LIFELONG supporter of Marlborough Town FC and long term club treasurer Andrew Cripps has died at the age of 51.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October 2006 and underwent surgery and radiotherapy, losing his sight as a result.
He bravely bore his illness and spent the last few months of his life back home in Marlborough with his parents.
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Mr Cripps played for Marlborough Town when he was younger but retained his interest as a committee member, serving as vice chairman and treasurer.
He was hugely fond of walking and took part in the Nijmegan Marches in Holland ten times in which walkers had to cover 30 miles a day for four days.
He also took part in the Sarsen Trail nearer home, walking the 26 miles from Avebury to Stonehenge on about ten occasions.
He loved walking in Switzerland in particular and had just returned from a visit when his illness was diagnosed.
Mr Cripps was a keen photographer and was passionate about wines. He attended several courses on wine appreciation and loved to drive to France to select wines for his own not inconsiderable cellar.
He was fond of gardening and, after buying his own home in Swindon, proudly announced to his parents that he had become the tenant of an allotment at Marsh Farm.
Mr Cripps was one of the organisers of a centenary exhibition at Marlborough Town Football Club.
He was born in Malta where his father was serving with the Royal Navy. When he was about 18 months old, the family moved to Portsmouth for two or three years before moving to Marlborough.
He went to St Mary's, St Peter's and the former Marlborough Secondary Modern School, taking his A-levels at Swindon College.
Mr Cripps, who never married, doted on his niece Ella, aged ten.
He loved music of all kinds and was a close friend of the singer songwriter Nick Harper who at the cremation service last Friday sang a musical tribute he had written when his own mother, Monica Weston, died from cancer a few years ago.
In lieu of flowers, his family have asked for donations to the Macmillan Nurses Fund c/o funeral director Dianne Mackinder, Wagon Yard, London Road, Marlborough.
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