Portrait Of Pembridge Blog 2
D-Day Remembered
Writing this on 6th June, the 79th anniversary of D Day, we are reporting on the recent trip of Pembridge and Shobdon branch of the Royal British Legion to the sites of the D Day landings. https://www.portraitofpembridge.co.uk/groups-and-clubs
The group learned first-hand from a WWII survivor of the liberation of France led by glider pilots, some of whom trained at RAF Shobdon. As a six-year-old she’d experienced the Nazi occupation which ended on that day, and at 87, is still telling visitors of the day les planeurs rescued her family. See our picture gallery which shows replicas of the gliders and RBL members on their trip.
Bats in the Belfry
We visited the Bats in Churches event at Pembridge church and interviewed Dr Alison Barnett, a bat ecologist. She explained why bats are an important part of our food chain, why they love to live in churches and what we can do to protect these endangered creatures.
Pembridge Church is bat heaven, with 7 species of bat living in the church and churchyard. Each is identified by its distinct call and flight pattern. These days ecologists use high tech drones and apps to track their movements. Drones will be over the church in the early hours of 9th June using thermal imaging to detect the roosts. https://www.portraitofpembridge.co.uk/new-page
Pembridge Railway Quiz for under 12s
Our social history section outlines the history of Pembridge station and the railway running between Leominster and Kington. We’ve devised a quiz about the railway for under 12s. Entries must be submitted by midnight on 15th July. A prize will be awarded for the correct answers and if more than one is received the winner will be drawn from a hat. https://www.portraitofpembridge.co.uk/children-and-young-people
History of Pembridge School
We’re adding the material displayed at our May exhibition on Pembridge school to the website. The children of the late Victorian period had a much shorter education than today. The curriculum was quite restricted and the condition of the school buildings unimaginable to today’s pupils. https://www.portraitofpembridge.co.uk/social-history
If you have memories about your time at Pembridge school, or photos, please send them to us at portratiofpembridge@yahoo.co.uk or call 07711 406306. We aim to complete the history of the school from 1966 to the present.
Pembridge People
We’ve interviewed Pembridge resident, Dr Shirley Evans. Shirley had a busy month in May. She was invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party and has been filming a documentary in the Netherlands. We caught up with her to talk about her work as Director of the Association for Dementia Studies, at the University of Worcester, and the charity Dementia Matters.
Picture Gallery
The Coronation Tea on the church lawn was a great success, with cake and sunshine aplenty. Do send us your photos of this for our picture gallery. If you have photos of the Nature Walk and BatWatch we’d like to share those too. Please send your photos to portraitofpembridge@yahoo.co.uk.
