Mr P Blacker

Haverfordwest

PETE passed away peacefully at Withybush Hospital on June 9.

He was born in Bristol in August 1946.

At the age of 17, while employed by Frys of Keynsham he achieved his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, which led him on to join the Fleet Air Arm, serving as air (helicopter) crew on many aircraft carriers.

In 1967 he married Lesley in Southampton, where she was a teacher. He was, however, soon involved in the British withdrawal from Aden and it was a while before he came back to the UK.

On returning home, Pete, along with his wife, travelled with the Navy until they settled for a while in Portland, Dorset, where their son, Jason was born in 1969.

It wasn’t long before they were, once more, on the move spending their Navy life in Culdrose, Cornwall, and Lossiemouth, Scotland.

It was in the early 70s, Pete left the Navy to settle in Haverfordwest (where Lesley had lived as a child).

He worked for many years in the car trade and then later in the advertising department of the Western Telegraph.

Retiring in 2008, Pete then devoted his time to the small holding in Hook, that he and Lesley loved and had moved to in 1999.

Sadly, failing health meant that he couldn’t do all the things he wanted to and he and Lesley decided to move closer to Haverfordwest and ‘downsize’.

He continued to love the garden, but his life-long love of sport gave him enormous pleasure. He watched every sport, from fishing to Formula 1, but his greatest pleasure was watching football.

It is with the deepest sadness that Pete will be missed by his wife and son Jason and his daughter-in-law Sonia.

Also by the many friends he made during his life.

RIP Sweetheart.

Mr G Griffiths

Uzmaston

GWYN Griffiths of Riverside View, Uzmaston, Haverfordwest passed away peacefully on June 19 in Withybush Hospital.

He was 71.

Born in Treharris, Mid Glamorgan to a Welsh speaking coal mining family on October 10 1944.

Gwyn studied nursing before joining the Royal Air Force as a medic serving all over the world in various civil wars.

He retired from the RAF after suffering a rugby injury and later went on to work in heavy industry in the Midlands, where he met his wife Dru.

They later moved to Pembrokeshire in the late seventies.

Gwyn returned to nursing working in Withybush Hospital when it opened and worked on various wards until finally working in theatre for the remainder of his career.

During his career he also passionately undertook the role of convener for the Royal College of Nursing for Pembrokeshire.

Gwyn was best known for his musical forays. Since a very young age he played various instruments and sang in many choirs.

He played bass for Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey, played violin in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

After singing in Pembroke Male Voice Choir he took over as conductor of Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir.

He also conducted one thousand voices at the Royal Albert Hall.

He was very proud of the achievements the choir accomplished during his 25 years as conductor, from recording albums to tours in America, Canada, Germany and Hong Kong.

They were the first choir to sing in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

When Haverfordwest twinned with Oberkirch in Germany, Gwyn was instrumental in cementing the musical relationship of the towns, together with his friend and German counterpart Hansjörg Stürzel, who also attended the funeral. A tribute has also been published in the Oberkirch newspaper commemorating his work.

Gwyn also played for several years in Milford Haven town band. He also volunteered as chairman of the board of trustees for Shalom House in St David’s.

The funeral was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium on Tuesday June 28 which was officiated by the Rev Geoffrey Eynon and assisted by Rev Kit Carter from Oswestry and Rev Hendy Webb from New Hampshire, USA.

Haverfordwest male voice choir attended and performed a touching rendition of Gwahoddiad.

Margaret Burnett of Shalom House and Martyn Jones from the choir spoke at the ceremony, commemorating Gwyn’s work for the organisations over the years.

A true Welshman, with a passion for music, dedication to others and love for his family.

He will always be remembered.

Gwyn is mourned by his beloved wife Dru, his children Will and Joanna, and his grandchildren, Mina, Milly, Edwyn, Amber, William-Henry and Theo.

Er cof anwyl am Dada/Cu.

Donations were received in memory of Gwyn to Shalom House by Glyn Thomas and Son Funeral Directors, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mrs O K Dann

Broad Haven

Formerly of Haverfordwest

MRS Olive Dann of Broad Haven (formerly of Haverfordwest) passed away peacefully at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest on June 22 with her family by her side.

Olive was one of seven siblings born into the Watts family.

Haverfordwest born and bred, Olive married Arthur Dann and brought two daughters into the world, Lorraine and Catherine. Olive was a loving mother and wife, as well as a keen gardener and a great cook.

Olive’s husband passed away in 1999 and in 2005 she moved to Broad Haven to join her daughter Catherine and her two grandchildren Jessica and Jak. Having Lorraine, Peter and her other two grandchildren Charlotte and William just a few yards away.

As the years continued to roll by, Olive proudly became a great-grandmother to four beautiful great-grandchildren Tyler, Beatrice, Amos and Millie. All babies became the apple of her eye and there was nothing she loved more than to cuddle and play with her great-grandchildren.

The love she had for her family was undeniably strong and was always present in her smile.

She was the base of a strong family unit and an absolute pleasure to be around.

Although Olive suffered ill health and endured a number of operations, she bore it all with courage and optimism, a very stoic lady of great character.

Her memory will live on through those who were fortunate to have known her.

The family left to mourn are Lorraine and Peter (daughter and son-in-law); Catherine (daughter); Mary and Maurice (sister and brother-inlaw); grandchildren, husbands and partners, great grandchildren, together with great nieces, great nephews, cousins and friends.

Family and friends gathered together for her funeral at Parc Gwyn Crematorium on Saturday July 2 officiated by the Reverend Diana Hoare.

Donations if wished for Arthritis Research can be sent to Mrs Jackie Corby, Greenfields, Creamston Road, Haverfordwest SA61 1UR.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Glyn Thomas and Son of Freystrop.

Miss R A M Noakes

Pembroke Dock

MISS Rose Alexandra Mary Noakes (Auntie Rose) passed away at her home in King Street on May 30.

She was 99.

As a native of Pembroke Dock Rose left school at 13 and worked for the Mathias family who owned ‘The Welcome Café’ in Tenby.

She went with them to Birmingham and finally to Dumbleton in Evesham where she became a cook at Dumbleton Hall.

She retired at 60 and came back home to Pembroke Dock to devotedly care for her brother Ronald.

Her main interests were her family, her church, her garden and baking. She also loved spending time with her many friends.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Margaret and Gordon (sister and brother-in-law); Ronald (brother); Joyce (sister); Auriol and Mabel (sisters-inlaw) plus many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The service was held at St John’s Church, Pembroke Dock on June 11 and was officiated by Revd Nicky Skipworth.

The bearers were Alan and Gareth Davies, Jim and and Vyvyan Noakes, John Hogg (nephews), Steven Lewis (great nephew).

Donations to the Salvation Army (Tenby branch) c/o E C Thomas and Son, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mr G J C Watts

Cosheston

MR Garfield John Cadogan Watts of Woodfield Grove, Cosheston passed away at Withybush Hospital on June 4.

He was 83.

As a native of Pembroke, during his working life he worked for G W Railway and was a passenger guard, a gardener at Upton Castle grounds and a rigger and erector at the Power Station.

His main interests were gardening, socialising and family.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Thelma Watts (wife); Ian, Kevin and Mark (sons); Natalie (daughter-in-law); Ellys, Hannah and Ben (grandchildren); Selina and Dale (great grandchildren); Derek and Sandra (brother and wife); Ioan and Betty (brother and wife).

The funeral was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth and was officiated by Rev Norman Gilbert. The bearers were Rodney Cadogan, Anthony Watkins, Anthony John and Gareth Anes.

Donations for the Air Ambulance and Angle RNLI c/o E C Thomas and Son, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH who also carried out the funeral arrangements.