Lubenham Heritage Group

He went to All Saints Primary School and then onto secondary education in Market Harborough.

He was called up and did his National Service with the REME in Egypt and Libya as a mechanic, looking after various vehicles and lorries. He enjoyed his downtime playing basketball and football. Having completed his National Service, David came back home to Foxton Road and saw lorries arrive by train at Lubenham Station and then be towed up to the airfield prior to disposal. One day he even spotted a lorry he had worked on in Egypt, recognising its markings and number! He worked for Tungstone in Market Harborough until he retired.

He enjoyed holidaying in Wales and Ireland with his friend Veronica. David also like taking the dogs on long walks in the beautiful countryside.

In retirement he spent many hours tending to his garden. David was one of many who volunteered to help restore the dry-stone wall around the churchyard. He delivered the village newsletter. His main passion was the history of Lubenham. He spent many hours delving into the past and documenting his findings for the Heritage group. This was a passion carried on from his father.

David with the help of Elaine Maddever set up local history exhibitions in the old wooden village hall, inviting folks to come and see and also bring any interesting information and material.

Back in 2000/2001 following a village appraisal it was noted that a large number of people wanted a history group in the village. Fortunately, Leicester County Council were prepared to encourage and support those villages who wanted to start their own History or Heritage group. LCC had a grant from the Lottery Trust and funded the setting up and meeting costs, hall booking and speakers for the first 6 months. 60 people from the village attended a meeting under the auspices of Caroline Holmes (LCC Co-ordinator). Subsequent to that a planning meeting was organised and it turned out that if you were one of the 7 who attended it, you found yourself on the committee with posts allocated! David and Elaine became part of the founding membership. After the input from LCC came to an end, Lubenham Heritage group was on its own. David, as a committee member, was able to provide the basis of our present archive. He quietly got on with life and often following a committee discussion and decision would then come up with a suggestion or idea. When it was decided to write the book “Lubenham – a Village History” David was one of the co-authors along with Barbara Burbidge, Pat Dyke and David Hannibal. His knowledge about the village and conversations and little anecdotes about life here, especially when he was a child, brought a human touch to the facts and figures. It was published in 2012.

David also corresponded regularly with the families of youngsters who had been evacuees during WW2 and did research into the work of the War Ag Committee.

We remember a quiet, kind, caring man who had strong opinions on certain subjects, and he was brave enough to do the occasional talk to LHG. Eventually he decided to come off the committee and just attend the meetings until he moved to Brooklands Gardens. It was a difficult decision to move at the age of 89 but one he needed to make. He settled into his new home and really loved to walk into town to shop, have lunch or just a cuppa at the café in Welland Park. It was on such an occasion that I last chatted to him a few months ago when we happened to meet.

Pip Clements & Paula Colley
2^nd October 2026.

Click here to see a PDF copy of this obituary is also available,