A COMMUNITY stalwart whose contribution to village life continues to have “a deep and lasting impact” has died aged 65 after battling Parkinson’s disease.

Hew Sandilands, from Marsh Baldon, played a key role in the running of St Peter’s Church, the village hall and the Baldon Players.

He was also involved in fellowship groups, bible study, musical and social events, and villagers often saw him picking up litter from the streets and planting trees in the community.

A church warden for more than 10 years, he was also church treasurer and a trustee of the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust.

Mr Sandilands was born in Bournemouth on January 31, 1944, and educated at Winchester College.

He also studied in Geneva and became fluent in French before becoming a VSO officer, teaching in Africa.

He trained as an accountant, qualifying in 1968 – the same year he married his wife Veronica – and began working in the shipping industry. He later became a management consultant in the Middle East and Africa.

In 1979 he joined the finance team at the Harwell Atomic Energy Research Establishment and later moved to the Culham base, becoming chief finance officer.

After five years, he returned to consultancy work, starting his own practice providing financial management services to a wide range of businesses.

Heworked in this field until he was forced to retire in 2001 due to ill health.

A friend of 30 years, Graham Hobbins, 63, from Toot Baldon, said: “Hew passionately believed in and contributed in so many ways to the organised life of this community.

“His way was doing an infinite number of almost undetectable deeds and actions, which together made a deep and lasting impact.

“Hew’s life in the Baldons has left an indelible imprint on all of us and our lives have been enriched by his friendship and his example.”

Mr Sandilands leaves his wife Veronica, daughter Natasha and two grandsons.

His funeral was held at St Peter’s Church in Marsh Baldon on October 9.