Sylvia Howard SYLVIA Howard (80), who has died in Eastbourne, lived in Baxter’s Cot- tage, Bearsted for around 20 years. She moved locally with husband of around 40 years Alf, a commercial artist. The couple had formerly lived in London and Meopham; where they had a smallholding. Sylvia and Alf were both


noted bowlers and joined Bearsted and Thurnham Bowls Club shortly after it opened. Sylvia’s good friends and fel-


low bowlers Antony and Gwen- doline Hayman said: “Sylvia and Alf were both very good bowlers. Sylvia won the ladies championship at the club sev- eral times and competed at county level, she also served as ladies captain. She was a really lovely lady who never said a bad word about anyone. Polite- ness and manners mattered a lot to her.” Sylvia and Alf moved to Nor-


wich, but he died soon after- wards and Sylvia eventually moved to Eastbourne. Sylvia leaves her daughters Beverly and Lesley; another daughter, Jo, pre-deceased her. She also leaves grandchildren James, Fred and Daisy.


Micky Spillane R.C. “MICKY” Spillane (81) lived in Maidstone from 1958, moving locally from London, having grown up in Somerset, to work in electrical engineer- ing.


His professional work for


GEC included involvement in electrification of the local rail- ways and Micky was excep- tionally well-known locally for his lengthy and significant in- volvement in Maidstone rugby and Kent rugby. Micky played for a number of Maidstone teams, including significant time with the first team. CurrentMaidstone rugby president Bob Beney said: “I’m told by a teammate that Micky was a dependable player with


We will remember


very high standards on the field.”


Micky went on to serve the


club as secretary from 1974 to 1980 and president from 1995 to 1998. He also served rugby on a county-wide basis as a ref- eree,member of the Kent Refer- ees’ Society, as Kent Fixtures and Match secretary and as vice-president of the county. Bob Beney said: “Micky was


also a golfer who belonged to Tudor Park Golf Club from its inception and had a keen inter- est in cricket; with colleague Des Payne he ran the rugby tent during Maidstone cricket week at theMote. He never forgot his Somerset roots and remained a man with firm views and very strong principles.” Married for 56 years to Janice, Micky leaves hiswife, children Christine and Lewis and five grandchildren.


Patricia Ells PATRICIA Ells (87) lived in Essex Road, Shepway, for 59 years and lived in the Maid- stone area for most of her life. Born Patricia Earl, near Chatham, her previous homes locally were at Barming Heath and Beaumont Road. She moved into Essex Road in 1954. Married to paper maker Arthur for 33 years, Patricia wasmother to Peter, Robert and Michael. Son Robert said: “After raising her sons my mother went back to work at county police headquarters on the Sutton Road as a cleaner in their driving school. She was a very popular person who loved caravan holidays with my fa- ther.


“She was well known and


well liked in her local area and we were overwhelmed with the donations given in hermemory to fight motor neurone dis- ease.”


Patricia leaves her sons and six grandchildren.


Rev Gordon Marsh THE Rev Gordon Marsh (87), who has died in Tenterden, lived andworked 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.


Mike Williams MICHAEL “Mike” Williams (66), who has died in Buxton, Derbyshire, lived locally until his mid-20s. Born in Wheeler Street,Maid-


stone, and formerly a pupil at Maidstone Technical School, Mike worked locally in forestry and as a signalman before tak- ing a job in KCC’s education de- partment. As part of the job he was able


to train at Maidstone College of Art in photography; a skill he used in his job. He eventually moved to Der- byshire towork for the National Parks Authority, and was based in the Peak District. While in Maidstone Mike had also en- joyed notoriety as a lead gui- tarist; performing in a number of well-known local bands in- cluding The Soundcasters, The Web and TheWeb Foundation. In Derbyshire Mike met part-


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.


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www.dovesfunerals.co.uk 36 East


ner of 36 years, Diane Tranter. The couple raised daughter Kate and Mike branched out into freelance photography; earning a national reputation for the quality of his work and contributing photographs to


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.


01622 726633 To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


guidebooks, books, brochures and many other publications. Mike’s company – Peak Pic-


tures – worked for a range of private and public clients throughout the country. Diane said: “Mike was an out-


doors person who loved walk- ing, skiing and cycling. The tributes have been overwhelm- ing; he had somany friends and was so well thought of. “Hewas luckytobeableto combine the things he loved with his work. Mike was cre- ative, funny and very, very gen- tle.”


Mike leaves Diane and Kate.


Kathleen Knowles KATHLEEN Knowles (82) lived in Loose for 25 years, with her husband of 59 years, Derek. The couple had previously lived in BoughtonMonchelsea, Sheppey and Sittingbourne. Born Kathleen Jolliffe in Addington, she trained as a school teacher in Clacton and spent most of her local career working in primary and infants schools in Strood and Sitting- bourne, working her way up to deputy head duties. With Derek, who worked in


the wholesale fruit business and became a sub-postmaster in the Maidstone area, Kathleen raised children Dave, Jan and Andy. Derek said: “Kathleen was a lovely cheerful person, very bright and intelligent but not somebody who always put her- self forward. She stayed bright and cheerful through ill health and was a good friend to lots of people. She enjoyed collecting postcards, which she’d done from the age of eight; playing the piano and electric organ and growing plants.” Kathleen leaves her husband, children, nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, with another great-grandchild expected this year.


Big Day Out MORE than 15,000 people are expected to converge on- Mote Park over the August bank holiday weekend for BBC’s CBeebies Big Day Out . The tour will seeMr Bloom


and his Veggies bringing their show “When Julian Lost his Wiggle” to the park. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked via the website www.bbc.co.uk/showsand- tours/shows/events/mr_bloo m_maidstone_2013 ThedeadlineisAugust8,


and names will then be drawn in advance. There will be a variety of


other free activities taking place from 10am to 5pm via general admission, including songs and storytelling with Rastamouse and Da Easy Crew.


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