ment with the Maidstone Ama- teur 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 bor- der 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 sporting his- tory in a num- ber 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 of Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1975, during his captaincy of Kent. When he left Kent for Essex, he helped that county to win the county championship. Denness was only the second Scotsman to captain the Eng- land cricket team and his sport-


ing success led to him becoming one of the first inductees into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. Hewent on to become an international cricket referee. Mike leaves his three children


and partner, Doreen. Joan and Grahame


Brownless ADOUBLE funeral was held for Joan Brownless (93) and her son Grahame (65), who died within five days of each other. Grahame


(right) lived in his mother’s home in Broadoak Av- enue, Maid- stone. His mother, died at the Loose Valley Nurs- ing 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, who died 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 meals on wheels, prison visiting and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Along with her son, she was a member of the Valley Conservation Soci- ety, based in Loose. She was mother to Grahame, Jeffrey and Joanne.


Grahame attended Maidstone Grammar School and followed a career in accountancy. He suffered a heart attack at the


age of 40 and when he died he was on the waiting list for heart valve replacement surgery.


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” and worked 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 outgoing and he got on well with people. He was from a farming community and he liked Maidstone be- cause of the countryside 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.


Peter Milton PETER Robert Milton (89), who lived in Bower Lane from 1965, was known locally from many years of running his own en- graving business in St Faith’s Street.


Married for 60 years to Mil-


dred, Peter was also known from his years of playing cricket for Maidstone. Originally from Colchester, he


had also lived in Canterbury and seen war service as a navi- gator on bombers, including Liberators. His war service took him to


the Middle East and he also flew from the UK.


Peter Finch THE funeral has taken place of Peter Finch (60), of St Helen’s Lane, West Farleigh. He leaves his widow, Jenny.


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