Trevor Coombs (OW 1951)

The Waynflete Office has been informed of the death of Trevor Coombs at the age of 92. We send our deepest condolences to Trevor’s family and friends, and are grateful to Trevor’s sons, Rob and Chris, and sister Valerie for providing these words about his life:

Trevor was born in Headington, near Oxford, and lived with his sister, Valerie, in the family home close to the present-day site of the John Radcliffe Hospital. He was a child during WWII and remembered seeing bomber planes roaring overhead and accompanying his father to rescue his grandparents from the ruins of Coventry.

He was educated at Magdalen College School. His first job was at W. H. Smith in Aylesbury, travelling there from Oxford on his Vespa scooter. Trevor went on to have a successful career in marketing, working at Philips and Hotpoint before joining the Post Office headquarters in London, where he established the “Post Shops” business.

Trevor moved to Goring with his wife, Christine, and their sons, Chris and Rob, in 1966. He spent much of his leisure time seeking to improve village life. He was a governor at Goring Primary School and Langtree School, both of which his sons attended, and served as a parish councillor for 25 years.

During his time as chairman of the parish council, he guided it through the tasks of reroofing the Village Hall and rebuilding the Gardiner Pavilion. In 1977, he was instrumental in organising the filming of village activities to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Some Goring residents may remember that this included a spectacular display of flaming lights on Streatley Hill, spelling out “EIIR” in 25-metre-high letters formed by paraffin pots laid across the hillside.

Trevor founded the Friends of Goring Library when the library was threatened with closure, and it is wonderful to see the organisation still going strong today.

In 1989, he persuaded the National Trust to acquire The Holies at Streatley, the hill to the left of the main Streatley Hill. Covering 109 acres, it is one of the largest areas of pristine chalk grassland in Berkshire. Funds were subsequently raised to reimburse the Trust. The NT purchase enables a beautiful circular walk through the bluebells around The Holies to Lardon Chase, with far-reaching views across the Thames Valley. It is a wonderful legacy for the village.

In retirement, Trevor embarked on an archaeology degree at the University of Reading, which enabled him to take part in archaeological digs at Silchester and deepen his love of history. In 2018, he wrote a book about Roman life in Berkshire.

During the earlier years of his retirement, Trevor enjoyed swimming, running, and a great deal of walking and cycling. In later years, this became a daily walk around the village. Sadly, his mobility gradually deteriorated with advancing age, particularly following several devastating falls and a stroke. He also endured various illnesses, but he never lost his enthusiasm for life, his positive outlook, or his love of communicating with others and engaging with the world around him.

Trevor leaves behind his sister, Valerie; his sons, Chris and Rob; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.