PEMBROKE Ladies Probus Club met at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel for their February meeting with its new president, Chris Vater, in the chair.

With the business completed, Chris introduced the speakers who were Councillor Dennis Evans, mayor of Pembroke and his wife Rita who is the Probus vice-president and mayoress of Pembroke.

When Dennis and Rita began the enjoyable and informative presentation of their year in office it was clear that, although they have had a busy, and at times tiring, year they have been thoroughly enjoying the time given to their duties.

Dennis related, with the aid of slides, some of the events attended during the past months, including the Pembroke River Rally, Armed Forces Day, HMS Pembroke’s visit and the annual Pembroke Fair.

During his year of office Dennis has chosen Wales Air Ambulance and Macmillan Cancer Support as his mayoral charities and has organised a number of events to raise money for them.

One of the most successful was a Helifest event in Pembroke Castle which brought together all the emergency services, the highlight being the Wales Air Ambulance landing in the castle grounds.

Another excellent fundraiser Dennis took part in was the New Year’s Day swim in Saundersfoot which he found cold, but which raised a great deal of money for Macmillan.

When he was appointed mayor, Dennis pledged to visit the twin town of Pembroke in Malta.

This visit was undertaken by him and his wife Rita in October 2016. During their visit wreaths were laid at the military cemetery and on the grave of a local boy, Roland Rees killed in action and buried in Malta.

They visited the council, local schools, met the British Ambassador and were honoured to go to the presidential palace for an audience with the president of Malta.

Another pledge made was to support the Pembroke Street Pastors by going out on to the streets of Pembroke with them to experience the work that they do.

Dennis undertook this in October and said it had been a worthwhile and rewarding experience.

He concluded by saying it had been an honour to serve as the 637th Mayor of Pembroke.

The vote of thanks was given by Dawn Homfray.