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Sir John Page, 1919-2008

Sir John Page was a founder member of the the Hitcham and Taplow Preservation Society in 1959 and an active Vice-President until 1974.

Sir John Page Each newspaper obituary paid tribute to the long list of achievements and the significant high influence of Sir John Page on the national stage. Here in Taplow we remember the huge contribution of Jack Page to life in our village community.

Jack was one of the founder subcribers to the Taplow and Hitcham Recreation Association in 1956. The Association was formed to rescue the gravel pit on Boundary Road and so secure permanent Taplow headquarters for Boy Scouts and Girl Guides and a club house and playing fields for rugby, soccer and cricket teams from local schools and social clubs.

After distinguished military service in World War 2, Jack became an active member of the Royal British Legion. At the millennium, he became the President of Hitcham and Taplow branch, leading the November 11 Ceremony of Remembrance at the St Nicolas Church War Memorial. In his last words to his Legion companions he said that bringing to a new generation the awareness of the magnitude of the sacrifices made to preserve our freedoms within democracy was his most worthwhile endeavour. Each year Jack and his wife Anne opened their Hitcham Lodge home to give a generous thank-you evening to the Poppy Day sales volunteers.

Ever alert to an opportunity to compose a telling limerick or a topical poem to entertain his fellow guests, Jack was a joyful presence at all village gatherings - our annual Village Green Party was his particular favourite. Taplow people will long cherish the memory of the great fun his rich humour and ready wit brought to every occasion.

Sixty residents travelled in two coaches to join the 500 family, friends, dignitaries and members of the Houses of Lords and Commons at the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Jack Page at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, on March 4. The Service was conducted by the Rector of St Margaret’s Church and Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Reverend Robert Wright, and moving tributes were made by friend and neighbour, Terry Wogan, and long-time House of Commons colleague, John Gummer.

Karl Lawrence