Mrs I Croxford

Milford Haven

MRS Isla Croxford died unexpectedly, but peacefully, aged 80 at Glangwilli Hospital on May 25.

Isla’s funeral service took place at Parc Gwyn on June 7, officiated by Rev A Bookless, the eulogy given by Rev W M Lewis. A service to celebrate Isla’s life, held at St David’s Church, Hubberston on June 13, was attended by many whose lives she had touched.

Isla was born in Milford Haven on November 1935 to Ella and Bill Ritchie.

Educated at the Convent School and Milford Haven Grammar School, Isla was a quiet and conscientious pupil who enjoyed her 6th form time of Botany and Zoology most of all.

Isla was an enthusiastic Girl Guide and under her leadership the Skylark Patrol won every shield and award in the county.

Isla trained to teach Science at a college in Dudley and was appointed as Head of Science in a girl’s school in Bath.

She loved her job and was totally dedicated.

Isla met Colin, an apprentice engineer, at a dance in the Pump Room in Bath and they were married in 1960 at St Katherine’s Church.

Returning to Milford in 1970 they made their home at 12 The Rath, where they brought up their two sons Neil and Stuart.

As the boys grew up Isla attended extra mural Art Appreciation Classes run by Arthur Giardelli and extra mural Literature Classes run by Wyndham Griffiths, opening up for her a whole new world of art and poetry.

It was through these classes that she developed a deep love of poetry and started to write a substantial collection of poems which Colin is currently transcribing.

A meditative, thoughtful person, always kind and caring and reaching out to others in pain, Isla used her considerable poetic gift often to express the suffering and self giving love she observed in the world around her.

She will be greatly missed by her husband Colin, her two sons and their wives, Neil and Gillian, Stuart and Ann, her sister Jean and two brothers Alan and John and her large extended family.

The family are grateful to Tom Newings and Sons for their care and consideration regarding the funeral arrangements.

If you wish to give a donation please send to Paul Satori Foundation, 31 Haven Road, Haverfordwest, mentioning Isla’s name.

Mrs E C Evans

Tenby

THE funeral and celebration of the life of Enid was held at St John’s Church, Tenby on July 1 after she peacefully passed away on June 17 at Park House Nursing Home, aged 95. She was laid to rest in Tenby new cemetery along side her loving husband Wyndham who pre-deceased her ten years ago.

The service, which was officiated by her old friend and minister, the Rev Nanette Lewis-Head, was based on music and flowers, the love of Enid’s life. The large congregation joined with the family to sing Enid’s favourite hymns and listen to bible readings and reminiscences, both loving and often funny tales of her very special life.

Enid was born in Neyland, the middle of three children of Sydney and Sarah James in 1921. She and Wyndham were childhood sweethearts after meeting in Pembroke fair at just 15 years old and were married in St Andrew’s Church, Pembroke Dock in 1941. At the time, Enid was an Auxilliary Hospital Nurse, a profession that certainly came in useful as she raised her family of four boys.

Their first home was with Wyndham’s parents, Jack and Beatrice Evans in the Fountain Head Inn, Pentlepoir before settling in their own home in Tenby.

In her early years, Enid was renowned for her fine soprano voice and she competed successfully in Eisteddfod and church competitions throughout the county of Pembrokeshire. She adored playing the piano, was a fine watercolour artist and a very gentle and humorous poet with many of her close family receiving specially written pieces for their birthdays, weddings and christenings.

Enid leaves behind her four sons Graham, Philip, Jonathan, Andrew and their respective wives Sonia, Jacqueline, Maxina and Iris and their families which gave Enid 15 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren, all of whom she adored.

As recognition of her love of nature, all the family and friends that attended her burial placed a rose on top of her coffin so she was buried, covered in flowers and the beautiful scent accompanied her as she rests in peace.

Mrs S P Burton

Pembroke

MRS Sylvia Patricia Burton passed away peacefully surrounded by all her children at her bedside at Bush House, Pembroke on April 12, three days before her 87th birthday.

The team at Bush House went the “extra mile” in supporting Sylvia and also her family in her last days and hours.

Sylvia was born in Cardiff, and at 15 she left school to become a cartographer with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to support her widowed mother and younger brother and sister.

Sylvia was a committed Christian and was involved in church youth activities and this was where she met her husband, Mr Douglas Burton.

“Doug and Sylv” married in Cardiff in 1953 and during their 60 year partnership they worked together in the Christian faith as well as bringing up their family and running a successful business. In 1967 Sylvia and Douglas left Cardiff to start a men’s outfitters business in Pembroke Dock eventually also running shops in Tenby, Haverfordwest and Pembroke. As well as this they were closely involved in the founding of the Haven Church and Christian Centre in Pembroke.

Sylvia at all times shared herself, her love and support with others, opening the family home to many people. Her life was about sharing her faith, giving love, nurturing and helping others, a family Sunday lunch for seven was often stretched to serve many last minute guests, and her Sunday tea-time cream horns were famous.

When Doug passed away three years ago Sylvia moved to De Clare Court, Haverfordwest, she relished living in her apartment and mixing with friends and neighbours there and also enjoyed going to Meadow Park Day Unit with some of her friends from De Clare Court.

More recently Sylvia was diagnosed with vascular dementia, and moved to live in Bush House in Pembroke.

Here she was supported with care through her time here by the excellent team of manager Paula and her carers.

The funeral took place in Monkton Priory Church officited by Sylvia’s friend, Rev. Paul Nash. It was a celebration Sylvia’s life, remembering a truly, wonderful, beautiful lady. The bearers were Sylvia’s children Tim, Philip, Libby, Debbie and Sarah. A recording of ‘The Prayer of St Francis’ sung by Sylvia’s granddaughters was played as Sylvia entered a full church of friends and family. During the service a reading was shared by Keith Stevens and a poem read by Linda Rees, the eulogy was read by Sylvia’s son-in-law, Finbarr. At the graveside Sylvia’s youngest grandson Declan bravely played a moving tribute on the trumpet.

Left to mourn are Sylvia’s children and their partners Tim and Julie, Phil and Carol, Libby and Finbarr, Debbie and Colin, and Sarah and Patrick along with her grandchildren Luke, Joanna, Jessica, Leanne, Nicki, Nathan, Lauren, Naomi, Jonathan, Jamie, Thomas, Emily, Rhiardh, Declan and Catlin, plus 11 great grandchildren.

The family are grateful to Neil Roberts for arranging the funeral with professionalism and care as well as Rev.

Paul Nash and Rhian for their support and understanding and especially Paula and the senior carers at Bush House.

Sylvia will be greatly missed by all who knew her, both in Cardiff and in Pembrokeshire.

Mrs L V Secrett

Pembroke

AS reported previously, the death occurred peacefully on May 2 of Lucia Violet Secrett at Holyland Lodge Care Home, Pembroke aged 96 and formerly of Greenlands, Lower Lamphey Road, Pembroke.

She was predeceased by her husband Dick.

She was born in 1919, just ten months after the end of the First World War on the family’s bulb growing farm at The Grange, Holbeach St Marks, Spalding, Linconshire.

She was the youngest of four children. She was treated for TB when small and so consequently she had a profound hearing loss, she had an expertise in lip reading, anyone unaware of that ability could soon be caught out.

In 1942 at the age of 23, and three years into the Second World War she began serving her country by joining the Land Army and moved away from home to work on what would be her future fatherin- laws farm at Heath Farm, Send in Surrey. There she met Dick and they married in September 1944, and so began her life as a farmer’s wife.

She and all the other land army girls quite rightly received recognition for their valuable contribution to the war effort and was awarded her badge in recognition which she was proud of.

In 1945 near the end of the Second World War, they moved from Send to Stream Farm, Cobham, Surrey, where firstly Andrew and then Elizabeth were born.

In 1950 time came for them to move not too far away, to Flexlands Farm in Chobham, Surrey, where a year later Philip came on the scene. In 1958 the decision was made to start a new life in Wales, at the Old Vicarage in Castlemartin, and in that year Zoe’ was born at the vicarage completing her family.

In 1963 this time with trailers loaded, she headed for Highfields Farm, Grove Hill, Pembroke.

In March 1968 Dick had a devastating road accident in Shropshire, once again in 1969 she moved to Croft West at the top of St Daniels Hill, Pembroke.

In 1973 she moved to Greenland’s, Lower Lamphey Road, where she soon made another lovely home and beautiful garden, where she was very happy and where Dick gained much pleasure being able to walk into town to spend many happy hours talking to anyone he might of encounter.

She was a member of Mount Pleasant church and the Ladies Fellowship which she so enjoyed.

In 2012 she moved into The Holyland Lodge Residential Home in Pembroke, where she was lovingly looked after.

She is survived by her four children Andrew and Doris Secrett (son and daughterin- law), Roger and Elizabeth Minchin (son-in-law and daughter), Philip and Jane Secrett (son and daughter-inlaw) and Zoe Smith (daughter); seven grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren and sister Lilly.

The funeral and celebration of her life was held at Westgate Church on May 17 and was officiated by Rev Rob James, interment was at St Michael’s Cemetery, Pembroke.

The bearers were Paul and Robert Secrett, John Kilcoyne, Ken Davies, David John and Nigel Brickell.

Donations may be made to Wales Air Ambulance or The National Deaf Children’s Society.

c/o John Roberts and Son, 51 Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, SA72 6AN.