Mr R A Morse

Wolfscastle

THE death occurred on April 26 of Robert Anthony Morse of Swn-y-Dail, Wolfscastle after a long illness. He was 58.

Born and brought up in Wolfscastle he was the son of Elfryn and the late June Morse. Elfryn was unable to attend the funeral.

Robert was a well known businessman running a successful business as a blacksmith and steel fabricator.

Robert enjoyed golf and fishing but his biggest enjoyment was car rallying winning many events over the years.

The love of his black BMW was used to carry him to his final resting place driven by long-term friend Tyssel Jenkins.

A large gathering of family, friends and neighbours attended the funeral on Saturday May 9 at Pen-y-Bont Chapel, Wolfscastle.

The service was officiated by Rev Geoff Eynon and a reading was given by Sharon George.

The bearers were close friends Brian Davies, Mike John, Lloyd George, Dai Williams, Steve Roblin, Chris Durley and Keigh Davies.

The carers from Croeso Care gave help, care and friendship during Roberts illness.

Robert spent many years associated with the Samaritans and donations towards them can be sent to Rossiter and Sons, Funeral Director, The Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

 

Mr R R James

Johnston

THE funeral took place on May 5 of Richard Roy James, The Close, Johnston.

Born in Johnston, Roy was an electrical engineer by trade, starting his career with the MOD at Pembroke Dockyard, and subsequently joined Baker Perkins as an engineer travelling around the country installing bakery equipment before settling at the Wonderloaf Bakery in Johnston, ending up as bakery production manager.

He then went into partnership at Shorehouse Bakery, Pembroke Dock, with Dennis Moran, Billy Hier and the late John Tapley.

He took a keen interest in village activities and was caretaker of the village institute for many years.

He enjoyed going out for daily walks about the village and took time to talk to everybody.

He could instantly recall stories, events and changes in the village that occurred over many years.

A family man, he leaves to mourn a wife, three children and four grandchildren to whom he was devoted.

There was a large gathering of family, friends, neighbours and past work colleagues at Johnston Church where a moving eulogy was read out by daughter Lucy.

The principal mourners were Yasmin (wife); Lucy and Gerald (daughter and sonin- law); Melanie and Vinny (daughter and son-in-law); Richard and Karolina (son and partner); Leonie, Theo, Oliver and Stella (grandchildren); Bryn and Margaret James (brother and sister-inlaw); Phyllis (sister-in-law); Tom Clancy (brother-in-law); Jacqui (sister-in-law and Eliot Moore.

He also leaves to mourn many cousins, nephews, nieces and great nephews and nieces. The bearers were Neil James, Herbie Rees, Kenny Jenkins, Dennis Moran and Stephen Jenkins.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Frank Newing of Milford Haven.

 

J Ritchie

Pembrokeshire

WHEN Julia Ritchie died on January 16, from a short battle against cancer, the speech and language therapy profession lost an inspiring, innovative and tenacious therapist, and many of us lost a compassionate and creative friend.

Julia studied at what is now University College London and took her first post in Maidstone with a particular interest in stroke and voice.

She then moved to the Medway Towns, where ultimately she became director of speech and language therapy in North Kent. She managed a staff of 80 with Val Levens, it was the largest department in the country at that time.

Julia’s ability to pull together an excellent team of people has always been her hallmark.

With her eye firmly set on a better horizon for patients, she steered her team to achieve a charter mark for the department.

She completed a masters in Health Psychology at City University. This gave her the background to combine her skills in voice therapy with management techniques in stress and coping, providing training and education to a wide range of professionals in both health and university settings. She had a strong commitment to Ulster University as placement and then associate lecturer.

This allowed her to influence generations of SLTs, all of whom speak so highly of how she inspired them to seek the best service for their patients.

Her commitment to the very best of standards was acknowledged at the highest level when she was awarded an MBE for Services to Health Care in 1988. She also worked strategically at a national level when appointed as SLT advisor at the Department of Health.

Julia always practised the ‘can do’ philosophy. She looked for and always found the bigger picture. She had a low tolerance for people who adhered to petty rules and whose thinking was narrow and introspective. Her irreverent anecdotes were the source of much dinner party hilarity.

When her father died, she decided to change her lifestyle and to move home to her beloved Pembrokeshire. Her boundless energy and vitality were channelled into interests where she converted a barn, built a pottery, bought a yacht, created ceramics, designed jewellery, travelled extensively, played the cello and sang in the choir. She also gave time, skill and energy to co-found Speech Link Multimedia Ltd. This company delivers an innovative package that provides assessment, intervention and measured outcomes to help speech, language and communication needs within the classroom.

This has been developed into Infant, Junior and secondary Language Links. Last year, more than 70,000 pupils benefitted from screening.

This work characterises Julia’s lifelong passion to help the lives of socially disadvantaged, communicationimpaired children. Through Speech Link, she travelled extensively in Australia and the Middle East.

She was also greatly valued in her role as a school governor and served a full term as therapies member on the Pembrokeshire Local Health Board.

Julia was truly interested in people and cherished the many, varied friendships she made. She was kind, funny and possessed great personality and heart. Her ability to convey empathy and understanding was profound.

Throughout her short illness, she faced her death with the same graciousness and honesty with which she lived her life. She was deeply moved by the letters, cards, flowers and phone calls from friends all over the world.

She died knowing how much she was loved and respected by friends, family and colleagues alike. She passed away on her beloved Ford Farm, in the embrace of her family. Left to mourn are her mother, Anne, her sister, Alison, and brother-in-law Phil.

 

Mr H B John

Haverfordwest

HOWELL passed away peacefully at his home in Scarrowscant Lane, Haverfordwest following a short illness on May 25 aged 83.

He was born in Albert Street, Haverfordwest and later moved to Portfield Avenue.

A devoted family man he leaves to mourn Anita (wife;) Julie (daughter); Nigel and Caroline (son and daughter- in-law); grandchildren Hayley, Timothy, Daniel and three great grandchildren and close family members Richard and Kate.

Following National Service with the RAF he worked with the South Wales Electricity Board as an electrician for over 30 years and later transferred to work at Texaco Refinery where he retired.

Howell was also a retained fireman with Pembrokeshire Fire Brigade.

A kind and generous man Howell was always willing to help others and this was reflected by his many friends who attended the funeral which took place at Parc Gwyn Crematorium on June 2.

There were family flowers only with donations in lieu to Wales Air Ambulance c/o Mr Michael Jenkins 35, Scarrowscant Lane, Haverfordwest.

The bearers were Timothy and Daniel (grandsons), Ian Jenkins (nephew) and Richard Lewis (grandson-in-law).

The service was officiated by Revered Father Marcus Zipperlen.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by FG Rees and Son Portfield Gate Haverfordwest.

 

Mrs G Durston

1932 to 2015

Tribute from the British Red Cross

IT was for her work with the British Red Cross that Georgina will be most remembered in Pembrokeshire.

It was to play a huge and significant part of her life combined with her role as a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Georgina was born in Clogher, Northern Ireland to Thomas and Bella Kenny.

She married Tudor Durston in 1958 and they settled in St Davids. They had three children.

Georgina soon commenced her career with the Red Cross and taught first aid and child care courses at Ysgol Dewi Sant and was Cadet Officer for the Red Cross from 1962 and 1967, Commandant from 1970-1977. As volunteer nursing and training officer she drove more than 20,000 miles around Pembrokeshire.

Georgina was an effective and popular provider of industrial first aid and training in Pembrokeshire. This in total represented an amazing 52 years of service with the Red Cross.

A greatly deserved accolade came in 2003 when Georgina received the ‘Beacon Award’ for her exceptional philanthropic endeavours to the Red Cross. ‘Beacon’ is a charitable initiative that recognises individuals who are an inspiration to others.

There can be few other people who qualify for this award and it reflected the esteem in which Georgina was held within the wider community in Pembrokeshire.

There is no doubt that Georgina was an exceptional lady, she crossed all boundaries and had no prejudices and no favourites.

To her family she was a very special person, to her colleagues she was loyal and supportive, to all other members of society she ‘always there’.