A church warden and a magician have been arrested on suspicion of the double murder of two elderly teachers living in the same village.

Thames Valley Police have announced that they are treating the deaths of 69-year-old Peter Farquhar in October 2015 and Ann Moore-Martin, 83, who died a year-and-a-half later in May 2017, as murder.

The two pensioners lived three houses apart in Manor Park in the village of Maids Moreton, near Buckingham, Buckinghamshire.

Mr Farquhar’s lodger, Ben Field, 27, a church warden, and friend 31-year-old Martyn Smith, a magician, have been named locally as two of three men arrested as part of the double-murder probe.

Four properties in three locations around the country are being searched by detectives.

It is understood that both men helped look after Mr Farquhar as his health deteriorated in the final months of his life.

The two students at the University of Buckingham, where Mr Farquhar worked as a guest lecturer, also persuaded their former teacher to publish his novels.

They also set up a company with Mr Farquhar, called Farquhar Studies Ltd, in order to publish the academic’s work.

An article on the Buckinghamshire and Winslow Advertiser website dated August 22, 2015, covers a local book signing at Stowe House for the release of Mr Farquhar’s third novel A Wide Wide Sea.

It states: “The book is finally seeing the light of day thanks to two students from the University of Buckingham, Ben Field and Martyn Smith who discovered the handwritten manuscripts and persuaded Mr Farquhar to publish it.

“Together, they established Farquhar Studies, with the aim of releasing more unpublished work, including critical work, poetry and stories.”

The dedication in Mr Farquhar’s book reads: “This book is dedicated to MARTYN SMITH and BEN FIELD whose encouragement was invaluable and without whom this book would not exist.”

Mr Farquhar used to be a lay preacher at Stowe Parish Church where Mr Field is listed as a deputy warden.

He previously taught at Manchester Grammar School and Stowe School in Buckinghamshire.

(Michael Crick/Twitter)
(Michael Crick/Twitter)

Channel 4 News political correspondent Michael Crick, who was taught by Mr Farquhar at Manchester Grammar School and who remained life-long friends with him, said he was shocked by the police investigation.

He told the Press Association: “Peter’s death was very sudden and sad and it is all the more distressing that police are treating it as a possible murder.

“He was one of the most extraordinary teachers of my life and many former pupils of Stowe and Manchester Grammar School would agree.

“He was a very inspirational teacher to whom I owe a lot. He was somewhat of a father figure to many of us.

“He kept in touch with successive generations of pupils and guided them through their early careers.

“He was a deeply committed Christian.”

According to Mr Crick’s 2015 obituary of Mr Farquhar in The Guardian, he was born in Edinburgh before being educated at Latymer Upper School in London and Churchill College, Cambridge.

As well as lecturing, Mr Farquhar published three novels, and a character in the 2013 football film Believe was based on him during his time teaching in Manchester.

Professor Stefan Hawlin, English literature programme director at the University of Buckingham, said: “He was a charming, erudite and deeply thoughtful man, he was thoroughly learned in literature. He was very well thought of.”

Neighbours spoke of their shock as it was confirmed Mr Farquhar’s death, and that of Ms Moore-Martin, were being treated as murder.

Audrey Coatesworth lived nearby for 30 years.

Speaking of Ms Moore-Martin, she said: “She kept herself to herself. She was a very pretty woman, kept her hair nice.

“She had a little dog that she would walk – you recognise her because was striking, she had blonde hair.”

James Hancock said: “Both were nice people, both teachers, both elderly.

“Anne was a friend of ours.

“You saw people coming and going and you didn’t know who they were. With hindsight you think you could have done something.

“Anne became ill. She became vulnerable.”

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: “Thames Valley Police has made three arrests in connection with a murder investigation after two elderly residents died in Buckinghamshire.

“The causes of death are yet to be determined.

“As part of the investigation four properties are currently being searched. These include one property in Milton Keynes, two properties in Towcester, Northamptonshire, and an address near Redruth in Cornwall.”

The arrested men are a 27-year-old man from Towcester, Northamptonshire, who has been detained on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of suspicion of fraud by false representation, one count of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of burglary.

A 31-year-old man from Redruth, Cornwall, has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of suspicion of fraud by false representation, one count of conspiracy to defraud and one count of burglary.

And a 22-year-old man from Milton Keynes has been arrested on suspicion of one count of conspiracy to defraud, one count of conspiring to commit fraud by false representation and one count of suspicion of fraud by false representation.