Become a Friend of the Thomas & Elizabeth Mayhook Charity
The trustees of the Thomas & Elizabeth Mayhook Charity appeal to all of the former parishioners along with relatives and friends of those buried in the church grounds at St David’s, also neighbours, and anyone interested and connected with the history of Carmarthen, to be aware that finally, a major clearance and restoration operation is nearing completion, but will still need support for the ongoing maintenance etc. It is unfortunate that the church itself was closed in 2003 mainly due to storm damage and safety issues. In 2011 the church, along with the surrounding land/cemetery (north and east sections) had been sold to a private developer. The charity is named after the founding Chairman’s grandparents (Tommy and Bessie Mayhook as they were affectionately known) who are also buried in St David’s Cemetery. The charities role is to carry out maintenance and upkeep of this section of the cemetery and to repair and restore as many memorials as possible, and for this to happen we are reliant on donations of any kind, large and small, one off donations, or by the enclosed standing order mandate, which will ensure a regular income for the charities work of annual maintenance.
The charity gained official charitable status as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with the Charity Commission in December 2015, and in October 2017 the charity officially became the owners of the cemetery (north and east sections) which is a microcosm of Carmarthen’s rich military, social, economic, industrial, cultural, and maritime history, as inscribed on many of it’s memorials of those interred there going back to February 1841. With an area the size of the Cardiff Principality Rugby pitch (12,000 square metres) and almost 5000 burials, together with a stone boundary wall 200 metres long and eight foot high the effort required will be monumental but very much achievable if we receive sufficient support. On the 15th September 2015 the charity planted nearly one thousand daffodil bulbs at the entrance to the church and cemetery, thereby creating an oasis of colour between January and March each year, as there are two variants of the flower which come into bloom at different times. We also planted a further thousand bulbs at the rear of the church in October last year, resulting in a mass of colour along the footpath. The task ahead of the Trustees is an onerous one that will be achieved providing we receive the much needed financial support and backing of local inhabitants and businesses, and of those now living further afield with an interest in the history of Carmarthen. If you know of someone who would like to support us please pass details of this website on to them. Not everyone is able to afford large donations so this gives more people the opportunity to lend their support and gives the charity a much needed regular income, however small. It’s not much to ask for such an important local charitable cause. One off donations are also welcome, payable to the charity.
We do not process your data on this website. Please contact the Treasurer for further information.
Name and Address of Treasurer:
Mrs Gwyneth Thomas
Pen yr Allt
Bolahaul Road
Cwmffrwd
Carmarthen
SA31 2LW
e mail gwyneththomas98@yahoo.com
Rest assured that the restoration and maintenance of the cemetery continues and I thank you in advance for your support. However you decide to support us your interest and support is much appreciated indeed. Thank you for taking the time to read this webpage.
Dr Mary Thorley
(Chairman)