Tower and Town, May 2017

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Family News

Katie and Sophie Walker were very pleased they were able to have their daughter, Florence May, baptised in St.Mary's church on December 4th 2016. Katie is the granddaughter of the late May and Ron Greenaway. She was brought up in Marlborough until she went to university in Plymouth and made her home there, but she wanted Florence to have a connection with Marlborough, starting off with her baptism. They would very much like to thank Henry Pearson for conducting an amazing service for Florence, a day that they will always remember with much love. The very proud godparents to Florence were Tracy Plenderleith, Daniel Claridge and Robyn Cusack.

Ray Curtis died in January. His family came here from Kent and lived in the temporary accommodation on the Common before settling down in St. Margarets Mead. He and his five sisters and four brothers went to Marlborough schools. His first job was with Hilliers the builders in the yard behind Café Nero. He became a skilled bricklayer. He met his German wife, Erika, when she was a waitress in the Merlin Hotel. They married in 1962. He became self-employed in 1980 and built houses including his home in Elcot Lane in 2000. Ray enjoyed playing golf with friends and watching rugby. I remember him as a good friend to Alan Newman and Bill Harris in the months before they died. Our sympathy to Erika and their family, Sue, Caroline, Donna and Michael.

St. Mary's was full for the Thanksgiving Service for the life of Janet Snelgrove. Geoffrey was well supported by his sisters-in-law Jill and Jo, brother-in law, and his many nephews and nieces who had been such a big part of Janet's life. She and Geoff came to Marlborough in 1972, joining the congregation of St. Mary's. Lay Pastoral Assistants and other friends from the church and all the groups Janet had served so well, the Gardening Club, the Jubilee Centre, Crofton Pumping Station volunteers, Friends of Roundway Hospital, Friends of Savernake Hospital and Freemasonry. The Mayor and six former Mayors of Marlborough and many life long friends went to the Town Hall to share memories of Janet, whose lovely welcoming smile we shall never forget.  Barak Obama said of Ubuntu (at Nelson Mandela's memorial), inter alia, "that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others and caring for those around us".  That sums up Janet. Sadly Geoff's two sisters were unable to come as they are both very frail. Geoffrey will be in our thoughts as he adjusts to life without Janet.

Audrey Peck