Tower and Town, December 2014(view the full edition)Family NewsAnn Sargant emailed with the sad news that her mother, Margaret Vale, has died, aged 94. She had been a widow since WW2 when Ann's father was one of the prisoners of war in the Far East who did not return. When John and Ann were here at Preshute Margaret gave them her full support in family and parish life and she was a devoted helper at the Jubilee Centre. My family are proud of Caroline (Carrie) because never having played an instrument she joined the Phoenix Band in January and, in her more mature years, managed to learn to play the baritone horn AND play it while marching along the High Street and down New Road in the Remembrance Day Parade. Sian, her daughter, recorded a short video as evidence to show her sceptical friends. She wants me to mention their Christmas Concert in Froxfield Village Hall on Dec 21st at 3 pm Remembrance Day was especially relevant to me because my dad joined the Wiltshire Regiment on Aug 11th 1914. He came home physically fit but having suffered shell shock which returned for a short time about 10 years later. It was really nice to see Gerald Smith at the parade. He has been unable to walk for three months after his knee op. Let's hope he will get back to driving for LINK. Margaret and Tony Killick' s daughter, Julia, is spending a year in Abu Dhabi. She is having a career break from her publishing job and is teaching music. She is working at the International Music Institute in Abu Dhabi. She has been there just over two months and is really loving it, although apart from a flute choir which she has joined, it is slow going getting to know people outside her job. The family are looking forward to seeing her again at Christmas. On 30th October, after a battle with cancer Mark O’Brien passed away. The 32 year old husband of Peta O’Brien, the Devotion leader with the Marlborough churches, Mark will be sadly missed. His funeral at Christchurch on 11th November was a celebration of his life and the church was packed with family and friends. We continue to pray for Peta and his 2 year old son Ethan. |