CHARLIE, the 100-year-old ventriloquist’s doll, has come out of retirement! He will be greeting visitors when Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre reopens for the new season on Monday, March 30.

It will be a return to old haunts for Charlie as he performed in the building - the former Royal Dockyard Chapel - with his then owner, Ernie James, proprietor of a Pembroke Dock bus company. Over many years their double act was very well known on the Pembrokeshire variety circuit.

Now Charlie’s ‘minder’ is Paul Elliott of Llanreath who inherited him from his father, Fred. Many people will have very fond memories of Fred Elliott and his magic show - known as ‘Mr E’.

Paul recently took Charlie to a BBC Antiques Road Show at Swansea and appeared in a programme.

There is free entry to the Heritage Centre on Monday, March 30, when Charlie and Paul will be on hand to meet and greet visitors.