Sheila Rowe BEARSTED’S Sheila Rowe (67) was a noted academic and widely known locally as the wife of Mid Kent MP An- drew Rowe, who repre- sented the seat from 1983 to 1997. With her husband she lived locally from 1983 in Bearsted, leaving the village to live in Sutton Valence and Detling, but returning to Bearsted after both moves. Born Sheila Finkle in Sun- derland, she enjoyed a high- profile academic career and had daughters Louise and Kathryn with her first husband, HansjrgWirz. Sheila’s academic career was conducted mainly under the name of SheilaWirz; she held an emeritus professorship of dis- ability studies at the Institute of Child Health, associated with University College London, and was a recognised expert on dis- ability education and commu- nity disability services. Previous posts included di-


rector of teaching and learning at the Institute of Child Health until December 2007. Sheila chaired the management com- mittee, overseeing short courses and supervised PhD re- search in her area of expertise. Widowed in 2008, Sheila


leaves her daughters and step- son, Nicholas Rowe.


Judy Porter JUDY Porter (70) lived in Grafty Green for over 25 years and had lived locally forover40 years.


Originally


from outer London, she commuted for a number of years while working for a Russian shipping company in London before changing her working life completely and joining her partner, Les, to run a small farm. One of Judy’s many friends, Joan Drury, said: “Judy loved


We will remember


animals, among other things she and Les kept horses, dogs and sheep. She worked incred- ibly hard and would deliver things, handle bales of straw and still find time to be in- volved with a number of local clubs. “She worshipped at St Nicholas’ Church in Boughton Malherbe. She was confirmed in one of the benefice churches last year. She was well known locally, was willing to help anyone and was an enthusias- tic washer-up. “Judy and her parents had al-


ways taken part in amateur dramatics in her younger days. At the end of last year she joined Ulcombe Dramatic Am- ateur Club and returned to the stage in their recent produc- tion, “Sshh, Don’tMention the War”. She enjoyed this im- mensely.” Judy, who lost her partner a


few years ago, leaves her many friends in the area.


Rev Malcolm Perkins THE Rev Malcolm Perkins (92) lived in Laddingford for 25 years, retiring there after a life- long career in ministry. 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 charity organisation, Toc H. Malcolm trained for ministry during the war, and attended Cambridge University to study theology before going to Oxford 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 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.


Peter Milton PETER Robert Milton (89),who lived in Bower Lane from 1965, was known locally from many years of run- ning his own engraving business in St Faith’s Street. As a master engraver, his work had in- cluded en- graving 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 forMaidstone. 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 manwho would do anything for anyone. After losing my aunt in 2008 he mastered the use of computers, and learned to use a laptop at the age of 86. He will also be remembered for his regu- lar attendance at St Andrew’s and St Michael’s churches.”


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 and was well-known among the gliding fraternity and fellowmembers of the Kent Gliding Club, near Charing. John moved locally from Dunstable after a career that saw him working as – among other things – a picture framer, maker of leather handbags and clothing. He travelled as far afield as Hong Kong with his work. After the death of his first


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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.”


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John leaves his wife Sheila


and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.


Pat Corke PAT Corke (97), who died in Wiltshire one day after her 97th birthday, lived in Lower Fant Road, Maidstone for many years. Born Pat Hinson Eldridge in Sheerness, she could remember sheltering during a Zeppelin bombing raid on Sheppey. Pat met husband Bill when


she was a state registered nurse and he was an art student. They married in Maidstone in 1940 and had to seek cover in an air raid shelter as the Battle of Britain took place overhead. The couple lived in Bower


Lodge before moving to Bed- fordshire. They raised children Susan, Robert “Bob”, Elizabeth and William “Bill”, living in Devon and Bradford as Bill’s ca- reer took him to the position of principal in two art colleges. Pat and Bill retired to Bower


Lodge in the mid-seventies. She was a member of the Maidstone Horticultural Soci- ety and very active in All Saints’ Church, Maidstone, as well as the Conservative Party. Son Bill said: “My mother got


on well with others. Like many of her generation she was a great manager and home- builder, she was great fun.” Pat and Bill moved to Wilt-


shire in 2003, Bill died three years later and Pat eventually moved into a care home. She leaves her children, 18 grand- children and 18 great-grand- children.


Rev Gordon Marsh THE Rev Gordon Marsh (87), who has died in Tenterden, lived and worked in Maidstone from 1963 until retiring in 1985. He spent part of his boyhood


in Loose, and returned there to live with Jean, his wife of 59 years, after he had served in the Navy during the war. Gordon rose through the


ranks at KCC, serving as a counter clerk. He was father to Simon and Richard, tragically losing his younger son in an accident on HMS Hermes just prior to the FalklandsWar. On retirement in 1985, Gor-


don followed a personal calling to take holy orders. He had served for many years at All Saints’ Church, Maidstone, in a range of roles including lay reader and sidesman. He be- came a minister and – while living in Romney Marsh – served in a peripatetic role. Jean said: “Gordon loved to


walk in the country and was a very giving person. Our eldest son put in the funeral address that his real vocation lay within the church.” Gordon leaves hiswife, eldest


son and grandchildren Claire, Jonathan and Katharine.


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