Stones’ captain GORDON Bailey (91), who skippered Maidstone United during the post-war years, has died, aged 91. He had lived for the last 33 years in Trap- field Close, Bearsted, and prior to that in Sutton Road. Derbyshire-


born Gordon married Mar- garet ‘Peggy’ in 1944 before going to France with the Royal Engineers. After the war, the couple


raised Janette and John. Gordon worked as a carpenter for Style andWinch Breweries before be- coming a clerk of works for Maidstone Council. He finished his career with freelance work in the construction industry. Widowed after 25 years with


Peggy, Gordon remarried 10 years later, spending 25 years with Wendy and becoming step-father to Jenny, Andrew and Rachel. Gordon played for the post-


war Maidstone United team. A centre half, he captained the team for five years, eventually retiring through injury. Daughter Janette said: “My


dad was a quiet man but very active. He played golf and bowls and tended to make good and close friendships that lasted for years.” Widowed in 2002, Gordon leaves his children, step-chil- dren, three grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.


King of spin LESLIE “Les” King (82), who played village cricket for 50 years, once claimed the scalp of an ex-England captain with his spin bowling. Les, of NewingtonWalk, Vin-


We will remember


ters Park, was aged 68 in his last season for Teston – but he still topped the bowling aver- ages. Born in Wateringbury, the youngest of nine children, he spent time as a butcher's boy in Penenden Heath before going on to work as a cricket ball maker for 44 years at Readers in Teston. It was while playing for the village team in 1956, in an an- nual fixture against club presi- dent Sir Albert Stern's XI, that he took the wicket of George (FG) Mann, who had skippered England on the successful 1948-49 tour of South Africa. But Les was goodwith the bat


as well as the ball, as his nephew Geoff King reminded mourners at Les's funeral. Teston were playing Blue- bell Hill and needed six to win off the last ball of the game. Les obliged by pulling the ball over the mid-wicket boundary. Les had previously played for Hollingbourne and Mereworth as well as being a member of Mote Park Bowls Club. In his younger days, Les was


noted for his dancing, which is how he met his future wife June at Chatham Town Hall. They married in 1957 and had twins, Suzanne and Joanne. They lost Joanne to leukaemia in 1978 and June died three years later.


Noted doctor DOCTOR Ravi Balse (75) who lived most recently in Blenheim Close, Bearsted, spent most of his distinguished


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medical career in the Maid- stone area. Born and trained in India he


worked in hospitals in the north of England before getting a post in the orthopaedic de- partment ofWest Kent Hospital. He met wife of 42 years,


Paula, when she was nursing at the hospital and the couple married and moved to Wa- teringbury in 1968. They also lived in Coxheath and Cranbourne Avenue, Maid- stone. The couple


raised daughters Sarla and Preeta. Ravi left his duties in or- thopaedics and casualty in 1974 to work in general prac- tice in Albion Place. Through the retirement of a


colleague he became the sole doctor in the practice before he was joined by doctors Shaw and Patel and the practice moved to its present home in Holland Road. A stroke a few months before he was due to re- tire in 1999 ended his career. Paula said: “He joined Rotary


in 1987 and also spent time teaching medical skills to St John Ambulance cadets and helping out medically at pony club events.” Ravi leaves his widow, daughters, three granddaugh- ters and one grandson.


Pat Mullins MARY “Pat” Mullins (87) was well known locally from 10 years running the Martin’s newsagent shop in Park Wood. With husband of 47 years, Fred, she took over the shop in 1965 and ran it until Fred’s health obliged them to retire. The couple, originally from


London, moved to sheltered ac- commodation in Mayfair Av- enue, Loose, after leaving the shop. They had raised sons Colin, Mick and Kevin. The two eldest boys have also gone into running Martin’s shops. After Fred’s death in 1990 Pat remained in Loose. The family raced greyhounds


and one of their dogs, Manhat- tan Andrew, made the final of the Trafalgar Cup at Wembley. The family’s dogs regularly ran at Catford, Crayford and Sit- tingbourne. In her earlier days Pat had worked as a cleaner and was


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noted as an excellent dancer. Son Kevin said: “Mum was


on the committee at her local community centre for many years. When they lived at Park- wood the family were regulars at the White Horse in Otham. “She was a lively lady with a


great character. She would al- ways help others, and never re- garded herself as being old.” Pat leaves her sons, seven grandchildren and six great- grandchildren.


Mary Muskett MARY Muskett, (nee Pocknall), (57) who has died in Coalville, Leicestershire, was a local girl who went on to have a signifi- cant career in local govern- ment. She spent her early years in Beaumont Road before her family moved to the then new Parkwood ‘Hope’ Estate. Husband Brian said: “She


was a real Kent girl, she worked in hop picking, at Woolies and enjoyed roller skating at the YMCA.” Mary worked


for Maidstone Rural District Council in the planning office and continued training and developing her talents before moving north. Brian said: “Mary had a pas- sionate interest in the advance- ment of women, she joined the Soroptimists and worked hard in mentoring other women to advance their careers. She was very independent-minded and driven to succeed. Delivering a eulogy at her funeral in Boughton Monchelsea I said she was my hero. “Despite a diagnosis of cancer


three years ago Mary continued working and took on a de- manding legal fight when squatters settled on land she owned near Kit’s Coty; she won, with costs.” Mary leaves her widower, step-son David, brother Tony and sister Barbara.


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