Keith Hammond KEITH Martin Hammond (63) had worked for Page &Wells es- tate agents for 39 years, most of them based in the Loose office. Page&Wells managing director MurrayWills said: “Keith started in our Lark- field office. He opened and ran the Loose office. He was a trusted and able associate director of the company and took on the opening of new offices. If you wanted something done well, you would go to Keith. “The directors of the company
have worked together for many years andwe are all going tomiss Keith and his input into the com- pany.
“Keith’s passions included his family, being a Freemason and his cars, which were invariably good vehicles kept in showroom condition.” With first wife Linda he raised children Angie and Nick. Angie said: “He was always
calm and could be relied on in a crisis, he loved his cars and as a young man he was known to have taken the bumpers off to polish them inside the house. His cars were immaculate, in show- room condition. He was always game for a laugh, a very good man.” Keith leaves Jane, his wife of 27
years, his children and his grand- children, Matthew, Lily, Gracie Harvey and Harry.
John Hooper JOHN Hooper, whose job as a civic officer at Maidstone Council included driving the mayor’s car, has died, aged 72. He had re-
tired in 2003 after 14 years in the job. John had
lived in Snod- land for about 40 years, until a recent move to Hayling Is- land.
Former council colleague
DerekWickwar said: “Johnwas a larger than life character with a great sense of humour.” He became well-known for
his willingness to engage with the public, frequently chatting with people at events from vil- lage fetes to formal dinners. John's final duties included training the succesors in his job.
Romford-born, John’s early career included National Serv-
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ice in the Royal Military Police and time as a bus driver inWar- rington. He spent 20 years working for the Blue Star Line, starting as a steward and rising to the role of purser. John’s partner of 30 years, Michael Cole, said: “He trav- elled all round the world in the Merchant Navy, visiting Aus- tralia, New Zealand and South America. He maintained friend- ships with the people he had served at Maidstone Borough Council and his out-going and fun-loving personality made him lots of friends. "He liked a drink in the Monk’s Head in Snodland and was an avid Manchester United supporter.” John had survived a serious health scare – when he had to have a leg amputated – only to succumb to cancer in early No- vember.
Eric Francis ERIC Francis (90), who lived in Loose for 53 years, rose through the ranks at Edward Sharp’s, the confectionary company, to be- come national sales manager. He travelled throughout the UK.
Born in
Luton, he en- listed in the RAF at the start of the war and was posted to India. In 1949 he married Alysone
and after living in Tunbridge Wells the couple settled in Loose. SonDavid said: “Myfather was
a true gentleman in the old fash- ioned sense of the word. He was quiet, placid, a very good listener and a good friend to people. “In addition to his work at Sharp’s, he played for the factory cricket team. In his younger days
he had a trial as a professional batsman forWarwickshire. David added: “He travelled
miles for his work. His base was in Woodford Green, Essex, and working fromhomewasn’t an op- tion in those days. Eric leaves his widow, son and grandchildren Claire and John.
Roger Cable ROGER Cable (71) was born and raised inWeaveringStreet and at- tended East Borough and Vinters Boys Schools. Married to
Vivien (née Brooks), he had three chil- dren, Samuel, Nathan and Amelia and two grandchil- dren, Zadie and Brandon. A well-known musician in
Kent and beyond, Roger took up the drums in the late 1950s and played with many local bands, including Bill Kent and his Ken- tish Men and The Kingfishers. In the early 1960s he became a professional drummer and was part of the band that worked with Eden Kane, who had several top 20 hits.
Retiring from the professional
scene in the late 1960s, he joined local bands The Factory – who opened the short-lived but popu- lar G Ranch Club – and TheWeb Foundation. He had a keen interest in rail-
ways and owned an impressive model layout.He also worked for British Rail and Railtrack, ending his career in the Folkestone Har- bour signal box. Continuing to play periodically
in local bands, Roger was instru- mental in the reformation of The Web Foundation, in which he played until 2010 when he was forced to retire due to ill health.
Monumental Stonemasons Est. 1973
NAMM, BRAMM & NAMLC Registered
Camp plans for
trespass site EXCITING plans for aScout and Guide camp in Headcorn are being explored by the parish council. The site - a four-acre plot at
Red Hill Stables in Lenham Road - is not required by owner Maidstone Council, which has decided to lease it for a pepper- corn rent. An officer's report said: "Headcorn Parish Council has expressed an interest in manag- ing the site for community pur- poses such as a Guide andScout camp, community garden or similar.” Simon Rickett, Headcorn Scouts' group chairman, said: "Yes,we are always interested in finding places we can go to camp at weekends, do pioneer- ing projects or any outdoor ac- tivity. It's quite close to the village, too." Maidstone Council recently
used compulsory purchase powers to buy the land from the previous owner following per- sistent breaches ofplanning law. Since then, there have been continuing cases of trespass and the council has had to spend money on security measures and legal action to clear the site.
Market for Christmas CHRISTMAS celebrations com- mence in Yalding with the an- nual Yuletide Market in the High Street on Saturday, De- cember 3, 4.45pm till 8pm. The event, now in its 12th
year, includes an array of tradi- tional and seasonal entertainers such as clog dancers, snow ma- chine, live musicians and a fire artist as well as the opportunity to purchase seasonal gifts such as Christmas trees, holly wreaths, candles and decora- tions. Craft stalls will offer pre- serves, ceramics, cards and handmade jewellery. TheHigh Street will be closed to traffic that evening.
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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