John Roberts

Mr Roberts was born at Rabley in Mildenhall on April 4, 1921 into a family of six boys and two girls.

He lived within the parish until he went into residential care in 2013, first to Salisbury Dementia Care Unit and then to Miranda Nursing Home.

When he left school he went to work at Poulton Farm and was promoted to farm manager in 1952 for Herbert Hill, a businessman from London who had purchased the farm as a weekend retreat.

He stayed as manager until Mr Hill’s death when the farm was sold. He then retired but continued to help the new owner.

During the war he held a reserved occupation as a farmer but was also a dispatch rider for the Home Guard and supervised and managed Italian prisoners of war who were interred on the farm.

He met his wife Kath (nee Watts), a member of the Womens’ Land Army, in 1945 at a dance in the village hall, Mildenhall and they were married on July 30, 1949.

They celebrated 65 years of happy marriage in July 2013. Mrs Roberts now lives in York Place, Marlborough.

The couple had two children, Michael, born in 1950 and Lynda who was born two years later.

Lynda married Keith Hobbs and the couple have a daughter, Zoe.

Mr Roberts was a Swindon Town supporter and was also a keen piano and keyboard player, playing by ear rather than sheet music.

He enjoyed gardening with his wife and he was very proud of his flower garden.

The couple also enjoyed family parties and spent many holidays by the coast and in later years on coach tours of England and Scotland.

Mr Roberts was very interested in politics and would enjoy spending time in political debates.

His funeral took place on Thursday, September 25 at St John the Baptist Church, Mildenhall followed by committal at Kingsdown Crematorium, Swindon.

His request was for his ashes to be interred at Marlborough Cemetery which looks across the farm where he spent all his life.

Donations can be sent to Miranda Nursing Home, c/o Dianne Mackinder funeral directors, Wagon Yard, Marlborough.