Ilma Cooper ILMA Cooper (92), who lived in Fairlawn from 1947, was known as a stalwart of the Teston community. Her in- volvement in local life in- cluded mak- ing teas at T e ston Cricket Club for most of the last 60 years. She was still driving to the cricket ground, at Barham Court, with food for the teams in the back of her car, well into her late 80s. Born Ilma Sharp, she was married to Brian and mother to John, Gill, Richard “Dick” and Jane. She trained as a nurse and worked in two Kent hospi- tals, before a career in the local area as a private nurse. A minute’s applause was


held for her before Teston Cricket Club played Blue Bell Hill, two days after she passed away at her home. Her extended family were


there at the game, including sons John and Dick, who played for Teston for many years, and also grandson Jamie, who has followed in the footsteps of Ilma’s late hus- band Brian Cooper as club cap- tain.


The annual Coopers Cup match, held in Brian’s mem- ory, will have special signifi- cance this year, on July 13. Ilma was actively involved


in many community groups, including the church flower festival and the whist drive. Daughter Gill said: “My mother put so much energy into her life, she was a real community person and a win- ner of the Maidstone Award.” Ilma – who was widowed


just before her 50th wedding anniversary – leaves her chil- dren, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.


Rev Malcolm Perkins THE Reverend Malcolm Perkins (92) lived in Ladding- ford for 25 years, retiring there after a life-long career in min- istry. He had served the parish of


Yalding for many years, having been rector and vicar of several Kent parishes as well as serving as a hospital chaplain in Rochester and padre for the armed services organisation, TocH.


Malcolm trained for ministry during the war, and attended Cambridge University to study theology before going toOxford to train for holy orders. His marriage to Joan produced one son, Andrew. A friend said: “Malcolm had


a good sense of humour and was a thoroughly decent man. His commitment to the church was massive, and he was the kind of priest who believed


We will remember


passionately in the value of pastoral work. “He was the youngest child


of a factory-owning family and was offered the chance to fol- low in that business, but the church was his calling.” Malcolm, who was widowed


about 10 years ago, leaves his son.


Christopher Baldwin CHRISTOPHER Allan Baldwin (88) lived his whole life in the Snodland area. Having grown up locally, he


did war service in the RAF, using his skills to cook for one of their top commanders before being demobbed and returning to the family fish and chip business in Snodland. Christopher ran one shop and


his father ran the shop known locally for years as Stags. He went on to work as a painter and decorator for Townsend and Hook. Married for almost 66 years to Phyliss, Christopher was father to Ann and Elizabeth “Libby”, who said: “My dad worked re- ally hard to look after his girls. He was really quiet, gentle and caring and sometimes worked six or seven-day weeks to pro- vide for us. He cared very deeply about all his family.” Christopher leaves his wife, daughters, granddaughters Kelly, Kristy and Kymm, great- grandchildren Nicole, Lewis, Rhys and Skye and sister Betty.


Christopher Goodall CHRISTOPHER Goodall (96) lived locally from the late 1950s, and was resident in Boughton Monchelsea from 1966 until moving to Gavin Astor House, in the Royal British Legion Vil- lage in 2009. Born and raised in Berkshire,


he served in the Ordnance Corps in WWII, and was taken prisoner by the Japanese at the fall of Singapore, going on to become one of the workforce building the Burma railway. Married for 66 years to Han-


nah, Christopher was father to Clive, Julia, Hilary, Christopher andMontague. He followed a career in retail, working for the David Greig chain of grocers as a training manager, based at Rumwood Court, Langley. He went on to regional management, opening the company’s first supermar- ket in Slough, and was eventu- ally poached to work for the (then) upcoming Tesco chain. Son Montague said: “My fa-


ther had a real gift for his work and could see how displays and organisation worked to


make a difference to business performance. “He kept on working past the


usual retirement age. My father came from a family of nine, and was really happy when his grandchildren visited and played in his back garden in Boughton Monchelsea. “He and my mother loved travelling, but he found a lot of his passion in life through his work, so he didn’t have hob- bies.”


Christopher – who was wid-


owed in 2002 – lost son Clive to meningitis when he was very young. Son Christopher also pre-deceased him. He leaves his three surviving children, nine grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.


Peter Milton PETER Robert Milton (89), who lived in Bower Lane from 1965, was known lo- cally from many years of running his own engrav- ing business in St Faith’s Street. As a master engraver, his work had included engraving the carousel which decorated the christening cake for Prince Charles and Wimbledon tennis trophies. Married for 60 years to Mil-


dred, Peter worked at his busi- ness with his wife. 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. Nephew Brian Milton said:


“My uncle was a good, honest man who would do anything for anyone. After losing my aunt in 2008 he mastered the use of computers, he learned to use a laptop at the age of 86 and was soon sending emails from


his iPad. He will also be re- membered because he regularly attended St Andrew’s and St Michael’s churches.”


David Crosbie DAVID Crosbie (68), of Head- corn, and previously of Ul- combe, chaired the advisory council for St Augustine Acad- emy, Maidstone. He had been involved with


the academy for two years. The voluntary position came after a professional career devoted to public service, including work on government policy in the so- cial services. David worked for the Com- mission for Social Care Inspec- tion and as a researcher for the Institute of SocialWork. Born in Farnham and edu-


cated at the University of Lan- caster, David was married to Christine for 20 years and was father to Louise and Sonia. Christine said: “David’s Catholic principles guided his life and his work, he wor- shipped in Headcorn. He was a wonderful, lovely man with a true gift of friendship.” He leaves wife Christine and daughters Louise and Sonia.


John Bodkin JOHN Bodkin (86), who lived for seven years in Barming and was resident from 1992 in East Farleigh, was a skilled crafts- man who had followed a no- table career, and was also well-known among the gliding fraternity and fellow members of the Kent Gliding Club, near Charing. John moved locally from Dunstable after a career in skilled craftwork that saw him working as – among other things – a picture framer,maker of leather handbags and cloth- ing. He travelled as far afield as Hong Kong with his work. After the death of his first


wife, Sylvia, John moved lo- cally and 12 years ago, married Sheila. His friend Brian Tansley said: “John was a gentle man who had also been a good pho- tographer. Gliding was his real passion.” John leaves his wife Sheila


and will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.


Serving the local community since 1985


The Doves Funerals team are proud to have served Kent for over 25 years. Our customer promise “Here for You” recognises your needs through our values:


Trustworthy: delivering on our promises Respectful: in our treatment of you Responsive: to your needs Accessible: to the local community Progressive: in our attitude to change


For expert advice please contact a member of our team. We are here for you 24 hours a day, for whenever you need us.


Maidstone - Tel: 01622 688662 Larkfield - Tel: 01732 871188 Staplehurst - Tel: 01580 892125 Ashford - Tel: 01233 643000 Sittingbourne - Tel: 01795 431300


www.dovesfunerals.co.uk 30 Malling 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