downsmail.co.uk George Chapman


LABOURCouncillor George Chapman (86), from Snodland,was known to some as “the people’smayor”. The accolade came from his colleague, Conservative councillorMarkWorrall,who served asmayor of Tonbridge andMalling from 1997-1998. Proud of his beliefs and hisworking background as a carpenter for the Reed International Group, George began active political servicewith Snodland Town Council in 1985 and servedwith Tonbridge andMalling Borough Council from 1991. He stepped down from both councils in


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


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


AnneMoloney, vice-chairman of Snodland Town Council noted his “kind and caring” nature and his pivotal role in the creation of a youth shelter inNeville 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 inAylesford for 20 years.


Born in theMaidstone area hemoved, to live andwork inHertfordshire and Folkestone.He trained as a chartered accountant andworked for Thompson Holidays and SagaHolidays before ending his career as part of a partnership. He and firstwife Jan, raised children Lou,


Mark and Daren.After hewaswidowed, he met andmarried his secondwife, 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 inMaidstoneHospital. He travelled all over theworld to the point thereweren’tmany places he hadn’t visited. The family have had loads of cards.” Doug leaves hiswife, children and grandchildrenMorgan, Xavier and Jaxon.


Ronald Aco


RETIREDMaidstone local lorry driver RonaldAco (74)was given a fiing send- offwhen his coffin travelled to his funeral


in anHGV. Ronald drove heavy goods vehicles for 50


years, undertaking trips all over the continent. Formost of his career he drove forMaidstone based D and B Lumsdon Ltd, a company run by David Lumsdon. David’s son Colinwho runs CPL Transport provided the truck for Ronald’s funeral. Amongst hismany haulage jobs, Ronald carried the London LordMayoral coach, an entire building, andmilitary equipment in- cluding tanks. Hewas father to Diane, Ron,Allison,


Nicola and Darren and lived in Yalding, Coxheath and Tovil. Ron–whowaswidowedwhen his secondwife Sheila died in 2013 – leaves his children and 10 grandchildren.


John Steer


JOHNSteer (80),who lived in Tovil and Fant,will be remembered as a keen sportsman and the first secretary of Lashings Cricket Club. He showed exceptional talent in cricket, football and cycling.His only lengthy period away fromMaidstone camewith RAF service that took him all over theUK and Europe. John returned towork at Sharp’s sweet factory on St Peter’s Street. He aended Lashings’ firstmatch in 1984, an


ignominious defeatwhen the teamwere bowled out for 29 after agreeing the fixture the previous night. John kept faith in the club and saw them


improve. Lashings’website notes: “John watched as Lashings grew from a hapless pub team into aworld XI and amongst his many claims to fame is that he taught chairmanDavid Folb how to bat in the nets at Vinters Park.”


Andy Hone


THE sudden death of a local footballer has prompted an outpouring of tributes from many of thosewho knew him and played with him. AndyHone (43) played forAshford


Dynamo andwas a postman in that area. He grew up inAshford and joined the Post Office aged 17. The father of twowas knownmore


widely formore than 1,200 appearances for Ashford Dynamo, in a career that took him


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all over the local area and brought him into contactwith footballers from all over the county. DescribingAndy as a “stalwart” playerAshford Dynamo club secretary Ted Revell said: “Some local players are a lile bit average but notAndy.He showed over many years that his level did not drop. “Hewould play in a number of positions


andwould always dowhat hewas asked willingly and give his all.” Club president Ken Jenkins added: “He


wasamanager’s dream because he didn’t carewhat 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.” Asamark of respect, teams in the local


league observed aminute of applause before kicking off their games. Andy leaves his family andmany friends.


Investigations into the cause of his death are continuing.


Katie Whistler


KATIE Whistler (26), ofMaidstone, collapased and died suddenly at homein front of her boyfriend after feeling unwell. Tributes have been paid to the colourful character dubbed “crazy” by boyfriend ChrisDredge. Katiewas known as Pinky because of her pink hair. She and Chris lived on the Tonbridge Road and Katie hadworked for four years as a care assistant and a chef at Eastfield CareHome. Katie’s friends and


family packed her funeral service at


Vinters Park Crematorium onApril 20 and tributes praised her love of life and creative spirit. Katie studied animal care atHadlow


College andwas a volunteer at Smarden’s Big Cat Sanctuary. Katie leaves partner Chris, parents Rachel


andMark and siblings Simon,Hilary and Charloe.Donations can bemade in her name to theNeuro Foundation at tinyurl.com/KWhistler, a cause relevant to Katie,who suffered from neurofibromatosis.


Tony Hyde


PC TonyHyde (64) covered the Farleighs when Kent Police allocated policemen to the rural parishes andwas very popular. After retirement hemoved abroad and


was subsequently diagnosedwith pancreatic cancer.He is survived bywife Jackie, daughter Charloe,mother Joan and sister Joanne.


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Obituaries


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