Book Highlights Town's Key Figures

A new book about the men and women who helped create Haverfordwest will be launched next month.

People who Shaped Haverfordwest is being published by the Haverfordwest Civic Society to mark the County town's 900th birthday celebrations next year.

Written by local author Mark Muller, it features a cast of historic characters who have played a part in creating the identity of the County town.

It will be launched at Haverfordwest library next month.

"The book examines those people from the past who have an identity with our town and who contributed to, or detracted from, what we now feel as our identity" said Mr Muller, who has a long association with the Civic Society.

"Some of the people such as Sir Thomas Picton and Gwen and Augustus John, have well known links with the town but there are many others - explorers, pioneers religious reforms and inventors - who are not so well known."

Born in Haverfordwest but now living in Hook, Mark Muller's research for his new book has taken him digitally all round the world tracking down descendents of some of the figures included in the book, as well as gaining information from organisations and associations.

"I'm really grateful to all those people who have helped me, and plan to send them all a copy of the book," he said.

Councillor Rob Lewis, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, said the new book would be a valuable contribution to the celebrations marking Haverfordwest's 900th birthday next year.

"Our society is largely created by those who have gone before us - just as we help create a new society for future generations - so it behoves us to know and acknowledge the people who have shaped our lives today," he said.

People Who Shaped Haverfordwest will be launched at Haverfordwest Library on Tuesday October 6th at 6.30pm.

As well as the mini historic biographies, it also includes around 100 images of people and the town, including an image of Haverfordwest's former Mayrchurch foundry, which has only recently come to light and which now graces the book's front cover.

Priced £9.95 is will be available at local bookshops including Victoria Bookshop in Bridge Street Haverfordwest.