Obituary – Sarah Hicks: Community Pays Tribute to Sarah, co-founder of Love Marlborough Kids Meals

The Marlborough community is paying tribute to Sarah Hicks, a much-loved volunteer, friend and co-founder of Love Marlborough Kids Meals, whose compassion and dedication helped create a charity that continues to support hundreds of local people every week.

Sarah, who worked for many years as a school dinner lady, brought a wealth of practical experience and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by families struggling to put food on the table. Her knowledge, warmth and determination became instrumental in shaping Love Marlborough Kids Meals from its earliest days.

When the charity was founded, Sarah was there from the very beginning. In the midst of unprecedented need, she worked tirelessly alongside fellow volunteers, cooking chickens in shifts across two church kitchens to prepare freshly cooked meals for local families. There were no shortcuts, no expectations of recognition—just a shared determination to ensure that no one in Marlborough went hungry.

What started as an emergency community response has grown into a charity that now provides meals for more than 200 people every week. Those who know the organisation recognise that Sarah’s kindness, practical wisdom and unwavering commitment helped lay the foundations for everything it has become.

Kym-Marie Cleasby, Founder of Love Marlborough Kids Meals, said Sarah’s influence extended far beyond the kitchen.

“Sarah had one of the kindest hearts of anyone I’ve ever known. She never looked for praise or recognition—she simply saw people who needed help and quietly got on with making a difference.

⁠”Her years as a school dinner lady meant she instinctively understood how important a hot meal is to a child and their family. She brought not only her experience but also her compassion, common sense and endless energy to Love Marlborough Kids Meals from the very first day.

⁠”We spent countless hours together in church kitchens, cooking chickens in shifts and preparing meals for families who were facing incredibly difficult times. Those were long days, but Sarah never complained. She simply kept going because she believed everyone deserved kindness and dignity.

⁠”On a personal level, Sarah was one of my greatest supporters and one of my closest friends. She encouraged me when I doubted myself, celebrated every success, and gently reminded me what really mattered whenever things became overwhelming. She taught me so many lessons about humility, generosity and serving others with love.

⁠”The charity we see today is, in so many ways, shaped by Sarah. Every week we continue to feed more than 200 people, and every one of those meals carries a little of Sarah’s legacy with it. Her compassion lives on in the work she helped create.“

Sarah was known for her warmth, humility and willingness to help anyone in need. Whether serving school meals, supporting local families or volunteering behind the scenes, she embodied the belief that small acts of kindness can transform lives.

Her passing leaves a profound sense of loss for everyone connected with Love Marlborough Kids Meals and for the many people across Marlborough whose lives she touched through her quiet acts of service.

The trustees, volunteers and supporters of Love Marlborough Kids Meals extend their deepest sympathies to Sarah’s family and loved ones.

While Sarah will be greatly missed, her legacy will continue every single week through the meals served, the volunteers she inspired and the community she helped build.

In remembering Sarah, those who worked alongside her hope people will not only mourn her passing but celebrate a life devoted to caring for others. Her example reminds us that the greatest legacy we can leave is not measured in titles or achievements, but in the lives we touch with kindness, generosity and love.