Whitchurch Obituaries
Roy Rosekilly 1935 - 2025
Roy Rosekilly died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital on 23rd November, aged 90
years. He was the dearly loved husband of Sylvia who died this time last
year and whose obituary is below.
Roy and Sylvia, whose home was in
Swanston Field, were active with the Pangbourne & District Bowls Club and
Roy participated in line dancing.
Jane Yamamoto 1967 - 2025
Jane Yamamoto passed away on the 5th August, 2025, at the age of 58. Jane
was well-known and loved in the Whitchurch community for her
public-spirited, kind and helpful nature.
Born on 5th April, 1967 in
Toronto, Jane was of Japanese descent. As an adult she lived in France,
Germany, Sweden, speaking all those languages, but her last twenty-five
years were spent in England. She was proud of having worked all her life –
she said from the age of 9 – apart from five years while she raised her
boys. She had several careers: investment banker, professional chef; in
Sweden she worked for the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme. She
moved to Whitchurch in 2002 with her then husband, Mads Kunov. Here in
Whitchurch she was administrator for Oxford Renewables Ltd for twelve years,
based on the Hardwick Estate, and latterly she was office manager for T A
Fisher, a building company in Theale. But cooking was always her great love.
Jane is well-remembered in the community for her role as Parish Clerk. “She
was very hard-working and conscientious as our Clerk for 5 years, taking
special care and discretion with issues raised to her by members of the
public,” says Chair, Jim Donahue.
Jane is survived by her two sons,
Matthew and Michael, and her husband, James Norman, who had the following
words to say: “I have been Jane’s partner since 2010, and we had planned to
marry this September, but she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in April.
We were married at her home five days before she died. She loved tennis, and
played about 8 sessions a week. She loved animals, especially her beloved
dog Mabel, children, and people, and was the most loving person I have ever
known, as well as the most loveable. She loved all my children and wider
family as if they were her own.”
Jackie Kingsley 1936 - 2025
Jackie Kingsley died peacefully at home on 27th April, 2025, at the age of 89. Born in St Albans, she read law at Girton College, Cambridge, moving to Whitchurch in 1969 to teach Latin at the Oratory Prep. Alongside teaching and raising 4 young children, she became a tennis coach and won mixed doubles at Pangbourne Tennis Club. From 1979-1996 she was headteacher at Abbots Hill School, Hertfordshire. During retirement, Jackie joined the trustees of Whitchurch United Charities, later serving as Chair for 6 years. She was a valued member of the church community. Sadly, following operations in 2008, she began suffering chronic pain, Latterly, Jackie attended a weekly book club, whose members enjoyed her sharp insights, prodigious memory and sense of humour.
Dalby Edward Landen 1932 - 2025
The funeral of Dalby Landen, who died on 5th April 2025 at the age of 92, was held at St John’s Church, Whitchurch Hill, on Thursday 1st May. Dalby and his wife Lesley arrived in Whitchurch almost 60 years ago. There are three children, two girls and a boy, and several grandchildren. The family enjoyed a holiday home on the south coast of Wales. He had a twin brother, the actor Dinsdale Landen, who died in 2003. Dalby was a solicitor by profession, becoming Senior Partner at Blandy & Blandy in Reading (hence his taste for Madeira, made by that family). He was also a County Court judge. He was a pillar of the village church and will be much missed.
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We sadly report that Sylvia Rosekilly died peacefully on 25th November,
at home in Whitchurch, aged 90 years.
Sylvia was lovingly cared for at home
by a dedicated team of helpers. Although suffering a prolonged illness, Sylvia
was brave and accepting. Sylvia loved her garden and flowers. Sylvia had many
friends, particularly at Reading Gardeners and with husband Roy was an
enthusiastic bowls player in Pangbourne.
Dianne Brooks 1968 - 2024
It is with great sadness that we have to say goodbye to Dianne Brooks who
passed away peacefully on Tuesday 12th November at the age of 66, after a long
battle with cancer. She was a wonderful person who showed much compassion and
love for everyone she came in contact with and left them with a true sense of
their importance in the grand scheme of things.
She arrived in Whitchurch in
2001. She and Keith lived in Hardwick Road.
For many years she taught at the
Chiltern Edge School, Sonning Common, where she helped children to grasp the
rudiments of mathematics. She then went on to work with the Central Berkshire
Education Business Partnership in Reading, assisting children who were finding
it difficult to fit in at school. Following this she became the Parish Clerk for
Benson Parish Council and more recently was volunteering at Whitchurch Primary
School, helping the children there.
Peter Smith 1944 - 2024
We have to report the sad news that Peter Smith, who lived in Eastfield Lane with his wife Diana, has died on 15th April 2024 at the age of 80, after a period of illness. He was born and educated in Oxford, reading History at the University. He then taught at Rugby School before being appointed Headmaster of Bradfield College in 1985. He retired to Whitchurch in 2003. He was involved in village life as Chair of the Whitchurch Society for 14 years and was a familiar figure at the annual Art and Craft Exhibition, presenting awards to winners. He was also a governor of the Primary School for a number of years.
Doreen Godley 1936 - 2024
The sad death of Doreen Godley on 2nd January occurred when her car collided with a fallen tree at 5.30 pm near Crays Pond, in the aftermath of Storm Henk. She was 87 and well known to many in Whitchurch and Whitchurch Hill. She and her husband Brian, who died in 2010, lived for many years in Rivacres, Whitchurch Hill, before moving to Goring.