Tower and Town, February 2021

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Family News

Alan Rix spent his school years and early working life in the London area. He moved to Marlborough in 1956 to take responsibility for running the two hospitals and all the clinics and health centres in the Marlborough area. Later on, the hospitals at Pewsey, Burderop and North View, Purton came under his charge as well.

It was at Savernake Hospital that he met his wife, Deirdre, a nurse, whom he married in 1957. Mr Rix’s love for the Marlborough hospitals led to him writing a booklet about their history in 1966 for Savernake’s centenary.

After retiring in 1982, he served for eight years as the steward in charge of the Duchess of Somerset’s Hospital, the retirement home at Froxfield.

He was a lifelong sports and keep-fit enthusiast. An introduction to refereeing whilst on military service in Egypt (1946-48) developed into a lasting interest. He officiated at matches, including major league games, in London and the South. His daughter, Alison Marsh, said her father loved to recall that he once off-sided the late and great player Jimmy Greaves when he was running the line for a Spurs match!

Alan was a scout leader. He played cricket for the town CC. In retirement he maintained his physical fitness by working out regularly at Marlborough Leisure Centre and taking a daily swim. He and Deirdre enjoyed participating in walking groups.

Other interests included being secretary of Marlborough Deanery Church Synod, supporting the Friends of the Marlborough Hospitals and attending music appreciation and discussion groups at Marlborough U3A. He was a member of Marlborough Rotary Club for many years and its president in 1974-75. He was also a life member and former chairman of Probus.

In 2016, Alan went to live at Highfield where Deirdre had been a lay pastor in former years. She and Alan had rooms there opposite each other. Everyone loved his hearty, infectious laugh and he enjoyed walking around the gardens, observing the bird life. He appreciated the food and being able to have ice-cream after every meal (except breakfast). In fact, he ate a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast every day until shortly before he died.

Friends and family celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary at Highfield. After lunch at the golf club, they went back to Highfield where they had been made a wonderful cake and fizz. Instead of gifts, donations to the home were requested and Alison bought a bird-feeding station for everyone to enjoy.

Younger daughter Sarah died tragically in 2008 when she was struck by a car on a zebra crossing close to their home. Alan is survived by elder daughter Alison, grandchildren Tamara, Yousif and Hannah and great grandchildren Max, Lily and Taalia.

Helen Frances McKim passed away peacefully on 19th October aged 85 after a short illness. She lived in Marlborough for most of her adult life, moving here with Frank, her husband, in 1957.

She was born in Eltham in London in 1935, the youngest of four children. She trained as a physiotherapist at Middlesex Hospital and got a job at the Children’s Hospital by the Marlborough Golf Course when coming to the town. Later, she became the physiotherapist at Savernake Hospital. It was difficult to walk down the High Street with Helen without bumping into several ex-patients who would thank her for fixing their back, or their knee or their shoulder!

Frank was a teacher, then head of physics and then housemaster of Barton Hill at Marlborough College. As a housemaster’s wife she was determined not to be a disciplinarian and instead provided emotional support, Sunday roasts and chat for the boys and girls of the boarding house.

A house in Pembrokeshire became the family’s escape from work and provided many holidays of sea swimming, coast walking and sailing. Helen particularly loved sailing and enjoyed holidays with friends exploring the Scillies and northern France well into her sixties. She was also active with the local Oxfam fund-raising committee and was part of many successful antique fairs.

Following retirement, Helen volunteered with Victim Support and Link and continued to help people in the community as well as travelling to her beloved Greek islands.

A much-loved mother, grandmother and friend she will be remembered fondly and missed greatly.

Roger Ambrose moved to Marlborough with his family in 1984 when he transferred to the Nat West Bank. He took early retirement in 1992 and volunteered locally as a parent governor at S Peter’s. He was chairman of Crossroads and was involved in and supported the Prospect Hospice, the Brandt Group, Victim Support, Talking Newspapers and Kennet Valley National Trust.

Roger was a Methodist local preacher and loved discussion groups. He was a wonderful caring husband to Ann, father to Mark and Ruth and a grandfather to Levi. Roger was much loved and will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Jessy Pomfret