downsmail.co.uk Sir Peter MaxwellDavies


SIR Peter Maxwell DaviesCHCBE (81)was a patron of Kent Music. He took an active interest in music created throughout the county and engaged both with teachers of music and musicians. The Lancashire-


born composer and conductorwas a major figure in the UKclassical music community; noted for a personal journey that took him from being the composer of difficult and challenging works to


becoming the Master of the Queen’s Music. Despite living in the Orkney Isles from


1971, Sir Peterwas a noted advocate of local music, and remained passionate about music education. He had been a patron of Kent Music since 2006. The association’s chief executive Peter


Bolton described Sir Peter as “a great supporter of music education for all” and noted “we will cherish his patronage and his musical legacy”. Sir Peter first came to prominence when forming the group New Music Manchester with composers Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr, Elgar Howarth and John Ogdon. Hewas awarded a number of honorary doctorates andwas a keen environmentalist. One of his best known compositions –


Farewell to Stromness – celebrates the environment around his Orkney home.


Basil Bishop


BASIL Bishop (84), of St Faith’s Lane, Bearsted,was an auctioneer who rose to become a senior partner at estate agent Page andWells. The businesswas celebrating 20 years of operations when Basil joined in 1949. His ability to manage the demands of an operation, which at the time also dealt with local produce, soon made him a familiar face at local markets. With a break for


national service, Basil served Page andWells and contributed to its rise to become one of the largest independent estate agent in the area. Hewas married for 45 years to Patricia,


and they had a daughter Belinda. Tributes included praise from his former


colleagues who highlighted his decency and diligence.Amessage from Belinda described her father’s loyalty to local businesses including Rossco’s hairdressers in Snodland, where he got his hair cut for many years after helping the business find its shop. Widower Basil leaves his daughter and granddaughters Eleanor and Sophie.


FrankWoolle


RESIDENTS have lost a popular Police Community Support Officer. Frank Woolle (64) lived in Medway but


was known especially in Teston and Barming for his work in law enforcement and building community support. Frank worked in the legal community and later trained as a PCSO. Barmingward councillor Fay Gooch said: “Frank’s funeralwas packed and many local peoplewent. Therewas a massive turnout from his police colleagues. “Hewas held in high regard, and perfectly combined the community qualities of engaging with people and the ability to uphold the law. He will be much missed.” Frank leaves his wife, daughter and one grandson.


Harry Bragg


HARRY Bragg (92) lived a remarkable life. Asuccessful teacher who spent 17 years


from 1962 serving as the first headmaster of Bower Grove School, Harrywent on to become a school inspector before emigrating to Sydney,Australia, where he turned his passion for acting into a second career. His acting appearances included work on the television soap Neighbours.


Manchester-born


Harry had survived the bombing of a cinema and joined up, serving in the D- Day landings, with the 5th Royal Tank Regiment. Harry became a


teacher after thewar having first tried a career in accountancy. He and wife Dorothy lived at various addresses in Kent before seling in Egerton, where Harry’s teaching careerwent alongside his presidency of Egerton Players amateur dramatic group. Prior to his death Harry gave a lengthy interview which appeared online. It included the observations: “As I sit here at the age of 90 I can look back on a lifewell lived…I can honestly say there are only a few regrets to cloud my reminiscences about the past.


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“Mine has been a life enriched by two satisfying careers – one planned, the other almost accidental – and by the sort of travel and adventure that I feel privileged to have been able to experience.” The travel and adventure included running his first marathon at the age of 57 and climbing the highest mountain in every country he visited. He had climbed – among others – Mount Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc and at one time had Mick Jagger as a climbing companion. Harry leaves his wife, daughters Bebe and


Beverley and grandchildren Alexia, Lucienne and Jamison.


Molly Tipples


MOLLY Tippleswas the chairman of governors at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. In honour of her distinguished service to


the school where shewas also a pupil, the school has named its new sports hall in her memory. In a distinguished professional career


Molly also made a lasting contribution to local life working with rail bosses on the design of the High Speed One (HS1) railway line through the local area. Her work on the line ensured protectionwas given to local landscapes and wildlife in the North Downs area.


Norman Steel


NORMANPeter Steel (84) lived in the Downswood area for many years andwas a well-known character. Norman grew up in Mangravet and during the laer part of thewarwas evacuated toWales. He joined the Royal Navy as a 15 year old boy and in 1952 he was aboard theHMSCampania to witness the first atomic bomb being set off by Britain. He travelled on many vessels including HMSBelfast, Plymouth and Teignmouth before leaving the navy in 1952. Norman married Alma, his brother’s widow, in 1953. The couple raised their daughter, Jane. Norman worked for Rootes for a short


while until 1956 and thenwent to the GPO where he worked until hewas medically retired in 1983. Hewas widowed in 1984 but remarried in 1986 to Annie, becoming step- father to her four children. Normanwas widowed again in 2011. Daughter Jane said: “My fatherwas a keen


bowls player andwas a founder member of the Mote Park Bowls Club in Mote Park. “Hewas often seen catching his bus into town, something he did right up to theweek


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Obituaries


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