Tower and Town, March 2019 (view the full edition)Family NewsHello to all Tower and Town readers. I am delighted to have this opportunity to contribute to the magazine by compiling the family news. Jay, Michaela and Emma are sorry to inform friends and acquaintances that their mother and grandmother, Valerie Margaret Fuller, sadly passed away quietly in Savernake Hospital on the 25th December aged 94. Valerie, together with her parents and sister, had moved from London to Marlborough during World War II, when their house had been bombed. They already knew Marlborough well, having spent holidays there. Valerie met her husband John after the war, when he was part of the Army forces removing ammunition from Savernake Forest and she worked as a secretary to one of the officers in charge. Apart from army postings abroad, the couple remained in Marlborough, so Valerie lived in the town for well over 75 years. Donations in remembrance of Valerie can be made to The Sailors' Society or The Blue Cross. We send out deepest sympathy to Valerie's family. Barbara Jones, née Linney, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from Wiltshire Lawn Tennis Association for services to Marlborough Tennis Club. Through her tireless support of the committee and tennis in the community she has helped the club develop from 50 to over 200 members. She comes from an old Marlborough family. Longstanding residents will remember Dunford's Confectioner and Tobacconist at 120 High St. where the Blue Cross animal charity shop is. Barbara's mother was a Dunford. The family came to Marlborough in 1749 and were boot makers and repairers. The tennis club reflects, "From making coffee at social functions, to managing the finance and ferrying juniors around and keeping social tennis alive, our club would not have grown and transitioned to its new facilities so successfully without her smiling, positive energy." What an achievement! We wish her many more happy tennis years. Christine Hodder writes: Barbara Stiles and late husband, Ken, moved from Surrey to River Park in 2001. As a couple they made many friends and Barbara soon took on the role of organising the flower rota at St George's Church and the teas at U3A meetings, as well as working in Pewsey Volunteer Tea Rooms. Barbara was well known for her sense of fun and determination and is greatly missed by the Community, but particularly by her three children and five grandchildren. Following a short illness, Barbara passed away at home on 10 October 2018, with her children beside her. She was one month short of her 96th Birthday! And finally, congratulations to Sheila Hanson who has another grandson! Jack William, younger brother to Harry, and cousin to Sam and Lyra is the son of Tom and Flo (née Everson). Jessy Pomfre |