Obituary

A native of Pembroke Dock, Elsie had lived there all her life and during the war had worked at Templeton, Carew and Angle aerodromes.

After the war she worked at the Pembroke handkerchief factory until it closed and then at the Davies steel factory for more than 20 years, where she made many friends.

Her husband Sidney Clare died in October 1939.

Elsie loved dancing, singing and gardening. She was renowned for her sense of humour and was young at heart.

She had been a resident at Brooklands Nursing Home for the last 18 months.

The funeral took place on January 23rd at St John's Church, Pembroke Dock, followed by interment at Llanion Cemetery and was officiated by Rev Andrew Davies.

The bearers were Trevor Rendall, Clifford Jenkins, David Jenkins and Brian Polhill.

The chief mourners were Vilma Polhill (daughter); Nancy Rendall (sister-in-law); Susan, Clifford and David Jenkins, Trevor Rendall, Dennis and Nan Rendall, Pamela Check, Jimmy Gwilt, Adrian Cooke, Diane and Roger Taylor (nephews and nieces).

There were family flowers only with donations for Brooklands Residential Nursing Home to Neil Roberts, of John Roberts and Son, Funeral Directors, 51 Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mrs M. R. Thomas Solva Margery Ruth Thomas died on Tuesday, January 16th, at her home, Bro Dawel, Solva, surrounded by her three daughters Alyson, Helen and Jill.

Marge, as she was known to everybody, was born in Hartlebury, Worcestershire, in 1924.

She came to Pembrokeshire with a friend in the late 1940s to pick early potatoes as part of the post-war project to improve productivity in agriculture.

Here she met her husband-to-be Melville Llewellyn Thomas.

They were married on Christmas Eve 1949 and their first child Michael was born late the next year. They subsequently added three girls to the family.

The family moved to Western Avenue, Solva, in 1951.

When Mel was made redundant in 1955 and began studying for a teaching diploma at Trinity College, Carmarthen, the family relied on a £1 a week grant from the church and the proceeds of holiday employment.

This was when Margery came into her own. She was hard-working, thrifty and a wonderful guide and mentor to her children.

She took a great interest in their development, never too busy to offer them support and guidance.

She enjoyed the music of the 1960s, particularly The Beatles, and became a passionate supporter of the Welsh rugby team, without being disloyal to her roots in rural Worcestershire.

Marge was articulate and well-read, reading the Brontes and Charles Dickens, and at the same time she loved bingo, crosswords and television quiz shows.

The great highlight of her later years was her grandchildren. She idolised them and developed an excellent relationship with each and every one.

After spending five weeks in hospital with a terminal illness, Margery returned home to her daughters and caring agencies.

The well attended funeral took place at St Aidan's Church, Solva, followed by burial at Capel-y-Bedyddwyr, Felinganol.

Principal mourners were Michael and Priscilla Thomas (son and daughter-in-law); Alyson and Rod Parkinson (daughter and son-in-law); Helen Thomas (daughter); Jill and John David (daughter and son-in-law); Tammy, Gareth, Gerwyn, Gemma, Danny and Bethan (grandchildren); Maureen (sister) and members of the family.

The bearers were Gerwyn Steele, Gareth Hobbs, Daniel Hobbs and Guto Gwynedd.

Mrs T. M. Evans Haverfordwest The funeral took place on January 19th of Thelma Mary Evans, of Lindsway Park, Haverfordwest, who died on January 15th at Withybush Hospital, aged 79, after a short illness.

Thelma and her twin brother Mervyn were born at Whitehill, Cresselly, the youngest of seven children.

She spent most of her early years with Mervyn until his untimely death at the age of 19.

Her early working life was to be spent with T P Hughes, Tenby.

In July 1949, Thelma married Gordon, with whom she shared happiness for the rest of her life.

Thelma later worked at both Woolworths and WHSmith in Tenby and had three children, Adrian, Richard and Dierdre.

She then spent the following years caring for her elderly parents while bringing up her family.

Thelma was able to share many happy years with Gordon, having the time and freedom to experience holidays together.

Thelma then took on the role of a devoted grandmother to her eight grandchildren, all of whom she spoilt as only she knew how.

This also coincided with her caring for Gordon, who she looked after until her short illness.

In 1987 Thelma and Gordon moved to Haverfordwest which opened up a new life for Thelma, being a regular with the WRVS and constant visitor to family and friends while in hospital.

Throughout her life Thelma was a regular member of Pisgah Chapel and latterly Hill Park Chapel. She attended regularly, and actively participated in sisterhood meetings.

A large attendance at her cremation at Parc Gwyn was followed by a family interment with her twin brother at Pisgah.

The bearers were Tony Davies, Rowland Edwards, Peter James and David Hawkings, with the cremation service conducted by Gareth Edwards and Hywel Brown, and interment by Gareth Edwards.

Family left to mourn are Gordon (husband), Adrian and Val, Richard and Julia (sons and daughters-in-law); Dierdre and Nigel (daughter and son-in-law); Kirsty and Matthew; Marc, Huw, Leonie, Ben, Claire and Mark, Melanie, Jessica and Shaun (grandchildren and partners) and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Joining the family were friends Tony and June, Dave and Judith, Gerald and Eileen together with ladies from Hill Park Chapel.

Unable to attend were Marion and Eileen (sisters-in-law), nieces, nephews, cousins.

There were family flowers only, with donations in lieu for Pisgah and Hill Park Chapel to Stewart Treharne, E. C. Thomas and Son, Archways, Green Plains, Stepaside, Narberth, who carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mrs M. A. D. Williams Trefin The funeral took place on January 13th of Doreen Williams, of Ael-y-Felin, Penparc, Trefin, who died at Withybush Hospital aged 68.

Doreen was originally from Clynderwen and she spent many years working as a nurse at St Thomas Hospital, Haverfordwest.

After getting married and raising three children, she worked as a carer at Wintern Day Centre, Fishguard, until her retirement.

Her main interests were her family and home life. She was of a quiet nature and was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Doreen was also a faithful member of Croesgoch Baptist Chapel.

She was a much loved and respected lady who will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

Principal mourners were Ieuan (husband); Gareth and Shirley, Dorian and Angela, Geraint and Nicola (sons and daughters-in-law); Adam, Chloe, Olivia, Dylan, Jake and Lewis (grandchildren); Hywel and Elizabeth, Alun and Eileen (brothers and sisters-in-law), Timothy and Lyndon (nephews) and many cousins.

A large number of mourners attended Llanrhian Church where the funeral and interment were held.

The service was officiated by the vicar John Bennett and the bearers were Myrddin Griffiths, Wyn Adams, David Griffiths and Mark Miles.

There were family flowers only with donations in lieu for Solva Surgery and Llanrhian Church to David Price Undertakers, Hafan, Croesgoch, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mrs A. M. Daye Haverfordwest The funeral took place on January 27th of Alvis Maureen Daye, of Slade Lane, Haverfordwest who died at home, aged 76, on January 19th.

Originally of Burton, she was the landlady of the Greyhound Hotel during her working life and retired 20 years ago.

She was married to Graham and her main interests were her family, her home and television.

She was predeceased by her son John Cuffe and stepson Alan Daye.

Family left to mourn and principal mourners are Graham (husband); Kathleen and Colin Lewis (daughter and son-in-law); Tom Cuffe (son); Eileen and Marley Hughes (daughter and son-in-law); Christine Whelton (step-daughter); Jonathan and Alison Day (stepson and daughter-in-law); grandchildren and great-grandson, cousins and close friends.

The funeral was held at Parc Gwyn crematorium and was officiated by Rev D. Wight.

The bearers were Stephen and Jonathan Lewis, Sean Hughes and Jonathan Daye.

There were immediate family flowers only.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Robin Folland, of Roy Folland and Son, Haverfordwest.

Mr J. T. Davies St Davids The funeral took place on December 30th of James Terence Davies, of Heol Dewi, St Davids.

Known to all as Terry, he died on Christmas Eve, aged 74, and was a devoted husband to Anne, father to Glyn and Julie, grandfather to Rachel, George, Emily, Jade, Tommy and Zak, and brother to Douglas, Eirlys, John, Pearl and Glyn.

Terry was born at Pen-Yr-Aber, Solva, but during his early childhood spent time with his uncle, aunt and cousin Raydene at Tenby. His uncle was a fisherman and lifeboatman, and his influence was apparent in Terry's later years.

Terry returned to Solva and attended St Davids Grammar School, after which he did his National Service with the RAF.

He returned to Solva after qualifying as a blacksmith and welder, and worked for various smithies around the county before working for the Navy at Brawdy as a blacksmith.

By now he was married to Ann and they lived at Pretoria, New Street, St Davids, where their two children Glyn and Julie were born.

As well as working at Brawdy he had a partnership with Richard Evans in a boat called the Plover in which they fished and ran boat trips around Ramsey island from Porthstinan.

He also became a member of the St Davids lifeboat crew, where he served for a number of years, first as a shore helper and then as a crew member, and was widely recognised as an outstanding seaman.

Terry became a Skomer/Skokholm boatman, running trips from Martins Haven to Skomer, on his favourite boat the Sharan, the retired Exmouth lifeboat.

Terry said with great pride that with the help of many of his friends and crew members of those years, no-one was injured or hurt carrying thousands of passengers to and from the islands in frequent inclement weather conditions.

During winter he and Anne carried on farming at Maendewi Farm, St Davids, Anne's family farm, which played a major part in his life in the later years, with his herd of cows at Maendewi and later Tresais.

Terry's interests were varied, being a well read person he was an authority on local history, geology, ornithology, local genealogy, tides, weather and he had a wealth of knowledge of most of the coastline from St Davids Head and the islands to the upper reaches of the Milford Haven estuary.

In later years both he and Anne were members of Cyd and the St Davids Historical Society and he was very knowledgeable on Welsh place names and the winter and summer solstices and the significance of the local lay lines and standing stones.

With diminishing health, Terry never made a full recovery after the loss of his herd in early 2006 and being predeceased by Anne, his wife of nearly 49 years, last July.

Principal mourners were Glyn and Julie (son and daughter-in-law); Julie (daughter); Rachel, George, Emily, Jade, Tommy and Zak (grandchildren); Douglas and Ivy, Eirlys, John and Molly, Pearl and Jack, Glyn and Muriel, Raydene and John, Beryl and Derek (brothers, sisters-in-law).

A large congregation of family, friends and neighbours attended the funeral at St Davids Cathedral, which was officiated by the Dean W. Evans, and assisted by Canon J. Lean.

This was followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn, Narberth.

The bearers were Malcolm Gray, Henry Griffiths, Tony Pierce and Richard Tree (family and friends).

There were family flowers only, with donations in lieu for St Davids and Solva District Nurses Fund and The Paul Sartori Foundation to Bernard Mathias, 64 New Street, St Davids, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mrs E. F. Allcock Haverfordwest The funeral took place on Wednesday, January 24th of Evelyn Fairley Allcock, of Williamston Close, Haverfordwest.

She died at Withybush Hospital on Thursday, January 18th, aged 67.

A much loved and respected lady, Evelyn will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

She was born at Banchory, Scotland but moved away when she was a teenager.

Evelyn moved to Haverfordwest with her husband, David, son Grahame and daughter Susan in 1974, when David took up an RAF posting to Brawdy.

During that time she combined bringing up her children with work at the old maternity hospital, followed by F. H. Gilman for many years then part-time at Imperial Garage.

Evelyn and Dave both undertook voluntary work for the Red Cross in Pembrokeshire. Evelyn became a well-recognised face behind the Medical Loan counter in Dark Street as well as helping out behind the scenes during events and official exercises throughout the country.

Evelyn is probably best known for running the Darby and Joan Club for a number of years.

Evelyn was regularly to be found among her WRVS colleagues behind the tea-bar at Withybush Hospital and at various fundraising and community events in the area.

She loved her garden and enjoyed reading and doing jigsaws.

Lately she particularly enjoyed the company of her two grandchildren, Emily and Isobel, who loved to play horses to Granny's wheelchair chariot'.

A large attendance at the funeral at Parc Gwyn showed the esteem in which Evelyn was held.

Canon Geoffrey Gwyther officiated.

There were family flowers only with donations for ward 14 trust fund, Withybush Hospital.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Roy Folland and Son, Haverfordwest.