Port Authority toasts Sunderland success

Successful new ventures begun in 2012 by the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust have been toasted by Milford Haven Port Authority whose on-going support has been fundamental to the progress made by the Trust.

The past year has been a milestone one for the Trust which opened the Fleets to Flying Boats Centre with its Glass House Coffee Shop in the Fleet Surgeon’s House, one of the iconic Dockyard buildings owned by MHPA.

Stella Hooper, the Port Authority’s Community Liaison Officer, has worked very closely with the Trust since it was formed in 2006 and helped deliver the funding for the hugely popular Flying Boat Centre and Workshop which has had 25,000 visitors in three and a half years.

Now the Port Authority is a key partner in ventures developing new visitor attractions which are telling more of Pembroke Dock’s remarkable military heritage.

Said Stella: “It is very exciting to see the Trust’s plans come together and really make a difference. The Port Authority recognises that we can make a very positive contribution to this development which is creating new attractions in the town, bringing visitors here from all over the world.

“Heritage initiatives promoted by the Sunderland Trust are part of the regeneration of the dockyard area, much of which is owned by the Authority.”

Sunderland Trustee Phil Thompson added: “The support of the Port Authority has been crucial to our progress so far, from the earliest days by providing office accommodation and the opportunity to use a port building as the Flying Boat Centre.

“This support continued when we expanded into the Fleet Surgeon’s House and set about creating new visitor attractions and our Coffee Shop which have been so well received. Without the involvement of partners like Milford Haven Port Authority we cannot realise our heritage vision for this community with its wonderful history.”


Caption:
The cups that cheer….toasting the success of the Fleets to Flying Boats Centre and the Glass House Coffee Shop are, left to right: Trustee Phil Thompson, Judith Davies, Sunderland Trust Administrator, and Stella Hooper, Community Liaison Officer of the Milford Haven Port Authority. Appropriately the toast is in special Sunderland mugs which are sold exclusively at the Trust’s two centres in Pembroke Dock.
PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography.

From John Evans, Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust, 01646 684220.