Mr I Griffiths

MY friend, Islwyn Griffiths, who has died aged 94, was a proud Welsh internationalist and an inspiring teacher.

He was the first teacher of Welsh at Pembroke Dock (later Pembroke) grammar school where I and many others were taught and influenced by him. In an Englishspeaking part of Wales, he was instrumental in helping his pupils to discover our Welsh identity and to use this as a stepping stone to a wider world community.

Islwyn was born in 1920 into a close-knit working class community in Ynyshir in the Rhondda valley. After school in the Rhondda he went to the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire (the forerunner of Cardiff University) where he obtained a first class degree. Service in the RAF intervened, ending with periods in North Africa and Italy with Bomber Command.

His hatred of war (his father had served, and his uncle had died, in the First World War) contributed to a lifetime devoted to promoting international understanding.

This began with work for the Pestalozzi Children’s Village Trust. Later, in the 1950s he set up an international friendship society. Over five years, 250 refugee children came to Wales from displacement camps in Europe staying with host families for ten weeks at a time. Islwyn attributed much of the success of this scheme to the warmth and support of the people of south Pembrokeshire.

Between 1954 and 1975 – at the height of the Cold War, he set up and ran the Pembroke International Conferences, in Pembroke and later Caerleon.

These residential international summer schools centred on a programme of lectures, debates and visits.

They attracted 80 students a year from all over Western and Eastern Europe and beyond.

Many returned a second and third time, and all were influenced by major speakers, many with international reputations such as Professor Sir Joseph Rotblat.

Islwyn Griffiths’ passion and sheer force of personality were the driving force for this work. One who attended with a group from Sarajevo remembers him as “a light that, back in the 1950s, shone to us across the whole continent, all the way to Yugoslavia”.

He was awarded the MBE for his work in 1967. In his later years he worked as a freelance translator at his home in Cardiff. An interest in children’s literature led to the translation of many Ladybird books into Welsh.

His wife, Ann, predeceased him in 2005. He leaves his beloved daughter Mair Afan Davies, son-in-law Emyr, and grandchildren Alaw, Naomi, Osian and Gwion.

GRAHAM PHILLIPS

 

Mr M S Campbell

Pembroke Dock

THE death occurred on October 6 at Withybush Hospital of Mr Malcolm Stuart Campbell of Prospect Place, Pembroke Dock. He was 62.

Originally from Glasgow, he was an ambulance driver and retired in March 2013. He was predeceased by Averil in March 2013.

Stuart adored his family, Andrew, Irene, Darren, Sophie and Daniel. He made many true friends over the years especially in the ambulance service. This was evident at the funeral with a great attendance from the ambulance service.

Stuart was a very kind man with a heart of gold, he will be dearly missed. He was unique in many ways generous, protective, hard working with a love and pride for his family.

The principal mourners and family left to mourn are Andrew (son); Irene and Darren (daughter and sonin- law); Sophie and Daniel (grandchildren); Maureen and Stephen (sister and nephew); Andrew and Elaine (brother and sister-in-law).

The funeral service was held at St Johns Church followed by interment at Llanion cemetery and was officiated by Rev Nicky Skipworth.

The bearers were Ivor Jordan, Gerynt Page, Phil Thomas, Howell Phillips, Kevin Brown and Kevin Taylor.The funeral arrangements were officiated by E C Thomas and Son, Pembroke Dock.

 

Mr J R Bacon

Milford Haven

MR John Richard Bacon (known as Maxy) of Priory Road, Milford Haven passed away at home on October 5.

He was 71.

Originally from Milford Haven he had worked at the Milford Haven Port Authority as a coxswain until retiring due to ill health.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Trudie (wife); Steven, Richard, Paul and Treena (children); Gina, Jules and Tracy (daughter-in-laws); Kevin, Chris, Maxy, Angharad, Owen- John, Adam and Laura (grandchildren); Kathleen (sister); Edward (brother); Jimmy, Pam, Sam, Pam, Tony and Virginia, John and Sian, Anita and Adrian, Stephanie and Glynn, Susan and Ian, Angela (in laws); Margaret and John Watts also Nan Hodgens (cousins); Jane and family, Melanie, Ricky, Jason and Katie (nieces and nephews); Jean and David, Sandra and James, Kenny and Pat, Lesley and Jan plus numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and carers.

The funeral service was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium and was officiated by Father Harri Williams. The bearers were Steven Bacon, Paul Bacon, Kevin Bacon and Chris Bacon. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Tom Newing and Sons, Milford Haven.

 

Mrs D A White

Formerly of Pembroke

MRS Dorothy (Dot) Anne White (nee Baker), late of Jogram Avenue, Pembroke, died peacefully at Withybush Hospital, aged 87 on October 7.

Dorothy Anne was born on March 12, 1926 to Mary Agnes, (nee Wilson) and the late Edward Charles Goodchild Baker. She was always known to family and friends as Dot. Dot’s father Ted was lost in the M1 submarine tragedy off Start Point in November 1925, four months before Dot was born, leaving her mother a widow with three infant children.

Dot was born in Paradise Row, Pembroke, moving to Mansell Avenue, Pembroke later. Dot was 13 when World War 2 started and used to tell of the whole class diving under school desks when the air raid sirens started. On leaving school she started work at the Post Office where she met Royston Eric White. Dot married Roy and their son Eric was born in 1948. They lived in Gwyther Street, Pembroke Dock for many years, where Dot worked in the dockyard.

Dot liked to look after people, and was well known locally for helping elderly friends and neighbours with their shopping and taking them to appointments. She moved to Jogram Avenue, Pembroke in later life. Sadly, Dot was left partially paralysed after a stroke and had to move into Rickeston Mill Nursing Home, Milford Haven.

She bore her suffering bravely and was always a cheerful patient. The Rickeston staff looked after her very well. Dot leaves three beloved grandsons David, Alan and Martin in Canada, and three new great grandsons.

The funeral service was held at Parc Gwyn, Narberth and was officiated by Rev Fr Harri Williams.

The mourners included grandsons, cousin, nieces, nephews and many friends.

There were family flowers only but donations if desired to The Rickeston Mill Nursing Home Activity Fund c/o Rickeston Mill, Rickeston Bridge, Milford Haven, SA73 3TJ in recognition of the staff ’s care for Dot. The funeral arrangements were by Roy Folland and Son, of Haverfordwest.

 

Mrs G M Jones

Sageston

THE death occurred at Withybush Hospital on July 19 of Mrs Gillian May Jones of Bartletts Well Road, Sageston.

She was 59.

As a native of Wiston she worked for many years as a carer at Ashdale Nursing Home and also worked as a farm hand in Chester as a young lady. She enjoyed cake decorating and crafts and spending times with her friends and family.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Chris (husband); Martin and Natalie (son and daughter-inlaw); Caden (grandson); Alfie (great grandson); Margaret and family (sister); Wyn (brother), along with close half brothers and sisters; John (cousin), and many close friends too numerous to mention.

The service was held at St Mary Magdalene Church, Wiston followed by interment at the church cemetery.

It was officiated by Rev Nicholas Cale and the bearers were Adrian and Julian Rees, Leighton and Raymond Davies, Robert Izzard and Carl Jones.

There were family flowers only with donations if so desired for Ward 10 Withybush Hospital c/o Mrs Christine Izzard, Beavers Hill Farm, Manorbier, Tenby SA70 8LQ.

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

 

Mrs S E Davies

Milford Haven (formerly of Foxhall, Llangwm)

MRS Sheila Elizabeth Davies (nee Bevan) of Smokehouse Quay, Milford Haven passed away suddenly at home on October 3. She was 71.

Originally from Foxhall, Llangwm she was educated at Haverfordwest Secondary Modern and on leaving joined United Dominions Trust where she worked for many years until their closure.

Her career took a new direction when she joined the child health department where she remained until her retirement, when she was working as a personal assistant for Dr Viphlendran.

As a teenager she was a member of Burton Youth Club and danced in the opening ceremony of the Empire Games in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff in 1958.

Her main interest was always her family and was a proud mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was predeceased by her husband Brian in 2007.

She was a devout member of St Mary’s Church, Burton, where she served on the Parochial Church Council for many years. Sheila, in her retirement, could be found as a WRVS representative on the front desk at Withybush Hospital.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Wendy and Paul (daughter and son-in-law); Martin and Julie (son and daughterin- law); Victoria and Tom (granddaughter and husband); Emily, Sophie, Callum and Bethan (grandchildren); Oliver (great grandson); Gwyn and Jean (brother and sister-in-law); Ivor (brother); Beryl and Winston (sister and brother-in-law); Bryn and Sylvia (brother and sister-in-law), plus nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and other relatives too numerous to mention.

The service took place at St Marys Church, Burton followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn Crematorium. It was officiated by reverend Marianne Osborne.

The bearers were Callum Marshall (grandson), Andrew, Phillip and Gareth Bevan (nephews).

There were family flowers only with donations in lieu if desired for St Mary’s Church, Burton c/o Mr Frank Morgan, 33 Smokehouse Quay, Milford Haven, SA73 3BD.

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