A CELEBRATION of a historical link between Milford Haven and a Belgian town took place on Monday.

Twenty pupils from the Royal IBIS School in Belgium and their teachers were in Milford Haven to celebrate a link created between the two more than100 years ago.

In 1914, 24 fishing boats and two steam trawlers from the Belgian town of Ostend set sail and made their way to Milford Haven, to take refuge during the First World War.

Onboard the two trawlers were staff and pupils from the Belgian Royal IBIS School. Throughout the war and until July 1919, Milford Haven would remain the most important refuge for the Belgian school, its staff and pupils.

Poppy wreaths were placed at the Belgian monument at Hamilton Terrace which was erected in the 1920s by the people of Ostend who took refuge during The Great War in Milford Haven.

Immediate past Mayor Eric Harries welcomed the boys and teachers from the Royal IBIS School to Milford Haven, before giving a brief history of how Ostend and Milford Haven became connected over 100 years ago.

CllrHarries said: “This is an important day in the history of Milford Haven, as we welcome back the school which over 100 years ago took refuge here.

“Along with the children and staff from the school, over 700 other residents from Ostend also made Milford Haven their home during the war, and today is a day to celebrate the link between the two places.”

Frank Borrey, a teacher at Royal IBIS School said: “Preparations to come to Milford Haven began two years ago. The school pupils did a re-enactment of the sailing last year, where they were dressed in period clothing with suitcases and boarded trawlers to mark the centenary of the beginning of the war.

“We wanted to bring the pupils over here to see Milford Haven, because it’s an important part of the history of the Royal IBIS School.”

Gifts were exchanged between the school and Milford Haven town council, whilst pupils from Milford Haven School spoke to their counterparts from Belgium.