Monkton Pupils Visit County Hall

Pupils from the Gypsy Traveller Project at Monkton Priory School visited County Hall on Tuesday to learn more about the democratic process. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As guests of the Authority’s Chairman Councillor Wynne Evans, the pupils met with various departments throughout the building and asked many probing questions of staff and councillors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Highlight of the visit was a talk given to the students by Helen Evans from Pembrokeshire Archives who spoke about the work of the Archives and explained about the 100 year rule which fascinated the children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They were also able to hear how school life differed for children a century ago during the First World War and learnt how they sometimes had to forgo an education to help with the effort such as going out blackberry picking in order to make jam. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Head of Pembrokeshire Gypsy Traveller Education Service, Bev Stephens said it was a great day out for them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’d like to thank Councillor Evans for arranging the trip and for escorting us around the building. It was a fascinating experience for our pupils and I’m sure they learnt a lot from it.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​