Pembroke Town Walls Trust held its 2022 Annual General Meeting on Monday,June 20 in Foundry House, Pembroke.

Having had to postpone the annual Party at the Castle fundraising event on Saturday due to heavy rain, it was ironic that it was such a beautiful evening. However, 12 members and nine trustees joined the meeting to hear reports on the work of the Trust over the last year, to adopt the annual accounts and to elect a Board of Trustees for the coming year.

The Chair of Trustees, Elizabeth Gossage, gave a verbal report. She said that 2021 had been both fulfilling and frustrating. “There were a number of good and positive outcomes – establishing our new website; electing some good new Trustees; successful fundraising through the Pledge a Stone Campaign; completing two sides of the civil war gun platform; establishing a linked Social Enterprise, Pembrokeshire Built Heritage CIC; commissioning the research we have wanted to have done for so long into the value of heritage assets with an MSc Student from Cardiff University; and commissioning Tanyard youth Project to create an excellent film about the project for us.”

“Our aim to establish and develop a long-term management plan for the restoration of the Town Walls is ambitious and innovative. It is something we realised needed to be done some years ago and applying for a substantial grant from the UK Community Renewal Fund through Pembrokeshire County Council was the ideal opportunity to do that. So we were excited to have our application approved by the PCC Cabinet but the frustration was waiting for the final go ahead from the UK Government’s Department of Levelling up, Housing and Communities which took months. But we are now well on the way with the project.”

“The most significant outcome so far has been the partnership with the Tywi Centre, CITB and Pembrokeshire College’s construction department to deliver two 2-week training courses in heritage stone masonry with Level 1 and 2 students. Each course culminated in work on site on one of the burgage walls and each student has been presented with a certificate to acknowledge their outstanding work. In addition, the Tanyard Youth Project created an excellent film documentary on the training.”

“We are fortunate to have been able to appoint two professional people - Chris Atherton as our Project manager to work particularly on the legal and administrative aspects of the project, and Jake Elster Jones to carry out the external evaluation. “

Elizabeth concluded by thanking all the Trustees for their patience, hard work and support over the last year and also Anna Allen as Secretary. “It hasn’t been easy, it has been frustrating at times, but it has been exciting, rewarding and I think we feel like we are getting a plan for the way forward at last.”

The following Trustees were re-elected for the coming year: Martin Bell, Daphne Bush, Elizabeth Gossage, Adrian James, Howard Rudge, Peter Thomas and Malcolm White. Sarah Moakler and Susan Chaple were elected as new Trustees. Howard Rudge was re-elected as Treasurer, Elizabeth Gossage as Chair and Malcolm White as Deputy Chair.

Following the formal part of the meeting, both films made for the Trust by the Tanyard Youth Project’s Postcard & Podcast project were shown to the Members and discussion followed. The films can be viewed through the website www.pembroketownwallstrust.org.uk