Tributes paid to ‘Mr East Preston’: ‘he was a true inspiration to everyone he met’

Tributes have been paid to ‘Mr East Preston’ by those who knew and loved him.
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Doug Medhurst passed away on June 21 aged 96.

His numerous roles in the village included being a former chairman of East Preston Parish Council and leading the East Preston Festival committee for almost 25 years, becoming president for 14 years until his death.

Parish council chairman Steve Toney said: “Doug’s contribution to the village can be summed up in three words: Mr East Preston.

Doug Medhurst has left a lasting impact on East Preston, not least as president of the annual festival. He is pictured  above at the carnival parade wearing his signature hat in 2006.Doug Medhurst has left a lasting impact on East Preston, not least as president of the annual festival. He is pictured  above at the carnival parade wearing his signature hat in 2006.
Doug Medhurst has left a lasting impact on East Preston, not least as president of the annual festival. He is pictured above at the carnival parade wearing his signature hat in 2006.
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“There wasn’t an aspect of village life Doug did not have a positive impact upon in his half-century in the village.”

Kerry Frost, the current festival committee chairman, added: “One of the things Doug will be remembered for is his colourful wardrobe of clothes that were symbolic of his personality. He never tired of giving to our community and was a true inspiration to everyone he met.”

Doug was born in Teddington, Middlesex, on July 13, 1923 and in 1942 he joined the Royal Navy, with officer cadet training at Lancing College and HMS King Alfred in Brighton.

During the Second World War, he monitored German shipping in the North Sea, with offensives off the Dutch coastline, and was involved in a series of operations in the Norwegian Fjords to pick up important refugees and spies.

Alison Grant with her father, Doug Medhurst, on his 96th birthday in 2019. Pictured at Rustington Hall care homeAlison Grant with her father, Doug Medhurst, on his 96th birthday in 2019. Pictured at Rustington Hall care home
Alison Grant with her father, Doug Medhurst, on his 96th birthday in 2019. Pictured at Rustington Hall care home
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He rose up the ranks and was one of the youngest D class lieutenants with his own command in the Navy until his discharge in 1946.

After the war he started working for Marley Tiles, who he stayed with for 38 years. He travelled around the country opening roof tile factories, including Leighton Buzzard, where he met his future wife Mary through the Dunstable Repertory Company.

They got married in 1962 and had two daughers, Amanda and Alison, before moving to East Preston in 1968, when Doug became manager – and unofficial social secretary – of his company’s Storrington factory.

In the mid-70s, Doug became a governor at East Preston Primary Schools, and a year later became chairman, staying on for 23 years.

Mary and Doug Medhurst sit alongside the planters bearing their names in East Preston and the unveiling ceremony in 2013Mary and Doug Medhurst sit alongside the planters bearing their names in East Preston and the unveiling ceremony in 2013
Mary and Doug Medhurst sit alongside the planters bearing their names in East Preston and the unveiling ceremony in 2013
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When his daughters joined the Guides, Doug also became chairman of the local fundraising group for the Girl Guides Association.

In his nine-year stint, he oversaw the building of a new Girlguiding headquarters and played Widow Twanky in their panto, to much acclaim.

Aged 61, Doug took early retirement and threw himself into village life, including the parish council and festival – but continued working at the Storrington factory on occasion until he was 90.

Other groups he had a lasting impact on were the Angmering Chorale, Friends of Langmeads, the East Preston Horticultural Society, the charity market committee, and St Mary’s Church’s special events committee.

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In recognition of his contributions to village life he and Mary attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in 1999. Doug is survived by his daughter Alison and two grandsons.

Alison said: “He always had a ‘glass half full’ attitude to life and his simple message was to ‘love one another’.

“He was once asked how he’d like to be remembered. He replied: ‘As someone who brought happiness to people’. I think we can all agree that his mission was accomplished.”

Here is the tribute from the East Preston Festival Committee in full:

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“It was with great sadness that the festival committee heard of the passing of their founder, friend and mentor Doug Medhurst, symbolically on Father’s Day.

“As one of the councillors who devised the Festival in 1981, he was a committee member for 25 years - 23 of them as chairman - and for the last 14 years has been the festival’s president.

“Hard-working and extrovert, Doug’s greatest gift was in inspiring others and under his leadership the festival evolved into a ten day celebration of village life with the money raised being ploughed back into our community to support local charities, clubs and social groups.

“He also chaired numerous other organisations and launched many initiatives to promote the village and support good causes - or sometimes just so we could all have fun.

“His infectious enthusiasm and charismatic personality will be missed by us all but his legacy continues.

“East Preston was Doug’s life and Doug brought East Preston to life.”