Obituaries March 6th 2013 Page Two

MILTON

WELL-KNOWN retired driving instructor Denver Charles Howard-Cook died at home after a short illness aged 78.

Denver was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, and served his national service with the RAF in Egypt, where he represented the RAF at hockey.

He also represented Hertfordshire County in athletics and had trials for the Chelsea Colts football team.

On his return from national service he worked as a sales manager for Findus Frozen Foods and Lyons Maid, in and around London, before moving to Pembrokeshire to join his father-in-law Basil Seear in running Lamphey Driving School. The driving school ran successfully for 33 years until Denver’s retirement aged 70.

During this time he became chairman and president of Pembroke Round Table, twice president of Pembroke Rotary Club, chairman of Pembroke 41 Club and Worshipful Master of Castlemartin Lodge. He was actively involved in all of these organisations, where he and his wife Pam, had many valued friends and happy memories. He was a founder member of the Pembrokeshire Rorkes Drift Society. He had many interests, and was very knowledgeable in the history of Lamphey and Pembroke.

A life-long interest in amateur dramatics ensured he will be fondly remembered as part of many Rotary cabaret fundraising shows that were put on in the Pater Hall over many years.

The funeral took place at Lamphey Parish Church on February 19th, followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn.

The family left to mourn are: Pamela Howard-Cook (wife); Adrian and Emma Howard-Cook, Simon and Janine Howard-Cook (sons and daughters-in-law); Sophie, Laura, Erin and Cerys (grandchildren); Richard Cook (brother); Lynda Phillips (sister) and Kathleen Seear (mother-inlaw).

There were family flowers only, with donations to Paul Sartori Foundation being received by John Roberts and Son, 51 Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

MR B. M. J. ELLIOTT

PEMBROKE

THE death occurred on February 3rd at Withybush Hospital of Bryan Martin John Elliott, of Saint Nicholas Crescent, Pembroke. He was 75.

He was born in Lower Lamphey Road, and was an independent magician most of his life. He travelled the world under various stage names and pseudonyms such as ‘Caradog’, ‘Mr E’, ‘Gary Ryan’ and ‘Uncle Gary’. He was cruise director on several cruise liners in the 1970s and 1980s. In addition Bryan was a calligrapher and signwriter. Many of the hand-crafted signs and notice boards in Pembroke and Pembroke Dock are his work.

Bryan spent his later years providing magic shows and entertainment across Pembrokeshire at private children’s parties, school events, fairs and fetes.

Additionally he occasionally performed adult-themed magic shows for birthdays, weddings etc.

He served his national service in the Royal Air Force.

His main hobbies are magic, singing and performing arts, calligraphy and sign writing, layreading and church participation, and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He was a layreader for Monkton Priory Church in the 1980s and a congregation member of Zion Free Church in Pembroke Dock, Meyrick Street.

He was divorced from but very much still loved by an American wife Elizabeth, later Lockwood, of Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

The family left to mourn are: Colin Anthony Lockwood Elliott (son in Houston, Texas); Audrey Doreen John and Dorothy May Cross (sisters), and various nephews, nieces and cousins too numerous to mention.

The service was held at Parc Gwyn and was officiated by Rev Hugh Michael at Zion Free Church, Pembroke Dock.

The bearers were Colin Anthony Lockwood Elliott (son); Adrian John and Martin Butland (nephew), and David Waters (lifetime friend).

Donations in lieu of flowers for Cancer Research UK and ward ten Withybush Hospital are being received by E. C. Thomas and Sons, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

MR B. T. J. HARPER

MILFORD HAVEN

BRIAN Trevor James Harper died in his sleep at his home in Starbuck Road, Milford Haven, on January 26th. He was 71.

A native of Milford Haven, he worked as a railway fireman and then joined the Merchant Navy. When he left he worked in the construction industry as a steel erector, and following a severe industrial accident he retired in 1973.

His interests included being a member and serving on the committee of Neyland and District Sea Angling Club, and he represented Wales at international level.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are: Margaret Harper (wife); Michaela (daughter); Ian and Angela (son and partner); Christopher, Louise and Joseph (son, daughter-in-law and grandson); Anna and Lara (grandchildren); Alice Nettleship (mother); Maureen and John, Diane and David, Elaine, Ian and Kathryn, Linda, Robert and Jason (sisters and brothersin- law, niece and nephew); David, Kay, Simon and Sarah Stephen, Susan and Jonathan (brothers, sistersin- law, nephews and niece); plus family and friends too numerous to mention who travelled from far and wide.

The service was held at Parc Gwyn and was officiated by Mike Ashbridge (Humanist funeral celebrant).

The bearers were Ian and Chris Harper (sons); David and Stephen Harper (brothers); Keith Davies, Martin Jones and Stan Kucyj (good friends).

There were family flowers only, with donations for the Wales Air Ambulance being received by Pat Beisly (secretary of Neyland and District Sea Angling Club), 11 Rumsey Drive, Neyland.

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

TRIBUTE TO STANLEY RICHARDS

IT IS both an honour and a duty to add our tribute to the memory of Stanley Richards.

Back in the early 1980s when cricket umpiring was rudimentary in the Carmarthen area, Stanley pioneered a series of A.C.U.

training courses here to great effect.

Travelling up each week from Pembrokeshire, undeterred by any winter weather, he guided and encouraged us through various examinations.

Like his numerous other pupils we recall his lucid and precise explanations and interpretations of the intricacies of the laws of cricket.

Sometimes it felt like being in the presence of a high court judge, then out would come the Welsh farmer: “I’ve told HQ, it’s not damn good enough!” when confronted by bureaucracy.

His work here resulted in the formation of the Carmarthen Association of Cricket Umpires, of which he became the president. His leadership encouraged some of us to pursue matters further as trainers and examiners.

Stanley Richards epitomised all that is best in cricket, a true servant who enhanced the spirit of the game and a wonderful ambassador for Pembrokeshire.

Arwyn Thomas Arwyn Willams on behalf of Carmarthen Association of Cricket Umpires MR B. HUNT MILFORD HAVEN INADVERTENTLY omitted from the obituary of Buddy Hunt, of Coombs Drive Milford Haven (Western Telegraph, February 27th) were daughter-in-law Jane Hunt and granddaughter Kayla Hunt. Colin Griffiths should also have been listed among the bearers.

MR R. CALLAN

PEMBROKE DOCK

THE funeral of Reginald (Reg) Fredrick Callan took place on February 13th at St Johns Church, Pembroke Dock. He was 83.

The bearers were Darren, Robert, and David Callan (nephews) and Michael Osborne (friend).

He leaves to mourn: daughter and son-in-law Janet and Eddie; grandchildren Shaun and Gemma; great grandchildren Jayden, Leon and Maisie, nephews, nieces and various other family members.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by John Roberts and Son, Pembroke Dock.

MR H. DAVIES

LLANGWM

THE funeral of Huw Davies took place at Galilee Baptist Chapel, Llangwm, followed by a service at Parc Gwyn on February 21st.

Huw was born in 1941 and brought up in the mining village of Cwmllynfell in the Swansea Valley by his parents, Katy and Ellis Davies.

Welsh was his first language and he was proud of his Welshness. He was the eldest of three children.

After attending the local primary school, Huw went to Ystalafera Grammar School and then on to Trinity College, Carmarthen to train as a teacher.

On leaving college he went to London to teach before obtaining a post at St Francis Catholic School in Milford Haven. From there he became headteacher at Camrose and then at Llanddewi Velfrey. His final teaching post was in Prendergast School.

Huw married Margaret in 1966 and theirs was to be a totally devoted relationship.

He was never happier than when he had his family – Ashley and Sara, Tanya and Justin, Sam, Joe, Jonathan, Zoe, Iori and Mia – around him.

While his family was at the very centre of his life, Huw had an abundance of interests which he followed with real passion. He loved travel and spent many holidays caravanning on the continent and all over the UK. Margaret and Huw went cruising in various parts of the world including Alaska.

Their most ambitious trip was to Australia and New Zealand, and that was just two months after having had a stoke that kept him in hospital for a month, emerging eventually in a wheelchair.

He was a member of the Hwlffordd Chapter, St Bride’s Chapter and the Cleddau Lodge, where he enjoyed the comradeship and spirit they engendered.

Huw loved music. He played the violin and was a member of the Glamorganshire Youth Orchestra and Choir. He conducted Galilee Baptist Choir for anniversary services and was rehearsal conductor of the Singing Festival. Huw was also a member of the Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir.

He loved golf and was a member in Haverfordwest where he spent many happy hours and made many friends.

At home his consuming interest was gardening. He loved flowers, especially fuschias and had 65 species at one time.

Huw had been unwell for some time, but faced his illness with great bravery and fortitude. In constant attendance was his wife, Margaret. Huw died at home in the presence of his family.

The services at Galilee and Parc Gwyn were officiated by Rev Martyn Evans and the eulogy delivered by Barry Childs, Margaret’s brother.

Two of his favourite hymns were sung by the large congregation present, and the organist was Nigel Thomas.

The bearers were Nick Davies, Mike Roberts, Steve Hookey, Gwilym Lewis, Huw Brock and Merv Hopkins.

He will be sadly missed by his wife Margaret; son and daughter-in-law Ashley and Sara; daughter Tanya and her partner Justin; grandchildren Sam, Joe, Jonathan and Zoe; Iori and Mia; sister and brother-in-law in Australia, Dilys and Willie; and brother and sister-in-law in New Zealand Hywel and Pam.

There were family flowers only, with donations for Kidney Research and the Paul Sartori Foundation to be sent to Peter Phillips, Quarry’s Edge, Foxhall, Llangwm.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Roy Folland and Son, Haverfordwest