downsmail.co.uk Mark Geadah


MARK Geadah (43), who was found dead at his home in Beech Drive, Allington, had been headmaster of Allington Primary School for nine years. The inspirational teacher was highly admired by parents and had been called on to head up Aylesford Primary School as well as Allington, such was the regard for his professional


skills. Mr Geadah first joined Allington


Primary School as deputy head in September 2002, earning promotion to the headship in September 2005. Under his leadership the school earned an outstanding rating from Ofsted in 2008, which it still holds. An online tribute page had more than


400 members, many of whom chose to change their profile pictures to the Allington Primary School badge. Cllr Dan Daley said: “All who knew


Mark will recognise now the desperate loss of a truly inspirational teacher – one who genuinely engaged with his pupils and whose work was rewarded by the astonishing year-on-year results of this delightful scene of early years' learning. Rest in Peace Mark. Memory of your work will long be held by those who enjoyed it.”


The school’s chairman of governors Dr


Nigel Smetham said Mr Geadah was "an inspirational headteacher, respected colleague and friend". Tina Lewis-Rendle, who has a daughter at Allington, said Mr Geadah “brought and gave so much to the school and my little girl …an inspiration.” Mark leaves his wife Lesley and two


sons.


Ann Cooper ANN Gillian Cooper (74) lived in Loose for 52 years and in the Maidstone area for her whole life. Born Ann Ellison, the daughter of baker


Frank Ellison, in Headcorn, she pursued a nursing career, spending 50 years in the profession. Ann trained at Maidstone’s old Ophthalmic Hospital and went on to work at theWest Kent Hospital in Marsham Street before moving


to the then new hospital in Barming, where she worked as a theatre sister and was involved in pioneering work with the hospital’s leading surgeons. Ann finished her working life at the Alexandra Hospital in Chatham. She was married for 40 years to Raymond “Spencer” Cooper, who worked for the gas board. The couple were very keen gardeners who planted up hanging baskets to give to others. They raised children Ruth and Bryan. Son-in-law Kevin said: “My mother-in-law had a strong work ethic and very professional standards. She could be relied on as a child carer just as much as she could be relied on as a nurse.With Spencer she really had green fingers and in some years they made 200 hanging baskets.” Ann, who was widowed 13 years ago,


leaves her children and grandchildren Amber, Spencer, Joseph, James, Kurtis and Daniel.


Lilian May Brown


THE death was announced in East Yorkshire of former Maidstone resident Lillian May Brown (94). Lillian was the widow of Ernest Brown


and mother to Ron and Sandra (who pre- deceased her mother). Lillian leaves her son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.


Benji Stone BENJI Stone (25) died in a motorcycle accident near Canterbury one day before his 26th birthday. Originally from Harrietsham, Benji had graduated with a degree in media and fine art from Canterbury Christ Church University and had been living with girlfriend Silviya Dzheneva in the city. Benji hadworked as manager of an exotic animal shop until leaving the job earlier this year. Hewas returning from a job interview in Hythe when the fatal accident occurred. Friendswent ahead with a fancy dress


pub crawl – originally planned as a 26th birthday celebration – in tribute to Benji.


Robert Hilton


ROBERT Hilton (77) lived in Harrietsham from 1971, moving locally when he took the post of youth officer for KCC. Born and raised in Norfolk, Robert trained for a career in youth work and devoted most of hisworking life to the area,working in Derbyshire before coming to Kent.


He also took an active and varied


involvement in the life of his local area. Neighbour and friend, Helen Hubble,


said: “Robert was involved with the church throughout his adult life andworshipped at St John the Baptist Church, Harrietsham for over 30 years, where he also served as a lay reader. Hewas always involved and interested in people locally, hewas choirmaster at the church and played cricket for Harrietsham. He had played other sports – including hockey and rugby – when hewas younger. “He loved village life and also served the


wider local community for years as a magistrate and on the board of visitors at East Suon Park Prison.” Robert leaves five surviving siblings: two brothers and three sisters.


Victor Di Cara


VICTOR Di Cara (89) who has died in Sevenoakswaswell known as the owner of the Il Forno restaurant in East Peckham. The son of a successful fruit farmer from


Palermo in Sicily, Victor, the youngest of four siblings,was sent to Britain to be educated and stayed, along with his brother, aerWorldWar Two devastated the family business. Victor enjoyed ballroom dancing in Streatham and taught many people during the 1950s. He seled in Borough Green with his wife Giuseppina before moving to East Peckham where he swapped his painting and decorating business to establish the restaurant. Originally called


the Bake Oven, it later became Il Forno. The restaurant welcomed many notable guests over the years including gardener and television star Percy Thrower,world


motorcycling champion Barry Sheene and TV anchor man Andrew Gardner . Victorwas father to David, Stephen,


Linda, Nino and Dominic, who said: “Victor loved life. Hewas full of energy and always had a positive outlook and friendly smile. He loved to be busy and greatly enjoyed the company of others. “He never lost his love of art and cras


and inspired many others to go intowork in those areas. On retiring from the restaurant business Victorwas able to go into gardeningwork for several families and also did decoratingwork for the Mercure hotels in TunbridgeWells and Maidstone, continuing towork until December of 2013.” Victor leaves his wife, children, six grandchildren and a great grandson.


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Obituaries


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