Pembrokeshire’s MPs and AMs have come together to........
Pembrokeshire’s MPs and AMs have come together to visit one of the county’s newest visitor attractions and to hear how exciting heritage plans for Pembroke Dock are rapidly developing.
Assembly Members Angela Burns and Paul Davies along with Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb and Simon Hart, MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, were guests of the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust.
A briefing on the Trust’s progress was given by Trustees Martin Cavaney, John de Havilland and Phil Thompson and project staff John Evans and Judith Davies.
They visited the Flying Boat Centre in the former Royal Dockyard and were delighted to learn that this unique centre has already attracted nearly 12,000 visitors in 16 months. The Centre displays many parts of a Sunderland flying boat which the Trust intends to recover from the Haven Waterway.
And the guests were very impressed with the restored Garrison Chapel which in September was the scene of a hugely successful series of events on a Forties theme which were organised on behalf of the Trust. The Chapel features large in the Trust’s plans to establish a centre of Welsh Military Heritage in Pembroke Dock which has a remarkable history involving all three Armed Services.
Angela Burns AM, said: “I have visited the Sunderland Trust and the Flying Boat Centre on a number of occasions now and the story of the Battle of the Atlantic and these amazing aircraft never fails to move. The tales of individual heroism, humour and bravery, coupled with the loyalty, courage and fortitude of the people of Pembroke Dock and the surrounding communities, is a story that should be told and should be listened too again and again.
“The Flying Boat Centre in Pembroke Dock should be the linchpin of the centre of Welsh Military Heritage and would provide yet another attraction for visitors to Pembrokeshire."
Simon Hart MP, added: “I was very impressed by the achievements of the Sunderland Trust and their future plans. I think heritage tourism has a large part to play in Pembrokeshire’s economy and I’m sure that the Flying Boat Centre will be at the top of many people’s places to visit in the county.”
Caption:
Pictured at the Garrison Chapel, Pembroke Dock, are, left to right, Sunderland Trust Project Administrator Judith Davies, Trustee Phil Thompson, Simon Hart MP, Paul Davies AM, Angela Burns AM, Trustee John de Havilland, Stephen Crabb MP and Project Manager John Evans.
