Earlier today, at St Mary’s Church in Marlborough, a Service of Thanksgiving was held for Sir John Sykes, who passed away almost two years ago on 15 October 2020.
St Mary’s was packed. Every seat was taken with friends, family, colleagues, and anyone whose life Sir John had touched filling every space in St Mary’s large auditorium.
Today’s service was conducted by the Revd. Canon Andrew Studdert-Kennedy, returning to St Mary’s after four years.
“Dad, John, Sir John, Grandpa was a true English eccentric” said son Charlie, when opening his tribute to his late father. Sir John had achieved much during his time in Wiltshire, and in his own style.
Sir John was many things to Marlborough and Wiltshire: A long-time partner in a major firm of Swindon solicitors, but more notably for Marlborough one of the four founder members of The Merchant’s House Trust, the organisation that saved and secured the future of one of Marlborough’s iconic historical landmarks.
Sir John was chairman of that Trust, playing a vital role in ensuring that we, and every visitor to Marlborough can experience a real slice of the town’s history at first hand.
Prior to The Merchant’s House Trust, Sir John was a founder member of the Swindon Community Foundation, an organisation that achieved so much success that it was used as a prototype by the Home Office to encourage other Community Foundations to set up across the UK.
Later it evolved into the Wiltshire Community Foundation which plays a vital role in tackling disadvantage and strengthening local communities by inspiring philanthropy and supporting the voluntary sector. As with The Merchant’s House, Sir John was instrumental – particularly in establishing the legal framework – in making this organisation what it is today.
Also, and very relevant to this immediate period is the Marlborough LitFest. Sir John was one of the founders of the festival which, when it happens next weekend will be thirteen years old. Jan Williamson, ex-Chair and one of the founder members of Marlborough LitFest, said: “John’s death is a great loss for LitFest. He played an important role in helping to set up the festival, and his continuing steady support on the committee has been a rock over the years. He combined his deep interest in literature with his lawyer’s mind and attention to detail. The founding meeting was held in his house, and he did all the work needed to set up LitFest as a charity. He’ll be greatly missed.”
A later Service of Thanksgiving than would normally have been the case, but Covid intervened and like so many aspects of our lives – it had to be put on hold. But today we were all able to finally meet to celebrate the life of the man who gave so much to others.
Lying in State: by Hugh de Saram
