Australian visitor makes it 3000 at Pembroke Dock Sunderland Centre
An Australian following in the wartime footsteps of her airman husband has become the 3,000th visitor to Pembroke Dock’s Flying Boat Centre.
Vivienne Creighton, from Sydney, New South Wales, arrived on a very wet November day but this didn’t detract from her enjoyment.
Her late husband, John, was a navigator with the famous 461 Sunderland Squadron, based at PD between 1943 and 1945.
“John had very happy memories of PD and often talked about his time here,” said Vivienne. “I was determined to visit and thrilled to find the newly opened Flying Boat Centre.
“It is marvellous to hear about plans to recover a wartime Sunderland from the Haven and I am already planning a return visit to witness this,” she added.
Also at the centre was County Councillor Brian Hall who immediately offered to show Vivienne local reminders of the flying boat era, including the giant hangars now part of the Port of Pembroke.
On her return home Vivienne will look out her husband’s photos and records to copy for the centre’s archive.
The centre only opened at the end of June and has been an instant success. All volunteer run, it will be open throughout the winter, Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm apart from a short break over Christmas and New Year.
Australian visitor Mrs Vivienne Creighton (left) with Flying Boat Centre volunteers Bob Western, Steve Fletcher and Glynnis Isles, and Councillor Brian Hall (right).
PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography.
