Last Tuesday, Pembroke Probus Club members sat down to enjoy a history lesson about the German Army, or Bundeswahr as it is now called, along with numerous and often humorous anecdotes of its friendly occupation of Castlemartin tank training facility, with the fortnightly visiting battalions of Bunderwahr Cavalry.

The visiting Panzers, as they were referred to locally, trained at Castlemartin between 1961 and 1996.

A project to rescue Warren Church was begun by German officers and soldiers between 1986 and 1996.

The churchm hitherto unusedm was reopened in 1988. The church, now non-denominational, is open to all faiths on the second Wednesday of the month, apart from January, throughout the year.

A Trust was set-up in 1988 and has helped to finance the church for the last 21 years.

The current chairman of the Warren Church Trust and speaker for the day was Mrs. Charlotte Pattenden, one time higher linguistic officer, a civilian attached to Castlemartin Range and its visiting German colonels.

Charlotte is currently a free lance German/English translator. Members were reminded that during their time at Castlemartin, the Panzers had blended well with the local population and several had remained and become locals. The Panzers' final parade took place in 1996 when a band was specially flown in from Germany. The parade culminated with the last visiting German battalion, along with the federal German Army Supply Company and led by the band, marching to much applause from the locals along Main Street, Pembroke.

At the conclusion of her talk, Charlotte fielded a number of questions from her audience. It must be said, as is so often the case, that one or two of the questions took much longer than the answers! Be that as it may, it served to demonstrate the fond memories of the Panzers that she had evoked.

The vote of thanks was given by John Russell, himself the honorary treasurer of the Warren Church Trust, and a much-loved Pembroke raconteur.

Thirty hardy members remained behind for a carvery lunch, much enjoyed by all.

The next luncheon meeting will be the Christmas lunch for members only, due to take place on Tuesday, December 20, at Cleddau Bridge Hotel.

Further club details from P. Vanner on 01646 683708.