downsmail.co.uk Twinning gift


for mayor THE retiring Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Richard Thick, has been pre- sented with a memorable gift from members of the town’s twinning association. Maidstone is twinned with Beau-


vais and the presentation marked the centenary of WorldWar I, when the allieswere closely entwined. Former Mayor of Maidstone


Mike FitzGerald is pictured pre- senting Cllr Thick (left) with a Book of Remembrance and a ceramic poppy from the River of Blood dis- play at the Tower of London. Members of the Maidstone-Beau-


vais Twinning Association put to- gether a collection of photographs that were bound in leather by skilled bookbinder Mr FitzGerald. The presentation mirrored one a month earlier when members of the association travelled to Beau- vais and presented books and pop- pies to the Mayor of Beauvais and to the Comite du Jumelage that or- ganises the twinning events.


Sylvia Snelling


SYLVIA Jean Snelling (77), who lived for 23 years in Wateringbury and before that in Maidstone for 30 years, grew up in Ayles- ford. 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 the wedding. 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.


MichaelNoar


THE funeral has taken place of Hollingbourne’s Michael Noar who lived at Manor Hill for more than 30 years. Michaelwas director of the Economic League andwas involved with the


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New mayor’s focus is on helping community


THE new mayor of Maidstone is Cllr Daniel Moriarty, who repre- sents residents in Park Wood. His parents were from Tralee, County Kerry, but he was born in Maidstone and attended St Francis RC School inWeek Street. On leaving school, he started


work as an apprentice papermaker for Balston's Springfield Mill – and found himself back in class a week later at Maidstone Technical Col- lege studying the history and de- velopment of paper-making. At the end of a five-year appren- ticeship, he became senior paper- making technologist and was with Whatmans for 35 years. Nowretired, he enjoys gardening


and spending time with family and friends in America and Ireland, while keeping in close contact with family inAustralia. Cllr Moriarty has been married to


Lana since 1974 and is a proud fa- ther and grandfather to daughter Kelly and grandchildren Jake and Conor. He enjoys playing golf with his


MaidstoneMayor Daniel Moriarty with his niece ShirleyMoriarty


grandson and, although he has now stopped playing rugby for Sid- cup, remains a keen supporter of London Irish and England. He has lived in Park Wood since


2002 and has been involved in re- generation programmes, decent homes, play areas and helping the elderly. His niece Shirley Moriarty is acting as mayoress because his wife Lana is currently ill. The deputy mayor is Cllr Derek


Butler, who represents Boxley. Born in Lewisham, he moved to


the Medway towns in 1973 and then to Maidstone in 1984. He became a borough councillor in 2002, served on numerous com-


Conservative Party. He stood for election to Maidstone Council as an independent Conservative. Michael moved locally with his wife, Marjorie, in 1989, from St Albans. Michael leaves Marjorie, their children Toby and Charloe and grandchildren.


BrendaAdams


BRENDA June Adams (80) of Wateringbury lived locally almost all her life. Born Brenda Baker, she grew up in a family that ran two pubs in the area: The Kings Head and The Phoenix in Red Hill. Brenda met her husband Edward Leslie


“Les” Adams when his job as a delivery driver brought him to The Phoenix. The couplewere married for more than 40 years, raising six children. Twins Paul and Amanda – their eldest children –were the


mittees and is a former chairman of the audit committee. Cllr Butler is married to Mary and


they have one daughter, Georgina. He retired from work last year as


part of the Court Service at Brom- ley Magistrates Court, having pre- viously worked at The City of London Magistrates Court. For most of his working life,


however, hewas with The National Coal Board – latterly British Coal – working in medical services and the treasurer’s department. He enjoys hill walking, cycling, attending the gym, tennis and table tennis and, more recently, bowls. The retiring Mayor of Maid-


stone, Cllr Richard Thick, led an event to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Gurkhas service to the British Crown. The ceremony began in Brench-


ley Gardens, Maidstone. Cllr Thick gave a speech thanking the regi- ment for its loyal service. Therewas also a wreath laying and short serv- ice at the Gurkha statue in the Maidstone Museum forecourt.


first set of twins born at the old Pembury Hospital; they were followed by Diane, Gary, Shane and Roland. Leswent on to work in the local cricket


ball factory and Brenda did local work including cleaning and working at the Kings Head pub. Son Shane said: “My motherwas a friendly and jolly person, well known locally from all her years in the village. The only time she lived away from Wateringbury was when shewent to care for our grandparents in London for 18 months when shewas younger. “She had worked with horses and liked playing darts for local teams.We know lots of local people will be at the funeral at 3.30pm on June 12 at Vinters crematorium.” Brenda – whowas widowed in 1995 – outlived her twins. She leaves her four youngest children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.


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www.dovesfunerals.co.uk Maidstone South June 2015 37


Obituaries


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