Thomas Roy Lewis

Begelly

As reported in a previous issue, Roy passed away peacefully at home with his family all around him. He was 91 years young.

He started life at Abercorran Farm, Laugharne, but was brought up in Cross Inn Farm, Laugharne, by his grandparents William and Maggie Waters and his aunts Gert and Nan.

They moved to Elm House, Lower St. Clears, when he was about six-years-old. In the meantime, his parents John and Maud had produced three brothers, Stuart, Lionel and John and a sister Joyce. Sadly his mother died of septicaemia after giving birth to his sister Glenys who immediately joined him with his grandparents in St. Clears. They then moved down the road to Glantaf where they ran a bakery and grocery store, as well as renting Springmead Farm where they kept a couple of cows. In the mornings Roy would milk the cows by hand and deliver the bread on his bike before going to school firstly in St. Clears, and later Whitland Grammar School.

He loved sport of all kinds and was quite an athlete, playing football for St. Clears and rugby for Whitland. He was a prolific sprinter and competed in and won at many local amateur athletic events.

Roy joined the army when he was 18-years-old, and was sent to train in the North of England where because of his sporting prowess in athletics, football, rugby and boxing he became a PE/fitness instructor and remained there training new recruits.

He then joined the 7th Armoured Division of the 11th Hussars, known as the ‘Cherry Pickers’ because of their distinctive beret. On D Day +1 he landed on ‘Gold’ Beach, Normandy. He was part of the armoured car division and in the first 48 hours they got as far as Caen, but the German Forces were strong and they were driven back to Bayeux where they dug in in the orchards and were trapped there for six weeks living in slit trenches whilst bombs and artillery fire landed all around them. He was full of praise for American Forces for supporting the British enabling them to move forward again. He was with the armed forces which got to Hamburg and picked up the Grozadmiral Karl Donitz prior to his surrender. He witnessed some of the worst carnage of the war in the Valleys Gap and saw Dusseldorf and Cologne virtually flattened. He was amongst the first British troops to enter Berlin, and took part in the victory parade in Berlin and was present at the opening of the Churchill Club. After the war ended he was stationed in Spandau for two years. He represented the British Army in the post war Allied Forces Games at the Olympic Stadium, Berlin, where he ran in the 4x400m relay and won a gold medal.

He was demobbed in 1947 and returned to St. Clears. He started working in Coygen quarry, Laugharne, and was promoted to manager in his late 20s, and remained there for approximately 30 years before ending his working days as sales manager for Mansel Davies and Son, Llanfyrnach.

He met his late wife Megan who worked in the Post Office in St. Clears, and in 1951, they were married. They were a devoted couple and enjoyed 60 years of happy marriage. Roy agreed to move into Woodlands, Begelly, to enable Megan to support her parents, and they remained there for the rest of their lives, bringing up two sons Richard and Robert.

Roy was part of a large close-knit family, and when his father remarried, Roy gained a further two half brothers Steve and Gwyn and three half sisters Doreen, Millie and the late Joan. Over the years, they had some wonderful family celebrations, where Roy was always the life and soul of the party, with a smile on his face, a twinkle in his eye and a glass of Famous Grouse in his hand.

He was a doting grandpa to Clare and Sarah and took an active part in their upbringing, being very proud of their achievements.

Roy was very proud to be a Burgess of Laugharne, like many other family members, some of whom were appointed Portreeve.

He was for many years the church warden and treasurer of St. Mary’s Church, Begelly, and was also a longstanding committee member of Narberth Rugby Club.

In the latter years when Megan’s health deteriorated, Roy was a fantastic husband. He cooked for her, cared for her and drove her wherever she wanted to go. In fact, Roy was still driving up to four months ago and would visit his sister Glenys in St. Clears on a weekly basis.

He was a lovely man and will be missed terribly by all who knew him.

The funeral took place at Parc Gwyn crematorium with Father Paul Davies officiating, assisted by Ven C. J.Harvey, where a large gathering of family and friends attended. The last post was played by Wyndham Morgan.

Immediate family left to mourn are Richard and Gill, Robert and Patsy, Clare and Rhys, Sarah and Aled, Glenys, Linda, Edwina, Steve and Anne, Gwyn and Doreen, Doreen and Mel, Millie and Wyndham, and Philip.

Bearers were Anthony, Howard, Michael and Paul Lewis, David Thomas and Les Walters.

There were family flowers only, but donations in lieu can be made either to Narberth Health Centre or Paul Sartori Foundation, c/o E. C. Thomas and Son, funeral directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

MRS. B. M. MORRIS

TEMPLETON

As previously reported, the death occurred peacefully at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, on Saturday, January 9, of Mrs. Brenda May Morris, aged 77 years, of Laindale, Templeton.

A native of Saundersfoot, after leaving school, Brenda went to work as a nanny in London. On return home to Pembrokeshire, she worked at several hotels in and around Tenby, also working in retail in Saundersfoot.

After marrying, Brenda was a devoted mother and grandmother to Andrea and her children, Rhys and Seren.

Among her main interests, Brenda enjoyed gardening, often enjoying visits to the National Trust properties. She was also a keen walker before her health deteriorated, and enjoyed visiting North Pembrokeshire for its scenery.

As well as her husband John, family left to mourn are Andrea and Dafydd (daughter and son-in-law); Rhys and Seren (grandchildren), Eira and Tom (sister and brother-in-law), Caroline and Michael (niece and nephew), together with other family too numerous to mention.

The funeral service took place at Templeton United Reformed Church, on January 19. Officiating was the Rev. Hywel Brown.

Donations, if so desired, may be made to the British Lung Foundation, c/o E. C. Thomas and Son, Funeral Directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth, who carried out the fneral arrangements,

MR. A. R. D. MACKENZIE

CRESSELLY

The funeral took place on Friday, January 15, of Mr. Alasdair Robert Dickson Mackenzie, Lindisfarne, Lawrenny Road, Cresselly, who had passed away peacefully at his home on December 29. He was 57.

Mr. Mackenzie was born in Scottburgh, South Africa, the eldest of three children born to Ian and Betty Mackenzie. When he was three, the family moved to Swaziland where his father, who worked for Courtaulds, was in charge of running a pulp mill.

As a boy, Mr. Mackenzie attended Waterford School in Swaziland. When the family returned to Britain he attended Oundle School, gaining a scholarship to Cambridge University to read Natural Sciences and Chemical Engineering at Peterhouse College. It was at Cambridge that he was to meet his future wife Penny.

After graduating, Mr. Mackenzie joined the Texaco oil company and began work at the Pembroke Refinery. Apart from two years based at head office in London and a year on secondment in the USA, Mr. Mackenzie was to spend most of his working life in Pembrokeshire, eventually rising to the position of strategy and planning manager at the refinery and remaining in post under Chevron and later Valero.

Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie lived for some years in Cosheston, moving to Cresselly in 1993 with their young family - daughter Fiona and son James. Always keen to be involved in the life of the community in which he resided, Mr. Mackenzie built up a large circle of friends in both villages through his enthusiastic involvement in a wide range of activities, ranging from pub quizzes to taking a leading role in the organisation of the Carew 500 jousting tournament.

A love of sport, fostered in his childhood, continued throughout his adult life. Rowing was a particular passion, and he rowed for his college at Cambridge, at Henley Regatta, and also on Milford Haven with a crew assembled by round the world yachtsman Val Howells.

Mr. Mackenzie also played village cricket for a time, but in recent years a back injury restricted his role in sport to that of enthusiastic spectator. He regularly attended Henley Regatta and Cheltenham Races, and more locally was a keen supporter of Narberth Rugby Club and Cresselly Cricket Club.

Another passion was genealogy, and he spent a great deal of time happily researching his family roots among the Scottish clans.

The funeral at Parc Gwyn Crematorium was attended by a large number of people, attesting to the high regard in which Mr. Mackenzie was held. Among those present were schoolfriends from South Africa with whom he had kept in touch, together with many colleagues from the Pembroke Refinery.

The service was conducted by Mr. Mike Ashbridge, tributes were given by long-standing friends Robert Scourfield and Damian Kennaby, and another old friend, Colin Evans, read a poem.

The chief mourners were Mrs. Penny Mackenzie (wife), Fiona and James Mackenzie (daughter and son), Ann Wilson and family (sister), Colin and family (brother), Gill Miles and family (sister-in-law), Mrs. Audrey Crone (mother-in-law).

There were family flowers only. Donations may be made, if desired, for Cancer Research UK (Carew and Cresselly Branch) and the Paul Sartori Foundation, c/o E. C. Thomas and Son, Funeral Directors, Zoar Chapel, Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth, who conducted the funeral arrangements.

MR. J. D. EVANS

TENBY

As previously reported, Mr. John David Evans died peacefully in his sleep on January 3, aged 86.

John was born in the Five Arches Stores in Tenby in November 1929 and spent his entire life living and working in the town.

After leaving school, he did his National Service in the RAF and returned to Tenby to work for a few years in the South Wales Electricity Board offices based at the now demolished South Beach Pavilion. In his mid 20s he joined his father in the family jewellers business, Evans and MacDowall in the High Street and at Haverfordwest, where he remained until his retirement.

John was a quiet and unassuming man whose great passion was music - the radio was always on at work and he was a proficient pianist and learned to play the organ in later life.

After getting married to June in 1958, daughter Julie arrived in 1961 and the family moved to Upper Hill Park where they have lived for almost 50 years.

Despite developing Parkinsons Disease in his 70s, John remained active and loved to go out walking. Following a fall in 2012, his health deteriorated and he was unable to go out, but remained at home supported by his family and carers.

Mr. M. J. Taylor

Penally

The death occurred peacefully at his home, Beechgrove, Middlewalls Lane, Penally, on Tuesday, February 2, of Mr. Michael Taylor. He was aged 81.

Much-loved and sadly missed by all his family and friends.

The funeral service takes place today (Friday, February 12), 2.30 pm at St. Nicholas Church, Penally, and will be followed by a committal service at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth.

There will be family flowers only, with donations, if so desired, made payable to RNLI Tenby or Wales Air Ambulance, c/o the funeral directors, Messrs. W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd., The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, tel. (01834) 843160, or Landsker House, 21 Station Road, Narberth, tel. (01834) 861300.

Mr. B. Hawker

Tenby

As reported last week, the death occurred at Morriston Hospital of Mr. Bryant Hawker. He was aged 86 and lived at The Green, Tenby.

Bryant will be sadly missed by all his family and many friends.

The funeral service takes place today (Friday, February 12), at St. Mary’s Church, Tenby, at 11 am, and will be followed by interment at Tenby New Cemetery.

There will be family flowers only.

Funeral directors are Messrs. W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd., The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, tel. (01834) 843160, or Landsker House, 21 Station Road, Narberth, tel. (01834) 861300.

Mr. A. J. Guymer

Pembroke

The death occurred peacefully at Withybush Hospital on Thursday, February 4, of Mr. Alan James Guymer, of Vetch Close, Pembroke. He was 71.

The funeral will take place on Wednesday, February 17, with a service at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, at 11.30 am. It was Alan’s own instruction that people should not wear black clothing.

Family flowers only please, but if desired, donations in lieu for Help For Heroes may be sent to John Roberts and Son, funeral directors, 51 Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, tel. 01646 683115, who are carrying out the arrangements.

Mr. R. Pointon

Monkton

The death occurred peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family, on Thursday, February 4, of Mr. Ronald Pointon, of India Row, Monkton. He was 79.

The funeral will take place on Friday, February 19, with a service at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, at 1 pm.

All further enquiries should be made to John Roberts and Son, funeral directors, 51 Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, tel. 01646 683115, who are carrying out the arrangements.

Mrs. M. E. Pullin

Saundersfoot

The death occurred peacefully at Withybush Hospital on Sunday, February 7, of Mrs. Mary Ellen Pullin. She was aged 89 and lived on Stammers Road, Saundersfoot.

Predeceased by her husband Peter, Mary is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Mairead and Jim, grandsons James and Richard and his partner Charlotte, sisters and brothers Birdie-May, Sinead, James and Billy and numerous nieces and nephews.

Requiem Mass will take place at Holyrood and St. Teilo Catholic Church, Tenby, at 10 am, on Friday, February 19, and will be followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn, Narberth, at 11.30 am.

There will be family flowers only, with donations, if desired, made payable to Tenby Talking Newspaper, c/o funeral directors, Messrs. W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd., The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, tel. (01834) 843160, or Landsker House, 21 Station Road, Narberth, tel. (01834) 861300, who have charge of the funeral arrangements.

Mrs. L. A. Cramp

Pentlepoir

The death occurred peacefully at Glangwili Hospital on Wednesday, February 3, of Mrs. Lorraine Anne Cramp. She was aged 59 and lived at Greenacres, Templebar Road, Pentlepoir.

Affectionately known to all as Kate, she leaves to mourn her husband Simon.

The funeral service takes place on Tuesday, February 16, at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, at 12.15 pm.

There will be family flowers only, but donations, if desired, can be made payable to either Salvation Army, Tenby, or Cancer Research UK, c/o funeral directors, Messrs. W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd., The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, tel. (01834) 843160, or Landsker House, 21 Station Road, Narberth, tel. (01834) 861300, who have charge of the funeral arrangements.

MR. E. A. L. ROBERTS

PEMBROKE

The death occurred peacefully at Hollyland Lodge Residential Home, Pembroke, on Sunday, January 31, of Mr. Edward Arthur Llewellyn Roberts, aged 88, affectionately known as Teddy, formerly of Monkton, Pembroke.

Beloved husband of Ruby.

Teddy will be sadly missed by his family and many friends.

The funeral service will take place today (Friday, February 12) at Monkton Priory Church, Pembroke, at 10 am, followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn, Narberth, at 11.30 am.

There will be family flowers only, with donations, if so desired, for The Glaucoma Society, c/o E. C. Thomas and Son, funeral directors, 31 Stockwell Road, Pembroke Dock, or Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, who are conducting the funeral arrangements.