Mr J M Johnston

Jameston

A LARGE number of friends and family gathered at Parc Gwyn, March 30, for the funeral of John Michael Johnston, known to all as Mick, who was born in Northampton, and lived with his parents and brother Peter in Leicester.

A sombre but dignified service was held with the bearers being Mike Fox, Steve Cole and Ian Duffy (from Tenby Golf Club) and Rob Hall, Rob Izzard and Chris Thompson (from Manorbier Football Club) and a guard of honour by the RA Association Pembroke On January 7 1948, just short of 16 years old, Mick, having spent his boyhood dreaming of defending his country during the war, made that dream a reality, and enlisted into the Boys Batter, Royal Artillery, and left home to start training.

In 1950, he enlisted into the regular army, where due to his previous two years training, he very quickly became a radar specialist, spending a year with an Anti-Aircraft Regiment before joining the 82nd location Battery.

By age 22, Mick had already been promoted to Sergeant.

The early days saw him stationed at Woolwich and Colchester, before the more exotic locations of Cyprus, followed by Egypt, where he owned his first dog Toby. By 1956, with the escalation of the Suez Crisis, he promptly proposed and married Eunice Lineker, in rather a whirlwind, before being posted back to Egypt. The Suez crisis blew over and Mick returned to Leicester.

In 1957, he was posted to The School of Artillery, Manorbier.

At first living in Tenby, where Stephen was born that same year. Having moved to married quarters in Manorbier, along came Jack (dog No 2) and Lynn was later born in 1960. By the start of 1963, his teaching skills having now been fully recognised, Mick (and family) were posted to a TA Camp, Ormskirk, Lancashire.

In 1966 Mick returned to the Manorbier School of Artillery.

By now he was a SMIG (a Sergeant Major Instructor in Gunnery). He was promoted to Master Gunner, ie an expert in the technical aspects of Gunnery, and he was made WO1. In 1971, with the army camp in Manorbier closing, Mick was posted to Larkhill, and with the family wishing to stay in Pembrokeshire, he spent the last year commuting between the two.

In 1972, aged 40, Mick left the army after a career spanning 24 ½ years with an exemplary service record, having never raised a gun in anger. But the army was his second family, he couldn’t wait each year to attend his army reunion in Larkhill.

He managed to do this for a further 35 years.

After much work from both Mick and Eunice, their house in Manorbier became a Guest House and Tea Rooms, and later in 1972 Mick started work with Customs and Excise on Coastal Patrol. This was a job made for Mick. His patch was between Pendine and Milford Haven. He would always insist the best source of information was to be found inside the local inns and pubs along that route.

All was going well until it was felt there might be an IRA presence around the coast, Mick laughingly told his superior that he had evaded becoming involved in the Northern Irish troubles during his army days, as a British Soldier, and a son of a Northern Irish Protestant dad, the army thought he was a target. His boss promptly ordered him a car bomb searching kit. Mick chose his own security devise. Alsation, Zeta 1, became his customs car companion.

After married quarters and a house that had needed so much work, in 1978 Mick and Eunice moved to Jameston.

The bungalow was just about right for them, after a few tweeks, it was perfect and they loved it there, and along came Alsation Zeeta 2, and another little dog called Lucky.

After coastal patrol, Mick had a stint at the Ferry terminal, followed by Texaco.

He then got a promotion and became a VAT Inspector. After 20 years in Customs and Excise, as with all civil servants, the government retired him at age 60. Mick would say “ having served King, Queen and Country for 44 Years”.

With this experience Mick started his own business and worked for a further 20 years as a VAT consultant.

Through this time he had Zeta 3, and he finally retired fully at age 80, with his little dog Penny constantly by his side.

He was a keen rugby player in the army, playing at hooker, and ran cross country too.

Mick became involved with Manorbier Football Club in the 1970’s, and by the 80’s fund raising began, we do all remember the donkey derbies.

Bert Densly and Mick were indeed a force to be reckoned with. Volunteering to help they called it, and we all loved it. Manorbier became a well funded little football club, and they had great success on the pitch too.

Mick also loved his golf.

He had started playing in the 70’s for Tenby Golf Club Rabbits. His handicap was a little larger than he liked, but he loved the game all the same. Struggling with hip problems Mick left the Rabbits and joined the Chicken Trotters, and after no longer being able to play, he became the Trotters Treasurer, and finally Chief Trotter, and he remained an active social member throughout.

Mick was also a current member of the RA Association Pembroke, and had been for many, many years.

He liked to have a good time. He had a good time in the Evergreen, he had a good time in the County Club and the Golf Club and The Sun and The Parsonage and The Lydstep Tavern and The Castle Inn and The Swanlake Inn and a few others too. He just had a good time.

Mick fancied himself as a bit of a photographer, and we have hundreds and hundreds of photos of all his dogs. He loved every one of them dearly, and he was never happier than when he had them, and his family gathered around him.

Mick loved Leicester City Football Club. What a massive smile he had on his face when they achieved winning the premier league in May last year. Everyone was so pleased for him, and he said he couldn’t have been more proud than if he had won it himself.

In the 57 years Mick lived in Pembrokeshire he made many many friends, and he considered himself very much ‘a local’ Mick was a much loved father to Lynn and her partner Patrick; to Steve and his partner Julie; grandfather to Rachel and partner Craig, and great grandfather to Gracie, and will be very much missed by all.

Mr J Vittle

Beaconsfield

THE DEATH occurred suddenly but peacefully on April 6 at his home in Beaconsfield.

Formerly of Wallis Crescent, Fishguard John was the beloved husband of Pat; dear father of Mandy and Martyn; a precious grandfather and father-in-law, a cherished brother to Rosina, Hywel and Bronwen, David and Cynthia, Fishguard.

The funeral is due to take place on the April 26 at Beaconsfield.

Mrs M E Davies

Hubberston

MRS MARGARET Elizabeth Davies of The Poultry Farm, Hubberston passed away at Withybush Hospital on March 19 aged 91.

The funeral service on April 4 was officiated by the Rev Andy Bookless at St Davids Church, Hubberston, the eulogy was read by Rev Bill Lewis the service was followed by burial at Milford Haven Cemetery.

Margaret had been born in the parish in 1925 to Tom and Mary Phillips their third child and only daughter.

The Poultry Farm was established in 1919 by her father Tom on his return from the first world war. Her mother Mary had been living on the adjoining farm at Sunny Hill and when Tom and Mary were married in 1920 at Hubberston church The Poultry Farm became the family home. Margaret was predeceased by her three brothers Desmond, Leonard and Raymond.

She had lived in Hubberston all her life bar the first two years of her marriage which was in 1949 to Teddy who she had met while working as a switch board operator at the telephone exchange in Hamilton terrace at the time of the Second World War. Ted had been serving in the RAF and following the war he started work as a telephone engineer and both had made many life long friends through their time in the telephone service. In 1952 and by now living back in Hubberston Margaret and Ted had a son Michael and along with parents Tom and Mary members of the family have continued to live at the Poultry Farm until Margaret’s recent death.

The church and the parish were central throughout all their lives providing a major social role as well as spiritual support through difficult times. Margaret was an avid supporter of the Mothers Union, Ted in his time was a church warden and Michael later on in life went on to become a Lay Reader in support of the parish.

Sadly Margaret was to lose Teddy very early in their married life at the age of 57 in 1979 and then even more tragically her only son Michael aged 46 at Easter 1998.

Margaret herself in the late 80s suffered several heart attacks and combined with ill health and living in the old 1920s original wooden structure did not have an expectation of longevity through the coming winters. Michael who was by then head of dept at St Johns Baptist school in Aberdare decided to have built a modern bungalow to replace the old wooden home and this modern bungalow thankfully provided Margaret with the living conditions to remain with us and be part of our lives for another 30 years.

Those who new Margaret knew a woman who was always welcoming, never complaining, very charitable and sprinkled with a fair sense of mischief which would often come out in the Poems she wrote or tales she told of times both present and past.

Being a long standing resident of the village and very proud of her association with it she had a wealth of local knowledge and would willingly make contributions to the local history publications when requested. She had also had several of her poems read out on BBC Wales radio as part of a program on Genealogy.

The family left to mourn are Valerie (sister-in-law); Keith and Yvonne (nephew and wife); Mark, Yvonne, Chelsea and Tom (nephew and family); Roger, Sue, Marion, Tony, Jessica and Riley (nephew and family in New Zealand); Trevor and Sheila (nephew and partner); Blenda (cousin); Phil, Jackie and family; Ian, Debbie, Barbara and family; Sam, Doug, Kayleigh and Jake; Owen, Vicky and Mia; Betty and the girls.

The funeral was held at St Davids Church, Hubberston followed by burial at Milford Haven Cemetery and it was officiated by Tom Newing and Sons Ltd, of Milford Haven.

Margaret was laid to rest in Milford Cemetery along with her late husband Teddy and her son Michael.

She will be sadly missed by all who knew her and were fortunate to be part of her life.

Mrs B Lloyd

Clunderwen

MRS BEATRICE Lloyd, affectionately known as Beattie, passed away peacefully at Tenby Cottage Ward, Park House Court, Tenby on March 17, aged 91 years.

Beattie was born to William and Maud Jenkins at Shipping Farm and later brought up on Broadway Farm, Llawhaden, as one of five brothers and sisters.

She remained home to work on the farm until she met and married her husband, John Lloyd on October 20 1951, and moved to live at Penderi Farm, Llanfallteg where they had two children, Joy and Nesta.

Following the sudden death of her husband in 1981, Beattie moved to Derwen Deg, Clunderwen, where she became an active member of the WI and senior citizens, enjoying numerous day trips and holidays. She was organist at both Llanfallteg and Clunderwen churches until a short time ago, and at the funeral, the church was beautifully decorated with flowers donated by other church members.

Home and family were very important to Beattie and she took great interest and pride in all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s achievements. She will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all her family and friends.

The funeral services were held on March 28 at St David’s church, Clunderwen followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn, and were officiated by Rev Kingsley Taylor, with readings from Rev Huw George and Katie Hill.

The bearers were her grandson’s, Mathew, Chris, Geraint, Haydn, Alun and Euros.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Tenby Cottage Ward.