WW2 hero, ninety-four-year-old Ted Owens recently popped into the Pembroke Dock VC Gallery to meet with the First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford via Zoom.

They discussed VJ Day and the art and creative writing online workshops the VC Gallery are doing to commemorate the occasion.

Born and raised in Pembroke Dock, former Admiralty worker Ted was just 18 years old when he joined 41 Royal Marine Commandos during the Second World War. 

Ted fought at Normandy and was seriously injured when a mortar shell which struck the tank he was sheltered behind. He was brought back home on a Canadian hospital ship and convalesced at Cardiff Royal Infirmary and Caerphilly Miners Hospital for two months before he returned to France in August in 1944.

The First Minister said it was an honour to talk to Ted and to hear about the great work the VC Gallery is doing.

The VC Gallery Charity founded by Army veteran Barry John is able to support ex Forces personnel through its work and for the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day they will pay tribute not only to the British forces but the Allied and Commonwealth forces, without whom the defeat of Japan would not have been possible.

The VC Gallery also hosts art workshops and exhibitions but have now had to go online to create a Virtual Community.

Artist Nina Camplin who delivers weekly Facebook live events will this Wednesday (August 12) - paint the famous Hokusai Wave. You can paint along with her or join her Zoom session from 2 to 4 pm on August 12.  

Creative writer James Silbers will interview historian and author Luke Daly-Groves on Wednesday and is offering a creative writing session for the VJ Day Celebrations on Thursday at 12 noon via Zoom. 

To find out more visit the news section of the website www.thevcgallery.com or call 01437 765873.