PEMBROKE Dock is festooned with poppies in readiness for Remembrance and the commemoration of the First World War armistice centenary.

The town council has been working with a group of volunteers to ensure that the town, with so much military history, still shows that it remembers The Fallen.

Poppy decorations are now adorning lampposts along the main routes into the town and also on the route that the Remembrance Sunday parade will take, along Bush Street to St John’s Church, on November 11.

The idea was borne from the travels of Mr and Mrs Lloyd of Pembroke Dock, who mentioned how a town they visit regularly always decorates with poppies each November.

Funding toward the cost of the poppies has been gratefully received from Valero.

As well as the display of poppies on lampposts, volunteers, mobilised by Councillor Maureen Colgan, have knitted and crocheted poppies, which now adorn the railings at St John’s Church.

The window of the town council offices has been decorated by Mr and Mrs Lloyd with items made by Mr Lloyd himself and a mini-cenotaph on loan from the Royal British Legion.

Mr Lloyd has also made templates for silhouettes of Army, Navy and Royal Flying Corps.

With the help of local community groups and businesses there are now 22, which will be placed around the town.

Help has been received from Mens Shed Pembroke Dock, West Wales Maritime Museum, the Sunderland Trust, Sea Scouts, LBS Builders Merchants and Lamphey Caravans.

Four of the Army silhouettes will stand guard at a special garden of remembrance, being constructed in the Military Cemetery this year by Maria Williams.

There is always a service at the Military Cemetery on the Saturday of Remembrance weekend, but it was decided early on to try and make much more of the service this year.

The town council is inviting anyone who wishes to place a cross of remembrance to obtain one from its offices (open Monday to Friday 9am-1pm), write their dedication on it, make a donation to the Royal British Legion and their cross will be placed within the garden of remembrance at the military cemetery in time for the service, which will be held on Saturday November 10 at 3pm.

Shopkeepers have been asked to display a poppy, or decorate their own windows to show support in the town centre.

Interim Town Clerk Amanda Dillaway said: “We really hoped to get a band for this year’s Sunday Parade prior to the services at the war memorial and church, but we haven’t been able to get a full band, not for the want of trying.

“Samba Doc has very kindly got some of their drummers to beat the march of the parade on Sunday 11th, and we are very grateful for their help in this.

“In time we also hope to have a commemorative bench placed in the memorial park, but the relevant permissions haven’t yet been granted for this to be complete by November.

“We truly hope that we can build on the community involvement that we have had over the last few months and that collectively we can continue this commemorative approach to Remembrance in years to come.

“Next year will be the 80th anniversary of the start of WW2.”

There is a schedule of planned events throughout November including: 1st – WWI exhibition at the Heritage Centre in Pembroke Dock (running to Feb 2019) 1st to 9th – The Lady Chapel of St Johns Church will be open 10am to 12 noon each day where names of those who served with the Shropshire Regiment are displayed as a memorial.

6th – Pembroke Dock WI are hosting a tea dance at the Pater Hall – tickets available via Councillor Pam George 7th – Commemorative tree plantings in the Memorial Park (time TBC) 9th – A choir concert at Pennar Community Church 10th – Pembroke Dock WI are hosting a breakfast at the Pater Hall – tickets from Councillor Pam George 10th – Service of Remembrance at Military Cemetery, Pembroke Dock 3pm 10th – Heritage Centre Pembroke Dock offering free entry to Servicemen & Veterans 11th – Service of Remembrance at St Johns Church follows the Parade (steps off from community school at 2.30pm) and the wreath laying ceremony at the St Johns Cenotaph.

11th – There will be a beacon lighting (part of a nationwide lighting) at the Heritage Centre at 7pm although people are asked to gather before that if they wish to take part in the short service before the lighting.