Obituaries, Eulogies, Memories & Orders of Service: #3 - 2000 to 2009
Updated: Oct 12
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: Alastair Banks; Edward Crawfurd; Robert Crawfurd; Eve Fausset; Annette Graham-Stewart; John Graham-Stewart; Richard Kane; Barbara Marchant; Tom Ranson; John Roles; Brian Sharp; Susan Treadwell; Douglas Watson
Annette Graham-Stewart: 14th April 1920 - 19th October 2009
Annette and John (see below) lived in Houndown, Pitch Place, and their sons, Alistair and Cameron still live there.
Brian William Sharp: 2nd November 1928 - 18th September 2009
He was a newcomer to the village and he was not here long before he died, but he was keen to join in everything, a good organiser, on the village hall committee and Horticultural Society committee.
Douglas Quartly Watson: 1st June 1945 - 10th May 2009
Wing Commander Douglas Watson DFC, lived in The Corner, his wife Kathleen was Chair of the village hall committee for many years and was known for her diplomacy. She was a physiotherapist by profession.
Robert John Payne Crawfurd: 29th March 1917-24th February 2008
Robert was an identical twin of Edward, he played the organ, sang in the church choir, grew orchids and lived in Pitch Place.
Eve Fausset: 11th July 1934 - 14th July 2008
Susan Caroline Lawies Treadwell: 1954 - 2008
John Eric Roles: 17th May 1938 - 1st May 2008
Thomas Arthur Ranson (Tom): 31st March 1922 - 13th July 2007
Dr John Cameron Graham-Stewart: 3rd December 1920 - 16th May 2007
Annette and John (see above) lived in Houndown, Pitch Place, and their sons still live there. Both were keen members of the Horticultural Society.
Douglas Bernard Stocker Fitch: 16th April 1927 - 9th July 2006
Peggy Irene Stokes: Died 18th March 2005
From the Parish Magazine August 2005:
On behalf of Peggy Stokes who sadly is no longer with us, I would like to say thank you to Hilary Barr for providing and arranging the beautiful flowers in St Michael’s and All Angels Church when the remembrance service for Peggy took place. Also, many thanks to Ruth Nightingale; for your kindness in opening your home and providing refreshments to those of us who attended the church service.
I should like to acknowledge everyone who attended and all of you who donated to the collection made on behalf of the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. To all of you, your kind generosity is appreciated.
Sandra Cheeseman
Valery Jean Wishart: Died 2005
From the Parish Magazine June 2005:
Thank you so much for your cards, letters, sympathy and offers of help following my mother's tragic death. Thank you also to Revd William Lang and to the villagers who were able to attend Mum's funeral. You have all been a great comfort to us and I hope that this poem, written by mum many years ago, will be a comfort to you also, and maybe even make you smile.
Denise
Good morning Mrs So-and-soWe're not long opened - please don't go!What did I say? What have I done?And the day has only just begun. Oh, here comes Mr What's-his-name,No need to be clever to guess his game!However, next time I'll show him the doorIf he dares to offend me anymore! No - wait! he's just posting a letter;Suddenly I feel so much better.It seems to me it's one of those daysThat nothing I do can quite erase. Just a second - here's Mrs B,One stamp or two, for your TV?Three, - that's more than I had hoped,Four, and I doubt if I'd have coped! Now for it! Here comes the rush.A host of youngsters, - Hush, please hush!No, sorry, we no longer sell barsOf chocolate; or loose sweets in jars What a relief, - its quiet again,But oh dear no, - it's started to rain,Not to worry, I'll put the kettle on -Whoops, there's the shop bell - and now she's gone! | Never mind here comes another,And hasn't she grown just like her mother?Hello dear, what would you likeYou cheeky young imp! - Now on your bike. Yes Mr Erh... no, I hadn't heard.Well really and truly, isn't that absurd?A one-way-street, what do you mean?How will we get back from wherever we've been? Excuse me now, while I serve this young man,Well, you'd better turn round if that's your van.Go up the lane and past the church;Then after that, you'll have to search. Now, Mrs H, - what is the trouble?You dropped your shopping in the puddle!Oh, my goodness - what a messWhat was that? No, let me guess. First class stamps? Your usual dozen?They're not for you, - they're for your cousin.Just the one? Oh - second rate.Seems today that's just my fate. What a day, - heaven knows,Five more minutes and then I'll close,Now the 'phone, who can that be?Ernie's pulled one out, - for me? |
Valerie Wishart
Edna Ada Lucy Goble: 5th June 1918 - 24th April 2004
From the Parish Magazine June 2004:
Edna was born on June 5th, 1918 to Jessie and George Boxall. She was born in North-chapel where her father was a farm labourer.
While she was still a small child the family moved to Ramsnest, Chiddingfold and lived in Oak Cottage for 25 years. Edna was educated at Chiddingfold School. On leaving she became a nanny for a local family. She joined the ATS at the beginning of WWII and did her part for the country as a Predictor, tracing enemy aircraft. She was transferred to many stations across the country.
Edna became Corporal Boxall and taught Physical Training. Although she didn’t know it at the time, it was to be a good start for her future life as it made her very fit. On demob Edna returned to Ramsnest and became a dressmaker for a shop in Haslemere, a trade she never forgot as she made most of her clothes herself. Only a few weeks ago she showed me her latest blouse which she had just finished.
Edna loved Old Time Dancing and was a regular guest at Chiddingfold Club. It was there that she met and fell in love with Arthur (known as Pete) Goble. They married at Chiddingfold Church on June 20th, 1953. They rented a room in a house in Homefield, Thursley. They then bought a plot of land and waited for planning permission to build Little Cowdray Farm. It took just 4 months to complete and they moved in May 1956. In the meantime a little surprise arrived by the name of Peter-John, who was their pride and joy and only child.
Edna was a hard worker and helped Pete build up a small herd of Jersey cows. She also set up a Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast, which was a great part of her life. She met many people from around the world, many of whom stayed friends with Edna over the years and kept in touch. Edna’s other great love was her garden. She spent many enjoyable hours tending her flowers and vegetables, proudly displaying her achievements in the local flower shows.
She was also a very good cook, days before the show would find her beavering away preparing her exhibits. Fancy icing, as she called it, wasn’t her best point. I remember one year she wanted to have a go at decorated Harvest cake and was having trouble moulding the marzipan vegetables, so I gave her a lesson. Her finished results gave us both a good laugh: we weren’t too sure what they were supposed to represent, but our Edna proudly displayed it in the show and couldn’t believe her eyes when she won first prize.
Until recently, if you ventured into the garden on a summer’s evening, you would see this strange white form gliding slowly down the path with a smoke gun in hand; you might have thought a Martian had arrived. No, it was only Edna attending her bees, which she originally bought at Ramsnest. It never bothered her if she got stung and said it was good for you and they were only being friendly. She loved to teach her grandchildren how to turn the handle of the honey extractor (mind you, she may have had an ulterior motive as it made one’s arm ache). The children didn’t mind, they knew they could have a spoon and scrape out the last of the honey and then trot home to mum with sticky faces.
Edna gained a daughter, Teresa, when Peter married in October 1981. They gave her three precious grandchildren, Lucy, James and Emily. Just another job for Edna, a built-in baby sitter. I think she must have passed on a few of her genes as they are very sporty. It gave her a chuckle to see them standing more on their hands than on their feet.
Sadly Peter, her husband, died suddenly in 1987. A few months later Edna announced she was going to take driving lessons and was determined to pass. She did so at the age of 70. It was a great asset to her and gave her great pleasure. She loved driving and continued to drive regularly to the last.
Much of Edna’s latter years was being involved in the clubs of Thursley village and transporting the elderly to various places, including Milford Day Centre. When it was suggested she should join herself you would promptly be told it was for the elderly and she wasn’t there yet! She loved the village and served it well. She loved to walk its lanes with her best mate, her little dog Vicky. Animals have played a big part in her life; she was never without a pet.
Church, too, was very important to her. She loved to take her turn in the Church arranging the flowers picked from her garden. She attended regularly. Edna will be very much missed...
God bless you, Edna.
Brian Michael Francis: 24th February 1939 - 31st March 200
Janina Kot: 1923 - 13th October 2003
From the Parish Magazine December 2003:
Mrs Janina Kot, who died on October 13th 2003, was born in 1923 in Lodz, Poland. Following the German invasion in 1939 she was transported, with so many others, as forced labour to Germany. She spent the war years first in a fish processing factory in Cuxhaven, and later on a farm just outside that town.
Following the terrible upheaval in Europe and the displacement of people at the end of the war, Mrs Kot was unwilling to return to her home in Poland - now firmly in Russian hands. As a result she found herself in UNRRA camps. Whilst in Gottingen she met Jan Kot who, also born in Poland, was serving in the British Army. Eventually they came to England and married. To begin with they lived in Tweedsmuir Camp in Thursley, and then at 10 Homefield. During this time she brought up her family, Michael, Eva and Tich.
The following is part of the tribute paid at Mrs Kot’s funeral by Sarah O’Brien
Mrs Kot was truly a second mother and grandmother to all of us in the O’Brien family. For my own mother, as a young bride in Thursley and then a young mother whose family lived in Scotland, Mrs Kot was always there to give support, advice and a dash of good old-fashioned Polish wisdom.
For my Father, I do not think any blood parent or grandparent could have given him such heartfelt bear-hugs ad did Mrs Kot following the birth of each of us three children. I think a fourth child was out of the question if Dad was to survive!
For the three of us children Mrs Kot’s constancy and warmth was a central theme in our lives and, as my brother Charlie remarked, these qualities were so much in evidence during energetic conversations around the kitchen table. This same kitchen table was also where Mrs Kot, herself a first-class seamstress, taught me to sew. My brother Jamie reminded me that I was not the only one to benefit from Mrs Kot’s talent with needle and thread. She could always be relied upon to take in or let out trouser ‘flares’ at a moment’s notice and thus help us avoid social failure at school.
None of us, least of all Midge our Border Terrier, can remember a time, ever, when on reaching Mrs Kot’s door or on her reaching our, she did not respond to us with smiles, warmth and affection. We will miss her greatly.
Sarah O'Brien
Joseph Hunter Sharland: 3rd November 1922 - 27th August 2003
From the Parish Magazine October 2003:
Joseph may have been know by some of you. He spent his childhood here in Thursley living at Upper Ridgeway Farm, now owned by Mr and Mrs Coles. He was always proud to have lived here but very sadly passed away on 27th August 2003, leaving his wife June, five children and nine grandchildren.
His funeral was held at St Michael and all Angels, Thursley on 12th September and he was laid to rest with his parents and other family members. The family wanted to give him a memorable send off, which included a glass carriage drawn by two very smart black horses. The funeral procession started at Upper Ridgeway Farm. Mr and Mrs Coles very kindly lent the family a field in which to turn vehicles and leave the horsebox etc, so a big thank you to them.
Reverend William Lang conducted the funeral service and the burial and the family and friends of Joseph were delighted with the service. So, thank you Rev William Lang, you did him proud!
Rest in Peace Joe, you will be very sadly missed.
Denise (née) Wishart
Barbara Marchant: died 13th May 2003
Barbara lived at Pitch Place Farm
From the Parish Magazine July 2003:
Barbara died very peacefully on 13 May, three and a half years after being first diagnosed with breast cancer. She has faced this period with tremendous courage, determination and good humour. She survived 11 days in intensive care during February 2001 and was subsequently able to travel St.Lucia, Tresco(twice), Venice, Mauritius and also to ski in Verbier.
We will remember Barbara with affection for the warmth that she brought to all that she did, the contribution that she made to all of our lives and the example that she was to us all.
Barbara had many roles: wife, mother, daughter, sister, godparent, dentist (she had a reputation for not only being respected but actually liked by her patients!), neighbour, generous hostess, shopper?, sports supporter and dogcarer.
To all these roles she brought certain qualities. Qualities which ensured that they were all fulfilled to the highest standard, assisted by a strong sense of determination, good planning and plain hard work. Whilst her interest in and love for her own family was paramount she was always there for others, showing a deep sense of care, interest and support. She not only had time and love for all her friends but the children of her friends.
Barbara always looked immaculate and her skiing was fast and effortless. She encouraged all of those around her to raise their game to match hers and she did this with a mixture of good humour, tireless energy, a lovely giggle, a zest for enjoyment and through her dignified demeanour. Above all was her fantastic smile, which she carried with her everywhere.
Arthur Edward Gale BEM: 1918 - 24th February 2002
Judy Leavitt: 4 October 1922 - 2 February 2003
From the Parish Magazine May 2003:
After education in England and abroad, Judy served in the WAAF during World War II. She married first in the late 1940's and converted to the Catholic faith. She had five daughters and two sons and eventually numerous grandchildren. She and her family moved to Frensham in the mid-1960's where her first husband died in the late 1970's. In 1984 she married John Leavitt (whose house is in Cape Cod) and they moved to Upper Highfield Farmhouse. Until more recently Judy and John used to spend the spring and autumn in Cape Cod and the rest of the year in Thursley.
Judy was a warm, friendly, outgoing person who liked people. She had a great facility for making friendships and keeping them. Her Christmas card list was numbered in the hundreds and she was also a good letter and postcard writer and diarist. She loved Cornwall and other parts of the country and also Normandy and Brittany, and in all these areas she made and kept up with friends and stayed with them whenever possible. She loved travelling generally, and we and our friends have enjoyed several holidays in America and Europe with Judy and John. On these occasions as well as on Judy's other wanderings her camera was always well in evidence, even to the point of her nearly missing rendezvous or departure times.
Judy's strong faith was most important to her and her concerned interest in humanity led her instinctively to do many kindnesses throughout her life. She was also a great lover of animals, especially horses and dogs. She used to ride her horse, Ben, in the Punchbowl and on Thursley Common, and she was devoted to her dog, Meg. She helped with Riding for the Disabled for some years. She was a member of the Thursley Club and the History Society and she enjoyed taking part in those and other village activities. Judy enjoyed outdoor pursuits, including swimming, golf and tennis and she would leap into the sea or her friends' pools at every opportunity.
Nearly fifty years of close friendship and shared experiences, when ended, leave a large gap. We all feel for John in his grievous loss. Judy was a warm presence who will be very greatly missed by many people, old friends and new alike.
Bridget and Rennie Stewardson
Phyllis Reed: 1911 - 10th June 2002
From the Parish Magazine September 2002:
Phil Reed was born at Wareham in Dorset, the only child of Mr & Mrs Childs. Her father was a blacksmith and a small farmer. When Phil left school at the age of fourteen years, she became apprenticed to a milliner in a nearby town. However she did not like country life and was longing to get to London, which she eventually did, and became a housemaid in a large house in Grosvenor Square, this is where she met her husband, who was working as a carpenter in the house. They were married in the village where she was born.
During the war they lived in Cranleigh and by this time had two daughters Patricia and Monica. Eventually, because Mr Reed was a relative of the Fosberry family they moved into “The Clump” in the village and Mr Reed took over the family building business; This was in 1948. As a family they enjoyed taking part in, and visiting, steam rallies, and travelled to many parts of South East England.
Phil was always interested in the life of the village, but the Thursley Club gave her most pleasure. It was at the club that I got to know her and we enjoyed many outings together. She was a good friend, Her grandchildren also gave her much pleasure.
As she became less mobile, she was looked after at home by Monica. Eventually it became necessary for her to move into a nursing home. She died peacefully at “The Wilton” at Beacon Hill on June 10th age 91 years.
Edna Goble
Hilda Augusta Branchini: 1907 - 29th December 2000
From the Parish Magazine March 2021:
At its recent meeting, the committee of the Horticultural Society expressed particular regret at the passing of Miss Branchini who was a generous and knowledgeable supporter of the Society.
In her later years she appeared only fleetingly at our flower shows, but with the expert assistance of her gardener, Bill Davey, the vegetables she exhibited were always of a very high quality. Together they won many prizes over the years including the most prestigious award, the RHS Banksian Medal.
Miss Branchini was always keen to hear of the progress of the Society and to discuss the relative merits of the many different varieties of fruit and vegetables growing in her garden. Even at the age of 93 she loved to spend time in the garden picking fruit or feeding the birds which were her great interest.
We shall miss her wisdom and her enthusiasm for the natural world.
John Gunner
Terence Richard Hill Kane: 1911 to 25th June 2000
An obituary in the Thursley Parish Magazine, July 2000:
Terence Kane was sometimes described as "one of the old fashioned sort", a successful businessman of firm, indeed fixed, views but a man of scrupulous honour whose word could be relied on as his bond.
He was born in 1911 and educated at Marlborough but was much more attracted to mechanical engineering. He accordingly left school at sixteen to be apprenticed as a racing mechanic, seeing and working on many of the most interesting cars of his day at Brooklands. This left him with an abiding passion for speed that remained with him for the rest of his life. He was for many years a director of Maranello Concessionaires, the UK Ferrari importers.
He subsequently went on to work in the family business, the Kango Hammer Company, which produced the construction hammers so familiar to today's builders. The hammer design was modified to provide a successful counter-measure to acoustic mines thus contributing significantly to saving life at sea during the height of attacks on Atlantic convoys. This was something of which he was justifiably very proud. He rose to be managing director before taking the company (now part of the Atlas Copco Group) public.
During the war he served in air defence roles in the Army in Egypt and the Mediterranean, rising to the rank of major. He used to fascinate his small grandson with stories of how "Gra" used to travel in the bomb bay of aeroplanes flying over the Mediterranean. If someone had pulled the wrong lever Gra would have fallen into the sea!".
He came to Thursley, living close to the Churt border, after his retirement in the 1980s and spent most of his time quietly with his family. He had an enduring love of nature, refusing to cut back even overgrowing branches or to hurt any animal, however lowly or humble.
He was extremely happily married to Lilian. Nearly seven years ago she suffered a major stroke. From that time on many of his energies, in his later eighties, went on ensuring she was immaculately looked after by teams of nurses at home, despite the expense and disruption that this inevitably caused. They were absolutely devoted to each other and his love for her was unconditional.
Despite a commanding manner, Terence was basically a shy man. His local activities were largely confined to membership of the Conservative Association and expressing his concerns over the proposals to modify the A3. He will be hugely missed by his family: Lilian, Suzanne, Janice and Philip especially. It is a great comfort to them that he was buried in Thursley Churchyard, surrounded by the fields and country that meant so much to him.
Robert Patterson Morgan: 1919 to 15th May 2000
A eulogy by Mary Rapley from Thursley parish Magazine July 2000:
Robbie, as he was known to all of us, was born in Letham a small village in Fife in Scotland, but will always be thought of as a Thursley man having lived here for 53 years.
He joined the 5th Btn. of the Royal Tank Regiment in 1937 and served in France at the beginning of the war. He managed to get away from Brest, landing at Falmouth with only shorts, singlet and no other possessions.
A few weeks later he came to Thursley where he met Eddie.
In October 1940 his regiment sailed for North Africa where he remained for four and a half years during which time he served with the Long Range Desert Group and saw action at Tobruk and El Alamein. When he was wounded he volunteered for Special Operations but broke his arm "parachute training" from the back of a lorry which saved him from a disastrous mission to Yugoslavia.
Robbie returned to this country in 1945 and married Eddie in Thursley church in 1946, eventually settling at Streetfield in 1948.
For 26 years he managed Rushmoor Garage at Tilford, retiring in 1984. For many years his hobby was carpentry. He first made himself a lathe, then built a boat and furniture for his home including a lovely set of dining chairs which are still being used. Some 10 years ago Robbie developed cancer and was advised to abandon woodwork so he rekindled his other love of photography. He had been a great walker covering many miles every day with his camera and binoculars. Although in later life he was unable to walk so far he still continued with his photography and reproducing pictures for the History of Thursley Society who will miss his advice and expertise. Eddie and Robbie are two of the founder members of the History Society which is very much indeed indebted to their help and generosity.
Robbie had a great sense of humour. We used his dining room some Thursday evenings for Whist Drives which became rather noisy with chatter. Robbie's response from the lounge was, 'It sounds like a poultry farm'. We all had a good laugh.
Robbie was very interested in the life of Thursley often attending Parish Council Meetings. Through all his years of ill health, Robbie never complained and always greeted you with a smile. He will be greatly missed by everyone.
George Albert Linegar: DoD 7th May 2000
A eulogy by Adrian Linegar from Thursley parish Magazine July 2000:
We called you Daddy, Dad, and Father too - depending on the moment, the mood or the time. To others you were George or Gig or Bud or Bo - occasionally old So-and-So. To some you were the carpenter they knew could make or mend any shape or thing that wood might be fashioned into. But these names were only sounds which moved the air between us and you; they served to call you to ourselves in times of laughter or of need. They moved us to you and you to us, but they were not the real You.
Yours was the body physical which ushered us through life with measures of both discipline and tenderness. That same body fought its passage across a war-torn continent, witnessed atrocities most of us may only imagine, and yet returned to us scarred mostly by the awfulness of what men's minds can contrive to inflict upon each other.
That same body walked with us through all the vicissitudes of life, its triumphs and its disasters, its dark times and its light, and your hands - one artisan, one artist - alternately pulled us from suffering and pushed us to achievement. And that same body, grown old, we nursed in duty and with love, repaying also, as it were, that age-old 'debt' we all owe the world which brought us our breath. But that body was not the real You.
Not for one moment shall we confuse the body which lies so still among us with the spirit which so singularly animated it. This was but a vehicle for the character we loved, who has upon call vacated it and gone to regions to which we give sacred names, but do not really know.
It is this spirit that will live on in our hearts, like a song which with repetition grows more dear.
And every image we evoke of you will yield a hundred more, each clearer than the last. It is this which shall live on for us, and shall never diminish nor grow ill nor old nor die.
Your going has left a large gap in our presence which we cannot, and must not, fill with mediocrity. And your collective achievement will remain a benchmark against which our lesser lives must be measured.
For all of us, in our different ways, and according to our differing perceptions, you will remain a star shining at the edge of our awareness: where memory and faith and hope intermingle in that mysterious landscape of the half-familiar and the wholly unfathomable. It is there, and also here in the quieter spaces of our daily lives, that the real You will live on for us. And in this way, and in others, we shall never forget you.
