mild-mannered artist as one of Pembrokeshire's painting elite. more...
elcome to the first edition of a brand new publication that highlights all that's best about Pembrokeshire. Every edition of Pembrokeshire County Living will bring you great features about life and how we live it in the premiere county. It's brought to you by the team that publishes Pembrokeshire's favourite weekly newspaper - the Western Telegraph - and with its 151-year history of writing about the people of Pembrokeshire, you can be sure that this magazine will offer the very best for the discerning reader. We live in a quality county and we're thrilled to bring you a quality product that reflects this unique area and its people. In the first edition we have extracts from BBC presenter Jamie Owen's book about his epic voyage around the shores of Wales, and particularly his experiences in his home county of Pembrokeshire. It is illustrated by stunning photographs by local photographer Martin Cavaney, which show off Pembrokeshire at its best. No-one can deny that Pembrokeshire is a diverse county - where else does a National Park live in harmony with industrial neighbours? So as well as highlighting the natural beauty of Pembrokeshire, this month we also feature the awesome spectacle of the Texaco refinery, as the company celebrates 40 years in the county. Spring is traditionally the time for romance, and our four-page feature will inspire you if you are planning a Pembrokeshire wedding this year. And don't miss the chance to win a beautiful, limited edition print by local artist Graham Brace. In fact, if you live in the county of Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire County Living is required reading. more...
ON THE site of the old Great Western railway station stands a bronze figure that captures the very essence of what Neyland is. That statue which watches over the marina is the emblematic figure of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the single-most important person in the town's 149-year history. "He's such a legendary figure in the history of engineering and technology in the 18th Century," says local historian, Simon Hancock. "But it's with Neyland that he has a unique relationship of international stature. "He had connections with other towns, but to be created by that one individual gives us a very special relationship that other towns just do not have." The small hamlet, once referred to as 'Nayland', was levelled by the South Wales Railway Company in 1855, leaving a blank canvas on which the engineer was to have unprecedented influence. On Tuesday, April 15th, 1856, when the railway officially opened, the insignificant village was reborn and Brunel's decision to site the railway's terminus on its banks assured that he, not only captured the town's heart, but also an iconic place in its history. "He is regarded as the founder of the community," says the local historian. "When you bring new means of transportation it has an enormous impact on the social and economic conditions of the town. "Neyland acquired an importance and status which the inhabitants of the sleepy little village could never of dreamed of." It signified a time of complete transformation and unprecedented expansion. Streets and shops were created, the landscape altered and the make-up of the population changed, with a mixture of Irish workers, English engineers and locals all contributing to "a true railway boom town." Employment, prosperity, and nationwide interest rolled out of the railway as steamships sailed and the erection of a high pontoon, designed by Brunel himself, facilitated the transport of passengers and livestock to the wider world. "Brunel's Great Eastern, one of the greatest ships in maritime history, also came to Neyland on two occasions to be repainted and repaired. Just another strong connection with our community and Brunel," reveals the Neyland-born historian. Neyland may be buried in a long and distinguished CV, which resulted in Isambard Kingdom Brunel being honoured one of the greatest Britons of all time, but today there are still tangible reminders of the engineer's work, from street names to statues, and from town signs down to the naming of the primary school's sport's teams. He achieved in his 53 years more than most could ever hope for, but his vision for progress and technological advance still inspires those that live in the world he created. "He created a whole town and I don't think you can ever overstate his significance." more...
BBC Wales news anchorman Jamie Owen, whose family home is in Pembroke Dock, left the newsroom behind one summer's day and began a voyage around the coast of Wales, meeting the people who live and work by the sea. In a hundred-year-old sailing ship, Mascotte, he and the crew sailed around stunning coastline - including Jamie's home patch of Pembrokeshire. The whole adventure became one of BBC Wales' most popular television series - Jamie Owen's Magic Harbours - and the accompanying book - lavishly illustrated with stunning photographs from another Pembroke Dock 'boy' Martin Cavaney, topped the Welsh bestseller list over Christmas. To mark the publication of the softback edition of the book here is an extract of Jamie's adventures around the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast, accompanied by some of Martin's amazing photographs. A wonderful afternoon's sailing in bright sunshine from Tenby to Milford, past Penally, Caldey Island, Priest's Nose, Manorbier Castle, Swanlake Bay, Freshwater East, Barafundle and Broadhaven. Near St Govan's Head the range boat from Castlemartin comes alongside and orders us to change course - sending us two miles off shore to avoid the firing practice from the land. I've never been this close to the coastline here; the sandstone and limestone Stack Rocks are spectacular. There are no yachts here, no other craft in sight. If this were the south coast of England, the water would be heaving with sailing boats. Not that I wish for that, but the Essex boys, Tony, Will and Paul, are silent witnesses to the beauty of this stretch of coast and mystified as to why we don't make more of our extraordinary asset. St Govan's Head and its tiny chapel pass slowly by. Govan was a hermit who devoted himself to a life of prayer, choosing a spectacular setting halfway down this cliffside for his cell. But he was also concerned for the safety of mariners and legend has it that he rang a bell to warn ships of the treacherous rocks near the headland, and often helped shipwrecked sailors to safety. Pirates and wreckers were none too pleased with his interference, and plotted to murder him. The saintly Govan fled and hid in a crevice in the rocks. There's a steady breeze and soon Saddle Head, Moody Nose and Bullslaughter Bay disappear behind us. We are heading for Freshwater West beach to look at the seaweed hut where laverbread was processed a century ago. Once there were a dozen huts here, reminders of a time when we ate everything the seaside had to offer; now there's just one left. Up-market restaurants make a big thing of dishes with laverbread now, but it has disappeared from most of our plates, a victim of the supermarket culture. more...
IF you've had a wedding in the family, you'll know that your whole world will be turned upside down in the weeks preceding the event! Of course, the plan is that everything should go without a hitch (or rather, the only hitch being between the bride and groom!). An engagement announcement is enough to send the family into a frenzy of activity. The wedding night might be many months away, but you can never start planning too early. Planning a wedding can place a considerable strain on the whole family, so it's advisable to set aside some time to sit down and plan everything down to the last detail from the church, if it is to be formal wedding through to photographs and flowers. The venue is usually the first port of call - go armed with a list of possible dates, as your first choice may not be available. Today more and more couples are opting for a civil, rather that religious service. So if you would prefer somewhere other than a church or other place of worship to hold your wedding there are many other possibilities. As well as the conventional register office it is now possible to get married at a hotel - or somewhere more unusual. In Pembrokeshire there is a huge choice - and you can choose venues from a castle to a theme park. A wedding reception needs careful planning. It is an occasion when people let their hair down and drink a great deal! The amount you allow per person will depend on the capacity of the guests, but a good average is about half a bottle of champagne or wine for each person. Popular choices in Pembrokeshire include the splendid Fourcroft Hotel, in Tenby, with its spectacular sea views; or the Cleddau Bridge Hotel, with the Milford Haven waterway providing a stunning backdrop. Located centrally and within easy reach of all parts of the county is Nantyffin, a long established business with wide experience in organising functions. Or Tenby's Heywood Mount Hotel offers all the traditional values of a comfortable and friendly country house hotel - coupled with the most modern facilities. more...
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