Dennis Bray DENNIS Richard Bray (76) lived in Yalding his whole life. After a brief


spell on farms he began a ca- reer as a brick- layer, working throughout the Maidstone area and all over Kent. Married to Allison for 52 years, Dennis was father to Geoffrey, Andrew and Sandra. Allison said: “Den- nis loved to go out for a drink and a game of cards on Sunday lunchtime. For many years he went to the local club, butmore recently had been going to The George in Yalding. “He loved sport and in his younger days had seen West Ham play. He continued to fol- low them and also loved watch- ing cricket and had been to cricket week when Kent used to play in Maidstone. “Recently he took a lot of


pride in seeing his grandson Jack turning out for Kent’s U12 team. Over 200 cards came from people who knew Dennis. People will remember him as easy going and friendly, a man who got on with everyone.” Dennis leaves his wife, chil-


dren, 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.


Lily Tagg LILY Tagg (90), of Maidstone, was raised as Lily Foreman in Cranbrook and Staplehurst. She worked as a bus conductress “clippie” during the war and met her first husband, coalmer- chant Joe Parkes, while doing the job. The couple moved to Lon-


don, marrying in 1950, and Lily worked for the GPO as a tele- phonist. She continued this work when they moved to Barming. Widowed in 1969, Lily even-


tually married Rob Tagg and en- joyed four years of happy marriage before being widowed again. An obituary placed by family members said Lily “cre- ated happiness” for friends, neighbours and colleagues and helped people out by dog sitting.


We will remember


Mick De La Rue THOMAS Michael “Mick” De La Rue (67) lived for more than 10 years on Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, having previously lived in Huntingdon, Cambs, and Cobham. Irish by birth, he had been


taught by the Christian Brothers and did well educationally, moving to the UK and starting on an eclectic career. This in- cluded working as a chef in pubs, doing deliverywork with wholesale flowers imported from Netherlands and working as a taxi driver for Cavalier in Maidstone. Tony’s friend and fellow bee keeper, Brian Palmer, said: “I know he was very much ad- mired and respected with re- gard to his taxi driving and he was passionate about bee keep- ing. He had been chairman of Mid-Kent Beekeepers and api- ary manager. “He had been involved in bee keeping since attending an event at the Museum of Rural Life in 1991. He did over 15 years of county show appear- ances linked to bee keeping, won awards and sold honey and wax in a local pub.”


Mike Ducker MAIDSTONE’S Mike Ducker (76) worked at KCC for many years, serving as chief footpaths officer, retiring in the early 1990s. He will be well remembered locally for his many years with San Fairy Ann Cycling Club. He was a member as a young man in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He married Stella and they had three daughters.He re- turned to the club after retire- ment and led an involvement in fundraising for cystic fibro- sis that made him a central fig- ure in local cycling. Mike’s granddaughter Ella


was diagnosed with the condi- tion and he began a scheme in which he would take, sell and recycle all manner of cycling paraphernalia. As a result of this work, the South East region


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was a top fundraising area for research into the condition over the last 15 years. Mike marshalled local races


and was noted by many of his fellow cyclists as one of the most helpful and dedicated ad- vocates of his sport. His funeral at Vinters Park Crematorium was packed. Mike leaves his wife, daugh- ters and grandchildren.


Tony Thistlethwaite TONY Thistlethwaite (77) lived in Harrietsham for 35 years, having previously lived in Sur- rey and Bromley. Born and raised inWakefield,


Yorks, he spent his career work- ing for Bar- clays bank, moving south to work in its Lombard Street head- quarters and going on to manage branches in Dartford, Gillingham and Long- field. He worked in Barclays’ local head office in Bank Street, Maidstone, as assistant district manager (staff). The only break in his banking career camewith national service. He married Susan in York-


shire, and the couple raised Je- remy and Elisabeth. Susan said: “Tony was very interested in the community and in opportu- nities for young people. He was involved locally in awards for young musicians and the Ro- tary Club’s Youth Speaks pro- gramme, which encouraged young people into public speaking.” Tony was a Rotarian, serving


as president of the Gillingham branch, a JP who had served on theMedway bench, and a mem- ber of Gillingham Male Voice Choir. He was involved in Ash- ford Golf Club and was a mem- ber and former chairman of Maidstone’s 41 Club. Having suffered from Parkin-


son’s disease towards the end of his life, Tony joined the Maid- stone branch of Parkinson’s UK. Susan became secretary of the branch and a collection for Parkinson’s has been made in his memory.


Tony leaves his wife, chil-


dren, grandchildren Lucy- Anne, Michael, Stephen, Sarah, Emily, Jack, James and Katie and great-grandsons Harvey and Brandon.


Robert Argles GUY Robert Ainsworth Argles (73) lived locally for 60 years, the last 25 of which were spent in East Sutton. Known as Robert, his previous homes in- cluded Sutton Valence and Chart Sutton. He moved away for National Service and university in Ox- ford and London. He passed his law degree in London as the top of his year and began a career that led to 40 years as a barris- ter, working out of chambers in Lincoln’s Inn, London. Robertwas well known in the Maidstone area from years of involvement with the Conser- vative party. He served them as a treasurer for his local branch and Maidstone and also did two elections as election agent for Hugh Robertson, taking pride in helping the MP in- crease his majority at the last election. Robert’s brother Martin said: “Robert was incredibly active in East Sutton and the sur- rounding area. He was a very active churchwarden, served as treasurer for Filmer Hall, took part in a lot of local charity events and the village fete and helped to organise the summer fete for the local prison. “Hewas very prominent in the


area and known for his willing- ness to get involved in things. He was incredibly generous with his time and his heart.” Amarkofthe regard thelo-


cals had for Robert has been seen in the time and effort many in the area have given up to help with his funeral. Robert leaves four brothers and nine nieces and nephews.


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 librarianship that took him to Sheffield and Manchester, before moving locally. He met his wife of 54 years, Margaret, in Sheffield, and pro- posed to her on a visit to his beloved Lake District. The couple raised Graham


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


Daughter Dawn said: “My fa-


ther was passionate aboutmak- ing books available to all, thereby enhancing their educa- tion, and he seized everyP47


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