downsmail.co.uk Trevor Bradley
BEARSTED’s Trevor Bradley (43) died suddenly. Ulsterman Trevorwas a chartered engineer, employed as technical director for MLMStructural Engineering in Ashford. He lived in Hill Brow, Bearsted with his wife Sarah, who he met when the pair were studying at the University of Glasgow in the 1990s. Trevorwas a member of Maidstone Rugby Club, andwas
captain of its fifth team, known as The Barbarians. He never lost his Northern Irish accent, which could cause confusion in the heat of a rugby match. Sarah said shewas occasionally required to “translate” what he was saying for others. The couple had been planning to move to Hastings in Sussex when Trevor died. Sarah said: “Trevor could appear laid
back but hewas extremely hard working and had made a lot of his career, overcoming some early setbacks. “He moved to my home area in Bearsted
and he never lost the ability to enjoy his life. He loved his rugby. I have lost my best friend and my soul mate.” Trevor leaves his wife aswell as family in Northern Ireland.
Jody Duff
JODY Duff (37)was known throughout the local area as a fundraiser for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Having initially set
out with a target of raising £5,000, Jody raised £38,000 for research into the disease that impacted his life. Those involved in events such as an ice bucket challenge, a sponsoredwalk and a
family fun day at his local pub, the Victoria Cross in Lordswood, recalled Jody’s positive aitude. His notoriety beyond his local area increased greatly when Coldplay frontman Chris Martin donated £10,000 to Jody’s Just Giving page. Jodywas a massive fan of the band and aended a concert at the Royal Albert Hall where Coldplay dedicated Jody’s favourite song, “Fix You”, to him. Those involved with Jody, whowas noted
for his sharp dress sense, have described him as a legend, an inspiration and charismatic. More fundraising is planned on behalf of Jody, who leaves his many friends and family.
Ray Town
RAYMONDLewis Town (82) lived all his life in a cottage inWillington Street, Maidstone. His apprenticeship and career with Maidstone Council involved working in its parks department, maintaining mowing equipment. On the day of his funeral his former employers honoured him by allowing his funeral cortege to drive through Mote Park.
42 Maidstone East November 2014
Ray’s training for National Servicewas with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and hewas posted to Kenya where he saw active service aached to the Black Watch. Hewas married to
Susan for 50 years and they had a son, Richard. Daughter-in-law Lorraine said: “Raywas a good man, he saw everyone as equals andwasn’t judgmental. He treated me like the daughter he never had. Hewas devoted to his family andwe will miss him terribly. “Ray had played cricket for Rumwood,
Suon Valence and played football for Chart Suon. He had also been a member of Suon Valence Table Tennis Club where he enjoyed club evenings. “He had run the Parkwood Jupiters Football Club U10s and U11s and later in lifewas involved in playing short mat indoor bowls for Suon Valence and also Langley. Raywas a long-time member of Suon Valence Royal British Legion.” Ray leaves his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandson Robert.
Malcolm Beaton MALCOLM James Beaton (71), from Bearsted, died suddenly at home. Born and raised in Plumstead, London, he
was deaf in his right ear as the result of a doodle bug in WorldWar Two As a child, Malcolm loved to draw, and had pictures in an exhibition in London where he met the late Queen Mother. He aended Camberwell Art College. In 1968, Malcolm met his wife, Jean, when working as art editor for a publishing company in London where Jean
was a PA. They married inWatford in October 1970. For the next 18 months, they lived near
the Kings Road in Chelsea. They moved to Bearsted in 1972, where they raised daughters Hannah and Eve. Malcolm worked for the Kent Messenger
Group as a graphic designer and then for the last 20 years at Leeds Castle, where his duties included security and stewarding. He continued to paint hiswatercolours: some for sale, some as commissions and at least 70, of places he and Jean had visited. Many people will know him as the quiet gentleman often to be seen lier-picking on the footpath near his home. His family say hewas a quiet, gentle and deeply loving husband and father, looking after Jean over the past four years when shewas unwell. He loved reading, music, and listening to the radio – especially foreign stations. He loved history, geography and languages, knowing which part of the world a person came from just by hearing their surname. He had an amazing memory and could identify a city in a film just by a piece of architecture shown for a second or two. Malcolm had become very involved with researching his ancestry, especially relating to WorldWar One andwas very excited
about what hewas discovering. He also loved the Bearsted Woodland Trust and all it stands for, and donations have been made to the trust in his memory. Malcolm leaves his wife Jean, daughters Hannah and Eve, and much-loved grandchildren Louie, Emilia and baby Lucas.
Phyllis Rumsey
PHYLLIS Rumsey (97) was born and raised in the North Downs, spending her childhood days as Phyllis Rubie in the Upchurch and Hucking area as her father worked on local farms.
On leaving school
she began work in an ironmongers shop in Upchurch. Phyllis married local boy Eric Shaw, whowent into business with his brothers as Shaws of Kent, a firm of ship breakers. The couple raised children
Ashley, Jean, Frank and Ruth. Frank said: “My parents moved to the
Medway area and eventually to Essex where my father skippered boats. “My motherwas selfless and always puing others first. Shewas a dedicated mother and grandmother and up to her very last days she could recall her life as a child.” Phylliswas widowed in her 50s and
eventually married Ernie Rumsey butwas widowed for a second time. She leaves her four children, nine grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren. She passed away peacefully in the company of all her children the day after celebrating her birthday with them.
RevDavid Muston
THE death has been announced of Rev David Muston (81), who served as Rector of the parish of Otham with Langley from 1983 to 1997. His colleague, Rev David Bond, who
served throughout this time with Rev Muston, said: “David was an exceptionally good parish priest, he liked people and people liked him, he had great sympathy andwas a very gentle man who could be firm when necessary, but always caring.” He retired from the
parish to Bladon in Oxfordshire with his wife Ros. He leaves his wife and two sons, Justin and Jim.
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Obituaries
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