downsmail.co.uk Gerry Streeter


GERRY Streeter (79) of YeomanWay, Bearsted was known locally from many years of working as a self-employed plumber who took work on sites but also visited local homes. Born locally, he lived his whole life in the Maidstone area other than national service with theWest Kent Regiment, which took him to Germany. Gerry served an apprenticeship and worked for Mills and Sharp and then Brown andWallis before becoming self- employed. Married to Pamfor 59 years, Gerry was father to Carol, Colin and Ian. Colin said: “My father was a jovial man


who got on really well with his customers and loved children. He was very much a family man. He supported Chelsea but his main interest was his job, he worked long hours and it would be fair to say his work was also his hobby. “He retired when our mother became ill


with meningitis and he did such a good job of nursing her back to health that he won a StrokeAward as carer of the year. He was such a giving person and would rather give out to other people than receive anything.” Gerry leaves his wife, children and grandchildren Kieran and Megan.


Mike Sayle


MICHAEL John Sayle (80) lived in Detling for 36 years and was headmaster of Detling School for 15 years.


Known as Mike, he


had a varied teaching career that started with teaching English and French in a boys’ school in Ramsgate and took him throughout the country to places including


Hertfordshire,


Norfolk and Somerset, as well as to Singapore. Mike was involved in many aspects of village life, serving on the parochial church council for more than 30 years, and being churchwarden for nine years. He was one of the first members of the Detling Players and had performed in roles as varied as Shakespeare’s Oberon and as a dame in local pantomimes. Anne, his wife of 53 years, said: “Mike


was a gentle man who would do anything for anyone. He will be remembered for all the things he did locally and for his wicked sense of humour.” He was involved at all levels of local life, including at one time membership of the deanery synod. He had sung with the Detling Singers as well as other local choirs, edited the parish vagazine, and had been vice-chairman of the village hall management commiee. Mike leaves his wife, twins Kevin and Ian, daughter Tania and grandson Conal.


Douglas Baker DOUGLAS Baker (109), of Loose spent 54 years working at Turkey Mill, Ashford Road when the paper mill was in operation. He started as a clerk and eventually retired as general manager. Douglas spent his whole life – apart from


his war service – living in Maidstone, moving to Loose in the 1980s.At the age of 100 he visited his old workplace and sat again at his old desk. He also spoke of his pride in the workforce he managed, noting that he had visited a number of other paper mills and also came away thinking he was lucky to have his job and workforce. During the war Douglas served in the


North African Desert Rats campaign, returning to the mill afterwards. He retired in 1976 at the age of 70, when


the mill, founded by the Whatman family, closed. The closure was blamed on the lack of demand for writing paper as telephone use became more widespread.


Jan Fry


JANET “Jan” Fry (77) was well known in and around Hollingbourne as the wife of the reverend Nigel Fry. She had lived in the village for about 12 years and tributes have been paid to the enthusiasm with which she engaged in local life. Jan was born into a church family, and at various times her father served as vicar of Boxley and Archdeacon of


Picture: Will Perry


Maidstone. Jan trained as a teacher and was mother to Jonathan and Sally.


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44 Maidstone East July 2015


THE funeral took place of Mary Smith, of Bourneside Terrace, Hollingbourne.


The Stone Shop


Memorials. Any natural stone supplied, lettered and installed anywhere.


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The Stone Shop Station Hill, East Farleigh, Kent.


01622 726633 She was active in a number of groups


and societies including Hollingbourne Helpers, an organisation which helps people with tasks such as travelling to hospital appointments. Jan also took charge of the Christian Aid collection in the village and people in the area noted how she helped to make the vicarage a welcoming place. In her spare time Jan, with her husband, was a regular supporter of Kent Cricket Club, travelling to watch them play in Canterbury. She leaves her husband, children and grandchildren.


Crena Tooley


CRENA Mary Tooley (81), who died in Derbyshire, was born and raised as Crena Kenne in Stockbury. She lived on Wheatsheaf Farm until 1944,


and then at Appsmoor Farm until she married Dennis Tooley, who was doing national service at Detling Airfield. Crena moved to Sheffield with Dennis after their wedding in 1958. Crena was mother to Ian and Peter. Ian


said: “My mother had a tremendous sense of fun and adventure. She learned to swim and ice-skate when she was taking my brother and I for lessons. “She visited the Stockbury area for many


years. My mother was a very determined person and wouldn’t even let Parkinson’s disease beat her. She kept driving until 2011.”


Crena, who was widowed in 2008, leaves


her sons, daughter-in-law Anne and granddaughters Emma and Sarah.


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 Mark was born locally. Mick said: “Sylvia was the lynchpin of


her family. She was a fastidious homemaker. She will be sorely missed.” Sylvia leaves her husband, children, two grandchildren, two step grandchildren and one great-grandson.


Obituaries


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