'Save Saundersfoot Coal Office' are aware there are supporters of the campaign who are unable to access Facebook. Tenby Observer has very kindly published our series of four reports which has enabled the campaign to keep all supporters, both locals and regular visitors to Saundersfoot, informed of developments and reasons why this building and its gardens are so important to our village.

As we reflect on Remembrance Day we are reminded of the role Saundersfoot played in the preparation for the D-Day Landings. The Jantzen Exercise which took place along the coastline stretching from Pendine to Milford Haven consisted of practising and assessing the merits of a series of military manoeuvres, some of which were to be used in the D-Day Landings. Winston Churchill with high ranking staff officers of the British and Allied Forces viewed procedures from Wisemans Bridge, further emphasising the importance of the military exercise which took place.

1994 and 1995 saw the 50th anniversaries of the D-Day Landings, VE Day and VJ Day. Saundersfoot Community Council [SCC] were to be widely congratulated for a range of events they organised to commemorate all three anniversaries. The programmes for each anniversary were varied and encouraged local societies within the village to contribute to proceedings. There were many events, but the following were staged on the Barbeque Lawn and were to demonstrate how important it is to have an open space available in such a central location.

To commemorate the anniversary of the D-Day Landings, an ecumenical religious service was held, followed by the planting of a commemorative tree on the boundary of the lawn by the commanding officer of the US Army Field Band. These events were followed by an open-air concert of Glenn Miller music performed by the Jazz Ambassadors of the US Army Field Band, who were dressed appropriately for the occasion wearing World War II GI uniforms. The Jazz Ambassadors, 19 army musicians and a female vocalist, were to re-join the 160-piece band to play at a drumhead service at Portsmouth before the Queen on June 5. Saundersfoot was the only venue in Wales at which they appeared.

For the anniversary of VE Day, the Band of the Royal Lancers led a commemorative parade consisting of standard bearers and officials from throughout the county plus representatives of local youth organisations, from Coppet Hall through the centre of the village to the Barbeque Lawn. An ecumenical service of commemoration was held within the grounds and the planting of a commemorative tree by Mr. Trevor Lewis, Deputy Lieutenant of Dyfed, was followed by a concert of 1940s music performed by the Band of the Royal Lancers.

Commemorations for the 50th anniversary of VJ Day saw the Dyfed Army Cadet Band lead a parade to the Barbeque Lawn. A display of marching was given by the cadets before the planting of a tree by the chairman of SCC, Mrs Rosemary Hayes, in memory of the servicemen who lost their lives during the war. The following day the lawn was to be the location of a village fete and displays given by the Sea Cadets Corps and Tenby and Saundersfoot Judo Club.

The Barbeque Lawn proved to be an ideal location to stage such important events and to plant three commemorative trees. At the time it was suggested that consideration should be given to locating a rectangular shaped bandstand parallel to the side of the Coal Office building so that other open-air events could be held.

The other garden adjoining the Coal Office - The Sensory Garden - is now an important area in the centre of our village. Leased by SCC at a peppercorn rent from Pembrokeshire County Council, it is under the voluntary management of community councillor Ronnie Brabon. With professional guidance, the garden has been created and developed into a relaxing and tranquil area. All-year-round maintenance to keep the garden at such a high standard is undertaken by a group of volunteers. Numerous compliments are received from visitors to the village and the garden is a popular seating area for all ages, but especially for senior members of our community, who with limited mobility are able to sit and enjoy the atmosphere of the village centre.

Many of us can recall when the area was a crazy golf course and the cheers that went up around the village when the concrete mass was broken up and removed. Now planning consultants propose that our gardens should be replaced with tarmac for car parking spaces and a sensory walk located elsewhere within the harbour area. That is neither progress nor regeneration. Planning consultants The Urbanists have clearly failed to understand Saundersfoot not only as a village but also as a community.

"It is up to all the authorities concerned to ensure that monetary interests do not continue to despoil whatever charm the village has left in the eyes of its residents and visitors" [Sept. 1964 St Issell's Parish Council].