Tower and Town, September 2018

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Family News

Marlborough Penguins held a party recently to celebrate 60 years since it was formed as Marlborough Amateur Swimming Club at a public meeting on May 21st 1958. They swam in the open-air unheated pool where Town Mill houses are now. It was eventually heated in 1968 and they moved to the new Leisure Centre in 1992. Two of the instigators in 1958 were Claude Yeoman, Borough Surveyor, and Councillor (later Mayor) Bill Winchcombe. Many parents, grandparents and friends of the young swimmers have given hours of their spare time to teaching, arranging competitions and galas, and the plain grind of organising and recording results. Alan Crook has gone from his home in St Martins to the swimming club at least three times a week since his eldest child was 5 about 58 years ago. He has inspired the swimmers and encouraged successions of parents to take on important roles. I wonder if he has put in more hours over the years than any other Marlborough volunteer? Joan says she is a swimming widow. Look up the Penguins website to find out all about them.

Caroline Peck (Carrie) went with the family to her son and my grandson, Trevor Clarkson's, wedding to Sharyn Kent at Poole Guild Hall and afterwards at Sandbanks Hotel.It was a really happy sunny day. Trevor's son, Aspen, was a miniature groom's man and his niece, Harper, was a doll like figure among the four adult bridesmaids. The main groomsmen were Trevor's old Marlborough friends, Chris Paley, Matt Eggans and Dan Miller. He, Sharyn and Aspen are living in Eastleigh

Enid Peck celebrated her 80th birthday at a  tea party in Mildenhall Village Hall arranged by her sons Richard, John and Matthew. She was surrounded by family and friends old and new but she was especially pleased to have her grandsons there, Jack, Harry, Ollie and Freddie. Jack told us he would be running two marathons the next day and he did. He ran one in four hours and the second in five and a half hours, 52 miles altogether. She is a very proud Grandmother.

Sharon and Dean Hartop’s son, Shane, had spinal muscular atrophy but lived his life as full as possible. He was full of fun and banter with his brothers, Jamie and Scott. He played boccia (a game like garden bowls) at the Leisure Centre and became a Paralympian. He died more than a year ago and his family recently held a Fun Day at the Football Club to raise funds, in his memory, for DREAM FLIGHT which sends terminally ill children to Florida. Shane had been there in 2007. They raised over £2000.They are still working for less able people by supporting the Fun Day for New Road Centre  at the Football Club on August 18th.

Enid Wise was 90 years old when she died in July. She was a Marlborough girl, attended local schools and worked as a proof reader in the Marlborough Times Printing Works when it was in Waterloo House in the High St near where the Jubilee Centre is now. She married Alan Wise, a local television engineer, and they lived most of their lives in their newly built bungalow in Forest Dale Rd. She loved gardening, producing bedding plants to share with friends. Her funeral was held at St. Mary's.

Audrey Peck