Desmond Richardson DESMOND Ernest Richardson (84) lived locally his whole life. After growing up in Farleigh, Teston and Yalding and volun- teering duringWWIIin the Royal Observer Corps, he settled down to a career in the engineer- ing industry and lived in Barming from the 1940s.


Desmond served his ap- prenticeship as a draughts- man with Tilling Stevens, and spent years working for the firm before moving to another local firm, Fisher Controls (later AEI). His final 20 years were spent working forEngis of Parkwood as sales director for their operation, working in industrial diamonds. With Jean, his wife of more


than 60 years, Desmond raised sons Clive and Nigel. Clive said: “My father was reliable and strong-minded, the sort of man others trusted to get things done. He designed the house we lived in and was good with technical gadgets. “He took cine films when we


were young, enjoyed classical music and good audio equip- ment and got into computers and photography later in his life. He helped support St Andrew’s Scouts in Barming when my brother and Iwere in the group.” Desmond leaves his wife, sons, grandchildren Matthew, David, Paul,Madeline and Gregory and great-grandchildren Georgia and Reid.


James Bebbington JAMES Bebbington (56) lived in Coxheath for 30 years and in the Maidstone area his whole life. Raised in Linton and educated at the old Oldborough Manor Com- munity School, he started an en- gineering career by working on hop-picking machines. He went on to work for God-


dens of West Malling, engineer- ing grasstrack racers and speedway bikes before his final position restoring old military ve- hicles for theWeald Foundation. Jameswas married to Jean,who


he met locally, for over 33 years, and they raised sons James and David. Jean Bebbington said:


We will remember


“James was the kind of person who would do anything for any- one. People have told me that he didn’t realise how talented he was. We loved caravanning to- gether and used to get away to Caravan Club events on most weekends.” James leaves hiswife, sons and granddaughter Lacie.


Gwendoline Goble GWENDOLINE “Gwen” Goble (91) lived for almost 50 years in Loose. Born Gwen Flowers, she moved locally as a very young child when her father began work at Reeds Paper Mill. Grow- ing up inAylesford, she attended MaidstoneGirls GrammarSchool and started work in accounting. She joined the ATS in wartime and worked as a radar operator, which included time in Anglesey and Rotherham. She met husband of 34 years,


Eric, and the pair married in 1945. Before Loose, their marital homes were in Aylesford, Snod- land, Penenden Heath and Allington. Eric’s work included running the Goble and Bone ad- vertising agency in Earl Street; Gwen worked in administration and reception for the agency.The couple raised Jennifer, Graham and Jeremy. Daughter Jennifer said: “My mother loved gardening, oil painting and playing the piano. She was known for being very optimistic and sensitive to the feelings of others andwas hugely supportive of her family. “Even after she was widowed


in 1979, she remained active and busy, going to adult education classes, readingwidely and stay- ing in touch with family.” Gwen leaves her children, grandchildren Eric, James, Christina and Victoria and great- grandchildren Dana, Samuel, Connor and Grace.


Albert Perryman TOVIL-born Albert Perryman (97) lived almost all of his life lo- cally.Hemovedwith wife Eileen to Milton Street and went on to live elsewhere in Barming before moving to Sutton Valence Care


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Home at the end of his life. Albert spentmostofhis work-


ing life as a plumber and, later, a centralheating engineer,working for Charles Walters, of Lower Stone Street.


He was fa-


ther to Diane, who said: “My dad served as a mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm during the war, taking part in the At- lantic con-


voys. “Towards the end of his life his granddaughter Lisa researched his war service and that led to a ceremony in the care home where he was presented with a badge and beret and the Royal British Legion attended. He was very proud that day. “He was also incredibly deter- mined. He survived a major stroke at the age of 58 and did things like walking and climbing the stairs to bed that we’d been told he would never do again.” Widowed in 2004 after 65 years


of marriage, Albert leaves his daughter, grandchildren Andy, Alex and Lisa and great-grand- children Riley and Maisie.


Jack Gilbert THEbody of Jack Gilbert (16) was driven around the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit on Decem- ber 23, a fitting tribute to a teenager who was known for his love of motor racing and the courage with which he grabbed at life and battled cancer.Mourn- ers were asked to wear red in memory of Jack’s love of motor sports. Jack, of Cornwall Close, Shep-


way, was first diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of two but beat the disease at the time only for cancer to recur in February 2011. Jack was under the care of Demelza House Hospice but had managed to live life to the full. In his final months he met F1 heroes like Lewis Hamilton, spent the day with the crew of BBC’s Top Gear programme and flew in a helicopter.


Jack’s family of father Gary, mother Hayley and sisters Louise and Laura were with him when he died. His family have paid tribute to Jack’s positive attitude, commenting that he would take the trouble to thank doctors as they gave him medicine. They have also recalled a cheeky sense of humour that included leaving his pants in his sisters’ beds. Jack attended Five AcreWood School in Boughton Lane and – with his father – was a regular Friday night pool player at Boughton Monchelsea Working Men’s Club in Church Lane. Jack leaves his family.


Janet Goodhew JANET Goodhew (69), who lived in Teston with her friend Linda Gower and Linda’s husband Robert, was known locally from years of work for the Kent Mes- senger. Janet started working for the


KM in 1960 and became in- volved in transferring paper records to electronic storage. She left in the mid-1990s to work in local administration. Originally from Ightham,


Janet’s friends have praised her gregarious and out-going nature and her devotion to her god- daughter Emma.


Mick Jenner and


Henry Clout IN last month’s Downs Mail, we published the picture for Henry Clout’s obituary within the copy for Mick Jenner’s obituary. We would like to apologise for this error.


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