6 days ago
In pictures: Last Invasion of Britain commemoration
The Last Invasion of Britain commemoration took place over the weekend in the seaside village of Goodwick.
The event commemorated the 228th anniversary of the failed invasion by French troops, thwarted by local yeomanry and Fishguard cobbler Jemima Nicholas and her army of women.
(Image: Western Telegraph) The two day event was comprised of morning visits to a military re-enactment camp at Goodwick's Phoenix Centre.
(Image: Western Telegraph) In the afternoon the action moved to Goodwick Sands where a huge crowd watched the French skirmish with British troops before being overwhelmed and surrendering.
(Image: Western Telegraph) The action then moved to Fishguard's Golden Mile from where the French were paraded through the town to the Royal Oak pub where a treaty was signed on the very same table as it was 228 years ago.
(Image: Western Telegraph) Musical entertainment was provided on the square by Fishguard Male Voice Choir, Goodwick Brass Band and singer Gwenno Dafydd.
(Image: Western Telegraph) It featured HMS Wales, a navy re-enactment group; The First of the First Grenadiers; the Welsh Horse Yeomanry, Enniscorthy Historical re-enactment Society and the local Jemima's Army.
(Image: Western Telegraph) The free event was visited by several dignitaries and politicians including First Minister Eluned Morgan, MP Ben Lake, SM Sam Kurtz and deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Rodger Smith.
(Image: Western Telegraph) 'It went as well as we could have hoped for,' said organiser Adrian Tyrrell. We had between six and seven hundred visitors over the two days including sea cadets and sea scouts who visited the camp, hundreds of people on the parrog on both days and outside the Royal Oak.'
(Image: Western Telegraph) Adrian expressed thanks to his co-organisers Cllr Alex Allison and county councillor Nicola Gwynn and to the event's funders, Pembrokeshire County Council's shared prosperity fund and North Pembrokeshire Chamber of Trade and Tourism, as well as all the people who took part and came to watch.
(Image: Western Telegraph) 'It was like a jigsaw,' he said. 'I put it together, but I couldn't put it together without all the pieces and those include all the people who came and watched.'
(Image: Western Telegraph)
(Image: Western Telegraph)
Adrian and the organisers hope to put on a similar event next summer and build up to the 230th anniversary in 2027.