Arthur, former Managing Editor of the Tenby Observer, died during the early morning of Sunday, December 29 at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest. He had been a patient for just over a week. Despite the efforts of the skilled and hard working medical staff, he passed away peacefully with his two sons, Richard and Robert, at his bedside.

A very popular figure in the town, Arthur will be sadly missed by his family and a wide range of friends, acquaintances and colleagues. He was a genial character and he always found time to speak with those he met. His quick wit and dry humour were almost legendary. He had a vast knowledge of Tenby and its people.

Arthur was the son of the late Herbert and Rose Ormond and was brought up at 8, The Green. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Joyce in August 1999. They had been married for 48 years.

At Greenhill Grammar School, Arthur excelled as a student but, in common with many others of that era, a university education was unfortunately unaffordable. At school he also proved to be a competent sportsman and throughout his life sport always featured prominently.

Arthur joined the staff of the Tenby Observer in 1939 as a trainee reporter. The outbreak of World War II interrupted his early career. He joined the RAF and trained as a radio operator. He spent time at various locations in Europe including France and Belgium.

On returning to the Tenby Observer, Arthur spent many happy years as the newspaper's correspondent in Whitland.

Arthur was appointed Editor in 1964 following the retirement of H. G. Walters, and later Managing Editor when Tindle Newspapers became owners. He retired in 1989 marking 50 years' loyal service with the Tenby Observer.

In 1978, Arthur was awarded the MBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace and was accompanied by Joyce and both their sons. This honour was in respect of his services to the newspaper industry including a period when he and his dedicated staff successfully fought to save the Tenby Observer from the brink of extinction.

Throughout his career as a journalist, Arthur's family recall him working tirelessly. Almost every evening at home he would be banging away on his typewriter preparing articles from his shorthand notes.

For many years the Tenby Observer was printed on site on Thursday evenings and Arthur would invariably arrive home in the early hours of the Friday, often covered in ink or oil as there had been problems with the printing press.

For a long time he was a member of the Guild of Editors, an organisation involving editors of the daily and Sunday newspapers. He was very proud when he was appointed as the Guild's National President in 1982 and continued to play an active role until well after he retired.

During the immediate post-war years Arthur played rugby and cricket for Tenby. He won Pembrokeshire League and Cup medals with Tenby United. He was an accomplished batsman and also represented Pembrokeshire.

He later took up golf and this became his great passion. he was a founder member of Tenby Golf Club Divots Society and participated in the Sunday morning league for 30 consecutive years.

He captained Tenby Golf Club in 1963-4 and later served as its President including during its centenary year in 1988.

He was a life member of the club, continued to play regularly and had enjoyed two games during the few days before he was taken ill. His regular golfing partners included Sonny Perkins, Derek Williams, Gwyn Jenkins, Ray Johnson and Charlie Tarr.

In the early 1990s he began playing bowls with Joyce who became Ladies Captain of Tenby Bowling Club in 1998. Arthur had great fun playing for the Goscar team and was elected President of the club last year.

Arthur also loved watching sport and was a frequent visitor to the Millennium Stadium to watch the national team in action along with his friend John Flynn.

He never missed a game at Wembley when Wales' home matches were played there and he always enjoyed his biennial outings to Murrayfield with Richard.

Although sport played a large role in Arthur's life, he was also involved in various other organisations in Tenby. He was a founder member of Tenby Round Table and was its Chairman in 1956/57.

For many years until his death, he was a Governor of Greenhill School and he attended two functions at the school, a Christmas concert and a prize-giving, on consecutive evenings immediately prior to his short illness.

Arthur was a Trustee of Tenby Museum and Art Gallery and a Trustee of the Tenby Charities. On his passing he was President of Tenby Players and had spoken recently at their 50th anniversary dinner. He loved attending and reporting on their productions.

He was President of Tenby Civic Society and, together with Joyce, had enjoyed many of the excellent trips organised by the society.

However, despite his various achievements and honours, Arthur's proudest moment was probably when he became a grandfather for the fourth time at the age of 70. He was blessed with the birth of four grandchildren in the space of five years.

For the past 10 years he doted on Sam, Chloë, Kate and George, to whom he was affectionately known as 'Pop'.

In addition to his grandchildren, Arthur is survived by Richard and Georgina, and Robert and Becky, as well as his only sister Joy Smith, who lives near Nuneaton, her son Roger and his family and his sister-in-law Doreen Hammersley, of Tenby. her sons Philip and Neil and daughter Elaine and their families.

Arthur was a character who will be missed by many in Tenby. Some have commented that the town will not be the same without him.

He loved people and was genuinely interested in everyone he met. He was at ease with those from all walks of life.

He also contributed fully to any organisation or club with which he became involved. His advice was often invaluable.

He will be remembered by his sons Richard - a chartered surveyor and estate agent with Guy Thomas and Co in Pembroke - and Robert - a commerical banking executive with Lloyds TSB based in Bristol - as a much respected father and close friend and a wonderful grandfather to their children.

The funeral takes place tomorrow (Saturday) with a service at St. Mary's Church, Tenby at 10.45 am followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn, Narberth at 12 noon.

There is a request for family flowers only but anyone wishing to make a donation in lieu may do so to the Stroke Association c/o Messrs W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd., The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, who are undertaking the funeral arrangements.

Arthur Ormond

by Sir Ray Tindle CBE DL

Proprietor of the

Tenby Observer

Arthur Ormond was with the Tenby Observer for 50 years - 25 years as Editor - until his retirement in 1989.

Throughout that long service he never failed to bring out the newspaper every week despite some of the most difficult problems that can befall a newspaperman.

Perhaps the worst crisis Arthur faced was when the Observer (then called the West Wales Observer) announced its own closure nearly a quarter of a century ago in March 1978.

The decision to close had only been made after a long struggle to obtain supplies of newsprint, ink, plates and all the many weekly requirements of a newspaper. Cash had run out and the then current shareholders in 1978 were unable to meet the proper demands of the creditors.

News of its death appeared in the Daily Telegraph and that is when I first became aware of its plight, although I had known for many years of the Observer because of its brave fight for press freedom which had resulted in the passing of the Admission of the Press to Meetings Act of 1908.

After a quick call to the receivers, who told me that Arthur and some of his colleagues were still there clearing up, I came to Tenby and asked the remaining staff including Neil Dickinson, today's Editor, and John Smith, if they would like to have another try at keeping the paper going if I were to buy it that day. They at once, to a man, volunteered to bring it out that same week even though their numbers were well down on the normal complement, and they only had a little over two days in which to do it.

Led by Arthur they produced - on time - a splendid issue on March 17 of that year as they have done every week since. The Observer returned to profitabiltiy after a few changes were made in direction, content and area covered, and has now been viable for more than 24 years (and launching the Tenby Times in 2000).

Arthur's part in the saving of the Tenby Observer will not be forgotten. He was one of the great provincial weekly newspaper editors.

Rest in peace, Arthur, and thank you.

A great mentor, colleague and friend

This year 2003 marks a momentous year for the Tenby Observer as we celebrate our 150th birthday. However, it is an anniversary we enter into with a very heavy heart following the death earlier this week of our former Editor Mr. Arthur Ormond MBE.

For well over a third of our long history, A. J. O. - or Mr. 'O', as he was affectionately known to us - served the Tenby and the Narberth and Whitland Observers with distinction, his time on the staff only being broken by his wartime service overseas.

Mr. 'O' joined the Observer as a junior reporter in January 1939 working his way up the ladder to become editor 25 years later.

He remained in that high office until his retirement in 1989, but even then, he never left us.

For several years he continued to write his Comment and People pages, and was still contributing copy right up until the time he was so tragically taken from us.

He was a regular and welcome visitor at our offices in Warren Street, always there to offer advice based on his vast experience and to check that we had not missed out on a story he had 'picked up' on his travels.

Although he worked on a small Pembrokeshire newspaper, Mr. 'O' became National President of the Guild of British Newspaper Editors and could have become a 'big name' nationally. However, he preferred to stay in his beloved Tenby, and threw himself whole-heartedly into many of the town's organisations.

A great raconteur, with a ready wit, Mr. 'O' was also much in demand as a guest speaker, with an almost unsurpassed knowledge of Tenby and it's personalities.

In all that he did however, aside from his family - to whom he was devoted and extremely proud - he always put the 'paper first.

For many, he was the Observer, but he always saw himself as just one cog in the Observer machine. Even when he was awarded the MBE for services to the newspaper industry, he modestly accepted the honour as "a great tribute to a small but loyal team". This was the measure of such a true gentleman.

Granted, Mr 'O' could be rambunctious at times, but he carried it off with roguish charm and a wicked sense of humour and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

We at the Observer have lost a great mentor, confidant and friend.

It has been a particularly sad week for the Observer, for our present Editor, Mr. Neil Dickinson, who served for many years with Mr. 'O' also suffered a personal loss over Christmas with the sudden death of his mother Mrs. Olwen Dickinson.

We extend our sympathies to both families at this saddest of times.

At this time of year our front page is usually given over to highlighting the fun of the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Under the circumstances however, we hope you will crave our indulgence in this instance to pay our own personal tribute to Mr. Ormond, 'one of the finest provincial newspapermen of our time' and a truly great man.

ANDREW DAVIES

CHIEF REPORTER