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An eulogy delivered by Rev. Roy Watson, B.A. at West End Congregational Chapel, Ebbw Vale, on January 23rd 2009. Trevor
Rees was born in Ebbw Vale on January 29th 1911. In the family home,
besides caring parents, there was a sister, Mary, who passed away a few years
ago. He was educated at the After
school days he went to By
this time war clouds had gathered and the Second World War was underway. In 1942
Trevor volunteered for flying duties with the R.A.F. but poor eyesight denied
him that opportunity and he spent much of the war in Leaving
the R.A.F. in 1946 he returned to teaching, at Outside
the area of school life Trevor was well known in the community for his service
there. His musical talents meant that for many years he was Conductor of the
Ebbw Vale Ladies Choir and in that sphere there were happy events such as
leading the choir to sing with others at the Royal Albert Hall in 1981, and
there were also successes with the choir at the National Eisteddfod and the
Miners Gala at Porthcawl. He loved to play the piano, and indeed was doing so up
until a month before his passing,
and his tastes were catholic: from Gershwin to the hymns of William Williams of
Pant y celyn. There are many who benefited from Trevor’s love of making music. A
skilled practitioner at the art of billiards, Trevor had many ‘century
breaks’ to his credit at the tables of the Ebbw Vale Institute. He was a star
of the tennis courts, an ability which was to stay with him for many years, and
he became Club Champion at the Ebbw Vale Tennis Club. He was also a keen
supporter of Ebbw Vale Rugby Football Club. In
spite of this full commitment to work and community, Trevor Rees made an immense
impact on his own family; he was devoted to Muriel, who predeceased him by some
twenty six years, and to his two sons, Philip and John. In such a father they
had a man of strong principles who introduced those principles into their lives,
so giving them a firm foundation on which to build their lives, and one who
supported them in all their aims and objectives. He took delight and pride in
their achievements and also in those of his grandchildren, David and Now
we bid ‘Farewell’ to a good and upright man who lived his life with
integrity and honesty. He gave so much to many people, in the school in which he
served, in the community in which he lived, and most of all in the family he
loved. Jesus told the story of the man who received from his Master the accolade, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”, it is a fitting tribute to Trevor Rees. |