Town silenced for fallen heroes


MORE than 700 servicemen, military groups, guests and civic dignitaries joined the Remembrance Day parade and service in Maidstone. The fineweatheralsobrought out the pub-


lic for the town’s tribute to the fallen. The parade, led by the Salvation Army


band, gathered at the Memorial, on The Broadway, for theService ofRemembrance, taken by the Rev Canon Christopher Mor- gan-Jones, Major Grayson Williams, of the SalvationArmy, andPadreMandyReynolds, of 36 Engineer Regiment (Search). Laying the first wreath, for thecounciland


Debbie Neave DOWNS Mail director Debbie Neave (51) lived in Madginford, Bearsted, for 31 years with her husband, Gary, a local plumber. Born Debo-


rah Bourne in Maidstone, she lived lo- cally


her


whole life, working in accounts for the Nestledown bed factory, Cigna Insurance and Barclays Bank before starting work from home as a childminder. In February 1999, Debbie be-


came the first person taken on by Downs Mail after Dennis Fowle and his daughter Claire Proctor founded the paper. Debbie was mother to Daniel,


Jason and Andrew. She had bat- tled cancer for over nine years and had been given the all-clear from the condition, only for the illness to return 18 months ago. Debbie’s co-director and col- league, Claire Proctor, said: “Deb- bie had incredible strength of character and such a positive at- titude to beating her illness. “She always lived her life to


the full and continued to holiday and have family days that were so important to her. “She was like a mother to some


of our staff and was very sup- portive to all her colleagues and it is typical of her selfless nature that she volunteered as treasurer for Bearsted and Thurnham Car- nival committee and did a vast amount of charity fundraising for causes that helped others. “Her own battle had given her


an insight into the way others suffer and her efforts for charities like the Heart of Kent Hospice and MacMillan raised a lot of money.


“Debbiewas never one to com-


plain. She loved her work and was in the office only four days before she died. She was proud to have been our first employee and then a director of our com- pany, and we have all felt her loss.” The funeral was held at St Nicholas’ Church, Otham. Deb- bie leaves her husband, sons and her mother.


Ron Button RON Button (89) lived in Maid- stone from 1956, making a sig-


38 East


the people of Maidstone, was the mayor, Clive English, who also took the salute at the Town Hall at 11.25am alongside Lt Col Ed Robinson and Gurkha Major Ek Gurung, from the Queens’ Gurkha Engineers. Joining the parade was Commander An-


drewBlock, thenewcommandingofficer of HMSKent, and representatives from the36 Engineer Regiment (Search), Royal Army Medical Corp Association, Royal Naval As- sociation, the Maidstone branch of the RoyalBritish Legion, the British Army Asso- ciation, St John Ambulance, and the town’s Sea and Army Cadets.


We will remember


nificant contribution to local life as sports groundsman at Mote Park,where he worked from 1956 until his retirement in 1987. Born in Ten- terden, Ron served in Nos. 5 and 82 RAF squadrons dur- ing the war. With his wife of 62 years, Merle, Ron raised two children, Linda and Duncan. Ron’s dedication to hiswork at


Mote Parkwas such that his chil- dren remember spending days of their school holidays in “Dad's Park”, helping to put out football nets and golf flags on Sundays and having toasted cheese sand- wiches in front of the old stove in the golf hut. Ron’s coffin was driven through Mote Park on the morning of his funeral. OnOctober 14, 1959 Ron saved


and resuscitated a three-year-old girl drowning in the lake at Mote Park, an action that earned him an award from the Royal Hu- mane Society. His family said: “Ron was a gentleman, and a gentle man: quiet and unassuming, a talented artist and very giving of himself and his time. He was a member of the Maidstone Area Archaeo- logical Group, and enjoyed tak- ing an active part in the work of the RAF Association.” A RAFA standard bearer at- tended Ron’s funeral. Ron leaves his wife, children and grand- daughter Katy.


David Clark DAVID Clark (94), of Boughton Malherbe, held an important place in the history of Kent County Cricket Club, Mote Cricket Club, Maidstone and the MCC. He was cap-


tain of Kent for three seasons, from 1949 to 1951, at a time when he was already a player and member of the general com- mittee. Subsequently he became chairman from 1970/74, chaired the playing committee and in 1990 served a year as president. He often opened the innings


forKent or was a mid-order bats- man. In a typical season (1950) he had 43 innings and scored 745 runs at an average of 17.73. In those days he lived in Sta- plehurst and played much of his cricket at The Mote. He played pre-war and was club captain for three years from 1946 before he captained Kent, and returned to captain theMote in 1953. He was president of the Mote between 1982 and 1984. He managed MCC tours to


India in 1963 and 1964, as well as the successful Ray Illingworth Ashes campaign toAustralia. He served as treasurer and later pres- ident of the MCC (1978-79). When cricket duties allowed,


David was a farmer. He was a widower and is survived by his son James and daughter Alison.


Picture: Andy Archer


Dave Johnson DAVE Johnson, of Roseacre Lane, Bearsted, lived locally for over 40 years, originally moving to Madgingford when he came to the area to work for the Lucas Group. His entire career was spent


with the Lucas Group. Having started as a 15-year-old appren- tice, he rose through the ranks to take on project management around the world. Married to Pauline – with whom he had grown up in Twickenham – for 43 years, Dave was father to Matthew and Jo. Pauline said: “Dave loved all sports, and was president of Bearsted and Thurnham Tennis Club at the time of his death. “He had been a good footballer


in his younger days, earning a professional trial for Brentford and playing at a high amateur standard for a number of years. He loved long-distance walking with our son and his brother and we enjoyed travelling in our motor home.” Dave’s involvement with BearstedWoodland Trust (BWT) drew plaudits from his col- leagues. Chris Street, of BWT, said: “Dave has been a volunteer at BWT for the past six years or so, making an enormous contri- bution as project manager and leader of themaintenance volun- teers.” Dave’s other post-retirement activities included founding SLOBS (Senile Lucas Old Boys Society), for those who had re- tired from the Lucas Group. Hav- ing started with six people, the group nowboasts over 100 active members taking part in activities like organised walks. Dave leaves his wife, children


and grandchildren Maisy and Oliver.


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


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 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  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56