Mr D Phillips

Clynderwen

THE funeral of David Phillips took place at Berea Chapel in Croesgoch on Wednesday, February 14.

The service was held by The Reverend Geraint Morse.

David’s sister Avril was the organist.

The bearers were Adam Phillips, Ian Thebridge, Mark Robinson senior and junior, Luke Robinson and Graeme Corbett.

David passed away on Wednesday January 31, aged 56 years.

David was the beloved husband of Tania, dear father of Sian and Adam, cherished son of Oli and late Queenie, cherished brother to Avril, brother-in-law, uncle and son-in-law.

David was born at home at Lower Druidston Farm on April 14 1961 and was the youngest child of Oli and Queenie.

He always had an interest in machinery and trained to become an agricultural engineer. This was his main love.

David was the youngest at the time to pass the NVQ in agricultural engineering at Stoneleigh agricultural college in Warwickshire.

He started working in Merlin Motors before deciding to strike out on his own.

He began by selling tyres which sent him travelling across the country to talk about tractors before he became the regional dealer for IMT and Valmet and set up his agricultural engineering business at Troedyrhiw.

David touched many peoples lives and will be deeply missed by all those left behind and always in our thoughts as his life was cut short.

Donations if desired towards The Chemotherapy Unit, Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, c/o Ken Davies & Sons, Funeral Directors, Clunderwen who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mrs K Evans

Letterston

BORN in Liverpool in 1926, Kathleen moved to Pembrokeshire at the age of five when her Master Baker-Confectioner father returned to his home county to set up his own baker business in Letterston.

After attending Letterston and Fishguard schools, Kathleen worked for the Admiralty in the engineers’ office in Trecwn House at the beginning of the war, later working in the family business delivering bread to local farms and villages, mastering the mechanics of the delivery van and establishing what were to be lifetime friendships with her rural customers.

From an early age she became involved in community life, a passion that was to remain with her all her life.

One of the founder members of the Memorial Hall Committee after the war, Guiding and Youth Club kept her fully occupied as she grew up.

Memories of servicemen and evacuees billeted in her home during the war years made for good tales later on.

Later, when married to local builder Mansel and with four children to care for, she immersed herself in church activities becoming Enrolling Member for Mothers Union and PCC member, in turn serving as treasurer, secretary and church warden as well as flower arranger, cleaner and fund raiser.

WI too was a huge distraction from housework and motherhood and through this organisation she became involved in amateur dramatics, choir and craft, again taking office as secretary and president at times.

She was a member of the Council for the Protection of Rural Wales for a time and enjoyed meeting like-minded people who cared about their environment.

As her children grew up she was a founder member of the Village Development Committee, set up to provide tennis courts and recreational facilities in the village.

A return to guiding when her children left home saw her become a district and divisional commissioner as well as ‘hands on ‘ stints as guider in various North Pembrokeshire places.

Many places will remember her working part time in the village school as one of the first ‘dinner ladies’ in the county and school meals clerk.

Later, she worked in the Brynawelon Hotel as receptionist and bookkeeper, a role that gave her much pleasure as she informed guests of the special places they could visit in Pembrokeshire.

There followed periods of employment in Wern Road Motors in Goodwick and Three Main Street in Fishguard as book keeper/accounts clerk.

For some years she was a local correspondent for the Western Telegraph.

In later life, Kathleen was one of the people instrumental in setting up LARCS, the Letterston Active Retirement Club in the village and again took office arranging walks, speakers and various club activities.

Later she became a community councillor, serving as chairperson on three occasions, and working tirelessly for the village of which she was so knowledgeable and proud.

Whilst a member she co-ordinated the publication of two booklets, celebrating 100 years of community or parish in Letterston and the Millennium, and later went on to write several more articles on life in North Pembrokeshire as she was growing up and to speak on the same subjects at various clubs and societies.

Two of her articles were published in Pembrokeshire Life, a cause for great pride!

Into her nineties she attended an embroidery class in Fishguard, latterly more for the social aspect than stitching and also took great pleasure in her weekly visits to the Community Café in Letterston for a weekly catch up on local news and views.

Kathleen had four children, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

At the end of January, following a short illness, she died at home surrounded by her family. A long life, well lived.

Mrs D A Thomas

Hayscastle

THE death has occurred peacefully at Withybush General Hospital, Haverfordwest of a very popular, well known and much respected north Pembrokeshire figure, Mrs Dilys Ann Thomas of Maesyrawel, Hayscastle, Haverfordwest.

In her 100th year, the deceased was the eldest of five daughters born to George and Maggie Davies of St Nicholas.

Two of her sisters, Ethel and Nancy succumbed to the diphtheria and scarlet fever scourge of the 20’s whilst another sister, Mrs Megan Phillips –a former Fishguard businesswoman –passed away two years ago.

She was also deeply saddened by the death of her eldest grand- daughter, Helen Brown, just a few years ago.

Dilys is survived by her youngest sister, Mrs Maureen Edwards, Goodwick.

On leaving school Dilys took up employment with her grandparents, John and Ann Thomas at Cross House, Mathry where one of her regular tasks was to deliver milk around the area in a large churn which would be dispensed to villagers as they came out with their large jugs.

In 1940, when they had obtained the tenancy of Rhosgranog Uchaf farm at Llandeloy, she married Richie Thomas from Mathry who, as a merchant seaman, had survived the sinking of his vessel, The Baron Salter, in the early months of the war.

Coming to be acknowledged as excellent neighbours they farmed Rhosgranog successfully for over twenty years until the opportunity arose to purchase the larger Trewilym farm nearby at Hayscastle.

Again, ably assisted by their daughters, Janet and Morfydd, they started what was to become a thriving farmhouse bed and breakfast business catering for clients from across the UK and beyond.

Shortly after Richie sadly died in 1983 Dilys retired to Maesyrawel and the farming business was continued by their son, Idris, and daughter in law, Beth.

A very talented lady and an avid reader, Dilys, had always made excellent use of the library service and even had books at her bedside during her final hours in hospital, despite suffering from pneumonia.

Very knowledgeable about local affairs she often assisted local historians seeking information with regards to early village life at St Nicholas and Mathry, some of which was tape recorded for posterity.

Brought up in the Welsh Baptist faith, Dilys had maintained her membership at Bleanllyn Chapel for almost eighty years and, during that time attended many association meetings and conferences and the Womens’ Fellowship.

She was also widely travelled throughout the UK and had visited numerous European countries, attended the Passion Play at Oberammergau, twice visited the shrine in the Holy Land and also journeyed to Egypt and Morocco.

In retirement she greatly enjoyed supporting monthly meetings of pensioners groups with a host of friends at Clarbeston Road and Hayscastle.

Dilys was also an excellent cook and had many red cards from local shows to prove it.

Over the past twelve months the years began to tell and her movements became restricted although she remained fully alert to all things that were taking place.

During this period her family attended to her every need aided by the marvellous team of carers who were always on hand with first class support.

Generous and hardworking, she had always kept a welcoming home and was immensely proud of all her family and will be greatly missed by her daughters, Janet and Morfydd, son Idris, and their families, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Bleanllyn Chapel was filled with family members, neighbours and many friends for the funeral service which was conducted by her minister, Rev Aled Jenkins assisted by Rev Geraint Morse. Tributes were given by Mrs Margo Evans (grand-daughter) and Mrs Marlene Jenkins and the organists were Mrs Stella Evans and Mrs Jane Francis.

Interment took place at Llangloffan cemetery where Rev Jenkins was assisted by Rev John Roberts.

The bearers were Richard, Jonathan and David Thomas, Ashley Beynon, Matthew Evans. and Gareth Phillips.

Principal mourners were family members, Janet and Meyrick Brown (daughter and son-in-law); Morfydd Jones (daughter); Idris and Beth Thomas (son and daughter-in-law); Angela and Lynn, Margo and Matthew, Richard and Amy, Jonathan and Tracy, Jennifer and Matthew and David and Karen (grandchildren and partners); Victor Edwards (brother in law), their families together with numerous friends and sympathisers.

Amongst a number unable to be present were Mrs Maureen Edwards (sister).

There were family flowers only but donations in lieu, if desired, for Bleanllyn Chapel are being gratefully accepted by Paul Jenkins & Sons, Feidr Castell, Fishguard who had charge of the funeral arrangements.