Sir Robert Braithwaite Marshall, KCB, MBE (1920-2000).
Sir Robert Marshall (Bob) was a career civil servant who devoted his working life to the betterment of our society. The younger son of Alec and ‘Poppy’ Marshall, much of his childhood was spent in Switzerland leading to a lifetime’s love of mountains, skiing and the great outdoors. Bob won scholarships to Sherborne School (Harper House) and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. His studies in modern languages were interrupted by World War Two – during which time, at the age of 19, he was drafted into a team at Bletchley Park to join the Air Force intelligence section. He said later that the team at first consisted of three men and a boy – and he was the boy. In 1945 he was awarded the MBE for his contribution to the war effort. In the same year, Bob returned to Corpus Christi to complete his degree, switching from modern languages to major in economics.
His first appointment to the Home Civil Service was to the Ministry of Works. In 1950 he was appointed Secretary to the Cabinet, a position he greatly enjoyed. He continued his civil service career working in the Ministries of Aviation (1962-66), Power (1966-69) and Technology (1969-70) before being appointed Permanent Secretary, Department of Industry in 1970. He completed his long and distinguished civil service career as Second Permanent Secretary, Department of Environment (1973-78). He was awarded the CB in 1968 for long service to the country and the KCB in 1971, an honour he cherished and was deeply proud of. With few exceptions, his colleagues appreciated his quick and decisive mind and he counted many close friends among those colleagues.
Following his early retirement from the civil service, Bob was appointed Chairman of the National Water Council (1978-82) a considerable challenge and at a time when the nationalised industries were going through a difficult period. As a direct result of his involvement with the water industry, Bob was the driving force in setting up WaterAid, the UK’s specialist development charity working to help some of the poorest communities in Africa and Asia provide themselves with a safe water supply close to home. As well as being a founder member and the first Chairman, Bob maintained an active interest in its activities and was one of the Vice Presidents of the Council at the time of his death. He was immensely proud of WaterAid and it would be hard to think of a more fitting memorial to him than this fine charitable initiative, which expressed so clearly his acute concern to do something to help the most needy.
Following his retirement from public office, Bob took an active interest in politics and was a strong supporter of the Social Democratic and Liberal Party (SDLP), actively campaigning for his local candidate. He also took an active interest in the education system and was a Member and Vice-Chairman of the Council of Surrey University (1975-87) and Chairman of the Governors of West Surrey College of Art (1985-89). On moving to Bridport, Dorset he continued to play an active role in the local community and gave particular support to the Bridport Art Centre.
Throughout his life, Bob maintained an avid interest in gardening spending many hours creating his first garden out of the sandy heathland at his home in Farnham and more recently creating another beautiful garden at his home in Uploders. In addition, he had a passion for the arts and spent much of his spare time at concerts, galleries and the opera. All those that had the opportunity to join him on one of these ‘sorties’ marvelled at his knowledge and enthusiasm.
Despite his public life, Bob was a very private person whose greatest pleasure was to spend time with his family and particularly his grandchildren who ‘kept him young’. He took a very real interest in all of them and provide encouragement and support to each and every one of them. Needless to say they all adored ‘Papa’.
Bob’s life was a very full and eventful one and his contribution to our society was a very real one. To those that knew him well, Bob was never going to become an ‘old man’ and so his death on Christmas Day, though sudden and painful for his family and friends, came quickly and peacefully.
Courtesy of The Independent.
Sir Robert Marshall (1920-2000)
Born at Broadstairs, Kent on 10 January 1920.
The Wells House Prep School, Malvern Wells.
Sherborne School (Harper House) 1933-1938: 6th form, School Prefect, Head of Harper House, editor of The Shirburnian, PT Instructor with badge, Sergeant in OTC, Hon. Sec. Duffers, 1st Class Gym, member of Eclectics, Aston Binns Modern Languages prize 1937, Parsons Divinity prize 1937, Huish Exhibition.
Scholarship for Modern Languages, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, BA.
WW2, Foreign Officer, 1939-1945, MBE. Worked at Bletchley Park as a German translator.
Home Civil Service, 1947-1978: Secretary to the Cabinet, 1950; Ministry of Aviation, 1962-1966; Deputy Secretary Ministry of Power, 1966-1969; Ministry of Technology, 1969-1970; Permanent Secretary, Department of Industry, 1970; Permanent Secretary, Department of Environment, 1973-1978.
CB 1968.
KCB 1971.
Chairman, National Water Council, 1978-1982.
Founder member and first Chairman of WaterAid, later Vice President (UK’s specialist development charity working to help some of the poorest communities in Africa and Asia provide themselves with a safe water supply close to home).
Member and Vice-Chairman, Council of Surrey University, 1975-1987.
Chairman of the Governors of West Surrey College of Art, 1985-1989.
Married in 1945 to Diana Elizabeth Westlake (one son, three daughters).
Died at Dorchester on 25 December 2000.