Tenby has a new ‘welcome’ sign into the town, featuring a Greek phrase synonymous with the resort, where visitors are encouraged to bathe in the sea water during their stay for ‘health or pleasure’.

The sign erected at the North entrance to the town carries the Greek motto ‘The sea washes away all the ills of men’ in both English and Welsh translations, a quotation from Euripides which is inscribed above the door of the old bath house built at Tenby harbour by Sir William Paxton in 1810, who contributed to the regeneration of the town.

Sir Paxton’s philosophy was to provide wealthy and fashionable visitors to Tenby “with every means of bathing, either for health or pleasure in all weathers and at all hours.”

Following lengthy discussions on finalising the wording for the new sign, members of Tenby Town Council were informed last year by Pembrokeshire County Council that the design might not be big enough to include all the text they had recommended, but councillors insisted that the Greek quotation which has become the motto of Tenby’s coat of arms, be included before they signed the matter off.

“The quote is quite synonymous with Tenby history and relates to rest and relaxation, which is an integral part of what the town is all about,” commented Clr. Lawrence Blackhall.

An accurate Welsh translation of the quote was also passed by councillors, after Clr. Dr. Peter Easy had contacted associates at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Work has also begun by PCC on installing new electronic information signage on the gateways into the town, with digital ‘variable-message signs’ (VMS) to be situated at Bell’s Corner and Marsh Road.

The digital signage, funded and allocated by the Environment Agency, will be in place to provide flood warning notifications and other information.