Mr B T Hodder

New Hedges

THE death occurred suddenly on December 5 of Mr Brian Thomas Hodder of Knightston Close, New Hedges.

Mr Hodder, who was 80, was well-known in the Tenby area as a milk retailer, delivering to customers from 1963 until his retirement in 2001.

Mr Hodder was born in Ely, Cardiff in 1936. As a boy, he played for Cardiff Boys and was an avid music fan. He ran the local Youth Club, taking along his 78 records and his record player in a wheelbarrow so the young people could enjoy some of his favourite music.

Mr Hodder started his working life delivering bread in Cardiff and at the age of 17 he met his future wife June.

Mr Hodder served National Service, joining the Welsh Regiment when he was 18. He served in Pembroke Dock in the Motor Transport section and it was during this time that Mr Hodder came to love Pembrokeshire. When he and his wife June married in 1959, they also spent their honeymoon in Tenby.

Mr and Mrs Hodder and their young children moved to New Hedges in 1963 after Mr Hodder placed an advert in the Western Mail, looking to buy a coal or milk round.

He purchased a milk round and by 1965, Mr Hodder bought a new Bedford lorry which became a familiar sight around Tenby, carrying thousands of crates of milk over the years. Mr Hodder used the vehicle to help people move house and it carried Brownies and Guides on the back during many Tenby Firemen’s Carnivals. It also helped local Scout groups transport equipment during annual camping trips in the area.

Mr Hodder truly enjoyed his work delivering milk, interacting with customers and the team at Craig’s Diary. He loved being out in the morning, whatever the weather.

He also became a part of the local community, he was Chairman and member of the Trustees of Tenby Charities; a member of the New Hedges Village Hall Committee, helping to renovate the old school into the new Village Hall. He supported the ATC, the Scouts and Guides.

He loved to be with his family, on the beach or out in the countryside of Pembrokeshire.

He also spent many happy hours on Castle Beach and on Broad Haven South, making the most of the sea and sun after a morning delivering milk.

Mr Hodder retired in 2001 and was inundated with gifts and messages from customers and friends. He still woke up at 2am for many years, the early starts staying with him, but he thoroughly enjoyed his retirement. He loved gardening, feeding the birds, listening to the radio, doing some DIY. He enjoyed many lovely holidays all over the world and spent time visiting his children over the years.

He and June were thrilled to become grandparents and they enjoyed being closely involved in their grandsons lives, watching them grow up and driving miles to see them play football and rugby on Saturday mornings.

Mr Hodder and his wife June celebrated their Golden Wedding in 2009 surrounded by family and friends. In 2016, they both turned 80 and were joined by family and friends for warm and happy celebrations.

Mr Hodder lived life to the full, the day before he died he was out with June and his next door neighbours, being driven along the Pembrokeshire coast and enjoying the scenery.

He will be greatly missed by his wife June; children Seth, Samantha and Rhian; grandsons Dylan and Zachary and all their family and friends.

The funeral took place on December 14. Donations for Friends of the Community or Coronary Care Unit, Withybush Hospital, c/o funeral directors W and M J Rossiter and Sons Ltd, The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, who carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mrs Mavis Ventin

MRS Mavis Ventin passed away peacefully on Monday December 26 at Parc y Llyn nursing home in her 92 year.

She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

The funeral service took place on Thursday 5 January at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth.

Donations in memory of Mavis payable to ‘Alzheimer’s UK’ are being received by Paul Jenkins and Sons Funeral Directors, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, SA65 9BB.

Mrs I L Richards

Narberth

MRS Irene Lilian Richards passed away at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest on December 2. She was from John Morgan Close, Narberth and was 77.

As a native of Narberth she worked at Templeton CP School as a dinner lady for over 30 years.

Her main interests were knitting for her family, bingo and friends at Narberth rugby club, supporting both Narberth RFC and Football Club, and spending time with her loving family.

The family left to mourn are Danny Richards (husband); Tracey and Chris (daughter and son-in-law); Mark and Jayne (son and daughter-in-law); Matthew, Rhian, Colette, Rebecca and Antonia (grandchildren); Tomi (great-grandson); Leah (great granddaughter); Margaret and Graham (niece and nephew); Hannah, Sarah and James (great nieces and nephew).

The funeral service was held at Parc Gwyn on December 12 and was officiated by Rev. Martin Cox.

The bearers were Adrian Howells, Matthew Lloyd, Alex Poole and James Elkins.

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

Mr J Evans

Kilgetty

MR John Evans of Cold Inn, Kilgetty passed away at Park House Court Nursing Home in Tenby on December 16 at the age of 88.

Originally from Cardiff he was in the Navy, a civil engineer and a licensee.

His main interests were rugby, reading, gardening, spending time with family, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a member of Enterprise Lodge, Kilgetty and PGL (Provincial Grand Lodge).

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Mrs Valerie M. Evans (wife); Gail, Julie and Dylan, Lynne and Chris (daughters and son-in-laws); Leon and Nancy, Amy and Hugo, Alex, Tiffany and Andrew, Jakita (grandchildren and partners); Chê, Taya, Roxanne, Pixie, Rae, Amelia, Wilson, Ellis and Tomos (great grandchildren); Alice (daughter-in-law); Joan Simmons and Pat Parkhurst (sisters); numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

The funeral service was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth on December 30 and it was officiated by Rev Huw George, The bearers were Chris Simes, Leon Simes, Amy Simes, Alex Simes, Tiffany Roach and Jakita Roach.

There were donations for The Enterprise Lodge, Kilgetty and Fishermen`s Mission c/o E.C. Thomas and Son, Funeral Directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth. SA67 8QH who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mr G Harries

Pembroke

MR Gwylfa Harries (known as George) of Devon Drive, Pembroke passed away at Glangwili General Hospital, Carmarthen on December 11.

He was 92.

He was born in Nantymoel and then became a painter and decorator with Stanley Jones for approx. 20 years and then with Frank Brown and Son until health forced early retirement in 1986.

He was a very keen on DIY, gardening and spending time with his wife and children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. In later life he enjoyed meeting old and new friends with Eileen, on the numerous organised coach trips around the country.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are his wife Eileen Harries; Janet and Jeff (daughter and son); Nancy Williams (sister); Louise and Mike Scourfield, Michelle and Luke Reynolds (granddaughters and husbands); Peter Kingdom (grandson); David Kingdom and Vicky (grandson and partner); Liam Scourfield, Lewys Scourfield, Joseph Reynolds and Josey Kingdom (great grandchildren); Lorraine Phillips (partner of Jeff).

The funeral service was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, on Tuesday December 20 and was officiated by Rev. Hugh Michael.

The bearers were Jeff Harries, Peter Kingdom, David Kingdom, Mike Scourfield, Liam Scourfield and Luke Reynolds.

Donations for the British Heart Foundation c/o E.C.

Thomas & Son, Funeral Directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mrs H M Davies

Milford Haven

MRS Helen Morfydd Davies (née Whittow) of Fairsea Close, Gellyswick passed away at Withybush Hospital on December 22 after a short illness.

She was predeceased by her husband William (Bill) in August 2011.

Helen resided her entire 85 years in Milford Haven. Born at home in Picton Road, then when married to Bill she lived in Wellington Road and later the bungalow they built together in Fairsea Close with its wonderful views over Gellyswick Bay and across the Haven.

Her early working life was in the office of her father Billy Whittow’s fish merchant business on the docks, as well as helping out at home.

After marrying in 1956 Helen combined being a housewife with continued family support for many years and in due course provided invaluable care to Mam and sister Joan when they were unwell. Later she became a trained professional in the Care Industry, working with the severely handicapped at the Portfield Centre Special Care Unit. Always popular with colleagues and clients, she made a new set of lasting friendships and worked happily there for years.

After Joan’s death in 1980 Helen became surrogate mother to nephews John and David and later as surrogate grandmother to their children Simon, Siân and Alice.

She was an ever loving and caring aunt and great aunt to Michele and Sharon, and sister to Elsie. She was also superb at keeping in touch with friends and the wider family and helped her learned cousins Richard and John Whittow compile the Whittow family tree.

Helen and Bill were well known for their boating and all year swimming exploits at Gellyswick and Bull Bay, and they loved the Pembrokeshire coast, its beaches and its lifestyle. Helen was always the socialite and a consummate host. She was a keen and active participant of the Yacht Club, and in more recent times an active member of the Historical Society and Ladies Probus. She was also a regular audience member of the Torch Theatre.

Both the funeral service on January 4 at St David’s Church, Hubberston and the Cremation at Parc Gwyn were very well attended by family and her many friends.

The Reverend Josh Maynard officiated at the service.

Principal mourners were nephews John Edwards and David Edwards, niece Michele Mitchell, and their children Simon, Siân, Alice and Sharon. Sister Elsie was too unwell to attend. David read a tribute from Helen’s cousin John Whittow and a eulogy written by John, Michele and himself. The bearers were Neil Johnson, John Kimpson, Dominic Todaro and Andrew Kemp.

Donations for Cancer Research UK to Mrs Margaret Jones, 113 Waterloo Road, Milford Haven.

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