18/04/12…Tribute to ex Mayor who fought for town centre Conservation Area

THAME Town council has paid tribute to former town Mayor and GP, Dr Andrew Markus, who died on April 7.

Dr Markus, was a Town Councillor from 1963 until the mid Eighties, and Town Mayor in 1969, and probably best remembered as a outstanding doctor and the man who fought the rapid growth of Thame. He was the driving force behind establishing Thame town centre as a Conservation area.

In a statement today, Thame Town Council recalled Dr Markus reminiscing at the Town Hall in December 2008, when he received his Past Mayor?s Badge.

“Dr Markus spoke of the early Sixties when he was a local GP. Two major issues had faced the town and he felt strongly about them both. The first was that Thame (which then had a population of about 5,000) was being given the choice of either rapid growth and getting sports and other facilities quickly, or growing relatively slowly but, as he considered, retaining the character of the town.

?The second issue?, he explained, ?was that developers were creating mayhem in the High Street, such as destroying the old girls? grammar school, and it was imperative that a Conservation Area be declared as quickly as possible.”

“At first, he wasn?t sure whether, as a practising GP, he should take part in an election. In the event, Geoff Goodall (Headmaster of Thame Grammar School), Frank Bailey (Adult Education Tutor) Pip Whiteman (a local dentist) and Dr Markus all stood on these issues and were elected. Dr Markus proceeded to work very closely with the County Architect to establish the Conservation Area.

“A keen cricketer, Dr Markus was also an influential member of the working party that set up the squash courts at Lord Williams?s School. ?He was a brilliant squash player,? remarked Honorary Citizen Cllr David Dodds this week, ?as I know to my cost!?

“A talented photographer, Dr Markus travelled widely and returned with inspirational images; his work was exhibited at Thame Museum a couple of years ago. But it is perhaps Dr Markus?s passion and determination to create a Conservation Area that has most influenced Thame.

“It is a lasting legacy for the town that he loved.
The Councillors and staff send their condolences to Mrs Markus and family.”

More information and a tribute to Dr Markus from Green Templeton College Oxford, where he was an Emeritus Fellow and Alumni
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NB What are your memories of Dr Markus? Wendy from Thame, recalled how, when a young mum with two very young children, she was told she would have to go and see a Pediatrician at Stoke Mandeville hospital.

Dr Markus apparently telephoned the hospital and asked “How the heck do you expect a young mum with a pushchair to travel with two young children on a bus?”
Apparently, after that, the Consultant from then on came to Thame hospital to see his patient.

PHOTO: courtesy of http://www.gtc.ox.ac.uk