downsmail.co.uk Peter Pearce


PETER “Pete” Pearce (79) lived in Snodland from 1962, and lived in the area his whole life, other than time spent in the Army. He served in Cyprus, Germany and Egypt, including involvement in the Suez campaign. He had worked as a


PT instructor in the army andwas also competitive gymnast and good all-round athlete. His competitive sports career included winning swimming


races and being ranked highly in the Kent county listings as a diver. Pete also worked as a papermaker, employed at Reeds Paper Mill inAylesford. Hewas married for 53 years to Bey and


father to Paul, who said: “My fatherwas a bubbly character and very much a people person. He knew everyone in Snodland village, and happily chaed to people.” Pete leaves his wife, son and daughter-in-


law Lisa.


Jeannie Bowpi JEANNIE Bowpi (58) lived locally for 25 years, spending the first five in the Royal British Legion Village inAylesford and the past 20 years living in Eccles. Born Jeannie Allen,


she grew up in Sidcup and also lived in Dartford. She and husband Chris raised sons Steven and Michael. Jeannie worked cleaning executive homes. Chris said: “Jeannie tried all sorts of


hobbies and pastimes in her life andwas a very positive person. In recent years shewas involved with the Leonard Cheshire Day Centre at Chipstead. She got people organised and did lots of card and jewellery- making to help raise funds. “Jeannie had suffered with rheumatoid arthritis since 1997. Shewas resilient and didn’t let her health get her down.” She leaves her husband, sons and grandchildren Megan, Rhys, Thomas and Grace.


Tony Oxley


TRIBUTES have been paid to Tony Oxley BEM (72), who had lived in Maidstone for the past 10 years, moving to the town to be near his family after suffering a stroke. The former boxer


and boxing coach had represented his country at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1970. Originally from Bradford, he joined the Navy in 1961, seeing service in the Far East, where he


won some local boxing championships. After winning a national Naval title, Tony


went on to win theABA bantamweight title atWembley in 1970, securing his place in the Commonwealth Games. His other awards


30 Malling May 2015


included a Nato Sportsman of the Year title. On retirement from boxing in 1975, Tony became a boxing trainer. Those coached by Tony included world champions Terry Marsh and Ricky Haon. Tony later became a security officer in the diplomatic services. Tony Bevel, chairman of the Royal Navy


and Royal Marines ex-Boxers Association described Tony Oxley as “a wonderful friend, a terrific amateur boxer, a hugely talented and gifted coach.” Tony leaves his wifeWenda, son Sean, daughter Lee, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.


“Spike” Collins


MAIDSTONE Model Engineering Society (MMES) devoted the money it collected by running trains in Mote Park on Easter Sunday to the memory of Arthur Patrick “Spike” Collins (78). It raised more than £400 for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance. Spikewas an engineer who served 13 years in the RAF, taking postings from all across the world. Born in Sidcup, he


seled in Maidstone with wife Sandie (who he married in 1970) and their twin daughters. Spike joinedMMESin June 2012, running his own engine andwas familiar to the many people who turned up for the public running rides on Sundays. Sue Parham, of MMES, said in the society’s obituary: “To his daughters hewas ‘Daddy, fix it?’ He always shared his knowledge and skills, teaching his daughters practical things as they grew, including car repairs. Hewas


sociable and loved steam rallies and had a lile boat on the River Medway.” Spike leaves his wife, daughters, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, with a third great-grandchild due in July.


Sylvia Snelling


SYLVIA Jean Snelling (77), who lived for 23 years in Wateringbury and before that in Maidstone for 30 years,was born and grew up in Aylesford. She went to Aylesford Primary and Maidstone Technical School for Girls. Sylvia met her husband Mick in 1955, marrying in 1958 in a service that made national headlines because Sylvia had to ring theWar Office to get Mick home on leave, arriving only two hours before thewedding. The couple seled in Ashford, raising children Beverley and Trevor. Son Markwas born locally. Mick said: “Sylviawas the lynchpin of her family. Shewas a fastidious homemaker. She will be sorely missed.” Sylvia leaves her husband, children, two grandchildren, two step grandchildren and one great-grandson.


BerylMartin


THE funeral took place of Beryl Joan Martin (88), formerly of The Cabin inWest Malling, a local sweetshop. Tributes to Beryl – whowas widowed


when she lost husband Alan – commented on her character and how much she would be missed in the community.


Brian Reeves


THE funeral took place of Brian Reeves (74), formerly ofWest Malling. He leaves a wife and son.


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


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Obituaries


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