downsmail.co.uk MayKember


MAY Kember (88) had lived in the same house in Loose since 1962. She had moved to the village a few years earlier with her family, having been born inWest Sussex. May worked on Pyms Court Farm from 1952 to 2001. Shewas married to Charlie and died very close to their 65thwedding anniversary. May and Charlie


had two daughters, Shirley and Sharon. Shirley said: “My mother loved socialising and


dancing and she and my father oftenwent to the Working Men’s Clubs in Tovil and Boughton Monchelsea. Shewas very friendly and sociable.” May leaves her husband, grandchildren


Shane and Miranda and great grandchildren Jamie, Melissa, Brenden and Charlie May. Two grandchildren – Jamie and Nathan – pre-deceased her.


AnnieNelson


ANNIE Nelson (99), of Gavin Astor House, moved to the Maidstone area 25 years ago to be near her daughter Linda. She lived in Kingswood and for three


years in Barming. Born and raised in London, Annie lost her


first husband – an auxiliary fireman – in the war, just six months after they married. Her romance with husband of 65 years, Philip, started when she became his penpal as he served in theArmy in Egypt during thewar. Together they raised children Philip and


Linda. Annie worked as a machinist in a family tailoring business and her husband taught swimming. By the time they moved to the Maidstone area they had retired, although Philip continued to work on people’s gardens. Linda said: “My motherwas happy in this


area. She and my father had friends they met for coffee and to go into town.Mymother liked reading, especially historical novels like those wrien by Catherine Cookson. “Shewas a strong character whowas


always happy to help others. Shewas the last of four siblings in her generation of the family.” Annie leaves her children, and grandchildren Grant, Karen,Amanda and Natalie.


RayMartin


RAY Martin (88) played for Maidstone United Football Club from the late 40s to mid 50 andwas appointed groundsman by the club in 1979. Born and brought up in Yalding, Raywas


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offered the chance to play cricket for Kent, but his family could not afford his kit. He also played football for his local village


team andwas an excellent darts player. Raywas father to Graham Martin, who


played for Maidstone in the 80s and captained the newly-reformed club in 1993. Ray died a few days short of his 56th


wedding anniversary. He and wife Vera were the first couple to be married at St Martin’s Church in Shepway. Graham, their only child, said: “My fatherwas a happy, smiley person and if hewas one of two people in a pub he could still start a conversation. He got on with everyone and had worked locally for Tilling Stevens. “My father hadn’t a bad bone in his body.


He loved foreign trips and country and western music.” Ray leaves his wife, son, grandchildren Liam and Lauren and great-grandson Jack.


RuthAlcock RUTHAlcock (73) lived locally for much of her life, spending her last 40 years in Coxheath. Born Ruth Greenaway in Coxheath, she


began a varied nursing career which took in a lot of specialist work. She moved away


with some of her work and once worked at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London. Locally Ruth worked at Linton Hospital for the Elderly, as a matron at Barty House care home in Bearsted and also as


a manager for a nursing agency. Ruthwas married to James for 35 years,


andwas mother to Julia. James said: “Ruth was compassionate and very giving. Almost everyone who met her got on with her. She loved gardening and sewing and liked to visit the seaside and National Trust properties.” Ruth, whowas the youngest of three children, recently lost her brother. She leaves her husband, daughter, grandson Jack and one surviving sister.


JoyceMorgan


JOYCE Morgan (98) of Charlton Lane,West Farleigh died on New Year’s Day, three days before her 99th birthday. She had lived in the area her whole life and inWest Farleigh since 1936. Joyce spent her


early years south of Maidstone, around Benenden and Staplehurst. She worked as a children’s nanny and housekeeper before marrying Edward “Ted” Morgan in 1943. They raised daughters Liz and Jill and ran


a poultry farm. Jill said: “My motherwas friendly and smiley andwas very involved in village life. Shewas a great stalwart of the church inWest Farleigh and served as a churchwarden for many years. “She helped to organise coffee mornings,


cheese and wine evenings and other charitable fundraising events. She particularly supported the RNLI. “My motherwas closely involved with the Women’s Institute in Maidstone for a number of years, where she sold produce from the garden and homemade cakes.” Joyce – whowas widowed in 1983 – leaves


her daughters, grandchildren Claire and Alexander and great-grandchildren Daniel and Beth.


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 up AE 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 and counted manywell-known figures as friends.Myfatherwas 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. “The Kentish Ladywas sold just before he


died and it is tragic that he had no time to enjoy his retirement.We’re just thankful that he had such wonderful care at Maidstone Hospital for his final days.” Tony leaves his wife of 47 years, Shirley, children Martin and Sara, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.


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


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