Mrs Betty Ormond

Milford Haven

MRS Betty Ormond passed away at home in Priory Road on October 3.

She was 89.

Betty was born in Goodwick, Fishguard in 1926, she had two brothers Vivian and Wyn. Vivian was killed in WW2 and Wyn died in 2010.

Betty moved to London after school to work at Midland Bank head offices and lodged with Brenda, who became a lifelong friend.

She moved back to Milford to look after her mum and dad. Ted and Betty were married in 1956, they had met on the doorstep of Milford Police Station as Ted was a milkman and Betty’s dad was Superintendent, Ben Williams (‘Super Ben’ as everyone knew him).

Betty became a housewife, a job she really enjoyed. Mark was born first but died after 24 hours then in 1961 Steven was born and they moved to Priory Road.

There they stayed until Ted passed away in 2003.

They had been married for 47 years and never a crossed word in that time.

Life was never the same.

Betty had a fall in the house about five years ago and didn’t want to go out in case she fell in the street.

Then in 2013 she had a stroke and only left the house to go to hospital now and again. She had daily visits from Western Welsh Careers, for which she was so grateful.

The funeral took place on Friday October 9 at North Road Baptist Chapel followed by interment at Milford Cemetery.

The service was carried out by Mrs Price.

Left to mourn is Steven (son).

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

 

Mr W J Cotton

Trefin

WILLIAM John Leonard Cotton passed away on October 9 at Withybush Hospital. He was a well-liked man, a generous soul and an entertaining conversationalist.

He loved his family dearly and was proud of their achievements. He is survived by his son Leonard, daughter-in-law Elspeth; grandchildren Richard, Tom and Laura; Tom’s wife Dina; Laura’s husband Mark; and great grandchildren Bronwen, Dafydd, Wyn, Rhys and Menna. He loved his wife Una dearly, who he was married to for 61 years, before her death in 2008.

John acquired a tremendous work ethic from the self-employed background of the maternal Thomas family and the paternal Cottons, and he was blessed with physical strength and stamina.

John started out life in Llanwg, a smallholding on Penlan Farm, Trefin. He was the eldest of eight children born to Emlyn and May Cotton. As he grew older, John went to live and help his grandparents John and Mary Annie Thomas in Glenfor, Trefin.

He attended Trefin school until the age of 14, when he started working as a labourer and began learning the bricklaying trade.

In March 1944 John was conscripted into the army and served with the Royal Engineers. He served in France, Belgium, India and Singapore, but never fired a shot in anger. Whilst in Singapore, his Section had a tradition that the best turnedout Private on morning parade was excused duty for the day. John often achieved this with the meticulous cleaning of his kit. This was his hallmark for life and he was always well-groomed.

After leaving the army, John worked as a bricklayer, first in Fishguard and then joining contractor Jock Allen, who was building Council Houses in Penparc. There he met Gordon Cawood, who was to later join him in his own company.

John married Una in 1947 and after the birth of son Leonard, they lived with his grandparents John and Mary until moving to Glascoed smallholding in 1957. In addition to his bricklaying jobs, John took over the Penlac smallholding. The austerity of the 1930s made a lasting impression on John. He would milk cows morning and night, worried that being a self-employed builder would not be enough.

By the mid 1960s John had bought a field in Trefin and obtained planning permission for a bungalow. This he built by acquiring materials as and when he had the money, working in the evenings and weekends. John and Una moved in to the new bungalow in October 1968. He remained there for the rest of his life.

In 1972, John’s son Leonard returned from working in London and joined the building business.

There was rapid expansion, which John was fully supportive of. In its heyday, Cottons employed over 60 people and many young local boys were trained as apprentices under his watchful eye.

John’s life was characterised by good cheer, humour and hard work.

After Una died, he lived alone, looked after by family.

He enjoyed visits from friends and neighbours and liked to keep abreast of technology.

He treasured his independence and was generous and loving to all who loved him.

The Rev Geraint Morse officiated at the funeral service at Parc Gwyn, Narberth and later at the graveside at Berea Chapel, on what would have been John’s 90th birthday.

 

Mr M Owen

Haverfordwest

THE death occurred suddenly on September 21 at Withybush Hospital of Mr Mark Owen, Gloucester Terrace, Haverfordwest. He was 44.

Mark was the youngest son of Margaret and Norman Owen, and brother to Paul and the late Samantha.

He went to Prendergast Infants and Junior schools, and later Sir Thomas Picton School and Pembrokeshire College.

He worked at Next in Haverfordwest for the past few years.

A keen sportsman he enjoyed his football and cricket and often went to watch his favourite football clubs Manchester Utd, Cardiff City and Glamorgan Cricket Club. He enjoyed helping his mother with various chores around the home, painting and decorating, prepare the meals and washed the clothes.

As an animal lover he took the dog for its daily walk, and when he found an injured bird he would bring it home and nurse it back to health, until it flew away.

He had a marvellous sense of humour he would keep others laughing for hours and always had a smile on his face. He enjoyed his music and played the guitar and piano. A keen photographer and was interested in history.

He was a healthy and active person who walked several miles each day. He sadly suffered a major heart attack suddenly and passed away at Withybush Hospital, which was a great shock to all his family. He will be sadly missed by everyone.

The principal mourners were parents Margaret (unable to attend due to sudden illness) and Norman; brother Paul; Ken and Sylvia Owen, Gwenda and Ben Davies, Dilys Saise (uncles and aunts).

Unable to attend were Geoff Davies (uncle from Penarth); Miriam Jones (aunt from Canada). Gary, Elin, Melanie, Denise, Christine, Delyth, Elizabeth and Katherine (all cousins) and David and Janet Jenkins.

The family are grateful to all relatives, neighbours and friends for their unfailing support.

The bearers were his work colleagues from Next.

Rev Chris Gilham officiated at Tabernacle Chapel, Haverfordwest with a prayer by Rev Alwyn Daniels. The interment was at Tabernacle Cemetery, Fishguard, where Mark was buried with his late sister Samantha.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Roy Folland and Son, Funeral Directors, Haverfordwest.

 

Mrs M Owen

Haverfordwest

THE death occurred suddenly on October 2 at The University Hospital of Wales, The Heath, Cardiff of Mrs Margaret Owen, Gloucester Terrace, Haverfordwest. She was 72 years old.

Margaret was the youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs Ralph Hocken, Rhiwbina, Cardiff and sister to the late Barbara who died in December 2003.

After leaving school in Cardiff, Margaret worked as a student nurse at Llandough Hospital, Cardiff.

While down on holiday in Fishguard back in 1962, Margaret first met Norman Owen and during the proceeding years they kept in touch regularly by love letters, also travelling between Fishguard and Cardiff during their courtship, over the next few years eventually getting married on October 18 1966.

After their marriage they set up home in Fishguard and their first son Paul was born in 1968. They later moved to live in Haverfordwest in 1969.

Having bought a house in Gloucester Terrace, Margaret helped with the renovation work, painting and decorating each room and everything else that needed doing and looking after a toddler. In 1971, she gave birth to second son Mark.

Margaret enjoyed going out shopping with her ‘little boys’ and when they were old enough she walked them to Prendergast Infants School everyday.

In 1980, she gave birth to a baby girl, Samantha, she was overjoyed at having a daughter.

Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with a disability, but was loved dearly. Margaret always gave her the utmost attention throughout her life.

Sadly Samantha died in 2003.

Margaret enjoyed knitting and sewing and taking the children on summer holidays at various holidays camps.

Margaret worked part time at Winch Lane Doctors Surgery as a receptionist, she was understanding and kind with patients both young and old.

Margaret’s main interest now was her family and running the home. She enjoyed reading and was particularly interested in history and archaeology.

She also enjoyed tennis and relaxing in the garden. When time allowed she would sit and watch her favourite television programmes.

She enjoyed going on holidays abroad, and Rome in particular because of its history.

Naples, Pompeii, Paris, Belgium and Oberkirch in Germany she visited many times and enjoyed every minute of it, and Cornwall she visited frequently because her ancestors came from there.

After Mark’s death on Monday September 21, Margaret was so shocked and heart broken that she suffered a brain haemorrhage the following Sunday and was taken to A and E in Withybush Hospital and then transferred to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. She could not attend her son’s funeral and sadly her life support machine was turned off and she passed away tragically on Friday October 2.

She was a happy loving wife and mother and will be missed terribly by Norman and Paul.

The principal mourners were husband Norman and son Paul; Ken and Sylvia Owen, Gwenda and Ben Davies, Dilys Saise, Geoff Davies from Penarth (brothers and sister-in-law). Unable to attend was Miriam Jones from Canada.

Gary, Elin, Melanie, Denise, Elizabeth and Katherine (nephews and nieces); David and Janet Jenkins and Ray (friends). Nieces Christine and Delyth were unable to attend.

The family are grateful for the kindness of relatives, neighbours and friends for their unfailing support.

Rev Chris Gillham officiated at the Tabernacle Chapel with a prayer by Rev Alwyn Daniels.

The interment was at Tabernacle Cemetery in Fishguard.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Roy Folland and Son, Funeral Directors, of Haverfordwest.