THE family of a man who died following a boat accident off Aberystwyth last year have installed a memorial bench in the castle grounds overlooking Cardigan Bay.

William Davies, also known as Bill or Billy, was a husband, father-of-five, brother, and best friend who died on 31 August last year after he and his best man Alan Jones, 43, were thrown from their boat on their way back into Aberystwyth harbour following a fishing trip.

Mr Jones tried in vain to save Mr Davies’ life before the pair were plucked from the sea by Aberystwyth RNLI lifeboat volunteers, as reported in the Cambrian News last year.

Returning to Aberystwyth to mark the first anniversary of his death, Mr Davies’ family travelled from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, for a memorial service held at St Matthew’s Church, Borth, last Thursday.

Following the service, a bench in memory of Mr Davies was unveiled at Aberystwyth Castle overlooking the spot where Mr Davies and Mr Jones would often go fishing, and where Mr Davies would sadly lose his life.

Speaking to the Cambrian News this week, Mr Davies’ sister Susan, who made the trip with her son David and sister Helen, said it was a day of “mixed emotions” after a very difficult 12 months.

“It was a day to celebrate his life and also for people who couldn’t make the funeral,” she said.

“It went very well. It was a nice turn out, with quite a few friends, and we went to Glan y Môr in Clarach afterwards for a lovely spread.”

See the full story in this week’s Aberystwyth edition