FORMER president of the Rotary Club of Farnham, vintage car enthusiast and all-round pillar of the Farnham community, David Franklin, has died aged 84.

David was a partner in John Scott & Partners, specialist vintage car insurers, from 1972 to 1989. Their offices were in Park Row - not too far from No. 1 Castle Street where for many years Margaret, his wife, was manager of Grays World Travel.

David followed in his father’s footsteps and joined Rotary Club of Farnham in 1976. Always a highly active member, he was on the club committee which organised the 1981 Royal Charity Gala performance of Noel Coward’s Cavalcade at the Redgrave Theatre.

He was president of the club in 1984 and presided over the club’s 60th birthday dinner, its Diamond Jubilee, at the Bourne Club.

Mr Franklin had always had a close interest in vintage cars, and, when he retired from John Scott & Partners, he became secretary of the Vintage Sports Car Club and then had to travel every day to the club’s offices in Newbury.

He owned a 1929 vintage Rover 10, which was his pride and joy, and the walls of his garage were lined with shelves and drawers full of spares for the Rover, which has frequently been on display at the various motor car events in the town.

He worked also with the central Rotary organisation, and as part of this spent a fortnight in Sierra Leone helping in the building of a hospital, a school, a workshop and housing for the villagers.

One of his more recent activities was in support of the club’s team of volunteers at the Alzheimer’s Society meetings at Cobgates care home in Falkner Road. He continued with this as long as he was physically able but eventually gave up because of the beginnings of his own problems.

Similarly, he continued with his attendance at the club’s weekly lunches; maintaining this with the help of his Rotary colleagues, when he was no longer able to drive.

He died peacefully on Sunday, November 13, and is survived by his wife, Margaret, and two sons, Andrew and Stuart.

David’s life and work exemplified the Rotary motto, ‘Service above Self’. He will be sadly missed by all his Rotary colleagues whose thoughts are now with his wife Margaret, and his family.

Contributed