Mr. F. Williams

Pembroke

The funeral of Frederick Joseph Protheroe Williams took place at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, on Friday, March 24, in a service conducted by the Rev. Huw George. Rev. George delivered a tribute to Fred’s long life to a packed congregation of relatives and friends.

Fred was first rushed to Withybush Hospital on January 18. Thanks to all staff on Ward 4 in two weeks he was well enough to move to Sunderland Ward at South Pembs. Hospital to recuperate. After several weeks at South Pembs. and two days before he was due to go home, Fred again became ill and was transferred to the High Dependency Unit at Glangwili, where after tests, it was decided that surgery was not an option and was transferred to Preseli Ward to spend his last hours surrounded by his family. He passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 12, aged 92. The family would like to thank all three hospitals for the care and kindness Fred received.

Fred was born in Jameston near Manorbier on November 11, 1924, to John and Ethel Williams, later followed by brothers Dennis and Colin. He was educated at Manorbier VC School and Coronation School, Pembroke Dock. He left school at 15 to enter the Navy as an artificer apprentice.

In 1944, he was posted to HMS Arethusa, a light cruiser, where he saw D Day action bombarding the defences behind Sword Beach. Being at action stations in the engine room meant that he did not actually see France until he visited on a ‘Heroes Return’ tour with sons Chris and Mike in 2010.

Fred left the Navy in 1949 after marrying Megan Rossiter, of St. Florence, in 1948. Son Christopher was born in 1949 son Michael in 1950 and daughter Jennifer in 1955.

Fred worked for a short time as a Prudential insurance collector, becoming a familiar sight on his rounds in the south of the county on his James motorcycle, but soon returned to his roots working on ship repairs for RS Hayes at Pembroke Dock.

After Hayes closure in the late ’50s, Fred worked at the Atomic Research Facility at Harwell, but disliked being away from his family so started work at the United Dairies in Whitland, later transferring to Pensarn Dairy in Carmarthen. After the Dairies closed, Fred and Meg moved back to Pembroke in 1973 and Fred began work at Hancocks Shipyard in Pembroke Dock on the construction of ore carriers and water tractors in what is now the Maritime Heritage Yard. After Hancocks closed, Fred went into contracting working on the refinery sites until his retirement at a little over 65. In retirement, he devoted his time to looking after Meg until her passing in 2007.

Fred had been a useful hockey player in younger days even playing the occasional game into his forties. He also played table tennis for the Whitland Dairies Club.

Gardening was an enduring interest that family and neighbours all benefited from as Fred would turn up with tomatoes, cucumbers, new potatoes or kidney beans right up until three or four years ago when mobility became a problem. Latterly, he could be found reading, doing crosswords or Sudoku and always welcomed friends and neighbours in for a yarn. He had strong moral values which he demonstrated in his union work and his even handed way of dealing with everyone he met so that they all became friends rather than acquaintances.

Fred loved to spend time with his grandchildren and later their children. All have happy memories of time spent in the garden, collecting bean sticks, car rides, walks along beaches or headlands and if well behaved the issue of a Werthers toffee. All benefited from his knowledge of plants and wildlife.

Family left to mourn are son Chris, son Mike and wife Janice, daughter Jenny and husband Phil, brother Dennis, grandchildren Stephen and wife Michelle, Nicola and husband Paul, Joanne and partner Mark, Melanie and husband Justin, Richard and wife Tammy and Andrew, great-grandchildren Kristy and partner Phil, Alex and partner Elli, Jacob and partner Kamille, Megan, Jack, Jodee, Evan, Georgia, twins Rhys and Samuel, Jack and Fred, great-great-grandchildren Preston and Stanley.

In a service led by the Rev. Huw George, the bearers were Mark Francis, Stephen Williams, Paul Hart, Justin Powney, Richard Parry and Andrew Williams. Whitland Male Voice Choir sang the ‘Rev Eli Jenkins Prayer’ and ‘For the Fallen’.

The family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to the Rev Huw George for a service conducted with great feeling and good humour, Whitland Male Voice Choir for a moving performance, Neil Roberts and Phil Lloyd for the funeral arrangements and the Begelly Arms for the refreshments.

There were family flowers only, but donations in Fred’s memory may be made to The Pembrokeshire Cancer Support Group and Blind Veterans UK, c/o John Roberts and Son, funeral directors, 51 Bush Street, Pembroke Dock.

Fred’s ashes are to be interred with Megan’s in the garden of rest at St. Florence Church.

Miss S. A. Rees

Pembroke Dock

It was with great sadness that her family, many friends and work colleagues learned of the untimely passing, on February 26, of Sally Ann, at the age of 66.

Born and brought up in Pembroke Dock, the daughter of Roland and Peggy Rees and sister of William, she lived in the family home in Albion Square, where her father ran a well-known grocery store, with attached bakery. She attended Albion Square School, followed by Pembroke Grammar School, where she made many lifelong friends.

Sally Ann always had a bit of wanderlust, and set off for a position as an ‘au pair’ in Italy, shortly after leaving school in 1966, which was an exciting adventure she thoroughly enjoyed. There followed a few other jobs, including running her own shop in Pembroke Street, selling everything needed for making home-brewed beer and wine, for a couple of years. After the shop, she worked at the AA offices in Begelly helping stranded motorists. Finding this job not all she wanted out of life, she took the decision to apply for teacher training and spent four years as a ‘mature’ student at Worcester College where she shared a flat with some 18-year-olds, whose mothers thought she would be a sobering influence on their daughters, not realising many of the scrapes they would get into would be instigated by Miss Rees!

She kept in close touch with those friends from college, visiting often and they have been profoundly affected by her death.

Sally Ann thoroughly enjoyed her teaching career, much of which was spent at Stackpole VC School where she was highly-thought of by pupils, parents and staff.

All her life she enjoyed travelling the world, in particular Australia, where she had a number of relatives. Her father’s brother, Skyrme, and his wife, Marjorie, had emigrated from Wales many years ago and she kept in touch with their children, Gaby, Tim and Mike, whom she visited on a number of occasions. She also travelled around that vast continent with friends.

Sally Ann will be remembered with love by her family, and as a good and loyal friend to those closest to her, including Anna and Phil, her much-loved godchildren.

For much of her adult life, Sally Ann had been a member of Pembroke Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild, and it is to this worthy cause that donations in her memory will be made. For anyone who hasn’t already given, and would like to donate, please send your donations to E. C. Thomas, funeral directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, who carried out the funeral arrangements.

MRS. S. J. WILLIAMS

SAUNDERSFOOT

As reported previously, the death occurred peacefully at Brooklands Nursing Home, Saundersfoot, on March 13, of Mrs Sybil Joan Williams.

Aged 85, she was a native of Herefordshire and during her working life undertook secretarial duties, as well as receptionist and voluntary duties.

Sybil’s main interests were music, poetry, crosswords, walking and dancing.

She was predeceased by her husband Robert Williams, but left to mourn are Denise, Robert, Philip and Roger.

The funeral took place at St. Issell’s Church, Saundersfoot, on Monday, March 27, followed by interment in St. Issell’s Cemetery.

Officiating was the Rev. Marianne Osborne, while bearers were E. C. Thomas and Son, Mark Parsell, Paul Hay, Daniel and Stewart Treharne.

Donations to the Alzheimers Society mayu be made c/o E. C. Thomas and Son, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, who conducted the funeral arrangements. Tel. (01834) 831876.