DerekWright BUSINESSMAN Derek Wright (74) jointly owned theWright’s Warehouse in Waterloo Street, Maidstone with his brother, Alan. Born in 1936, Derek was the


son of Sydney Wright, who founded the family business in 1926. After an electrical apprentice-


ship and National Service, he joined the business. He and Alan took over on the death of their father in 1961. Under their joint-stewardship


the business diversified, build- ing a strong retail side with out- lets in Maidstone, Strood and Canterbury. The original business – elec-


trical contracting – ceased 20 years ago. The Maidstone retail outletmoved from Earl Street to Waterloo Street after a compul- sory purchase order was en- forced to make way for Fremlin Walk. His many other local involve-


ments included playing for Mote Cricket Club and Maid- stone Rugby Club. Married to Janette, Derek was


father to Zena, Jonathan and Je- remy. Tributes to Derek, of The Landway, Bearsted, praised his devotion to his family and his pride in their achievements.


Charlie Bogg A TRIBUTE to Charlie Bogg (53) was read out by Maidstone mayor Eric Hotson at the Full Council meet- ing in Febru- ary. He died of a heart attack the previous month. He joined


the council in May 2004 and worked on the IT helpdesk, and then as infor- mation management officer in IT Services, where he was an influential member of the team. He went to Maidstone Gram-


mar School before starting work as an apprentice car mechanic at Dutton Forshaw. Motorbikes were always his passion and he spent a few years in that line of work. In 1995, he decided he


We will remember


wanted to get into computers, though he knew nothing about them. So he read a book on data-


bases and was taken on as a support engineer at Microsoft, where he eventually became a team leader. There, he met Chris Woodward, who now works at Maidstone Council, and who later persuaded Char- lie to apply for a job. A colleague said: “Charlie


had an amazing capacity for learning. It was not just his abil- ity to take in technical detail, but his willingness to learn.” In his spare time, Charlie ren- ovated boats, restored bikes, did parachute jumps and en- joyed a drink at his local, The Bell, in Bearsted. He also took part in online gaming, most recently atWorld of Warcraft using his online name, Skitz. His colleague added: “We


will all remember him for his larger-than-life character, his capacity for friendship, but most of all his innate cheerful- ness and great sense of hu- mour.”


Charlie leaves his mum Dorothy, his grown-up children Sam and Sara Jane, and his many friends.


Lavinia Irving LAVINIA “Vinnie” Irving (81) spent the final 20 years of her life in Parkwood, living for 30 years before that in Lenham. Born Lavinia Leeson in


Leicestershire, she was married for 58 years to John. Vinnie was mother to Leslie, who died trag- ically after an accidental injury became infected in 1994. Vinnie’s friend, Lisa Baker,


said: “We worked together as cleaners at the National West- minster Bank in central Maid- stone. Vinnie had a great sense of humour and enjoyed a giggle with her work. She was a really lovely person and I’ll miss her.” Vinnie lost her husband and


a beloved dog in recent years. She leaves one sister and two brothers who still live in Leicestershire.


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Dr Gordon Barr DR GORDONBarr (81) prac- tised in Maidstone as a GP, and occasionally as an anaes- thetist,


for


more than 30 years. Born in Oban, Argyll, and educated at Glasgow University, his medical stud- ies were broken by two years of National Service in the Royal Army Medical Corps, experi- ence that came in useful in his future career. During his time as a student


he met and married Nancy, a young teacher. The couple relo- cated to Trinidad where Gor- don practised and children Fiona and John were born. They settled in Maidstone in


the mid-Sixties. Gordon prac- tised in Terrace Road and then in College Avenue. The family lived in Salts Avenue, Loose, and Chattenden Court, Penen- den Heath. His widow said: “For some


years Gordon was a member of Maidstone Pipe Band, having decided in his 50s to learn the bagpipes. On retirement, he took a job as brigade medical advisor for Kent Fire Service. The job was intended to be short-term but when another doctor died suddenly Gordon ended up in post for five years. He was a very good natured and even-tempered person. “Even with Alzheimer’s dis-


ease he was a gentle man and was able to be looked after at home until the last night of his life.” Ten years ago the couple re-


tired to Hampshire. Gordon leaves his widow, children and granddaughters Sophie, Polly and Madeleine.


Elsie Baker ELSIE Alice Baker (79), of Tovil, and previously of Barm- ing, had lived locally since 1994.


She moved


from the Lon- don area after retiring, to be near daughter Rose.


Married for


almost 62 years to George, Elsie was mother to Rose, Maureen and Linda and spent much of her working life as a school cook. Daughter Linda said: “My


mother had some unusual ex- periences. Her father aban- doned the family when she was very young, going on to have other children, she met and be- friended one of her half-broth- ers (Jim). She was a strong lady with very high morals who be- lieved in being well presented.


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She brought us all up to have impeccable manners. She cared about old-fashioned values and being respectful to others. She loved crosswords, and would knit for her family.” Elsie enjoyed ballroom danc-


ing in her younger days and re- cently had been a regular attendee at the centre in St Stephen’s Square that served the residents of the local estate. Elsie leaves her widower,


children, siblings Gladys and Ann, nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.


Roy Burgess ROY Burgess (84) was organist at three local churches – Ditton, Aylesford and Barming, where he held the post at St Margarets for about 30 years. After retirement in 1991 he worked as treasurer of St Mar- garets and of the Maidstone Hospital League of Friends, as well as secretary of the south- east branch of the Chartered In-


stitute of Management Ac- countants. He had done accountancy


work for Reeds, Aylesford, later SCA packaging. Born in Fawley in the New Forest, his family later moved to the Newbury area. Roy took piano and violin lessons, and sang in the local church choir. Aged 13 he started to play the organ when the men were called up to war. From Newbury Boys’ Gram-


mar he joined the Coldstream Guards in 1944, becoming a corporal and serving in Pales- tine. He married Vera, his wife of almost 59 years, inMarch 1952. The couple, who lived in the Maidstone area from 1964, raised four daughters, Eliza- beth, Caroline, Margaret and Victoria. Roy leaves his widow, chil-


dren, two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter.


Margaret Murray MARGARET “Maggie“ Murray (86) of Sandling Lane, Penen- den Heath, died after a fall while on holiday in Spain. Husband Alexander was a re-


tired captain from 36 Engineer Regiment, based at Maidstone Barracks. Maggie’s fall on February 7


left her with serious injuries and she died two days later.


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