|
Hugh Sandilands 1944-2009
Hew Sandilands
Hew died peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday, 29th September with Veronica and Natasha at his bedside. A beautiful service of thanksgiving for his life was held at St Peter's, Marsh Baldon on 9th October, which was taken by Ros Latham and Marcus Braybrooke , with a packed church full of his family and friends.
Hew was born in Bournemouth on 31st January 1944. He was educated at Winchester and also studied in Geneva, where he became fluent in French, and then went to Africa as a VSO officer. He trained as a Chartered Accountant with Coopers and Lybrand and qualified in 1968 - the same year he and Oni were married. He then worked in the shipping industry and later joined Peat, Marwick Mitchell as a management consultant, travelling extensively in the Middle East and Africa.
In 1979, with Natasha growing up fast, Hew joined the finance team at Harwell and later moved to Culham as Chief Finance Officer. After 5 years he decided to return to consultancy work, then started his own practice providing financial management services to a wide range of businesses. He continued to work in this field until ill health forced him to retire in 2001.
When the Sandilands family arrived here 30 years ago, little did we realise what an impact they would have in this community. What an incredible man Hew was and how much this community has been enriched during his life here. He had a warmth, a sincerity, a consistently courteous manner, a lovely turn of phrase and sense of humour, with a genuine interest and caring for others. No one could be more trustworthy, sensitive and engaging - a true gentleman and a delightful man. He would always go out of his way to greet people and welcome them.
Hew passionately believed in, and contributed in so many ways to, the organised life of this community - the Church, the School, the Village Hall, Baldon Players, fellowship groups and bible study, musical and social events, maintaining or enhancing the fabric of our villages - he could often be seen picking up roadside litter or planting trees!
Hew wasn't one for making one-off dramatic headlines - his way was doing an infinite number of almost undetectable deeds and actions, which together made a deep and lasting impact. For many years he was churchwarden and church treasurer. He was also very involved with the Dorchester Team and a Trustee of the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust.
Hew's life here in the Baldons has left an indelible imprint on all of us and our lives have been enriched by his friendship and his example. He will be missed very much and our thoughts and prayers are with Oni and Natasha and all their family. Graham Hobbins
|