downsmail.co.uk Peter Larking
PETER Larking (90), of Linton,was head of a family with a long and proud history of public service. Born in Loose, Peterwas the second son of Kathleen and Gordon
Larking.Amayor of Maidstone, hewas knighted for service to the British Legion. Peterwas educated
at Charterhouse and was a talented sportsman. He retained a lifelong interest in mainly cricket, football and hockey.He played for
The Mote CC and served as president, chairman and treasurer.Ayoung player award is made annually in his name. In 1942 he volunteered for the Royal Air
Force, became a navigator andwas posted to the Middle East in 1944. Hewas selected to the crew of air marshall by Sir Charles Medhurst, air commander of the Mediterranean and Middle East. His accountancy career began in 1947 and
he became managing partner of Larkings, Maidstone, in 1968 and became senior partner when his father retired in 1971. He contributed powerfully to the life of Maidstone, including as treasurer and deputy president of Kent county branch of the Red Cross; president of the Maidstone branch of the Royal British Legion from 1976 to 2001; longest serving member of the Maidstone Club; governor of Southborough Girls’ School. Peterwas a member of the Rotary Club of Maidstone, joining in 1966. He served as president (1981) andwas later rewarded with Rotary’s highest club honour, a Paul Harris Fellowship. Hewas chairman of the charity trust fund from 1985 to 1993 and a generous supporter. He and wife Ann celebrated their diamondwedding this year.Hewas father to four daughters: Caroline (deceased), Alison, Kate and Jane, grandfather of eight and great-grandfather of two.
Larry Goddenwood
LARRY Goddenwood (81) lived in the area his whole life, spending his final 20 years in Laddingford aer living in Maidstone. Born in Dover, he completed national service in the RAF but spent the rest of his working life as a mechanic at Haynes garage in Maidstone. Larry died a fewweeks short of his 60thwedding anniversary with Evelyn. They had a son, Doug. Larry’s granddaughter Vicky said: “My grandfatherwas a quiet family man who kept himself to himself, but hewas always fun with his grandchildren andwe will remember him as always joking and pulling
The Stone Shop
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funny faces. He loved cycling andwent all over the area on his bike.” Larry leaves his wife, son and grandchildren Vicky, Lisa, Emma and Helen and great grandchildren Freya, Leila, Lily, Tai and Kaleb.
Graham Hockney
GRAHAMVictor Hockney (67) died suddenly in hospital. He spent most of his life in and around
the Maidstone area, and aended Senacre School. In his earlyworking life heworked in the old Primrose&Len Dairy on the corner of Romney Place. Hewas beer known by many as a bus driver with the Maidstone Borough Bus Corporation and laerly as a porter and manager at the old Opthalmic hospital in Marsham Street, where he
always had a cheery quip and a smile for all whose paths he crossed. He enjoyed aending steam rallies and
loved animals and the country. In the last decade of his life he retired to the countryside with his wife, enjoying the wide open spaces and his menagerie of dogs, ducks, a goat, hens, birds and fish. Sister-in-law Kathy said: “Hewas a very
quiet man who listened more than he talked, but he had awarmth and an optimism about him, even when he had persistent bouts of ill health.” Graham leaves his wife Theresa, sons Darren and Tyler, daughter Tandy, grandchildren, and his two sisters.
Doris Cloude
DORIS Cloude (88) lived in East Farleigh for 57 years and had previously lived in Dean Street and Doddington. She moved to Vicarage Lane, East Farleigh with husband Brian. Heworked as awoodman and Dorisworked on local farms. The couple raised children Anne, Stuart, David, Tony, Jane and Kipper. Jane said: “My mother always put other
people before herself. Shewaswell known in East Farleigh and part of a big community whowould always help each other out. Whenwewere growing up, there were always people coming around to the house and my mother loved being amongst other people. She could be quite brainy and loved quiz shows on television. Shewas very family orientated and very loving.” Doris, whowas widowed, leaves her children, 16 grandchildren and her great- grandchildren.
LindaWilliams
LINDAWilliams (62) lived locally her whole life, mainly in Maidstone and, for the last 18 months, in Charing. Born LindaWright, she aended Vinters
Girls’ School on Union Street and began working for Caffyns car dealership as a telephonist and receptionist. This led to her meeting husband of 43 years, Dave. Lindawent on towork in reception roles
for Crowhurst’s veterinary surgery on Siingbourne Road and for half a dozen local medical practices, her final position
being with the surgery on Holland Road. She also spent 11 years as memorials clerk at Vinters Park Crematorium. Dave said: “Linda had a really good sense
of humour and could respond to other people. Shewas able to help people stay calm and that could be important in the work she did. She loved geing away with her friends for girlieweekends based around shopping, and these took in places like the Trafford Centre in Manchester and the Metro Centre in Gateshead. She had a trip planned for later this year to Barcelona.” Linda leaves her husband.
Malcolm Chapman
MALCOLM Chapman (82), who lived in Loose from 1953, spent his career in local government administration, rising to become chief admin officer for Kent Institute of Art and Design.
Born in
Wateringbury, he had started his local government career when national service in the RAF in Singapore intervened. He returned to the area towork for KCC, where he met Margaret Plum, who became his wife for
51 years. Malcolmwas father to Paul, David,
Victoria and James. Margaret said: “Malcolm loved gardening and had an allotment from 1964 until two years ago. He waswell known in Loose where hewas seen so oen with his barrow and flat cap that people called him ‘Andy Capp’. “Everyone loved Malcolm, who had an endless supply of wiy remarks. He cycled everywhere, andwas especially fond of old bicycles. Hewas even known to rescue a bicycle from a skip. He also loved motorbikes and had owned two Greeves machines. “While at Kent County Council he formed
a jazz band called The Moonrakers, and played trombone. He loved big band jazz and singers like Ella Fitzgerald.” Malcolm leaves his wife and sons, David
and James. Children Paul and Victoria pre- deceased him.
Truda Bish
TRUDABish (87)was the wife of Donald Bish, who served as Rector ofWateringbury, Teston andWest Farleigh from 1979 until his retirement. She and Donald moved to Allington
where they became regularworshippers at St Nicholas’ Church. Truda, who came from aWelsh background,was a talented musician and singer with a fine alto voice and particular skill on piano, organ and violin. At about the same time as Donaldwas appointed to his rectorship, Truda had surgery to deal with two benign brain tumours, resulting in her suffering some disability for the rest of her life. Tributes paid since her death have spoken
of her positive aitude to life and the support she provided to Donald’swork. She died three days before her 88th birthday, and leaves her husband.
Obituaries
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