ABERGAVENNY has had some pretty famous visitors over the years, but who amongst you remember the day when Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery came to town?

Monty was a true hero in every sense of the word. Whilst serving in the First World War he was shot thorough the right lung by a sniper during an Allied counter offensive near the Belgian border.

During the Second World War, Monty repaid the Germans in kind when, as commander of the Eight Army he led his Desert Rats to victory, winning the Battle of El Alamein which Prime Minister Winston Churchill called the turning point of the war.

In 1948 Monty visited large parts of Wales, one of them was Abergavenny in 1948. He’s pictured here in Frogmore Street with the Mayor of Abergavenny during a meet and greet.

Margaret Hamer was just a five-year-old at the time but she remembers the visit vividly.

“We were only young but we all knew he was a very important man and all the adults treated him like royalty.”

Margaret was one of the pupils of Park Street Infants School who were in the crowd outside Farrington’s Shop.

In the second pic, Mrs Hamer is the little girl in front with the bonnet.

Mrs Hamer told the Chronicle, “We all looked so different then, but as far as I can recollect, my friends Ann Jones, and Elsie Meadows, now Mrs Lane, are also in the photograph.

In the third picture Monty can also be seen meeting an army cadet by the Abergavenny Cenotaph.

Of course, those who know you history will be aware that Mony had a previous connection with Abergavenny through one of the liaison officers who served under him during World War Two - Sir Harry Llewellyn.

Sir Harry, who is more famous for riding his legendary horse Foxhunter to Olympic glory also boasted a distinguished military career.

The man who once said, “Through my blood flows the blood of the plough, the pit and the pulpit and it is all Welsh,” served in North Africa, Italy and Europe, including Normandy following the D-Day landings. He rose to Lieutenant Colonel, became Field Marshal Montgomery’s eighth Army senior liaison officer, was twice mentioned in dispatches, and received the US Legion of Merit and an OBE.

Sir Harry’s ashes are now scattered on the Blorenge mountain close to the grave of his beloved horse.