Tim Budgen
West 1953-58
Tim was born on 11 March 1940 and brought up in Creigiau, a small village west of Cardiff. He followed his grandfather, father and brother to The Leys. He remained in touch with friends he made at The Leys throughout his life.
After leaving St John’s College, Cambridge, Tim qualified as a chartered surveyor in London. The highlight of his professional life was putting together the scheme for the redevelopment of Spitalfields Fruit and Vegetable Market. It was a complex project as it required negotiations with both the City Corporation and the local council, identifying a suitable relocation site for the market and securing an act of parliament permitting the relocation of the market established by a royal charter of Charles II.
Having successfully seen through the relocation of the market, Tim worked for the Spitalfields Market Community Trust which was set up to distribute the planning gain money arising from the development. He felt blessed to have such a dynamic and varied end to his working life. Tim made many close friends during his time at the Trust and enjoyed participating in a wide range of charitable projects. He was a trustee of the local Citizens Advice, chaired the governors of a local primary school, helped set up a youth group and was very involved with Spitalfields City Farm. The most significant project that he worked on was the creation of Griffin House, which provides accommodation for medical students at the Royal London Hospital alongside a sheltered housing complex for older residents.
St Mary’s Church in Barnes was a major part of Tim’s life. He acted as Church Warden for five years and set up The Good Companions, a men’s social club, to strengthen and in some cases create local connections for retired men. The Good Companions continues to thrive.
Tim was a father to Venetia and Charmian, a grandfather to four granddaughters and a beloved and devoted husband to Loraine, for whom he cared in later life as her health declined. Tim died in his sleep, comfortable at home.
Words by Venetia Budgen and Charmian Myers