Pembrokeshire’s adopted ship, HMS Pembroke, will berth at Pembroke Dock, today (Tuesday) for a four-day visit as part of the town’s bicentenary celebrations.

Tomorrow (Wednesday May 14) there will be a spectacular parade of several hundred children, from Pennar, Pembroke Dock and St Mary’s schools, who will wear costumes reflecting the 200-year history of the town.

Wednesday also marks the 200th anniversary of the construction of the first houses in the sleepy hamlet of Paterchurch, which later became the new town of Pembroke Dock.

The parade will be led by one of the country’s finest military bands, the Band of the Royal Marines.

The procession will leave from Pembroke Dock Community School at 2pm, and will proceed along Bush Street, down Laws Street and Dimond Street, up Meyrick Street and then rejoin Bush Street, finishing at the Royal Dockyard Chapel.

Tomorrow evening the ship will be open to the public from 4pm to 7pm (entry at the Commercial Row gate). At 6pm the Band of the Royal Marines will “Beat Retreat” on the quayside alongside HMS Pembroke.

On Thursday evening the crew of HMS Pembroke will be the guests of Pembroke Amateur Boxing Club which is staging a tournament at the Pater Hall, Dimond Street.

There will also be visits to the ship by local schools and cadets. HMS Pembroke will depart on Saturday (May 17) morning.