Audrey Court AUDREY Court (87), of Ul- combe, lived in the village her whole life, moving three times, and was well- known as the wife of Aubrey Court, founder of A W Court Funeral Direc- tors.


Peen,


BornAudrey she


worked in service for a local family. Au- drey married carpenter Aubrey and, after he branched out into funeral directing in 1965, Au- drey, was a constant support to the new company. The couple raised daughters


Susan and Carole. Susan said: “My motherwas a home person who loved her Sunday teas and looking after her family. She had worked locally on farms and in the kitchen of the Provender pub, she also helped out with the family business. “She was a very strong and determined person, and fought her way back from some health problems. She had lots of friends in the area and was very well-liked around the village.” Audrey, who was widowed


after 50 years of marriage, leaves her daughters, grand- children Karen, Sarah, Adam and Greg and great grandchil- dren Christie and Daisy.


John Squire JOHN Squire (88), as a young in- fantry lieutenant, was among the first on the Normandy beaches for the D-Day invasion during WWII and lost his platoon ser- geant as they landed. He was in-


jured and re- covered for the Far East cam- paign, but was saved from fur-


ther conflict when the atomic bomb forced a Japanese surren- der.


He met wife Doreen, a nurse,


as he recovered in hospital and the couple lived in Maidstone with their three children, Nick, Alison and Simon. Doreen died last year. John entered the insurance


We will remember


profession, firstly with Norwich Union, then Watson, Christie & House and finally he became a pensions director, retiring aged 62.


He was a Freemason, member


of the Round Table, chairing the Maidstone branch, before he moved to the Rotary Club of Maidstone in 1973, becoming president in 1980/81.


Barry Rowbotham THE sudden death of Barry Rowbotham (69), of Loose, has drawn tributes from many who knew the seniormagistrate. His service on the Mid Kent


benchwas mainly carried out at Maidstone Magistrates Court and he was well known as chairman of the Mid Kent Family Court. His colleagues have praised the “lovely guy” for his contri- bution to the law. He had been due to retire from his position this year. Barry’s earlier career had been


in local government in Grave- sham, where his work had in- cluded forging twinning links with towns in other countries. On leaving Gravesham Borough Council, he had taken on a new role specifically concerned with twinning arrangements. Barry leaves his wife, Jackie.


Tony Goke ANTHONY “Tony” Goke (71) had lived in Charlton Lane, West Farleigh, for about eight years, having lived on Tutsham Farm in the same area for about 40 years. Born and raised in Essex, he started work near there and en- joyed his summer trips to pick hops in Kent so much he moved to work on Tutsham Farm. Hisskillwas such that he became head dryer in the oast during the hop-picking season. Tony was father to Mark, Gra-


ham, Julia and Kelly. Kelly said: “My father played football for West Farleigh, was a life-long


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West Ham supporter and en- joyed playing darts. He had turned out for darts teams for the White House in Hunton, his local working mens’ club and the Torrington Arms, inMereworth. “He loved gardening and cut


the grass for the church in West Farleigh where his funeral was held. When he lost his voice-box to cancer 10 years ago he still got on and had a good life.” Tony lost his partner Janet in


2007.He leaves his children and six grandchildren.


Pat Harbord PAT Harbord (68) lived in Loose from 1973, moving from Allen Street.


Born PatWren in Llandudno, Wales, she moved locally as a young girl. She lived briefly in Lon- don, where she qualified as a dance teacher. She returned to Maidstone, working for O.J. Rewinds, mak- ing electrical coils. She married Chris in 1970, becoming mother to Ian and Tommy. In addition to teaching dance,


Pat became involved with the local “Bombers” roller hockey team, managing them to regional league and national cup wins three years in a row. Retiring as cup-winning manager, she was made an honorary life member of the club. Chris Harbord said: “Pat was


first on the dance floor and the last to leave. She regularly at- tended social functions to raise money for a variety of charities.” Friend and roller hockey assis- tant Cliff Willard added: “You can count yourself a winner if you can bring happiness to oth- ers and make a difference to their lives. Pat excelled on both counts.” Pat bravely battled motor neu-


rone disease and cancer in her last year.She leaves herhusband, children Ian and Tommy, and grandchildren Frank and Harry.


John Evans JUST three weeks after leaving West Farleigh for a new life in Oxford, Dr John Evans, for- merly of Church Lane, was


taken ill and passed away. John and his wife Margaret moved toWest Farleigh in 1999 to be near their son Huw, who lived at Court Lodge. They became an integral part of village life, playing an ac- tive role at All Saints’ Church, where Johnwas a churchwarden for seven years and a member of the PCC for 10 years. He and Margaret were also members of the Evergreens, keen classical music fans and Welsh rugby supporters. Although John was born in England, his parents wereWelsh and he spoke no English until he started school. He graduated from the University of Wales in Bangor with a doctorate in X-ray crystallography and went on to work with companies such as Proctor&Gamble and the British Aircraft Corporation. John will be remembered for


his patience, determination, un- flappable good nature and sense of humour. He suffered a kidney haemor-


rhage after a party to thank those who helped with the move to Oxford. Despite an operation at the city’s Radcliffe Infirmary, John died three days later, with his family at his side, in the knowledge that Wales had just achieved aGrand Slam in the Six Nations Tournament. Family and friends, including


more than a dozen from West Farleigh, attended the funeral service at St Peter’s Church, Wolvercote, Oxford. He leaves hiswidow Margaret,


three children, Huw, Judith and Gillian, and seven grandchildren.


Sally Constable SALLY Constable (65) had lived in Yalding since 1968. Raised as Sally Davies in Chart Sutton, she married John Constable, an agricultural worker, and moved to Yalding, where John did farm work. The couple raised sons Terry, Bob and Mick and Sally did local farm work. Bob said: “My mother was


bright and outgoing, she had lots of friends in the area and was really well-known in Yald- ing.” Widowed in 2000, Sally leaves her three sons.


George Jackson GEORGE Jackson (87), who lived in Oakwood Road, Maid- stone, for 36 years, spent much of his career working in the treasurer’s office at Maidstone Borough Council. London-born, he grew up in Bexhill and joined the RAF in WWII, training in Canada as an air crew member. He moved to accounts before seeing action, then met wife of 64 years, Vivi- enne, in that role. George leaves his wife, sons


and grandchildren Eleanor, Nicolas, Lorna and Julia.


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