Tributes to Spalding librarian, school governor and churchwarden

A Spalding librarian, churchwarden and school governor whose love of history led to her joining two of the town's cultural groups has passed away, aged 78.

Marion Brassington, former secretary of Spalding and District Civic Society and deputy librarian of Spalding Gentlemen's Society, died on Saturday, September 19, leaving a daughter and two grandchildren.

Mrs Brassington, who moved to Spalding in 1968, was also a governor of Spalding Parish Day School, churchwarden at the town's St Mary and St Nicolas Church for the last seven years and a former trustee of Spalding Listening and Counselling Centre (Space4U), a charity that ran in the town for 11 years.

The Rev John Bennett, vicar of Spalding, said: "Marion was highly intelligent and very knowledgeable about local history.

"We took groups around the church from time to time and I could always rely on her to answer the questions that I couldn’t.

"She also contributed to the different church guidebooks.

"Marion could think for herself and so we regularly had lively, good-natured discussions about the best approach to dealing with situations in the church.

"I was very fond of her, she was prepared for dying, put her trust in God and I know that she was glad to be buried next to her late husband Philip."

Tom Grimes, president of Spalding Gentlemen's Society, said: "Marion was first mentioned in the Society’s annual report for 1972 and, at that time she was working at Spalding Library.

"However, in her spare time Marion was helping to catalogue the Society’s library.

"She continued to work for the Society after her retirement from full-time work and, in recent years, she developed, installed and managed a computer database for the library, replacing the old card index system.

"Marion was proud of being a professional librarian and made sure that the Society’s library was managed to proper standards.

"She was always very willing to help, she was a delight to work with and will be sadly missed."

John Bland, chairman of Spalding and District Civic Society, said: "Marion was a stalwart of the Society for over 20 years, acting as our secretary for the majority of that time.

"Her professional experience as a librarian, with a keen interest and understanding of local history, was been invaluable to the Society.

"Marion's active involvement in a number of community groups in the town that she cared about passionately should be an example to all.

"She will be sorely missed by all in the Society and by those who had the pleasure of working with her over the years."

Diane Mulley, head teacher at Spalding Parish Day School, said: "Marion was a valued member of the Board of Governors and, more recently, the Local Council following the school’s academisation in December 2019.

"She joined the Governing Board in November 2016 and keenly supported the school’s journey of improvement during this time.

"Marion was fully involved in all aspects of the school, attending meetings in her role as a Governor, but also a range of wider school events, including parent consultations, school performances and church services.

"More recently, in February 2020, she took part in our Welcome Service at St Mary and St Nicolas Church where the school and all stakeholders were welcomed formally to the Lincoln Anglican Academy Trust (LAAT) family of schools.

"Marion cared greatly about her governing role, she was committed to making a difference and her support for the pupils and staff team and the wider school community was apparent throughout.

"All associated with Spalding Parish, both past and present, are extremely saddened by this loss and are grateful to Marion for her contributions to SPCEDS over the years, both as a Governor and as a churchwarden of St Mary and St Nicolas.

"Our thoughts are with her family, friends and the church community at this difficult time."