CELEBRATIONS of Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday drew the crowds in both Pembroke and Pembroke Dock last Thursday, April 21, attracting hundreds to the two towns.

In Pembroke, the Corps of the Drums of the Welsh Guards visited, in support of an abseil town councillor Aden Brinn organised at Pembroke Castle, with proceeds going to the Welsh Guards Charity.

Cllr Brinn described the abseil as “wonderful”.

He was joined by Pembroke Dock Mayor Peter Kraus and seven-year-old Mia Fry from Lamphey School.

Prior to the 11am abseil, the Guards paraded through the town’s Main Street, before mayor of Pembroke, Councillor Pauline Waters took the salute outside Pembroke Town Hall.

One of the many attending was Suzanne Cole of Lamphey, who bumped into her daughter, six-year-old Millie, a pupil at Lamphey School.

The school pupils, and youngsters from other schools including Monkton, had joined the crowds to enjoy the parade.

Suzanne said: “The school was right behind the Guards, it was really fantastic, a lovely atmosphere.

“I was actually at the castle and wasn’t expecting to see my daughter in the procession; she said to me she really wanted to see her picture in the paper, saying: ‘I’d like to keep the photo to show my children’.”

Neighbouring Pembroke Dock saw hundreds attend an evening celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday in Front Street.

The town saw a party with music, games and fireworks, before a beacon was lit on the nearby Martello Tower.

Pembroke Dock Mayor Peter Kraus said: “It was absolutely brilliant, a marvellous turnout, with a couple of hundred there, they were all up and down the street, and so many children, everyone got together; it was a real community spirit event that really made it.”

Cllr Kraus also took part in the same Pembroke abseil as Cllr Brinn.

“The abseil was great,” said Cllr Kraus, who has previously abseiled down the keep dressed as Henry VII. “There’s always that thing when you’re lying back but this time it was absolutely brilliant.”