Dr Ronald Wawman RIP

Lt Col Dr Ronald John Wawman MB ChB FRCPsyc. 1932 – 2024

Ron Wawman with Merriol Almond.

 

A polite, enthusiastic, studious, independent, ambitious and loving family man that I have known for 50years as his son-in-law.

Ron and his wife, Margaret, retired to Devon 30years ago, because several of their family lived nearby and he quickly threw himself into local life. On arriving in Lewdown he set about creating a garden to be proud of and had OPEN GARDENS to support the Lewdown Residents Association that he helped create. He was a Lewtrenchard school governor and joined the local Methodist church.

He joined and became a main character of the Sabine Baring-Gould Appreciation Societywhich led to him giving talks and tours of Lew House and St Peter’s church to the likes of the Devonshire Association and writing plays, poetry, books and websites.

Spin-offs led to helping to create the

• Friends of Forgotten Garden of Lewtrenchard
• Lewdown History group
• The Red Spider Theatre group
• The Packhorse Singers choir

Needless to say Ron was good at starting organisations and creating a local interest that have since blossomed as in the case of the Forgotten Woodland Garden of Lewtrenchard.

Margaret’s illness in the early 2010’s led to his withdrawal from our active committee and he nursed her at home for many years. After she died in 2015 he returned to some of these activities.

However like a lot of people Covid lockdowns hobbled him and he never fully recovered from the reduced socialising.

The Friends are grateful for Ron’s enthusiasm and skills.

Graham Yeo