Mr D A Cooke

Milford Haven

Formerly of Cardiff

THE funeral of Denis Cooke took place on December 22 at Parc Gwyn.

He died peacefully with his family at his side on December 15 at Torestin Nursing Home, after a short illness and having been cared for by Ward 12 at Withybush Hospital.

He was 92 years old.

The service was attended by family, friends and a contingent from Hakin Point R.N.L.I. of which Denis was a founder member and keen supporter. His dedication to the cause is being honoured posthumously by the R.N.L.I.’s highest award of the Gold Badge.

Denis was born in 1923 and brought up in Canton, Cardiff and from the age of 14 he worked in and around the Docks, now known as Cardiff Bay.

He joined the Royal Navy and served during World War II with the British Coastal Forces patrolling the English Channel picking up Secret Agents and identifying the fast fleet and submarines of the German Navy. His military service also took him to North Africa and Malta where, at the bombing of Sliema Harbour, he was fortunate to escape with his life.

In 1942 he was involved in the Dieppe raids.

In 1960 he moved to Milford Haven with Cory Ship Towage, accompanied by his new wife, Margaret, and they made their home in the newly built John Lewis Street.

Denis continued to work at Cory’s until his retirement but also had a spell as Steward at Pembrokeshire Yacht Club.

Denis was a keen rugby fan.

Having supported Cardiff in his youth, he changed his allegiance to Milford Haven RFC where he served many years as a committee member.

However, his first passion was the sea and he spent many years sailing competitively from Pembrokeshire Yacht Club. He also served as a member of the Milford Haven Lions Club and was a familiar voice as compere of the annual Donkey Derby.

Donations for the R.N.L.I. are being received by Tom Newings Funeral Directors, Milford Haven, who also carried out the funeral arrangements or direct to John Haughey at Hakin Point R.N.L.I. 12 Hayston Avenue, Hakin SA73 3EB.

The principal mourners are Elizabeth, Simon and Louise (children); their spouses Brian, Louise and Steve; Evan (grandson); Robert, Louise, Jack and Lois (step grandchildren); and Joshua (great grandson).

 

Mrs R M Jones

Haverfordwest

MRS Roma Mary Jones passed away at Withybush Hospital on January 1. She was 96.

Originally from Southampton, she went to the Clerks Business and Secretarial College and won a gold medal in proficiency.

Roma was married to Alan Jones and they had five children.

They later moved to Haverfordwest. Sadly Alan passed away not long after they moved to Haverfordwest.

Roma lived life to the full and travelled often to many places around the world.

She very much enjoyed gardening and planted many trees on land around her house. She had an extensive knowledge of plants and all their varieties and these trees will grow on in her memory.

Roma passed away leaving five children David, Nicholas, Simon, Sarah and Mary She had ten grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

The service was held at Parc Gwyn on January 11.

 

Mr R T Jones

Johnston

MR Robert Thomas Jones of Glebelands, Johnston passed away in hospital after a week on the ICU Ward on January 4. He was 79.

Originally from Mountain Ash, after the war he moved to Haverfordwest to the Drill Hall in 1954. His father Dai Jones ran the British Legion and Conservative Club in Milford and then the Lower Three Crowns and the Bridgend in Haverfordwest.

He married Doris Jones (nee John) in 1958.

During his working life he was a painter and decorator but retired due to ill health in 1981. He was predeceased by Doris in 2015.

His interests included reading, writing, drawing, crosswords and TV. He was a founder of Withybush Pain and Support Group for 18 years.

The family left to mourn are Gaynor and Gary (daughter and partner); Shawn and Karen (son and partner); Sharon (daughter); Jane and Chris (daughter and sonin- law); Lee and Suzannah, Kirsty and Kris, Scott, Hannah, Andrew, Nikki, Sophie, Amy and Ellie, and Korben (grandchildren); Brandon, Ethan and Zak (great grandchildren); David and Carol (brother and sister-in-law).

The funeral service was held at Parc Gwyn and was officiated by Father Jeffrey Gwyther. Kirsty Roberts (granddaughter) read a poem.The bearers were Shawn Jones (son); Lee Roberts (grandson); Scott Murray (grandson); Hannah Jones (granddaughter); Andrew Murray (grandson); Amy Rees (granddaughter).

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Andrew Rees of Portfield Gate.

 

Mr D Evans

The Rhos

ON January 6, David Evans passed away in Kingston Hospital, Middlesex.

David was born at The Flat at Picton Farm in November 1946 and later lived at Red Houses, The Rhos. He was educated at The Rhos Primary School and later at Haverfordwest Grammar School.

He joined the CEGB as an apprentice power plant operator in 1965. After completing his apprenticeship he joined the newly built Gulf Oil Refinery in 1968 as an operator, where he progressed to become a Shift Supervisor in the operating department.

In 1972 he married Eirys in St David’s Cathedral and they later had their two children Gary and Caroline.

In 1981 he took an operating supervisor post in Oman at the country’s then only refinery.

Returning to the UK in 1989 David took up his final employment as Plant Operations Manager at the London office of the engineering company WorleyParsons. Here he specialised in all types of refinery process units from refinery, gas plants, sulphur removal to LNG plants.

Throughout his 23 years plus with his London employer he travelled extensively to most European countries, the Middle East, USA, South America, North and South Africa.

From an early age David had a love of astronomy and took great pleasure in stargazing through his telescope.

Many nights were spent viewing the rings of Saturn and moons of Jupiter with the family under the instruction of ‘Dad’ and Patrick Moore.

David was passionate about his rugby, having played at county level. He also enjoyed many Welsh victories at the national stadium and watching club and international matches at Twickenham with Eirys and Gary. Later, on returning to The Rhos, he took great pleasure in maintaining and enhancing their woodland.

He leaves to mourn his devoted wife Eirys; Gary and Julie; (son and daughter-inlaw); Caroline and Clement (daughter and son-in-law) and beloved grandson Dylan; mother Winnie; John and Christine (brother and sister-in-law); nephews Robert, Tom and Jonathan, Mabs and John, Joy and Phil, Tony and Mair, Mel and Norma (sisters-in-law and brothersin- law) and his many much loved nephews and nieces.

Many of his friends and past work colleagues attended the funeral to pay their respects to a well regarded and much loved man.

The bearers were his nephews Robert Evans, Thomas Evans, Robert Evans and Dyfrig Evans. Donations in lieu to Princess Alice Hospice, c/o donations West End Lane, Esher,Surrey KT10 8NA.

The service was officiated by Rev Martyn Evans and Rev Mark Griffiths, with organist Sharon Gillespie.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Roy Folland and Sons of Haverfordwest.

 

Mr R D Lloyd

Pembroke

MR Raymond Dix Lloyd passed away peacefully at his home in Golden Hill, Pembroke on November 27 after a short battle with cancer. He was 82.

Raymond was born in Milton Terrace, Pembroke Dock in 1933 to Florence and Hubert and was the youngest of three children.

Leaving school at the age of 14, he secured employment in the dockyard later training as a joiner. He was to become a skilled craftsman and furniture maker, a favoured hobby which he pursued well into later years.

Although he lived for much of his life in Pembroke, Raymond was always fiercely proud of his Pembroke Dock heritage and considered himself very much a son of the town. He played with pride in the Quin’s trophy winning teams of 1954, 55 and 56 and his pace on the wing contributed in no small part to the success of that fine local side. It was that pace which brought him the Pembrokeshire Athletics Championship 100 yards title in 1952 in a time of 10.2 seconds. He remained a lifelong member of Pembroke Dock Harlequins.

Raymond met his wife Lynda in Carmarthen in 1958.

They married in 1959 setting up home in Trinity Road, Pembroke Dock. In the 1960s he enjoyed a change of career joining the civil service, firstly with the Ministry of Defence in Manorbier and thereafter with the D.H.S.S.

at Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock, where he remained until his retirement in 1986. In between times Ray and Lynda ran a shop in Station Road, Pembroke and a B & B on the Chain Back.

Raymond was a keen amateur bird watcher throughout his life and always strove to inspire his children and grandchildren with his love of the natural world. He was also an ardent sports enthusiast particularly passionate about rugby and athletics. He maintained a high level of physical fitness right up until recent times and became something of a local fixture walking the streets of Pembroke Dock and the woods at Imble, boyhood haunts that meant so much to him.

Given his apparent inexhaustible vitality and an energy which belied his advancing years his illness, when it came, was shocking and without warning. He was a man who took old age quite literally in his stride and the example he set will never be forgotten by those who knew and loved him. He will be sorely missed.

The family left to mourn are Lynda (wife); Richard and Peter (sons); Sian and Helen (daughters-in-law); John, Tom, Rachel and Alice (grandchildren); Dennis and Gwyneth (brother and sister); Vicki (sister-in-law); Simon and Sarah (nephew and niece).

The funeral was held at Parc Gwyn and the funeral arrangements were carried out by John Roberts and Son, of Pembroke Dock.