Tower and Town, May 2016

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Family News

It is difficult to believe that John and Doreen Dunsby are leaving Marlborough.They feel such a permanent part of the town and of St. Mary’s Church, having always been regular attenders at Sunday morning services. John was a Church Warden for 4 years. They moved in to their newly built house in Barrow Close when they were just married. They are going to live a few doors away from their daughter, Claire. She and her husband, like so many young people looking for a more affordable house, bought a home in Devizes. John grew up in Minal and went to primary school there, then to the Secondary Modern school when it was in former military huts on the Common. He was apprenticed to Dobson’s Garage and worked for Stuart and his father, Ray, for 41 years before becoming self- employed until he retired 8 years later.  Doreen lived in Devizes and did secretarial work there for T. H. Whites and after her marriage she gave clerical support to various people including the first Bishop of Ramsbury, the first Head of St. John’s School, Mary Marsden, the Rectors of St. Mary’s, Jeremy Walsh and Wilfred Down, and Amor and Ellis Builders. Their daughter, Claire, has two daughters and their son, Michael, and his fiancé have a baby daughter. Michael works as a photographer for Gloucestershire Police Force and lives in Ross-on-Wye. John’s family have long connections to Marlborough. His grandfather, a cabinet maker, installed some of the woodwork when the Town Hall was built. We wish them every happiness in their new home.

St. Mary’s said goodbye with a special cake to Doreen and John and at the same service welcomed baby Imogen Taylor. Her parents, Teresa and Sean, brought her to be christened. Her godparents were Jenny Anderson and Sam Railton. Imogen was surrounded by family including her young cousins.

John Bower received the Legion D’Honneur Award recently for his services in the D-day and Normandy Landings. A sergeant in the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry he took his Sherman tank into heavy combat on Gold Beach in June 1944 and then to Operation Goodwood in July to take back Caen from German occupation. John suffered severe loss of hearing when a tank exploded near him. He tries to go back each year and knows how grateful the French, young and old, are for the British part in their liberation.

Rosie Hill helped to open a new 9-hole short course set within the existing Marlborough Golf Course to encourage new players of all ages. It is named after Robert Hill and Freddie Boardman who did so much to encourage young golfers.

Freda Hart and family are mourning the death of her son, Philip, who died suddenly driving home from work in London. He was christened in St. Peter’s Church, was a choir boy in St. Mary’s and his first job was with Haine & Smith, opticians, in the High St. When he was 8 Freda joined Philip and his brother, Stephen, at the Golf Club, a game he always thoroughly enjoyed. His funeral was at St. Mary’s. Deep sympathy to all the family, especially Philip’s son, Charlie.

June Pike who died recently was born in London. Her family moved out to avoid the blitz in the war and settled in West Kennet. She married her late husband, Ron, a Manton man, in 1957 and came to Marlborough. She worked in the White Horse Book shop for 38 years and was recognised by children who had gone to St. Mary’s Infants School as their dinner lady. She enjoyed crosswords and loved going to Tom Jones concerts. Her children, Deidre and Neil, arranged a tea party to celebrate her life in the Polly Tea Rooms because it was her favourite place for coffee. She will be sadly missed by them and her grandson Nathan.

At Jim Buckley’s funeral his son, Chris, spoke of his father as a firm, dedicated, generous father and teacher with a strong Christian faith. Jim’s years studying history and classics at Oxford were interrupted by 3 years’ conscription in to the army where he became a major and served in India. His first post was here, at the Grammar School. Some of us who were in his history classes were in the church. He married Jackie in St. Mary’s in 1950. Later he was appointed Head of Down High School, Northern Ireland, retiring to Marlborough 32 years ago to indulge in his hobbies of hill walking, canal boating, cycling and bell ringing. His recent years were spent in the comfort of Highfield Residential Home. His daughter, Philippa, was not able to attend but Chris, 8 grandchildren and his baby great grandchildren were at the church and the burial in the cemetery. 

Eileen Moss (nee Whiting) was born in Devizes but moved to Manton at a young age with her parents and younger sister, Joan.  She attended Preshute School and Marlborough Grammar School, and later worked for the Post Office where she met her husband, George.  They married in 1947, and in 1951 moved to the bungalow in Manton where they both lived for the rest of their lives.  They had a daughter, Susan, and a son, Nigel, and two grandsons.  Eileen was very proud of her four great-grandchildren.  She loved knitting and sewing, was a keen gardener and a member of Marlborough Gardening Club for many years.  She and George were also members of Marlborough Bowls Club.  Eileen worked at Rawlings & Phillips and Dible & Roy, and later enjoyed many years of voluntary work at the Prospect shop. Her funeral was at St. Mary's on April 8th.

Audrey Peck