On Monday evening the Pembroke Farmers’ Club members celebrated a very successful year whilst attending their annual dinner at the Town Hall in Pembroke.

Over 75 people attended the dinner in the very venue where the Club held their Fat stock Show between 1880 and 1950.

The meal was provided by the very capable Courtyard Caterers and much enjoyed by all present.

The Club, which is responsible for the Annual Pembroke Town and Country Show which it holds each August in Lamphey, has had a very successful 12 months.

The Show was enjoyed by a record attendance this year with perfect weather for the event. Last month it staged a concert at the Henry Tudor School in aid of Prostate Cymru and raised well over £3,000 for the charity.

This concert was the result of a talk given by the charity’s President, Mr Brian Harries on the topic of prostate cancer at a summer function held in July.

Also, a book compiled by this year’s Chairman, Mr Edward Morris, on the Club’s 200-year history and heritage has proved to be a hit locally and further afield. It is now proving to be a popular purchase as a Christmas gift.

At this year’s dinner the guest speaker was Mr Jonathan Thomas who is a former Wales International and Ospreys rugby player and now the forwards and defence coach to Bristol Bears, who are currently top of the English Premiership League.

Jonathan was brought up at Mellaston Farm, Hundleton and is the grandson of the late Mr John James who was a long serving and much missed member of Pembroke Farmer’s Club. Jonathan is to take up a post as forward and defence coach to Worcester Warriors next season.

Jonathan delivered a very entertaining and enthusiastic talk following the dinner. His talk included a demonstration on the difficulties of public speaking by getting four members to their feet to talk on a subject for 30 seconds without pausing!

He also gave a demonstration on how his grandfather had taught him to ‘pick apples’ which resulted in the whole room getting to their feet to follow his actions - to music – to perform a whole dance sequence!

This has now set a new record for the Club which has never done the like at the annual dinner before! A very good demonstration therefore of Jonathan’s coaching skills.

Following this excitement, competition awards were presented to Club members which included the following:

Potatoes grown under plastic - Richard Hayman; Best Salad Potatoes - Barry Hathway; Best Baker Potatoes - Mark Richards; Best Overall Workmanship for Potatoes - Luke Hayman; Most points awarded for Cereals - Chris Phillips and John Purser; Most outstanding Cereal Crop - Simon Davies; Most points in the Grass Competition - Andrew and David Phillips; The Texaco Cup for Best Maize crop -Philip and Roger Lewis; Most points for Roots and Horticultural - Chris Phillips; Best Silage – Philip and Roger Lewis; Bevan and Buckland Cup for Best Arable Silage -Philip and Roger Lewis; Challenge Salver for Best Pedigree Herd - Philip and Roger Lewis; Best Overall Commercial Herd - Richard Morris; Best Dairy Cow - Hugh James; Most points in all the Classes - Philip and Roger Lewis.

The shield for Services to Agriculture was awarded to Mr Roger Minchin of Newton Lodge.

Roger has been a member for over 50 years and has held the position of Chairman and President of the Club.

He has been President of the South Pembs YFC and Chairman of both the South Pembs Ploughing Society and the Welsh Turkey Federation.

He is current President of the Cleddau Grassland Society.

Roger has always worked very hard in both the running and the setting up of the annual Show giving his all to the Club.