Author: Richard

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 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)

As always this time of year ( and indeed throughout the year ) the headstones are cleaned in readiness for visitors to the cemetery, to look at the seven  Commonwealth War Graves that come under our care.

Poppy Crosses and flowers are placed on each grave throught the year and this time of year is of course no exception.  As the Cross of Souls memorial was unveiled and consecrated earlier this year it was felt appropriate that a poppy wreath should be placed here also to remember all those who fell in battle and have themselves no known grave.

“At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them”

The ongoing restoration of the cemetery continued again yesterday with the visit of volunteers from the Mackworth Club of local Freemasons who spent the whole morning working hard and were joined by three trustees and Mr David England- a regular helper and supporter. Luckily the rain kept off and we were able to repair two memorials, a third was also “uprighted” as it was leaning at a 45 degree angle, and a lot of ivy and overgrowth was removed from the surrounding wall. Also grading of the soil of a small section of the cemetery was also achieved with the help of Richard Holmes, who once again offered his services free of charge. The Mackworth Club has visited us on a number of occasions and the Thomas & Elizabeth Mayhook Charity would like to express their thanks and appreciation for their efforts.

David England also spent the whole morning cleaning away the overgrowth of holly and ivy from one of the “rarer” types of hipped stone memorial to the BRIGHT family, who were well known publicans in the town in the mid eighteenth century. All in  all the mornings work was well worth the effort and as the days are drawing in, everyone was pleased to have been provided with sausage and chips before they packed up and left. Finally we are likely to have to cut the grass ONCE MORE in the next week or two weather permitting as it just seems to keep on growing ! The headstone below was found under the soil about two years ago and placed for safety alongside the boundary wall close to where it was found. A further amount of work will be needed to complete the restoration but at least it has now been reunited for the first time in almost a hundred years.

 

 

Dear Friends I thought I would share with you this picture which I took this afternoon amidst glorious sunshine. All four mowers were in operation for nearly two hours. About one third of the cemetery was cut, the remainder having been done previously. I would think that even now, we shall return once more to give it it’s final “trim” and then at last we can put away the mowers until next spring ( after having them all serviced first )

In two weeks time we will see the return of a number of volunteers to complete the soil levelling using earth moving machinery and to restore a number of memorials that we were unable to complete this year due to the pandemic. So by this time next month I am hopeful that we will finally see the “home straight” in our six year long battle to restore St Davids Cemetery to a place of dignity as befits such an historic cemetery. A full write up of that “volunteers weekend” will appear on the website soon afterwards. Taking “selfies” is not my forte, but as usual I am extremely grateful to to all who came along today and if you didn’t know already, I am closest to the camera followed by Chris Dzioba (Trustee) David England ( Volunteer) & Robert Goodridge (Trustee).  Best wishes

Richard Goodridge (Chairman)

The restoration of the last resting place of CAROLINE GEORGIANA CATHERINE PRYTHERCH is finally nearing completion. After nearly two years since the box tomb itself was completely rebuilt, the trustees are embarking on the final piece of the jigsaw, in the complete restoration of the massive cast iron railings that surround it and replacing it’s missing ornate finials. The finials, having been recast last year at considerable expense have sat waiting to be re-united until now. The work will be carried out over the next few weeks and once complete will be coated with a special preservative/primer to prevent any further corrosion.

Once this has been done a special and unique video will be available on the website to view the restoration and the story behind it. It is widely believed that Caroline was the youngest grand-daughter of George III by his alleged liaison with Hannah Lightfoot whilst Prince of Wales, but as ever, it will be up to each individual to form their own opinion. It is not the intention of our charity to rewrite history but I am sure the story will be of interest, especially from the restoration point of view.

We are now in the “peak” of the growing season and our four mowers like ourselves are flat out in keeping the grass cut short and the weeds at bay.

Strimming is also part of our work of course and we continue as ever to keep the cemetery in good order thanks to our “Friends” and volunteers.

The Cross of Souls – Y Groes Eneidiau, to give it it’s official welsh title was unveiled on the 21st June. The memorial was unveiled by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed – Sara Edwards and wreaths were laid including one by the Right Honourable Mark Drakeford MS -First Minister of Wales. The full story can be found under the sub heading of this website – Cross of Souls.

As the summer weather has once again been one of wet and hot weather the grass continues to grow at an alarming rate, as do the weeds of course but regular cuts with both mowers (four of them) and strimmer’s, (two) and the occasional cut from the ride on mowers (two) of the local council ( for which we pay them) everything is looking really good at present. The rose bed has come into its’s own this year, having extended it before the memorial construction with over 60 rose bushes it now looks really lovely. Memorial restoration has inevitably been put on hold as a result of the workload, but those memorials that are left to repair etc. will be completed in the autumn and winter months. Thanks again to all our supporters and volunteers, without which it would be impossible to achieve.

It is not often that we are able to connect a long lost family memorial which has been restored together with a restored photograph of that very family.

I am pleased to report therefore that the photographs below show just that. Firstly we have the memorial restoration of the BARNETT white marble memorial, carried out by the trustees of the charity and then we have an original photograph kindly supplied by Mr David England, a direct descendant of the family – before and after restoration. The restoration was carried out my Mr Jeffrey Moreau – a great supporter of the charity and Webmaster of our website – thank you both. I think you will agree that the restoration of both memorial and photograph is outstanding. Mary Ann Barnett, wife of Matthew Henry Barnett who features in the photograph is buried with her husband but sadly, her name is not inscribed on the memorial, like so many at the time, due to the expense involved. Their daughter Henrietta who is featured in the photograph went on to live a full and happy life