downsmail.co.uk Alistair Black
MAIDSTONE Council is mourning the loss of Conservative councillor Alistair Black (79), who died at Maidstone Hospital after a short illness.
Cllr Black lived in
the Tonbridge Road area for six years, having moved locally after retirement. Born in Glasgow, he
began his career with the British Transport Police before joining the British South African Police Force
in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Cllr Black put himself through a degree at
night school and worked as personnel di- rector in a paper-making firm before mov- ing to the Maidstone area, where he became active in the party he had always supported andwas elected to Maidstone Council. Cllr Black joined the council in 2011, rep- resenting Fantward. Hewas re-elected in May this year. The Maidstone flag flew at half-mast over
the Town Hall from the news of his death until the sunset after Cllr Black’s funeral and the council observed a one-minute si- lence at a recent meeting. Cllr Black’s friend and fellow Conserva-
tive (representing Coxheath and Hunton ward), JohnWilson said: “Alistairwas the kind of selfless person who got involved in a range of local causes, pushing the interests of local people. “Hewasn’t the kind to spend a long time
telling you about himself and his achieve- ments. Hewas involved with St Luke’s Church and remained very positive. Just be- fore he died hewas still hopeful of recovery andwas making plans for the future.” Cllr Black leaves his wife, Sue, daughter
Fiona who lives inAustralia, son Douglas who lives in Africa, grandson Brett and grand-daughter Jamie.
Jeannie Bowpi
JEANNIE Bowpi (58) lived locally for 25 years, the first five in the Royal British Legion Village in Aylesford and, for the past 20 years, in Eccles.
Born Jeannie Allen,
she grew up in Sidcup and also lived in Dartford. She and husband Chris raised sons Steven and Michael. She worked cleaning executive homes. Chris said: “Jeannie tried all
sorts of hobbies and pastimes in her life and was a very positive person. In recent years, she was involved with the Leonard Cheshire Day Centre at Chipstead. “She was so involved with the day centre
that staff regarded her like a member of staff rather than a service user – she got people organised and did lots of card and jewellery-making to help raise funds. Jeannie had suffered with rheumatoid arthritis since 1997, but she was resilient and didn’t let her health get her down.” Jeannie leaves her husband, sons, and grandchildren Megan, Rhys, Thomas and Grace.
Bernard Head
BERNARD Head (78) devoted much of his time to helping the community of Bearsted, his home village for more than 40 years. He served as treasurer of Holy Cross Church and was also treasurer and trustee of Bearsted Woodland Trust, which now protects 26 acres of woodland and meadow. He was a
founder member of Bearsted and Thurnham Tennis Club; a founder member and trustee of Bearsted Bowls Club and a founder member of the badminton club. Bernard was an examiner of local organisation accounts, including Bearsted Parish Council and Bearsted’s annual carnival and fair. He was employed by local company Marley and after retirement in 1990 he set up his own accounts business. He became a respected school bursar, notably with Red Hill special school (he was also a trustee of the Red Hill Trust) and became business manager and governor of Roseacre Junior School, which he helped guide to grant-maintained status. He joined the Rotary Club of Maidstone
in 1995, was treasurer for five years and president in 2004. Last year he was honoured with a Paul Harris Fellowship. Bernard is survived by his wife Helen
and sons Graham, Michael, Tim and David and grandchildren.
Kathy Hicks
KATHLEEN “Kathy” Hicks (63) lived locally her whole life, first in Maidstone where she grew up and – from 1979 – in Harrietsham. She was known as a playwright with a
strong creative voice and the ability to translate strong Christian themes into accessible and entertaining work. Born Kathleen Hills, she was educated in Maidstone and worked in a range of jobs locally including shop work, with the mentally handicapped and at County Hall dealing with tax. Kathy met Paul, her husband of 44 years, when she was 16. Paul Hicks said: “Kathy was a very determined person with a genuine gift when it came to writing plays; her work is very varied and takes in musicals and serious drama. “It was performed locally from 1978 to
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38 Maidstone East August 2015
2003 and requests came in from as far away as Cobham in Surrey for performances; some of her plays were also published by a company specialising in Christian drama.With The Unity Players, a local church based drama group, Kathy performed in the works herself and could draw on a total troupe of 30 players within the group. “Ill health had forced Kathy to give up full-time work in her fifties but she still maintained a positive aitude. She also loved her garden and had a real gift for gardening; her father had been a professional gardener and she inherited many of his talents.” Kathy leaves her husband Paul, her brother David and a number of other family members.
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Obituaries
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