Sir,

I would be most grateful if you would allow me the use of your newspaper to pay a personal tribute to Mrs. Marjorie Crockford, who died last week. Sadly it is not always the case that bad news travels fast and I did not hear in time to attend the funeral.

My earliest memories are of growing up in Crackwell Street with my mother, Mrs. Madge Lewis, and sister Sheila. My father had been killed at Dunkirk just before I was born and money was not plentiful. We lived in Crackwell House (now called something else) and across the street I remember the Bellevue Hotel (also now called something else) wherein lived Ivor and Marjorie Crockford and their three sons, Michael, Christopher and Roger.

Mike and Chris and I were of a similar age and we grew up as close pals, always playing in the street or down the harbour, or on Castle Hill. Going into the Bellevue was always a pleasure because of the warmth and kindness that were evident.

In those days after the war the Bellevue was striving to make its name and it was a busy establishment - but no matter what, Marjorie Crockford always made time for the boy from across the street, often with a cake or money for an ice-cream if that was what Mike and Chris were getting.

As I grew older and embarked on my career in the Royal Navy, which Ivor had also served in during the War, the same generous spirit and interest continued. Any Naval promotion was invariably followed by a letter from Marjorie. Later when I become a fairly senior officer in the Navy she would put it down to 'being brought up in a nice place, with good friends and a lovely harbour'. As usual she was probably right.

The last time we spoke was a few months ago when my mother died. She had visited Mum in the nursing home where she spent her last months and was upset - but not so much so that she forgot to make sure I knew which was the best charity to benefit.

Although not resident in Tenby, I am also aware of the good work she did for many local causes, most recently the bandstand on Castle Hill.

Taken together with the death last year of her sister-in-law Miriam Crockford, the harbour community has lost two of its outstanding senior citizens. Marjorie was a wonderful, kind lady and Tenby will be the poorer without her.

Doug Lewis,

Barnes,

London SW13.