UPON hearing the wonderful news that the Penarth Pier Pavilion Project has been successful in its bid to win well deserved funding, I thought you might like to see these pictures of my great-grandfather, Charles Percy Deverall opening the new landing stage on April 7, 1926.

Charles Percy Deverall of Stanwell Road became Chairman of the Penarth Urban District Council in April 1925, and a year later took great pleasure in officially opening the landing stage on the Pier.

The Penarth Times reported: ‘…Councillor Deverall cut the ribbon stretched across the gangway and declared the landing stage open amidst cheers. The party then boarded the Glenavon and sailed across the Channel to Weston to the cheers of the large crowd on the pier and the salute of The Yacht Club gun.’ On March 31, 1926, just a week before this great occasion, Charles Percy also officially opened the Italian Gardens (known then as the Ornamental Gardens).

He is pictured with my great-grandmother Louisa Mary Deverall.

Good luck to those involved with the Pavilion Project. I’m sure Charles Percy would be thrilled.

Sian G Lloyd Via e-mail