downsmail.co.uk Jenny Hurwi


JENNY Hurwi (98) lived locally from 1960, making homes in Doddington and Langley before spending her final years in Beauworth Park, offWillington Street, Maidstone. Prior to this Jenny


had lived in Rainham, Boxley and Strood. Born Jenny Elvy,


she trained as a nurse and began work before marrying Jack and raising children Claire, Maureen, Andy, Felicity


(“Lizzie”) and Greg. When Jennywas widowed in 1959, her


five childrenwere aged between one and eleven years old. She had help from her mother with childcare and re-trained to gain higher nursing qualifications. Jenny worked for years as nurse in charge of elderly care at Linton Hospital and took an active role in helping the patients, some of whom had been resident in the hospital since its earlier days as a workhouse and had become insti- tutionalised. Claire said: “My motherwas dedicated to


everyone she looked after, from her own children to the hospital patients. In the case of the patients, she worked hard to get them out and give them more active lives. “She worked hard at fundraising for the residents, including making soft toys in her own time to sell at fairs. She would give her last penny to someone who needed it more. “When she retired from the NHS at the


age of 60, shewent to work for Marie Curie Nursing Care, staying with them until she was 75. The Marie Curie work meant she needed to drive in order to visit terminally- ill patients, so she passed her driving test at the age of 60. Shewas a wonderful mother and grandmother.” Jenny leaves her children, grandchildren


Chris, Alex, Astrid and Toby and great- grandchildren Zac and Mia.


Cherry Fann


THE village of Staplehurst has been united in mourning the death of Cherry Fann (82). Born Cherry Grant in Cheam, Surrey, she


moved as a girl to Seaton, Devon, and grew up as the daughter of publicans. Her husband, Michael Fann, spent a holiday from Cambridge University working in the pub and the pair married in 1956, going on to raise four daughters. The family lived in Staplehurst from


1972, in a house called Lindridge on the Marden Road, for 20 years before converting the neighbouring barn and moving in to that property. Cherry was heavily involved in community life, working as a librarian at Staplehurst, Marden and Coxheath and running activities such as the Staplehurst Good Companions’ Club and the Age Concern Friday Club in Coxheath. Cherry was chairman of the Staplehurst Society and became its honorary life president on retirement. She co-authored a book on Staplehurst – a pictorial history based on old postcards – andwas involved in organising annual clean-ups removing rubbish from country lanes in the area. In her tenure as a parish councillor from


32 Maidstone East August 2016


1987 to 1995, she helped to oversee the conversion of the former school into a village centre. Cherry leaves her husband, three surviving daughters and 13 grandchildren.


Jean Messham


JEAN Messham (84) who has died in Totnes, Devon will bewell remembered locally from around 18 years of teaching. Shewas initially a supply teacher and


then a member of staff at Sandling County Primary School in Maidstone. Born Jean Roberts inWales, she grew up andwent to teacher training college before moving to the Maidstone area with husband of 56 years, Ted. He worked as a brickworks manager in Ryarsh and


Pluckley. The couple raised daughters, Nikki and Jo. Jo said: “My mother taught locally from


1974 and, for years afterwards, she would meet her former pupils in the street who would often stop and chat. She always regarded teaching as important and had the ability to bring the best out of children, however they learned. “Shewas caring and capable in her work


andwas heavily involved in school events such as plays and music. She played the piano for those events. “To her pupils and to her family shewas


a lovely woman who did a lot for others. After she retired shewas involved with a choir which sang to raise money for the Heart of Kent Hospice.” Jean and Ted moved to Devon to be near


Jo in October 2015. Jean leaves her husband, daughters and grandchildren Owen, Emily and Ed.


Nick Emmerton


MANY people aended the funeral of popular father of three Nick “Rocky” Emmerton (53). Nick died after a short illness and his funeral service included a motor-bike and sidecar hearse to reflect his love of motorcycling.


Nick lived locally


for most of his life most recently in ChamberlainAvenue, Fant. His jobs brought him into contact with many people and at various times he served as a lifeguard at Maidstone Leisure Centre and worked in


a bakery in the Stoneborough Centre (now The Mall Chequers). Nickwas a qualified carpenter and had


gone on to set up a successful window- fiing business which operated in Kent and parts of London. Kathryn Templewas amongst those who posted online tribute, saying: “Sad news to share.


“Wonderful Rocky, beloved husband of


our Paula Emmerton…has died. He had great courage and strength and has been a gladiator. Rest with the angels now and watch over your family like a great


guardian.” Nick leaves his wife Pauline and three children.


Owain Boughtwood


THE tragic death in a road accident near his homein the Canterbury area of local footballer and cricketer Owain Boughtwood (21) has drawn tributes from manywhoknew the tal- ented student. Owain was two


years through an un- dergraduate degree at Santa Clara University, California. He had been in-


volved in sport across Kent.As a footballer he played for Folkestone Invicta and Ashford and represented the


county of Kent. Owainwas the youngest of six children and


a family statement has talked of his place among his “large, loving family” and praised Owain’s presence as a “fun-loving uncle” to his nine nieces and nephews.


MayAllsop


MAYAllsop lived in Shaftesbury Drive, Maid- stone, for 28 years and previously lived in Sta- tion Road,Aylesford. BornMay Jones in Bridgend,Wales, shewas


the seventh of eight children. She moved to Canvey Island, Essex, as a child and eventu- ally lived and worked locally with husband Roy. May was mother to Mark, Deborah and Peter. Roy Allsop said: “May loved her family


above everything and looked after her chil- dren and grandchildren really well. She did local farm work around East Malling and had worked as a cleaner at a dairy in Gillingham. She was really supportive of my work with the 220 Field AmbulanceRAMCunit.” May leaves her husband, children,grand- children and two great-grandchildren.


Caroline Anne Cornell THE death has been announced in Swansea, after a short illness, of Caroline Anne Cornell (51). Born Caroline Leigh she grew up mainly


in Coxheath and aended Cornwallis School before moving to Somerset after her marriage.At the time of her death shewas living in Camarthen, SouthWales.


Bob Espley


THE death has been reported in Horsham, West Sussex of former Maidstone resident, Bob Espley Nixon (72). He died on 8 July.


The Stone Shop


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Obituaries


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