downsmail.co.uk ChristineWatson


CHRISTINE “Chris”Watson (69) lived in Barming from 1972. Before that she lived in Shepway’s PlainsAvenue, Ashford Road, Park Wood and Queens Road. She was born in Lancashire, living in


Darwen until her Maidstone-born father brought the family to his home town. Chris had a number of jobs in the area including office work, spending 17 years in one job with a local firm of chartered surveyors. Her brother David said: “Chris was breezy, fun-loving and liked by everyone. Her love of life extended to her later years when she took part in performances by Spare Parts, a group of singers who performed all over Kent, often for old people. “Chris did this in spite of ill health herself. She also spent years performing and helping at performances of Chandeliers, an amateur dramatic group who put on productions in the Hazlitt Theatre. “She was a wonderful auntie and really


close to her nieces Karen, Suzanne and Nicola. She was also very close to other members of her family. She lived with our mother until she passed away and was very caring to her.” Chris leaves her brother, sister-in-law, nieces and all her other family members.


Keith Gearing KEITH Gearing (82) who lived the final 17 years of his life in East Malling, was raised locally, living in Maidstone, Birling and Stangate.


Keith was


evacuated toWales during the war. He joined the merchant navy in his teens and spent most of his working life sailing the world on a variety of ships. His early work included employment on


passenger liners travelling toAustralia. He subsequently worked on cargo boats and oil tankers, travelling between the UK and Canada on boats carrying wood pulp and work on BP tankers. He later moved to Folkestone and worked on cross-channel ferries. One of six children, Keith was close to


his family. Niece Faye Jeffrey said: “Keith was a wonderful uncle; fun-loving, cheeky, always up for a laugh and a joke and sentimental. He was very loving, cared a lot about his family and was really happy when he took trips to Canada to stay with his sisters.” Keith leaves sistersWendy, Sylvia and


Sue, his many nieces and nephews and his wider family. His two brothers pre- deceased him.


David Catt


THE death of David Catt (Snr) was marked by a number of tributes from his former colleagues at Maidstone Rugby Club. The club’s website noted: “During his


time in office, David presided over a period of change taking place. He


28 Malling October 2015


proceeded to bring a business approach to the running of the club and brought a degree of stability when the club was dropping down through the leagues.” David’s chairmanship of the club took


place from the late 1980s to early 1990s, a tough period during which a steady hand was important. David worked as a farmer in the Boughton Monchelsea area and his business – which diversified under his management – remains in the family. David leaves three sons, David, Mike


and Pete, who were all heavily involved with rugby at the club and, in the cases of Mike and Pete, also at Cranbrook. His grandchildren also have a passion


for rugby with grandsons Chris and Phil playing for Cranbrook and another grandson – James – being a member of Blackheath 1st XV.


Trevor Scholes


TREVOR Scholes (94) was Maidstone’s last town clerk, from 1958 to 1974. He took early retirement at 53 and was made a Freeman of the Borough. Since then Maidstone Council has appointed chief executives. Trevor, of Sportsfield, Maidstone passed legal exams in 1941 but was called up for wartime service in the Army.As a lieutenant with the Royal


Signals he was awarded the Military Cross for bravery at Oedenrode, Holland in 1944. As Regimental Signals Officer he dashed to a post hit by German shells and extricated the wireless set to re-establish vital communications so that fire power could be maintained during a critical period. Later he gained a law degree and served


with four local authorities before moving to Maidstone. He held top posts in professional bodies. Trevor, a bachelor, joined the Rotary


Club of Maidstone in 1958 and his 50 years’ service were marked with a dinner and presentations. He was awarded Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellowship for services to the community in 2010.


Brian Gibbons


ARTHUR Brian Gibbons (89), who was known as Brian, lived in Loose for 30 years and was previously a resident of Penenden Heath from 1967 to 1985.


Born in Upminster,


Essex, Brian trained as a quantity surveyor and spent a substantial part of his working life with KCC. His previous appointments included spells with Bracknell Development


Corporation and work with a private company in Bath. Brian was married to Lotte for 53 years


and was father to Barbara, Peter and Helen. Peter said: “My father was a gentleman in the old-fashioned sense of


the word. He was reserved, polite and cared about doing things properly. “He was also active in local life. He was


a member of Maidstone Sailing Club from 1971 to 1989, serving as secretary for three years. He was active in the Loose Amenities Association and was a church warden in Loose from 1990 to 1994, where he used his professional skills to help with the re-roofing of the church. “He loved walking and he and my mother had covered lots of local footpaths. He also travelled abroad and to Scotland and the Lake District. “He was very loving and close to all his family.” Brian, who was widowed in 2003, leaves children Barbara and Peter; daughter Helen pre-deceased him. He also leaves granddaughters Michelle and Natalie and great-grandchildren Louis and Grace.


Paul Garner


FATHER-of-two Paul Garner (53), from Maidstone, was killed when a lorry collided with his motorcycle on the M25.


Friends and family


paid tribute to Paul, recalling his love of cars and motorcycles, his abilities in the kitchen and his love of reading. They also remembered his


wicked sense of humour. Paul, who worked all over Kent, leaves his wife and two children.


IreneMilton IRENEMilton (91), who died in Hythe four days before her 92nd birthday, was known for many years as a community midwife in the Maidstone area. Born Irene Mallery in Battersea, London she trained as a midwife in Hackney during the war years and met and married Alan in 1944. They were married


for 38 years and had two children, Jane and Paul. The couple moved to the Maidstone area


in the early 1960s when Irene returned to work as a community midwife, living first in Sandling and later in Fairbourne Heath, Harrietsham. Paul said: “Mum returned to work as a part-time and later full-timemidwife in the Maidstone area, graduating from a bicycle during the war years to anAustin Mini to do her visits.” In retirement she moved first to Loose


and later to Hythe, remaining very active, enjoying music, travel and local history. She learned to play the piano, joined


choirs and travelled all over the world including visits to family in Africa, South America and New Zealand. She was described as a capable and giving person with strong ideas of what was right. Irene, who was widowed in 1982, leaves


her children, grandchildren Clare, Ross, Bradley, Nick and Richard and six great- grandchildren.


Obituaries


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