Joyce Jestin JOYCE Jestin (72) lived in Cox- heath for 48 years and lived lo- cally from the age of 18, including eight years in East Farleigh. Born Lilian


Joyce Bowyer in Sitting- bourne, she moved to Loose in 1957, after her marriage to Ted Jestin. The couple raised children Trevor, Karen, Shane, Tina and John. Karen said: “My mother


knew a lot of people in Cox- heath. She took five children to and from school and our house often had other children visit- ing. She loved socialising with friends and did work like fruit picking with other local women. “She was really sociable, and


had been on the women’s darts team for The Bell pub in Cox- heath, and had a regular group of friends who met up for card games. “She was well-liked locally


and the family would like to thank the 150 people who- turned up for her funeral serv- ice.”


Joyce leaves her children, 11 grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. Daughter Karen said: “Amark of the love we all felt for my mother is the Just Giving page set up in the name of Shane Jestin to raise money for research into pancreatic cancer.


Graeme McNaughton GRAEME McNaughton was born and brought up in East Malling, but settled in West Farleigh with his wife Anne in 1983. A keen gardener, Graeme


loved working outdoors, and his lawn in Charlton Lane was his pride and joy. Graeme was also an enthusi-


astic wine-maker, and his fam- ily remember picking the various fruits, before spending hours topping, tailing and cleaning them ready for fer- mentation. He won numerous trophies


We will remember


as chairman of MaidstoneWine Club, although once he was disqualified, as the wine was so strong the judges thought it was fortified! Although he trained as a car- penter, Graeme took over the family business of A. A. Mc- Naughton Transport Ltd., where he was later joined by his brother Albert. Graeme leaves hiswife Anne, children Joanna and Richard and grandchildren Emma, Han- nah and Sam. His funeral took place at Vinters Crematorium on May 30.


Alfie John Davis ALFIE John Davis (78) who has died at Loose, lived locally his whole life. Born – the


fifth of a fam- ilyof11–to a papermaker father and a mother who worked in local farms, Alfie John had learning difficulties that necessitated his parents, grandmother and siblings help- ing with his care. From the age of 14 he moved into residential homes, living at different times in Barming, Leybourne Grange, Boughton andWest Malling. His sister Linda said: “Alfie


John was a unique character, very affectionate and wilful, and someone who really en- joyed his life. He loved collect- ing things and had lots of mouth organs, watches, clocks and pens.” Alfie John leaves two broth-


ers and four sisters, and many nephews, nieces and other fam- ily members.


Desmond and Alvis


Butters DESMOND and Alvis Butters (89 and 88 respectively), most recently of the Royal British Le- gion Village, Aylesford, were married for 67 years and died within a few days of each other.


Monumental Stonemasons Est. 1973


NAMM, BRAMM & NAMLC Registered New Memorials Tablets, Plaques & Vases


Cleaning, Renovation & Restoration Safety Inspections Memorial Insurance Arranged Free Brochures


Telephone 01622 762482 01233 636500 01795 436178 2 Sutton Road Maidstone Kent ME15 9AH 68 Kent Avenue Ashford Kent TN24 8NQ Howt Green Bobbing Sittingbourne Kent ME9 8QP


The Stone Shop Memorials. Any natural stone supplied, lettered and installed anywhere. Inscriptions added to existing memorials Renovations and memorial cleaning


The Stone Shop Station Hill, East Farleigh, Kent.


01622 726633 Their joint funeral at St


Peter’s Church, Ditton, was marked by an RAF bugler and a Spitfire flypast. The couple met when Desmond worked in the Civil Service at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham. Having witnessed the Battle of Britain, Desmond volunteered for RAF service, training as a pilot and going on to fly 52 operations to Germany and Europe. The couple’swedding caused Desmond to miss the infamous Nuremberg raid,which cost the lives of 545 allied air crew. Desmond rose to become a deputy bomb master, and his work on missions including the bombing of Dresden and Oper- ation Manna (dropping food to starving Dutch civilians) earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar. Alvis served in the Women’s Auxil- iary Air Force during the war. Desmond took foreign post-


ings after the war and Alvis moved with him,working as PA to company managers in Rhode- sia (now Zimbabwe) and Singa- pore. The couple adopted one son,


Tony.Onmovingbacktothe Maidstone area, Desmond worked as administrator of Pre- ston Hall General Hospital and deputy secretary of Oakwood Hospital. He was a central fig- ure in the founding of Ditton Bowls Club and, from 1997, he spoke in schools, telling young children of war service. Ditton Bowls Club hosted the funeral tea for the couple. Tony Butters has spoken of


the devotion his parents showed to each other. Desmond and Alvis leave


their son, and grandchildren Luke and Duncan.


Peter Hayman PETER Hay- man (71) lived locally his whole life, spending over 30 years in Senacre Wood.


Having grown up on the Tonbridge Road and attend- ingWest Borough School, Peter


started work as a bicycle deliv- ery boy. He went on to work for Courage Breweries in Maid- stone and ParkWood, spending most of his career as a drayman. Peter was married to Yvonne


for almost 48 years. The couple raised Paul and Denise. Denise said: “My Dad loved sports. He ran for Maidstone Harriers as a young man and went on to play football for Hunton FC. “When my brother got in- volved in football, Dad managed youth teams, including the local Boys Brigade. He also followed Tottenham Hotspur and went along to games. When my brother grew up he started get- ting his grandson, Ciaran, in- volved in sports. He also played short mat bowls at the Semara Club and Lakeside Club. “People will remember my


Dad as warm, smiling, happy and cheeky. He received such good care at the Heart of Kent Hospice that hewas smiling the day before he died, and it was his wish that we raised money for the hospice in hismemory.” Peter leaves his wife, children


and grandchildren Holly, Larissa, Ciaran and Ruth.


Mary Luxford MARY Luxford (84), most re- cently of Farleigh Court, Barm- ing, lived locally most of her life. Raised near Ashford as Mary Joynson, she married husband Donald in 1961 and the couple first settled on Bearsted Road. They moved to Harrietsham be- fore spending their final 38 years together in Farleigh Court. Donald Luxford said: “Mary


did a range of things in her life including domestic work, clean- ing for Kent County Council and work for Batchelors canning fac- tory near Ashford. She also did seasonal work on farms.” Mary was mother to son Ian. Donald said: “We both loved country andwestern music and went regularly to Aylesford, Snodland and Larkfield clubs. Mary got on with everyone and made friends easily.” Mary leaves her husband and


son.


Boost to buses BUS passengers in Maidstone will benefit after Kent County Council, Maidstone Borough Council and Arriva Southern Counties agreed to invest in the network. The re-launch of the Maid-


stone Quality Bus Partnership will see Arriva and the local councils work to enhance bus services. KCC will provide bus route improvements, such as raised borders, bus stop clearways, bus stop poles, and timetable cases. Arriva will invest in newer vehicles and frequency im- provements, while Maidstone Borough Council will invest in new shelters andmake sure that bus stops are kept clear of parked vehicles.


38 Town Support YOUR local paper — and we can support YOU - advertise on 01622 630330


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64