Obituaries, December 2nd 2009

Neyland

MANY friends and former work colleagues joined his family for the funeral on Monday, November 16th, of Donald Albert Williams, of 24 Charles Street, Neyland. Mr Williams died on November 10th, at Withybush Hospital. He was 82.

Don, as he was known to all, was born in Penrhiwceiber, Mountain Ash, but moved to Mastlebridge at a young age.

He married Mona Marchant in 1951 and they lived in Harbour Close, Neyland, before moving to Charles Street in 1979.

A carpenter by trade, he had served his apprenticeship with Jack Betty of Neyland. He worked for several local firms before joining Preseli District Council. He retired in 1992. He also worked part-time at Neyland Youth Club alongside his wife for many years. He would join in any youth activities and accompanied the judo team to Malta and the disco dancers to London.

His hobbies included crosswords, su doku and his garden. He played bowls at Neyland when his health allowed. He also loved the cruises he took during recent years, where he visited Russia, the Norwegian fjords and many Mediterranean ports.

He loved his family and was very proud of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The funeral at St Clement’s Church, Neyland, was followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn, Narberth. The principal mourners were: Mona (wife); Maureen and Geoff Sutton (daughter and son-in-law); Jayne and Paul Ansell (daughter and son-in-law); Andrew and Sarah (grandson and wife); Jonathan and Debbie, Gareth and Alison (grandsons and partners); Stephanie, Christopher and Jessica (grandchildren); Tyler, Beth and Megan (great grandchildren); Hilary and Dennis Venables (niece and husband) and Betty Barnard (cousin).

There were family flowers only. Donations, if desired, for Pembrokeshire Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and Diabetes UK, may be sent to Tony Organ, Costa Vale, Leonardston Road, Llanstadwell.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Tom Newing and Sons, Milford Haven, with Rev Paul Flavell officiating.

Mrs L. A. Jones

Pembroke Dock

Lillian Anne Jones died on September 22nd at Withybush Hospital, after a brief illness. She was 82.

She was known as Nancy to everyone in the Pennar and Pembroke Dock area, where she was born and had lived all of her life.

As a young woman Nancy worked in the office at F. W. Woolworth and later for many happy years at Idris Evans the fruiterers, Bush Street, also at the Co-Op as supervisor of the produce department.

Nancy was the wife of Leslie Jones who pre-deceased her in 1991. They had three children Terry, Royston and Jeannette.

Family left to mourn are, Terry and Nicky (son and daughter-in-law), Royston and Susan (son and daughter-in-law), Jeannette and Alex (daughter and son-in-law, Martin, Grant, Ryan, Morgan, Rebecca and Jennifer (grandchildren); James (great-grandson); Peter Harries (brother) and many cousins and nephews and nieces.

A service to celebrate her life was held on October 1st at Parc Gwyn, attended by family and friends.

Nancy loved her family, her home and her many friends. She regularly attended the Derby and Joan Club and Friendship Club. She was never happier than when she was going on outings, bus trips and holidays with her friends, especially to the Isle of Wight, her favourite place to visit.

There were family flowers only, with donations in lieu for the Derby and Joan and the Friendship Clubs to John Roberts and Son, Bush Street, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mr G. N. W. Max

Milford Haven

THE death occurred peacefully at his home on November 14th of former Milford Haven town councillor and Pembrokeshire county councillor George Noel William Max, of Fairview, Hubberston, Milford Haven. He was 80.

He was the husband of Joyce, father to Paul and the late Julie, uncle to Garry and Maxine and cousin of Tony, Dianne, Elneth, Desmond and Lynne.

The funeral took place on November 20th at St David’s Church, Hubberston led by Rev Alan Chadwick, who was assisted by Canon John Davies of St Katharine’s and St Peter’s Church, a friend of George and the family. Interment followed at Milford Haven Cemetery.

The bearers were Tony Eden, Peter Stock, Ian Curtis and Paul Benjamin, and the address was given by Maxine Thomas.

There were family flowers only. Donations, if desired, may be sent to the Paul Sartori Foundation, 31 Haven Road, Haverfordwest.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Tom Newing and Sons, Milford Haven.

Mr G. V. Evans

Fishguard

The death occurred on November 16th of Granville Vaughan Evans (Gang), of 24 Vergam Terrace, Fishguard. He was 86.

Born at Mynyddmelin Farm, Gwaun Valley, he volunteered at the age of 17 for the RAF and served as an air gunner on Liberators.

He and his wife Betty later moved to Penlan, Trevine, where they farmed successfully for 10 years before Granville returned to the RAF for a short period. They eventually settled in Mathry, where they ran the general stores and post office for 23 years. They retired to Fishguard in 1986.

Granville was one of Wales’ top draughts players, representing Wales at international level for more than 30 years.

The private funeral was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium on November 21st.

Granville was a life-long member of Pontfaen Church and the service was led by the Vicar of Pontfaen, Rev Don MacGregor, assisted by Bishop Saunders Davies and Rev Alwyn Daniels. The bearers were Meurig Ladd, Carwyn Morris, Philip Evans and Graham Evans.

Principal mourners are: Betty Evans (widow); Aneurin, Alun, Joyce and Andrea (sons and daughters-in-law); Kris and his partner Laura; Kelly, Alexander, Luke and Lauren (grandchildren); Gwennie Ladd (sister); Leila Evans, Eirlys Evans, Mike and Rhian Lloyd and Morfydd Lewis (sisters-in-law and brother-in-law), together with relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

The funeral directors were Paul Jenkins and Sons, Fishguard.

Mrs H. Watts, CBE

Stockton On Tees (Formerly Milford Haven)

The death was announced recently of the renowned Welsh contralto Helen Watts. She died peacefully at her home in Stockton on Tees on October 7th aged 82.

Helen Watts was born in Milford Haven and brought up in Haverfordwest where her father was a high street pharmacist.

Despite not coming from a musical background, she studied both the piano and organ in her youth and during her time at Abbots Bromley School in Staffordshire was taught music by Ernest Read.

On leaving school she enrolled to study singing at the Royal Academy of Music. The Welsh Home Service gave her the opportunity for her first professional engagement in 1950 and by 1953 she was recommended by the conductor Geraint Jones to Malcolm Sargent.

He invited her to sing at the Proms in 1955 and thereafter she became widely known for her work on the concert platform, in the recording studio and on the operatic stage. Helen sang with leading orchestras, opera companies and conductors, including appearing at 26 Promenade concerts and eight Edinburgh Festivals.

She also sang widely in Europe, including at the Salzburg Festival, and the USA.

Helen sang with Welsh National Opera for many productions between 1968 and 1983 including Mistress Quickly in Verdi’s Falstaff with Geraint Evans in 1969. She did not speak Welsh but she made a number of Welsh language recordings. She sang at the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969 and was a patron of the St David’s Cathedral Festival.

She wrote the foreword to a recent book by Mark Muller, ‘People Who Shaped Haverfordwest’.

Helen sang with the Handel Opera Society in 1958, Benjamin Britten’s English Opera Group on their tour of the USSR and Latvia in 1964, made her Royal Opera House debut in 1965 and her Scottish Opera debut in 1973.

She made her first recordings of Bach under Geraint Jones and went on to make more than 100 discs.

She was made a CBE in 1978 and retired to Pembrokeshire in 1985 where she spent many happy hours gardening.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, niece and nephews. Her husband Michael Mitchell, a viola player with the London Symphony Orchestra, predeceased her.

A memorial service will take place on December 9th at 3pm at St Paul’s Church (the Actor’s Church), Covent Garden, Bedford Street, London and anyone who wishes to attend would be most welcome. Sir Thomas Allen, who performed with Helen at Welsh National Opera, will be singing at the service.

Mr L. Lewis

Pembroke

The funeral took place on October 24th of Leslie Lewis, of Mansel Street, Pembroke.

He died at Withybush Hospital on October 18th, aged 85.

Born in Maidenwells, Leslie was one of eight children. He later moved with his family to Orielton Mountain, attending Orielton CP School. He joined his father Albert Lewis in the family building business until the outbreak of the Second World War, when he served in the army. Les returned to work with his father, and he was employed to brick newly constructed graves, which led him to become an undertaker, operating from the family yard in Owen Street for several years, before returning to the building trade until his retirement.

Leslie married Joyce in 1952, setting up home in Orange Gardens where they had one daughter Caroline. Before his illness, he had a great deal of satisfaction attending his garden and greenhouse and enjoyed watching and feeding the birds.

He was predeceased by his wife Joyce, of 59 years, just 10 months ago.

A large gathering attended the funeral at Gilead Chapel, Maidenwells, where he had attended as a boy.

The service was led by Rev Martyn Evans, of Haverfordwest, with Christine Lloyd at the organ.

The principal mourners are: Caroline and Adrian (daughter and son-in-law); Joan Lewis (sister); Silvia Adams and Joan Lewis (sisters-in-law); together with many nieces and nephews.

Close friends Alan Rixon, Ken Wordley, Tony McTaggart and nephew Anthony Lewis acted as bearers. There were family flowers only with donations in lieu for Ward 11, Withybush Hospital and Gilead Chapel, Maidenwells being sent to Graham Thomas, 34 Charles Thomas Avenue, Pembroke Dock SA72 6UR.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by E. C. Thomas and Son, Pembroke Dock.

Mrs J. E. M. Thomas

Merlins Bridge

In the obituary of Jean Eleanor Mary Thomas (Western Telegraph, November 25th) it should have read that Nita Wheeler (sister-in-law) was unable to attend.

Mr H. Foster

Pembroke Dock

The funeral took place on November 12th at Parc Gwyn Crematorium of Harold Foster, who died peacefully on November 4th aged 86.

Harold served in the Fleet Air Arm and spent many holidays in the Portsmouth area and for many years spent two months each year in America.

After retiring from the BOCM in Selby, Yorkshire, he and his wife Sue moved to Pembroke Dock to be near their grandson.

They spent 17 years in their adopted home before Sue died in 2004.

The principal mourners are: Lance Tallett (grandson); Janet Tallet (step-daughter) and her husband Philip; sister Joyce and her husband George Kent of Riccall.

Due to another family funeral on the same day his niece Janet Parkinson and family and nephew David Large and family were unable to attend. His siter Dorothy Large was unable to attend due to illness.

There were family flowers, and the funeral arrangements were carried out by E. C. Thomas and Son, of Stepaside and Pembroke Dock.