Don Hewer - ex RWF

Attachment 2877

From Pat Provis:

It is with great sadness that we have to report the sad death of Ex L/Cpl Don Hewer, formerly 3 Platoon, A Coy, 1RWF at Ysbty Gwynedd at approximately 0800 this morning. Don fought bravely to the end, but sadly his body could take no more. I know all our thoughts and prayers are with Don who is now watching over us from the ever swelling ranks of the glorious 23rd in the sky! Our thoughts and prayers are with entire family at this very sad time. Details to follow. On a personal note, all i can bring myself to say amongst the tears is, Save me a place by your side mate, I'll gladly serve with you again it was an honour and a privilege. Prov. out....

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Very sad news indeed, my thoughts are with Don's family and friends at this very sad and trying times

RIP Don

R I P Don and God Bless, until we meet again on that big parade square in the sky. My thoughts are with your Family & Friends ay this sad time. I Salute you my friend and brother. Ich Dien.

Its very sad Lofty. Don was an old mucker from our 3PL days. I was just looking back through his Olympic Torch pics, an accolade that was richly deserved, a very brave man. Deepest sympathy to Dons family. A great lad and a fine Royal Welchman.

It is indeed Al, i have personally known the Hewers for years and years (going back to the 70's), and i have just informed some of my family members of the sad news and they are as gutted as i am

Yet more very sad news and another good man taken deepest sympathy to Don's family.
RIP mate.

Very sad news indeed had many great moments with Don and he will be sadly missed,my thoughts go out to brother Ken and all the family at this sad time,RIP mate until we meet again xxx

Dai 55

Hello All,
On behalf of both the Merthyr Tydfil and Carmarthen branches of the RWFCA we would like to tender our sympathy to all Dons friends and family our sincere condolences.
Regards Brian Donovan aka jungle1810.

Cant believe yet another Royal Welchman has been taken from us..1 week he was carrying the Olympic torch which made us all very proud of him and then this..He fought to the bitter end with pride and humour.Please let us know when the funeral is..
Dai

Always sad news to read of the loss of people we knew, served with and respected.

As in all such situations, our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult and painful time.

Owen

Condolences to Dons Family and friends from all Members of the Denbigh and District Branch the Royal Welch Fusiliers Comrades Association. RIP Royal Welchman. Braz

Another sad day. My condolances to Don's family.

Roger

So sorry to hear the news, it's a great shame Don lost his fight, we at Shrewsbury Branch RWFCA send our sincere condolences to Don's family and friends on this sad occasion he will be truely missed by those close to him. RIP Don, until me meet again.

Our Condolences to Dons family and friends....from Pembrokeshire Branch of the RWFCA

Our deepest sympathy goes out to Don's family,friends and fellow comrades' at this very sad time.
Don may you RIP.

From All at the Shotton and Deeside Branch RWFCA.

RIP Don.....

Such sad news to loose one so young. My condolences to all the family x

God be with you Don never knew you were sick.

So sorry to hear the sad news. RIP Don and my condolences to all the family

We have been notified that the funeral service for Don will take place at 11am on Sat 25 Aug at Bangor Crematorium

Very sad news , had the privilage and honour of being and serving in the same platoon (3Plt) as Don, always a straight talking guy and would always have time for you
Nobody can take away the memories of this fine Welchman , sleep good my friend and untill we meet again

R.I.P Don

Sincere Condolences to Dons Family. R I P

Don's funeral arrangements, are as follows......Service for family at Don's house at 10Hrs on Saturday 25th August followed by another service and Cremation at Bangor Crematorium 11.00Hrs. Don's family would like as many as possible from the Regimental family to attend and would also like as many standard bearers as possible, further to this Don's coffin will be draped in both the Welsh & the Union Flag and also his Beret, I am also informed a Bugler should be in attendance also. There will be a PARTY to celebrate Don's life and not a wake, Don specificaly asked for a PARTY!! This will be at the BREEZE in BENLLECH after the service, any photographs of Don can be brought along and placed on a wall for all to see, I'd suggest copies if you want to hold on to the origionals, Don rarely spoke about his Army career and it is hoped we can give an insight to all that attend.....................I hope as many of you as possible will attend.......More details as I have them, Postcode's and addresses to follow shortly.....One last note before I go to bed, Ken told me that they are all touched by the kind words that have been posted so much so that he had a few tears while reading them.... The comments I have read so far show how much Don was not only loved but respected by us all in his Army and civillian life!!!!! R.I.P Don..Nos Da mate x

Further to my last, additional information as follows. Dress code, Blazer with Regimental tie etc, I have also been advised that in case of bad weather and the strong possibility of large numbers meaning an overflow outside it would be advisable to bring an umbrella.. Here are the address details for Bangor Crematorium...

Bangor Crematorium
Llandegai Road
Bangor
Gwynedd LL57 4HP

Party afterwards at the following ,

Breeze Hill Hotel
Benllech Bay,
Isle of Angelsey,
Gwynedd, LL74 8TN

another good man gone r.i.p. don my thoughts are with your family at this very sad time

R.I.P. Don, until we meet again good buddy,
Ned

Deepest condolences to family, friends and comrades from London Branch RWFCA. RIP mate.

Gerry 43
Secretary
London Branch RWFCA

Don rest in peace mate, gone but not forgotten carry the tourch now into the ranks of the 23rds parade ground in the sky carry it proudly as if you were carrying the battalion colours. talke buddy maybe one day if I am privillaged to join the ranks again we will meet once more.

Another sad day when someone is taken before his time' RIP Don.
Guvs.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your kind messages. We as a family hope to do Don proud on Sat and give him one hell of a send off.


So that all those who will be attending the Service at the Crematorium, our intensions as a family is that Don's Coffin will remain in siteu at the end of the Service so all those attending can pay their last respects if they wish.

All those who were present the day Don carried the Torch and are in possesion of the Olympic Torch T Shirts are requested if they wish to wear them at the PARTY later in the Breeze Hotel Benllech or if you wish wear a West Ham top.


Thanks again Ken Hewer

Evening Gents, I just wanted to write a quick post about Don's funeral yesterday, I don't want to say too much as I know Don's great family are working on one which will be posted soon.

Yesterday Don had a send off that many of us could dream off, it takes a really special person to pull that many people together, the number attending was very high with an over spill outside..... I'll leave it to the families post to go into detail.

I would like to say what an honour it was to not only serve alongside Don but have him as my Best Man and Godfather to our oldest son Daniel, I was asked to say a few words and I hope I did him justice, I can tell you that I never thought I'd get the words out as I am an emotional person and so yesterday I believe Don must have been by my side just as he was the day we were injured. Don's family were incredible and he inspired everyone including his nephews, nieces and indeed their friends too, I was told by many younger men and ladies particularly in their late teens or early 20s what an inspiration he was and also about his balanced and worldly knowledge. Indeed I gathered that he became what I would call a mentor and with what was said a bloody good one....

Don, you will be sorely missed but also fondly remembered by all that knew you. Physically you are no longer here but spiritually you are and as long as you remain in our hearts you will never be truly gone.

Until we meet again mate sleep well..


Pat..

Very well said Pat.

Only just found out about Don's passing - I remember him from my A Company days and am saddened that his life was cut so short

God Bless you Don - Steve

Great turnout,just a shame I had to shoot off and not enjoy the beer or buffet..

Sir, Fellow Comrades.

Many thanks for all your kind messages, i will show them to the rest of the family. Thank you to all who attended Don's Funeral and the Party after at The Breeze Hill Benchell. We are still in shock how quickly Don passed away. He seemed to have fought one battle after another but his last battle was too much for him. Funeral Director stated that there was in excess of 600 people were in attendence at the Crem, to see his Biker mates stopping the traffic was something else. even on his last journey Don caused traffic to stop.


Just one final thank you to Capt Des Williams for helping the family with the Funeral arrengments, obtain a Bugler, Standard Bearers


Till we meet at the parade square in the sky , rest in peace mate.


Brawd am byth


Ken Hewer

My belated deepest sympathy go to all Don's family friends and comrades.

It was a great shock having been away from this site for a number of years and having only just found out about Don, i served with Don in 3plt A Coy.

Such a great loss.