nors before his current 1934 Morris. “He was a hands-on dad, and a wonderful husband. He was very involved in St Peter’s Church, BoughtonMonchelsea.” Steve leaves hiswife and chil-


dren, parents Frank and Mavis and sister Caroline.


Stan Gunner STANLEY “Stan” Gunner (91) had lived in Maidstone for 22 years and was previously a res- ident of Coxheath for over 30 years. Born and raised in Barming,


the only significant time he spent away from the area was duringwar service as a sergeant in the Army in Italy, where he was wounded by shrapnel. Married for 57 years to Peggy,


Stan was father to Jen and John. He worked locally as a me- chanic for the fire brigade, be- fore moving on to spend years as an electrician with Kimberly Clark, the post from which he retired. Peggy said: “Stan was easy-


going and capable of getting on with anybody. He was a family man who could enjoy being at home and working in his gar- den. In his younger days he played football for Barming and Chart Sutton. “Given our surname it was probably appropriate that he followed Arsenal Football Club andhewenttogames as a young man.” Stan leaves his wife, children, grandchildren Nathan, Kirsten, Zara and Francesca, and great- grandchildren Sophie and Iso- bel.


Taking plunge


for stroke care STROKE victim Julie Thomas, from Barming, is planning a parachute jump to raise money for a support group she helped to set up.


Julie (48), whose youngest son is now eight, suffered a massive stroke almost five years ago that left her in a coma for a week. She is now com- pletely paralysed down her left side. As she was left-handed, she has had to re-learn how to cope with her right hand, and how to walk again. She takes medication to control her pain, and tires easily


In 2009 she helped to set up and run a group called the Maidstone Working Age Stroke Group, which supports stroke victims and their carers, and or- ganises regular days out for the members.


The group is part of the Stroke Association, but is self- funding, so Julie and another member, carer Sandie Wilson, are planning the tandem sky- dives at Headcorn on April 14. Anyone who would like to sponsor her can do so at www.justgiving.com/juli- ethomasskydiveforstroke.


We will remember


Jessie Wickens JESSIE May Elsbeth Wickens (84) lived lo- cally for most of her life, having moved to the area from London asayoung woman. She made


her home in Yalding, East Farleigh, Loose and spent 10 years in St Anne’s Court, Maidstone, before mov- ing to a care home. Born Jessie Pearce in Plum-


stead, London, she was evacu- ated to Wales for a short time. Post-war she left school at the age of 11, and was soon in- volved in agricultural work. She came to Kent for hop-picking work and met and married William “Billy” Kite. The couple raised sons Charles and Ron. Billy moved from farm work to employment at Maidstone gas works, but died of cancer, leaving Jessie a single parent in her mid 30s. Eventually she met and mar-


ried Eric Wickens, raising son Kyle. Ron said: “My mother kept working and was resilient. She took on challenges andmet them head-on, making sure she kept food on the table and looked after her family. She con- tinued in farm work and when living in Yalding worked at Hovell’s cracker factory.” Widowed again in 1978, Jessie


YOUNG people living in Park Wood are to be asked to help design a new skate park for teens. The council has agreed to


spend cash contributed by Sun- ley Holdings, developers of the land where the Parkwood Tav- ern once stood in Wallis Av- enue, on the skate park to improve the facilities for its younger residents. Councillors heard the recre-


ation ground was a “strategi- cally important site” servicing the Park Wood estate, which suffers from high levels of dep- rivation and crime. The play area was upgraded


in 2009 using Big Lottery Chil- dren’s Play funding, and a new multi use games area and teen play area were also created. The skate park idea came out


GOOD causes in Maidstone re- ceived £267,000 of National Lottery funding in 2012, ac- cording to the latest figures. Sixteen grants were awarded


in theMaidstone area:  £20,000 to Kent Music School to give more young peo- ple the opportunity to take part


is survived by her children, grandchildren Neil, Emma, Ian, Samuel and Daniel and great- grandson Seth.


Jim Skene JIM Skene (83), who lived for 48 years in Farleigh Lane, Barming, waswell-known from years as a bus driver and inspector for Maidstone and District Buses. He spent years working throughout the local area; his final postings saw him based as an inspector at Gravesend and then Borough Green. Jim made local news as one of


the first people to report picking up the legendary phantom hitchhiker of Blue Bell Hill: an experience he hadwhen return- ing from Gravesend late one night. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland,


Jim met his wife of 52 years, Kathleen, when the pair were serving in the Auxiliary Air Force at Sandwich. The couple raised sonsMichael and Paul. Kathleen said: “Jim was dedi-


cated to his family and friends, he got on well with people and one reason he was successful as an inspector was that he dealt well with all sorts of people in all sorts of situations. “He loved working on cars


and was always happy taking them apart and rebuilding them. He also loved spending time in his greenhouse and we both enjoyed bingo sessions at Ham HillWorkingMen’s Club.”


Skate park plan for Park Wood


of a consultation between the council’s community develop- ment team and residents in 2011. Sunley were obliged to pay


the council £40,950 under what is known as a Section 106 agreement when they built three blocks of flats on the site. Cllr John Wilson, cabinet member for community and leisure services, approved the proposed spending of £37,950 on a wooden skate area within Parkwood recreation ground, with the remaining £3,000 on a path linking the teen play area and the proposed skate area. The idea is for local young people to get involved in pro- ducing a design, helping to build the structure on site and possibly even hosting an open- ing event for the park, once it is completed.


Lottery cash for local good causes


in music sessions.  £31,490 to improve the facil- ities at The Mote Youth Sports Centre.  £9,985 to Maidstone charity Friday People, to run training and work experience pro- grammes for youngsters in rural areas.


Jim leaves his wife, sons, and grandchildren Amber, Douglas, Alex, Aaron and Jake.


Lady Wells LADYWells (91), who has died after a short illness at her home in Mereworth, was noted lo- cally as the wife of Sir John Wells who held the parliamen- tary seat of Maidstone from 1959 to 1987. Lucinda Wells was raised in


north Gloucestershire and did secretarial work at a hospital during the war. She married JohnWells in 1948. The couple moved to Mere-


worth in 1958, and raised chil- dren Julia, Andrew, Henrietta and Oliver. As well as supporting her husband’s political work Lady Wells was involved with her local parish council and parochial church council. She served as chairman of Maidstone Opthalmic Hospi- tal’s house committee and pres- ident of Maidstone’s branch of The Children’s Society. She was also Conservative councillor for Mereworth and West Peckham on Tonbridge and Malling District Council from 1976 to 1979. Friends have commented on


her strong faith and a commit- ment that meant she seldom missed church services. She was also known for a love of music and art, becoming an ex- hibiting local artist in her 70s. Lady Wells leaves her hus-


band, three of her children – daughter Julia pre-deceased her – seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.


Pine trees to


be protected MAIDSTONE Council has reit- erated its decision to protect three pine trees in rear gardens in Ashdown Close, Maidstone, following an administrative error.


In April last year a TPO was made to protect the mature specimens behind Nos 12, 14 and 16, but an order was never served on the owner of No 10, making it invalid.


At a recent committee meet- ing, members decided to go ahead with the order, despite an objection from resident Mr Bristow, who said: “My house is next door to one of the trees and it causes constant anxiety. A tree fell down recently and we were lucky there were no significant injuries.”


His view was echoed by local ward member Cllr Brian Moss, who said: “It is inappropriate to make a TPO on trees that are a substantial danger.” However, Maidstone Coun-


cil’s landscape officer Nick Gallavin said he had noticed no defects when he inspected the site.


Members voted in favour of confirming the TPO.


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