On Sunday 16 April the Vicar and Churchwardens of St Gwendoline's Parish Church, Talgarth made a presentation to Mrs Pearl Dray on the occasion of her retirement as Church Treasurer, after 41 years of dedicated service.

As a token of their appreciation, parishioners presented Pearl with an engraved vase, a bouquet of flowers and a card on her retirement.

In the expression of thanks it was remarked upon that when Pearl took up her duties, Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, and the invasion of the Falklands had just happened.

In the course of her service there had been five Vicars of Talgarth. The latest and current incumbent, Rev Canon Rowland Edwards, paid warm tribute to her for such steadfast service.

Reflecting upon her time in post, and on the cyclical nature of the role, Pearl said: "When I was first elected as Parochial Church Council Treasurer in 1982, our biggest concern was the leaking church roof.

"After a lot of fund raising, including successful applications to the Lottery Fund and Cadw, we eventually secured our new roof… now, after 41 years, the roof is leaking again!"

Powys County Councillor William Powell, also spoke of Pearl Dray’s continuous service, both to the Church and the wider Talgarth community: "Pearl took over as Church Treasurer when I was still in the Sixth Form at Gwernyfed High School, and over four decades, she has put in a remarkable shift, not just for the Church, but also for the benefit of the community as a whole.

"The Christmas Service of Light has been a firm favourite over the long term and, for many years, Pearl’s remit has also extended to the finances of the Church Hall, which is such a key local asset.

"We salute her service and wish Pearl a long and happy retirement."