Mrs D Lewis

Haverfordwest

MRS Dorothy Beryl Lewis formerly known as Beryl Haddock, died peacefully at home on May 19 and her funeral took place at Parc Gwyn on June 3, officiated by Rev Mark Griffiths.

She was born Dorothy Beryl Williams in 1937 at Maen Dewi Farm, St David’s one of four children. She attended St Davids Church School and later St Davids Grammar School. At the age of 16, Beryl enrolled on a catering course in Cardiff, following which she took up a catering admin appointment at Worcester Royal Infirmary in 1956. In 1958 she moved to a similar appointment at Carmarthen Priory Hospital and in 1958 joined the staff at the ladies training college in Swansea again in the catering department.

In 1966 Beryl moved to Llanelli as catering manageress for four hospitals and eventually moved to Swansea City Council responsible for the meals on wheels service.

Beryl married Ken Haddock in 1977. They were happily married until Ken tragically passed away in 1981. During this period they set up home in Roch. Following Ken’s death Beryl became a receptionist at Dr Bowen’s Surgery in Market Street, Haverfordwest.

She became Practice Manager and remained with the practice as it grew and moved to St Thomas Green.

Beryl met Derek in 1995 both sharing a love for bowling.

They married in January 2016, having been together for 21 years. She was a member of the Haverfordwest Bowls Club, became Ladies Captain, Ladies County President and was also a Trustee of the club. Previously Beryl has been a member of Roch Choir and was an active member in the Paul Sartori Foundation in its early days.

Beryl was always positive and even when life was difficult she was an inspiration to many. It was so sad that Beryl and Derek’s plans were cut short by her illness and premature death, but she faced it all with great courage and left her mark on many who respected and admired her.

Beryl had no children, but will be greatly missed by Derek, Anna (stepdaughter) and brother David, along with other members of both families.

Donations to League of Friends, Withybush Hospital via Bernard Mathias, Funeral Director, St Davids.

Mrs J L Lawrie

Milford Haven

THE funeral took place on Monday June 6 at St Katherine and St Peter’s Church of Joyce Lilian Lawrie aged 92 of Mount Pleasant Way. She died peacefully in Withybush Hospital on May 24.

She was born in 1923 in Bow, East London where her parents ran a dairy. Her life changed dramatically with the onset of World War 2. Her parents could not leave London therefore her two younger brothers were evacuated to the country. Joyce decided to assist with the war effort and enlisted into the WRENS. Her training took place in Pwllheli Naval Training Camp in North Wales. There she met her husband Ron who was training to join the Navy.

It was love at first sight and they married in 1945 just as the war ended. Ron had a reserved occupation in the Post Office in Milford Haven, his home, so together they made this the family home. Housing after the war was scarce, therefore new families had to share. This lead to a life-long friendship in Coombs Drive with Esme Howells now 101.

Joyce devoted her life to her family, her husband Ron suffered ill health from his midforties, but she never ceased to care for him until his death in 2010. They had just celebrated 65 years of a very loving and devoted marriage.

She was at her happiest surrounded by her much loved children, grandsons and her adored great granddaughter Evie Joy. She will be dearly missed.

She was laid to rest with her husband in Thornton Cemetery Milford Haven.

The family left to mourn are Paul (son); Jill (daughter); Valerie (daughter-in-law); Bob (son-in-law); grandsons Andrew (partner Thomas); Robert (wife Lara); Toby (partner Caroline); and Robin; great granddaughter Evie Joy; brother John; niece Ann and sister-in-law Iris. Joyce’s youngest brother Richard emigrated to Canada after the war so could not attend the funeral.

Rev Fr Harri Williams officiated the service, grandsons Robert and Toby helped bear the coffin and Toby and Robin made a speech about their grandmothers life based on extracts taken from facebook tributes.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Roy Folland and Son of Haverfordwest and donations can be made to British Heart Foundation, Greater London House, 180 Hampstead Road, London NW1 7AW.

Mr P J Irving

Fishguard

MR Phillip John Irving of Fishguard, passed away peacefully at Withybush Hospital on May 23 with his wife, Kathy, at his bedside. Aged 75, he had fought a brave battle with cancer.

Born and raised in Haverfordwest, he and Kathy met when they both worked for Rediffusion, and then moved to Fishguard when they married in 1971.

Phil’s main passion was building and flying radio controlled model aircraft and he had been a member of the Haverfordwest Model Club since the 1970’s. However, upon establishing a TV Sales and Service business at West Street in 1984 he was unable to be as active in the hobby as he would have liked.Other interests were walking, both in the countryside and along the coast, taking a special interest in wildlife, also trying some bird watching. An animal lover, he especially took great joy in the cats which set up home with him.

He was passionate about classical music to which he listened daily. Concerts were attended whenever possible, even on holidays abroad, which he and Kathy both enjoyed.

Following retirement in 2002 sporadic ill health became a problem, but this did not prevent him from continuing with his various interests.However, in 2009 a cancer diagnosis made life a little more difficult, but latterly DIY took over and he continued to work on renovating and decorating the house at West Street.

The funeral service was on May 31 at the Chapel of Rest, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn and was officiated by the Rev Terry Broadhurst.

Donations to Fishguard Health Centre or Cancer Research UK c/o Paul Jenkins and Sons, Funeral Directors, Feidr Castell, Fishguard SA65 9BB, who carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mrs E H John

Milford Haven

MRS Emma Hilda John of Milford Haven passed away at Rostley Care Home on May 25. She was 96.

Having a large family did not leave Hilda much free time, but she was a keen knitter, and won many competitions for the wonderful garments she created. After joining pensioners clubs she enjoyed playing bingo, day trips and holidays with her friends.

Until two years ago she lived in Hilton Avenue, her home of 65 years. Due to ill health she moved into Rostley, where she quickly became popular with the staff, thanks to her happy nature.

Devoted to her family, she was never happier than when they were around her.

She was predeceased by her husband Harold Victor John in 1979.

The family left to mourn are Anita Wonnacott, Eira and Sid Price, Margaret McCallan, Elaine Evans, Avril and Mervyn Davies (daughters and sons-in-law); David and Sheila John (son and daughter- in-law); Marc Thompson (grandson); John and Sally, Suzanne and Andy, David, Sarah and Peter, Jayne, Ian and Louise, Clare, Katie and Dai, Laura, Marc and Kelly, Adam, Ashley, Oliver (grandchildren and spouses); Rachelle, Danielle, Nathan, Rhiannon, Lauren, Ryan, Emma, Christopher, Lucy, Beth, Daniel, James, Ollie, Lacey (great grandchildren); Ioan, Tomas, Regi, Kayleb, Arya (great great grandchildren); Yvonne Oriel (sister); Mary John and Ruby John (sisters-in-law); plus nieces and nephews too numerous to mention.

The funeral service was held at St Katharines and St Peters Church, followed by interment at Milford Haven Cemetery. It was officiated by Father Harri Williams.

The bearers were David John (son); John Price, Ian McCallan, Marc Thompson, Adam Davies (grandsons), Ryan Thomas (great grandson).

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

Mr J B Russell FRICS

Pembroke

JOHN Russell was born in 1925 in Somerset, the youngest of three sons. The family including brothers Roy and David returned to Pembroke soon after John was born as his father was forced to retire as a bank manager due to his First World War injuries.

They moved to Castle View, directly opposite the Pembroke castle gates.

John left the County School in 1939 aged 15 and at the outbreak of World War 2 was working on his uncle’s tenanted farm at Loveston with the intention of following his uncle at Lyserry. He became an ARP Messenger Boy operating a siren from the tower of Pembroke Castle and also joined the Home Guard in St.Twynnell’s Troop.

As farming was a reserved occupation, and while he was exempt from enlisting, he chose to sign up. Air Crew was the only service that was permitted to enrol agricultural workers. In 1942, aged 17, he joined his brothers in the services, left home and joined the RAF.

Initial training selection took place at Lords Cricket Ground. John wanted to be a pilot, however during initial training, was hit on the head by a parachute harness and spent a period unconscious.

Following discharge, he missed his opportunity to become a pilot and joined the Flight Engineer group. He often claimed that this may have actually saved his life, as the casualty rate for trainee pilots was very high. Training took him all around the UK, flying a variety of planes including the Anson and Wellington.

By spring 1944, he undertook his first operation in a Sterling from RAF Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire. In June 1944 he joined 61 Squadron and played his role in D Day. This was unbeknown to him until he safely returned from laying mines in the Norwegian Fjords, with the purpose of trapping the German Navy and preventing them entering the Channel. John participated in the ill-fated Operation ‘Market Garden’, towing gliders into Arnhem. He moved onto Lancaster Bombers and undertook raids across Northern Europe including the Rhur, Berlin and Dresden,completing a full tour of duty.

Following victory in Europe, he took part in the repatriating of Italian POW’s and taking WAAF’s to the Rhine. On one trip he flew the Lancaster Bomber that forms part of the Second World War Memorial Flight. He was due to be deployed to the Pacific arena but fortunately the war ended while he was on route in India.

Returning home, aged 23 John commenced training as an Auctioneer and Land Agent with Wyndham Collins, Narberth until 1951. Later joining John R Bennion in Pembroke managing a number of Pembrokeshire estates, including Angle, Cresselly, Carew and Lamphey.

He was the instigator and project manager in the restoration of Carew Mill, involved in land compensation matters due to the construction of the oil pipe line running from Angle to Llandarcy, the electric pylons lines from the power station, farm buildings and land improvements schemes.

Involvement in the Cresselly Estate led him to become secretary for over 25 years of the South Pembrokeshire Hunt Point to Point, never missing a race in over 60 years.

He gave numerous talks on Pembroke Town. John was willing to add his support to any organisation, including Angle RNLI and was a member of the Lifeboat Guild for 50 years. He was Churchwarden and treasurer for St. Michaels Church, for over 25 years, and latterly for Warren Church. He held many positions in the Pembroke Farmers’ Club and was awarded a Shield for Services to Agriculture. His contribution to Pembrokeshire was recognised by an invitation to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party.

John was fit and active throughout his 90 years and is survived by his three children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

His funeral service was held at St. Twynnell’s Parish Church on May 23, interment was at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Pembroke. The bearers were Edward Morris, Andrew Morgan, Philip Davies, Johnathan Thomas, Robert John and Gwynne Russell. Ushers were Roger Minchin and Andrew Mathias.

The tribute eulogies were by Andrew Burt (grandson), Edward Morris (godson) and George Lewis (friend).

Donations to RNLI. Angle.c/o. John Roberts & Son, 51 Bush Street, Pembroke Dock.

SA72 6AN.