Rose Jeal ROSE Mabel Jeal (96), lived in Barming for 46 years, having previously lived in West Malling. She went into service for a


vicar’s family before the war and married Fred Woodhams in 1937. The couple had one daugh- ter, Pam, and Fred fought in the war. He was held prisoner by the Japanese for four years and after he returned the couple di- vorced. Rose worked as chief cashier at the Central Cinema, on the current site of Boots in The Mall. She also spent 26 years working as linen pool su- pervisor at Oakwood Hospital. She married Jack Milstead in


1948. After Jack’s death in 1968 she lived alone for a number of years and married John Jeal in 1985.


Daughter Pam said: “My mother was an absolutely de- voted, generous lovely lady who lived her life for others. A won- derful daughter, sister, mother and grandmother, she was truly selfless.” Widowed in 1988, Rose leaves


her daughter, grandchildren Mark, Angela, Nicholas and Cherry and eight great-grand- children.


Eddie Hudson EDWARD “Eddie” Hudson (90) was born in East Malling and lived most of his life there. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16 and, when war broke out, served on cruisers and destroy- ers escorting convoys in the North At- lantic. His first


ship took a di- rect hit, losing many men. He


also


served in Nigeria, Bor- neo and Hong Kong before being demobbed at petty officer rank. Eddie married wife Joan in


1942 and after the war settled in Burham, then moving to Clare Park, East Malling, where they lived for 45 years, raising daughters Vivienne, Maureen, Jean and Pauline. The couple later lived in ChapmanWay and Eddie was widowed in 2005,


We will remember


following 63 years of marriage. Eddie was anAylesford Paper


Mill fireman, a sales represen- tative and a British Gas meter reader. Following retirement, the couple visited their eldest daughter in Australia. Special wedding anniversaries


were celebrated by parties in the village, as was his 90th birthday in March. Daughter Jean said: “The Royal Navy was my fa- ther’s great passion. He was an active member of the West Malling Branch of the Royal Naval Association, serving as secretary and then chairman until well into his eighties.” Eddie leaves four daughters,


seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.


Frank Finnimore FRANK Finnimore (87) lived for 43 years in Ditton, having previously lived in London, Wales and Hertfordshire. His career included sell- ing vacuum cleaners, working as an ice cream man, engi- neering work, time spent as an electrician and working for Reeds paper mill. He and his sister had at- tended a French-speaking school and his bi-lingual skills were central to his work with Ditton Parish Council, bringing about the twinning of Ditton and Rang-du-Fliers, in France. Married for 62 years to Lou Frank, he was father to Janet, Steve, Bridget, Sarah and Robert. Sarah said: “My father was very jovial, loved playing bridge and table tennis and was known for being helpful to oth- ers. He had done voluntary driving for the local hospital. Earlier in his life he was a foot- ball linesman in Hertfordshire. Frank leaves his wife, four of


his children and nine grand- children.


George Collins GEORGE Collins (64) lived near the Sutton Road for most of his life. Born in Austria, his father


Serving the local community since 1985


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was a soldier and his mother was Austrian. The family moved locally when George was a boy and, after school, he started a career that included 25 years at Ryarsh Brickworks as a maintenance foreman. When he was made redundant, George began a career as amar- ket trader. Daughter Bev said: “Calling


him a market trader doesn’t do justice to his qualities as a real Del Boy character.My dad sold everything, from toys, DVDs and ornaments to pushbikes. “He worked really hard,


knew lots of people, was really well-liked and would do any- thing for anyone. He was known all round the local mar- kets and bymany people in the local area.” Married to Joy for 42 years, George was father to Bev, Deb and Jen. He leaves his mother Hedy, his wife, daughters and grandchildren Luke, James, Tia andMason.


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 further conflict when the atomic bomb forced a Japan- ese surrender. 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 pro- fession and specialised in invest- ment and finance, firstly with Norwich Union, then Watson, Christie & House and finally he became a pensions director, retir- ing at 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.


Wendy Smy WENDYSmy(69) lived in Upper Fant Road for 40 years. BornWendy


Hayes in Halling, she grew up there and looked after


her


brothers and sisters before taking a job in Mac Fisheries in Maidstone High Street. She celebrated 50 years of mar- riage to John on Boxing Day. The


couple married in St Paul’s Church, Maidstone, which later burned down, and lived inWest Malling, before moving to Fant. When television repair man


John became self-employed, Wendy manned the phones and supportedhis business, which, at different times had bases in Union Street and Leeds. Her other employment over the years included making radio compo- nents and working in a print shop. Wendy was mother to Sarah, Simon, Gordon and Chris. John said:“Wendy was always helpful and easy to talk to, she got on well with everyone, she had a gentle nature.” Wendy leaves her husband, children and eight grandchil- dren.


Barry Rowbotham THE sudden death of Barry Rowbotham (69), of Loose, has drawn tributes from many who knew the senior magistrate. His service


on the Mid Kent bench was mainly carried out at Maidstone Magistrates Court and he was well known as chairman of the Mid Kent Fam- ily Court. His colleagues have praised the “lovely guy” for his contribution to the law. He had been due to retire from his posi- tion 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 took on a new role with twinning arrangements. Barry leaves hiswife, Jackie.


Dean Harrison DEANHarrison (83), of Bearsted, played a significant role in local, and county life, serving Kent as chief librarian from 1968 to 1988. Yorkshire


born, he earned a first class honours degree in his- tory from Cambridge University and began a career in li- brarianship. He met his wife of 54 years, Margaret, in Sheffield, and pro- posed to her in the Lake District. The couple raised Graham


and Dawn, moving to Allington in 1968, and Bearsted 25 years later.


Dawn said: “My father was passionate about making books available to all. “He played sports like rugby and cricket and enjoyed golf and walking. “He had a very dry – typically


Yorkshire – sense of humour.” Dean leaves his wife, chil-


dren and grandchildren Claire, David and Harry.


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