Mr J Saunders

Pembroke

PEACEFULLY on July 3 following a short stay in hospital, Mr John Saunders of Pembroke passed away with his loving family by his side.

John was brought up in Monkton, Pembroke, the eldest son of the late Victor and Margaret Saunders; brother to June and the late David Saunders. John served his time as a fitter with Govan Davies, Pembroke before going into the family business as a cattle dealer and wholesale butcher.

John met his wife Doreen at The Railway Inn, Pembroke, they married in 1963. John and Doreen went on to have three children, Helen, Victor and Emma and six grandchildren, Neal, Kelly, Gareth, Dean, Sam and Jack.

John was a member of The Pembroke Round Table, raising money for local charities in his younger days. He also enjoyed fishing, gardening, cooking, reading and crosswords and had a great love of rugby, playing for Pembroke RFC as a young man.

John was a devoted husband, loving father and treasured granddad who will be greatly missed by his family and very many friends.

Left to mourn are Doreen (wife) Helen and Tony (daughter and son-in-law) Victor and Denise (son and daughter-in-law) Emma (daughter) Neal, Kelly, Gareth, Dean, Sam and Jack (grandchildren) together with many other family members.

The funeral took place on July 17 with a service at Monkton Priory Church officiated by The Rector Rev Paul Nash followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn.

The bearers were his nephews Richard Saunders, Victor Saunders, Robert Saunders, Brinley Skeels, Phillip Colley, Andrew Skeels and Robert Skeels.

Unable to attend were his sister, June and brother-inlaw, Hugh.

Donations in lieu in memory of John for The Critical Care Unit at Withybush Hospital may be sent to John Roberts and Son, 51 Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, SA72 6AN, who carried out the arrangements.

 

Mrs J E Thomas

Llanreath

THE death occurred on June 29 at Morriston Hospital, Swansea of Mrs Joan Elizabeth Thomas of Orielton Terrace, Llanreath, Pembroke Dock. She was 77.

Originally from Pembroke Dock, Joan’s working career began as a ledger clerk at T P Hughes and Son in Tenby and then as a secretary at Lowless and Lowless solicitors in Pembroke Dock. After having her three children, Joan returned to work as a nursery nurse at both Albion Square School and Pembroke Dock Nursery School, where she remained until she retired.

Joan shared a love of gardening with Roy and they spent many hours together attending to their garden.

She was an active member of the sisterhood in Carew Wesley Methodist Church and regularly attended Sunday service at church with Roy.

She was also a member of the Friends of South Pembrokeshire Hospital and regularly attended coffee mornings and other fundraising events.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Royden Thomas (husband); Neil and Karen Thomas (son and daughter-in-law); Teresa and Nigel Eastwood (daughter and son-in-law); Karen and Rob Woollacott (daughter and son-in-law); Gemma, Carly, Rhys and Cerys, Rebecca and Ben (grandchildren); Margaret Stephens (sister).

The funeral took place at Carew Wesley Chapel followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn. It was officiated by Revd Lorette Hinson and the bearers were Robert Woollacott, Nigel Eastwood, Max Hayward, Sam Delacruz, Brian Rattle and Ian Stephens.

Donations for the British Heart Foundation c/o E C Thomas and Son, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

 

Mrs P J Meyrick

Lydstep

MRS Pauline Joyce Meyrick of Manor Farm, Lydstep died on July 21 at Withybush Hospital aged 81. Predeceased by her husband Reginald (Reggie), children Roger and Faith she is survived by children Caroline, John, Simon and Mark and her grandchildren Abigail, Isabel, Georgina, Laurie, David, Lily and Thomas, brother Brian and wife Margaret, son-inlaw Lynn, daughters-in-law Anne and Louise plus many other family members and friends.

Pauline was born in Pembroke and on marriage to Reggie moved to Manor Farm, Lydstep where in addition to raising a family of six she helped on the farm and ensured that her children understood that honesty, hard work and politeness were very important, instilling in them all strong family values.

She converted the farm cottages as holiday lets and once again put everything into ensuring that her guests were comfortable and lacked for nothing during their stay.

The fact that many of these guests have returned for over 20 years and some attended her funeral or sent condolences is testament to the fact that she succeeded.

Her funeral took place at St James’ Church, Manorbier on August 3 with Reverend Alex Grace officiating.

The bearers were John, Simon, Mark, Nigel, Adrian and David. The eulogy was given by Simon and a poem was read by Lynn. Donations to Guide Dogs for the Blind or Paul Sartori Foundation.

 

Mrs T Gordon

Freshwater

East WHEN Teresa first came to visit Pembrokeshire back in the early seventies to see her then boyfriend and husband of 41 years Nick, she was so taken by the beauty of the county and the pleasantness of the people that she made herself a promise. One day she would return to live in the county permanently.

Teresa, who died in London aged 68 on August 5 after treatment at The Royal Marsden hospital, kept that promise, though it took another thirty years or so to fulfil it.

In 2005, she and Nick moved from their home in London and one of the first decisions she made was to walk the length of the coastal path from Poppit Sands to Amroth.

Teresa, whose parents were from West Cork in Ireland, was raised in London. She came from a large Irish family, and had three brothers and two sisters. Teresa went to university in Manchester where she graduated in English and American Literature and then spent a further year in London training to be a teacher. She met her husband Nick, not in London, nor in Pembrokeshire, but in Africa.

Both she and Nick had been selected by Voluntary vice Overseas to spend a year in Sudan teaching English. Though it was a tough posting, she thrived in this hostile environment and left her mark on the small town on the White Nile where she spent the year.

Teresa married in 1974 and had three children, twins John and James, and five years later, Matthew.

John, the elder twin, graduated from Oxford University with a first and is now a lawyer working for Linklaters, one of London’s ‘magic circle’ law firms. James, a graduate of Edinburgh University, is a former BBC journalist who is now a public relations consultant. James is due to marry on August 29. He is the father of Teresa’s only grandchild, Gabriella. Matthew, a philosophy graduate from Liverpool University, speaks Mandarin fluently and is currently working in China where he is a consultant expert on Anglo-Sino relations.

Teresa spent her professional life teaching children.

She started as a secondary school teacher at a tough south London comprehensive where her pupils included radio personality Danny Baker. After her children had gone to secondary school, she resumed her career, retraining to be a teacher of the deaf. She spent many happy years in Greenwich, southeast London, at James Wolfe School, and made many friends there.

When she retired, she and Nick, a Fleet Street journalist and author, travelled the world, visiting China, Africa and India. But her real passion was for walking. She was a member of Pembrokeshire Ramblers and endured many a Saturday or Sunday plodding around Pembrokeshire in wind, rain and occasional sun.

Teresa was also a great joiner-in. She was a member of a book club based in Lamphey and the peninsula, attended muscle-crunching sessions of Pilates for many years in Pembroke town hall, and worked out at the gym in Pembroke.

She made friends wherever she went: in London, in Sudan, in Wales. She possessed that rare talent of being able to raise people’s spirits. She had a wonderful sense of humour and a way of making people feel comfortable and good about themselves.

Teresa attended St Joseph’s Church in Monkton on a regular basis and her funeral was held there on Friday, August 14. There was a cremation afterwards at Narberth and then a lunch at the Castlemead Hotel in Manorbier.

Mourners attended from Ireland, England, Tanzania and Pembrokeshire.

The service was officiated by Fr Patrick-Fitzgerald Lombard and the principal mourners were Nick (husband); John, James and Matthew (sons); and Mabs, Rona, Finbar and Terence (sisters and brothers).

Mourners were requested to make donations to charities of their own choice. Arrangements were carried out by W and M J Rossiter and Sons of Tenby.

 

Mrs S Taylor

Pembroke Dock

MRS Sheila Taylor of St Patricks Road, Pembroke Dock passed away at Withybush Hospital on July 27. She was 79.

As a native of Pembroke Dock she enjoyed gardening, reading going to gardening shows. Also going to lunch with friends and family.

She was predeceased by her husband Joseph Taylor.

The family left to mourn and principle mourners are Wendy, Martin and Joanne (daughters and son); Kara, Jake, Cain, Tate and Harley (grandchildren); Indy and Romy (great grandchildren); Margaret (sister).

The service was held at Parc Gwyn and was officiated by Rev Roger Jones.

Donations for McMillan Nurses can be forwarded to E C Thomas and Son, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

 

Mrs J E Davison

Pembroke

MRS June Elizabeth Davison of Elm Grove, Pembroke passed away at the age of 70 at Withybush Hospital on July 19.

Originally from Begelly, June worked in the Tenby Laundry in her early years, she also worked on the land, setting and picking potatoes, after the children had grown up she worked for social services working as a home carer up until retiring then dedicating her time to home and her grand and great grandchildren.

Her main interests were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are William John Davison (husband); Tracey and Paul Griffiths, Tina and Paul Wheeler (daughters); Lee and Carly Davison (son); Darren Griffiths, Rhys Griffiths, Craig Wheeler, Liam Wheeler, Noah Davison, Niall Davison (grandsons); Ricky Griffiths, Shayla Griffiths, Darcy Griffiths (great grandchildren).

The service was held at Parc Gwyn and was officiated by Revd Canon Roger Jones. The bearers were Darren and Rhys Griffiths, Craig and Liam Wheeler.

Donations to Sclerodermh Society can be sent to E C Thomas and Son, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth who also carried out the funeral arrangements