downsmail.co.uk Jeffrey VaughanMartin


JEFFREY Vaughan Martin (78) of Arran Road, Maidstone, has been described by David Picke, president of the Maidstone Choral Union, as “Mr Music of Maidstone”. After moving to the town in 1968 Jeffrey trained and conducted many of the town's musical institutions and remained a driving force behind local music. He studied maths and music at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and education at Oxford University, going on to win a


scholarship to study conducting on the Gulbenkian Conducting Course at the Guildhall School of Music. He worked as a music teacher and spent the final 21 years of his working life as a specialist music inspector in Kent. His local work included founding and directing a number of significant musical ventures. In 1978 he founded the Kent School SymphonicWind Band, renamed the Kent YouthWind Orchestra in 1985 after its numbers grew. Jeffrey set up the Maidstone Youth Music Society, led the Maidstone Choral Union from 1974 to 2008 and set up The Maidstone Singers in 1991. In the finalweek of his life hewas still active, working with theWest Malling Community Choir. Jeffreywas treasurer of the Methodist Church on Union Street – a location used as a venue in the Maidstone Jazz Festival, which he helped found and promote. Many of those who worked with Jeffrey have paid fulsome tributes. Maidstone Wind Symphony’s Facebook page stated: “It is difficult to understate Jeffrey's contribution to youth and community music in Maidstone.” Many individuals who knew and worked with Jeffrey have also paid tributes. Drum Major David Cox of the Royal Air Force said: “Jeffrey Vaughan Martin inspired and helped countless young musicians to achieve excellence…many of whom are still involved in music on a professional basis.” Jeffrey leaves his wife of 49 years Jean, children Jonathan and Debbie and grandchildren Christopher and Chloe.


George Chapman


LABOUR Councillor George Chapman (86), from Snodland,was known to some as “the people’s mayor”. The accolade came from his colleague, Conservative councillor Mark Worrall, who served as mayor of Tonbridge and Malling from 1997-1998. Proud of his beliefs and his working background as a carpenter for the Reed International Group, George began active political service with Snodland Town Council in 1985 and served with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council from 1991. He stepped down from both councils in


2007, when hewas made honorary alderman. Married to Joy for 62 years, Georgewas


father to daughter Julie and son Kerry. Amongst the tributes paid to George,


Anne Moloney, vice-chairman of Snodland Town Council noted his “kind and caring” nature and his pivotal role in the creation of a youth shelter in Neville Park.


Doug Francis


DOUGLAS Edward “Doug” Francis (71) of Aylesfordwaswell-known locally as an accountant, sportsman and volunteer for a number of organisations. He had lived in Aylesford for 20 years.


Born in the Maidstone area he moved, to live and work in Hertfordshire and Folkestone. He trained as a chartered accountant and worked for Thompson Holidays and Saga Holidays before ending his career as part of a partnership. He and first wife Jan, Doug raised children Lou, Mark and Daren. After he was widowed, he met and married his second wife, Tricia. Mark said: “My fatherwas sociable and outgoing and involved in lots of local activities. He played league croquet, ten pin bowling andwas heavily involved in both the Lions Club and Rotary Club. “He had been successful enough in his working life to retire early and got very involved in volunteering, including working at the shop in Maidstone Hospital. He travelled all over the world to the point thereweren’t many places he hadn’t visited. The family have had loads of cards.” Doug leaves his wife, children and grandchildren Morgan, Xavier and Jaxon.


Ronald Aco


RETIRED Maidstone local lorry driver Ronald Aco (74)was given a fiing send- off when his coffin travelled to his funeral in an HGV. Ronald drove heavy goods vehicles for 50


years, undertaking trips all over the continent. For most of his career he drove for Maidstone based D and B Lumsdon Ltd, a company run by David Lumsdon. David’s son Colin who runs CPL Transport provided the truck for Ronald’s funeral. Amongst his many haulage jobs, Ronald carried the London Lord Mayoral coach, an entire building, and military equipment in- cluding tanks. Hewas father to Diane, Ron, Allison,


Nicola and Darren and lived in Yalding, Coxheath and Tovil. Ron – whowas widowed when his second wife Sheila died in 2013 – leaves his children and 10 grandchildren.


Andy Hone


THE sudden death of a local footballer has prompted an outpouring of tributes from many of those who knew him and played with him. Andy Hone (43)was playedfor Ashford Dynamo andwas a postman in that area. He grew up in Ashford and joined the Post Office aged 17. The father of twowas known more widely for more than 1,200 appearances for Ashford Dynamo, in a career that took him all over the local area and brought him into contact with footballers from all over the


county. Describing Andy as a “stalwart” player Ashford Dynamo club secretary Ted Revell said: “Some local players are a lile bit average but not Andy. He showed over many years that his level did not drop. “He would play in a number of positions


and would always do what hewas asked willingly and give his all.” Club president Ken Jenkins added: “He


was a manager’s dream because he didn’t care what position hewas asked to play, he justwent out there to do his best.” The club’s current captain, Paul Peit,


said: “I’m in shock, what a great guy.” As a mark of respect, teams in the local


league observed a minute of applause before kicking off their games. Andy leaves his family and many friends.


Investigations into the cause of his death are continuing.


Geoff Turk


THE sudden death has been reported of Geoff Turk, who lived in Bow Road, Wateringbury. Geoff lived in the village all his life. He


grew up in Vicarage Coages, Tonbridge Road, where the front room of the family homewas his father’s barber shop. Geoffwas schooled locally andwent on


to work at the village’s Phoenix Brewery before training as an HGV driver. He started driving commercial vehicles in Kent and East Sussex, graduating to work around the UK. Geoff also drove executive cars and later did deliveries for Safeways, the job from which he retired. His interests included membership of


Wateringbury Working Men's Club and a skill at snooker that led to him winning several club trophies.Wateringbury Rostrum magazine noted: “He supported village life and gifted the original Christmas tree lights to the church.” He leaves his widow, Mabel.


Derek Burleigh


THE death has been announced in Cornwall of Derek Burleigh, formerly of Bow Road,Wateringbury. Derek had lived in the village for many


years, most of them with his late wife Pam. The couplewere members of the Wateringbury Players where each had a well-defined role – Derek providing refreshments and Pamworking on costumes. The couplewere also noted fans of the television soap Emmerdale andwere the first two members of its official fan club. Derekwas from Cornwall and retained


his accent. He had recently sold his Wateringbury home.


Margaret Fraser


MARGARET Fraser, recently of Loose, waswell known inWateringbury having lived in the flat above the village butcher’s shop on the Tonbridge Road. The propertywas owned by her late husband, Tom. The couple moved to Loose after Tom retired from working in the butcher’s shop. Margaret leaves sons Glen and Mahew and their grandchildren.


There is no charge for our obituary service. Call Neil Nixon on 01622 630422 or email nlnxn@aol.com 32 Malling May 2016


Obituaries


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