Obituaries


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.


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 World War Two. As a child, Malcolm


loved to draw, and had pictures in an exhibition in London where he met the late Queen Mother. He aended Camberwell Art College. In 1968, Malcolm met his wife, Jean, when working


as art editor for a publishing company in London where Jeanwas 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 lier-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


34 Maidstone South November 2014


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.


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. Ray’s training for National Servicewas with the Royal


Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and he was posted to Kenya where he saw active service aached to the BlackWatch. Hewasmarried 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,


Suon Valence and played football for Chart Suon. He had also been a member of Suon 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 Suon Valence and also Langley. Raywas a long-time member of Suon Valence Royal British Legion.” Ray leaves his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandson Robert.


Kathleen Daniel KATHLEEN “Kassie” Daniel (94) lived in Teston for 24 years, having previously lived in London, Surrey and near Ash. Born Kathleen Godsave in London, she


had worked during thewar as secretary to the manager of Deptford Power Station, a job that meant turning up for work even when bombing raidswere possible. Her son Nick said: “My mother could remember doing shorthand under her desk to avoid falling plaster and once looked out of the window to see a Stuka aircraft fly past.”


Kassiewas married to Chris Daniel for


almost 60 years, returning to work for the family paper business, Chris Daniel Ltd, when Nickwas about six years old. The move to Teston involved a major downsizing, leaving behind a former coach house with four-and-a-half acres of ground. Nick said: “My parentswent out a lot, my fatherwas involved in shooting and game-


keeping and my motherwent along, taking their spaniel. She had many friends in the area andwas driving until shewas 86. She was very resilient, always smiling and happy. Right up to the very end of her life shewas never the kind of person to complain. One of her neighbours described her as a ‘total lady’.” Kassie, whowas widowed in 2005, leaves


her son, grandsons Gavin, Lee and Sco and great-grandchildrenAustin, Zoey and Jacob.


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.


Evelyn Link


EVELYN May Link (95) lived for 77 years in John Street, Maidstone and moved to Boughton Monchelsea. Born Evelyn Doust, she worked for Tilling Stevens before marryingWalter “Sonny” Link, a colour Sergeant Major based in Portsmouth. Sonnywent on to become awarehouse manager locally. Evelyn raised children Pamand Graham. Pamsaid:


“My parentswere married for almost 60 years. My motherwas strong, kind and always willing to help others. “Shewas a regular worshipper at her local churches, going to St Paul’s, near John Street, before aending St Peter’s Church in Boughton Monchelsea. Whenwe got older she returned to work as a school cook at St Paul’s Primary School in Hillary Road, Penenden Heath. “She loved bowling and enjoyed away


weekends and competitions with Mote Park Bowls Club. She won many trophies over the years for bowling.” Evelyn, whowas widowed in 1999, leaves


her children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren and one great-great grandson.


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.


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