Debbie Tupper TRIBUTES to Debbie Tupper (36), highlighted how she packed more into her life than many in lives twice as long. Debbie grew


up in Penen- den Heath, moved to Downswood but returned home in the last few years. On leaving Mid-Kent Col- lege with a secretarial qualification she began a career which included working for Bondeuelle on the High Street, buying for Karen Millen fashions, PA work for the centremanager of the Royal Star Arcade, work for Haynes, working for KCC to prepare for Ofsted inspections and a lengthy period in housing for Maidstone Borough Council and finally for Golding Homes. However, it was her varied


and successful charity work that brought Debbie into con- tact with many people locally. Her mother, Edna, said; “Debbie lived for charity work and help- ing others. She paid for a lot of it herself.” Debbie and her mother both served as overseas representa- tives for Canterbury Diocese Mothers’ Union. Debbie’s char- ity work was often distin- guished by a willingness to tackle problems directly and make positive things happen. Locally, she initiated a public- ity drive for the Mothers’ Union. Internationally, she worked to forge strong links with communities in Lesotho and Rwanda. Bishop Adam Taaso, the only Anglican of that rank in Lesotho, needed accom- modation during aUK visit and Debbie arranged for him to spend some nights in Penenden Heath. She gave talks on her work


and shortly before becoming ill she had been appointed as one of 12 members of the Mothers’ Union Actions Outreach Com- mittee, working out of their London HQ. She also had in- volvement with Maidstone’s Trinity Foyer Project. She had visited Rwanda twice and in South Africa she


We will remember


visited Aslan, a lion she had adopted in the Born Free Proj- ect in that country. Over 200 people attended her funeral at St Paul’s Church, Boxley Road, where she wor- shipped. Debbie leaves her mother and her brother, David.


‘Mac’ Shillan PATRICK “Mac” Shillan (78), had lived in Grove Green for the past 30 years, and previ- ously spent 20 years living in Bearsted. Born in Cornwall, he did national service in Korea before settling down to a career in the pen in- dustry. He rose to become area sales man- ager with Parker Pens, spending decades working for the com- pany from his base in London. Mac was father to Emma and Patrick, and husband to Anna. Patrick said: “My father worked hard and was driven to suc- ceed, and took a pride in his success. He was respected by the people he knew, always dressed well and had a really dry sense of humour.” Mac enjoyed playing golf, particularly at the Tudor Park Club and also played snooker regularly at Bearsted and Thurnham Club. Mac leaves his wife, children and grandson Edward.


Jacqueline Rose JACQUELINE Rose (86), who has died in Devon, was known in and around Maidstone from years of giving riding lessons to local children. For 15 years Jacqueline was secretary of the Pony Club’s Tickham branch, which currently teaches chil- dren from Bearsted, Thurnham and Maidstone. Tributes re- ferred to the years of dedicated service she gave to teaching children to ride horses. Jacque- line frequently went on camps with children and took on du- ties including the cooking. Jacqueline, who lived for many years in Bobbing, had re-


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Pre-school fun THE rain didn’t stop pre- school children at Ducklings of Detling from enjoying a teddy bears picnic. The event was instead held inside, with further fun and games taking place outside when the sun began to shine.


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tired to Devon around 12 years ago and suffered from dementia in her final years.


JohnWatson TRIBUTES to JohnWatson (48), praised the enthusiasm and en- ergy the Paddock Wood man brought to organising events for Maidstone’s San Fairy Ann (SFA) cycling club. His recep- tion was held at Yalding Gar- dens, a venue that has also served as a coffee stop on SFA rides.


Colleagues and friends of


John, who worked for NatWest bank, all noted that his two loves were his family and cy- cling. John joined SFA in 2002. Membership secretary Ron Lee said: “John came forward in 2007 and organised his first race, the KCA 100 mile. Each year since, he organised our Open 10. “He made a point of riding ei-


ther on the road or on the turbo six times a week. One of these rides was often on a tandem with his wife, Linda. He did a number of long rides including London to Paris, which he com- pleted shortly before his death.” John’s funeral drew around


200 colleagues, family members and fellow cyclists. He leaves his wife, a son and a daughter.


Philippa Spickett PHILIPPA “Philly” Spickett (27), lived locally for most of her life. Her family moved to Hampton Road, Vinters Park, from Sittingbourne when she was a toddler. Philly attended school in Sit- tingbourne, and then boarded at a college in Bromley until the age of 22. She had been living in a residential home in Hast- ings before her death. Philly and her father John


were known locally for the long walks they took, often walking up to Sutton Road, Penenden Heath, and towards Bearsted. John Spickett said: “Philly was bright, intelligent and had a wicked sense of humour. She could be really flirty and she loved pop music – she had a CD collection and her own favourites. In Hastings she had been able to attend concerts in- cluding some of her favourite acts like JLS and Boyzone.” Philly leaves her parents,


John and Liz, and her younger brother, Andrew.


Return of the coffee


LOCAL schools will be among the many organisa- tions taking part in the annual World’s Biggest Coffee Morn- ing on Friday, September 30. Last year’s event raised £13,000 for the Macmillan Cancer Trust. This year, stu- dents at Sutton Valence School are making the cakes and coffee themselves, while Maplesden Noakes will be holding an outside coffee morning exhibition in Frem- lins Walk on September 16, two weeks prior to the main event. KCC staff will be in- vited to a coffeemorning with chairman Paulina Stockell.


Allowances frozen MEMBERS of Boxley Parish Council agreed that there should be no increase in the allowances that they may claim for the forthcoming year.


Parish councillors may


claim £476 per annum, with the chairman’s allowance set at £575 per annum. These are paid in equal monthly sums via the PAYE system. Chairman Cllr Martin Pep-


per reminded the meeting that although councillors are entitled to claim allowances as well as approved travel and subsistence expenses, they may choose not to.


Design competition HARRIETSHAM Village Hall Trust is seeking a new logo to go on all official documents used for village hall business. The trust would like mem-


bers from local youth groups whouse thehalltocomeup with the design. The winning team will receive £25 along with the logo being published for all the community to see. Entries should be submitted


to Justine May, Highways, Ashford Road, Harrietsham, ME17 1JS, by Friday, Septem- ber 9.


Museum paintings MAIDSTONE Museum’s oil painting collection will be goingonlineaspartofana- tional project. A total of 477 of the mu-


seum’s oil paintings were among 63,000 paintings to be uploaded onto the “Your Painting” project’s website.


The Stone Shop Memorials. Any natural stone supplied, lettered and installed anywhere. Inscriptions added to existing memorials Renovations and memorial cleaning


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01622 726633


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