Fred Gardner FREDERICK “Fred” Gardner (87) lived most of his life lo- cally. He spent the last 20 years in Allington having previ- ously lived more than 20 years in East Malling. Born in


New Hythe Lane, in one of the cottages that stands on the site of the current Waitrose car park, Fred was evacuated dur- ing the war, and was later called up for Navy service. Daphne, his wife of 66 years,


said: “Fred’s skills with elec- tronics meant he spent a lot of time training on new equip- ment and we counted our- selves lucky that this and serving on ships well away from the fighting kept him safe. “When he retired, he was


asked if he could cut toenails for elderly and disabled people and he and a friend started a voluntary footcare service. When it started they charged 50p and as the service grew I helped them run it. It was in the Maidstone and Malling area.” Fred and Daphne met at a friend’s wedding, and after the war they settled locally. Fred worked as a nurse at Leybourne Grange, rising to become unit officer. He was father to Sally and Andrew. Daphne added: “Fred loved fishing, from a boat and a beach, played badminton and tennis and enjoyed photogra- phy. He also played bowls.” Fred leaves hiswife, children


and grandchildren David and Mark.


Jonathan Dicker JONATHAN Richard Dicker (30) lived in Mereworth and formerly in Larkfield.


Locally


born, he at- tended Ayles- ford School and Mid Kent College, train- ing to become a carpenter and going on to work with his stepfather Steve Lunnon, in the firm bearing his name. Jonathan was father to six-


year-old Archie and brother to Laura. His father Richard said: “Jonathan loved football and went with his mates to see Ar- senal play. He was a typical Ar- senal supporter and loved it when they won. He had played for local team Malgo. “There have been posts on


his Facebook page since he died from people sharing foot- ball newswith him. Hewas the life and soul of things, and al- ways involved in something. “Jonathan was very competi-


tive and wanted to do every- thing better, even his work,


20 Malling


We will remember


where he had his own way of getting things done and always wanted to improve.” Jonathan leaves his parents, sister and son.


Brian Cannell BRIAN Cannell (76) had lived in Heather Drive, Maidstone, for about 50 years. He was known for his decades’ long involvement with teaching art at Senacre School and from the life- long involvement he had with All Saints’ Church, where he went from boy chorister to a tour guide and resident artist, providing visual work for a range of materials, like sing-a- long sheets. Born in Albion Place, he had


also lived in Melville Road. Brian was educated at South Borough School and Maid- stone Grammar School before going on to Maidstone College of Art and Goldsmiths College, where he completed his teacher training. His only significantwork out


of the area was teaching in Bagshot. Prior to working at Senacre, he taught at Clare Park, East Malling. A bachelor, Brian was a carer


for his mother in the final years of her life. Brother Keith said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the respect and affection people held for Brian. “Former pupils – now in middle age – have paid tribute to the impact he made on their lives and All Saints’ Church have said how much he will be missed.” Brian had also played cricket forWest Farleigh.


Vic Baker WING leader Vic Baker (81), of Cutbush Almshouses, College Road, and formerly of St Philip’s Av- enue, Maid- stone, was an RAF veteran who devoted himself self- lessly to help- ing others discover where their relatives had died during the war. Born in Chart Sutton, Vic’s


career took in working for the estates department of Kent County Council, Marleys and Kimberly Clark in Larkfield. He was married for 49 years to Mavis, and father to Julie. His true passion remained


with the RAF; as a boy he had loved watching planes fly to and from Staplehurst. He was known in recent years for his organisation of the


annual Fall of Eagles aviation event on the site of Chickenden Farm, Staplehurst, a spectacle that involved a fly-past by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. As a young man he served in


the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, joining the RAF. He served in the special investigations arm of the RAF Police and in- structed others in aircraft recognition. He subsequently served with


40F (Maidstone) Squadron of the Air Cadets. From the early 80s, Vic served with the honorary rank of Major in the Royal Canadian Air Force, eventually being promoted toWing Leader. He gave talks on the history


of the 363rd fighter group, which was based in Staple- hurst.


Daughter Julie said: “My fa-


ther just liked helping people. He worked for Neighbourhood Watch at St Philip’s Avenue and College Road.” Vicwas widowed in 2011. He


leaves his daughter, son-in-law David, grandchildren Krystle and John and great-grand- daughter Molly.


Rene Bowers RENE Annie Bowers (87) lived in Madginford Road, Bearsted from 1970 until she moved to a care home in her


final


months. She was well-known for her work in industrial and hospital nursing. Born Rene Annie Shephard,


in Croydon, her earliest em- ployment included a period as a secretary for the Free French Government in Exile in Lon- don towards the end of thewar. She trained as a nurse and


her career included a spell at Waddon Isolation Hospital be- fore moving locally. Her career in industry saw


her rise to manage staff at Reed’s paper mill in Aylesford and Batchelor’s Foods in Ash- ford. Her final post was as sen- ior nursing officer at All Saints’ Hospital in Chatham. Rene married Harry Bowers a


few weeks before her 50th birth- day, becoming step-mother to twins Colin and Keith. Her brother, Robert, said: “Rene was bright, good company, hard- working and determined.” She was well known in the Madginford Road area. She en- joyed travelling and was a reg- ular worshipper at the Holy Cross Church in Bearsted. Her husband (a former police


chief inspector) died in 2004. Rene leaves her brother, step- sons and five grandchildren.


Violet Bluffield VIOLET Bluffield (79) lived in Larkfield from 1966. Born Violet Furnivall in Bromley, she worked for the Keith Prowse ticket agency in Londonwhen she met hus- band Ron. They married in Bromley. The couple, who have two daughters, Elaine and Tracey, were approaching their 55th wedding anniversary when Vi- olet died. Ron said: “Violet worked at Brookfield School as a dinner lady for more than five years. “She loved knitting and watching television and was a member of Larkfield Ladies Club.


“When we were living in London, we both loved going to see ice hockey played in Haringey. Violet was very happy-go-lucky andwell-loved by everyone. She remained positive and happy, evenwhen she got ill.” Violet leaves her husband, daughters, two grandchildren Stacey and Charlotte, and son- in-law Chris, who gave a read- ing at her funeral.


Nina Sales NINA Sales (85) lived in Ditton for just over 60 years. Originally


from Wool- wich, she was a worker at Woolwich Ar- senal during the war and a member of the Women’s Land Army. She met husband Tom when


she was stationed at East Malling. Tom was the son of a family


who ran a dairy and Nina moved locally, working at Reed’s paper mill before hav- ing children Andrea, Steven and Gill. She returned to the Reed’s site to work for Key Ter- rain for nine years. Gill said: “My mother made a life-long friend, Muriel, in her job at Key Terrain and after tak- ing redundancy she loved trav- elling with my father and a group of friends with the Safe- way Retirement Club. “They had many trips and


my mother had also been to Australia with friends. She was gregarious, full of fun and was always telling funny stories. “We had a saying about her


being ‘in front of the fox’ be- cause she rushed at things so much that if she’d been part of fox hunt that’s where she’d be. She was a brilliant mum and grandmother.” Nina – who was widowed in


2002 – leaves her children and grandchildren Rachel, Georgie, Daniel and Adam.


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