OBSERVER readers are being asked for their help in tracing a family with strong Saundersfoot connections.

Ever since the tragic death of his wife, Mr. Bryan Rendell, of Chepstow, has been researching his family history.

Mr. Rendell's great-grandfather, William Davies, who died in the late 1800s, was head coachman at Hean Castle, Saundersfoot.

Most of the family are buried at the village's St. Issell's Church and Mr. Rendell is now turning to the Observer in the hope that readers may be able to give him further information about his family.

"William Davies died between 1871 and 1881," said Mr. Rendell in his letter.

"His widow, Elizabeth, then lived at Hill House, St. Issell's, until she re-married a Mr. Rees. They then lived at 18 Railway Street," he explained.

William and Elizabeth had six children, Thomas, William, Charles, David, James and Martha.

Mr. Rendell continued: "Thomas became a blacksmith and worked in the dockyard at Pembroke Dock and on his marriage to Sarah Jane Lewis was posted to Malta.

"Their first son was dropped by a young Maltese girl onto a stone floor and died. Their second son, George, returned with them to Pembroke Dock and married Esmie Davies. George served on the Pembroke council and was Mayor at one time.

"William married Annie Bowen, a relative of Lloyd George, and they emigrated to Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. They had six children and two of their sons - William and Charles - joined the AEF and at one time were stationed in Pembroke Dock, before being sent to the front in World War One. They fought at the Somme and Passchendaele, thankfully returning home to Toowoomba.

"Charles lived with his mother for a while and became a gardener, working at Waterwynch. He married twice, firstly Beta Reeves and then Agnes Knox. Charles was a coal trimmer and lived at 1 Plantation Cottages, Saundersfoot. They had five children and I have made contact with some of his grandchildren who now live in Saundersfoot and Kilgetty.

"David was a rural postman and he married firstly Alice Augusta Goodridge. They lived at 16 Railway Street, Saundersfoot, but after her death he married Ellen Freeman. There were eight children from the marriages. One of their sons, Albert Reginald Davies, died of a gunshot wound at the age of nine. David died in 1909.

"James worked for Charles Vickerman as footman, groom and then coachman. He married Rebecca Ann and they had three children.

"We can find out very little of Martha Davies. She was a beautiful woman who married, but whom we don't know. She had a son William, born around 1882, and she worked at Waterwynch.

"Most of the Davies family are buried at St. Issell's Church and my cousin and I hope to do a lot more research on this.

"If any readers think they are related to the Davies family, I would welcome a letter, telephone call or fax."

As well as writing to him at his home address, Mr. Rendell, of 9 St. Davids Close, Chepstow, can be contacted by telephone or fax on 01291 621780.