Pembroke & Pembroke Dock

 Pool League

History of the League

The Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Pool League was formed in 1976 by the then landlord of the Kerry Arms, Mr. Dennis Hibbs, and the landlord of the Market Tavern, Mr. S. W. (Mac) McClarnon. The founder teams, ten in all, were the Kerry Arms 'A', Kerry Arms 'B', Market Tavern, Pirates Lantern, Miarcle Inn, Swan Inn, Pembroke Borough Club, Ex-Servicemen's Club, Pennar Park and the White Hart.

At the first Annual General Meeting held, Dennis Hibbs was elected Secretary and 'Mac' McClarnon Chairman. Then began the unenviable task of compiling general rules for running the League, obtaining Sponsors for trophies, etc, and the 'begging and borrowing' by Dennis to obtain sufficient funds to start the League.

Pool was recognised by both officials as a growing sport, and this resulted in our League being one of the first formed, certainly the first in Pembrokeshire.

In 1979 Dennis resigned as Secretary, leaving a healthy bank balance and a well organised, two-divisional League. He was succeeded by Mr. Owen Durbridge as Secretary, who filled the post for 2 years and was then replaced by Mr. Wilf Harries of the Swan Inn. Wilf stayed as Secretary until ill health forced him to resign in 1985. Mr. Ken Rees then held the position for 2 years and he was replaced by Mr. Roy Jones, who filled the post for the next 2 years. It was in 1989 our present Secretary, Mr. Owen Shanklin, took on the role.

Mac carried on the role of Chairman until his resignation in 1980. He was replaced by Mr. Terry Mulvaney, who was chairman for 1 year until his untimely death meant a new chairman had to be found. This was Mr. Viv Roberts, who filled the position for 2 years. Viv was replaced as Chairman in 1983 by Ken Rees for a two year stint before he filled the secretarial position. Viv Roberts made a comeback as Chairman for another 2 years, and when Roy succeeded Ken as Secretary in 1987, Ken became Chairman, a position he held for 7 years. When Ken resigned an 1994, Mr. Roy Zimmer, took over and held the position until ill health forced him to resign the position in 2007. Roy was succeeded by our present Chairman, Mr Allan Brookes, and Owen and Allan are proud to still be in their respective offices.

In 1991, Owen secured sponsorship for the League from his employers 'TEXACO Ltd.' and that sponsorship is still in force today, an association that has lasted for over 18 years. Since the company changed their name in 2006, it is now known as the "CHEVRON Pool League of Pembroke & Pembroke Dock".

In 2001, the Annual General Meeting decided to elect an executive committee to assist the incumbent officers in any decisions that could be of a controversial nature. They were Mr. Dudley Jones, Mrs. Jackie Hickling and Mr. Alan Whitehouse. They remained in their executive committee role until 2005, when Dudley was replaced by Mr. Robert Culley and Alan was replaced by Miss Tracey Parsley. Tracy was then replaced by Mr. Rob Edwards at the 2006 AGM when she resigned her place on the committee, and Rob Culley and Jackie were replaced by Mr Mark Plunkett and Mr Chris Weatherall respectively at the 2009 AGM. Click here to view the Roll of Honours, a list of all the previous years' winners for ALL competitions.