AN important event for Pembroke and its history was held recently at the town.

A public meeting was held in Pembroke Town Hall on October 3 to launch a campaign for a statue of Henry VII, the founder of the Tudor dynasty.

The event, sponsored by Pembroke Town Council, was intended as a public consultation to invite discussion on a project for a statue of Henry VII, and was organised by Pembroke & Monkton Local History Society, which also hosted a coffee morning.

Pembroke Mayor Pauline Waters opened the event, highlighting the importance of a Henry VII statue in promoting Pembroke as the birthplace of the Tudor dynasty.

She thanked all those present for attending and for the support not only of the town council, which has commissioned a maquette, a miniature of the intended eight foot high statue, but also of the county council which has agreed to match fund it as part of its Town Centre Support programme.

A presentation was then given by Linda Asman, chairman of the local history society.

Cllr Asman said that a committee of town councillors have been in discussion with sculptor Harriet Addyman who had produced a preliminary sculpture of Henry VII in order to invite discussion and comments.

It was felt that his statue should stand proud on the Mill Bridge set against the magnificent backdrop of Pembroke Castle where he was born.

Also present was Nathen Amin, who runs the Henry VII Society website, and has made a previous attempt to get a Henry VII statue in Pembroke.

Two other Tudor authors were present:Tony Riches and Terry Breverton, an authority on the Tudors and an award-winning author of 50 books, his latest being Jasper Tudor: Dynasty Maker.

The model will continue to be displayed in Pembroke Town Hall for public viewing.