Obituaries, Eulogies, Memories & Orders of Service: #2 - 2010 to 2019

Feb 16
3 min read

Updated: May 25

At a meeting of the Thursley History Society early in 2025, it was agreed that the website should include a post for our many beloved villagers who are no longer with us. Our archive contains a lot of information and we shall gradually build up this entry retrospectively. If you would like to contribute any obituaries, eulogies, memories, orders of service or photographs (especially where none exist on the website) please do so via the website: https://www.thursleyhistorysociety.org/contact

Lives celebrated: Peter Anderson; Michael Chant; Pat Coles; Diana Cory; Margie Crawfurd; Katherine Feld; Ray Fry; Kate Hurman; Arthur Moss; Jean Moss; Clive Platfoot; Drusilla Pye; Grace Ranson; Bridget Stewardson; Cynthia Tann; Kathleen Watson

Bridget Mary Stewardson: 20th February 1930 - 5th March 2019

Bridget lived in Rose Cottage, The Lane

Raymond Maurice Fry: 22nd January 1936 - 6th May 2019

Ray Fry was a long-term warden and advocate for Thursley Common

Jane Haviland: 21st May 1931 - 8th February 2019

Diana Cory: 2nd April 1929 - 14th February 2019

Katherine Louise Feld: 10th January 1985 - 4th April 2018

Michael Patrick Chant: 7 January 1944 - 6 February 2018

Michael, known as Mick, was husband of Tina who is a member of the Horticultural Committee. He ran the Cedars pub in Binsted. When they moved to Thursley, he became the caretaker of the village hall and was very helpful to the elderly.

John Patrick Coles: 8th September 1934 - 22nd August 2017

The eulogy was delivered by Alan Peters, Pat's greatest friend, and his sons Simon and Matthew:

This moving address was given by the Revd Edmund Haviland:

Kathleen Winifred Watson: 6th November 1917 - 24th April 2017

Margaret Vowe Crawfurd: 24th January - 11th January 2016

Margie Crawfurd was involved in a nursing charity in the village and was keen on welcoming newcomers. She was in charge of a high-class and prestigious art show held in the village hall for many years (see separate entry). She was the prime mover of the church kneelers (see separate entry) and also served on Waverley Borough Council.

Grace Pope Ranson: 10th April 1927 - 9th March 2015

Major Clive Gordon Frederick Platfoot: 16th February 1931 - 31st August 2014

Major Platfoot lived in Churt, next to The Pride of the Valley, and was a keen churchgoer at St Michael & All Angels. He sold wrist alarms for the elderly and dubious home-made wine was a hobby.

Drusilla Pye: 28th December 1927 - 13th January 2014

Drusilla was the formidable village and much-loved midwife who lived at 2 Church Cottages

Kate Hurman: 24th September 1928 - 31st July 2013

She lived in Old Potters on Pitch Place, an equestrienne and she and her husband had a fine collection of bronze statuary.

She lived in Old Potters on Pitch Place, an equestrienne and she and her husband had a fine collection of bronze statuary.

6th March 1926 – 5th October 2012

Cynthia Tann: 6th March 1926 - 5th October 2012

Cynthia lived on Pitch Place, she was a glamourous ex-model who had three children. She was an artist and a keen churchgoer whose brilliant flower arrangements were often on display. She read the lessons beautifully.

Peter Richard Anderson: 1944 - 2011

Arthur Edward Moss: 1916 - 2010

Arthur lived at Wheelwrights on The Street with his wife, Jean (see below). He was on the village hall committee and was in charge of raising the flag.

This was Arthur's recollections of his war which was produced for the History of Thursley Society's 'Victory in 1945 Celebration' exhibition held in 1995:

I spent VE Day marching away from the Russian Front, we were still POWs but the Germans were very agitated and disorganised and we could hear the Russian guns so we knew that our captors were losing the war. Ten of broke away from the chaos and found ourselves in a small German Village. There we met the local schoolteacher who took us into her home, took the down her picture of Hitler from the wall and cooked us a marvellous sit down supper. We then met up with a group of Serbs and were driven around on a horse and cart. After the Serbs, we joined a small party of Russians who plied us with methylated spirits and schnapps!

At Chemnitz Station we finally me the Americans, who took us to Rheims to the Frech and we were flown home in Lancasters to freedom. I arrived back on the 19^th May 1945 having been a prisoner of the Germans for almost five years bar a week. I was able to join in the celebrations for VJ Day and stood outside Buckingham Palace wit Gwladys, a young nurse friend, cheering as loudly as I could.