Western Mail Tuesday October 12. 1926. (No.53).
The Rev. A. A. DAVIES (vicar), assisted by the Rev. James DAVIES (curate) officiated at
the marriage at St. Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Fardre, on Monday of Mr. T. D. DAVIES,
of Barclays Bank, Pentre, second son of Mr. and Mrs. R. DAVIES, of Westmore, Skewen, to
Miss Eva MORGAN, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. MORGAN, Bute Farm, Church Village.
There was a large attendance at the church.
The bride, who wore a dress of pale mushroom trimmed with French lace and a georgette coat
with collar of silver fox and a hat to match, was attended by her sister, Miss Janet
MORGAN.
Mr. Idris RICHARDS, of Pontypridd, acted as best man.
After a reception at the home of the bride Mr. and Mrs. DAVIES, left for London and
Eastbourne.
The funeral took place at Cardiff on Monday afternoon of Mr. Phillip HOPKINS, a retired
locomotive inspector of the Great Western Railway, who had completed 64 years' service
"on the line."
As an engine-driver he experienced several thrills and won no little distinction.
One Winter's night in 1896 a hurricane struck a passenger train running between
Newport and Cardiff. Scores of lives were threatened, but the coolness and skill of Driver
HOPKINS averted disaster. As a consequence Mr. HOPKINS received a presentation in London.
In 1899 Mr. HOPKINS was the driver of the train which conveyed her Majesty Queen Mary
(then the Duchess of York) on her visit to West Wales. He also drove the trial passenger
train which carried the first mails from Fishguard in 1906, and he drove the first train
to bring a dining car into Cardiff.
Eventually, in 1899, he was promoted to the office of locomotive inspector for the South
Wales district, and he was the first railwayman to hold this position. His work in
controlling the traffic when the Royal Show came to Cardiff earned him special
recognition.
Mr. HOPKINS enjoyed good health up to the time of his death, but the news of the death of
one of his sons hastened his end.
He leaves a widow, five sons, and a daughter.
There was an impressive service within the walls of the old abbey at Margam on Monday at
the funeral of Mrs. BISHOP wife of Mr. C. W. BISHOP, of Duffryn, Caerphilly-road, Cardiff,
a member of the night staff of the Western Mail, and second daughter of Mr.G. D. LOVELUCK,
J.P., chemist, Aberavon, and of Mrs. LOVELUCK, Ty Groes, Margam, Port Talbot.
The service in the abbey and at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. H. S. NICHOLL,
M.A. (vicar of Margam), and the Rev. D. W. DAVIES, B.A. (vicar of Aberavon). The funeral
was private, only immediate relatives and a few friends attending.
The funeral of Mr. James THOMAS, of Mill Farm, Pyle, for 30 years a tennant farmer on the
Margam Estate, who died at the age of 64, took place at the New Cemetery, Pyle. The Revs.
J. LLEWELLYN, Bridgend, and J. DAVIES, Laleston, officiated at Cornelly Calvinistic
Methodist Chapel and the graveside.
The principal mourners were:- Mrs. THOMAS (widow); Mr. and Mrs. THOMAS, Ton Mawr; Nurse
JAMES and Mr. Yorath THOMAS (daughter and brother); Mrs. CARNSEN (daughter); Mr. John
THOMAS (son); Mrs. WOOD, Cwmallog (daughter); Mr. and Mrs. BARNES, Llantrisant
(daughter-in-law); Mrs. HALL, Pyle (daughter); Mr. Gilbert THOMAS (son); Messrs. Tom,
Griff, and Evan THOMAS, Corntown, Ewenny (brothers) ; Miss Mary THOMAS, Llwncelyn
(brother-in-law and sister), and Mr.and Mrs. THOMAS, New Inn (brother and sister-in-law).
The funeral took place at Cefn Coed Cemetery of Mr. Thomas JONES, an official at the
Lewis-Merthyr Collieries, who met with a fatal accident the previous Tuesday.
The officiating minister at the house and graveside was the Rev. George EVANS, B.A., B.D.,
of Penygraig (late of Heolgerrig, Merthyr).
The chief mourners were Morgan and Rowland (sons), and Evan, David, and William
(brothers).
Among those present were Mr. Rufus LEWIS M.E. (general manager Lewis-Merthyr Collieries),
Mr. Watkins MOSS, M.E. (agent, Hafod No.1 and No.2 pits), Mr. A. E. JONES, M.E. (manager
Bertie and Trefor Pits), Mr. Gildas DAVIES, M.E., Mr. Thomas HOPKINS, M.E., Mr. T. R.
DOWNING, and Mr. R. R. EVANS (office staff), and Mr. Noah DAVIES, M.E. (Gorseinon).
John Patrick