died on Friday July 11th 2008 aged 100 years
at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff
Funeral service conducted by Rev Philip Drake at Llanishen Methdist Church and at Briwnant Chapel, Thornhill Crematorium on Thursday July 24th 2008
"Well, 100 years old - what was going on in the world when my father was born? Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was Prime Minister and in that year was succeeded by Herbert Asquith. The Old Age Pension had still a further year to wait before that came in place and was for people aged 70. The first flight took place in the British Isles by Samuel Cody, an American cowboy, it was also the first aire crash. WG played his last cricket game in first class matches at the age of 60. London hosted the Olympic Games.
"So it was that my father entered the world. He started life in Ruabon near Wrexham and was one of three brothers. His elder brother Ferg was 2 years older. He died aged 87 and his younger brother Fred is still alive aged 98.
"After leaving school at 14, he went to work as a clerk at the timekeeper's office at a local brickworks. That closed 2 years later. Then he went to work for Dyke Dennis who owned coalmines, 14 farms, hotels, racehorses and greyhounds. In later years Dick Francis, who became a famous writer, was the stable jockey.
"During the twenties, my father had a football trial with Oswestry. After playing down the wing they wanted him to come back but he was due to go on holiday and he chose that instead.
"My father was engaged on all manner of book keeping and accounts for Dyke Dennis. Tradgedy struck in 1934 when there was a large pit explosion at Desford Colliery which killed 266 miners. My father spent a harrowing time as one of 8 couriers making sure that the missing miners had not gone home before the disaster.
"During the twenties and early thirties my dad had many evenings at local dances; and a few years ago my Aunt Ann told me that he was a very good dancer at the time. She is now 94.
"Just before world war 2, in 1938, he went to take his driving test. Much to his dismay, intead of taking the test locally, he had to go to Caernarfon - where he had never been before. He managed to take a bend at 22 miles per hour before coming to a huge queue of traffic - well, four cars. He passed his test.
"When WW2 started my father joined the East Denbighshire Home Guard and was engaged on more paperwork and driving the commanders around.
"After the war, the gas industry was nationalised and eventually my dad became the Secretary of the Wales Gas Consultative Council and attended many meetings across Wales, and on occasions had to go to the House of Commons.
"In 1952 he met my mum who was living in Llandinam (a village on the A470 between Llanidloes and Newtown) and he was living and working in Llanidloes. Following a whirlwind romance they marriwd in February 1953. I arrived on October 13th 1955. When he was not away at meetings the home was directly above the office so I can imagine commuting was not a problem. We moved to another part of Llanidloes in 1956 and then in 1958 moved to Cardiff at the new HQ for my father. It was not long after that my parents started attending the Methodist Church in Melbourne Road.
"In 1973 my father retired and he did a few part-time bookkeeping jobs including Yapps garage. In 2005 my dad came to live with me and the rest of the family."