Author: Richard

The Chairman of the Thomas & Elizabeth Mayhook Charity, on a recent visit to Arundel in Sussex met with the new Archbishop of Westminster, The Most Reverend Richard Moth, leader of the Catholic Church in England & Wales who recently took over from  His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nicholls. Richard recalls that he was very interested in the work of the charity especially that between 1842 and 1852 almost a thousand Catholics were buried in St David’s Cemetery until St Mary’s Church and cemetery had been built and consecrated in 1852.

Also, the Charity is pleased to announce that it has appointed an additional Trustee to strengthen the “Team” going forward. Mr Christopher Crowley, a local “boy” with great interest in supporting local good causes and charities  takes up his role with immediate effect and looks forward to supporting the Trustees in their efforts to ensure the upkeep, maintenance and restoration of the cemetery continues.

 

 

This week has seen the highest ever recorded temperatures around the country and Carmarthen no exception. As I got into my car yesterday to come up and water the plants in the cemetery the temperature was 36.2 degrees.

It has been too hot to do any mowing over the last few days but hopefully we hope to resume today, at least for an hour or so. The flowers are enjoying the heat nevertheless as long as they have plenty of water. Watering can at the ready !!

Today marks the 121st anniversary of the birth of my dear grandfather Thomas Patrick Mayhook – “Tommy” to all his family and friends. He continues to be sorely missed but his name lives on thanks to the charity that bears his name, may he rest in peace and rise in glory.

(Richard Goodridge )

Richard Goodridge the interim chairman of the charity recollects that in the summer of 1986 when he was a mere 26 years old he first wrote a letter to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission expressing his concerns over the condition of the five CWGC headstones in St David’s.

Now 40 years on he recalls the efforts he had to make to get them replaced due to their poor condition largely due to the fact that the cemetery was completely overgrown and accessing them was so difficult. “Who would have though it he says that 40 years later he would still be standing in that very same cemetery restoring memorials himself with the support of other volunteers, friends and helpers, and looking after the entire 11000 square metres of cemetery.

It’s been a job of huge physical commitment, not forgetting the time, money and sheer dedication that has gone into this project. My hope for the future he says is that the Thomas and Elizabeth Mayhook Charity will gain additional volunteers, helpers and additional trustees to see it through the next 40 years and beyond. The hard work has been done, and we now have to ensure that the cemetery is maintained to an acceptable standard that meets health and safety requirements and this can easily be achieved providing there is the interest to do so plus the financial support from the Friends of the charity which enables us to do the work on a day to day basis.

I am pleased to report that the charity has recently purchased a new mower from the small amount of savings it has at its disposal at a cost of £425.00. This brings the number of mowers to four, though technically we now have five but one is about to be retired after long and faithful service ! I visited the cemetery today and met Robert and Alison there who were busy mowing and strimming. David another volunteer had already done his fare share and had left before I arrived. The cemetery is looking really good now thanks to the volunteers and I have five planters here at home which I have been planting up with all sorts of bedding plants and they will be brought up to the cemetery in due course. Three will be placed around the Cross of Souls and two where the two garden benches are located.

We are also in the middle of restoring another memorial and when that’s done a further post on this website will appear.

I would like to take this opportunuity to wish all our volunteers, friends and trustees of the charity a very happy easter. Thank you all for your kindness and generosity in supporting us. Raising funds for a charity connected to a cemetery is not easy as you can imagine for most people understandably wish to support the living, from infants to the elderly, however, maintaining the last resting place of our loved ones is so important to all of us in one way or another and as in the case of the Cross of Souls memorial it commemorates five thousand individuals buried in St David’s that have no memorial of their own . I was privileged today to lay some flowers there in remembrance of them all. May they rest in peace.

RICHARD J GOODRIDGE MBE.JP.KHS. ( Chairman of Trustees )

An Extra Ordinary General Meeting of the charity was held yesterday at the Royal Ivy Bush Hotel Carmarthen. Unfortunately the chair of trustees Mary Thorley will be moving to England in the near future due to family commitments and therefore felt it in the best interests of the charity for a new chairperson to be appointed and also trustees and volunteers alike. Mary will however remain a trustee for the foreseeable future.

Richard Goodridge MBE.JP. KHS was reappointed a trustee and also interim chairman and Andy Edwards was welcomed on board as a new volunteer to the group who will help out in the grass cutting of the cemetery. Huw Michael was appointed treasurer and Janet Williams the secretary. Also Chris Dzioba was again welcomed back as a Trustee. Sadly both Professor Tony Curtis and his wife Margaret will be retiring as Trustees next month having completed ten years service as founder members of the charity. They have both shown huge commitment and dedication to the charities aims and objectives and we are sorry to lose their wealth of knowledge and experience but know that they will continue to support us as Friends. Richard also expressed his gratitude to the outgoing Chair – Dr Mary Thorley PhD who ensured the charity continued it’s role in maintaining the cemetery and whose contribution and commitment was greatly appreciated.

Richard Goodridge, the interim chairman said “ I am happy to take on the role of interim chairman in the hope that before too long a new person with enthusiasm and a love of history will be able to take over this really wonderful and interesting role. I am sure that in the near future I will be able to hand over the baton to the next generation for the future maintenance and upkeep of this special place in our history” “It is hugely important that the charity looks to the future and plans for the future upkeep and maintenance of what is a very large open historic space in the centre of Carmarthen Town. In particular the volunteers who cut the grass and trim the edges and restore the memorials, it is their role that is most important as their present age range on average is nearly 70 years of age and whilst they are happy to keep going, there will come a time when they too will have to hang up their wellies” “ The charity is continually on the lookout for anyone interested in joining the volunteers and also becoming a trustee and if there is anyone out there who feels they can lend a hand in some way then please do get in touch with me” Details can be found on the CONTACT page. “Finally I would like to personally welcome the Right Reverend Dorrien Davies, Bishop of St David’s as our new Patron.I know he shares with me the importance of this cemetery and the history within and will be a huge asset to the Charity”

The Trustees of the Thomas and Elizabeth Mayhook Charity  held an Extraordinary General Meeting this afternoon at which Bishop Dorrien was appointed it’s new Patron.

The Right Reverend Dorrien Davies is the 130th Bishop of St Davids. He was elected Bishop in November 2023, consecrated in January 2024 and enthroned the following month. Bishop Dorrien was born in the Parish of Abergwili, on the outskirts of Carmarthen in 1964. He is a graduate of the University of Wales Lampeter and was ordained a deacon in 1988 and priest the following year in 1989.

He served his curacy in Llanelli and subsequently served as Vicar in Ystrad Aeron and St Dogmaels in Cardigan. In 2007 he was made a Canon of St Davids Cathedral and in 2010 became Canon Residentiary. In 2017 he was appointed Archdeacon of Carmarthen, a post he held until his election as Bishop.

A native Welsh speaker, Bishop Dorrien is married to Rosie and they have two sons – Morgan and Lewis. Morgan is currently serving as Canon’s Verger at the Cathedral. Bishop Dorrien sees St David’s churchyard as a significant historical, social and environmental space in addition to it’s importance as a place of commemoration, being the repository for the remains of those gone to Glory ahead of us and looks forward very much to supporting the charity as Patron whenever possible.

 

 

The Thomas & Elizabeth Mayhook Charity held it’s annual general meeting yesterday, at which, on the retirement of the founding chairman Richard Goodridge, after seven years at the helm, the charity was pleased to appoint Mary Thorley as the new Chair.

Mary Thorley was born and brought up in Carmarthen. After studying for a degree in History and Politics at Swansea University she became a primary school head teacher in Gloucestershire and, later, in her home town. She was also Head of Teacher Training at Trinity St. Davids for a number of years and is now retired. Mary’s  PhD thesis from Aberystwyth University was titled ‘The Naming of Women. The Lives of the Middle Class Women of Carmarthen 1850-1918.’ Some of the women she studied are buried in St. David’s Churchyard. Mary is committed to the work of The Thomas and Elizabeth Mayhook Charity which honours so many of the people who have been part of the life of Carmarthen Town.

David England was appointed Vice Chairman, and also on the retirement of Robert Goodridge as Treasurer,  Mrs Gwyneth Thomas was appointed to look after the charities finances. Both Richard and Robert will remain volunteers of the charity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we approach Christmas this year and all that it brings, let’s spare a thought for John Jones, who at the age of 35 passed away peacefully on Christmas Day 1856 and is commemorated here in St David’s cemetery. One of the most unusual memorials in this cemetery is this little headstone commemorating the burial of three members of the same family….Ebenezer, his wife Mary, and their son John.

Clearly, the memorial is based on the design of the Star of David. Its adoption as a distinctive symbol for the Jewish people and religion dates back to Medieval times.  The name Ebenezer is also a Hebrew name synonymous with the Jewish people, and so it is quite remarkable to see such a design in a Welsh Cemetery which is nearly 170 years old. May they all rest in peace.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Richard Goodridge (Chairman of Trustees)