downsmail.co.uk Vernon Baker


VERNON Baker (85) lived in Bearsted for 23 years and before that in Penenden Heath. Born nearWrotham, he moved to the Maidstone area as a child and beganwork as an apprentice mechanic at Mongers Garage, near the current Star Arcade. Vernonwas married to Joan for 59 years, and they had three children: Julie, Trevor and Sarah. He was a long-distance lorry driver,working


for a number of local firms. Joan said: “Vernon loved gardening and playing snooker.Hewas a keen follower of Formula One motor racing and whenwe were youngerwe oenwent to Brands Hatch.” Vernon leaves his wife, children and grandchildren, Annah, Rebecca, Katie, Lizzy, Cara, Elena, Emily and George.


Dorothy Morgans


DOROTHYMorgans (92)was a local dance teacher who, with husband Oliver Leslie “Les”worked in many clubs and locations in and around Maidstone. The couple qualified as dance teachers


with the IDTAin 1974, and stayed in the area until Les’s death in 1994. Dorothywas mother to Ronald and Martin and had four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Aer Les’s death she met George Rust, a fellow dancer. Dorothy leaves George, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.


Pam Earl


PAMEarl had lived in Otham since moving there in 1938, at the age of three. Pamwas evacuated toWales during the


war. She married Patrick at Otham Church in 1961 and the pair raised children Tim and Rachel. Tributes to Pamhave praised her selfless


work in making so toys for charities, including The Heart of Kent Hospice. Pam, whowas widowed, leaves her children and grandchildren Laura, Bethany and Emily.


Bey Sweatman


BETTY Doris Sweatman (86), who lived in East Farleigh for 50 years,worked as a physiotherapist at Linton Hospital. She moved to the area from Eltham with her husband John, a builder andwas mother to Heather and Amanda. DaughtesAmanda


and Heather said: “My motherwas a very gentle person, always smiling and a person who never said a bad thing about others. She loved the local countryside and walking, aswell as


foreign trips to places like Kenya. “She had a passion for the opera singing of


Jose Carreras and had seen him in concert a few times, including a performance at the Royal Albert Hall. She also aended a fundraising dinner where hewas a guest, to


raise money for leukaemia research. “She loved wildlife and read many books


on the subject andwas a devoted grandmother.” Both Bey and Johnwere long serving members of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, helping with organised trips and fundraising. Bey – who lost her husband earlier this


year aer 59 years together – leaves her daughters and grandchildren Sarah, Chris, Aaron and Ma.


Mahew Lewis


THE sudden death of Mahew Lewis (42), who served as head of religious education at St Simon Stock School, Maidstone, shocked his colleagues and students. Mr Lewis has been praised for his exceptional abilities in doing his job and his dedication to teaching his subjectwell. Married to Kerry and with two daughters, Mr Lewiswas also noted for his sense of fun and willingness to get involved in wider activities such as fundraising events for charity.He came to St Simon Stock from


Faversham andwas a native of that area and lived in Davington. Hewas the school’s union rep for the National Union of Teachers. Mr Lewis has been honoured with a series


of assemblies and commemorative events, and former pupils remember him with fondness.Astatement on thewebsite says: “All of the commentswe have received have been very touching about a great professional colleague, an inspirational teacher and leader, a marvellous family man, an ambassador for St Simon Stock Catholic School. He is sorely missed.” AFacebook tribute page has received


many messages of tribute and sympathy. Lorna Feltham said hewas: “awonderful caring and devoted teacher.”Writing on a Just Giving tribute page, Isabel Burchell said: “Youwere not only my teacher but you were one of my best friends.” Mahew leaves his wife and daughters.


Gay Chaplin


GAY Chaplin (70) lived in Maidstone for 46 years, having moved toWeavering Street in 1968.


Born Gay Lloyd in Oxford, she grew up


andwas educated, in St Albans, where she met her husband Mike. Theywere married in 1967, aer happy times together as art students in Brighton. Having achieved a National Diploma in design, followed by teacher training, Gay took up a post at


Southborough Girls School in Loose Road, Maidstone as a teacher of art, a subject she taught passionately and with great expertise. Aer 20 years at Southborough she moved


to Maidstone Grammar School, teaching graphics, design and English. Gay became a well-loved form tutor.


In 1976 Gay and Mike moved to Orchard


Drive, offWeavering Street, where their family blossomed with the arrival of son Nick in 1977 and daughter Briony in 1980. Aswell as shaping the lives and futures of hundreds of students, Gay took an extensive interest in local life. Shewas involved in the Weavering Playgroup, theWeavering Revels, Grove Green Scout Group, Thurnham and Roseacre schools and local charitywork. In recent years, Gay cared for Bey, her


late mother, enabling Bey to live her last years at home in comfortable and loving surroundings. Gay is survived, and greatly missed, by husband Mike, children Nick and Briony, sister Glyn, nephew and niece John and Jenny, daughter-in-law Kirsten, son-in- law Keith and great-nephew Cathal. Donations, if desired, may be made online


for the Heart of Kent Hospice at www.justgiving.com/GayChaplin.


Geoffrey Sidaway


ARCHDEACONGeoffrey Sidaway (71) spent a career in holy orders, becoming Archdeacon of Gloucester in 2000, but never lost his passion forworking as a parish priest. His contribution to local lifewas immense, serving at St Martin’s Church, Shepway from 1977 to 1986, and, until 2000, at Holy Cross Church in Bearsted. Hewas central to forging links between local churches of every denomination and findingways to reach out into the local community.


The visit of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, to Bearstedwas one notable event organised by Geoffrey.He was made an Honorary Canon of Canterbury in 1994. Born in Barrow-in-Furness, he followed


his calling into the church from school and served in Derbyshire before coming to Kent. Married for 44 years to Margaret, Geoffrey was father to Mark, Clare and Paul. Daughter Clare said: “My father remained


a parish priest at heart and when he retired as archdeacon in 2012 hewent back to serving local parishes. He loved people, whether itwas preaching to thousands or chaing with parents at a toddler group. “His legacy in Bearsted continues in the coming together of different denominational churches and in the many memories people hold. His fundraising for the Holy Cross Church extension included an infamous hot air balloon ride from the village green that landed in a travellers’ field in Medway where he had a cheerful talk with the locals. “That kind of event is typical of his ability


to mix with anyone, anywhere.Away from the church, he and my mother also bred Labrador dogs. He had a lifelong love of football, both going to games andwatching on TV with a large glass of merlot.” Geoffrey leaves his wife, children and his beloved granddaughters.


Lorraine Jane Underwood THE deathwas announced in Breuklen, Netherlands of Lorraine Jane Underwood (43), a former resident of Barming.


Maidstone Town June 2014 37


Obituaries


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