Spirit of community (From Western Telegraph)

Spirit of community

You can't really blame Herbrandstonians for feeling an innate sense of pride. They do hold the title of "Pembrokeshire Village of the Year", after all. The polished plaque to prove it sits firmly above the village hall door and reminds any incoming foreigners, like myself, of the values that exist in this close-knit community.

As we chat over county council coffee, Herbrandston stalwart and long-time local authority employee, Reg Owens, reminds me of that togetherness, which impressed the judges so much.

"Two Christmases ago we were just about to sit down to eat our Christmas dinner when the electricity went," says Reg. "So one local resident, Henry Lloyd, came up and spent three hours re-wiring our kitchen. This is the sort of thing that happens here and I ask you, who else would do that?"

Reg readily admits that people don't live in each other's pockets and go about their own lives, but if there's a need villagers will rally round.

Maintaining that community spirit, which seems inherent in this small 13th century settlement (they did single-handedly build their own sports' pavilion), is very clear.

"If people move into the village they either get involved or live a lonely life," says the community councillor with a wry smile.

HISTORY

It's little wonder with people's willingness to help any hour of the day that a native like Reg has never strayed from this vibrant village.

"I was born here 58 years ago in Cross House (which now lies beneath the village's hotel, the Sir Benfro)," Reg reveals. "Herbrandston is ideally situated. It's not isolated, being only three miles from Milford Haven and only about seven--and-a-half miles from Haverfordwest and it has always been self-contained.

"We've always had our school, our shops, our church and pubs. It offers all that I really want in a living environment."

In the late 1950s the agricultural settlement, which had four working farms at one time, faced change, with the introduction of the refineries.

It brought employment, houses and ambition and Reg remembers vividly when the first company arrived.

"In a public relations' exercise they parked all of their heavy machinery on the village green with huge earth scrapers and bulldozers, which people just flocked to see.

"But they came with a promise that no-one would ever be poor in Pembrokeshire again. They came with all those promises, honey and roses, but it wasn't quite like that."

FAITH

Although the industrial boom had a predictable and profound effect on Herbrandston, Reg kept faith with the village, where he married and then reared his children.

The modest settlement, tucked away on the north shore of Milford's waterway, may have been forced to change over time, but the palpable feeling of community spirit, captured eternally in that little blue plaque above the village door, has never altered.

STARTING EARLY

The commitment to community life, which quite rightly earned them the title of village of the year, is most evident amongst their younger residents.

"We have an excellent group of young children, aptly named the Young Carers, a name they chose themselves," explains the group's founder, Dorothy Walters, at the village's latest social gathering. "Their ethos is caring and sharing. They bring a percentage of their pocket money to class every week and with their two leaders do a great deal of fundraising."

More than £25,000, raised for charities at home and abroad, proves their commitment, paying for 40 orphans from the Ukraine to visit Pembrokeshire and more importantly enabling one young girl from the same orphanage, to have a live-saving operation.

"The Young Carers are very well respected by the village and also in the town of Milford Haven," says Dorothy with a glowing maternal pride.

But community activity is Herbrandston's middle name and it transcends all generations.

Reg admits the village hall is hardly ever free as residents limber up for sport, tai chi, computer classes, arts and crafts and the friendship club, which for many years has run a successful voluntary transport service, ferrying residents at any hour of the day our night to doctor, hospital or chiropodist appointments

Photographs by Norman Owen