Mrs W Evans

The Rhos

Haverfordwest

THE oldest resident of The Rhos and Slebech area, Mrs Winifred Evans, died on June 12. She was 97 and had been a patient at Withybush Hospital for three days.

Winnie, as she was known to so many friends, had lived at Red Houses, The Rhos, for 67 years.

Born in Exeter in October 1919 she came to Wales with her parents when very young and was brought up at Gwynfe, Carmarthenshire, where she quickly learned Welsh in the village school.

When Winnie was only eight her father died suddenly, leaving two small children.

Although times in the 1930s were hard for her mother, Winnie recalled a very happy childhood.

Leaving school at 14 she had several jobs in service before working on a farm - a life she loved. In 1941 Winnie joined the Women’s Land Army and was posted to Pembrokeshire.

During the war years she worked first at Rosehill Farm, The Rhos, and then Picton Home Farm. She met her husband, Ronnie, and they were married at Gwynfe Church in December 1945. Initially they set up home in a farmyard flat at Picton Home Farm before moving to Red Houses in 1950.

Winnie had a great love of animals, plants, trees and shrubs and set about creating a very natural garden around the family home. In later years she derived great pleasure in being able to look out over her garden and discussing wildlife and nature with her many visitors and friends. Through her letters she kept in contact with friends and family around the world and also enjoyed embroidery.

Always much involved in community activities, Winnie was a founder member of Rhos WI.

Predeceased by husband Ronnie in 1981, her only brother Jack in 2015 and elder son David in January 2016, Winnie is survived by son and daughter-in-law John and Christine Evans; daughter-in-law Eirys Evans; granddaughter Caroline; four grandsons Gary, Robert, Thomas and Jonathan; great-grandchildren Dylan and Amelie and nephew and niece Tim and Elizabeth Knight.

A private service at the house, where Winnie had rested overnight, was conducted by the Rev Mark Griffiths, former Vicar of Slebech.

Millin Cross Presbyterian Chapel, The Rhos, was full for the funeral service on June 30 conducted by the Minister, the Rev Jonathan Kirk, and the Rev Mark Griffiths. The organist was Mrs Miranda Davies and the bearers were the four grandsons. Burial was in the chapel graveyard.

Chief mourners were John, Christine and Eirys Evans (son and daughters-in-law); Caroline and Clement Evans- Rhein (granddaughter and husband); Gary and Julie Evans; Robert and Claire Evans; Thomas Evans and Masha Sibiryakova; Jonathan Evans and Kiran Kaur (grandsons, wives and partners); Tim Knight and Jo Gill and Elizabeth Knight and Tom Jamieson (nephew, niece and partners); Mary Gough, Garfield and Mary Evans (cousins).

Unable to attend were Miss Olive Evans (sister-in-law) and Mrs Dilys Hanmer (cousin).

There were family flowers only. Flowers for the chapel were given by Mrs Susie Philipps from the gardens of Picton Castle and flowers for the house were from many relatives and friends.

Donations in memory of Winnie, for three favourite charities - P.D.S.A., Age Cymru and the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust - are being received by Tom Jamieson, 167 Haven Road, Haverfordwest SA61 1DL.

Funeral arrangements were by Roy Folland and Son, of Haverfordwest.

Mr S P Smith

Fishguard

MR Simon Peter Smith, formerly of Simpson Cross, passed away at his home in Fishguard on May 25 at the age of 38. Simon was born in Haverfordwest on June 5 1978.

He attended Roch Primary School and Sir Thomas Picton School, Haverfordwest.

He spent most of his childhood growing up in Pembrokeshire.

He became very interested in steam engines at a young age and had his own stationary steam engine and vintage tractor and spent hours with locals who had vintage tractors and steam engines.

Simon left school at 16 and worked in Cartlett Home & Garden Centre, Haverfordwest showing an interest in lawn mowers and fires such as log fires. Simon was a jack of all trades and could turn his hand to anything – garden centre and spare parts assistant; baker; machine operator; bowling alley attendant; cashier/customer advisor at Barclays Bank; barman and waiter at various pubs, restaurants and bars around Pembrokeshire; librarian and print room assistant with Pembrokeshire Council.

His most favourite job of all was being a funeral assistant and later a funeral director.

Of all Simon’s jobs, this was the one that he would always turn back to and worked for quite a few funeral directors both in England and Wales over the last 15 years and also tried his hand at starting his own funeral business. Simon was also musical, singing in a choir or pop band, playing the organ, the piano and the violin. Simon was a tenor and had a beautiful and strong singing voice. Another of Simon’s talents was cooking which he enjoyed.

He also spent many hours with his ‘adopted family’ at Croesgoch in Pembrokeshire with Rob and Maria Rees, tinkering away with the traction engine called Diamond.

Simon didn’t have much time for modern technology and when it came to old machinery, he would be at the front of the queue to find out how it worked. In later years Simon became more interested in writing a book and also wrote poetry to express his feelings. On the outside Simon was full of happiness, joy and laughter but on the inside was struggling with bipolar disorder diagnosed in 2013.

Simon lived life to the full, was a gregarious, funny and lively character that everyone warmed to. His wit, loud distinctive laugh and the ability to make any event into a funny story will be missed deeply by everyone who knew him.

The service was held at Parc Gwyn, on June 12 and officiated by Reverend Geoffrey Eynon.

A poem written by Simon was read out by close friend Steve Mainstone.

The principal mourners were Mark Mainstone (partner); Roselle Smith and Mike Jackson (mother and partner); Rob and Maria Rees (close friends); Dorian Rees (close friend), Angharad and Tom Pitts (close friends); Steve and Helen Mainstone, Paul and Alan Mainstone (close friends); Janice and Anthony Meredith, Wyn and Anne Thomas (cousins and spouses), Jean Phillips (cousin). Also present were his half-brother Luke Smith, many other family members, friends and work colleagues too numerous to mention.

Unable to attend was Alex Haddleton (half-sister).

The bearers were Rob Rees, Dorian Rees, Tom Pitts, Steve and Paul Mainstone, Wyn Thomas.

Donations to MIND c/o Paul Jenkins and Sons, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, SA62 9BB who also carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mr A R Evans

Solva

MR Alun Rhys Evans passed away at Withybush Hospital on June 2 at the age of 77.

Alun was born in Llandeloy, near Haverfordwest. He lived at Trecadwgan Farm, Solva all his life.

He was the son of Tom and Hilda Evans.

He attended school at Hendre Cross for a short time and when his sister Elizabeth came of age, they both went to the primary school in Solva.

Alun was devoted to his family, the farm and the chapel in Middle Mill. He was very proud of his two children, Stephen, who kept up the farming tradition which ran in the family, and Helen, who brought much joy to his life, including his attendance at her recent degree awards ceremony.

He was involved in so many aspects of agriculture, starting off early in life as a keen member of Brawdy Young Farmers Club, then chairman of the local NFU society, and as a member and chairman of the grassland society.

Alun was a member and loyal supporter of St David’s and District Ploughing matches, encouraging Stephen and many other young people over the years to take part.

He also very much enjoyed stock judging.

In recent years, Alun had joined the Historical Society in St David’s which he thoroughly enjoyed attending.

The National Park have a footpath running through Trecadwgan and Alun very thoughtfully had raised a bank into a strategic spot on which he then built a bench for those to sit, relax and enjoy the beautiful and picturesque view of the harbour at Solva, which he loved so very much. He wanted everyone to enjoy it.

Alun worshipped at Felinganol all his life. He was a Deacon for 45 years and a Treasurer for 26 years. He took great pride in this role.

Among his treasures was an old Massey Ferguson 35 and a Bristol Drott which he used on several occasions over the years. His real pride and joy, however, was a little grey Ferguson known more lovingly in the farming community as ‘Ffyrgi Bach’.

The principal mourners are Louise (wife); Stephen (son); Helen (daughter); Elizabeth Moyles (sister); Tommy Moyles (brother-inlaw); Emma and Clive Tucker (niece and husband); Rachel Moyles and Paul Emms (niece and partner); Molly Evans (great niece); Drew Emms (great nephew); Warren Evans and Georgia Homer- Hughes (great nephew and partner); Dilwyn James (cousin); Gerwyn and Jane James (cousin and wife); Tom Evans (cousin); Wyn and Margaret Evans (cousin and wife); Nesta and Des Thomas (cousin and husband), plus numerous friends and relatives.

The funeral was held at Felinganol Chapel, Middle Mill on Monday June 12 and it was officiated by Rev Aled Jenkins, assisted by Sister Barnabus, the Rev Geraint Morse and the Rev William Owen.

Mrs Marguerite Price shared memories of Alun and Mrs Grace Rees-Harries read ‘Death is nothing at all’. The organist was Jane James.

The bearers were Peter and Terry Richards and Christopher and Jonathan James.

Donations for ICU, at Withybush Hospital and Shalom House made payable to Mathias Donations Account c/o W G Bernard Mathias, Funeral Directors, 64 New Street, St Davids SA62 6SU.

Mrs L I Lloyd

(New Milton, Hants)

Formerly of Milford Haven

Mrs Lilian Ina Lloyd passed away at Kingfishers Nursing Home, New Milton, Hants on May 29.

She was 94.

Originally from Milford Haven she was a civil service secretary, working at a number of RAF bases in the UK during her working life.

She was a PA to the group captain at RAF St Athan where she received an Air Marshall’s commendation.

She retired at the age of 59.

Her service record included being a Petty Officer WRNs, HMS Skirmisher (Milford Haven and South Hook, Pembs) 1941 to 1944; HMS Caroline (Belfast and Bangor, Northern Ireland) 1944- 45; HMS St George (Douglas, Isle of Man) 1945; HMS Drake (Plymouth, Devon) 1946.

Her main interests included a wide range of activities such as sewing, knitting, crochet and baking, always enjoying travel and went on a number of holidays and cruises to the Baltic and Mediterranean in retirement, also got to grips with new technology in later life, using word processing and spreadsheets, had an iPad for her 90th birthday on which she liked to play word games, look at photos and play music.

She was predeceased by her husband Vernon Walter Richard Lloyd.

The family left to mourn are Patricia Lloyd (daughter) and husband David Rhead; Branwen Rhead (granddaughter) and husband Ben Brumfit, with great grandchildren Lilian and Owen Brumfit Rhead, John Mclean (nephew) and wife Ruth; Michael Thomas (nephew); Suzanne Jones (niece); Richard Thomas (nephew) and wife Delma; Wendy Beaton (niece) and husband Michael, family members were joined by friends of Lilian and of her daughter Patricia Lloyd.

The funeral was held at Parc Gwyn on June 12 and was officiated by Canon John Davies.

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