Mr B D J Barrat BEM

Milford Haven

MR Brian David James (Dave) Barrat BEM of Great North Road, Milford Haven passed away at his home on December 5.

He was 77.

Originally from Hitchen, Herts he worked in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm as a chief petty officer on HMS Eagle, Pembrokeshire County Council Education Department and also Milford Haven Port Authority, where he retired from as a radar engineer.

His main interests included being a member of the masonry, the Old Priory Lodge, Milford Haven.

He enjoyed theatre, being one of many responsible for the building the Torch and continued helping whenever he could. He was a staunch member of St Katharine’s Stratford Players, youth and adults.

He was also a church warden at St Katharine’s and St Peter’s Church in Milford Haven for 19 years.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Vivienne Barrat (wife); Sharon Calas (daughter); Jill Barclay (daughter); Daniel Devine, Arran Devine, Kieran Barclay, Andrew Calas (grandsons); Bethan Calas (granddaughter); Jonathan Davies and Matthew Davies (stepsons); Claire Davies (step daughter-in-law); Alex Davies, Lianna Davies, Arron Davies (step grandchildren); Diana and Paul Willetts (sister and brother-in-law); Martin and Fiona Reid (brother and sister-in-law): Kian and Ryley Devine (great grandsons).

The funeral was held at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church, Milford Haven on December 17 followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn Crematorium.

It was officiated by Fr Harri Williams and the bearers were Andrew Calas, Daniel Devine, Arran Devine and Kieron Barclay.

There were family flowers only with donations in lieu to St Katharine and St Peters Church c/o Mrs Jean Stammars, 73 Shakespeare Avenue, Milford Haven SA73 2JJ.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Ton Mewing and Sons Ltd, of Milford Haven.

 

Mr D L Evans

Pennar

MR David Lloyd Evans (known as Dai) passed away on November 30 at South Pembrokeshire Hospital on the Sunderland Ward.

He was 89 and from Cross Park, Pennar.

Originally from Ferndale, Rhondda, he was an electoplater at Davies Steel Factory in Kingswood, Pembroke Dock and worked there from when the factory opened in 1947 until its closure in 1971.

His main interests were photography and gardening.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Mrs Joyce Evans (wife); James Evans (son); Andrea (daughter-in-law); Roger and Kath Russant (nephew and wife); Gerlad and Lynda Russant (nephew and wife); Susan Phillips and Teresa Hewett (nieces).

Unable to attend Arthur Russant, Clive Russant and Neil Russant (nephews) and also Valmai Davies, Ken and Liz Jones, Glynys and Glenn Baber and Linda and Sel Mort (cousins).

The service took place at Parc Gwyn Crematorium and was officiated by Rev Nicky Skipworth.

There were family flowers only.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by E C Thomas and Son, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH.

 

Mr J H Williams

Penally

MR John Harries Williams died peacefully on November 16 in Tenby.

John graduated from Cardiff University in 1965, and married Joyce the same year.

His working life began back in his beloved Pembrokeshire, introducing German teaching in Greenhill School, Tenby.

John went on to become head of modern languages in Greenhill, but was forced to take early retirement in 1997 due to ill health.

John loved teaching, and was a popular and inspiring teacher.

John was very supportive of his children and grandchildren, and often travelled around the country to hear their musical performances.

Although he did not play any instruments, he had a great love of music, and had been a member of both Tenby Male Voice Choir and the Griffin Choir.

His love of sport started as a schoolboy, when he played rugby and cricket for Haverfordwest Grammar School, and he later became a keen tennis and snooker player.

He was also fascinated by local history and spent many hours walking with Joyce on the coastal path and in the Preseli Mountains.

Although John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in his early 50’s, he refused to submit to it and never complained. He was determined it wouldn’t deter him from enjoying life to the full.

This he did as long as he was able, with the great help and care of Joyce.

John was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, and was dearly loved.

The funeral was led by family friend Stewart Treharne, and the service reflected John’s love of family, music and the spoken word.

His long-time friend, Malcolm Gunning, spoke about their friendship and his qualities as a teacher and colleague.

Rebecca and Lily, daughter and granddaughter, played Brahms’ Adagio from Sonata in D minor for violin and piano.

There was a short but eloquent eulogy from son Simon, and grandson Harry read a poem by David Harkins.

Duncan and Rebecca concluded the service playing one of John’s favourite songs, ‘My Piece of Heaven’, written by Ducan.

The funeral took place at Zoar Chapel, Llanteg on November 28 and John was interred in the adjoining graveyard.

Donations can be made to Parkinson’s UK c/o E C Thomas and Son, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

 

Mr L O’Rourke FCP

Haverfordwest

IT is with great sadness that we report Leo O’Rourke died after a very short illness peacefully in his own home on November 22.

Leo had a rich and varied life which spanned a full and fruitful 92 years.

He was born in Haverfordwest and lived his childhood as part of a large family.

His schooling began in Prendergast primary school and from there he went to Haverfordwest Grammar school.

He trained as a Hellcat pilot during WW2 with the Fleet Air Arm in the UK and then in Canada and South Africa gaining his wings in 1944.

During a period working in the County Offices after the war he became “Skip” of one of the scout troops in Haverfordwest taking a group of scouts not much younger than himself on a series of adventures in the UK and Ireland many of which he and the scouts would recount acknowledging how these times shaped and enhanced their lives.

Leo trained at Trinity College, Carmarthen and had his first teaching post at Milford Central School.

His mode of transport was either the push bike or his beloved “bug ” a three–wheeler post-war Morgan sports car.

Having met and married Rachel, they settled into married life for over 20 years with their children James and Enfys at St Ishmaels Primary School, where Leo was appointed as Headteacher in 1952.

Whilst in the village school, Leo proved to be progressive and inventive, especially in his development of an environmental science curriculum with annual school camps at St Brides and the installation of one of the first school swimming pools in Wales.

Leo was awarded the FCP in recognition of his enlightened teaching methods.

He was chair of the Skomer Island Trust, an RDC councillor and a deacon and secretary of Sandy Hill Baptist Chapel.

Leo was also instrumental in the development of the Langton Christian Centre and in organising the annual Baptist Singing Festival in Bethesda Haverfordwest.

His Christian faith underpinned all that he did as he revelled in his love of nature and the natural surroundings of Pembrokeshire.

After the years spent at St.

Ishmaels, Leo was appointed Headteacher at Prendergast Junior School.

The family moved to Haverfordwest and Leo was active in numerous town societies and organisations which included the Arts Club.

Leo was known as a great natural raconteur who enjoyed nothing more than entertaining others with tales of his experiences throughout his life. Often these reminiscences included bouts of great humour and self-depreciating anecdotes with relevant accents and actions.

One of the surprises of his later life was the reconnection made with his fellow war veterans who traced him back to Haverfordwest.

He enjoyed many weekend gatherings around Britain when they would meet up and recall their days of training together. He also took great pleasure in meeting with the Haverfordwest ACA (air crew association).

Leo will be remembered for being a kind, wise and fairminded man who stood for what he considered to be right and honourable.

He was his own man – “a can do man”- who would see his ideas through to the end working day and night to ensure the job got done and his ideas found fulfilment.

He kept his sense of humour and stoic regard for life and living to the end.

Great kindness was shown to Leo and the family by Winch Lane Surgery, Winch Lane District nurses, Crossroads , Pembrokeshire Care, Croeso Care and towards the very end of his life, Paul Sartori in helping him fulfill his desire to spend his last days in his own home with Rachel, his dear wife and companion of 62 years.

Donations to “Friends of Crossroads in Pembrokeshire”

or Paul Sartori in memory of Leo should be sent to W.G Bernard Mathias, Funeral Directors, 62 New Street, St.Davids, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6S, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

 

Mrs H Carty

Fishguard

THE funeral took place at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth on December 23 of Mrs Hilary Carty who passed away peacefully on December 16 at Withybush Hospital.

Hilary was born in Fishguard in 1936, the only daughter of Jack and Katie Evans.

Following a move to Saffron Walden to undertake teacher training, Hilary returned to Fishguard where she met Ivor Carty, whom she married in 1960.

Hilary and Ivor made their home in PlasyFron, Fishguard with their two children, Denise and Paul.

The family enjoyed travelling and spent three years in Cyprus where they made many long term friendships.

Hilary was a very creative lady enjoying painting, dressmaking and fashion as well as spending many hours in her garden.

Hilary will be sadly missed by all of the many people that knew her.

The principal mourners were Denise and Jeff (daughter and son-in-law), Paul and Emma (son and daughter-inlaw), Susan, Jez and Terry (niece and family).

Unable to attend was Michael Moone (cousin).

There were family flowers only with donations, as desired, to Withybush Hospital CDU Appeal.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Paul Jenkins and Son, Fishguard.