Obituaries for January 8 2014

Haverfordwest

MANY friends, including the numerous ones from the medical and nursing profession, were saddened to hear of the recent death of Miss Nancy Irene Lewis, of Heritage Gate, Haverfordwest.

The deceased, who was aged 81, was the elder daughter of the late Mr and Mrs William George Lewis of Lewis Hill, Spittal, Haverfordwest. She was brought up in a truly rural area during which she developed a great love of animals and the countryside.

Following her education at Spittal Voluntary School and Taskers Girl’s Grammar School, Haverfordwest, she took up nursing and completed her studies at Morriston Hospital, near Swansea, before progressing to a senior post at Sully Hospital in the Vale of Glamorgan.

She later returned to Pembrokeshire where she eventually became Senior Nursing Officer (Matron) at the County War Memorial Hospital at Haverfordwest and, as such, was closely involved at management level in commissioning the present Withybush General Hospital.

In undertaking her duties she had fully earned the highest praise at all levels and was rated as amongst the very best Nursing Managers.

Ever the professional, Miss Lewis was held in very high regard by all her colleagues amongst both medical and nursing staff who will treasure happy memories of a lifelong friend.

A dedicated, caring and lovely person with a warm personality and genial sense of humour, she was considered good to talk to and could always be relied upon to offer sound, sensible and practical advice. At the time of her retirement she was the head of all nursing services at Haverfordwest.

Looking back she undoubtedly made an invaluable contribution to many aspects of life in the county town and in retirement, when able to do so, she devoted much of her time to the NHS Retirement Fellowship, The Paul Sartori Foundation, Probus and the Soroptimists International on behalf of whom she served as delegate to several major conferences where her immense knowledge and expertise was greatly appreciated.

The well attended funeral took place at St Mary’s Parish Church, Spittal, where the deceased had remained a lifelong member. The ceremony in the church and the committal at the graveside was performed by the vicar, Rev David Rees and Mr Geoff Brookes presided at the organ for the hymns “Love divine” and “The day Thou gavest”. The bearers were nephews, Messrs Martin and Christopher James, Dylan Brown and Nick Ingle.

Principal mourners were Miss Enid Lewis (sister), Meyrick Brown, David Brown, June Gray, Brian and Doreen Brown, Sandra Brown, Glyn and Queenie Thomas, Graham and Jeanette James, Alan Brown, Angela Brown, Nick and Alison Ingle, Paul Lewis, Carol Salisi, Kevin Lewis, Wyndham and Maureen Rowlands, Dylan Brown, Martin and Christopher James together with many other relatives, neighbours, friends and representatives of numerous organisations with which the deceased had been associated.

There were family flowers only, but donations in lieu, if desired, for the Paul Sartori Foundation are being gratefully accepted by Mr Meyrick Brown, Rhosgranog, Llandeloy, Haverfordwest.

The funeral arrangements were undertaken by Messrs Roy Folland and Son, Haverfordwest.

l AN Appreciation of the late Miss Nancy Lewis, Haverfordwest Last week Pembrokeshire lost one of its great public servants with the passing of Miss Nancy Lewis of Spittal, and lately of Haverfordwest.

Nancy was Ward Sister at Ward Two at the old Withybush Hospital Annexe, then its Nursing Officer and lastly as the Senior Nurse for the old Pembroke County War Memorial Hospital; she then became the first Senior Nurse at Withybush General Hospital in 1978 until her retirement in 1987.

Nancy brought a kindly professionalism to a difficult job, melding nurses and their differing traditions and ways of doing things from the four old hospitals that Withybush replaced, and immediately created a strong team ethic and loyalty amongst all the 500 plus staff she managed.

Nurses became proud of the “new” hospital and this spread to all other staff in the new unit. But there was only one boss, everyone knew it and rejoiced in it, and Withybush was fortunate to have an outstanding leader of the nursing profession when the new facilities were being commissioned.

But Nancy Lewis brought so much more to the post; she was respected hugely by all consultants; her knowledge of the people and families of the thousands she came into contact with from all over Pembrokeshire who had passed through her care was legendary; all junior staff of all departments would use her kindness, approachability, and professionalism for help, advice and support and she became by her energetic and totally committed day to day activities the face of Withybush Hospital to everyone.

I enjoyed a close working relationship with Nancy as the Senior Nurse and myself as the Hospital Secretary and I believe we were a true partnership whose sole aim was the care and betterment of everything related to our hospital. To do a ward round with Nancy was some experience as everyone just wanted to please her and get things right, because she would coax and cajole excellence from her colleagues without resentment. She would not tolerate poor performance, however, but never raised her voice. She had that great gift that her staff always strove to please her by their performance at work Nancy and I spent many hours at presentations around Pembrokeshire as we both shared the belief that if any organisation wanted to help the hospital then the least we would do would be at their disposal whatever was required; hence she pushed over piles of pennies in a less than salubrious South County pub, or sat through hours of concerts as an honoured guest before graciously accepting a donation. I know that during these first years we received over £1.5 million to equip the Special Care Baby Unit, the Coronary Care Unit and the Intensive Care Unit to mention just a few.

Nancy cared about her job and what it entailed, and threw herself wholeheartedly into it. And, as far as this observer of the NHS for over 30 years is concerned, Nancy Lewis was the most outstanding nurse manager I ever worked with; and I regard my time with her as being an absolute privilege and joy. Thank you Nancy from all who had the privilege of knowing you and also from the thousands who benefited from your achievements without possibly even knowing of your existence.

BARRY VAUGHAN

Mrs M Vizza

Pembroke

THE funeral took place recently of Mrs Margherita Vizza who died peacefully at Ashdale Nursing Home, Pembroke, on November 24, aged 101.

She was born in Cosenza, Calabria, southern Italy where she lived until 1948 when she followed her husband to Pembrokeshire after the war. Margherita raised her family in Lawrenny before moving to a smallholding in Thomas Chapel and in later years, Begelly. Her main interests were gardening, knitting and cooking beautiful Italian food for her family.

The funeral service was held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, officiated by Father Paul Davies. The bearers were Paul Vizza, Jonathan Williams, Andrew Young and Stan Launchbury.

The principal mourners were Lydia (daughter); Rachel and Walter (daughter and partner); Marina (daughter-in-law); Jonathan, Mandy, Linda, Jill, Paul, Suzanne, Maria, Julie and Sallie (grandchildren), plus many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, brothers and sisters in Surrey and Italy.

There were immediate family flowers only with donations, if desired for Jeffreyston Church and Ashdale Nursing Home, c/o E C Thomas and Son Funeral Directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, who conductedthe funeral arrangements.

Mr D Jefferies

Whitland

IT is with sadness that we report the passing on November 28 of Desmonde Jefferies, formerly manager of the National Coal Board, beloved husband of Betty and dear brother of Graham.

He was born in Edmondstown, and attended Tonypandy Grammar School where his high intelligence won him distinction in science subjects. It was not the norm in the school to aim for a university education, so he did an RAF course in Montrose, Scotland.

On returning to Wales he was appointed as a scientist in the NCB’s Laboratories, progressing to assistant manager and then manager in the Llantrisant area. This was a highly responsible post and he was often called in the middle of the night to visit the coke oven. Often there was an uncontrollable blaze which only he could handle.

His extensive scientific knowledge enabled him to bring matters under control, thus safeguarding the lives of his 300-strong workforce.

He took a keen interest in sport, playing football, rugby, cricket, golf and bowls, becoming a National Umpire in bowls. Later, bridge was the game which brought Betty and Desmonde together, their first meeting occurring at a bridge weekend in Bristol. It was love at first sight.

On moving to Llanfallteg to Betty he continued his active life in computer skills, gardening and clerk to the community council for a brief period. His cheerful personality, sense of humour, well-dressed appearance, kindness and helpfulness endeared him to all who knew him.

Mr A J Rees

Hakin

MR Andrew John Rees of Westaway Drive, Hakin, passed away tragically in a motorbike accident near Waterston on October 23. He was 25.

From Hakin, Andrew joined Chevron when he left school as a modern apprentice at the age of 18. After completing his apprenticeship he was employed as a process operator.

He remained with the company, continuing in the post with Valero.

Andrew loved his car, motorbike and all computer gadgets. He was a member of the Ford Focus and Renault Clio Forum websites and was an avid online gamer.

He kept in touch with his many varied friends through Skype, Facebook and the internet. During his time off from work, he and his girlfriend Tasha would be out and about in the county visiting beaches, Oakwood, Bluestone and the Presceli Mountains.

Andrew loved animals, he regularly attended the gym, while he and Tasha enjoyed holidays abroad. He enjoyed music, playing the guitar badly but enthusiastically and went to the Reading Festival when his shifts allowed, and also travelled to Cardiff to see rock bands.

The family left to mourn and principal mourners are Linda Rees (mum); Elinor Rees and her partner Toby Evans (sister and her partner); Tasha Phillips (girlfriend); Barbara and Jim John, Lorna Rees (grandparents); Beverley John and partner Jonathon Bates (aunt); Shannon and Georgia (their children); Lyn and Paul Charles (aunt and uncle); their children Rebecca and Nicola, Nicola’s son Rhys.

Andrew was a very popular young man shown by the many people attending his funeral. It was held at St Mary’s, Hakin, followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn, Narberth.

The bearers were Rhodri Davies, Charles Davies, James Price, Iain Phillips, Stephen Davies and Gareth Davies. His school friends Rhodri Davies and Joe Freeman and work friends Lyndon Griffiths and Tom Arnold read out memories of Andrew at the church. His cousin Rebecca read a poem at the crematorium.

There were family flowers only with donations in lieu to Ty Hafen or Andrew’s favourite local charity ‘Moggies in Need’, Haverfordwest.

So far almost £3,500 has been donated.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Tom Newing and Sons Ltd, Milford Haven.