Mr G G John

Whitland

MR Glanville George John, affectionately known as Georgie, of Velfrey Road, Whitland passed away suddenly after a short illness at Glangwilli Hospital, Carmarthen on November 6 aged 71.

George was born in Pendine and attended Tavernspite CP School and Whitland Secondary School.

After leaving school he worked at New House Farm, Prince’s Gate and following his marriage to Lena in 1969, they both lived at Glanrhyd Farm where they had their son Barry in 1973. After the sudden death of Lena in 1975 George moved to Velfrey Road, Whitland and Barry was brought up by his auntie Val while George continued to work.

He later remarried and had a daughter Margaret in 1978.

For many years George drove for the local milk factory, delivering milk bottles to local retailers then picking up churns from farms around the county before moving on to bulk tankers.

George was always happiest when he was driving.

Over the years he owned a number of minibuses and started his own taxi business – GG Taxi’s. He drove many people around the local area and further afield. In the past he drove for various local bus companies and recently Taf Valley Coaches where he enjoyed transporting the children to school. George also drove for the Welsh Ambulance Service, taking patients to and from hospital.

Up to two weeks before he passed away he was still driving and working which is a testament to his courage during the pain he endured.

George was a great, local, larger than life character, he loved socialising, had a heart of gold, and was a great storyteller with an infectious laugh.

He was an excellent darts player and once played a friendly game against the great Cliff Lazarenko.

He was a loyal and true friend to many local people in Whitland, always willing to help and never said no.

The family left to mourn are Barry and Sarah (son and daughter-in-law); Margaret and Matthew (daughter and son-in-law); Amelia, Oscar and Gethin (grandchildren); Val (sister): Wynroe, David and Bernard (brothers); Brin (brother-in-law); Yvonne, Gareth, Kenneth, Gaynor and John, Liz, Richard and Emma, David and Hailey, Abbie, Rebecca, Emiley, Eve, Maddie, Ellie (nephews and nieces); cousins and friends too numerous to mention.

The bearers were Richard John, John Lewis and Paul Morris (nephews); Huw John (cousin); Vaughan Morgan and Colin Haycocks (friends).

The service of Remembrance was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth on November 16 and was officiated respectfully by Rev Huw George.

Donations if so desired for Colon Cancer Research may be sent to W J Kenneth Davies and Sons, Blaenwern, Clynderwen, who professionally carried out the funeral arrangements.

 

Mr J D Brock

Croesgoch

THE funeral of John Douglas Brock, of Mesur y Dorth, Croesgoch, was held in Llanrhian Church on October 19.

The service was officiated by the Revd Don MacGregor, assisted by the Revd Dr Adrian Furse.

During the service John’s two sons, Roger and Peter, and their wives, Elaine and Julia, sang the motet “Thou Knowest, Lord, the secrets of our Hearts” to music by Henry Purcell, and Roger read the poem “There is an old belief” by James Gibson Lockhart. Peter had written a personal view of his father’s life; the following is a condensed version.

John was born in Birmingham on May 7, 1930.

His early education was interrupted by evacuation, due to the war, and he went to Ashby de la Zouch Grammar School, where he began to develop his lifelong interest in canals and railways, this was followed by National Service, during which he learnt to drive a lorry and a tank, after which he went to Hereford College, Oxford, to read history.

At Hereford he was one of a small group of life-long friends, and he became Secretary of the Oxford Railway Society, much enjoying organising outings, including the first Society dinner on the move.

After Oxford, John went to work for Triumph Motorcycles where he became the Export Sales manager.

This was a job that entailed a good deal of travelling, visiting export markets all over the world.

During time at home, he met Mary and they were married in August, 1958.

Unfortunately, things were not going well for Triumph over the next few years, and redundancies looked likely.

John decided that his colleague, who had more family commitments, should have priority, so he and Mary decided to see if they could make a success of a small guest house.

Family connections brought them to Croesgoch, and the guest house years began.

Although they quickly built up a small but loyal following, it became clear that with the short summer season, they were not going to make enough to survive many winters, and so John had the idea of using his travel experience to set up a travel business, which became JMB Travel, and this soon took over their lives.

John quickly became part of the Fishguard business community, he was a founder member of the Rotary Club, and was one of the group of seven, led by Tom Marcangelo, who started Fishguard Arts Week, which later became the Fishguard Festival, which is still going strong.

John was the first secretary of the Arts Week, and was in charge of all the ticketing as well. John was unfortunate in that his retirement was spoilt by the onset of diabetes, which attacked the nerves of his feet, and gradually increased his disability until he was confined to a wheelchair. He always insisted, though, that he was not ill, merely disabled, and he continued his interest in travel via his PC, visiting all the new tram services and Underground railways that he could find, wherever in the world they might be.

This continued until his last, brief, illness.

The service in Llanrhian was followed by a brief service at the crematorium at which the family sang the motet “I heard a voice from heaven saying ‘Write’ ” to a setting by Thomas Morley, and the reading was “Take him, earth, for cherishing”.