Tower and Town, October 2025 (view the full edition)Family NewsFormer Marlborough resident, Lawrence Oliver, died peacefully in hospital on June 24th in Scotland. Lawrence lived in the town between 1981 and 1999, along with his wife Heather MacMillan, having first moved to Wiltshire after his work as a Civil Engineer for Halcrow took him to their Burderop Park office near Swindon. Native Glaswegian, Lawrence, and Heather, attended Christchurch for many years, along with sons Will and Douglas - another son James died in 1985, and they remained appreciative of the Marlborough community's support at that very difficult time. The family were involved in various community projects. In particular in the 1980s and 1990s Lawrence was an active member of the local Liberal Party and Liberal Democrats, working from the then "Thrifty Orange" shop and office on the High Street. Between 1989-1992, the family lived at The Priory, where Heather served as warden. After stints working for Halcrow in the Middle East and particularly Hong Kong - where he led on projects including the construction of transport links for the new airport - Lawrence began his retirement in Marlborough by leading a team of volunteers who compiled the Tower and Town in Christchurch Church Hall for a few years. Despite an active life in Hertfordshire - including stints as a local authority Councillor - Lawrence and the family maintained close links to Marlborough and he retained a particular fondness for the commerce and history of its High Street, the beauty of the Downs, and the deep peace of Savernake Forest. Grandparents Wendy and David Stevens, lifelong Marlburians, are extremely proud of their grandson Max Stevens, former pupil of St Johns School Marlborough, who lives in Aldbourne. On Friday 8th August Max passed out of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as a Lieutenant in the British Army. During his 44-week intensive training course, among various awards, he won his platoon the honour of carrying the Sovereign's Banner which was trooped to the whole parade. Naomi Painter |