Mr L c Spiers

Portfield Gate

CHES passed away at home at West Lambston, Portfield Gate, Haverfordwest, on Friday, August 2, after a short illness borne very bravely and with great resilience. He was 65.

Ches was born in Evesham, Worcs, on March 6 1948, just before the NHS came about, the third of three brothers, with a sister Lynette, to follow.

His father, Leslie was a market gardener and later an inspector at Dowty Group Services.

Ches recalled how he learned to dive into the local River Avon before he could swim. The local swimming club was held in the river and he later went on to prove to be an excellent swimmer, winning many trophies. He was educated at Four Pools Secondary School, Evesham, where he particularly enjoyed maths and woodwork, which would come in handy for his engineering.

At 16 years, he left school and with his father’s encouragement, he began a five-year engineering apprenticeship with Dowtys, where he moved around the various branches in Gloucestershire, including Dowty Rotol, Fuel Systems, Mining and then Seals. It was with Dowty Seals that he moved in 1977 to Newtown for seven years, before coming to Pembrokeshire in 1983 with that company. After being made redundant, he began selling ice cream, first at Newgale for seven years, then at Goodwick for seven years, until ill health earlier this year forced him to unwillingly retire. Ches and Joy made numerous friends while scooping, and many were present at the memorial service held at Bethel Baptist Chapel,Sutton on August 8.

Ches met his wife, Joy, in Cheltenham, where they married at the register office in 1968.

Ches had always had a great interest in cars and while living in Cheltenham, both Ches and Joy were keen members of the Dowty Motor Club, where they took their advanced driving tests. He always worked on his own cars, not trusting anyone else to do the work to his exacting standards. He always felt that if a job was worth doing, then it was worth doing properly.

On moving to Newtown, Ches was delighted to learn that the chap living next door was a dedicated rallyer. Ches spent many a weekend with David Humphreys, tidying up the messes he made of his bodywork and suspension.

In the spring of 1983, his expertise was needed in the Milford Haven branch of Dowty Seals. The family finally moved to West Lambston in October 1983 – almost 30 years ago – with the knowledge that there was a great deal of work needed on the house. His initials are etched into various concreted area, as are the children’s, but this is a far more fitting tribute to a diligent and talented man than any headstone.

Earlier this year, he spent several weeks at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, for several operations, when Joy was able to stay with him. His sons, Oliver and Edward, made his coffin with wooden fork handles whittled by the boys, and he was driven to the crematorium in his Subaru, as he requested. His bearers into the crematorium were his two brothers Robin and Josh, his daughter Kirstey and her husband Gyffard, also Oliver and Edward. Miriam walked in front of the coffin with the wreath the family had constructed out of ice creams and spanners, which represented his professional life.

Ches leaves his wife, Joy and four children: Kirstey and her husband Gyffard, also Oliver, Edward and Miriam; also four grandchildren Zachary, Evie, Orla and Neve, who will miss a great guy, always ready with practical advice and dedicated family man.

 

Ms L Oldland

(formerly of Tenby)

LILY Oldland, a former languages teacher at Greenhill School, Tenby, passed away peacefully on August 6 at her home in Harwell, Oxfordshire, age 80.

Everyone who knew Lily will remember her as a lovely, intelligent, eloquent lady, with her roots firmly in Wales. Her love of song and language came from her chapel upbringing in Swansea, and those who kept in touch with her still wonder at her meticulous handwriting.

In 2001, Lily and John moved from Lamphey, where they had lived for more than 30 years, to Harwell, Oxfordshire, to be nearer their family.

Lily will be dearly missed by all her family and friends.

Any donations in Lily’s memory may be made to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

www.mndoxfordshire.org

 

Mrs I Narbett

Haverfordwest

IRENE Narbett (formerly Hughes) passed away peacefully at Withybush Hospital On August 1, she was 90.

Irene was originally from Wolverhampton, but spent most of her life in Pembrokeshire.

She met her first husband Tom while he was serving in the RAF during the Second World War.

Tom and Irene ran a café on Salutation Square in Haverfordwest, until Tom’s ill health forced him to retire.

During the forty years she was married to Tom, she brought up five children while helping to run the family business. Irene continued to nurse him till his death.

Later, she met and married Vaughan Narbett, of Glenover Park, Haverfordwest and spent 25 happy years with him.

They enjoyed walking and holidays.

Both were active members of the church and had a mutual interest in watercolour painting. Later, when Vaughan’s health failed, Irene continued to support him.

He passed away in August 2012.

The funeral was held at Ebenezer Chapel, followed by interment in City Road Cemetery.

It was officiated by Rev David Pusey and the funeral arrangements were carried out by Glyn Thomas of Freystrop.

The bearers were Jamie Sullivan (grandson); Dave Chandler (son-in-law); Neil Gibson (grandson) and Alan Stoker (friend).

The principal mourners were Roy and Ann Hughes, Wendy Morse, Linda and Dave Chandler, Emm and Tom Sullivan, Julia and Neil Gibson, William and Jonathan Gibson, Arthur Pritchard; also present were friends and chapel members.

 

Mr W R Coombes

Pembroke Dock

THE death occurred at home suddenly, but peacefully, of Mr William Roger Coombes (Billy), of Princes Street, Pembroke Dock on July 23.

He was 64.

As a native of Pembroke Dock, he started work at the woollen factory and then went on to build the Old Power Station.

From there, he worked with the Admiralty, where he served as a stocker on board the boats and progressed as a diving attendant. He then became a diver for many happy years, until he was injured.

He then became a pump fitter, until retired from due to ill health.

His main interests were boating, fishing and his garden, up until a few years ago, when his main interests became car booting (buying, not selling) and his family.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Angela Coombes (wife); Tina and Katie Coombes (daughters); Kayden Coombes (grandson); Betty Davies (aunt); Billy and Maureen Evans (nephew and wife); Elaine Coombes (niece); Ian Coombes (nephew); Terry and Mandy (nephew and partner); David and Tammy Coombes (nephew and wife), plus many other relations and friends too numerous to mention.

The service was held at St John’s Church, followed by interment at Llanion Cemetery and was officiated by Rev N Skipton. The bearers were Billy Evans, Terry Coombes, Ian Coombes, Ben Coombes, David Coombes (nephews) and Bob Tyre and Lee Griffiths (cousins).

There were family flowers only, with donations to the Coronary Care Unit, Withybush Hospital c/o G Thomas, 34 Charles Thomas Avenue, Pembroke Dock SA72 6UR.

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

 

Mrs R E Simmonds

Milford Haven

CHRIST Church, Milford Haven, was the setting recently for the funeral service of Mrs Rosemary Evelyn Simmonds, who died peacefully at her home, Hanover Court, on July 22. The daughter of Arthur and Eva Keeley, Rosemary had spent all but her earliest years in the town.

She and her husband Gerald had just celebrated 57 years of marriage, and they had three children, Gillian, Helen and Vincent.

Rosemary had been a member and faithful worshipper at Christ Church for many years, and the large congregation who attended her service was a testimony to the high esteem and affection in which she was held.

The service, which was conducted by the minister, the Reverend Hugh-John Wilson, had been planned by Rosemary, and contained her favourite hymns and readings.

Friends recited the various readings, which included the Covenant Prayer that was so important to her. In fact, everything about the service reflected Rosemary’s deep Christian faith and sense of commitment.

Although a quiet and unassuming person, Rosemary had led a life of service within the Church and beyond it. She was for many years a Sunday school teacher and then superintendent. She had been a founder member of the Wives’ Group, and had more recently led the Women’s Fellowship, though she would have seen it as being in partnership with the other members.

She served in a variety of capacities with the WRVS for more than thirty years, and her involvement with the Methodist Women’s Network Organisation brought her friendships with people across the county. Always interested in the well-being of children, she organised the local street collections for Action For Children for many years.

She determinedly mastered the very different skills involved in Old-Time dancing and cake decorating until she excelled in both. During the 1990s, she and her husband Gerald were muchloved house parents to the residents at Priory House in Lower Priory. Though macular degeneration robbed her of much of her sight in recent years, Rosemary’s keen memory and creativity remained unabated to the end of her life.

Rosemary’s family were very important to her, and she loved the times she could spend with her children and nine grandchildren. Her last weeks brought her the comfort and support of her close family as they lovingly cared for her.

Left to mourn are her husband Gerald, her children, grandchildren, sister and sister-in-law, and a wide circle of friends.

Following the service at Christ Church, interment was at Milford Haven Cemetery, and funeral arrangements were by Tom Newing and Sons. The bearers were her five grandsons, Arthur, Emlyn, Ciaran, Morgan, and Vincent, and a family friend, John Lloyd.

There were family flowers only, with donations in lieu to the Macular Society.