Obituaries May 15th 2013

REYNALTON

GORDON Holgate died peacefully at home on Good Friday, March 29th, aged 75. His devoted wife and daughter were at his side.

Gordon was a devoted husband to Joy, a most loving and precious father to Tricia and an adored grandad to Joshua, Zac and Rachel.

He was born in Thorne, in Yorkshire, and moved to Surrey after his national service where he met the love of his life, Joy. The couple were married in August 1959 and shared 53 wonderful years together – a truly devoted couple.

They had two children, Kevin and Tricia.

Gordon built up his own very successful building business in Surrey, but in 1983 they decided to move to Pembrokeshire to begin a new life in farming.

It was not an easy life, but Gordon embraced it with hard work and dedication. He also established his building business in Pembrokeshire, alongside the farming. He was a talented builder, highly skilled and well-respected and thus he gained all his work through recommendation.

Gordon spent all his spare time with his family, he was a wonderful father and grandad. He was incredibly proud of his grandchildren, and loved to spend time with them. He particularly enjoyed teaching them about sheep and lambing.

Gordon was also a treasured Godparent to Teejay and Caitlin Cumberland and will be greatly missed.

He had a great sense of humour, loved to talk and had a most wonderful smile.

The funeral was held at Carew Wesley Chapel on April 11th. It was a celebration and thanksgiving for Gordon’s life. The bearers were Ivan and Paul Thomas, Delmi, Andrew and Darren Killa and Richard Cumberland.

The principal mourners were Joy (wife); Tricia and Steve Henry (daughter and son-in-law); Joshua, Zac and Rachel Henry (grandchildren).

There were family flowers only, with donations to the Paul Sartori Foundation being received by John Roberts and Son Funeral Directors, Pembroke Dock, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

MRS A. C. JAMES WILTSHIRE (formerly of Milford Haven) THE death occurred on May 1st of Anne Christine James (nee Stokes) after a short illness.

She was 78 and the wife of the late Patrick F. James, of Wharepuna and Woodbine (now Milford Haven Golf Club) and now living in Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire.

Anne leaves four children, John, Michael, Rebeccah and Sarah; eight grandchildren, Gemma, William, Jenni, Emelia, Ben, Madeline, Abigail and Elinor.

She will be buried in Swallowcliffe and missed by many.

MRS B. A. PALMER

MILFORD HAVEN

BARBARA Alice Palmer, of Warwick Road, Milford Haven, died on April 25th at Withybush Hospital. She was 85.

She was a qualified nurse and midwife at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, in Reading in 1949, and in the 1950s in Eglwyswrw, Haverfordwest and Hakin. In 1961 she took a career break to have children.

She returned in 1971 to work as a district nurse and midwife for Neyland and the surrounding area, and retired in 1987. Over the years she delivered many babies in Pembrokeshire, often commenting ‘that is one of my babies’.

Her family were her main interest and she was a long standing member of St Katharine’s Church, and also a NHS Retirement Fellowship member.

She was predeceased by her husband Derrick Robert Palmer in 1989.

Family left to mourn and principal mourners are: David and Roderick (sons); Julie and Caitlin (daughtersin- law); Richard, William, Jessica, Max and George (grandchildren); Win (sister); Bill and Sue (step-son and wife); Jamie, Will and Katie (step-grandchildren), plus many nieces, nephews and cousins and their families, and colleagues and members of the congregation at St Katharine’s.

The service was held at St Katharines’s Church, Milford Haven, followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn and was officiated by Father Harri Williams.

There were family flowers only, with donations in lieu for the Mission to Seaferers being received by the manager, NatWest Bank, Milford Haven.

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

MR P. H. DEVONALD

HAKIN

THE death occurred on April 29th of Philip Hugh (Hughie) Devonald, of Picton Road, Hakin. He was 75.

Originally from Rickeston, he worked on local farms and in the last 30 years he set up his own green grocers’ shop in Hakin.

He was an avid cricket player for Herbrandston and St Ishmaels, and he also enjoyed game shooting and fishing, loved gardening and was an armchair rugby fan. His main interest was his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners were Mavis Devonald (wife); Philip, Paul, Sally and Robert (sons and daughter); Mandy, Helen and Liz (daughter-in-laws); Stewart (son-in-law); Roy and John (brothers); Mary (sister); Teresa and Margaret (sisters-in-law); Hugh (brother- in-law); Owen, Rhodri, Emma, Nicola, Amy, Darren, Bethan, Rhys and Emily (grandchildren); Esmee (great granddaughter), nieces and nephews, plus family and friends too numerous to mention.

The service was held at St Andrews Church, Robeston West, and was officiated by Rev David Evans.

The bearers were Peter Elliot, Andrew Williams, David Thomas and Robert Scale.

There were family flowers only with donations to The Wales Air Ambulance, Ty Elvsen, Bay Studios Business Park, Fabian Way, Swansea SA1 8QJ.

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

MRS E. M. DAVIES

HAVERFORDWEST (Formerly of Clarbeston Road)

THE death occurred on March 26th of Elizabeth May Davies, of Fishguard Road, Haverfordwest.

The funeral took place at St David’s Church, Prendergast, on April 8th with burial at Prendergast Cemetery.

Officiating at the service were Canon G Gwyther and Rev G Eynon.

Beth, as she was affectionately known, was born in Clarbeston Road, the middle daughter of Fred and Maud Francis. She moved to Haverfordwest on her marriage to Mervyn in 1954, but after several years the couple returned to Clarbeston Road to reside with their young family at the bungalow they had built together.

In later years, Beth and Mervyn bought their home on the Fishguard Road and involved themselves in many outside interests, making many friends along the way.

This was evident in the attendance at the funeral and the support given to the family.

Beth took great pride in her garden and greenhouse, and she spent many hours knitting, a talent in which she excelled.

The bearers were her grandsons Steven Thomas, Owen Bevan, Lee Francis, Nathan Francis, Richard Bevan and Vaughan Howells.

The principal mourners are Mervyn (husband); Susan and Duncan (daughter and son-in-law); Margaret (daughter); Jayne and Adam (daughter and son-in-law); Chrystal and Simon, Steven, Angela and David, Owen and Maxine, Adrian, Richard, Alex, David, Kelly Ann, Lee, Andrea, Nathan, Jade (grandchildren and partners); Darcey, Henry, Mark, Jason, Josh, Cameron, Samuel, Ethan, Jessica, Leo, Jayden, Sarah Ann and Emily (great grandchildren).

Donations given in lieu of flowers will go to St Davids Church.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr Glyn Thomas, Freystrop.

MRS N. SEDDON

(formerly of Haverfordwest)

THE death occurred at Williamston Nursing Home on April 15th of Nancy Seddon, formerly of Slade Park, Haverfordwest. She was 92.

Originally from Cilfynydd near Cardiff, Nancy was employed during and following the war years by the Western Welsh Bus Company in Barry.

She moved to Haverfordwest in 1957, by which time she had married Cyril and her three children had been born.

On leaving the Western Welsh she was employed by the South Wales Electricity Board until her retirement in 1981. She made many friends during her working life and continued to enjoy their company despite her failing health.

Nancy was dedicated to her family and delighted in her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a keen gardener, loved walking her dog and she was renowned for her cake making.

She also enjoyed watching snooker, and was an avid crossword fan which she was able to do until her health failed in the last three years.

She was also a long serving member of Ebenezer.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners were Margaret and Paul, Lynne and Gareth, David and Elaine (children and spouses); Karen, Julia, Matthew and Imelda, Michelle and Peter, Kelly and Steve (grandchildren and spouses); Emma, Ashleigh, Ffion, Thomas, Nancy and Patrick (great grandchildren).

The funeral service was held at Parc Gwyn on April 23rd and was officiated by Rev Martyn Evans.

There were family flowers only with donations in lieu for the NSPCC which can be sent to Mr Gareth Jones, 5 Sheffield Drive, Steynton, Milford Haven.

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

MRS E. R. LLOYD

NEYLAND

THE death occurred at Withybush Hospital on April 29th of Evelyn Rose Lloyd, aged 81.

She passed away peacefully with her two daughters, Angela and Julie and her granddaughter at her bedside.

Evelyn was born in Milford Haven and spent her childhood in Honeyborough, Neyland, where she met her future husband Bill.

They married in Ambleston church and had two daughters, Angela and Julia.

They moved back to Neyland and resided for most of their marriage at Promenade Close where they spent many a happy hour with their family, friends and neighbours.

Sadly, Bill passed away a few years ago and Evelyn’s health deteriorated, resulting in a severe stroke. She sadly had to leave her home and spent the last year in Rickeston Mill Nursing Home where she enjoyed the activities and made some new friends.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Angela, David, Julia and Dougie (daughters and husbands); Claire, Juan, Lee, Lydia, Louise, Vinny, Lisa, Paul, Darren and Michelle (grandchildren and spouses); Amelia, Sam, Ffion, Leo, Ellyse, Chloe, Jacob, Toby and Maya (great grandchildren); Leslie and Doris Sweeney (brother and sister-in- law); John and Diane Lloyd (brother-in-law and wife), plus many nephews and nieces.

There was a short service at her daughter’s house with minister Paul Davies officiating before the funeral took place at Parc Gwyn Crematorium. The bearers were Darren and Lee (grandsons); Vinny, Paul and Juan (granddaughters’ husbands).

There were family flowers only with the funeral arrangements carried out by Tom Newing and Sons, Milford Haven.