9:15am Thursday 25th June 2009
Volunteers from the county got royal recognition for their charitable work when they met his Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales on Monday.
Prince Charles met Yvonne Earl, from Pembroke Dock, Pat Smith, from Monkton and Anne Elms, from Tenby, as well as Prime Cymru’s rural challenge co-ordinator for Pembrokeshire Helen Bussell.
It was part of a visit to the Market Square in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire where the Prince of Wales saw a showcase of the work done by one of his charities Prime Cymru and chatted to some of the volunteers the charity has recruited.
During the visit the prince spoke to guests and officials at the event praising the volunteers’ work.
“Today we are here to celebrate the fact that over 1000 volunteers have been recruited by Prime Cymru and gained experience, developed skills and improved their self-confidence.
“They have also provided much needed support by volunteering with community, environmental and social enterprises,” the prince said adding that Prime Cymru’s work has helped over 1400 people aged 50 and over set up in business and supported over 2000 older people into work.
Prime Cymru Pembrokeshire volunteers Anne, Yvonne and Pat showed the prince some of their craft creations, which they sell to raise money for charity and one item in particular caught the attention of Prince Charles.
Yvonne said: “When he saw a knitted dog jacket he was fascinated, but he said it wouldn’t be right for his dog because the dog was a bit big and too temperamental for a coat.”
Pat, who registered for volunteering work through Prime Cymru last summer having just recovered from cancer treatment, said: “He joked to us, do you notice that when you put a coat on a dog it always looks terribly embarrassed.”
“He mentioned that he loves woollen items and any natural crafts. He was such a kind and genuine person, it was a privilege to meet him.”
The women were supported in their charitable craft enterprise by Prime Cymru’s rural challenge scheme, which support people aged 50 plus into volunteering.
Helen Bussell who co-ordinates rural challenge for Prime Cymru in Pembrokeshire, said: “It’s fantastic that the volunteers have got recognition for all the hard work they do to help really worthwhile projects.
“It’s been a day to remember for us all.”
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