TRIBUTES PAID TO RUSCOMBE MAN

THANK YOU: Twyford has paid tribute to community stalwart David Turner. He is pictured at his 70th birthday and in 1969 with David Sutch Tributes paid to Twyford’s see-saw ace Dave Turner

By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today

A MAN’S lifelong dedication to his community is being remembered by people in Twyford.

David Turner, who has died, aged 73, was well-known for his involvement in and enthusiasm for improving the village’s community.

Mr Turner, who moved to Ruscombe when he was six, was devoted to Twyford and its surrounding area.

Andrew Cardy, chairman of the Polehampton Charity where Mr Turner was a trustee for 27 years, said he will be sorely missed.

“He really is an unsung hero,” Mr Cardy said. “He was larger than life, always full of unusual and interesting ideas.

“He had this ability of pulling people together.”

Mr Turner, who died on Sunday, June 27, was a family man. He had four children and 12 grandchildren.

He met his wife, Lynda, at Woodley Youth Club in 1968 and the pair got married in Ruscombe Church in 1971.

While Mr Turner was known for leading community initiatives across Twyford, he also ran his own plumbing business in the village.

After leaving Wargrave’s Piggott School at age 14, he served as an apprentice to a plumber in Henley.

In his spare time, he would enjoy days out on the boat, taking trips with family and friends, and even put Twyford on the map when he broke a Guinness World Record in 1969.

Together with David Sutch, he set a new record for the length of time on a seesaw, spending more than 80 hours seesawing and bouncing 57,810 times.

Then, in 2019, Dave set out to beat their previous score by building a gigantic seesaw for the occasion. They held the event to fundraise for the Twyford Library project. But this time, he didn’t bounce, leaving it to Richard March (38) from Sandhurst and Michael Jones (36) from Ruscombe to beat their efforts.

“It was just a typical, completely bonkers idea from Dave,” Mr Cardy said. “It galvanised people and they loved it, and it put Twyford on the map for the weekend.

“It was crazy, funny and did a wonderful job of highlighting the project.”

Mr Turner was known for being the driving force behind the Twyford Library project, which has been campaigning for a new library for approximately 20 years.

Lindsay Ferris, ward councillor for Twyford, is heavily involved in the initiative and said Mr Turner was one of the most active residents he has ever known.

“He was very committed to Twyford and the surrounding community,” Cllr Ferris said. “He was the one who came up with the suggestion of putting the library in the old Polehampton Boys’ School to put back into community use.

“In the not so distant future, hopefully we’ll get a new library and I think we can say Dave was really instrumental in that.”

Mr Cardy added: “It’s a great shame that he won’t see it, but as trustees we’re all determined to make sure Dave is highly recognised for his contribution and ideas.”

He hopes a memorial can be created for Mr Turner within the library once the project is complete.

Mr Turner was also active in Twyford’s Cubs and Scouts groups, a regular helper at the annual Donkey Derby and Commodore at the Reading Offshore Sailing Club.

He was heavily involved in Twyford Youth Centre too as part of his dedication to supporting the village’s young people.

Kathy Peck, from the Youth Club, said it was a pleasure and a privilege to work with him.

“I have learnt so much from Dave,” she said. “He was an excellent people person and he knew how to get the best from people.”

Mr Turner was responsible for converting the Club’s changing room into a new kitchen area and refurbishing a craft room into a meeting space.

“The last time I spoke to Dave, he said that maybe his passing would inspire others to step up and get involved as he has done,” Ms Peck added.

“He truly is an inspiration and has shown how much one person can achieve when they put their mind to it.”

Cllr Roy Mantel, chairman of Twyford Parish Council, said Mr Turner was “a true Twyfordian” through and through.

“[He] played a part in many village organisations,” he added.

“As a member of Polehampton Trustees, he worked tirelessly to further the project of creating the Twyford community hub which will shortly come to fruition.

“One rarely meets a person of this calibre and he will be missed by all. The parish council sends its condolences to his family and friends.”