This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
downsmail.co.uk


straight talking and was relied on when people wanted a job done well. He was also a keen golfer who played at Sittingbourne and a freemason of many years’ standing who had been granted the freedom of the City of London.” George leaves Irene, his three children and seven grandchildren.


PatWilson PATWilson (97) made a massive contribu- tion to local life with her tireless campaign- ing for local footpaths over 50 years. The work started when a path near Scratch Arse Corner, Meopham, was blocked in 1961 and ended with Pat serving as national vice-president of the Open Spaces Society. Born in Bristol,


Pat’s life included a trip to Berlin during the 1936 Olympics and three years


JOHN


living in a timber camp in British Honduras. Pat’s campaigning for footpaths came


after lobbying Parliament on another matter, making safety glass mandatory in cars, after her elder daughter came close to death in a car accident. Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the


Open Spaces Society said: “Pat was a legend but also a reality. She was feisty and determined and tirelessly hard- working to the very end.” Pat was also notable for her willingness to embrace and effectively use new information technology up to the end of her life. Pat, who lived in the Medway area and


was widowed, leaves daughters Hilary and Jo and granddaughters Emma and Laura


Arthur Taylor


ARTHUR Taylor (75) lived the final 10 years of his life in Coxheath. Apart from his national service in the


Royal Fusiliers, which took him to Malta and Bahrain, Arthur lived much of his life in


Maidstone and worked as a labourer, including a lengthy spell with the construction firm of Bartholemew, where one contract he was involved in laying the gas pipes for the shopping centre now known as TheMall. Arthur finished his


working life in the employment of Maidstone Council. While working at


Turkey Mill, Arthur met Ellen, who was to be his wife of 52 years. The couple raised Anne, Anthony and


Deborah. Anne said: “My father was a loving and warm family man who could be really entertaining. “He loved making people laugh and was


really close to his grandchildren. He loved gardening and was never happier than when he was spending time at home with his family.” Arthur leaves his wife, children and grandchildren Charlotte, Alex, Elisha, Jake, Katy and Sophie.


MUNSON SHOW TIME


Great work, but poor adaptation


Cards on the Table The Willington Players, Hazlitt Arts Centre.


The Willington Players are excel- lent, but this Agatha Christie story, adapted for the stage by Leslie Dar- bon, didn’t help the players. There were just too many scenes


and changes. Everything the actors did was first class – we just spent too long waiting for it to happen. That was clearly Leslie Darbon’s fault.


Scott Rafflewas great in the huge


part of the inspector, and was con- vincingly tenacious in his ques- tioning of this suspicious lot. Andrea Sloman, as Mrs Oliver,was very Agatha-ish, while David Bicker gave us a lovely cameo role as the first victim. Matt Dallas was the medical murderer; EliWard’s Anne Mered- ith and Jan Hooper’s Mrs Lorrimer both raised our suspicions. Alan Townsend gave us a suspiciously well-mannered Major Despard, and no one could get past Paul Stubley’s Sergeant O’Connor when he guarded the door. Linda Crawford, Jeanette Carl-


ton, Katie Clarke and Tin Fleming completed a powerful cast. Set in the 30s – Christie time – the ladies’ dresses and the other costumes were brilliant.Aconvincing set and sub sets were expertly presented, effects and lightingwerewell done. There were strong and rounded performances from everyone, and Trudy Duff directedwell.


WWI timeline goes on show at history centre


AWWItime spiral, showing some of the major events to affect Kent communities during the conflict, has been unveiled in the Kent His- tory and Library Centre. The display which greets visitors


at the entrance to the centre fea- tures some of the photographs, documents and other resources held in the local history collections of KCC Libraries, Registration and Archives. Mike Hill, KCC cabinet member


for community services, said: “Kent played a vital role in the First World War and it is essential that we remember and commemorate the county’s role and its sacrifice in the conflict this centenary year.” The Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone stands on the site of the former barracks of The Royal West Kent Regiment, which saw 3,000 new recruits enlist in the first four weeks after Britain en- tered the war.


MAIDSTONE Council fears it may be unable to stop 24 homes being built on land off Tovil Green, Tovil. In July, the planning committee re-


fused Orbit Homes’ application for a 100% affordable development on the grounds of poor design, lack of amenity for new and neighbouring residents and poor infrastructure. Although planning inspector Susan Simpson backed up this refusal, she disagreed with the reasons and only dismissed the appeal because Orbit Homes said it wanted to reduce af- fordable housing provision to 40%.


Amajor exhibition – In their own


words: Kent Voices of the First WorldWar – will run from August to the end of October 2014. Time 2Give Volunteers are help-


ing to research Kent’s role in WWI and contributing to an interactive online timeline of Kent and Med- way during the conflict: www.tiki- toki.com/timeline/entry/208714/Fir st-World-War-Kent-Medway/ The timeline shows events that took place across the whole county


Her report said: “The council reached its decision on the basis of the description of the development as set out in the application. “I find that ... the requirement to provide the affordable housing is over- riding in this case. In the absence of a suitable means of securing this provi- sion, the development should not be allowed to proceed.” Principal planning officer Peter Hockney told the planning committee to expect a revamped application that might be harder to refuse because of Ms Simpson’s findings.


Sarah Cowell and four- year-old Erin in front of part of the display


and cites sources from the archives or anyone who wants to find out more.


Among the historical documents


in the Kent History and Library Centre, there are letters, field cards, postcards and photographs, con- cert and sports programmes, me- morial cards, embroidered cards, Christmas cards, local newspaper cuttings, pressed flowers, book- marks, and leaflets. There is even a copy of the Baghdad Times.


Homes may have to go ahead Medical move A NEW medical centre has opened in Maidstone to cater for residents in the town centre and the London Road / Bower Mount area. The Bower Mount Medical Prac-


tice was opened by Mayor of Maid- stone Cllr Clive English and replaces the old King Street surgery and its sister site in London Road. The centre has been eight years in planning and development, during which time doctors faced difficult journeys between sites. Now, pa- tients will be treated under one roof.


Maidstone Town May 2014 47


Obituaries


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