of her children (son Clive died seven years ago), five grandchil- dren and six great-grandchil- dren.


Ian Saunders IAN Saunders (51) lived in the Tonbridge Road area for most of his life and – for the last 22 years – was mainly resident on Ton- bridge Road itself, in a home he shared with partner, Dan. Ian grew up in Maidstone and


did office work for employers including Nestle, British Gas, the Post Office and the local NHS Primary Care Trust.He met Dan Murch in a local pub in 1990 and the couple had been together ever since. Dan said: “Ian enjoyed tend-


ing his garden and allotment and was renowned locally and at work for his excess fruit and vegetables, which he either gave away or made into pickles, jams, chutneys, preserves etc before then giving them away. “Hewas also an avid reader and


quite keen on sea/beach fishing and just generally visiting friends, coastal resorts, parkland and Na- tional Trust and English Heritage gardens – as long as the dog was allowed too! “Ian loved his home life, he


was a very contented person. We became civil partners earlier this year, a commitment that showed we were together for good times and bad.” Ian leaves Dan, his father, one brother and two sisters.


Ray Sears THE death of Ray Sears (83) made local headlines. The for- mer head teacher was the first head of


Palace


Wood Primary School, which opened in 1966, and was a local magis- trate. In both areas, Ray’s careerwas marked with long and dedicated service; in his capacity as a magistrate he chaired the juve- nile bench in Maidstone for 15 years and he remained head at Palace Wood until his retire- ment in 1986. Among condolences sent to


Ray’s daughter Helen was a message from former pupil Andy Matthews, who said Ray’s “headmastership of Palace Wood…is etched into our minds forever and itwill always be with great respect and enor- mous affection we remember him. He truly was exceptional and many could learn much from him.” Chairman of governors Geoff Garrett added: “The whole com- munity of Palace Wood School was very sorry to learn of the death of Mr Sears. He was a highly-respected headmaster and is remembered with affection by many past pupils. His legacy re- mains in the thriving school that he established and which con-


tinues to this day.” Ray’s wife of 60 years, Gwen,


also worked at Palace Wood, in Ash Grove, Allington. On retirement, Ray and Gwen moved to Wales and he found more time to enjoy his love of music, run a music society and help to stage events including live operatic performances. When Ray’s health began to


suffer he moved to Wiltshire to be near his daughter. He leaves his wife, two children (another child died, aged five), and three grandchildren.


Michael Foreman THE death of Michael Foreman (81), of The Street, Ulcombe, made local headlines. The local farmer made a mas-


sive contribution to the agricul- tural life of Kent. During his 52-year marriage to Susan, he lived in Headcorn until just under a decade ago when the couple moved to Ulcombe. His involvement in organisa-


tions promoting farming inter- ests included being a master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers from 1994 to 1995, a position on the National Coun- cil of the Corn Merchants Trade Association and work with the Kent County Agricultural Soci- ety (KCAS). He held the post of honorary director and honorary financial director with KCAS from 1992 to 2005. Former col- leagues have praised his accom- plishments and character. Michael leaves his wife, chil-


dren Tracey and Charles and grandchildren Oscar, Rosie, Jack, Harry and Katie.


Mildred Kirkaldie MILDRED Maud Kirkaldie (89) lived her final 30 years in Madg- inford Road, Bearsted, and was formerly a resident of Birch- wood Road, Allington. Employed as a legal secretary,


she moved locally with her work and had been employed by both Cox’s and Whitehead Monckton. Mildred’s niece Janet Pollitt


said: “My aunt was from awell- known family in Deal and had sung in the St George’s Choir in Deal. She loved choral singing and tennis. She was very strong- willed, independently minded and capable. “She had attended a local C of


E church but in her final years went to Bearsted Methodist Church. She was devastated by the loss of her brother four years ago, but stayed very close to oth- ers in her extended family and it was those people – along with her friends from church and her local area – who will miss her most.”


Barbara Roebuck BARBARA Irene Roebuck (87) lived for 61 years in Shepway, and was formerly a resident in Bower Place, Maidstone. Born Barbara Stone in London,


she moved locally as a young woman and had been in theATS and worked in a furniture shop


before marrying husband Don- ald. Donald was away in the Army and Barbara raised chil- dren John and Diana. Diana said:


“My mum was known for her witty sense of hu- mour and will-power. She was very feisty and in- dependent minded. She worked in a range of jobs locally, including time at the Granada Cinema in Lower Stone Street, in Woolworths, as an industrial nurse at Reed’s paper mill and a job in the can- teen at Mid-Kent College in Maidstone. “She also did a lot of other


things locally including mem- bership of St John’s Ambulance, attending the Salvation Army twice aweek as well as sequence, ballroom and line dancing. She baked and grew flowers. “She took swimming lessons in


her 70s and learned to drive at 75, when my father became too ill to do it and needed to be fer- ried around. Her father had left her family when she was young and in 1985 she made contact with six half-siblings in Devon.” Barbara was widowed in 2003;


she leaves her children, grand- daughter Nichola and great grandchildren Ryan, Holly and Emily.


Henry Town HENRY Town, who died just short of his 90th birthday, spent 85 years of his life in the same house in Grafty Green. Born two miles from the vil-


lage, hemoved there as a boy and left in his final years to live in a care home.Heworked locally for Foreman’s corn merchants of Headcorn. He lived with his par- ents until their death and then continued living locally. Henry’s friend, Rob Eastwood,


who runs Grafty Green Post Of- fice and Stores, said: “Henry was well-known and well-liked lo- cally.He was easy-going and very content with his life. He was often the first customer in the shop after we opened; he would buy things day-by-day and come in to chat. He was the kind of person who never asked for help but was gratefulwhen people did things for him.”


Larry Newman THE death of Larry Newman (37), of PlainsAvenue, Shepway, made local headlines. Mr Newman was killed as he worked to repair a crash barrier on the A2 at Barham, near Can- terbury. The tributes have been led by his daughter, Kerry, who called him a “wonderful father, husband, son and brother”.


Penny Stubbs PENNYStubbs (80) ofThe Street, Bethersden, made a significant contribution to Kent life, serving as Deputy Lieutenant of the county, chair of the Kent Police


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


Authority and a magistrate. Her MBE – awarded in 2002 –


was given for her public service work. A resident in Bethersden for 50 years, she was also known throughout her local community, where she and husband Timhad hosted an annual garden party for St Margaret’s Church. Prior to becoming a mother to


sons Toby and Philip she had worked in the print industry, serving as secretary to the deputy editor of the Daily Telegraph. Her court work took Penny to


the Ashford bench and her 36 years of service there made her one of the country’s longest serv- ing magistrates. She chaired the juvenile bench for six years. This service led to her working for Kent Police Authority where she chaired the organisation for three years, between 1998 and 2001. Penny was also very active in Bethersden life where she had been a school governor and churchwarden. Tributes have come from peo-


ple in all the areas in which Penny served. Penny leaves her husband, sons and grandchil- dren Charlotte, Freddy, Angus, Aaraminta andWilliam.


Maurice Nyangon DR Maurice Nyangon (54) lived in Thurnham for 15 years, having previously lived in Bor- den, near Sit- tingbourne. His early life was spent in Kenya, where many of his family still live.


After teaching for more than 20


years he embarked on a career in education at Greenwich Univer- sity. He had a passion for his work and gained his PhD from Greenwich University in 2010. He also published books and pa- pers on his subject. Dr Nyangon was very much a family man and had daughters Lily and Hannah with his first wife. He loved his home and gar- den and the county of Kent. He had a host of interests, including philosophy, politics and music, and could turn his hand to al- most anything. He will be buried at St Mary’s Church, Thurnham, which was hiswish. Maurice leaves hiswife and daughters.


Girls’ football THE Roseacre Raiders girls’ team is looking for recruits. TheRaiders,basedatthe Elizabeth Harvie field, behind Holy Cross Church, are enter- ing the Kent Girls’ League for the first time this year. Coach Dan Skinner is al-


ways looking for new recruits and wants to set up a team for girls from years 3 and 4. For details, visit www.roseacr- eraiders.co.uk, email Dan on girlsmanager@roseacr- eraiders.co.uk or call 07946 892689.


East 53


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