It is with great sadness that the family of Keith Treadaway announce his unexpected passing. He died peacefully at home on April 1 and leaves daughters Helen and Rachel, sons-in-law Keith and Steve, grandchildren Archie, Sam and Louie and extended family and close friends.

Keith was born in London in 1944 but moved, as a young child, to Lincolnshire. His relocation to the West Midlands in the ’60s to pursue his career in teaching prompted a chance encounter with Janice, and they went on to enjoy just short of 50 years of marriage. In the late ’70s a job opportunity at Pembroke Secondary School initiated a move with his family and it is in Pembrokeshire that they felt ‘at home’.

Keith was happiest in the outdoors. In his earlier years he was a keen climber and it amazed his family to hear that his climbing adventures sometimes involved sleeping suspended from a cliff-face, but once living by the coast, he channelled his love of adventure into sailing. He became a member and eventual Commodore of Saundersfoot Sailing Club. Many happy hours were spent at sea and in the clubhouse.

Keith taught Woodwork, Mathematics, Information Technology and latterly Design and Technology and really loved to hear how his former students had got on in life.

Following his retirement in the 90s, Keith and Jan devoted their time to their grandchildren and their garden. Keith discovered a real passion for Clematis and went on to collate a National Collection and give many talks. Keith and Jan were a real green-fingered force and opened their garden as part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS) for over 10 years, raising money for charity. Their shared love of all things botanical took them on many adventures to visit gardens across the world, with trips to New Zealand, California and South Africa to name a few.

Keith was a proactive member of a number of local gardening clubs, and after losing Jan, his gardening friendships, his family, his voracious reading and a new found love of baking became his focus. He took great pleasure in taking on and mastering new bakes and picked up where Jan left off at Christmas to produce the most sensational sausage rolls and trifle!

In the cards that Keith’s family have received there are a number of descriptions that are repeated; that he was kind, he was quiet and he was a gentleman, which very much sums him up.

Keith’s family would like to thank all those who have provided support and kind messages in recent weeks. If you would like to donate in his memory, ‘Paul Sartori Hospice at Home’ is the chosen charity, after providing much-needed support at the time of Jan’s illness.

There will be a private cremation, but Keith’s family would like to invite all those who knew him to attend a celebration of his life in the Summer. Please e-mail [email protected] if you would like to attend and details will be sent on. 

Funeral Directors W & M J Rossiter & Sons Ltd The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, SA70 8AB