At this point he lived in Leamington and took the train to work, where he met Ann, although they had known each other as children. They were married at All Saints’ Parish Church, in Leamington, in April 1956 and celebrated their golden wedding 50 years later at Shottery Church Hall.

Shortly after the marriage, John became head of science at Southam School until he accepted a job as principal lecturer in science at Padgate Teacher Training College, near Warrington, in 1963 and made the family home in Culcheth. He remained here until 1980 when owing to a lack of science pupils he accepted early retirement at the age of 50.

After two years of supply teaching John and Ann decided to move back to where they grew up, but chose Stratford because it was smaller and quieter than Leamington and they liked the fact that the town still had a market town appeal. John was also an authority on Shakespeare.

He continued to do some local teaching for a few years until finally retiring properly in his late 50s.

After this he devoted his time to local government. He joined the Conservative Party and became a town councillor before taking on district council duties.

In 2002-03, he was chairman of Stratford District Council. It was a post he enjoyed tremendously. He finally stepped down from council duties aged 77, due to a decline in his health. He devoted his life to local politics and took so much enjoyment from helping the community wherever he could do so.

John’s other great interest was foreign languages. A keen member of the Stratford Anglo-French society, he spoke French and German fluently and could get by in Spanish.

John’s decline started with the onset of leukaemia in 2009 which gradually took its toll. The family takes comfort that he was able to remain at home until less than a week before his death at Alveston Leys and thanked the GPs at Rother House, consultants at Warwick Hospital and various local care agencies who prolonged his life and enabled him to remain at home.

John is survived by his wife, Ann, and his three children—Edward, Katharine and William.

A life-long Christian and devoted member of the congregation of St Andrew’s Church, Shottery, he will be buried at Stratford Cemetery following a service at St Andrew’son 20th March.

She met her husband, Lez, when she was 17, selling raffle tickets at a darts night in the Cross Keys pub.

They were married in 1971, at St Andrew’s Church, Shottery, and together they had three children, Wayne, Brett and Donna. In November last year Lez and Louise celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary, a testament to the strength of their marriage and relationship.

Football played a big part in her life; whether it was washing all the kit for the boy’s teams, being a West Bromwich season ticket holder or going to Stratford Town Football Club where she and Lez were the proud owners of season tickets number one and two. And she used Stratford Town as a base for many of her fundraising events.

Louise had a sporty streak herself. She played league darts for over 40 years, competing at the Embassy Club and the Snooker Club. She last played darts for the Yard of Ale, despite having no feeling in her hands caused by the chemotherapy. She ran teams in the Stratford Netball League, wrote the reports for the Herald and played a mean game as goal shooter herself.

She was enthusiastic about and, most importantly, successful at entering competitions. The list of prizes is extensive and impressive: two cars, a motorbike, push-bikes, holidays, cases of champagne and tickets to pretty much everything. She opened the refurbished Boots on Bridge Street; she was Sweetex Woman of the Year and was proud to have named an estate in Stratford on the land where she used to play as a child. She was so good at entering competitions that she ended up giving talks to the WI on how to be as successful as she was.

Her first job was with Josephs on the Birmingham Road before she moved to Tappex PressAvon. From then on, she never seemed to stop. She worked in an advertising and design agency, a laundry, a doctor’s surgery, a newsagents; she worked at the George, the Windmill and the Stag’s Head behind the bar. After finishing her jobs in the day, she also worked on the twilight shift at Alveston Kitchens and nights at the RSC. At one point, she had three jobs on the go at the same time.

A loving wife to her husband, Lez, a devoted mother to her children and a much loved mother-in-law to Linda, Matt and Ewelina. She was a hands on grandmother and was fiercely proud of her four–and a half–grandchildren, Tiegan, Kieran, Archie, Freddie and the Bump. In December she was thrilled to hear that Ewelina, Brett’s wife, was pregnant.

She was a tireless fundraiser for 20 years or more, including the Shakespeare and Myton hospices who cared for her at the end.

She had a long and successful career, appearing in cult television series such as Danger Man and The Saint, as well as many highbrow theatrical productions, but it was her Dynasty role that brought her lasting iconic status.

Ms O’Mara was also famous for her role as The Rani, a rebel Time Lady on Doctor Who. She last played the Rani in a special episode called ‘Dimensions in Space’ in 1993.

She also won new fans after starring as Patsy’s sister, Jackie, on Absolutely Fabulous, and ITV’s Benidorm.

Although too long ago for RSC records to prove, it is believed that she started her theatrical career in the wigs department in Stratford. She also apparently appeared in a tour of Kiss Me Kate in 1991.

It is during these early years in Stratford that she conceived her first son, Dickon, after a liaison with an actor from the theatre after a first-night party. She never revealed the identity of his father publicly. Dickon was born in January 1963, a moment she described as “the best day of her life.” Her second child, Christopher, was given up for adoption when she was a struggling actress.

Later, Dickon, a theatre technician, suffered from mental illness and became a source of worry and anguish for her and in December 2012 at the age of, 49, he hanged himself in the garage of his mother’s home. Villagers say it was this shock that broke her as she was besotted with him. But she still remained cheerful and demure to all who were in her company—true ‘old school.’

In June 2013 Ms O’Mara agreed to work with Mark Griffin, the director of the Sicca Players based in Long Marston, on An Evening with Spike Milligan in which she voiced the part of God. Mr Griffin said: “Kate was very supportive of the production. I recorded her part in a single take over coffee in her lounge one sunny summer’s morning last year.

“Kate loved talking about the theatre and acting and we even discussed writing a radio play around the Miss Marple Short Stories and a piece based on the works of William Blake.

“Though she was very frail she insisted on attending our dress rehearsal and she laughed throughout. She'll be sadly missed in the village.”

Ms O’Mara, who moved to Sussex to stay with a friend because she couldn’t face to be at home for the anniversary of her son’s death, died, ironically, on Mothering Sunday.

Her agent Phil Belfield said: “Kate O’Mara passed away peacefully after a short illness. She was a delight to know and an extraordinary woman and actress with a passion for Shakespeare and stage acting. A shining star has gone out and she will be sadly missed by all who have known and worked with her.”

Ms O’Mara is survived by her sister, the actress Belinda Carroll.

A private funeral and memorial service will be held at a date, not yet confirmed.

In his early years he attended St Peter’s, in York, where he began acting with the role of Cleopatra in George Bernard Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra. Following National Service years at an army theatre in Catterick, he trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama where he met his first wife, Betty, who was working as a speech therapist.

In 1963, Mr Dench joined the RSC, beginning what proved to be a long and illustrious career playing a wide range of roles. He was quick to make a name for himself by appearing in John Barton and Peter Hall’s The Wars of the Roses followed by the David Warner Hamlet. He also established himself in comic roles such as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night and Master Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Most recently he appeared in 2006 in a production of Merry Wives: The Musical, playing Justice Shallow alongside his sister who took the role of Mistress Quickly.

The production was directed by the RSC’s current artistic director Gregory Doran who said: “It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Jeffery Dench. Jeffery worked for the RSC over five decades. He joined the company in its early days and took part in many of its greatest hits from Peter Hall and John Barton’s history cycle, The Wars of the Roses to Trevor Nunn’s Nicholas Nickleby. He played Gloucester in Buzz Goodbody’s seminal production of King Lear at The Other Place, and George Page in Terry Hands’ famous production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Jeff was Baptista in Adrian Noble’s delightful Kiss Me Kate. His last appearance for the company was in my own production of Merry Wives: The Musical in 2006.

“Jeffery was the kind of actor that made the RSC what it is: he did not necessarily always play the leading roles, but proved by his presence that the company’s vitality lies in its strength on depth.”

Former RSC artistic director Sir Trevor Nunn added: “He was devoted to the ensemble principle, to the range and diversity of the huge output demanded of everybody, he was collegiate in his manner, and indeed, I often thought he could have been an academic. I am so privileged to have known him for all these years.” Another former RSC artistic director, Adrian Noble, added: “Over the decades, the RSC has created a vast tapestry of theatrical work that has astonished the world. The face of Jeffery Dench, with his gift of character creation, sharp observation, fine voice and his love of the company, can be found in every panel of that tapestry for nearly 40 years. He worked with five artistic directors in every one of our spaces, in literally dozens of productions. Many, many thanks, Jeff!”

Mr Dench was also very active in supporting other arts organisations and was especially known among the audiences of the Rudolf Kempe Society in Stratford, where he had a connection for some 25 years and also became its chairman.

He gave exemplary readings and was always cheerful and a delight to talk to after a concert. The society’s artistic director, Cordula Kempe, said he would be greatly missed by all of his colleagues and dear friends.

The next concert of the society, on 13th April, will be dedicated to Mr Dench.

Last Tuesday, on the evening of Mr Dench’s death, actors, technicians, stage crew, dressers, wardrobe and wig girls, all joined together to send Mr Dench off with a round of applause during the technical rehearsal of Henry IV in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Mr Dench leaves three daughters from his marriage to Betty. After her death in 2002, he married Ann Curtis in 2005, who worked for the RSC and was a long-time family friend.

A service of thanksgiving for his life will take place in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford, at 11.30 am on Tuesday 15th April.

When Mr Pratt came to KES in September 1963 he had to transmute the effects of social changes produced by the affluence of the 1960s and the recession of the 1970s; by the increasing pluralism of society; by the decline of religious belief and by the growing independence of the young. Influenced by an inspirational tutor at Oxford and his subsequent years teaching, Mr Pratt had developed a knowledge of life and acquired a culture which, with an inborn patience and the possession of a just and even-tempered nature, enabled him to confront problems and change with a humane and liberal moderation, while insisting on the discipline of intellectual and moral standards.

Over all this was the spectre of ‘Circular 65’ on comprehensive schooling, and with the governors he fought a formidable battle to preserve the identity of KES. ‘Circular 65’ was reinforced in 1976 by the government to compel voluntary aided schools to submit plans for going comprehensive. The highly publicised battle continued until the general election of 1979 when the school’s future as a grammar school was secured.

As headmaster, Mr Pratt initiated changes calculated to benefit the school’s progress and welfare, inaugurating parents’ evenings, the successful association of the Friends of King Edward VI School, and spurring on the musical and dramatic life of KES.

He was heavily active in the life of Stratford, as an honorary fellow, later a life trustee of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, chairman of the Stratford Music Society, and a governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Stephen Pratt was erudite, with a sense of fairness and justice and especially rightness. He loved watercolours, theatre, travel and French history, and is remembered for bringing to KES a standard of cultured excellence. He is survived by his wife Amy, who is also remembered with affection.

Her first position was at Hildershaw House boys’ boarding prep school—evacuated during the war to Hallow, in Worcestershire—where she looked after some 70 seven-year-olds over the weekends. She moved to Jolyffe House School, in Stratford, now the Grosvenor Hotel, and then to the Croft School in 1949, teaching the older children English, geography, history and nature studies. She also set up a thriving Brownie pack in Stratford.

Many of her former students will remember how she brought her subjects to life by her captivating approach and real world explorations, which became an adventure group, The Young Explorers, in the mid-1960s, visiting the local area and then further afield, staying in youth hostels with minimal resources long before the days of structured Outward Bound-style training. She was backed by owners of the Croft, the Whitmores and then the Thorntons, and ably supported by willing parent helpers and her late husband, Gerald. Trips took place some three or four times a year to such places as the Lake District, the Black Mountains, Brecon Beacons, the Forest of Dean and, in the 1980s and 1990s, to the Gower Peninsula, Bristol Docks, the Peak District and the Netherlands.

The stories of these trips are legion, giving extraordinary life experiences to countless children which Diana continued (as a helper) swinging on ropes until she was nearly 80.

In later years she took country dancing groups to the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations.

Diana never drove a car, cycling wherever she went and enjoying her own recreational trips to Scandinavia or Scotland in her holidays. Her many former pupils have besieged her Facebook page since her death with tributes and Diana was delighted to be honoured in this year’s Touch FM Pride of Stratford Awards as Educator of the Year.

She leaves three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A service to celebrate her life will be held at the Croft School on Saturday 3rd May at 2pm.

Phil Hart will be fondly remembered for his enthusiastic and whole-hearted commitment to volunteer work which spanned all his life and included being a church warden at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford; this also involved an extended period as warden during an interregnum. Mr Hart was treasurer to Holy Trinity for nearly a decade and treasurer to the Friends of The Music at Holy Trinity as well.
In addition to his commitments to the church, he was chairman of Stratford’s Parkinson’s Society and treasurer and chairman of Stratford Photographic Club.
He and his wife, Sue, enjoyed 24 years of garden openings with their neighbours in Alveston to create a large garden as part of The National Gardens Scheme.
He became a magistrate in the 1980s and completed almost 20 years’ service, having to retire on the grounds of ill-health just before he reached the actual retiring age of 70.
The last big project Mr Hart was involved with at SDC was its move to Elizabeth House in Church Street, finally closing the many satellite offices in and around the town. He took early retirement in 1994 and then served as deputy verger for another decade at Holy Trinity Church, retiring in 2004 as his health had deteriorated.

Sir Donald was President of the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations a few years ago and was a familiar and colourful sight leading the procession through the streets of Stratford, clad in top hat and tails, on the day marking the Bard’s birthday.

Gregory Doran, artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, has led the tributes today (Friday).

Mr Doran said: “It is very sad to hear this morning of the death of our honorary associate artist Sir Donald Sinden, just weeks before his 91^st birthday.

“His last appearance on the RSC stage was a special performance in 2007, to mark the closing of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre before transformation.

Donald Sinden in the 2005 production of The Hollow Crown at the RST. Picture courtesy of the RSC.

“The evening was simply made up of short sections from every Shakespeare play performed by some of our great alumni.  Sir Donald characteristically stole the show with the letter scene from Twelfth Night, recreating his role as Malvolio, for John Barton opposite Judi Dench as Viola in 1969.

“Donald played numerous small parts at Stratford in 1946-7, just after the war, including Dumain in Peter Brook’s Watteauesque Love’s Labour’s Lost, William in As You Like It, Adrian in The Tempest and Warwick in Henry V opposite a young Paul Scofield.

“Donald liked to say that “Man cannot live by Bard alone”, and his extraordinary career outside the RSC in films, and television will no doubt be amply recorded elsewhere.

“He was one of the original members of the Royal Shakespeare Company, for Peter Hall, playing York in the famous Wars of the Roses cycle.  He played Henry VIII opposite Peggy Ashcroft in 1969.

“In 1973 he scored a huge hit playing Sir Harcourt Hartley in a highly acclaimed production of London Assurance by Dion Boucicault at the Albery Theatre.  He played an autocratic King Lear for Trevor Nunn and a deliriously funny Benedick again opposite Dame Judi, in the Raj Much Ado About Nothing for John Barton in 1976.

“Antony Sher spoke to him on the phone just a fortnight ago about the great role Sir Donald never played: Falstaff.  Certainly his spirit, larger than life, bursting with vivacity and wit, and endlessly entertaining was Falstaffian in scale.

“One thing of which you can be certain, is that all over the country this morning, people are regaling each other with one or other hilarious Donald Sinden anecdote, and that, alongside his great talent, is his wonderful gift to us all.”

Professor Stanley Wells, CBE, honorary president of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said: “Donald Sinden was both a great actor and a wonderfully warm and generous-hearted human being.

“A good friend of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, he took part in 1969 in the celebrations for the 200^th anniversary of the Garrick Jubilee. In later years he served several times as president of the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations, most recently in 2009, always with warmth, wit, and eloquence, whether in the formal circumstances of the luncheon or in the procession through the streets.

“Splendid in topper and tails, overflowing with good humour, he gave himself up to the occasion with abundant generosity of spirit. He took pride in having been awarded the Pragnell Prize, having his silver plaque made into a medallion that dangled round his neck above the rainbow-striped cummerbund that he caused to be made in the colours of the Garrick Jubilee.

“Always ready with a quip or an anecdote, he revelled in the attentions of the crowd that watched the procession, giving as good as he got in jests and compliments.

“His kindliness of nature showed through too when he presented prize to the young winners of the trust’s Great Shakespeare Debate in 2007. The greatest Falstaff who never played the role, he had all that character’s capacity both to enjoy life himself and to convey his enjoyment of it to everyone he encountered.”

For a full obituary and special tribute see next Thursday’s Herald.

He won the 1988 and 1990 Le Mans 24 endurance race, thus helping to break the Porsche monopoly of the event. Mr Davies moved to Stratford from Caersws, Powys with his family in the early 1960s.

His first job was inspired by a passion for cars and he became an apprentice with F Guyver & Sons Ltd or Guyvers of Rother Street, Stratford, where he worked his way up the career ladder and was then offered the position of workshop foreman at Marsh Service Station in Moreton-in-Marsh.

His next career move was to take him ever closer to the fast-paced and glamourous world of motor racing, when he joined GTI Engineering in Coventry.

By the mid-1970s Gary Davies joined the Formula 1 race circuit as number one race mechanic with Theodore Racing where he gained a wealth of experience and enjoyed success at one of the highest levels of motor sport.

From here he went on to join a young team at TWR where he would build and oversee the new Jaguar XJS European Touring Car and went on to win the 1984 Drivers’ Championship and in the same year the prestigious Spa 24-hour race.

The success of the touring car programme saw Jaguar invest and enter a number of cars in the World Sports Prototype Championship where Gary Davies built, tested and prepared cars before they hit the race track.

As number one race mechanic Gary and his team went on to enjoy more championship victories in 1987, ’88 and ’91, ultimately winning two Le Mans titles in 1988 and 1990.

The success of his racing career over the years earned Gary Davies immense respect in the motor racing industry, not only for his influence and mechanical skills, but also for friendships he formed along the way.

He was also featured on the front page of Autosport magazine at the height of his career.

Mr Davies’ funeral was held at Oakley Wood Crematorium on Monday followed by a celebration of his life at the Bear public house in Swan’s Nest Lane, Stratford.

The Le Mans-winning 1988 Jaguar XJR9 displayed at Mr Davies’ funeral and, left: Gary Davies pictured after another motor racing victory at
Silverstone.

In tribute to his memory, former colleagues at Jaguar Motor Racing put on display the Le Mans-winning 1988 Silk Cut Jaguar XJR9 in front of the Bear pub in a rare public outing for the racing car.

This week, his son, Carl Davies, told the Herald: “My father was a well-known and lovely character around Stratford and will be missed by his family; his mother Margaret Davies; his sister Gill Davies; his partner Carole Worley; myself, and all his friends.

“He was a huge inspiration to me, not only with the things he achieved over the years but as my dad and best friend.”

Although he did not wish to have a memorial service, his life was recently celebrated by Rev Neville Beamer in front of a packed congregation at Holy Trinity Church, and last Friday, 26th September, a celebration of David’s life was held at KES involving current students and old Edwardians for an event titled In Arthur’s Bosom.

Mr Biddle first came to KES as an 11-year-old school boy in 1949 and returned to teach at the school in 1991 following his time as head of English at Henley High School.

At KES David taught personal, social, health and economic education and was responsible for Year 7 transition, which saw him visit all new Year 7 students in their primary schools before they started their new school lives at KES.

David Biddle during his time as a KES pupil.

Over 100 people attended the special event at KES on Friday which used biographical accounts, photographs and video clips to chronicle David Biddle’s life and work, and featured some of the words and music in which he delighted.

Contributors included former school friends and colleagues, former students as well as Mr Biddle’s friend Professor Stanley Wells CBE with whom he shared a passion for the acting of Laurence Olivier.

The title of the celebration refers to Act Two, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Henry V, a play produced by KES in 2013, and in which David Biddle played the Chorus.

When Bardolph wonders whether their beloved Falstaff has ended up in heaven or hell, Mistress Quickly makes her opinion abundantly clear: “Nay, he’s in Arthur’s bosom if ever a man went to Arthur’s bosom.”

Perry Mills, KES deputy headmaster, who co-ordinated the event, said: “This show allowed us to join together in laughter, respect and in love whilst, at the same time enjoying anecdotes and memories, and some of the things that David himself enjoyed.”

At the recent celebration of Mr Biddle’s life at Holy Trinity, Rev Beamer said David Biddle was a man whose formative years were influenced by the church at Sunday School from the age of four.

He loved his schooldays at Broad Street and KES and referred to his teachers as “remarkable people” and they undoubtedly influenced his choice of career in later life.

And finally, David Biddle loved the stage. He was enthralled with school plays and pantomimes and turned in an excellent performance as Fagin at The Loft Theatre.

Bennet Carr, KES headmaster, said: “Our celebration at KES captured David’s infectious enthusiasm, his compassion for others and his intense loyalty to the school.

“It served as a reminder that we were all privileged to know him and that the town and school has lost one of its very best.”

A major concern for him was Stratford’s traffic problems and the need to create a ring road.

Born and raised in Stratford, Anthony Brooker attended the Croft Preparatory School and King Edward VI School.

He was awarded a scholarship to Harper Adams Agricultural College in Shropshire after leaving school and later went into business as A R D Brooker, Agricultural Engineer, erecting steel frame buildings for farmers and businesses.

It was in 1970 that he first visited Antigua to erect a building for Jack Henderson, the man who later became his father-in-law.

This was the beginning of two love affairs that continued to his death. One was with the island of Antigua and the other with his wife of 43 years, Sarah.

On returning from Antigua he was introduced to Sarah in December 1970 and proposed to her 11 days later.

They were married in July 1971. In recent years he started to step back from active involvement in the business and passed the mantle to his daughter, Charlie (Charlotte), who is now managing director of Brooker Properties.

After the millennium he took over from Jeremy Pragnell as chairman of Stratford Town Management Partnership — which was succeeded as the local business organisation by Stratforward BID — and held the post until ill health forced him to retire in 2008.

His funeral was a private family occasion.

Mr Brooker leaves a wife Sarah, a daughter Charlie and a son Jonathan.

Daughter Charlie told the Herald: “During his tenure as chairman he successfully raised the profile of the TMP.

“The many Brooker Buildings sited across farms all over the country stand as a great memory of Tony, as do the many hundreds of trees he personally planted.”

As well as their acting work, they took part in poetry readings at the Shakespeare Centre and Mr Pasco himself was president of the Stratford Society from 1992 to 2003.

He was also an Honorary Fellow and Life Trustee of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

The current artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Gregory Doran, and two of his predecessors, Adrian Noble and Terry Hands, paid tribute.

Mr Doran told the Herald: “His contribution to the RSC was immense, his Shakespeare performances definitive.”

And Mr Hands said: “Richard was a great actor and gave his all to the RSC for many, many years. Whether in Shakespeare as Richard II and Bolingbroke, or as a definitive Becket in Murder in the Cathedral, or even in Panto, his charisma and commitment always shone through. His was a golden voice and a golden personality.”

Mr Noble said: “If I was asked to define a great comic performance, I would propose Dickie’s creation of Schastlivstev in Ostrovasky’s The Forest, which we performed in The Other Place, then the Warehouse and then in the Aldwych as the last RSC before we moved to the Barbican.”

He added: “Early in rehearsals, Dickie had no idea how to play the part until he saw Bob Crowley’s costume design. He then set to work building layer upon layer of begrudging, curmudgeonly detail, relishing such lines as ‘I’ll trample down the dahlias’ as perfect revenge.”

Mr Doran said: “In 1973, when I was lucky enough to see him first he played Jaques in Buzz Goodbody’s As You Like It, and famously alternated the roles of Richard II and Bolingbroke with Ian Richardson. In The Other Place in 1981, Richard rediscovered and redefined the role of Timon of Athens in Ron Daniels’ production.”

Patricia McFarland, who was chairman of the Stratford Society during the period when Mr Pasco was president, told the Herald: “He was reluctant to accept the suggestion he should be president because he didn’t think he was equipped as a public speaker. He was unassuming and modest and a passionate conservationist who was worried about the way Stratford was going. He didn’t think of himself as a public person, but as an actor, but he did think deeply about things, and so was glad to be part of the society.”

Professor Stanley Wells, honorary president of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, wrote in the trust’s newsletter that Mr Pasco was one of the finest classical actors of his, or indeed of any other, generation.

“Blessed with a handsome presence, he was remarkable also for the beauty and range of his voice, the depth of understanding that he brought to the speaking of Shakespeare’s language, and the fresh but truthful characterisation of the roles he played.”

Mr Pasco, who was born in Barnes in south west London, studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama, where he won the gold medal, and in his early career spent three years with the Birmingham Repertory Company.

He leaves a widow, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, and a son from a previous marriage.

Mr White, who passed away on Boxing Day, was a member of Stratford-on-Avon District Council for eight years — from 2002 to 2010.

Cllr Richard Cheney (Lib Dem, Shipston), the leader of the main opposition on Stratford District Council, told the Herald he heard the news of Mr White’s death with great sadness.

“Bob was a good friend, supporter and colleague,” said Cllr Cheney.

He added: “Bob had also served many years in the ambulance service and then on Shipston Town Council. He was a strong family man who also served his community with dedication.

“Following his retirement from the district council in 2010 and the death of Pauline his wife, Bob was quite poorly and has spent the last years in a nursing home. He is missed by all of us.”

Trevor Russel, a former Conservative Stratford district councillor for Shipston, told the Herald: Although Bob and I were on opposite sides politically — indeed we fought each other at two elections — we always worked well together and supported each other on matters affecting Shipston. He always put Shipston’s interests before his party’s interests. He was very much a servant of Shipston.”

Mr White was born and bred in Shipston. He was called up for National Service in 1951 and served with distinction in the Royal Army Pay Corps, attaining the rank of sergeant.

Attached to the Royal Artillery and REME units, he served in Korea, Malta and Cyprus, and took part in the Suez operation in 1956.

He eventually left the army in 1957. He was always on parade on Remembrance Sunday until recently and was a staunch supporter of the Shipston branch of the Royal British Legion. His funeral took place on Thursday, 15th January, at 2pm, at St Edmund’s Church in Shipston.

Dr Williams, who turned 80 in October, passed away peacefully at home in Cherington on Saturday, 18th January, after a long illness. He had previously spent time in Warwick Hospital.

“I was determined to get him home and he was here for three days before he died on Saturday,” Mrs Williams added.

Dr Williams was very well-known around the Shipston area, having arrived in 1964 to work as a GP at the town’s medical centre.

He became a senior partner, and during his time there he oversaw its complete rebuild in the 1960s and the extention in the 1990s.

He retired 12 years ago after working for an extra few years on a part-time basis. Dr Williams trained at Guy’s Hospital in London where he won a distinction for orthopedics surgery and spent a short time as a GP in Market Drayton, Shropshire, before moving to Shipston.

As well as his work as a GP, Dr Williams was an orthopedics assistant at Warwick Hospital and was involved in local medical politics as a long-standing member of the Local Medical Committee.

Dr Chris Thorogood, also a retired Shipston GP, who worked with Dr Williams, said of him: “He was a traditional GP, always well turned out with a suit, shirt and tie, and cufflinks. He was well-liked and a very loyal partner in the practice.”

Outside of his work, Dr Williams was a rugby fan, turning out in first-class games for Guy’s, and playing in the back row for Shipston Rugby Club, later becoming the club’s life president.

He was a keen gardener, whose garden was once featured on television, and a member of Newbold Flower Club. His other interest was mountain walking and among his many treks as a doctor on guided walks, he walked to base camp of Mount Everest.

He even met his second wife, Sue, while on an expedition in Kathmandu, Nepal. The couple climbed Kilimanjaro on their honeymoon.

Mrs Williams talked of a competitive man who was well-known and respected in the rural community, saying: “He was their GP and a real country man. He spent many hours talking to his patients on rural matters and many more talking rugby too.”

Shipston Rugby Club chairman Alasdair Elliott described him as an “all-round good bloke”, adding: “Many will remember his president’s speeches at the club dinners.

“His supply of jokes delivered in his own special manner was a joy for all of us to listen to. I have no doubt that many will be reminiscing their times with him, he will be sadly missed.”

Dr Williams has a son, George, with his second wife and two children, Katherine and Rebecca, with his first wife Brenda. He also has two grandchildren, Rachel and David.

His funeral will take place at St George’s Church, Brailes, on 5th February at 2pm. Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to Shipston Home Nursing or the Himalayan Trust at the service or to R Locke & Son, Caution Corner, Brailes.

Mr Badcock was born in Kent and, after school in Harrow, started to work in the family business building barges in what was then the Port of London.

In 1961 he married Jane, setting up home first in London and then Kent. In 1972, life and work brought him, his wife and their three children to Welford where they went on to farm for over 30 years.

In 1977, he became a local Scout leader, then Group Scout Leader and finally Stratford District Commissioner, a position he held for many years. He rang the Bells in St Peter’s Church, Welford, and more recently was one of the volunteer team staffing Bidford library.

As a teenager, Mr Badcock had spent many happy hours with his brother ‘messing about with boats’ on the River Thames, and followed his father into rowing at Thames Rowing Club in Putney, London.

He had a long and successful career with the club, rowing in the Thames Eight in the Grand at Henley Royal Regatta for seven years, and sometimes doubling up in the Stewards’ Cup. In 1958 his crew won a bronze for England at the Commonwealth Games in Wales.

He remained active in the world of rowing, becoming an international selector in the 1960s, captain of Thames and later vice president.

His involvement with Stratford Boat Club started in 1980, first coaching his daughter and her school friends, and from there countless more junior and adult members.

His women’s coxed four of 2008/09 won both at Henley and at the National Championships. He is fondly remembered by the crew as dedicated, passionate and deeply committed to every aspect of the training. His love for the sport was infectious, and the time spent with this crew led to some very great rowing and life-long friendships with him and his wife Jane.

Mr Badcock hadn’t completely retired from competitive rowing, and took it up again, spending many happy hours on the Avon with his fellow veterans.

In 2010, he was awarded the British Rowing Volunteer of the Year Award, immediately nominating another Stratford volunteer for the same award the following year, a gesture typical of his selflessness, and in the London 2012 Olympics was a Games Maker at the rowing centre at Dorney Lake.

A spokesman for Stratford Boat Club said: “Felix is remembered by as a gentle ‘father’ of the club. He was much loved and respected, and his tact and diplomacy meant he was always able to see both sides of any discussion.

His wisdom, knowledge and experience were called upon on numerous occasions.”

He leaves his wife Jane, children Dan, Tom and Louisa, and grandchildren Frances, Felix, Ben, Phoebe, Robert, Helen and Duncan.

A Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St Peter’s Church, Welford, at 2pm on Friday, 30th January. His family said they would welcome donations to The Shakespeare Hospice rather than flowers.

Dr Lockie, who lived in Alveston, was born and raised on the West Coast of Scotland, and served in the army as a junior officer before attending Edinburgh University in 1959 to study medicine.

After qualifying as a doctor, he served as a medical officer in the RAF for five years, and was stationed at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

He arrived in Stratford in 1972 and took up a position as a GP at the Rother House Practice, and stayed there for 27 years, before retiring in 1998.

During that time he was actively involved in the move of the surgery from Rother Street, to the new purpose-built site on the grounds of the old hospital, which became known as Rother House Surgery, in 1977.

He was a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians in Edinburgh and Glasgow and practised and taught medicine all over the world, due to his particular interest in travel medicine.

Dr Lockie was also one of the originators of the British Travel Health Association, of which he also became chairman. He co-authored books on the subject of travel medicine, and founded the first distance diploma in the subject in conjunction with Glasgow University.

He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine, and an examiner and Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners in London. When he retired in 1998, he was offered a visiting professorship of Family Medicine attached to Muscat University in Oman, and was awarded an MBE for his services to medicine in 1999.

Dr Lockie regularly played at Stratford Golf Club. He also enjoyed sailing on the south coast, with regular trips across the Channel to the Channel Islands and France.

He was also a member of Stratford Rotary. Dr Lockie is survived by Rosemary, his children, Andrew, Shona and Angus, and four grandchildren, James, Alasdair, Nicholas and Annabel.

His son, Andrew, said of his father: “He was an absolute inspiration to us as children. He never stopped pursuing his goals, and his amazing passion for life, adventure and travel.

“He was an incredibly kind man, who cared immensely about his patients, his work and family. In his later years, he was particularly proud to be a grandfather to four wonderful grandchildren. He will be desperately missed by all the family.”

His funeral will take place at St James’ Church, Alveston, on 12th February, at 2.30pm.

Peter was born in Moseley, Birmingham, and started school at King Edward’s School, Edgbaston, in 1939 before being evacuated with his parents to Tewkesbury for the rest of the war.

During this period in his life he joined the Sea Cadets and developed a lifelong interest in waterways and boating.

After National Service in the Royal Engineers and Royal Army Education Corps, Peter went up to Jesus College, Oxford, to read geography.

There he had a successful rowing career, representing his college at the Henley Royal Regatta.

In the last holiday after his finals, he converted a narrowboat into a houseboat, where he and his wife Wendy lived after their marriage in 1951 while he took a Diploma in Education, also at Oxford.

After completing his studies, he began his teaching career that took him to Suffolk, Lancashire and Somerset.

He was awarded a schoolmaster fellowship at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and used this time to complete a book, Fieldwork in Geography.

Peter’s many hobbies and interests included furniture-making, gardening, travel and pursuing further studies in religious education.

He served as a churchwarden at Holy Trinity Church and was a qualified lay reader.

He served on the committees of the Secondary Heads’ Association (West Midlands) and the Upper Avon Navigation Trust. In the years leading up to 2010, Peter’s health deteriorated until it was no longer possible for him to be cared for at his home — Bridgetown House, Stratford — and he moved to Quinton House Nursing Home where he was kindly looked after during his remaining days.

He and Wendy celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary in 2011.

He is survived by her, their daughter and two sons, and seven grandchildren.

Daughter, Virginia Warren, said: “Being a teacher’s child can be great fun. Peter was a natural communicator of knowledge and skills”

Despite her advancing years, Mrs Gilchrist remained as independent as she could, living in her own home in Bull Street, Old Town, although her failing eyesight meant in recent months she had had round-the-clock care from family and Stratford-based Barnfield Care Agency.

Mrs Gilchrist is survived by daughters, Janet and Susan, grandchildren, Miranda, Kate, Sebastian and Jessica, and great-grandchildren, Amy, Zara, Christopher, Harriet, Annabelle and Niall. Her husband, Reginald, who she married in 1933, died in 1983.

A date has yet to be set for her funeral, but it will take place at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford, where she was baptised, confirmed and married. Her granddaughter, Miranda Nicholls, told the Herald: “At 52, to have a grandmother still alive was amazing, and that’s what she was. “She did so much for us all.

She was a remarkable lady and as long as everyone else was happy, she was happy. She was always smiling. “Since Christmas, with her eyesight as bad as it was, she became frail, but prior to that she was always on the go. She and her friend Mary walked into town four times a week. “She had lived in Old Town for most of her life and was well known around that area. I think we thought she’d live forever!”

Mrs Gilchrist was born on 24th January, 1909, in a cottage on the site of what is now The Limes, in Alcester Road. She was the eldest of six children and her own mother lived to 99. She spent her childhood in a cottage in Henley Street, opposite the Shakespeare Centre, and was a pupil at what is now The Willows Primary School. Her first marital home was in Cherry Street and she lived in her own flat in Bull Street right up until her death.

Mrs Gilchrist worked at The Shakespeare Hotel, Robert Garrett Auctioneers in John Street, and in her 70s was still doing the books for Ben Sheppard, who at the time owned The Dirty Duck in Waterside. She and Reg also briefly worked together at Elstree Film Studios in London. Her daughter, Susan York, said: “She was born and bred in Stratford, and remembers when there were no cars in Stratford, not many people can say that.”

One of her two daughters, Linda Goodman, told the Herald: “She was a thoroughly committed Stratfordian. She was very proud of being born there and of getting married there.”

In June last year Mrs Pogmore celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at Stratford Town Hall and was presented with her telegram from the Queen by the then Mayor of Stratford, Cllr Ian Fradgley.

After marrying her husband Jack in 1945 she lived in various places because of his job as a lieutenant-colonel in the army.

But she returned to Stratford with her family in the late 1950s when Jack became chief engineer at Land Rover in Solihull.

As a public-spirited individual she decided to stand for election to the old Stratford Borough Council as an Independent, supporting the campaign for a swimming pool in the town.

She continued to serve as an Independent for many years until she became a Conservative member of the newly-formed Stratford District Council in 1974.

Mrs Goodman said: “My mother was a tremendous local character and very, very well-known within the town. She had a tremendous social life. She’d never been in an aeroplane until she was 40, but travelled extensively in later life.”

Mrs Pogmore will be remembered for many reasons, but for two in particular.

“She was responsible for the discreet McDonald’s sign and for ensuring that the original frontage of the Marks & Spencer building was retained,” said Mrs Goodman.

Mrs Pogmore leaves her daughters Linda and Elizabeth and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

There will be a private family committal in Taunton on 6th August and a memorial service at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford at 2pm on 15th September.

The pair married in 1944 and had two children Barry and Heather.

Peggy played an active role in village life and eventually became a parish councillor.

The couple later moved to Snitterfield and with Hedley’s support Peggy sat on Wootton Wawen and Snitterfield parish councils, became a district councillor and Chair and Vice Chair of Stratford District Council.

Peggy, who became a grandmother in her later life, also served as governor at Arden House School in Henley.

Heather said: “Peggy was extremely community minded, she always opened her door to people who needed help, she just touched so many people’s lives in so many different ways.”

A memorial service to celebrate Peggy’s life will take place at Snitterfield Methodist Chapel on 29^th August at 11am.

Family flowers only but donations in memory of Peggy would be gratefully received by AE Bennett & Sons on behalf of Snitterfield Chapel and Cedar Lawn Methodist Care Home.