HOME PAYS TRIBUTE TO THOSE LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC
THEY are names inscribed on a slate plaque on a wall – people called Jones, Evans, Davies – familiar Welsh surnames. But behind every one of those names is a story, a story of Welsh people, a story of a devastating pandemic, a story of loss, but also of life.
The names are those of 36 people who lost their lives at just one Llanelli care home during the course of the deadly Covid outbreak, some related to coronavirus, some not, but all affected by it in some way, either through seeing others battle the illness, or through the heartbreak of not being able to see loved ones.
Every one of them helped to light up the lives of so many at the 74-bed Ty Mair Care Home in Felinfoel and their loss was felt deeply.
A memorial garden, including the slate plaque with the list of names, has been developed at the care home so they can always be remembered by their families and the staff and friends who knew them best.
Here we pay tribute to some of the people behind those names, and celebrate their lives.
■ Audrey Jones
Audrey died during the pandemic but not with coronavirus.
She was born in the Seaside area of Llanelli and was one of four children. Audrey left Coleshill Secondary School at the age of 14 and started work at Stamping Tin Factory before moving to Morris Motors. She went on to work in both Trostre Steelworks and Caeman Residential Home as a cook.
■ Eira Phillips
Eira died during the pandemic but not with coronavirus.
She grew up in Ammanford and was a pupil of Ysgol Bro Banw School and was one of two children.
Eira was married to her husband William, who was also a resident of Ty Mair, for more than 60 years. She was described as a social butterfly and loved spending time in Furnace Rugby Club after relocating to Llanelli to bring up her family.
And she was also a cook at Caemaen residential home where she worked in Llanelli until she retired.
■ Patricia O’Keefe
Pat also died during the pandemic but not with coronavirus.
She was born in Oxford and moved to the Bynea area of Llanelli when she was three years old. She went to Coleshill Secondary School before leaving to work at Morris Motors. Following the birth of her two daughters, Pat and her husband Johnny took over the running of the Mount Pleasant pub before she took early retirement to care for her own mother.
■ Hazel Jewell
Hazel died with long Covid.
She was described by the home as “a beautiful soul inside and out.” Hazel was said to be “quiet in nature but made up for it with her personality”. She made the most of her time at Ty Mair and loved all the activities that took place.
■ Violet Mears
Violet died during the pandemic but her death was not related to coronavirus.
Vi was described “as a lovely lady, always smiling”. She was known as being a creature of comfort.
■ Thomas John Thomas
Known as John, he was not diagnosed with a health condition prior to his death.
He grew up outside Pencader with his four brothers and two sisters. John later moved to Carmarthen in 1975 and lived there until his move to Ty Mair.
He worked at Carmarthenshire council for 37 years as a maintenance worker and kept his love for gardening in his spare time.
■ Frances Davies
Frances died at the home but not with coronavirus.
She was described as a muchloved resident and friend.
Frances was hailed for her “most beautiful personality and was a friend to anyone she met”. She loved taking part in activities, dancing and playing dominoes with her friends at Ty Mair.
■ Lynda Bowen
Lynda died during the pandemic but not with coronavirus.
She lived in Burry Port before she moved to Ty Mair.
Lynda was very close to her family and worked as a civil service clerk for more than 40 years. She was based at Ty Mair with her brother Vivian, who is also still a resident of the home now.
■ Thomas Terry Saunders
Known as Terry, he is suspected to have died from coronavirus.
He was regarded as “a very intelligent man”.
Terry remained a bachelor and travelled the world working in IT and spoke fondly of his time spent in Asia. He later returned to Llanelli and became a minister in the local area. Terry had fond memories of Ty Mair as a convent and chapel before the home was developed.
■ Lorna Thomas
Lorna died but not with coronavirus.
She was a long-standing resident of Ty Mair and was said by staff to have “thoroughly enjoyed her time” there. Lorna was also said to have “made some wonderful friends during her time at Ty Mair and looked forward to her visits from her son and two daughters”. In her younger years, Lorna worked in a care home and valued the roles of those looking after her and would always thank staff for their time.
■ Evan Bowen
Evan died following a battle with coronavirus.
He was born in Pembrokeshire but later relocated to Scotland where he spent his married life.
Following his wife’s death he moved back to Pencader in Carmarthenshire. He lived there
until he moved to Ty Mair. Evan was “much loved at Ty Mair” by the staff and was described as having “the biggest smile that would brighten up even the darkest of days”.
■ Lilian Bateman
Lilian died during the pandemic but not with coronavirus.
She preferred to be known as Anne. Her daughter Gypsey is a long-standing care staff member at Ty Mair. Home staff said: “Anne was a beautiful lady who treasured spending the last months of her life in the care of her daughter and her colleagues.”
■ Vera Moreen Davies
Known as Moreen, she was suspected to have died with coronavirus.
She was described “as a beautiful lady” who was very close to her sister Pamela and brother-in-law Graham who had cared for her prior to her move to Ty Mair. She loved to spend time in the company of others and adored the care home dog Lenny.
■ Elvira Smiriglia
Elvira was suspected to have died with coronavirus.
She was born in Calabria in Italy and grew up with five brothers and one sister. Elvira moved to South Wales in 1957 with her husband Francesco and worked as a cleaner for many years until she retired.
When she first moved to the home “she pretended that she couldn’t speak English” according to staff. But “it later transpired that she was a fluent English speaker”.
■ Kenneth Havard
Kenneth died with coronavirus.
He was a farmer at heart and loved telling stories of his time spent on the farm. Kenneth was described as a “quiet, gentle man who was kind to all he met”.
■ Vija Kirsfelds
Vija died with coronavirus.
She was a former model and loved spending time with staff looking through her album of past pictures.
Vija was described as having “the most beautiful personality and loved spending time with staff having her hair done and nails painted”.
■ Kenneth Hartnell
Ken died with long Covid. He was described “as a beautiful person”.
Ken was born and raised in Trebanos in Pontardawe and was a pupil at Trebanos Primary School.
He went on to study mechanical engineering in Glamorgan College.
Ken undertook his training in Burry Port power station and then went on to work for the electricity generating board in Carmarthen Bay as an electrician before retiring at 65.
He loved his time at Ty Mair and would take part in all activities. Ken loved the company of his friends at the home and was referred to as “our sunshine” by the staff.
■ John Allsopp
John Allsopp died during the pandemic but not with coronavirus.
He lived at Ty Mair with his wife Vi, who remains a resident there.
They married at a young age and would enjoy adventure holidays to Australia to visit family. He loved his wife dearly and Vi misses him very much.
■ William James
William James died during the pandemic but his death was not Covid-19 related. He lived at Ty Mair with his wife Eileen.
William devoted his time to her until she passed away. He was a retired head master of Bigyn Primary School in Llanelli, a role which he was proud of.
William recognised some of the staff as former pupils which “brought him much joy”.
He was described as “a wonderful kind man, who made time to get to know everyone he met”.
■ Michael Evans
Michael Evans died with coronavirus.
He was described as “the life and soul of Ty Mair and had such a comical sense of humour”.
Michael loved to play jokes on the staff.
He spent his younger years working in a bank and would travel for his work, which he would always speak fondly of.
TRANSPORT for Wales (TfW) has launched a campaign across the Welsh rail network to remind customers that face coverings must still be worn on public transport.
The initiative, which is being carried out in collaboration with British Transport Police (BTP), is running until Wednesday.
TfW and BTP staff are targeting key areas where face covering compliance has fallen in recent months. This includes services to Barry Island, the north and west Wales coasts, and on lines to the Rhymney Valley, Maesteg and Treherbert.
The strategy follows the Welsh Government’s move to alert level zero on Saturday, August 7.
As a result of the change TfW has updated its guidance to passengers and face coverings will no longer be required to be worn on uncovered station platforms.
But face coverings remain mandatory on public transport in Wales, unless exempt, and in covered areas such as station buildings, cafes, toilets and waiting rooms.
The train operator and police force invited Wales on Sunday to accompany BTP officers on Friday as they carried out patrols on a service from Cardiff Central station to Barry Island station.
BTP inspector Richard Powell said that while compliance is high overall some people are unaware face masks are still mandatory in Wales.
He said: “That’s really what this week is about. It’s about that educating the public and reminding them that it’s still a requirement in Wales to wear a face mask on public transport.”
We also spoke to travellers on the train journey to get their views about the week of action.
Bethan Yapp, 25, from Cogan was one of the passengers on the service from Barry Island to Cardiff Central.
“This is actually my first time on a train since more of the rules lifting on August 7. Even before then I did see that there were a few [passengers] who wouldn’t be wearing masks,” she said.
Fellow passenger Rakhi Saini, 24, who regularly takes the service from Barry to Eastbrook every week, said while she’s noticed most people wear masks a few times she’s seem younger passengers in their teens ignoring the rules.
She added: “I always see security guards telling people to wear masks. They have duties to say to people to wear a mask – it’s a good thing. I’ve also seen the police as well.”