A WELL-LOVED and respected farm secretary who spent 52 years working for the same family at Knighton Manor in Broad Chalke has died, aged 92.

John Mark was born in Carlisle but moved to south Wiltshire when his Cumbrian employer, Richard Lamb moved to Broad Chalke.

Over the next five decades Mr Mark would go on to not only help with the administration of the farm but also help with Mr Lamb’s campaigns to be elected Member of Parliament.

He also assisted with the editing of numerous publications and helped with Mr Lamb’s military history books.

In 2000 he returned with his wife, Isabel, to Carlisle for his retirement but kept in touch with the Lamb family, most recently travelling to Salisbury for his 90th birthday celebrations hosted at Odstock Manor by Lady Marland.

Giving the eulogy at his funeral in Carlisle on July 31, Christopher Lamb said he would be sorely missed.

He said: “During his 92 years John Mark witnessed wars, revolutions, the first trip into space and faced many changes in his professional life.

“But throughout all of these his values remained constant: loyalty, integrity, service and, of course, a sense of humour.”

He added: “Whenever anyone visited him in Cumbria he was a font of stories from the past, always told with his wit and good humour.

“At the same time he had wisdom – a way of picking out the important points from a complex situation. I can see why my grandfather and so many others valued his shrewd advice over the years.”

Mr Mark is survived by his wife, daughter Pauline and grandchildren Elidh and Rhiannon.