Tower and Town, December 2023

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Family News

Michael Hart CBE 1.5.1928 – 30.10.2023

Michael died peacefully in Marlborough on 30th October aged 95. Graduating from Keble College, Oxford, he devoted his life to teaching. He held three Headships: Mill Hill, then at European Schools, Mol, Antwerp and later in Luxemburg before becoming an HMI and adviser to the British Government on education. He was known for his talent helping students to find their path in life and his enthusiasm for a greater emphasis on technical education in the UK.

Michael moved to St. Luke’s in 2006 from Eastbourne. A dog-lover, courteous and kindly, selecting books in the White Horse bookshop, enjoying concerts at St. Peter’s and the College or Shakespeare plays at Stratford-on-Avon, he made many friends in the town. Michael was well-known and respected for his talks at the Merchant’s House and St. Peter’s and taught u3a courses in History, Current Affairs and German until shortly before his death. He ran high-demand courses at Marlborough College Summer School until 2022. Michael’s intellectual curiosity endured, he was researching AI and Chat CPT shortly before he died.

Born in Putney in 1928, Michael’s mother was English, his father German, seconded from Berlin as an adviser to the GWR. They returned to Berlin in 1931 with Michael speaking English and possessing an English passport, later to save his life. He attended the French Lycée in Berlin. As the Nazis gained power, his elder brother left Germany and Michael went to a Bavarian gymnasium ‘to avoid attention’ due to his English passport.

He avoided conscription, escaping to the advancing Americans shortly before his 17th birthday. He crossed their lines at night calling in English that he had an English passport. Until the end of WWII Michael worked as a translater for the United Nations and later at the Nuremburg Trials.

He will be much missed by his beloved family. His younger sister pre-deceased him, leaving two nephews and a niece and their children.

It was a privilege to have known him. His many students feel the richer for it.

Submitted by Sue Sykes

Congratulations to Eileen and Eric Gilbert who celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary with a lunch for family and friends in October. Their son Rev Howard Gilbert, who is Rector at Holy Trinity Minchinhampton, was there along with his wife and daughters. Howard went to school at St Johns Marlborough and grew up within the Methodist Christchurch fellowship. Although not native to Marlborough Eileen and Eric have lived in the same house since 1965, were both teachers locally and held various offices in the local Methodist Circuit, a testament to Christian Faith and a long and happy marriage.

Naomi Painter