Mr W J M Brown

Llandeloy

THE private family funeral took place on May 30 at Blaenllyn Baptist Chapel followed by interment at Llangloffan Cemetery of Mr William John Meyrick Brown aged 82 who passed away suddenly at his home Rhosgranog, Llandeloy on May 14.

The service was officiated by Rev Aled Jenkins and the bearers were Gareth Philips, Idris Thomas, Dylan Brown, Mathew Evans, Richard Thomas, Jonathan Thomas, David Thomas and the organist was Stella Evans.

Proceedings were in the capable hands of Paul Jenkins and Sons, of Fishguard.

Born in 1936 Meyrick was the eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs Elwyn Brown, Rosemary Hill, Treffgarne and is survived by his wife Janet, daughter Angela and partner Lynn and his grandchildren Ashley, Chloe, Aaron and step grandchildren Tom and Abie, sister June and brother-in-law Idris and Beth and sister-in-law Morfydd. He was predeceased by his daughter Helen, brother David and brother-in-law Glyn.

Meyrick attended Camrose North Primary School from where he passed his eleven plus exam but due to an accident at school and an ensuing illness he was forced to spend the majority of the time between the age of 11 and 14 in hospital. He made many friends from the forces and was much in demand for his letter writing skills for the less abled as well as his popularity for ‘coupon’ swooping during what was then wartime rationing. Upon his discharge from hospital he was unable to continue to the Grammar School but returned to Camrose North until he was old enough to leave and return home to the farm to assist his parents in the days before tractors or milking machines.

He was always a follower of the Haverfordwest Bluebirds and later Camrose local football club and latterly Swansea City.

He was a keen whist player and supported many of the local whist drives, in later years joining and taking an active part in Brawdy Young Farmers Club. But he really came into his own when he linked his interests in photography and writing together and had a nose for knowing where there was a ploughing match or a point to point and extending that to include all the local shows leading up to being a regular at the Royal Welsh, the Winter Fair and the County Show.

He was not idle in the winter months but used that time to pay many visits and take many pictures of the wealth or agricultural social and rural history which he was so interested to hear about from his peers.

During these quieter months he joined with other local farmers to become founder members of the Treffgarne Agricultural Discussion Group which then met at Treffgarne Church Hall.

He was active with the local NFU and always a source of knowledge for any newcomers.

Meyrick and Janet took over Rhosgranog when they married and both worked hard at farming and developing the tourist side of their business with a very successful and popular bed, breakfast and evening meal enterprise – still being visited all these years later by the families of some of their original guests. They became an invincible team – rarely one seen without the other. They were blessed with two daughters Helen and Angela but lost Helen as a result of a tragic accident in May 2010.

Both girls were very successful in their chosen careers and always ably supported by their parents.

At the time of his death Meyrick was eagerly looking forward to the show season and took pride in being able to give the local farmers their day of glory with a well judged photo of a beautiful animal and an overjoyed owner, handler or rider. He loved writing his column in the Tenby Observer ‘Straws in the Wind’ and was always pleased if we found him a joke or saying to contribute, that brought a smile to his face.

He was a kind and unassuming man with time for everybody and the farming and wider community are still stunned by his sudden passing.

Donations in his memory are welcomed for Llangloffan Cemetery or Wales Air Ambulance being received by Paul Jenkins and Son, Funeral Directors of Fishguard.

Mr R G Holman

Milford Haven

Mr Royston George Holman passed away on July 19 at his home in North Road, Milford Haven.

He was 87.

Royston was born in February 1931 in London and was brought up in Sandhurst Road, Milford Haven.

He worked alongside his father George as a fish trader on Milford Fish Market and will be fondly remembered for amongst other things his sporting involvement locally.

Although being involved in a number of sports, playing cricket, being one of the founding members of Milford Haven Sea Angling Club his first love was always football.

He started his playing career with the old Milford Central School team and when he was old enough played for Neyland youth team in the Wiltshire cup matches.

At 17 he joined the newly formed Hakin Utd. AFC with the team winning the second division championship at their first attempt.

Having been in the Milford Army Cadets as a youngster he did his National Service in Germany, which saw him become heavily involved in Gymnastics and Basketball (even though he was only 5 ft 8).

After his National Service he returned to Milford Haven and made his debut for Milford Utd. AFC Welsh league side against Abergaveny AFC and there followed two seasons with local derbys against the Pembroke Boro AFC and Haverfordwest AFC which then attracting crowds of over 3,000.

He moved to Cardiff for 10 years, married Lillian and had two sons Gary and Roy and during his spell in Cardiff he was invited for trials at Swindon Town AFC and Cardiff City AFC. His amateur playing career saw him play at such grounds as Villa Park and Bristols Ashton Gate whilst turning out for Tonyrefail AFC, Cardiff Corinthians AFC, Cardiff Locomotives, Tremorfa and games for the Glamorgan County Team then travelling by Train to away matches in Birmingham.

Whilst working in the New Theatre Cardiff and rubbing shoulders with many famous artist of that time he was asked to join the Variety Club Cinderella Showbiz XI team and played many exhibition matches to raise funds for charities.

Having returned to Milford in 1962 and after spells with Hakin AFC, Milford Utd AFC and the Manchester Club AFC he finished his career with Milford Athletic AFC as a Player, a Manager and finally Chairman.

This also led him to become an active member of the Pembrokeshire Football League with a spell as chairman and as a representative on the West Wales FA committee.

In the past 12 months he will also be remembered for pushing his trolley around Tesco taking a couple hours for a few items due to stopping and talking to everyone with Gary or Roy giving up, sitting in the car outside and watching him through the windows waiting for him to return.

He remained an active committee member of the Pembrokeshire FA League until his death and will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Gary and Brenda (son and partner); Roy and Sandra (son and partner); Vicky and Josh (granddaughter and partner); Chris and Louise (grandson and partner); Tommy, Dylan, Niko, Dax and Kia (great grandsons).

The funeral was held in North Road Baptist Church, Milford Haven on July 31 followed by interment at Milford Haven cemetery.

It was officiated by Tom Newing and Sons Ltd of Milford Haven.