Maisie Douglass MAISIE Evelyn Douglass (81) lived for the last 14 years in Kingswood. She ran a fancy goods shop


in Coxheath for 12 years, next door to a DIY store owned and run by her husband, Jim, to whom she was married for 62 years. Born Maisie Baker in Mar-


gate, she moved to the Maid- stone area as a young girl and met Jim whilst she was work- ing as a secretary to a firm of builders. The couple had two sons, Stuart and Mark, who share the same birthday but were born two years apart. In later years Maisie and Jim moved to Doncaster to run a kennels, returning to live in Kingswood as they neared re- tirement. Maisie had a long involve-


ment with the Maidstone Am- ateur Operatic Society going back to when the society per- formed at the Palace Theatre on the site of the current Robert Dyas shop in Gabriels Hill. She performed many lead


roles and was well known to Maidstone


theatregoers.


Maisie was also a keen breeder of border collies, and one of her dogs won best in class at Crufts. Jim said: “Maisie was fun, happy and easy-going. She re- ally enjoyed her life.” Maisie leaves her husband,


sons and granddaughters, Abby and Fenna.


Mike Denness MICHAEL “Mike” Denness, Kent cricket captain from 1972 to


1976,


made sport- ing history in a number of ways. In captain-


ing Kent, he helped the county to six limited over trophies and a runners-up spot in the county championship in five seasons. He earned the title ofWisden Cricketer of the Year in 1975, during his cap- taincy of Kent. When he left Kent for Essex, he helped that county to win the county championship. Scottish-born Denness was


only the second Scotsman to captain the England cricket team and his sporting success led to him becoming one of the first inductees into the Scot- tish Sports Hall of Fame. He went on to become an interna- tional cricket referee. Mike leaves his three chil- dren and partner, Doreen.


Joyce Chown JOYCE Chown (97), who has died in Clevedon, Northum- berland, lived in Willington Street, Maidstone, from 1947 to 1980 and Roseacre Lane, Bearsted until 1990.


38 East


We will remember Born Joyce Fullager in Folke-


stone, she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and met husband Angus at a dance at Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone. They married in 1938. During the war, Joyce raised children Christabel, Robert, and Sarah in Northampton, Angus’s home town. Locally, Angus worked as a town plan- ner for KCC and Joyce ap- peared in plays for the Deanery Players. Sarah said: “My parents will


be remembered for years of in- volvement with St John’s Church, Willington, and St Nicholas Church, Otham. There is a wooden statue of St Nicholas, carved by my father, in St Nicholas Church. “My mother was a life-long member of the Mothers Union and supported world peace through her work forMoral Re- Armament (MRA). She made many generous contributions to a range of charities.” Joyce, who was widowed in


2004, leaves her children, seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. A memorial service for both


Joyce and Angus will be held at St Nicholas Church, Otham, at 2pm on Sunday, June 23, followed by tea in the church, or outside if the weather is fine.


Please phone 0208 255 1862 if you wish to attend.


Valerie Kelsey VALERIE Kelsey (74), of Hillary Road, Maidstone, and formerly of Scott Street, was a lunchtime-supervisor at North Borough School. She took the post after start-


ingwork in the school kitchens. Valerie was also a founder of The Barn Youth Club. Born locally as Valerie Lewer, she had a narrow es- cape during the war when the neighbouring house was bombed, killing two occu- pants. Valerie and her aunt Ethel (with whom she was liv- ing at the time) escaped with a covering of soot after the blast blew down their chimney. Valerie’s schooling included


Vinters Girls and Maidstone Technical School for Girls. She began working as an appren- tice hairdresser at Mason Gene of Gabriel’s Hill. She was mar- ried to Roger Kelsey from 1963 until his death in 2005. The couple met at The Barn Youth Club, and have one daughter, Joanne. Valerie continued working


for North Borough School after her retirement by listening to children read. She looked after the children of visitors to Maidstone Prison and worked in the Children’s Society shop on Bank Street.


Jagtar Singh Claire JAGTAR Singh Claire (79) lived the final 25 years of his life in Vinters Park, and had lived locally since 1969.


Originally


from India, he moved to Coventry, where he worked in a foundry, and Slough before set- tling in the Fant area. He worked as a printer, but with the trade declining he decided to take on a former Co-op shop in Upper Fant Road, which he ran as Prices Supermarket from 1977 until 2002, when he sold to Spar. He became known as “Big


Jack” andworked with his fam- ily, including wife Harbhajan. Jagtar, and his business made the headlines when he tackled robbers who were armed with knives by grabbing a large piece of timber from the back of his shop, chasing them out and helping to ensure their arrest. Jagtar was father to Jagmail


and Balraj. Son Jagmail said: “My father could be really out- going and he got on well with people. He was from a farming community and he liked Maid- stone because of the country- side and the fruit farms. He enjoyed going to Maidstone Mela and liked cars. “When the business pros-


pered he bought a new Jaguar Sovereign and still had it when he died, over 20 years later. He also enjoyed reading poetry.” Jagtar leaves his wife, chil-


dren and grandchildren Amardeep, Sandeep, Oliver and Jack.


Robert Swan ROBERT David Swan (88) who lived for over 60 years in Shep- way, spent years working lo- cally for the GPO, starting on groundwork gangs erecting tele- graph poles and rising to be- come area supervisor. Born and raised in Maid-


stone, he began working as a floor moulder as a boy. He served in Burma during the war, seeing some of the fiercest ground fighting and earning the Burma Star. He had been trans- ferred to the Army after enlist- ing in the Navy, and served 61 days in that service. He returned locally to marry Marjorie and become father to Robert and Lynda. Daughter Lynda said: “My father loved playing snooker, especially at the Working Men’s Club on Brewer Street, and was an ac- tive member of a local fishing club. He enjoyed freshwater fishing all round the area. He could be funny andmake others laugh, once they saw his way of


looking at things. He was a lov- ing father, grandfather and great-grandfather.” Robert waswidowed and had


also lost son Robert, aged 21, in an accident. He leaves his daughter, grandchildren Matt, Ben and Steve, and great-grand- children Joby, Katie, Will, Jacob, Nathaniel, Jayden and Luke.


Joan and Grahame


Brownless A DOUBLE funeral was held for Joan Brownless (93) and her son Grahame (65), who died within five days of each other. Grahame had been living in


hismother’s home in Broadoak Avenue, Maidstone. His mother, who was formerly a resident at the property, died at the Loose Valley Nursing Home. Joan was born in Gravesend


and had served in the war with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. She moved to Maidstone with husband, Gordon, in 1951. She lost her husband in 1971. She was a member of the Townswomen’s Guild and the Trefoil Guild. She had also done a lot of


local voluntary work, including involvement with local meals on wheels, prison visiting and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Along with her son, she was a member of the Valley Conser- vation Society, based in Loose. She was mother to Grahame, Jeffrey and Joanne. Grahame attended Maidstone Grammar School and followed a career in accountancy in Lon- don, before returning to full- time studytoearnanMBA degree. He suffered a heart attack at


the age of 40 and at the time of his death was on the waiting list for heart valve replacement surgery.


visor at Northborough School.


David Crosbie DAVID Crosbie (68), who died suddenly, chaired the advisory council for St Augustine Acad- emy, Maidstone. He had been involved with


the academy for two years. This voluntary position came after a professional career devoted to public service including work for government bodies associ- ated with social care. He leaves wife Christine and daughters Louise and Sonia.


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.


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