downsmail.co.uk Reverend Norman Dabbs


THE Reverend Norman Dabbs (77), lived locally for most of his life, spending the last 26 years in Hollingbourne. He took holy orders after a varied career,


which included many years as a local postman and previous employment in the agricultural industry and as a loss adjuster in the insurance industry. Normanwas part of


the ministry team of Leeds, Hollingbourne, Hucking and Broomfield. Prior to


his ordination he had served the church as lay reader and churchwarden. With Jenny, his wife of almost 45 years, Norman raised sons Philip and Simon. He waswell known through his work writing pantomime scripts for performances in Leeds. Jenny Dabbs said: “Norman and Imet


whenwe both worked for the Potato Marketing Board in 1968. He lived a varied life and had served in the Army and worked in New Zealand. “The many cards I have had and the huge turnout for his funeral are testimony to the many lives he touched and how highly he was regarded.Wewere always very busy, but Iwouldn’t have had it any otherway; we had a long and happy marriage.” Norman, whose funeralwas aended by


more than 300 people, leaves his wife, children, and grandsons Ryan, Finley and Spencer.


Michael Phillips


MICHAEL Phillips (63) spent almost all of his life in the Maidstone area, living in The Landway, Bearsted for 34 years. His police career took him all over Kent


and briefly to Noinghamshire. His postings included Gillingham,Maidstone and TunbridgeWells, where he metMarita, his wife of 40 years Michael spent much


of his career in front line policing and for the final 10 years of his service hewas a coroner's officer, the position from which he retired in 1999. Marita said: “Michaelwas a real


one-off, the kind of unique character who did things hisway. Itwas fiing thatwe played ‘MyWay‘ at his funeral. “Hewas an excellent athlete, winning the


Kent Police Cross Country championships 12 times out of 16 between 1971 and 1986. He earned county colours and represented Kent at national level. He also loved singing, especially karaoke. “Michaelwas a loving and generous


family man and awonderful father to Natalie and Ashley. Lots of people will miss his quirky personality.” Michael leaves his wife and family.


Irena Burgess


IRENA Burgess (92)was the school secretary at St Francis Catholic Primary School in Queens Road, Maidstone, for 21


54 Maidstone East March 2015


years. She lived inAylesford with her husband


Ted from 1962, moving to Barming in 2005 following his death. Born Irena Fiszer in Poland, she moved to


Austria with her family in 1941, where she met Ted. The couple lived inAustria before moving to Maidstone. They raised twins, Max and Robin, and daughter Marya. Irenawas amember of Medway Anglo-


Polish Club and the Maidstone Polish Club. Former colleagues paid tribute to her diplomatic skills, which could often diffuse a tense situation. Irena leaves her children, six grandchildren and great-granddaughter Daisy Luiza.


Elsie Clayton


ELSIE Agnes Clayton (92)was born in Otham and lived in the Maidstone area all her life. Born Elsie Sharp, she aended Maidstone Grammar School for Girls and worked at Maidstone Boys’ Technical School and Kent County Buildings Department. Elsiewasmarried


to her childhood sweetheart, Ray Smith, the son of a local housebuilder, for only a few months before hewas killed on active service with the RAF in thewar. She also lost her father at about the


same time. While working at Kent Police Headquarters she met police officer Bob Clayton. The couple married in 1947 and raised son John. After Bob retired from the police, they founded Larkfield Pharmacy, whichwas eventually sold to become the first Paydens chemist. John Clayton said: “Mymotherwas


always cheerful, friendly and full of compassion. Her familywas her main love, along with her garden, and shewas always content and independent. “She enjoyed travel and history andwas interested in current affairs. “People will remember her as a helpful


and considerate person. She will also be remembered for her exceptional singing voice, which could fill the house.” Elsie –whowaswidowed in 1984 – leaves


her son and twin grandsons James and Nick.


David Peshek


DAVID Peschek (82), who lived in Staplehurst for 46 years andwas previously resident in Penenden Heath, worked as a reporter for the Kent Messenger andwas a Labour councillor. David’s socialist


views eventually led him to write for New Society and to edit the Municipal Review, a local government journal, for 10 years. He also worked at the London School of Economics andwas a


member of its senior common room, a rarity for those without a degree. David met his wife of 46 years, Shelagh, in


the tea room of Maidstone Post Office, on the old King Street site. The couple raised children David and Susan. Mrs Peschek has praised her husband’s passion and commitment for his work and said he counted people of opposing political views among his best friends, although he always maintained his left wing views. The couplemoved to Farnborough, near


Bath 16 months ago. David, who died of bone cancer, leaves his wife and children.


Ruth Alcock


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 amatron at Barty House care home in Bearsted and also as amanager for a nursing agency. Ruthwasmarried to James for 35 years,


andwasmother to Julia. James said: “Ruth was compassionate and very giving. Almost everyone whomet 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.


Margaret Amphle


MARGARETAmphle (85) lived locally for 51 years, the last nine near Bower Mount Road. Her previous homes in the areawere in


Penenden Heath andAylesford. Born Margaret Ford in Malton, North Yorkshire, she moved to Stafford with her family and, worked for her local Co-operative Society. Margaret met and married husband of 64 years Ron, a civil engineer, and the pair raised children Mike and Jane. Margaret worked for the supplies department of KCC, in both Sandling Road, Maidstone andWest Malling. Ron Amphle said: “Margaret had a generous nature and loved entertaining. Shewas very giving and devoted to her family. Whenwe lived near Hereford she became a second mother to a local Scout troop when Iwas their leader, often baking for them. “She loved travelling, especially the


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Obituaries


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