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 very high standards on the field.” Mickywentontoserve the


club as secretary from 1974 to 1980 and president from 1995


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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 the Mote. 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.


Les Mitchell HARRY Leslie “Les” Mitchell (74) lived in Coxheath for the final


five


years of his life.


This fol-


lowed a career in which he had travelled the world working for theMinistry of Defence as a radar expert. Born in St Ives, Cornwall, Les joined the MoD from school and his postings included Sin- gapore, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, as well as time in England. He moved lo- cally from Somerset and in the last few months was tracked down by the Gurkhas and awarded a gallantry medal for service alongside the regiment. Les met wife Roseanne in


South Africa almost 30 years ago. Roseanne Mitchell said: “Les was a do-er and somebody who could always achieve


things. He took his sense of hu- mour with him everywhere. “In South Africa he had run


The Printers’ Tray, a journal for people in the printing trade that featured humour, interviews and factual articles. It is typical of his approach to life that he got involved with Coxheath Parish Council because there were things he wanted done lo- cally.


“Amongst his other achieve-


ments is a successful campaign to save an oak tree. Les was an old-fashioned gentleman, al- ways courteous and diplo- matic. He did a lot of work for the cancer charity The Peggy Wood Foundation.” Les leaves his wife.


Gwen Henthorne GWEN Henthorne (81) lived in Mallings Drive, Bearsted for over 50 years. Born locally as Gwen Ranger,


her former homes included Coxheath andMaidstone. Gwen worked as a shorthand


typist for KCC in the depart- ment dealing with forestry, and met her husband Geoff, who worked there as a chartered sur- veyor and valuer. The couple were married for


18 years and had daughter Stephanie. Gwen became a full-time mother but waswidowedwhen Stephanie was a little girl, and returned to work as a dinner lady at Thurnham School, a job she held for over 20 years. Stephanie Henthorne said:


“My mother was peaceful, ac- cepting, and modest. She was very caring and a lot of people held her dear. “In her retirement she went regularly to aquacise sessions at the Tudor Park Hotel and be- came one of a group of friends who dubbed themselves the aquababes.” Gwen leaves her daughter.


Shirley Harding SHIRLEY Harding (80) had lived in Allington since 2008, moving lo- cally with husband of 63 years Don to be near her daughter, Carol Foster. She was


born Shirley Matthews in London, and lived most of her life in the capital. After being evacuated in the war, Shirley returned to London and showed a talent for art. She worked in a number of


jobs throughout her life while Don pursued a career as a sen- ior lecturer in welding and en- gineering. Daughter Carol said: “My mother was always happy, al- ways helpful and was the kind


of person who would do any- thing for anyone. She was prag- matic, very hard-working and had done a range of jobs, from painting toy soldiers to assem- bling electrical equipment. “People knew her as kind and generous and she made friends locally as soon as she moved here. Art was her lifelong pas- sion and she loved musical films.”


Shirley had managed to use


her artistic talents in some jobs, notably as a commercial artist in the years before shemarried. She leaves her husband, daugh- ter and grandsons Michael and David.


Nathan Binskin NATHAN Binskin (25) lived his whole life in Vinters Park. Educated at


East Borough School and Maidstone Grammar School, he started at Bar- ratt’s Shoes in the Chequers Centre on Sat- urdays and went on to work full-time at the shop on leaving school after his A Levels. Nathan’s parents Paul and Sharon said: “Nathan was a quiet person who really en- joyed his computer, films and comedy DVDs. He was a good swimmer who had competed for the local swimming club in solo breaststroke events and as part of their medley relay squad. “He loved a curry and was so


well known at his favourite restaurant, the Spice Hut at the top of Brewer Street, that he personally knew their staff.” Nathan was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma at the end of April, but his sudden death still took friends and family by surprise. Nathan leaves his par- ents, his sister Miranda and his nephew Brendan and niece Charlie May.


Eric Jupp ERIC Jupp (89) lived in Flo- rence Road, Fant, from 1937, having moved from London. He attended


East Borough School and had ambi- tions to be a pilot. He began train- ing, but even- tually went into the Army, serving in Egypt. He returned locally to work for Tilling Stevens, and then at Haynes garage; after which he always bought Ford cars, Eric was happily married to Kathleen and the couple en- joyed caravan holidays before Kathleen’s sudden death left him devastated. Eric’s final work involved working as a driver for KCC, a job he loved. Through his work he met


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