Martyn & Carole
5th of April 2009
Martyn and Carole Donno are leaving East Garston to join their family in the Yorkshire Dales, and so, on Sunday the 5th of April, The Parish Council organised a friendly informal lunchtime gathering in the Village Hall and Social Club to thank them for their contribution the the village over the past 20 plus years, and of course to wish them luck in their new venture. Friends poured in from near and far, some not seen since their own departure from the village several years back. |
Chris
Tonge opened the procceedings by giving us an insight into the "Donno"
journey and how they ultimately came to live here in East Garston.
Martyn and Carole both grew up in the Barnes area of London and were
childhood sweethearts. After their marraige both wanted to get out
of London, and they decided on rural Berkshire – well Thatcham
anyway. |
Martyn
began working for a car dealership in Newbury, soon becoming Sales
Manager there. At a meeting of Newbury Chamber of Commerce,
Martyn met Barry Cottrell. This changed the Donno’s life when
Barry offered Martyn a partnership at Cottrells. Carole soon joined
him in the office and they both stayed at Cottrells until their retirement. |
Ultimately
moving to East Garston, Martyn soon began his role as grass cutter
etc. starting off with the grass around College Way and moving onto
the greens around middle bridge and then, on the death of Joe Maynard,
he inherited the stewardship of the War Memorial which has benefited
from his care over the years, especially with flowers around the base
during the summer months. |
Always
a keen fisherman the River Lambourn has played a large part in Martyn’s
life, firstly below Welford and later the East Garston stretch. With
Dave Knight and myself (Chris)
Berkshire’s answer to Foggy, Compo and Clegg (from
Last of the Summer Wine), was born. Whatever Martyn does
he is always a picture of elegance, several times Dave and I have
been pulled up for not wearing a tie, even when up to our chests in
mud and water. How Martyn finds the time to do all he does I will
never know, having a good woman behind him must be the answer. |
Chris
then handed over to Jonathan Rabbitts who, on behalf of the Parish
Council, made a presentation first to Carole and then to Martyn
as a token of appreciation for their contribution to the village. |
MM |
James
Pryer and Penny Locke presented Martyn with a mounted historical map
of the local area on behalf of the Village Ammenities Group. |
Dave
Knight takes up the story ~ I have only known Martyn and Carole for
9 of the 22 years they have lived in the village. However, I have
had the pleasure of working alongside Martyn in various situations
within the village. One thing I learned to appreciate very early on
was his meticulous approach to his work and, re-iterating Chris's
comments, his impeccable working attire.There were times when he made
us feel very self concious. There has been a comparision drawn between
Martyn, Chris and I and the three lead characters in "Last of
the Summer Wine". As the conciever of grand ideas, the meticulous
planning to carry them out and the impeccable dress, only Martyn is
capable of the role of "Foggy Dewhurst" leaving Chris and
I to vie over which of the 'workers' we were. I see myself as a dead
ringer for "Compo", leaving Chris, by default, as "Clegg" |
"There was always an element of "Last of the Summer Wine" in every job we did. Also there was the eagerly anticipated mid morning break when Martyn would serve up hot coffee and Garibaldi biscuits from the back of his Land Rover". At this point Dave presented Martyn with a pack of those world famous biscuits. He then continued... |
"Like
most of you, I had problems thinking of a leaving present for the
man who has everything.So competitve is he that I gave some thought
to the possibility of a minature "Hawkeye" machine since
Martyn has often had trouble in judging which side of the line the
shuttlecock drops". Dave paused amid frantic paper rustling as
Martyn scrabbled to get into the Garibaldis' ~ latching onto the situation
as only Dave can ~ He immediately apologised to the floor for the
loud off stage noises that were coming from his right. |
With
the attack on the Garibaldis' averted temporarily, Dave continued.."
I settled in the end for something personal and unique, A framed poem
about Martyn himself. I would further say that his pleasure in recieving
the wonderful montage of village scenes was very self evident. Martyn
being Martyn I suspect he has already selected a spot for it to hang
in his new house. He has probably given some thought as to the approximate
distance from the floor and ceiling and what size rawplug he will
use". |
Turning
to Martyn to present the framed poem, Dave said "Martyn, with
this you will have no such problem. There is only one place this can go in your new home ~ A wall in your downstairs loo" |
David
Wallis representing the Village Hall Trustees and Allan Money, Chairman
of the Social Club, both made presentations on behalf of their respective
committees or organisations. The number of items presented, are a
true testament to the high regard in which Carole and Martyn are held
by the vast majority of people within this village community. |
Chris "Clegg" |
Martyn "Foggy" |
Dave "Compo" |
The final comments come from Dave Knight who said "There are times that we all hope what we do and what we say may make the world a slightly better place. I cannot speak for Martyn and Carole in the context of the world in general, but what I can say without any fear of contradiction is that when they leave this village, they will leave it a far better place than when they arrived. Thank you both and our best wishes go with you for a long and happy life in the Dales". |
photos
: Ken Tarbox : Dawn Tonge
text : Chris Tonge : Dave Knight
: Ken Tarbox