MR. F. W. WARREN
Stoke-on-Trent
The death occurred on Friday, October 24, of Mr. Frank (Pither) Warren, aged 66 years, after a long illness.
Frank was brought up in Tenby and lived in The Glebe for many years before joining the army.
Frank started his uniformed career back in 1954 by joining the Sea Cadet Corps. From there he enlisted as a junior apprentice at the Army Apprentice School, Chepstow. After completing his apprenticeship, he transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and served in locations such as Northern Ireland, Tripoli, North Africa, and Germany.
During his service in the REME, he was decorated with the General Service Medal for his service in Northern Ireland. Frank left active service in 1977, having reached the rank of sergeant.
He joined the Army Cadet Force in 1979 at the rank of SMI. After a short break, Frank rejoined the ACF in 1986 where he worked tirelessly as Detachment Commander, CSMI, finishing his career as the Company DofE Coordinator for D'Coy.
Whilst with the ACF, Frank was awarded with the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal, Cadet Forces medal, Lord Lieutenant's Certificate of Good Service and County Meritorious Certificate.
In total, Frank served some 45 years in uniform, man and boy.
He will be sadly missed by his partner Mary of 30 years, his sister Maureen and brother-in-law Roy (who lives in Kilgetty) and his large family and many friends.
The funeral took place on Monday, November 3. There were family flowers only, but donations in lieu for Douglas Macmillan Hospice may be sent to Williamson Brothers, Funeral Directors, Birch Head Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 6LK.
PROF G. REES
One of Britain's leading environmental scientists, Professor Gareth Rees, who helped develop the portable water purification plant used in tsunami villages, has died after a long battle with cancer.
The 57-year-old scientist, who was born at Pencoed and studied at Aberystwyth, was Director for Environmental Health at the Robens Centre for Public Health, held an impressive array of scientific positions as a leading expert in water quality.
He had been a special advisor to the World Health Organisation, the European Union, the House of Lords select committee on the environment, the European Parliament and to the US Federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Gareth Rees had also been Associate Editor of the international journal The Environmentalist founder of Coastwatch UK, the ground-breaking coastal management project sponsored by Norwich Union and supported by the Daily Mirror.
His brother, journalist Alun Rees, said: "He was inspired to become an environmentalist as a young lad while we were growing up on Barry Island when he saw raw sewage in the sea and thought that was a disgrace.
"Gareth worked all over the globe struggling to improve the quality of water in places like Russia, Greece, the USA and even the Gaza Strip where he helped Palestinian families try to get good water supplies.
"And in the months before his death he set up an adjunct to a charity called Doves and Dolphins to bring children from Gaza, disfigured by shrapnel wounds, here to the UK for plastic surgery.
"Closer to home he played a major role in getting an ultra violet sewage treatment plant which had been refused for Tenby and in his spare time he worked tirelessly as an expert witness for Surfers Against Sewage in cases against the big water companies."
In November 2007, Prof. Rees was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from York University in recognition of his contribution to social change through educational partnerships.
He died on October 31, 2008, at his family home in Millington, near York, following a long battle against cancer and leaves four children, including a son Sam, who teaches in Swansea, and a daughter Bethan, who plans to study medicine at Cardiff.
MRS. V. J. THOMAS
Tenby
Mrs. V. J. Thomas
Tenby
A large congregation of family and friends gathered at St. Mary's Church, Tenby, on Monday, October 27, to celebrate the life of an adored wife, mother and grandmother, Mrs. Valerie Joan Thomas, of Five Arches Gifts, 13 St. George Street, Tenby, who passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, October 17, aged 70.
A tribute was paid to Joan by her son-in-law Gareth Evans, who described her as a devoted, compassionate, fun-loving lady with many endearing qualities.
Throughout her life she developed many close friendships, but her family were her foremost love, pride and joy.
She worked as the cook in charge at the former Tenby Cottage Hospital for many years, doing what she did best, cooking and caring for people.
In her retirement, Joan travelled all over the world with her husband, Des.
A Tenby girl at heart, she always loved to return home, saying there was no place more beautiful than Tenby.
The funeral, which reflected her love of music and poetry, included a reading of one of her favourite poems, Sea-fever, which was read by her grandson, Lance Corporal Rhys Evans.
The service was followed by a private burial at Tenby Cemetery, both conducted by the Rector, Rev. Andrew Davies.
The family left to mourn are her husband Des, Jane and Nigel (daughter and partner), Julie and Gareth (daughter and son-in-law), John and Shelley (son and daughter-in-law), Lynne and Jane (son of Des and partner), grandchildren Bethan, Rhys and Lucy, brother Jimmy, sisters Marjorie and Gwen and many nieces and nephews too numerous to mention.
The bearers were David Robins, Paul Morris, Christopher James and Stephen Vickery.
Joan was a very popular member of the community and will be sadly missed by everybody who knew her.
There were family flowers only, with donations, if desired, payable to Ty Hafan Children's Hospice, c/o funeral directors, Messrs. W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd., The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, or Landsker House, 21 Station Road, Narberth.
MRS. M. E. GATLAND
SAUNDERSFOOT
The funeral took place recently at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, of Mrs. Marjorie Ellen Gatland, of 6 Vineyard Vale, Valley Road, Saundersfoot, who passed away at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, on October 17. She was 88.
A native of Newport in Gwent, Marjorie spent most of her working life as a housewife and mother. She loved her garden, especially growing flowers. In her spare time she enjoyed ballroom dancing with her partner Richard, which was one of their main social interests.
Family left to mourn and principal mourners at the funeral were: Mr. Richard C. Higgs (her partner for 30 years), Mr. J. H. Gatland and wife (son), Mr. James Gatland and wife (grandson), Mr. David Gatland and friend (grandson), Mr. Stuard Gatland (grandson), Mr. and Mrs. John Main, Mr. and Mrs. John Power, Mr. and Mrs. David Jenkin and family, Mrs. Joyce Brooks and family, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Baker, Miss Alex Gatland, Mrs. Ann Scarrott and partner.
The funeral at Parc Gwyn Crematorium on October 23 was conducted by Canon Michael Butler.
Bearers were Graham Thomas, Terry Brace, Paul Hay and Gavin Wright.
There were family flowers only, with donations, if so desired, for Ward 10, Withybush Hospital, c/o E. C. Thomas and Son, Funeral Directors, Green Plains, Stepaside, who carried out the funeral arrangements.
MRS. M. BRAUND
(nee Harrison)
TORONTO
Miranda Miles Braund died at Toronto General Hospital on October 23 at the age of 75, having bravely suffered a long illness.
She was born in Tenby and was the eldest child of Wilfred and Vida Harrison. She spent a happy childhood here, and was educated in St. Stephens School and Greenhill Grammar School where she achieved remarkable academic success at the age of 14.
She appreciated a wide range of music, was a gifted pianist and violinist, and one of the earliest members of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales.
Miranda had a great sense of humour, was highly intelligent and adventurous and soon after leaving school joined the Women's Royal Naval Service. She was stationed firstly at HMS Harrier Kete, near Dale, and subsequently at HMS Dryad in Portsmouth, where she became a leading Wren and a highly regarded radar instructor.
After four years, she left the Navy and worked briefly in Tenby as a secretary in the Imperial Hotel, before emigrating to Toronto in 1957. At first she worked in a secretarial agency, before accepting a permanent job with Massey-Harris Ferguson. In 1960, she married William Braund, founder and president of Braund Supergraving Company Ltd, and following his death in 1976 she became president.
Their elder son David is choir master and organist at St. Matthew's Anglican Church, North York, Toronto; their younger son Peter worked for Braund for many years before becoming president of the company.
Miranda had great delight and enjoyment spending precious time with David and his wife Angela and their children Katherine and Emma, and with Peter and his wife Sandra and their children Amanda and Conor. She loved the sea and among her many varied interests she greatly enjoyed spending time in the garden, solving crossword puzzles and playing Nintendo.
She returned to Tenby for a vacation occasionally, and although she had lived in Toronto for 51 years, her strong attraction to the town and country she was born in always remained.
Her close relatives living in this country are Anna (sister), Philip (brother-in-law), Simon (nephew); John (brother); Peter (uncle); Anne, Steve, Hannah and Megan (cousin and family); Helen (cousin) and Christopher and Margaret (cousin and cousin-in-law).
The funeral service, attended by family members and a large number of relations and friends, took place at St. Matthew's Anglican Church, North York, Toronto, on November 1, and was followed by burial at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.
MRS. M. THOMAS
NORTHERN IRELAND
(formerly of Pentlepoir
and Amroth)
The death occurred at Lagan Valley Hospital, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, on October 29, of Mrs. Marion Thomas, formerly of Pentlepoir and Amroth. She was 80.
For some years, Mrs. Thomas was well known in local agrictultural and YFC circles, having farmed at Beaconing Farm, Pentlepoir, with her late husband, Gwyn Thomas.
She first came to the area as a Land Army Girl, working for Sir Thomas Meyrick, and it was only recently that she had received a Land Army Service Medal and Citation from the Prime Minister.
After her farming days, she spent more recent years as a security officer with Woolworths, before moving to be with her daughter in Northern Ireland in the late 1980s.
Cremation took place at Roselawn Crematorium and donations in lieu of flowers can be made to RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute), c/o Mrs. Thomas's daughter, Mrs. Ann Wilson, of The Pines, 20 Skeagh Road, Kinallen, Dromara, Co. Down, Northern Ireland, BT25 2QE.
MRS. E. ORIEL
KILGETTY
The funeral took place at St. Mary's Church, Begelly, on October 31, of Mrs. Eileen Oriel, of 8 James Park, Kilgetty, who passed away at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, on October 25. She was 85.
A native of Llanteg, Eileen was born and brought up on a farm. She studied and taught music (piano) in her younger years and continued her farming life prior to retirement.
Her main interests were music and playing both the piano and organ (she was formerly a church organist). Eileen also enjoyed coach trips and holidays. She was a member of the Mothers' Union and latterly the Golden Age Club, as well as being a member of Crunwere Church for most of her life and Begelly Church during her retirement years.
Predeceased by her husband Howell Oriel in June, 1987, she is survived by - Alan and Carol Mason (son and daughter-in-law), Barbara and Arthur Howells (daughter and son-in-law), Vaughan and Joy Oriel (son and daughter-in-law), Derek Oriel (son), Andrew Mason (grandson), Roger and Catherine Howells (grandson and wife), Margaret Howells (granddaughter), Richard Oriel (grandson), Stephanie and Ceri Phillips (granddaughter and husband), Kimberley Oriel (granddaughter), Ben Oriel (grandson), Sarah and Emma Howells and Ava Phillips (great-granddaughter).
Principal mourners at the funeral, which took place at St. Mary's Church, Begelly, followed by interment at St. Elidyrs Church, Crunwere, were the above and the following - Dennis and Annie Mason (brother-in-law and sister-in-law), Mary Mason (sister-in-law), Melgwyn and Diane Neale, Ruth Bevan, Kathleen and Geoff Griffiths (nephews and nieces), Mr. Eddie Brown (close friend), along with numerous cousins, friends and acquaintances.
Unable to attend were Mrs. Joy Oriel (sister-in-law), Delme and Christine Evans, Megan John (nephews and nieces).
The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Sarah Geach and Rev. Roger Thomas.
Bearers were Tony Brinsden, John Tonster, Alan Davies and David Vale.
There were family flowers only, with donations, if so desired, for The Coronary Care Unit of Withybush Hospital, c/o E. C. Thomas and Son, Funeral Directors, Green Plains, Stepaside, who carried out the funeral arrangements.
Floral tributes were as follows: Dearest mam, sadly missed - Alan and Carol; Your memory will be our keepsake with which we'll never part, love and miss you always - Arthur and Barbara; In memory of a caring mother, sadly missed - Vaughan and Joy; In loving memory of mam - Derek; Always in my prayers and thoughts, dear gran - Andrew; To our beloved gran, you will always be in our hearts and minds - Roger and Catherine; God bless you gran, love you always - Mags; With loving memories of a dear gran - Rich; Thank you for the memories - love Steph, Ceri and Ava; Dear nan, you will be in our hearts forever, love you always - Kimberley and Ben; Bye-bye great nanny, we will miss you, we love you lots and lots - Sarah and Emma; In loving memory of Eileen who will be sadly missed, but fondly remembered by all at Woodlands Lodge Residential Home.