Obituaries of 2014: We shed our tears for county's finest

11th Duke of Marlborough April 13, 1926 – Oct 16, 2014

BLENHEIM Palace’s long-time custodian, John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, passed away in October aged 88.

The son of the 10th Duke of Marlborough and the Hon Alexandra Mary Hilda Cadogan, he was cousin of war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a distant relative of Diana, Princess of Wales.

He had also been Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, president of the Thames and Chilterns Tourist Board, president of the Oxfordshire Association of Boys’ Clubs, president of Oxfordshire County Cricket Club and even president of Oxford United.

But his greatest legacy was to transform Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, into a tourism powerhouse so it would have an income large enough to remain open.

The Duke was to remark: “Although the Battle of Blenheim was won in 1704, the battle for Blenheim continues.”

A funeral took place in Woodstock, on October 24.

He is survived by four of his children.

DAUGHTER OF POET SIR JOHN BETJEMAN

Candida Lycett Green Sep 22, 1942 – Aug 19, 2014

Candida Lycett Green, who died aged 71 in August, was a journalist, conservation campaigner and daughter of great English poet Sir John Betjeman.

She edited a collection of her father’s letters to critical acclaim and also worked for a number of newspapers and magazines, following in his footsteps by focussing on the beauty of England and its many old buildings.

Candida Lycett Green

Her great love for country life sprung from a childhood in her family’s eccentric home on the Oxfordshire-Berkshire border areas of Uffington, as well as much time spent riding through expansive landscapes with her mother on horseback.

And she would often go on rides that stretched miles around the country. One 200-mile adventure from Skipton in North Yorkshire to Ingram in Northumberland raised £125,000 the Abernethy Cancer Centre in Oxford’s Churchill Hospital.

“They affirm my existence like no other way of life can,” she later said.

Ms Lycett Green is survived by her husband, three daughters and two sons.

BRAVERY UNDER FIRE CAPTURED ON CANVAS

Leslie Valentine May 14, 1918-April 22, 2014

SECOND World War bomber pilot Leslie Valentine died in April aged 95.

Taking orders from Bomber Command from 1942, he was deployed across France and Germany, disrupting German supply lines and rocket launching sites.

And during the famous D-Day Landings, the member of RAF 88 Squadron bravely flew just 50ft above the beaches to lay down protecting smoke for invading Allied soldiers, in the midst of barrage from all directions. His actions in a Douglas Boston E Easy light bomber were later immortalised in a painting by artist Michael Turner, called Friendly Smoke.

The Boston E Easy, above, painted by artist Michael Turner, who later found out Mr Valentine was flying it in the mission depicted in the painting. Below, Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron met Mr Valentine to present him with a Defence medal for services in the Second World War at 10 Downing Street

After the conflict Mr Valentine returned to life with his family and focussed on a career in physiotherapy, later sales and management. He, his wife and their children moved to their Hethe home in 1987.

He is survived by his son, his daughter and two grandsons. A funeral was held in Banbury on May 7.

THE 'QUEEN OF CRIME'

PD James Aug 30, 1920 – Nov 27, 2014

OXFORD-born “Queen of Crime” PD James, Baroness James of Holland Park, died at the end of November, aged 94.

The hugely successful mystery author created fictional Scotland Yard policeman Adam Dalgliesh, who featured in 14 of her novels.

PD James

She had decided to take up writing at 40 years old, after being partly inspired by fellow Oxford mystery writer Dorothy L Sayers.

She had never felt as though she had the time beforehand, but later reflected: “I had a full-time job and a husband to visit in hospital.

“But I faced the fact that there was never going to be a very convenient moment to write a novel.

“If I hadn’t made up my mind there and then, I would have considered my life a failure.”

Baroness James is survived by her daughters Clare and Jane, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Ann Ducker April 16, 1943 – Sep 21, 2014

IN SEPTEMBER Ann Ducker, one of Oxfordshire’s longest serving council leaders, died aged 71.

The Conservative joined South Oxfordshire District Council in 1983 and was leader in 1995 and then from 2003 to 2014.

Ann Ducker

Mrs Ducker – born Elizabeth Ann Kingston, in Durham – had originally studied to be a hairdresser before marrying Philip Ducker in 1968. They moved to Goring in South Oxfordshire after the birth of their two daughters, and Mrs Ducker became involved in the parish council. She later represented the village at district level.

By 2008 she was tipped to be the next Conservative parliamentary candidate in Henley, after Boris Johnson stood down to become Mayor of London, but county councillor John Howell was instead chosen and eventually elected.

She was praised by fellow politicians as a “strong character” and “a champion for South Oxfordshire.”

Mrs Ducker’s funeral was held on September 30 in Dorchester. She is survived by her two daughters and two grandchildren.

Philip Guy Davis, – ‘Silver Phil’ DoB unknown – Nov 12, 2014

PHILIP Guy Davis, one of the Oxford music scene’s best-known figures, died aged 78 in November.

The charismatic music-lover known as “Silver Phil” – who had a mane of silver hair and loops of silver jewellery – rescued the city’s long-running blues night The Famous Monday Blues.

It started at the Red Lion in Gloucester Green, before Mr Guy Davis took it to Jongleurs, The Bullingdon, and finally to Jericho, where it still continues after 20 years.

Philip Guy Davis

Mr Guy Davis’ colourful career saw him run clubs in Cheltenham, London and Spain, and hang out with youthful actress Bridget Bardot, founding rocker of the Rolling Stones Brian Jones and other figures of the Swinging Sixties.

He also had run-ins with the Mafia, dalliances with Playboy bunny girls, lived on the French Riviera and became acquainted with the Texas blues scene.

His funeral was held on December 2 in Cheltenham.

He is survived by two sons.

Sally Chilvers Aug 3, 1914 – July 3 2014

FORMER principal of Lady Margaret Hall and noted Oxford anthropologist Sally Chilvers died in July.

As well as overseeing the college’s transition to admitting men alongside women, she worked in the War Cabinet Office during the Second World War, helping to arrange supplies for overseas territories and neutral nations.

Sally Chilvers, during her time in South Africa

Mrs Chilvers also had a series of adventures in her youth while travelling the Middle East and Europe and helping her father, a foreign correspondent for The Times.

On one occasion they went butterfly catching with the King of Bulgaria – who she discovered was driving a railway train she was aboard in the country.

She also became friends with anthropologist Phyllis Kaberry while working at the Colonial Office and went on a number of research trips with her to Cameroon.

A memorial service for Mrs Chilvers was held at Lady Margaret Hall on November 22.

Peter Marsh Sep 15, 1946 – June 9, 2014

DR PETER Marsh, above, passed away in June, after a successful career in studying crowd behaviour and as a senior lecturer at Oxford Polytechnic – now Oxford Brookes University.

Peter Marsh

The psychologist came to Oxford to study at Ruskin College, and then University College, and began research into Oxford United football fans in 1974.

His project would see him interview more than 50 supporters and travel with them to games, and exposed hierarchies observers had previously ignored or dismissed.

Dr Marsh went on to serve as a director for four years at the club and became a well-respected voice of supporters.

He was to remark: “I know a lot of the fans. Many live near me in East Oxford. That is why I still take my place in the London Road end at games.”

A funeral for Dr Marsh took place in Oxford on June 20. He is survived by his wife, two children and two grandchildren.