Obituaries, December 7th 2011 (From Western Telegraph)

Obituaries, December 7th 2011

10:30am Wednesday 7th December 2011 in Obituaries

MRS H. E. SIERWALD

TENBY

(formally East Tarr Farm)

As reported previously, the death occurred peacefully at home on November 12 of Heather Elizabeth Lovell Sierwald. She was born in April 1939 in Milford Haven the daughter of Wilfred and Iris Hancock. The family spent most of the war years in Newcastle Emlyn. After the war they returned to The Creek, Cosheston and although Heather was an only child she was brought up with her two orphaned cousins, Phillip and Richard. Heather attended St Margaret's Prep School, Pembroke Dock and from there went on to St Peters School, Pentre Manor, Boncath as a boarder. It was there that Heather developed an innate love of clothes and sense of style which was with her all her life. Friends recall the young Heather accompanying her father to the launching of the Hobbs Point to Neyland ferry, built by his company Hancocks. With great panache she wielded the bottle of champagne when naming the vessel the Cleddau Queen, the first but certainly not the last time she got her hands on a bottle of champagne!

Following the death of her father when she was sixteen, she left school and combined working in a Tenby bank with farming a small herd of jersey cows with her mother. Horses have always been an integral part of Heather's life. As a small child she took part in shows and gymkhanas and went on to ride with both the South Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire Hunts.

Heather married David Williams of East Tarr Farm in 1958 at the age of 19; they spent the first 3 years of married life at The Creek before moving to East Tarr. A son and two daughters completed their family.

Life was always busy as David and Heather ran their mixed farm, a riding school, donkey rides and a bed and breakfast business. Heather's love of horses was paramount and time was always found to breed show horses and hunt. In fact it was one of Heather's last wishes that the hounds met at East Tarr last Saturday, the day of the Hunt ball as it had done for many years.

Heather loved attending and competing at the Royal Welsh Show and she and her family enjoyed great success in the show ring with their horses. Throughout the 70's and 80's her children under her tutelage successfully competed throughout the UK at the biggest shows and championships riding some of her well known horses. She got great satisfaction from breeding winners, which were easily recognised by the "Tarr" prefix to the horse's name. One of the highlights of Heather's showing career was when her mare Tarr Santa Maria won the supreme Championship at the UK National Hunter Show. Heather's keen competitive spirit encompassed horse racing,, especially point to pointing. Over the last 15 years she has been delighted that Charlotte, her youngest daughter, rode the family horses and nothing gave her more pleasure than leading in a winner at the Easter Monday races at Lydstep. Despite the onset of her illness, last year she saw her horses do particularly well and one meeting where she had two winners was recalled in her diary that night, as the highlight of her equine life.

Heather has spent her life caring for people. Along with bringing up her own family she also cared for her mother Iris who suffered from Alzheimer's for 20 years. Soon after loosing her mother Heather sadly lost her husband David to cancer in 1997. Following that sad period she continued with the farm, and took huge pleasure from seeing her grand daughters Isabell, Abigail and lately Chloe and Sophie involved with horses and delighted in their many achievements.

Heather met Chris Sierwald a few years ago when they were both trustees of the Tenby Arts Festival and they married in April 2009 and lived in Tenby. She had a great capacity for fun and always enjoyed life to the full. She loved to entertain and if nothing was happening she would arrange one of her famous dinner parties.

Heather was a huge supporter of many organisations and will be sorely missed. She was a District Commissioner of the Pony Club in the early 1970's and a valued members of the equine tourist and farming communities in Pembrokeshire. Also on the committee of the local Conservative Party for many years and with her reputation for producing great food helped coordinate the Christmas lunch as Cresselly House. Tenby Arts Festival took up a lot of her time and with any spare moment she helped raise money for many good causes.

Heather may have been small in stature but with her strong personality she set high standards for herself and others. She recognised the importance of family values and was fiercely protective of her way of life. A true Welsh woman she lived life to the full and then a bit more and gave her all to everything she did. Always thinking of others she has countless friends all over the world, but especially here in Pembrokeshire. She will be missed.

A large gathering of family and friends attended the funeral, conducted by the Rev Shirley Rayner, at St Florence Church and Parc Gwyn Crematorium on 23 November and celebrated her life after with refreshments at her beloved East Tarr Farm. There were family flowers only but donations to the Paul Sartori Foundation or the Isobel Tompsett Recovery Fund can be made via the funeral directors W and M J Rossiter and Sons Ltd, The Old Rectory The Norton, Tenby.

Miss Sally Louise Rowe

Saundersfoot

The death occurred peacefully with courage and dignity on Thursday November 17th at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest of Miss Sally Louise Rowe, aged 51 years.

A large congregation gathered at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth to celebrate her life.

Sally was the beloved second daughter of Betty and the late Vivian Rowe, and had spent most of her life living and working in Tenby "the Town she loved."

Her dental career had begun working with Mr Idris Morgan of The Norton Dental Surgery and over the last 17 years with Mr Ken Bevan of The Glen Dental Surgery.

The principle mourners were Betty (mother); Jayne, John, Tim and Christopher (sister and brothers); Elaine and Jackie (sisters-in-law); Jess, James, Nick, Dan, Stephen, Beth, Joanna, Kate, Grace and David (nephews and nieces); Mrs Thelma Owen, Mrs Pevril Rowe and Mrs Dorothy John (aunts), along with many cousins, long standing friends and many others whom she had touched along life's path.

The service was conducted by Reverend Andrew Davies and a moving tribute was given by Mr Ken Bevan.

There were family flowers only, but donations in lieu of flowers may be made payable to Ward 10, Withybush Hospital c/o Funeral Directors, W & M J Rossiter and Sons Ltd, The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, SA70 8AB.

Jean Lillian O'Neill

Haverfordwest

Jean Lillian O'Neill of Uzmaston Road, Haverfordwest sadly passed away on October 6th after a prolonged period of illness.

Beloved wife of Desmond (deceased May 9th 2004), Jean leaves two sons Jonathan and Jeremy and many friends.

Jean who was originally born in Bristol (and evacuated during the war to Devon with her two younger sisters Nancy and Betty, who survive her) moved to Haverfordwest in 1970. Jean lectured in secretarial skills in Haverfordwest and was a past chairman of her local WI (yes chairman, she considered the modern term 'chair' ridiculous). She was a much respected and loved member of her local community and was involved in several charities/support groups.

Jean was a loving wife and wonderful mother and will be greatly missed.

George W Inskip

Saundersfoot

The funeral took place on Friday November 25th at Parc Gwyn Crematorium of George W. Inskip of Elleswood, Broadfield, Saundersfoot, who passed away peacefully at Brooklands Nursing Home on November 15th, at the age of 92 years.

He was the much loved husband of Betty, dear father of Rosemary, Marilyn and Gina and step-father of Sian, grandfather of Simon, Roger, Lucy, Tom and Christopher and a loving great grandfather.

The officiating minister was the Rev. Huw George and the funeral was carried out with great dignity by Mr Ken Davies of Clynderwen. The family is very grateful to the many friends who came to pay their respects at Parc Gwyn.

George was born in Bebington, Cheshire and joined the Royal Engineers in 1938 when he was 18 years old. During the 1939-45 war he saw service in North Africa, Palestine and lastly in Burma with the Chindits, during which campaign he was mentioned in despatches for gallantry. On leaving the Army he joined the Metropolitan Police Force and, on his retirement, came to live in Kilgetty together with his wife Nina, having spent many happy holidays in Tenby with the family. Sadly Nina died in 1977. In 1982 he married Betty and they had a wonderfully happy marriage until he was stricken with Parkinsons Disease. For the last months of his life, George was cared for with devotion and kindness by the management and staff of Brooklands Nursing Home.

Mr H Beynon

Kilgetty

The death occurred at Withybush Hospital on Saturday November 5th of Mr Hugh Beynon of Ash Park, Kilgetty. He was 82.

One of eight children, born in a two room dwelling called Kingsmoor Cottage, Station Road, Kilgetty, Hugh was a pupil of Pentlepoir School. His first employment was a teaboy at the Decoy Aerodrome located at the end of Parsonage Green, Begelly, during the Second World War.

He later worked at Gelli Heulog Quarry and when Edgar Howells reopened the Woodlevel Colliery in Stepaside, he worked there until it closed. He was the last living colliery worker at the Woodlevel.

He was transferred to Seven Sisters Colliery in the Dulais Vallet, where he worked until a coal-face collapsed, nearly killing all the men.

Returning home with his wife and young family, he worked at the Co-op as a grocery and bread deliveryman, followed by Coal Yard Manager.

He later worked for William Press at Pembroke Power Station and various oil refineries. When the refineries were completed his work entailed building bungalows for Haydn Evans.

At this time, money was being raised in the village to build a sports club, so he joined the committee and helped raised funds during what he enjoyed most, on a piano push, bath push drinkathon or selling raffle tickets.

In 1977 the sports club was built and Hugh worked as club steward for 16 years until his retirement. Since then he has raised thousands of pounds for various charities.

He leaves to mourn Joan (wife), Heather and Yogi (daughter and son-in-law); Billy and Anne (son and daughter-in-law); Rose and Graham (daughter and son-in-law); Teresa, Samantha and Matthew (grandchildren); Louise and Suzie (step-grandchildren); Jodie, Liam, Ieuan and Nia (step great grandchildren); Margaret (sister); Marjorie (sister-in-law) and numerous nephews and nieces.

Unable to attend were 92 year old brother Bill and sister Hilda.

The service was held at St Mary's Church, Begelly, followed by internment, conducted by Rev Sarah Geach.

A tribute was Given Des Stone, followed by a verse read by Keith Thomas (cousin).

The bearers were Ken Foster (nephew), Brian Cullen (step grandson-in-law), Lyndon Jones (step grandson-in-law), with Allen Hurst, Bobby Bevan and Noram James (Kilgetty Sports Club).

There were family flowers only and donations for St Marys Begelly, Tower Appeal and the Paul Sartori Foundation, c/o E C Thomas and Son, Archways, Green Plains, Stepaside, who carried out the funeral arrangements.