Haverfordwest's icons celebrated in 900th birthday book

A new book about the men and women who helped create Haverfordwest was launched this week.

People who Shaped Haverfordwest has been 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 and was launched at Haverfordwest library on Tuesday night.

"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.

"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.

The Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Anne Hughes, said the new book would be a valuable contribution to the celebrations marking Haverfordwest's 900th birthday next year.

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

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