February 15th - our AGM and Talk by Simon Hancock

On Friday 15^th February, we held our 3^rd AGM at Monkton Priory Church Hall.   Besides electing the Officers and Committee, the AGM is an opportunity to report on the years successes and I am glad to report that we have some new people voted on board – anyone wishing to join us is very welcome.  Take a look at our website to see the range of work we are engaged in. Also agreed by the AGM was the introduction of a membership of £3 per year for those who wish to join.

Having got the boring bits over with, we were pleased to introduce Simon Hancock who came to talk to us about “the last man hanged in Pembrokeshire”.  The tale of William Roblin hanged in Haverfordwest  is fairly well known but Simon told us about an astonishing discovery made about two years ago, when he came upon an eyewitness account buried in old newspapers. This gave a rather different take on the story.  Roblin’s end came on 24^th April 1821, executed by the High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire, Joseph Harris.  Apparently there were 18 applicants for the post of executioner, but the identity of the man who did the deed was never made known.  His body was anatomised and dissected then buried within the prison grounds without Christian ceremony. But even then, he was not allowed to rest in peace.  His body was dug up and the skeleton sold.  After passing through several hands, most of it was lost – except the skull.  And that, dear readers, now lies in a box in Pembroke Castle.  How it got there remains a mystery.