January 25^th

Mr C R Whatley – Goytrey

The funeral took place at Saron Chapel Goytrey on Saturday of Mr C R Whatley, who died the previous Tuesday at Pontypool hospital after a short illness.

Mr Whatley was well known in Pontypool, he was manager of M/s Hipps Pontypool shop. He leaves a widow, Mrs Esme Whatley and baby daughter.

The Rev. C A Rees officiated at the house and graveside.

Mourners: Wife; Mother and Father; Joyce and Herbert Whatley; Mam and Dad Williams; Gwyn and Jack; Uncle George.

Amongst others present were representatives of M/s Hipps and Pontypool Military band.

Bearers: M/s Truman; H Griffiths; J Davies and T Roberts.

Flowers: Wife and baby Christine; Mam and Dad; Joyce and Herbert; Mam and Dad; Gwyn and Jack, cousins; Tegwen; Uncle George, Aunt Nell and family; neighbours of Jubilee Terrace; M/s Hipps Ltd., Manager and staff Lower George Street Pontypool; Pontypool Military Band; members of Pontypool Comrades Club.

M/s E J Ware and Sons were the undertakers.

Mrs Lucy M Wilks – Penpellenny

To the general regret of all those who had the pleasure of her acquaintance for many years, Mrs Lucy M Wilks, widow of the late William Wilks passed away after only a days illness at Hawthorn Cottage Penpellenny Sunday last.

Well known in the life of the district her sudden demise caused quite a shock to the residents amongst whom she will be sadly missed.

Having continued the business of her husband in the building trade since his death, Mrs Wilks was a popular figure and was seen to be carrying out her daily rounds in her familiar pony and trap.

She was a capable business woman, beloved by her employees and was of an amiable and loving disposition.

She will be missed at Goytre Parish Church where she was a faithful and loyal member.

The funeral which took place at Goytrey on Wednesday was largely attended bearing testimony to the high esteem in which the deceased had been held throughout the neighbourhood.

The officiating minister was the Rev. H O P Belcher M.A. Rector, the coffin of plain elm bore the inscription “Lucy Maria Wilks died Jan 10^th 1926 aged 64 years.”

Six employees acted as bearers and among the principal mourners were Miss Robbins (niece) Messrs Philip and Joshua Robbins (brothers); Miss R Wilks (niece); Mrs Merrick (sister-in-law); MrW Jackson, (manager); together with several nephews and nieces.

The coffin was covered with a large number of floral tributes.

Full of Years and Honour –  Mr John Wilks

Little Mill Engineering Works Founder

60 years Deacon of Chapel Ed

Born at Penpellenny, Goytre on April 9^th 1842 Mr John Wilks passed away at his residence there Friday April 17^th 1931 full of years and of honour amongst his own people and of good repute amongst all of his acquaintances far and wide.

Mr Wilks has spent a long, active and useful life and won the affection and esteem of a large number of friends. The son of a smith, he commenced work at an early age, as was common in the days of his youth, and his first job was on the railway at the time when bridge work was in progress.

At the age of 22 he left Goytrey for Pandy, but at the age of 24 he returned home to start a small business of his own, from which has developed the engineering works of Messers Wilks and sons, Little Mill.

Mr Wilks helped the late Col. H Byrde in the works of building of the British School Penperllenny, and served on the committee of management. He was the first chairman of the Parish Council, a position he held for many years, and one in which his intimate knowledge of parochial affairs and business like qualities were of great value. For many years he was a trustee of the Council School.

The Oldest Deacon

For about 60 years Mr Wilks had been deacon at Chapel Ed, he was the oldest deacon of the Presbyterian Connection in the County and by his generosity and loyalty he had been able to keep the work going through storm and sunshine.

His house was an open home to ministers of all denominations and he was ever ready to help any good cause. His uprightness, integrity and good works placed him among the noblest and best of those professing the Christian faith.

In recognition of his great services at Chapel Ed in June 1923 Mr Wilks was presented with an illuminated address as a slight token of the affection and esteem in which he was held.

He took an active interest in the work at Little Mill practically up to the last, but in the latter months his failing health prevented him leaving his Penpellenny home. Amongst letters of condolence received by the family were one from Mr E J Bagley, secretary of the Hope Presbeteryn Church Pandy, and the Parry family at Glannant, and Col. R B Ford of Pontypool.

 The Funeral

The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, and was attended by a very large number of friends of the family from far and near who knew and revered Mr John Wilks as a man of Christian worth and a man of outstanding character in the countryside.

At the house a short service was conducted by the Rev. Thomas Probert, Pontnwynydd, and the Rev. Thomas Cooper, Abertysswg, after which the coffin was borne on the shoulders of relay men to Chapel Ed, which failed to accommodate all who attended.

Mr Charles Merrick presided at the organ and played ‘O Rest in the Lord’ as the cortege entered and ‘Handels Large’ as it left. The service which was conducted by the Rev William Jones of Mozerah commenced with the signing of the hymn ‘O God’.

Mr William Wilks 1917

The announcement of the death of Mr William Wilks of Hawthorn Cottage Penperlleny Goytre was received in the district with feelings of profound regret. After a long illness he passed away on Thursday week at the age of 70.

As a builder and contractor he had a business connection with a number of estates in the district and was consequently a large employer of labour.

As a man he was highly respected and esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance and he had a large circle of friends in town and country.

He was a loyal churchman, an energetic church worker and a lover of music, he was for a long time period organist and choir master at Monkswood Church. Much sympathy is felt for the widow and his other relatives.

The funeral took place at Goytre Parish Church on Monday afternoon, the Rev. Joseph Davies officiating and there being a large attendance of mourners and sympathising friends of the parish and district.

In the church Miss Davies residing at the organ and impressively played “O Rest in the Lord” and “The Dead March” in Saul.

She also accompanied the singing of the hymns “O God Our Help in Ages Past” and “Rock of Ages” and the chanting of Psalms. The choir attended.

The mourners were:

The Widow; Mr J Wilks PenPellenny brother; Mrs J Jackson Abergavenny; Mrs C Merrick Goytre; Mrs T Jackson; Miss R Wilks Goytre sisters; Mr J Robbins Penarth; Mr W Farr Little Mill brother-in-law; Mr G Jackson Abergavenny; Mr and Mrs J Wilks jnr., Little Mill; Mr D Wilks Abergavenny; Mr W Wilks Merthyr; Mr & Mrs W Jackson Goytre; Mr A Jackson Abergavenny; Mr W Jenkins Goytre; Miss A Wilks Goytre; Miss E Robbins Goytre; Mr & Mrs Major New Inn, nieces and nephews; Mr C Powell Monmouth; Miss M Williams Goytre; Mrs Dean New Inn; Mrs A Owen Goytre; Mr & Mrs C Bowen New Inn; Mrs Reynolds, Mrs Davies & Mrs Chappell; Mrs Farrant Newport; William Jenkins Pentwyn Mamhilad, cousins; Mr Walter Jenkins New Inn uncle; Mr W Jackson jnr., cousin;

Amongst those present were;

Rev P L C Nash (Rector of Usk and Monkswood); Rev Symonds; Rev Davelock Roderick (Saron Chapel); Lieutenant Crawshay; M/s Fraser Crawley; J H Davies; L&P Bark Usk; Edward Spencer; L S Davies; Roger Lewis; Arthur Marfell; R H Marfell; Rowland Marfell; F Craven Jones; Roger Morgan The Goytre; J M Jones Ty Goytre; Richard Jenkins; Pugh Upper Hendre; W Weeks; T Jones Walnut Tree; J J Lewis Ty Rewen; F J Harris; T Jenkins New Barn; R Jenkins The Mill; R Derrell; Rufus Evans; W E Davies Goytre House Farm; T Whitney; J S Birrell Chepstow; Geo Stinchcombe Yew Tree; Wm Harris Lower House; Gilbert Gwatkin Church Farm; W H Gwatkin Parc Bach; Edwin Evans; Evan Morris; Harry Owen; T Day; A D Titcombe; D H Morgan; W Crump;H Williams Estavarney; W Powell tradesman; Enoch Walton; George Turner Llanvair; J Boyce Berlan; D Hutchinson; J Harding; Richard Dobbs; Albert Bishop; E Bowen; W Jenkins; RH Williams; J W Shepardson; H Jones Brook Farm Mamhilad; Thomas Goytre House; J E Dye Hengoed.

Special bearers were deceased employees;

M/s T Jeremiah; A Owen; J Owen; E Morris; E Thomas; W Sales.

Mr F Williams was the undertaker.

The funeral took place at Goytre Churchyard of Mr Henry Williams of the “Hollies,” Goytre. Services were conducted by the Rev. Alernon L Davies.

Mourners: Harry, Sid, Stan and Bill, sons; Aubrey, brother; Trevor, Alf, George, Olly Tom and Ted, sons-in-law; George, brother-in-law; 

At the house: Lil, Mary, Elsie, Elizabeth, Annie and Eve, daughters; Gwen, Ann Ett and Elsie, sisters; Dorothy and Lin, daughters-in-law; Mrs L Humphries, Mr & Mrs Hall.

Flowers: Harry Lil and family; Mary & Trevor; Sid and Dorothy; Stan & Olive; Elsie & Alf; Elizabeth, George and family; Annie, Olly and girls; Gwen & Aubry; Bill, Lin & family; Ede, Ted and baby; Ann & George; Eat & Elsie; Mrs L Humphries; Tom, Mrs Parry; Neighbours and friends, Newtown; Darts team, Goytre Arms; Beryl, Bill & family; Mrs Williams & family; Nana and Jacky; Women’s dart team, Horseshoe; Pontypool, Men’s darts team, Horseshoe; Mrs Evans, Pontypool.

Goytrey Sad Death – 18^th February 1882 Monmouthshire County Observer

On Wednesday morning an inquest was held at Penwern Cottage Goytrey, before E D Batt Esq., coroner and a jury composed of the following gentleman:-

Messrs A R Garrett (foreman) John Jones, David Evans, William Wilks, Robert Feltham, – Watkins, James Ralph, Isaac Wilks, Thomas Reece, George Gwatkin, John Price and William Evans, touching the death of Elizabeth Williams aged fifty, which took place on Saturday last under distressing circumstances.

The only witness called was James Jenkins, brother of deceased who deposed that he saw her alive on Saturday morning before he went to work.

When he came home in the evening he found she was out, but thinking she had gone to pay a visit to one of her brothers, did not go in search of her till it became dark; he then became uneasy and went in search of her, but did not find her until Sunday morning when he discovered her death in a brook.

She had been in a weak state of health some time and under medical treatment. She was seen going from home by her neighbours between twelve and one on Saturday.

The jury were unanimously of opinion that deceased must have wandered through a wood near her home and by trying to cross the brook into a field, fell in, and by falling struck her head against a stone and became stunned.

The jury returned a verdict of “Found Drowned.”

Deceased had been in the habit of going into this wood for a few dried sticks.

19^th January 1962 – Mr E J Williams, Goytre.

The funeral of Mr Edwin James (Ted) Williams, aged 61, of Greenfield, Goytre, who died at St Woolos Hospital, took place at Saron Baptist Chapel, Goytre. Services were held at the house, chapel and graveside and were conducted by the Rev. C A Rees (brother-in-law). The organist was Mrs D Prosser.

Mourners:

Jim, brother; George, Cliff, Arthur, Dai, brothers-in-law; Dennis, Aubrey, Glaswyn, Peter, Keith and John, nephews; Harry, Archie, (senior and junior) Arthur, Bert, Charlie, Ivor, John, Roy, Basil, Harold, Peter, Tom, Percy, Horace, Ronald, Ivor Pitt, Ronald Meredith, cousins.

At The House
Wife; Annie and Ethel, sisters; Mary, Lucy, Bertha, Hilda, sisters-in-law; Cynthia and Dilys, nieces; Mabel Jacob, Mabel James, Florrie, Ede, Alice, May, Melda and Arthur Jacob, cousins; Mrs Wilkinson, Ples, Freda, Mrs James and Mrs Dobbs, friends.

Bearers:
Messrs T Jones, P Roberts, J Jones, and W Hewitt.

Flowers:
Sorrowing wife and Cliff; Jim Mary & family; Annie, George and Dennis; Ethel and Aubrey; Lucy, Ken, Keith and Joan; Arthur, Hilda and family; Dai and Bertha; Dilys and Eirlys; Flo, Harold and uncle Jack; Archie and Mabel; Ede, Little Mill, Alice and Percy, May and Ivor Pitt; All at Sunnyside Mamhilad; Maud, Tom Weeks; Mr & Mrs Shephersdon; Mabel, Harry and Arthur; Aunty Annie, Ada and Lily; Eva, Fred and Valerie; Mabel and Cederic; Peter, Wynn and family; Roy, Mary and family; Dilys and Aubrey; Archie and Anette; Flo and Tom; John, Melda and girls; Arthur and Joan; Horace and Eunice; Doreen, Basil and children; Ples, Ann and Emm; Thirza, Elias and family; Mr & Mrs Watkins; Mr & Mrs Evan Williams; Mr &Mrs Ted Jones; All at Woodlands; Mr & Mrs Donaghue; Joyce and Michelle; Mrs Watkins, Daphne and Doug; Thel, Bert and Jimmie; Roy and Freda Slingsby; All at Greenmeadow; Mrs Jones and Ethel; Mr & Mrs James and John; All at Gelli; Mr & Mrs Dobbs; Roselyn, Michael and family; Mr & Mrs Bill Carron; Bill and Mary Hewitt; Reg and Agnes James; Mrs H Davies and family; All at Great House; Cassie and Katy Nichols; Bert, Millie and family; Mrs James and family, Yew Tree; Mr & Mrs Cooper; Don, Nancy and Philip; Mr & Mrs Beeching; Mrs Harris and family; Mr & Mrs C Lewis and Walter; Mrs R Courts and family; Mrs Powell and family; Robert, Julian and Jane Logan; Mrs J James, John and Ivy; All at Red Castle Farm;

Funeral arrangements by T Jones of Usk.

The funeral took place on Monday at Saron Baptist Church of Mr James Williams, aged 78, of Cefn Mynog, Goytrey. He is survived by his wife, Mrs Gertrude Williams and five children, all married.
The youngest son, Abraham, a wireless operator in the RAF in the Middle East was reported missing on August 30th 1941 and is now presumed killed. Mr Williams, a retired woodman, was employed by Pontypool Park Estate  for 45 years. He was a life-long inhabitant of Goytrey.
The funeral, which was largely attended, was conducted by the Rev C A Rees, (son-in-law.)

Mourners:
Mrs Williams, wife; Annie and George, Ethel and Aubrey, daughters and sons-in-law; Ted and Irene, Tom and Lucy, Jim and Mary, sons and daughters-in-law; Rebecca, sister; Maud and Charlie, sister and brother-in-law; Dennis, Aubrey, Ken, Glaswyn and Peter, grandsons; Lilian and Eunice, nieces; Horace, Harold, Harry, Ivor, Will, Day, Elmore and David Tom, nephews.

Bearers:
Messrs H Prosser, H Jacob, R Prosser, and I Williams, nephews.

Flowers:
Sorrowing wife; Annie, George and children; Ted and Irene; Tom, Lucy and Ken; Jim, Mary and children; Ethel and Aubrey; Rebecca and family; Gwen and family; Maud and Charlie; Will, Daisy and Joan; Harry and Mabel; Mrs Whitehead; Mrs J James; Cliff and Dad; Mrs F Jones and children; Mr and Mrs J Lewis; Mr and Mrs Shepherdson; Miss Jenkins; Pontypool Park estate; All at Pentre Farm; EJ and H Morris; Members and friends Saron Chapel; Mrs Williams and Lal; Mr and Mrs Bullock and Aubrey; Mr and Mrs Herbert and Gordon; Mr and Mrs J Rosser; Mr and Mrs G Hobbs; Mr and Mrs D Williams.

Mrs E Williams

Funeral of Goytrey Farmer’s Wife

The funeral took place on Tuesday week of Mrs Edith Williams who died on September 30^th at the age of 26 years. She was the wife of Mr Stanley Williams, Pentre Farm, Goytrey and daughter of Mr and Mrs H. James.

The interment was at Goytrey Church the Rev. H.C.P. Belcher [vicar] and the Rev. C.A. Rees [Saron Chapel] officiating.

The bearers were: Messrs Frank Jones, Morgan Jones, Clifford James and Edward Williams.

Floral tributes were sent by: Husband; Mam Dad and family; Uncle tom and family; Mildred, Bert and baby, [sister and brother in law]; Aunt Elizabeth and Annie, Tondu; Harold and Violet, cousins, Tondu; Beryl, Enid and Vera, cousins, Tondu; Mother in law and Cyril, Pontypool; Mr and Mrs J. James, Goytrey; Mr and Mrs William James and family; Mr and Mrs Frank Jones; Mr and Mrs J. Lewis and John; Mr and Mrs George Evans and family; Mr and Mrs Ball and Roy; Mrs Redwood; Mrs Litten; Mrs Lewis, Pentre Grange; Mr and Mrs Whitney and family; Mr and Mrs Gwatkin and family; Little Sylvia and Doreen ….ones; Mrs Ballinger, Tondu; Mr and Mrs D. Jones, Pontnewynydd; Mr and Mrs Shepardson, Monkswood; Mr and Mrs Archir James, llanover; Mr and Mrs I Jones, Mamhilad; Mr and Mrs Arthur James, Monkswood; and Mr and Mrs E. Williams, Monkswood.