In loving memory of Mike, from Tricia and Andy.
Michael John Marshall (13 Nov 1939 - 13 Jan 2025)
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Michael JohnRNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution

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Michael JohnAir Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex

Funeral Director
In loving memory of Michael John Marshall who sadly passed away on 13th January 2025
Mike was born on 13th November 1939 and, together with his older brother, Ken, he grew up in Thame in Oxfordshire. His father was an RAF Squadron Leader during the Second World War, and he continued in active service after the war, participating in the Berlin Air Lift.
After the war, the family moved to Feltham. At the age of eleven Mike obtained a place at Hampton Grammar School and so the family moved to Hampton-upon-Thames. Mike enjoyed his school days. In particular, it was while at school that Mike met Monica, who attended the nearby Lady Eleanor Holles School. They were both in their respective school choirs and also played in the same tennis club.
Monica went on to attend secretarial college in London while Mike studied for a degree in Architecture at the Kingston School of Art. Even though following different paths, Mike and Monica kept in touch. Mike borrowed his brother Ken’s Lambretta scooter and he and Monica enjoyed some memorable days out, travelling round Oxfordshire.
In 1958 Mike was articled to the architectural firm Broadway & Malyan in Weybridge, and then from 1963 to 1974 he worked for two London Practices, Geoffrey Shires and Partners, followed by Leonard Multon and Partners, after which he decided to work closer to home and joined D S Tucker & Partners in Tunbridge Wells.
Mike and Monica got married in 1967 at St. Mary’s, Hampton.
For their first home, they lived in Biggin Hill. Mike had done some prior research to persuade Monica that there were benefits to living south of the river in Kent. They soon started a family, and they were blessed with four children, Deborah, Tim, Nick and Matt. Deborah and Tim were born while the family were living in Biggin Hill. Then in 1973, the family moved to Pembury, following in the footsteps of Mike’s parents who had moved there three years earlier. Here the family grew to include Nick and Matt.
54 Henwood Green Road is still the family home to this day. However, it needed some work doing to it. When Mike and Monica bought the property, it was just a two-bedroom bungalow. However, Mike applied his architectural skills to the property, building an extension to the house and an office in the garden, utilising some existing agricultural buildings.
In 1976, Mike established his own architectural practice, “Marshall Gummery Associates”, ably assisted by Monica who applied her secretarial skills to the administration of the practice. Over the years, Mike worked on a whole range of different projects, including housing, barn and oast conversions, schools, retirement homes and even car showrooms. When travelling in the local area he could proudly point out his work in Groombridge, Frant, Matfield and many other villages. Here in Pembury, he also designed and obtained Planning and Building Regulation approval for Cornford House (the residential care home), and the Woodside Sports Pavilion.
Mike had a range of hobbies. He had a passion for cars, and over the years he was the proud owner of various cars such as a Riley Adelphi, an Austin 7 Boyd Carpenter, a Morgan plus 4, an AC Aceca and also a Citroen 2CV – a family favourite which is still residing at the family home! Watching the televised coverage of the Grand Prix on Sunday afternoons was an important fixture in the family calendar, together with visits to Brands Hatch. Mike also took a keen interest in Pembury Football Club.
In earlier years, the family would go on various camping holidays to Devon and Cornwall, which progressed from tents, to a VW camper, to a caravan, and in later years these caravan holidays would include destinations in France. The advantage of camping and caravanning was that flexibility of dates could be readily built in, according to the needs of work schedules.
Mike also enjoyed golf, being a member of Lamberhurst Golf Club. Locally, he and Monica were active members of the Pembury Society during their working career.
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