A SERVICE was held last week to celebrate the life of one of Marlow's most prominent citizens who died last month at the age of 72.

James Bolton, known to friends as Jim, settled in Marlow in 1966, with his wife, Peggy, and three children Susan, Sally and Paul.

A fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, he was known in the town years before as a partner at Edward Gray & Co estate agents and was responsible for a great many business and property transactions in the town.

Jim was very well known for his ability to identify a site and take the whole process through council battles to government appeals.

He retired in 1984.

Jim was a former president of Marlow Bowls Club and was a talented and respected member of the team.

He was was born in Fulham in 1928, the youngest of nine children, and his early love of sport was to stay with him all his life.

Jim was called up to do his national service at the age of 18 and it was during a period of leave in Hayling Island that he met Peggy.

After 18 months of courtship, the couple married in 1949 and set up home in Hillingdon.

Jim soon restarted his studies and worked at an estate agents during the daytime while attending the College of Estate Management in London in the evenings.

The memorial service was held at The Chilterns Crematorium, Amersham, on January 4, with a reception at Marlow Bowls Club afterwards.

Jim is survived by a large family, including six grandchildren and a great many friends and colleagues.

He died on December 21.