Tower and Town, February 2017

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Family News

Tom Birkill, a house tutor at the College, ran the Salisbury marathon in August and raised nearly £1,000 for New Road Day Care Centre where his mother-in-law, Hazel, is a volunteer.

John O'Keefe was a very well known figure in the town. Born above his mother's small grocery shop in The Parade he was an assistant at the golf course before, age 16, he joined a merchant ship on the Tyne. He married Tess in 1947. They opened a grocers in The Parade. He went back to sea in 1970 on the Union Castle and then the QE2, retiring in 1988 and was our Town Crier for many years. He was always a keen and competent golfer. Even at 90 he enjoyed coach holidays and a nightly walk from York Place down the High Street for a drink with his friends. He is sadly missed by his daughter, Angela, and her family and by the family of his late son, Kevin.

Brian Norris died in November just after he and Sylvia had celebrated their Diamond Wedding. They married at Milbourne, Malmesbury. They moved from Fyfield to Barrow Close 22 years ago. At the funeral in Christ Church his son, Derek, spoke of Brian's light-hearted nature; whether he was showing Derek how to milk the cows, playing cards or darts or board games, or shooting his air rifle it was always fun. Our sympathy to Sylvia, Derek and their grandson, Matthew.

Alf Johnson, former Town Crier, has moved to Coombe End Care Home. He says it really feels like home because he visited every day when his wife Ann was there and continued to call to see people he knew after she died. His daughter, Diane, is gradually taking all his Marlborough memorabilia in boxes to his room. He is always pleased to see visitors to keep up to date with local news and talk about old times.

Allan Hazelgrove died on January 2nd aged 94. He and his wife Mavis came to live in Stonebridge Close in the 1980's and moved to Purcells Court when she died 15 years ago. He worked for the Red Cross lecturing on First Aid and ambulance driving and was proud to receive a medal for 55 years’ service. His interests were wide: cricket, other sports, music, card games, etc. He attended an exercise class at the Leisure Centre and was by far the oldest! He went to the College Subscription Concerts, which he loved. He made many friends in Marlborough and will be greatly missed.

On a personal note, I am delighted to be a great-grandmother. Trevor and his partner, Sheralyn, had a son, Aspen, on January 7th, making Caroline (Carrie) a grandmother for the first time. They live in Southampton

Audrey Peck