6 April 1920 – 27 May 2005

Rachel Mary Putman (nŽe Pritchard) was a local woman born and bred. She was born in Bucks Hill and whilst still a baby the family moved to Tuffs Farm, Tower Hill. Her brother, Jim, still owns the family business set up by her father, Frank, just after the First World War.
Mary, as she was known, met a young, handsome Bovingdon man, Jim Putman, when he delivered corn to the farm. They courted, married and had two children, David and Myra. Mary worked on the farm, at Dickinson’s Mill and as a home-help during her life. She and Jim lived at Highclere, Tower Hill, for most of their 60 years together.
Jim pre-deceased her by almost two years and she spent the first year on her own in Highclere. However, illness and disability entailed a move into Dudley House for the last year of her life. She liked her time at Dudley House catching up on old times with familiar friends, but her health deteriorated further necessitating more frequent stays in Hemel Hempstead hospital. Plans were afoot for her to go into nursing care but she died of heart failure on 27 May before the plans could be implemented.
She is sadly missed by all her family and friends. Mary was cremated at Amersham on 10 June. She has gone to glory with our Lord and to be with Jim. RIP.