downsmail.co.uk Michael Hedges


MICHAEL Hedges (71), lived locally from 1966, initially in Barming, and then from 1973 to 2013 in Roseacre Lane, Bearsted. He and Elizabeth, his wife of 48 years, then moved to the newly-created Audley Retirement Village in Mote Park. Raised on the borders of London and Kent, Michael worked in the advertising industry, running the Hedges and Hughes agency,


which was based in London and dealt with a range of British and international clients. The agency later relocated to The Old


Forge next to Bearsted and Thurnham Club, where Michael liked to play bridge and snooker. He also liked to fish and took up bowls. Michael was father to Tim and daughter Charlie, who said: “My father could be quiet, shy and reserved, but had a very dry sense of humour and would let his hair down once he knew people. “He was a member of Bearsted Golf


Club for 40 years and knew a lot of people in the area.” Michael leaves his wife, children and grandsons Fred, Archie, Hector and Oscar.


Bill King


LOCAL landlord Bill King (69) ran the King’s Head pub in Sutton Valence for many years. A larger-than-life character, Bill was also known outside the village for dressing up for festivals in Medway as the Dickens character Bill Sikes with his English bull terrier, Bulls Eye, by his side. Bill had served as chairman of the


Medway Licensed Victuallers Association. He was landlord of the King’s Head for about six years and leaves his wife, Margaret, sons Terry and Alan, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.


David Millen


DAVID Millen (65) lived in Boughton Monchelsea for the final years of his life and had lived locally for all of his life. Much of this time was spent in


Willington Street with his wife of 43 years,


Rhondda. He was the founder and managing director of Flowrite Services, based in Tovil. The company, which he founded more than 20 years ago and sold when he retired, specialises in refrigeration and air conditioning. Prior to establishing his own company David had worked in the brewing industry, rising to become a brewery manager. A serious car accident after establishing


his own business almost led to the loss of one of David’s arms. His determination helped him to recover, return to work and continue to build his company, which had more than 100 staff when it was sold. Rhondda said: “David made a success of


everything he did. It was a risk leaving his previous job but he was dedicated to his work. He also loved football and had played for local teams as a young man until a broken leg halted his involvement, although he loved watching our son play. He followed Arsenal, a team he had seen many times, and had travelled as far as Russia to watch a game. “Other than his work and football,


David was a private person who enjoyed meals out with his family.” David leaves his wife, children Richard, Jacqueline andWendy and grandchildren Danny, Natalie, Matthew, Samuel, Karla, Chelsea and Chompu.


Liz Marchant


ELIZABETH “Liz” Marchant lived in the old school, Otham from 1973, becoming known locally as a highly-gifted school teacher and musician. Born Elizabeth Cashmore in Loughborough, Leicestershire, Liz studied to be a teacher and gained a higher national diploma from Hornsey College of Art in north London. She met husband of 51 years, David, when the pair taught in Bedfordshire. They also lived in Vigo before moving to the local area with daughter Jackie. David said: “Liz was a reserved and friendly person who was happier talking one-to-one with someone than speaking in public. She had an incredible gift for teaching and during seven years at Swadelands School she worked so well with remedial students that she helped some of them back into mainstream education. “When a bus-load of 40 Ugandan Asian


pupils arrived at Wrotham School with little warning or preparation, Liz stepped


There is no charge for our obituary service. Call Neil Nixon on 01622 630422 or email nlnxn@aol.com


in and did an excellent job, working with 40 pupils in one room.” Liz was a talented musician, excelling


on piano and banjo. She used her keen ear to tune small bells for tourists and was friendly with the family firm of Taylors, which owned the bell foundry in Loughborough. A bell at St Nicholas Church, Otham is inscribed to mark the happy time Liz and her family spent in the village and her death was marked by a quarter peal of bells. A full peal was to follow in the New Year.


Liz’s ability as a gardener was also


noted and she was pleased when a book on English country gardens featured a photograph of one of her plantings. Liz leaves her husband, daughter and three grandchildren.


Shirley Town SHIRLEY Town (80) had lived inWest Malling since 2013, after living in Borough Green for 51 years. Born as ShirleyWeedon in Croydon, she


moved to Loose as a girl and was educated in the local primary school and at Maidstone Technical School for girls.


Shirley began work


as an apprentice hairdresser at Prunella’s on Bank Street (there is still a hair and beauty


business on the site), and married husband Peter. The couple eventually moved to London, where Peter served in the Metropolitan Police before moving back to the local area where he worked as a travelling sales rep. Shirley worked for Novello’s music publishing business and Butterworths legal book business. She was mother to Sara and Louise. Louise said: “My mother was very musical and sang with Kemsing Singers, who performed locally and counted television personality Richard Stilgoe among their membership. “She had an enquiring mind and knew a


lot about history. She also loved gardening. During her years of local work, she became a mother figure and agony aunt to lots of her workmates. She always kept a positive outlook and had a joy for life. She even managed to find happiness and contentment in her final days in the Heart of Kent Hospice. “She travelled widely and had been all around the world, visiting New Zealand as well as China and South Africa.” Shirley leaves her husband of 58 years and her daughters.


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Obituaries


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