Tributes to ‘kind Marlow stalwart’
Marlow: John Chapman MBE, passes away aged 85
A stalwart of the Marlow community who had ‘his fingers in all sorts of pies to help people out’ has passed away at the age of 85.
John Chapman, who was made an MBE last year, died at Wexham Park Hospital on February 11.
He had been taken to hospital due to illness and caught COVID-19 there, before NHS staff found an aggressive bone marrow cancer.
Mr Chapman died peacefully with a nurse holding his hand.
Born and raised in Newport Pagnell, Bedfordshire, Mr Chapman had three daughters with his late wife Jeanette.
He was awarded an MBE for services to the community in Marlow within the 2020
New Year’s Honours list, and
although the pandemic restricted him from picking up his medal, his friends said he was ‘immensely proud’ of being recognised for the accolade.
An accountant in his early years, Mr Chapman's various roles took him overseas, before he moved back to the south of the UK until his retirement in 1995.
He moved to Marlow more than 40 years ago, where he got involved with a number of clubs and organisations.
Mr Chapman was an active member of the Rotary Club of Marlow for more than three decades, and took up positions including chairman, treasurer, president and district governor.
With rotary, he assisted in taking young business people to America and travelled to India to help with the rotaryled vaccinations against polio.
Fellow rotarian Lance Slater said: “John was an absolute stalwart of the community in Marlow over many years.
“He was kind, warm-hearted and always keen to help others. A true example of a rotarian in action to help those in need in his local community. He will be greatly missed.”
Elsewhere in the town, Mr Chapman was a member of Marlow Rowing Club and also took up the president post of the Marlow Regatta committee when the event took place at
nearby Dorney.
He enjoyed spells as president of the Marlow Chamber of Trade, and the town’s branch of the Royal British Legion.
Mr Chapman also had ties with Great Marlow School, as a governor, and Marlow Age Concern.
Raising money for Thames Valley Air Ambulance was also a passion of his, friends recalled.
With the Marlow British Legion, Mr Chapman – an ex-soldier
– was president for 11 years but was a member there for 25.
Chairman of the Marlow branch Shaun Murphy said: “He will be hugely missed, he leaves a space in the organisation that will be difficult to fill.
“He was an incredible guy, he had his fingers in all sorts of pies to help people out.”
Arrangements for Mr Chapman’s funeral have not yet been made.
Tributes have been paid to a village stalwart and muchloved member of Twyford Together who has passed away aged 72.
Gordon Storey died on Tuesday, February 9 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading after complications following a procedure.
Described as the ‘driving force’ behind Twyford Together’s Business Forum, Gordon also set up Twyford Charities Together, bringing charities in the area together to share ideas.
Friends said he worked ‘tirelessly’ to organise, promote and support the events in the village.
He is survived by his wife JoJo, his daughter Tilly and son David.
Robin Yeadon, chairman of Twyford Together, said: “Gordon Storey was a driving force in getting the business forum started.
“He went on to organise
many community-oriented events, many of which have become annual fixtures.
“He would never accept 'no' as an answer when he asked someone or a company for help or assistance in a project.
“We all, as a community of Twyford, Ruscombe and the environs, owe a debt of gratitude to Gordon Storey for all he achieved in bringing us all closer together.”
He added: “He will be sorely missed by those that knew him and those that benefited from his efforts around the village.”
Paul Cassidy, environment officer at Twyford Together, said: “I’ve known Gordon since
I joined Twyford Together six years ago, and we worked together on various projects that were intended to improve the village of Twyford for its residents.
“Gordon was a stalwart of village life. After a successful career with Mars he used his skills, determination and energy to bring together local businesses, schools , local charities and the council to forward these aims.
“He set up the business forum, bringing together local businesses and helping new ones, [and] he set up Twyford Charities Together where local charities met to share ideas and all local events had a fundraising profile for these local charities, raising much needed funds.”
He added: “A long list of popular events were born – the fun run, Easter egg hunt, the triathlon, Twyford in Bloom, the street market, the Christmas market, Christmas hampers, Twyfest – the list goes on.
“We often met in his ‘office’ –
the Duke of Wellington – where local residents could find him working tirelessly on the next round of events, and finding themselves volunteered to help.
“He was a doer and his energy and positivity was infectious. All events were intended to be fun, for those involved in arranging them as well as the many thousands of participants.”
Cllr Roy Mantel, chairman of Twyford Parish Council, said: “It is with sadness that Twyford Parish Council learned of the death of Gordon Storey. He was known to many and will be missed by all.
“He played an important part in many village organisations. His driving force was to do the best for Twyford, be it in the Twyford Twinning Association, Twyford Together or as a Berkshire Deputy Lord Lieutenant."
Cllr Stephen Conway, Wokingham borough councillor for Twyford, said: “Gordon was a tireless worker for Twyford.
“Before lockdown and Gordon’s enforced isolation, I spoke with him regularly on village matters.
“I valued his opinion and was inspired by his infectious enthusiasm. I will miss him very much. My condolences to his wife JoJo and his family. Twyford has lost a great champion.”
A planning application to transform an old school in Twyford into a library and community space has been approved by Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) planning committee.
The council application, which was brought before the committee on Wednesday, February 10, looked to restore and convert the old Polehampton Boys’ School building into a library.
The current library in Twyford is located in a temporary portable building in Polehampton Close.
The proposals also include building a single storey lobby/ link area, as well as a twostorey extension to be used for multi-purpose community facilities such as a cafe, and the
demolition of the current public toilets.
The Polehampton Trust, which is the freehold owner of the grade II-listed building dating back to 1877, was granted approval to turn the site into a library, cafe, community facility, police office and parish council office back in 2016. However, this consent has since lapsed.
At a meeting in July 2019, WBC agreed in principle to support the creation of a new library at the site.
The council has provided £720,000 for phase one of the project, which includes the refurbishment of the building with a single storey extension at the rear to be used as a new entrance.
Phase two of the project, which is a ‘longer-term vision’ of the site, involves a twostorey extension at the rear which includes a cafe and community facility, and the demolition of the current toilet block.
Speaking prior to the vote of approval, leader of the council, John Halsall, said: “Tonight I’m delighted to support the Polehampton Twyford library planning application, creating a beautiful building in the village centre.
“It has been a long journey, but highly enjoyable.”
Following the meeting, Cllr
Stephen Conway (Lib Dem, Twyford) told the Advertiser:
“I began the campaign for a new library many years ago – 20 to be precise. It was marvellous to have been able to speak and vote in support of it at last evening’s planning meeting.”
He added: “The people of Twyford have supported our
campaign throughout. They have signed the many petitions I submitted to the council calling for a new library and have kept the flame burning when all seemed hopeless.
“I thank them for their commitment and perseverance.”
The vote for conditional approval was unanimous.