Gordon Bonner FORMER Maidstone mayor Gor- don Bonner (89) had trav- elled widely with wife Rosemary in the early 1970s before they re- turned to the County Town. Gordon’s
work took them abroad when he accepted aposting as an architec- tural consultant for embassy buildings. The couplewere based in Tehran, capital of Iran. Gor- don’s area covered India, former Ceylon, the Middle East and parts of Africa. They returned to Maidstone in
1973, and both later stood for the council. He represented Bridge ward and his wife represented Thurnham. Gordon became council leader
for six years and was mayor in 1982-1983. He was also chairman of the
group who selected AnnWidde- combe as a potential future MP for Maidstone. He had attended Maidstone Grammar School, where he en- joyed art, sport and music over academia. He played in the school’s swing band and joined the cadets. During the war hewas with the
8th Army in the Western desert where he served under Mont- gomery in Cairo, Alexandria and Tobruk - and wasMonty’s driver during that time. Gordon and Rosemary -whom
he met at a civic ball in Maid- stone - married in 1947 on Au- gust 20. It would have been their 64th anniversary this month, and a celebration of his life was held on the 20th at Coxheath Church in Linton Road. He helped to start the Sunday School there and took services as a lay preacher. An interesting story told by his daughterVicci was about herpar-
We will remember
ents’ 40th wedding anniversary. “They went to London to see a show and unbeknown to them, Madonna had the room above them in theWaldorf Hotel, keep- ing them awake all night party- ing.” To celebrate their golden wedding, he took all his family to Switzerland for aholiday, back to the same hotel he and Rosemary had honeymooned at, on the shores of Lake Lucerne. Vicci added: “Gordon was very
proud of his family and we all greatly respected his guidance, encouragement, help and ad- vice.”
Mike Foster MICHAEL Foster (73), was a well-respected farmer and auc- tioneer known to many through- out Kent. From his
early years, farmingwas in his blood, in- heriting a love of livestock animals from his father, Dick Foster, whose father was a founder member of the auction- eering firm Ambrose & Foster. Michael was a natural sports-
man, excelling on the cricket pitch. He twice played at Lord’s for his school, Tonbridge, when, as a slow spin bowler, he took five for 55 runs in one match. After National Service, he first ‘learned the ropes’ of auctioneer- ing before returning to the firm. On the death of his father in
1974 he took over the running of Court Lodge Farm, Boxley Road. Hewas knownto be a ‘fair boss’ – if at times tough. Lambert & Foster, with offices
in Paddock Wood and Cran- brook, became his extended fam- ily, particularly in later life when
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farming practices became more computerised, which infuriated and baffled him. He fought back to health after a massive stroke in 1996, regaining almost full movement. His interests included theKent County Show, the Mote Cricket Club and the Tickham Fox- hounds. In recent years he bravely battled cancer, continu- ing with as many activities as was physically possible. He will bemuch missed by his
sister, Anne Strang, and immedi- ate family, and also by many in the farming world, his various sporting associations and col- leagues at Lambert & Foster. A thanksgiving service was
held at St Mary and All Saints, Boxley.
Bob Gorham CRICKET lover Robert “Bob” Gorham (86) lived in West Park Road, not far from The Mote ground. During the war years he had
served in theRAFas amid upper gunner on a Lancaster bomber of 207Squadron, surviving 30 oper- ations. Bob returned toMaidstone and worked as a carpenter for Corben Builders throughout the area.
Married for
52 years to Jean, Bob was father to Mal- colm, Phyllis, David, Sue and Robert.
Jean said: “Bob loved cricket, especially watching Kent play at The Mote. “An accident when he fell off
the roof atMarks and Spencer in Chatham forced his early retire- ment but he always kept his sense of humour.Hewas friendly and outgoing, a real gentleman in the old fashioned sense of the word.” Bob leaves hiswidow, children and eight grandchildren.
Pat Jenner PATRICIA Jenner, who had lived for many years in Loose, died on July 19 following a heart attack earlier that day.
Extraordi-
narily active in so many ways until her last day, Pat belied her 88 years. Pat was a committed
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fully livedwas offered by a large number of people at Pat’s home church, All Saints in Loose. A friend said: “There is so
much which could be said about Pat but it is belived her wish would be that all who knew her should simply be left with their own memories. “Suffice to say Pat will be missed by many and especially all thosewhose lives she touched and enriched.” Pat was a volunteer at Maid-
stone Museum for more than 20 years. One aspect of her varied work was research, most signifi- cantly the museum’s Japanese and Julius Brenchley collections.
Eric Larkin ERIC Percy Larkin (81) lived in Barming for 47 years, having moved there from his native Lon- don with wife Doreen. Eric worked as area sales man-
ager for white goods, dealing in kitchen appliances for a number of companies, including Creda. Hehad beenwithDoreen since
the pair were 15. They were married for 58 years. Son Trevor
said: “My fa- therwas really gregarious, he could start a conversation with anyone. He had lots of friends locally.” Trevor’s brother, Andrew, added: “Our father had a strong work ethic, he was happiest doing DIY, tinkering in his shed or playing with his four grand- childrenwhenthey were young.” Eric had visited a great deal of
the world, much of it via cruise holidays with Doreen after he re- tired. Places visited included Eu- rope, Asia, South America, Australia and
Alaska.The couple were also keen bowlers. Ericwas a regular at the Mote Park Bowl- ingClub and theClare Park Club. He leaves his widow, two sons and four grandchildren.
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