downsmail.co.uk Bob Jennings


ROBERT “Bob” Jennings (94) lived locally for much of his life, aending Maidstone Grammar School before thewar and living with his wife of 52 years, Sylvia, in Fauchons Close, Bearsted, from 1963. Bob began an engineering career before thewar and served as a dispatch rider and in transport roles, seeing action with the British expeditionary force in France, where hewas the only survivor of an ambush on a


convoy. Hewas evacuated at Dunkirk and spent


the laer part of thewar serving in India and the Far East, where his roles included establishing military transport services. He returned to Maidstone to get married


and began a civil service career that saw him working in the Admiralty and the Department for Environment. Bobwas father to Nigel. Nigel Jennings said: “My fatherwas a gentleman in the old sense of the word: hard-working, with a sense of duty to others and impeccable in his manners and appearance. “After retirement he worked hard for local charities including the Royal British Legion in Hollingbourne and the RNLI. The legion provided a presence at his funeral.” Bob, whowas widowed in 2002, leaves a surviving younger brother, his son, grandson Christian and great- granddaughters Eva and Lolly.


Colin Jasper


COLIN Jasper (72) died in Pudsey, Yorkshire. He lived locally until 2001 and waswell known from running the newsagent and shop in Egremont Road, Bearsted. Colin grew up in Maidstone and worked


as a lorry driver for Trebor Sharps and TNT, going on to become an instructor for other HGV drivers before taking on the newsagent business, which he ran from 1981 to 1995. Colinwas father to Simon and Nick andwas involved with the PTAof Madginford School while his sonswere pupils there. Son Simon said: “My father always liked


to joke and tell stories andwas very good at winding people up, including the customers in his shop. He maintained his personality to the end of his life.” Colin spent his final years caring for his


wife – Jenny – as she suffered dementia. Colin leaves Jenny, his children, three step-children and four grandchildren.


Dennis Hill


DENNIS Hill (82) lived locally for most of his life, spending his final seven years in Larkfield and having previous homes in Allington and Maidstone. Born inWales, he moved to Staplehurst


aged 14 and joined the Royal Engineers as a young man, beginning a 27-year career that saw a number of postings including Germany.With his first wife, Greta, he raised sons Glen, John and Gareth. Dennis returned to Maidstone and began working at Maidstone Museum.


30 Maidstone East February 2015


After the death of his first wife Dennis married Annie, with whom he spent the final 24 years of his life. Annie Hill said: “Denniswas incredibly talented with his hands and could do anything practical, he was also really good with computers. He was family oriented and loved to be at home and with his dogs.” Dennis leaves his wife, children and grandchildren Amy, Megan, Madison, Daniel, Courtney, Annie, Lesley and Joshua.


Honor Barre


HONORBarrewaswell known in Lenham – often referred to as “Miss Honor” – from the years she spent running her own nursery school, which opened in the mid 1970s. She had moved locally after her father


retired and soon developed a deep affection for the countryside around Lenham. Before becoming qualified as a nursery teacher with the Montessori code of practice, Honor had studied at Maidstone College of Art, where photography had become a specialist interest. Honor ran her school for more than 30


years, based in rooms she rented from the United Reformed Church, becoming respected within the local area for the dedication and creativity she brought to her work. Generations of local children benefited from her care and Honor only moved away when her mother’s ill health led to a relocation in Suffolk. On the death of her mother Honor returned to Lenham where she remained a popular andwell-known figure, who always took pleasure in the news of howwell those who had grown up with her carewere doing. The Lenham parish magazine noted: “This remarkable lady certainly left a legacy with so many, here in Lenham and beyond.”


Des Jenner


DES Jenner (84) lived at Arnold Court, Back Street, Leeds for 32 years. He moved to the area with his wife Shirley in 1959, seling originally in AngleseyAvenue. Des worked for the Pfizer Group but eventually set up his own cosmetics business – North Down Cosmetics –in Harrietsham. The company continues to trade under the name of Kent Cosmetics, with Des’s son Alan involved in its running. Shirley said: “Des


was always very pleasant to everyone and always had a


smile on his face, butwas very determined and would work hard to achieve success in his job. In that regard hewas very thorough. “Deswas very kind to everyone and many


of his former employees aended his funeral because he remained friendly with them and they appreciated his fairness.” Deswas father to Alan, David and Hazel


and – with Shirley –was a prominent member of Bearsted Golf Club. Hewas captain in 1976 and a top playing member, winning many tournaments. Des leaves his wife, children, and grandchildren Samantha, Luke, Danielle, Kyle, Sarah and Jacalyn.


Anthony Balston


TRIBUTES have been paid to Anthony Balston (76), a former judge who made an emotional retirement speech in 2005, retiring due to poor health. The judge, who lived in Northiam, served


the circuit, including Maidstone, and made his own legal history in a career that, in 1985, saw him become one of the first solicitors to become a circuit judge. The judgewas noted for his brevity in summing up cases, and his enlightened aitude in dealing with sex crimes. He had tried the first private rape prosecution in the UK and a decision he made involving a prostitute having as much right to refuse sex as any other woman is now accepted across the legal profession in the country. Anthonywas popular with barristers and


noted for his willingness to trust in the intelligence and memories of juries, often providing them with short summaries rather than lengthy rehashes of an entire trial. His interests outside of work included gardening and cordon bleu cookery.


Sally Simpson


GRACE “Sally” Simpson (91), who died in Ashley Gardens Care Home, lived for more than 50 years in nearby Lancashire Road, Shepway. She moved locally as Grace Brockway in


her teenage years with her family and worked at Len Cabinet Makers and the Trebor Sharp factory (starting when the factorywas called Sharp’s). Shewas married for 65 years to milkman


Harry, and between them they raised daughters Jeannie, Linda and Glynis. Glynis said: “My motherwas very family oriented and feisty. She always had the interests of her family at heart, and otherwise liked a simple life at home.” Sallywas widowed in 2008 and moved to Ashley House due to ill health. She leaves her daughters, six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.


Tony Cheeseman


TONY Cheeseman (66) lived locally his whole life, and for the past 11 yearswas the owner and operator of the Kentish Lady riverboat.


Living most recently in Barming, his previous Maidstone addresses included Tonbridge Road and Hazli Drive. Tony originally started work as a builder, seing upA E Cheeseman Building Contractors.


His work in building conservatories eventually saw him in charge of more than 30 employees. Tony’s son Martin said: “My father loved


boats and he had built a catamaran which we sailed from the Medway and took on holidays to places like the Channel Islands. “Hewas involved in the river festivals


locally and counted manywell-known figures as personal friends. My fatherwas totally devoted to his family and couldn’t do enough for our mother, Shirley. He had built houses for her and filled them with furniture he made.


Obituaries


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