| Beic Mr Palmer Yr oedd Mr Fredrick George Palmer yn organydd dawnus. Byddai’n byw gyda’i deulu yn ‘The Croft’, y tŷ olaf ar y dde ar y ffordd i Llanychaer, ger yr hen olchdy. Mae gennym dystiolaeth ei fod yn Abergwaun ac yn cyfeilio i wasanaethau yn Eglwys y Santes Fair mor gynnar a 1902.Yng nghyfrifiad 1911 dywedir mai ‘professor of music’ ydoedd, a aned yn Warwick yn 1878 ac fe briododd ar 2il Rhagfyr 1908 ag Elizabeth Gwynne James. Roedd ganddynt ferch o’r enw Annie Gertrude. Ganed Elizabeth ac Annie G. yn Abergwaun, ac roedd Elizabeth 5 mlynedd yn hŷn na’i gŵr. Gyda hwy yr oedd Annie Elizabeth James, 36 oed, chwaer i Elizabeth yn byw. Fe’i ganed yn Abergwaun ac roedd yn byw ‘ar fodd preifat.’ Roeddent yn cyflogi morwyn ifanc ar gyfer dyletswyddau cartref, a aned yn Wexford.Yn yr 1940au cynnar, byddai Mr Palmer yn mynd ar ei feic yn rheolaidd heibio iard yr Ysgol Genedlaethol yn Stryd Hamilton. Roedd y disgyblion yn ei adnabod yn dda gan mai ‘ysgol eglwysig’ oedd hi ac roedden nhw’n cael eu martsio’n rheolaidd i’r eglwys i gymryd rhan mewn gwasanaethau. Gwyddent fod Mr Palmer yn cario copïau cerddoriaeth yn y bocs pren oedd ynghlwm wrth y croesfar a’i fod yn mynychu angladd, gwasanaeth, cyfarfod neu bractis.Enwir Elizabeth a Frederick yn ewyllys Amelia James, mam Elizabeth ar 23 Awst 1910. Roedd Thomas James, tad Elizabeth, wedi bod yn ‘fasnachwr’ yn High St yn 1881, yn ôl y cyfrifiad.Bu farw Mr Palmer ar 18 Gorffennaf 1956 yn 78 oed. Mae ei feic wedi cael ei storio ers peth amser wedi iddo ddod i berchnogaeth Dannie Thomas, ymgymerwr angladdau yng Nghwm Abergwaun. Gwelir mab Dannie, Bill, ar gefn y beic mewn golygfa o’r ffilm ‘Under Milk Wood’ ym 1971. | The Church Organists Bike Mr Fredrick George Palmer was a talented organist. He lived with his family in ‘The Croft’, the last house on the right on the road to Llanychaer, near the old laundry. We have evidence that he was in Fishguard and accompanied services at St Mary’s Church as early as 1902.In the census of 1911 it is stated that he was a ‘professor of music’, born at Warwick in 1878 and was married on 2 December 1908 to Elizabeth Gwynne James and had a daughter called Annie Gertrude. Both Elizabeth and Annie G. were Fishguard born, Elizabeth being 5 years senior to her husband. With them lived Annie Elizabeth James, aged 36, sister of Elizabeth. She was born in Fishguard and was living ‘on private means.’ They employed a young maid for household duties, born in Wexford. In the early 1940s, Mr Palmer would regularly ride on his bike past the schoolyard of the National School in Hamilton Street. The pupils knew him well as it was a ‘church school’ and they were regularly paraded to St Mary’s to take part in services. They knew that Mr Palmer carried music copies in the wooden box attached to the crossbar and that he was attending a funeral, a service, a meeting or practice.Elizabeth and Frederick are mentioned in the will of Amelia James, Elizabeth’s mother in 23 August 1910. Thomas James, Elizabeth’s father had been a ‘merchant’ in High St in 1881, according to the census. Mr Palmer died on 18th July 1956 aged 78. His bike has been in storage for sometime since it came into the ownership of Dannie Thomas, undertaker of Lower Fishguard. Dannie’s son Bill rode the bike in a scene of ‘Under Milk Wood in 1971. |
The County Echo 25-1-1906
Mr F G Palmer wishes to take this opportunity of sincerely thanking his numerous friends in Fishguard and neighbourhood for the many kindnesses and liberal support he has received from them while organist of St Mary’s Church, Fishguard.
Departure.—Fishguardians and the community generally , especially the church-goers, will regret to loose from their midst two most worthy members, in the persons of Mrs Palmer and her son, Mr F G Palmer, A.R.C.O., High Street, Mr Palmer having resigned the position of organist, he held with such sterling ability for four and a half years, at the Parish Church, and accepted a similar position as organist of Fetcham Parish Church, near Leatherhead, in Surrey, to which place he proceeds in course of two or three days.
After a term of study, under Mr H C Morris, F.R.C.0, of St David’s Cathedral, as pupil-assistant, Mr Palmer came to Fishguard, where he has won the lasting esteem of everyone by his urbanity, kindliness and uprightheartedness, no less than by his exceptional qualities as a musician of high-standing. In the latter respect he has no equal at this end of the county, and all lovers of really classic musical composition, interpreted in a manner distinguishing the true artiste from the mediocre, will much deplore the severance.
As an executant he possesses wonderful command of the organ and pianoforte, while his devotion to the church and duty endeared him to Vicar and people most thoroughly his presence at concerts and ‘socials’ was the sine qua non of success. Of his pupils, their number is legion, and their repeated successes at examinations form glowing testimonials to his abilities as well. The cultivation of the musical art locally, sustains a severe loss, which will be Fetchams’ gain in securing Mr Palmer’s services. Fishguard looses a valuable asset in a professional sense, and the community two of its worthiest members, for Mrs Palmer was ever concerned in the welfare not only of the Church, but also added, in a practical way, to the sum of human happiness.
Mr Palmer purposes qualifying for fellowship of his college in his new sphere of labour in preference to teaching music, as his close proximi- ty to London offers especial advantages in this respect. To him the Church, locally , owes a debt of gratitude for his painstaking devotion, example and influence for good to the younger members of the choir in which he evinced more than a kindly interest. While deeply and sincerely regretting their departure we join with numerous friends in best wishes for their future happiness.
County Echo 3-12-1908
Wedding. The nuptials were quietly solemnized this (Wednesday) morning at St Mary’s Parish Church by the Vicar (Rev W Evans, M.A., R.D.,) of Mr Frederick George Palmer, F. R. C. 0., and Miss Elizabeth Gwynnie James, daughter of the late Mr James of Ffynonddofn, Newport, and of Mrs James, Nevern House, Fishguard.
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