In the 1939 Register John S Anscomb (b. 23 Aug 1922), at school, was [with his parents] at 6 Faraday Rd., Maidstone Kent.
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JOHN ANSCOMB
Dearly beloved husband of Eileen, father of Paul, Gay and Simon, grandpop of Leanne, Richard, Matthew and Craig. Retired superintendent registrar, died 12th August 1999, aged 76 years....
Isle of Thanet Gazette, Friday, 20 Aug 1999, p. 27
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Registrar had a talent for sport
THE MAN who married more than 15,000 couples in Thanet has died. He was 76.
Former superintendent registrar John Anscomb of Capel Close, Kingsgate, was due to go to St. Thomas' Hospital in London for a heart operation the day after he died.
Mr. Anscomb served in the Buffs and then the Indian Army, where he received his commission, but was later invalided home. He also taught games and geography at Maidstone Grammar School.
Sport played an important part in Mr. Anscombe's life although it also brought its share of disappointments.
He had set his heart on playing as a professional cricketer for Kent and used to travel to training sessions at Canterbury with the legendary England wicketkeeper Godfrey Evans.
But he suffered a knee injury while playing football and his professional career was over before it started.
Instead he followed his father and grandfather and joined the Registration Service and was initially involved with the registration of births and deaths at Maidstone.
Following a posting in London, he came to Margate in 1946 as registrar of births, deaths and marriages.
In 1960 he moved to Ramsgate and in 1967 had been appointed superintendent registrar for Thanet, which he held until he retired in 1985.
His wife of 54 years, Eileen said they had a wonderful life together and he had lots of friends.
"We never quarrelled. Towards the end we were like a Derby and Joan," she said.
Mr. Anscomb met his wife at a dance at the Royal Star Hotel in Maidstone through one of her friends. Two years later, in June 1945, they married.
The Thanet Gazette featured their golden wedding in 1995, when Mr. Anscomb estimated he had officiated at between 15,000 and 20,000 weddings.
Mrs. Anscomb remembered how he would walk down the streets and couples he married would sometimes walk up to him and say the marriage had worked out well.
She said he husband loved sport. "He always used to say any time there was a ball he was there. He said he had a gift."
Despite the injury to his knee, Mr. Anscomb continued to play cricket for local sides including Margate, Canterbury and St. Lawrence.
His batting ability earned him a Club Cricket Conference cap when he turned out with the cream of the club players from across the country. He once played at Lords against the MCC.
He also played rugby, football, squash, golf and bowls and enjoyed gardening.
His sporting activities were curtailed after badly damaging the tendons of his hand on the day of his golden wedding anniversary, after which he could no longer grip golf clubs.
A service is being held at Thanet Crematorium on Monday — which would have been his 77th birthday.
He leaves three children and four grandchildren.
Isle of Thanet Gazette, Friday, 20 Aug 1999, p. 12
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