The wishes of a family with long connections with Pembroke Dock and its RAF history have been fulfilled for the second time.

Following a request made to the town’s Heritage Centre by the family of the late Mrs. Hilda Whiter, her ashes were recently scattered on the Haven waters.

Twelve years earlier the ashes of her husband, Bill, were scattered on the Haven, again arranged by the heritage group.

Six members of the Whiter family, including daughters Ruth Seabrook and Deborah Whiter, were taken on a RIB on the short sea trip from Hobbs Point to where a wartime Sunderland flying boat, serial T9044, sank. Here the ashes were scattered.

Ruth said: “Mum died in 2019 and we had intended to come to ‘PD’ long before now but the Coronavirus pandemic prevented this.

“Pembroke Dock is a special place for us as a family as we lived here for several years when Dad was in the RAF. Later he as posted to Singapore. We joined him there and he served on the last squadron to fly the Sunderland.”

Local arrangements were co-ordinated by Heritage Centre Trustee Rik Saldanha, supported by Gareth Evans, Chairman of the Time To Dive Pembrokeshire dive club, who provided the RIB, and Ian Hooton, the Club’s Training Officer.

Added Ruth: “We are so grateful to Rik, Gareth and Ian for arranging this for us and fulfilling our wishes. We also did enjoy visiting the Heritage Centre in the old dockyard chapel; with thanks to the Museum’s Curator, Gill Saldanha, who especially opened up the Chapel for our visit. I seem to remember going to Sunday School there in the 1950s.”

The Whiter family are pictured leaving Hobbs Point, Pembroke Dock, aboard the RIB on their short and poignant sea trip.