Friends and family came together on Saturday, June 7 to honour the life of John Hugo Gwynne, who passed away on May 11, at the age of 104.

John was born on February 20, 1921 at Crescent House, Top Town, in Talgarth to Leslie and Jenny Gwynne, and was one of five sons and two daughters.

He attended Talgarth school and began his working life with the family business before taking up an apprenticeship in the grocery trade at Ennig Stores in the town. He was paid five shillings for an 80-hour week, worked hard and understood the value of money.

On June 30, 1942, in the dark days of the Second World War, John was called up and became a despatch rider in the RAF No. 1657122.

He later said: “It was a great change for me and nearly broke my heart at first, until I paired up.”

Like so many veterans, he didn’t talk about their war years very much for decades, and it was only in later years that he discussed his service and his experiences in the RAF. He served in Northwest Europe: France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.

In November 1949, John married Eunice who was a nurse at the Mid-Wales Hospital and soon after marriage Eunice joined the family business. The couple had two children, Les and Helen.

Outside of family and business, John’s two passions were football and horse racing.

At his funeral, a eulogy was read by Cllr William Powell, music was provided by Harpist Eleri Darkins, as The Reverend Canon R T Edwards conducted the order of service.

The service at St Gwendoline’s was followed by a procession to the burial ground at Bethania.

Refreshments were had at Talgarth Town Hall as those in attendance remembered a great family man with a life well lived.