John Marsden

Allen "John" Marsden

John died peacefully on 4th July at the Richmond Village care-home, Nantwich where had been a resident for over four years. Cause of death was shown as "old age"- which his family feel is entirely appropriate, not least as John died a few months short of his 98th birthday.

As a professional engineer specialising in heavy chemicals, John's work took the Marsden family to south Cheshire in 1965 when British Salt opened a new plant at Middlewich. A spot of house-hunting showed Audlem to be the perfect place to live- and there were Marsdens at 74 Heathfield Road for the best part of the next fifty years. John took village life seriously: he was a founder-member of the then Audlem Village Amenities Association and later, in 1995, he was a founder-member and later President of the Audlem and District Probus Club. John was also active for many years at St. James parish church, including time serving as Churchwarden.

John was married to his beloved Pat for over sixty years. After she died in 2014, John's health obliged a move to the care of Richmond Village, Nantwich. Here, he settled in, was looked after well and he made the best of these circumstances. Lunches-out in pubs in the countryside around Nantwich with one or other of his three sons were a regular part of life- and only ceased when age began to catch up in June this year.

John is survived by his sons Allen, Julian and Adrian. His funeral takes place at 11h30 on Tuesday 23rd of July at St. James the Great parish church, Audlem. There will be a private cremation after the Committal, and the reception takes place at the "Lord Combermere" after the church service. Donations in lieu of flowers are invited and will be shared equally between St. James Audlem PCC and the Christie Charitable Fund.