History is often regarded as a catalogue of events, the achievements of kings and great ones.

It is more than this: it is about the changes brought about in the lives of ordinary people. That is the key to the work we are engaged in - recording the stories of men and women who each have their own unique experience and whose lives throw light on the great changes which have taken place in our community.

'Through My Eyes: a Community History of Pembroke and Monkton' is the name of our ambitious project to record memories of Pembroke people in a community history which we hope to publish at the end of next year.

Each person participating will have his or her own chapter: taken as a whole their stories will form a social history of our times, a picture of life in Pembroke from many perspectives.

We are already well underway with this project and now that autumn is here and we are beginning our winter programme, we organised a workshop at Monkton Priory Church Hall with six new contributors who we will be working with over the next couple of months.

Participants (Hilda Fox, Susan Clague, Anne Lankshear, Dot Lloyd, Vicki Haggar and Terry John) were given a presentation on the project and a discussion then took place on the writing of their stories.

Several of the committee attended and organised refreshments and we finished the session with a lunch: lovely soup made by Pauline Waters. I have to say this about the Local History Society - they are a very hospitable lot!

I would also like to thank Keith Johnson, local author and editor of the 'Pembrokeshire Life' magazine for coming along to observe and agreeing to advise us on the book production.

Following on from this, last week, we began by recording the story of Hilda Fox who came to Pembroke during the war to serve as a Land Girl.

She is pictured smartly dressed in her uniform of corduroy breeches, green pullover and felt hat.

Hilda's story is a really interesting one and makes an important contribution to our community history. She came here in 1942 from Liverpool, and lived in Corston House (near Angle) which was set up as a hostel for 40 girls from places as far afield as the Valleys, Manchester, Liverpool and the Potteries.

Hilda returned to Liverpool after the war marrying her husband who was stationed at Merrion. But the wheel turned full circle as, many years later, they returned to Corston House which they ran as a guest house!

Last year, I recorded the story of Betty Harris.

Betty was a wonderful person who lived, in her words, "a wonderful life in Monkton". She loved Monkton and told me: "I am so proud of where I come from". I learned a great deal from her.

I have to admit, I did not know much about Monkton until I joined the Society, but I have since developed a great interest in Monkton and its history. (Earlier this year we published a 'Sense of Place' leaflet about Monkton which is now freely available).

Much damage was inflicted on Monkton by the authorities in the 1960s when the old, traditional cottages were demolished, including Betty's home in Long Mains, and replaced with a large, modern council estate.

However, Betty and her husband Billy moved only a short distance away from the home she loved.

As much as Betty loved Monkton, Monkton loved Betty. It was with great sadness then that we attended her funeral in Monkton Priory Church which was full to overflowing as the community turned out in force out to pay their last respects. Our sincere condolences to Billy and family.