Ashampstead
John and Nona Ward
I know you will all be very sorry that John and Nona died just before Christmas. They had lived in Ashampstead for very many years and had made significant contributions in the life of the community. We shall miss them enormously.
Their funeral will be at St Clement’s this coming Thursday, 12th January at 2pm followed by a wake at the Royal Oak in Yattendon. Rod and Jules Ward and their family would like to thank everyone for their kindness to their parents and welcome you to join them.
Jane Mary Rowland
Jane died peacefully at her home, Metcombe, on the morning of 13th October 2022.
Jane, of Swedish/Russian descent, grew up in London, was evacuated to Scotland during the second world war and then settled back with her family in Tonbridge when the war ended. During this time, Jane learned how to cook well, winning awards and securing a job as cook in a large school. Later Jane trained as an air hostess with BOAC and met her future husband, Churton Rowland. She and Churton married in 1957 and settled down in Lower Basildon.
As their family grew, they moved into Vine Cottage, Ashampstead and Jane immediately began to involve herself in village life, including instigating and running a playgroup, joining the Flower's Piece Committee, cleaning the church and arranging flowers, collecting for Royal British Legion. Moving later to Metcombe, involvement in village activities continued, as did her passion for gardening and excellence at propagation - her conservatory was awash with wonderful pelargonium that she had grown as cuttings.
Her warmth meant that any visitor would feel welcome; coffee or tea and home-made cakes and biscuits offered and good conversation guaranteed. She was loved and will be missed by a great many people - family, friends, close acquaintances.
A Memorial Service will be held at St Clement's at 11.00am on Saturday 7th January 2023 followed by food and drink at the Village Hall.
John Coles
I am sure you will all be very sorry to hear that John died earlier this week. He had not been well for some time and his health deteriorated rapidly in the last few weeks.
John had lived in Ashampstead for many years and I know he will be missed by his family and friends. We pray for Rowena, Celia and Tom in their loss.
His cremation is planned for Monday 18th May at the West Berkshire Crematorium. Sadly the service has to be restricted to his immediate family but please hold John and his family in your prayers at 3pm on Monday 18th May.
Revd Katy Weston
Curate
Kevin Greenaway
We were all very sad to hear that Kevin passed away on 17th February, in hospital, following a short illness.
Kevin was a well-known and liked member of the village and was often to be seen on the Green, opposite Merlin Cottage, where he lived. He was a regular at village functions and will be much missed.
Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, Mel, Milo and Elkie.
Joan Collyer 29th September 1931 – 22nd December 2019
Having grown up in Bristol, where she and her family were well known for their charitable work, particularly in Africa helping people affected by leprosy, Joan married her first husband, Ivor Hunt, and moved to Giddeahall in Wiltshire where they managed a cafe in Chippenham.
Joan later married her second husband, Anthony Collyer, and, during her time as an army wife, she built her career as a warden for retired folk in sheltered housing. She later became a well known resident of Pangbourne, often seen walking her dogs along the meadows beside the Thames, when she and her son lived at Pages Gardens, a retirement block on the Reading Road.
Joan often gave board and lodging to many exchange students, tourists and also to Dutch counterparts of Pangbourne’s Silver Band. These friendships resulted in trips to Holland and, with her sister Betty, visits to the Canadian Rockies and the Holy Lands.
24 years ago, Joan moved to Flowers Piece in Ashampstead and looked forward to an independence that was stubbornly maintained. She continued to travel and enjoy being a free spirit. As well as her own dogs, Joan took in 'holiday dogs' who were so happy with her that some didn’t want to return to their owners! Following knee replacements and other issues, her mobility became greatly restricted, but that didn’t stop her involvement in the local community. Joan could always be relied on to support village events. Local neighbours and good friends, such as Tom Cripps and Pam Quirke, were always on hand to ensure she maintained her independance, but help out whenever needed.
It was during a visit to Kathy Street, not long after Joan moved here, for afternoon tea that she remarked how enjoyable it was to sit and natter with others and gave Anne Woodage the idea to start ‘Tea and Chat’ – which still goes on today.
Joan’s funeral will be on Friday 31st January at 12.00noon in St Clement’s, Ashampstead. Our sincere condolences go to Joan’s son, Chris Hunt, and family and to all her many friends who are most welcome to also attend a reception in the village hall afterwards provided by 'Tea & Chat'.
Patricia Mather
It is with great sadness to learn that Pat Mather died on Monday 24th June 2019 aged 100. Her funeral will be held at 2.30pm on Tuesday 23rd July at St.Clement's church, Ashampstead followed by a private cremation.
Our thoughts are with her nephew, Richard Dixon, and Clemmie Wilkins who gave her so much devoted service.
We shall be interring Pat Mather’s ashes in St Clement’s Churchyard at 11.00am on Monday 30th September. Her ashes will be placed in her mother Beryl’s grave on the west side of the churchyard. Richard Dixon and some of Pat’s family will be there and would like any of Pat’s friends to join them.
Frank Williams
You will all be very sorry to hear that Frank Williams died on Monday 8th April 2019 during the night. He had lived in the village for many years and was a very familiar face to all of us. He had reached the age of 88 despite suffering ill health for some time. We will all miss him and send our condolences to his children, Sandra and Ian, and their families.
Frank’s funeral service will take place at The West Berkshire Crematorium on Tuesday 21st May at 12.45pm. Sandra and Ian are very keen to make sure that everyone who would like to come does so and they are inviting everyone back to Yattendon Social Club after the service. They have requested family flowers only, but would like donations to go to Thames Valley Air Ambulance (www.tvairambulance.org.uk) in memory of Frank.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Sandra and Ian and all the family.
Ivan Hearne
It is with sadness that we learn that Ivan Hearne died on Monday 8th April 2019. He came from a local family and had lived in the village for many years. Our condolences go to his wife, Audrey, and their children, Carrie and Mark, who live locally.
Ivan’s funeral service will take place at St Peter & St Paul Church, Yattendon on Friday 26th April at 2.00pm. Flowers are welcome. The family would prefer your company to your donations.
Our thoughts and prayers will be with Audrey and all their family in their sad loss.
Margot Walker
You will all be very sorry to hear that Margot Walker has just died. The announcement was in The Times yesterday (23rdNovember). Margot and her husband Richard were much loved in Ashampstead and had lived for many years at Bethel Orchard. They eventually retired to the West Country where Richard died in 2010. Margot subsequently moved to Scotland. Richard was an exceptional man, an art historian and Margot an exceptional lady, a keen plantswoman and gardener and, amongst other things, was closely involved with the Living Rain Forest at Hampstead Norreys. We will all have our own very fond memories of them both. You will see from the Times notice below that there will be a memorial service in May here in Ashampstead and we will make sure that everyone knows the date as soon as it has been arranged.
WALKER, Margot (nee Firebrace) died peacefully on 20th November 2018, aged 98, at Erskine Home. Devoted wife to Richard, beloved mother of Nick, Susie McAlpine and Fru Goudge. Much-loved grandmother and great grandmother. Grateful thanks to her niece, Sarah Walker, for loving care during Margot’s time in Scotland. A 'Remembering Margot' service will be held at St John’s Renfield, Kelvinside, Glasgow, at 2.00pm, on Saturday 1st December 2018, to be followed by tea in the hall. All welcome. Donations to Erskine Home. In May 2019 there will be a memorial service at Ashampstead Church in Berkshire.
Felicity Evers, who used to live at Blorenge House, died on 21 December 2017 after a short illness. A service of thanksgiving will be held at St Thomas’s Goring on Friday 19 January 2018 at 2pm. I am sure there are quite a few people in the village who will remember her and I am certain her son Angus and her family would be very pleased if you would like to go to the service.
Andrew Page, who grew up in Ashampstead and whose family have connections with the village (his grandparents are buried in the churchyard as well as his parents’ ashes – and indeed the commemorative bench on the left hand side of the path as you approach the church from the road is dedicated to them), sadly died at the early age of 53 on 30 November 2017. The funeral will be on Saturday 20 January 2018 at St Clement’s at 12.30. I am sure that Sue, Andrew’s sister, and Kendon, his partner, will welcome anyone who remembers Andrew and his family to the service.
Our prayers are with both Felicity and Andrew and their families.
Katy Weston
Lay Minister
Jenny Furnell
It is with great sadness that we are writing to let you all know that Jenny has passed away. We shall miss her greatly – and particularly her close neighbours in Chapel Lane. She always had such a cheerful face and had been a special part of our small village community for many years. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with her husband Phillip who is also in hospital and their sons Simon and Mark and their families.
We will let you have more details as soon as we have them.
Katy and Caroline
Churchwardens: St Clement’s Ashampstead
16 October 2017