Leave a lasting legacy

6th January 2021

Leaving a legacy to us in your will is one way of supporting your local community.

This year, we received a generous bequest from Shirley Martin and we look forward to keeping her memory alive through the grants we award.

Shirley was born on 27 December 1932 in Ilford, Essex, the second child to Stanley and Ivy Ingleton.

After attending the Ursuline Convent in Ilford, Berkhamsted School for Girls and St. James Secretarial College in London Shirley’s first job was working for the Festival of Britain Office in Colchester. She subsequently joined the family Wine and Spirit business in Ilford, together with her brother Kenneth, working for their Father. When he died in 1961 the business moved to new premises in Maldon. Shirley became a director and company secretary and continued to work until she retired in 1992.

Shirley met and married Francis Martin in 1963. They bought a home in Colchester where they lived happily until his untimely death in 1982. She continued to live there until just before her death on 28 December 2018.

As a young girl Shirley was a keen tennis player and was shortlisted for Junior Wimbledon. Wimbledon Fortnight was a “must” in her life and she followed tennis enthusiastically. Her other great joy was music and she was an accomplished pianist.

In later life she was an enthusiastic concert goer, being a strong supporter of The Snape Maltings and St. Botolph’s in Colchester. For many years she had season tickets for the English National Opera and The Royal Opera House Covent Garden. She studied music theory, composers and compositions and when at home listened avidly to her many classical CD’s.

Other interests included horse racing – she was part owner of two racehorses for a time – while she also enjoyed sports cars, travel and good food. In short, a veritable Renaissance woman.

For more information on how to set up your own fund as part of your legacy, please click here.