Mavis Owen FOR more than 30 years Mavis Owen (72) was very active in the life of Detling village. She was a member of Detling
WI and served as president, she handled book- keeping and became treas- urer of Detling Church and Detling Play- ers, and she was a Detling Singer for 17 years. Mavis was also an active member of the Inner Wheel Club of Maid- stone and enjoyed stage work with Maidstone Operatic Soci- ety. She and husband John, a
chartered accountant, married in 1960 and later spent almost 12 years in Nassau. The couple were accomplished in ballroom dancing and were members of St Faith’s Church, Maidstone, from 1973.
Derek Sayer PENENDEN Heath resident Derek Sayer’s local knowledge helped to shape books about the area. Derek (84) contributed signif-
icant information about the area to both Robin Ambrose's books, “Boxley - The Story of an English Parish” and the re- cently released “Penenden Heath's Story”. Derek’s parents moved to Maidstone in 1937. Good at sport, he was a first XI fast bowler at the grammar school by the age of 14 and a fine swimmer. In 1945, his spirit of adven-
ture led him to the Palestine Police Force, keeping the pre- carious peace on the border with Lebanon. Soon after his return in 1948, he met and married Mavis with
We will remember
whom he would share over half a century of happy family life before her death in 2003. He worked for Rowntree
Mackintosh for more than 36 years, becoming a national ac- counts manager, including the Safeway account at Aylesford. As a boy, Derek had lived in Penenden Heath Road through the war years and returned to Penenden Heath with his fam- ily in 1973 to live in Staplers Court opposite the Bull Inn. After retiring in 1986, Derek travelled the world, enjoyed caravanning and cruising but was always keen to return to the area to be near his family. Derek died peacefully at The
Heart of Kent Hospice, leaving his daughter Hilary, son Barry, grandson Duncan and brothers John and David.
Bernie Oakley BERNARD “Bernie” Oakley (71), of Madginford, spent most of his working life doing a job he loved at AJ Hairdressing in Maidstone. Born in the town, Bernie’s
early life had included a spell in the Royal Sussex Regiment. Whilst work- ing on cross channel ferries out of Folke- stone he met his wife of 44 years,Wendy. When the couple both got jobs lo- cally, he in AJ’s – then located in Market Buildings – and she at East Malling Research Sta- tion, they moved to Cross Street, Maidstone. In 1981 they moved to Lambourne Road, Madginford.
Monumental Stonemasons Est. 1973
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“Bernie was very sociable and really enjoyed meeting people. He loved spending time at the Bearsted and Thurnham Club and he could look back on his life, and a job he really enjoyed, with a lot of satisfaction. He worked for AJ’s for more than 40 years.” Bernie had made many friends through his work and after retiring continued to cut some people’s hair from home. He leaves his widow and sons Ivan and Neil.
Johanna Coakley JOHANNA “Jo” Coakley (103) formerly of Chart Sutton, worked as a teacher at St Fran- cis’ School, Maidstone. An Irish Catholic by birth
(nee Kennedy), and raised in County Tipperary, her family supported her to move to Southampton and train as a teacher. She spent her career in Catholic schools, starting in Beverley, near Hull, and mov- ing to Maidstone in the 1940s. Jo married engineer Brian in
1945 and the couple enjoyed 40 years of marriage. Her friend of many years, Ian
Hoad, said: “Jo lived in Chart Sutton from around 1960 until three years ago when she moved to the Loose Valley Nursing Home. She remained independent until she was 100, and took a pride in offering re- ally good hospitality. Giving guests home-made cakes and some Quick Brew tea always mattered to her. “Her teaching went back to
the days when discipline mat- tered a lot. She had classes of up to 54 children at a time. She kept her faith and worshipped at the Holy Family Church in ParkWood.” Jo leaves her many friends in England and a large extended family in Ireland.
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
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two eldest boys have also gone into running Martin’s shops. After Fred’s death in 1990 Pat remained in Loose. 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 tal- ents 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. “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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