Mervyn was born in Ross in Wye in 1933 and joined Tewkesbury Grammar School in 1944 when the family moved to Tewkesbury. He matriculated at School Certificate level and played cricket for the first eleven.
On leaving school in 1949, he joined George Hone, the local auctioneers, as an article pupil. He passed part of the examinations of the Chartered Institute of Auctioneers before being called up for National Service in the Royal Air Force. He was posted to Singapore and was awarded the General Service Medal on completion of his service.
He returned to Tewkesbury and took appointments with Bathursts, the boat builders, and the Midlands Electricity Board.
Mervyn was a keen sportsman and represented Tewkesbury at both cricket and badminton. He also played cricket for a Ross on Wye touring team and played for Aston Cross for many years.
In 1960, he moved to Sedgeberrow when he married Patricia Hunt to whom he was married for sixty two years. They had two children – a son, Ross who is an accountant in Droitwich and Emma who works for solicitors in Broadway. Emma is also currently a cabinet member for planning and infrastructure at Wychavon District Council.
Mervyn has always been a keen supporter of the Royal British Legion (RBL) and was chairman of the Sedgeberrow branch, His wife, Pat, was chairman of the Sedgeberrow ladies branch and Emma was deputy National Standard bearer of the women’s section for several years.
Mervyn moved to Hinton on the Green about fifty years ago. He formed his own accountancy company in Evesham, specialising in income tax and VAT returns for small businesses. He also thoroughly enjoyed running a smallholding in Hinton.
Since retiring, Mervyn has not enjoyed the best of health and is currently in a nursing home in Fladbury, Evesham. He sends his best wishes to those who remember him!
His younger brother, John, attended the Grammar School from 1947 to 1954.