Western Telegraph:

Mr T E B Owens

(Formerly of Tenby)

THE death occurred on Friday, February 1, of Thomas Edward Benson Owens (always known as Ben) formerly of Tenby. He was 83.

Ben passed away peacefully in Ty Enfys Care Home in Cardiff.

Born in Haverfordwest, Ben grew up on Prendergast Hill and attended Haverfordwest Grammar school where he was a keen rugby player and field event athlete. Ben continued his education at Exeter University where he gained his teaching degree.

On leaving Exeter University he took up his first teaching position which was at Llandovery College. Whilst teaching at the college Ben was fully involved with the schools sporting societies and assisted with running the Combined Cadet Force unit.

Ben’s next teaching post took him to Bristol where he taught at Withywood School.

In 1969 he took the opportunity to move to Bush School, Pembroke to teach French, and became head of Modern Languages before taking early retirement in 1986.

During his time living in Tenby, Ben was involved with several clubs. For a number of years he was a member of Tenby Sailing Club where he regularly crewed a Redwing with Dennis Sheppherd. He was also a long-time Rabbits member of Tenby Golf Club.

Tenby Bowling Club became Ben’s passion, initially playing and then quickly becoming involved with the running of the club. He loved the game and also enjoyed the social side. He was a successful Club and County Captain later serving as Club President and a trustee. He took great pride in the positions he held within the club. In 2003 he served a year as President of the Pembrokeshire Bowls Association.

Within the wider community in Tenby Ben had been an active Tenby Rotary Club member and for many years administrated the St Mary’s Church Savings Club.

In his later years Ben unfortunately suffered severely from dementia and despite initially being looked after stoically by his wife Marnie, his deteriorating condition led to him to being cared for by the Ty Enfys Care Home in Cardiff for the last four years of his life.

Predeceased by a daughter Jane in 1965 and first wife Elizabeth in 1976, Ben leaves to mourn: Marnie Owens (wife). Paul and Deborah (son and daughter-in-law), Lowri, Rhys & Owen (granddaughter, partner and great-grandson), Stuart, Diane, Coral and Sam (step son, step daughter-in-law and grandchildren), Eddie, Natasha, Emellia and Lloyd (step-son, step daughter in law and grandchildren), Dorothy Davies and Ruth Owen (cousins).

The service and cremation took place at Thornhill Crematorium, Cardiff on Tuesday February 19.

Funeral arrangements were carried out by James Summers Funeral Directors, Roath Court Funeral Home, Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 1XP. There were family flowers only but if desired, donations should be made to the Alzheimers Society.

Mr B Cook

Pembroke Dock

MR Brian Cook passed away suddenly but peacefully at Pembroke Haven Residential Home in Pembroke Dock on December 12, aged 83.

He had been a resident there since September 2018 having previously lived at Furzy Bank in Pembroke Dock.

Brian was born in Pembroke Dock on November 7, 1935 to parents Albert and Violet, and grew up along with his elder sister Pam at the family home in Prospect Place.

At the age of 17 he began his career as an apprentice for the Wales Gas Board, and he remained employed there until his retirement as area supervisor in 1987.

Brian met Sylvia at a dance and they married at St Mary’s church in Tenby on November 29, 1958.

They settled in Pembroke Dock where they raised their two daughters, Sandra and Lynda.

Brian was quite a family man, and as well as enjoying spending time with his family in Pembrokeshire, he enjoyed the occasional trip and holiday to Colchester in Essex to visit other members of his family there.

He took early retirement at age 53 mainly to care for Sylvia who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her early 40s.

Sylvia died on July 2, 2012 after a very courageous battle with her illness, and since then Brian was often seen visiting Sylvia at her resting place.

It is fair to say that he missed her terribly.

In May 2018, Brian’s health started to decline and he had spent four months in Withybush Hospital during which time he also suffered a stroke, from which he appeared to make a good recovery, and in September 2018 he was well enough to leave hospital and very fortunate to be able to move into Pembroke Haven where he had settled very well.

The family left to mourn are Sandra and Nick Evans (daughter and son-in-law), Lynda and Martin Owen (daughter and son-in-law), Kimberly and Gregg Hayes (granddaughter and husband), Kirsty and Tim Bowen (granddaughter and husband), Darren Owen and Charlotte Osborne (grandson and partner), Seren Hayes and Dylan Osborne (great grandchildren), along with his sister Pam Sillence and other family and friends too numerous to mention.

The funeral service led by Rev. Marina Evans took place at St John’s Church, Pembroke Dock on Thursday, December 20, 2018 followed by interment at Llanion cemetery.

There were family flowers only, but donations in lieu of flowers for Pembroke Haven may be made to John Roberts and Son Funeral Directors, Bush Street, Pembroke Dock who carried out the funeral arrangements.

Mr F L Cole

Pembroke

MR Frederick Llewellyn Cole, of St Michaels Road, Pembroke died on January 7 at South Pembrokeshire Hospital, Pembroke Dock, aged 86.

A native of Freshwater East, Frederick Llewellyn Cole or “Fred” as he was known was born on July 1, 1932 at Little Porthclew Farm, Freshwater East, the fourth child of eight, of Alfred and Francis Cole.

Fred grew up on the family farm and attended the local primary school in Lamphey before he moved onto Pembroke Grammar School.

As a boy, Fred would help on the farm, milking the cows, carrying the milk to the cooler, before bottling and delivering locally to the surrounding villages, for the whole process to start again the following day.

Fred continued to work on the family farm after he completed his schooling.

Fred met his wife Joan, the only daughter of Frederick and Suzanna Davies, of Upper Cowsland Farm, Begelly, at the De Valance in Tenby.

They married in June 1965 at Begelly Church and celebrated 53 years of marriage together.

Fred and Joan started their married life at Lake Farm, Freshwater East.

Their marriage was blessed with four children, Michael, Nigel, Melanie and Shirley.

In 1968, Fred successfully gained employment as a stockman at Pembroke Grammar School Farm and the family moved to tied accommodation at North Lodge, Pembroke.

He used his dairy experience in caring and looking after 40 pedigree Friesian cows.

In the early days, agricultural students boarding at Bush House would use the farm to gain valuable lessons in farming and Fred was always on hand to help.

When the college closed, Fred continued to offer guidance in farming to the less academic students of the new comprehensive school.

For more than 20 years, Fred worked closely with Eric Bowen.

The farm was fully functional and had an excellent reputation for festive turkeys, which they reared from tiny chicks to prize-winning birds.

Over the years, Eric won many trophies for his efforts and Fred was proud to be part of the team.

Sadly, a decision was taken to close Pembroke School Farm, which forced Fred into early retirement, from a job he loved.

Fred loved his sport especially cricket and horse-racing.

He would get up early to watch The Ashes in Australia and visited St Helens in Swansea to watch Glamorgan on more than one occasion.

When time allowed would go to the local point-to-point at Lydstep on Easter Bank Holiday Monday to watch the horses jump the fences.

Fred also loved travelling and enjoyed many visits to Bournemouth with Joan.

They also went abroad to Spain and to Lake Garda in Italy on more than one occasion.

Family left to mourn are Mrs Joan Cole, wife; Michael Cole, son; Nigel and Nicola Cole, son and daughter in law; Melanie and Timothy Chell, daughter and son in law, Shirley and Richard, daughter and partner; grandchildren, Iwan, Megan and Cameron; Mrs Olive Cole, sister in law; and numerous nephews and nieces.

The bearers were Michael and Nigel, sons; Timothy Chell, son-in-law; Richard Williams, daughter’s partner.

The funeral service took place at St Faith’s, Lamphey on January 28 and was followed by interment at St Michael’s Cemetery, Pembroke.

The service was given by Reverend Josh Maynard.

Donations, if so desired, are for The Sunderland Ward, South Pembrokeshire Hospital, Pembroke Dock, c/o E.C.Thomas and Son, Funeral Directors, 21, Main Street, Pembroke SA71 4JS and Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH who conducted the funeral arrangements.

Mrs G E A Bradshaw

Pembroke Dock

THE funeral recently took place of Mrs Gillian Edith Ann Bradshaw of Hill Street, Bufferland, Pembroke Dock, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at home, aged 73 years on Wednesday, February 6.

Gillian was a full-time mother while her children were small but then went into part-time work as a retail assistant, her last job being at Woolworths, Pembroke Dock.

She loved her job and the people she worked with, this allowed her to do which she did best, interacting with the local community and catching up with all the news.

She gave up paid employment to care for her devoted husband William Matthew Bradshaw (Bill) when he became seriously ill.

Gillian loved being around people, she loved gardening, wildlife and local history – especially that of Monkton where her mother’s family originated.

She was a true homemaker, she loved her family and took great enjoyment in all their achievements.

She was a totally devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

The family left to mourn are her devoted husband Bill, her children, Sarah, Matthew, Michelle and Rebecca; Grandchildren: Lance, Nathan, Liam, Gemma, Morgan, Sophie, Connor and Chloe; Great Grandchildren: Rosie, Otto and William, her sister Rose and brothers, Albert and Brian; Sister-in-law to Jean, Marjorie, and Mike; her special niece, Janice and extended family.

The bearers were grandsons Lance, Nathan, Liam and Connor.

The ceremony which was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium on Tuesday, February 19 was conducted by Mr Mike Ashbridge (A humanist celebrant) and was a warm and affectionate celebration of Gillian’s life which included a loving and heartfelt tribute written by her children.

There were beautiful floral tributes from her family with special memories rekindled through family photographs of Gillian through her life.

It was with great sadness and a heavy heart that her family and friends said goodbye in such a final way.

Her memory will live on in their hearts. Rest in peace wherever your spirit lies.

The family would be very grateful if any donations in lieu of floral tributes for the Wales Air Ambulance may be sent c/o E C Thomas & Son Funeral Directors, 21, Main Street, Pembroke SA71 4JS or Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH who conducted the funeral arrangements.

Mrs M M Thomas

Llandissilio

MRS Margaret Muriel Thomas of Llandissilio passed away peacefully at Ridgeway Nursing Home, Llawhaden on December 13, 2018. She was 93 years of age.

She was the widow of the late Henry John Thomas, formerly of Nantyffin Motel.

A private funeral was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth on Thursday, December 27.

The service was conducted by the Reverend Jill Hayley Harries, who also gave a tribute to Muriel.

She was assisted by Reverend Emyr Wyn Thomas and Canon Aled Williams.

The bearers were Huw Davies, Anthony Scourfield, Robert Phillips and Bryan Vaughan.

Principal family mourners were Yvonne and Bryan Vaughan, Nancy Scourfield, Wynne Phillips, David and Ann Phillips, Eileen Phillips – sisters and brothers; Elma Davies, sister, was unable to attend; Huw Davies, Anthony Scourfield, Sian and Geraint Davies, Robert Phillips, Elin Phillips and Rob Scourfield, Rhian and Llinos Phillips, Vanessa and Bethan Phillips – nephews, nieces and great niece.

Muriel’s ashes were later interred in her late husband’s grave at Pisgah Chapel cemetery, Llandissilio.

The arrangements were carried out by Dennis and Jean Jones, Maesawelon, Efailwen.