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 aer 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 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 aended Senacre School. In his earlyworking life heworked in the old Primrose& Len Dairy on the corner of Romney Place. Hewas beer known by many as a bus driver with the Maidstone Borough Bus Corporation and laerly 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 aending 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 aended 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 Siingbourne 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 geing 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 inWateringbury, 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 oen with his barrow and flat cap that people called him ‘Andy Capp’. “Everyone loved Malcolm, who had an endless supply of wiy 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.


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: 01622 688662 Larkfield: 01732 871188 Staplehurst: 01580 892125 Ashford: 01233 643000 Sittingbourne - Tel: 01795 431300


www.dovesfunerals.co.uk 50 Maidstone East June 2014 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


Obituaries


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