downsmail.co.uk Richard Corben
RICHARD Corben (77) of High Halden, and formerly of Maidstone, made a major contribution to local life. He ran the Corben construction firm
based on the Tonbridge Road for many years until it ceased trading in the 1990s. The site of his firm has recently been redeveloped as the Corben Yard business park.
Amongst other local roles undertaken by Richard Corbenwas the post of High Sheriff of Kent in 1984. In the Maidstone area, he remained heavily involved in the business community and served as a magistrate. Richard served the Cobtree Charity Trust
as chair for 23 years, standing down late in 2015 due to ill health. Hewas married to Roseanne and father to Josephine, Caroline and Simon. In his work for the trust, Richard carried
on the local work of Sir Garrard Tyrwhi- Drake, the many times Mayor of Maidstone who owned Cobtree and ran his zoo there. The Trustwas founded in the fifties and after the death of Sir Garrard Tyrwhi- Drake it has continued to own the land, which now houses Cobtree Manor Golf Course and the open-air Kent Life araction on Lock Lane. Former Area Commander of Maidstone
Police, Roger Hext, who succeeded Richard Corben as chair of the Trust said: “Richard was a respected chair who gave many years of service to the trust. His death is a sad loss for us all.” In a death announcement placed in the
Daily Telegraph, Richard Corben’s family stated: “His courage and sense of humour stayed with him to the end.” Richard leaves his wife, children and nine grandchildren.
Sir Nicholas Fenn
SIR Nicholas Fenn (80) of Maidstone Road, Marden,was a distinguished career diplomat who had retired to the Kent countryside. He became active in public life again in
2014 when his anger at the development plans of Maidstone Borough Council prompted him to stand as a Liberal Democrat councillor in opposition in 2014. That effortwas unsuccessful, but Sir Nicholas’ working life had seen him take a range of high-profile positions in the diplomatic service including ambassador to Ireland, High Commissioner in India and spokesman for Britain at the United Nations. Hewas knighted for his diplomatic service in 1989. Sir Nicholas held a double first in mediaeval history from the University of Cambridge and joined the Diplomatic Service from university. He served as vice counsel in Burma during the military coup in that country in 1962 and served a total of 37 years as a diplomat, retiring in 1992. Amongst his more notable involvements
Sir Nicholaswas involved in the Lancaster House talks over the future of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) andwas our man in China during the last days of leader Mao Tse Tung. On retirement from diplomacy, he worked for three years as chief executive for Marie
Curie Cancer Care. Locally, Sir Nicholas served as a church
warden for St Michael and All Angels’ Church and supported the charity Safe Anaesthesia Worldwide, which is based in Marden. Sir Nicholaswas married to Susan and
father to Robert, who has followed his father into the diplomatic service.
Daphne Harber
DAPHNE Mary Emma Harber (83) lived for over 20 years on Terminus Road and lived locally her whole life. Born Daphne Gay, inAylesford, her work
locally included time at Reeds paper mill and a period working in a fruit distribution and canning business. Daphnewas married for about 20 years to Tom Harber whowas visually impaired and worked as a switchboard operator at Oakwood Hospital. Daphne’s niece Valerie said: “My auntwas
very single-minded and had her own opinions. “Shewas the youngest of four children
and had three elder brothers. She could be very giving and I used to stay with her when Iwas a child. Her friends knew how determined she could be because she coped with ill health for a long period in her life. “One thing she lovedwaswatching quiz
shows on television and she would often be able to get higher scores than the contestants shewaswatching.” Daphne leaves her extended family including two nieces who live locally.
Brian Reynolds
THE death has been reported in Lincolnshire of Brian Reynolds. The formerAylesford man died on September 7. He will be remembered locally as the question master at the quiz nights organised in aid of St Peter’s and St Paul’s parish Church. Brian lived inAylesford for 35 years before moving to Lincolnshire last year. Hewas married to Karole. Church member Elizabeth Margerisson
said: “He will be missed by his family and many friends.”
Dave Long
THE death of Dave Long, who had been known to sleep in a doorway between Tiger and the Halifax bank inWeek Street, Maidstone – prompted the laying of flowers and tributes where he had previously slept. Dave died in Kings College Hospital, London. Hewaswell known to staff and clients at Maidstone Day Centre on Knightrider Street which helps the homeless.
There is no charge for our obituary service. Call Neil Nixon on 01622 630422 or email
nlnxn@aol.com 30 Malling October 2016
BillWenham Andrew Ashbee, curator at Snodland Mille-
nium Museum and the chairman of Snodland Historical Society, pays tribute to Snodland resident BillWenham... IT WAS a shock to hear that Bill Wen- ham had died suddenly of a heart attack, just a week or so after his last visit to Snodland Museum. He was certainly the most dedicated
visitor to Snodland Museum and came several times each year. In the early days,
he gave us a num- ber of items, sev- eral of which are part of our perma- nent
display.
These include cer- tificates and a medal awarded at the Brook Street school in the 1890s and early 1900s. Bill’s particular interestwas in military history, since six brothers in the family all fought in WorldWar I. All survived the Great War, except Thomas who had emigrated to Canada as a fireman, but returned to fight on the Western Front. The family are well aware how much
the museum meant to Bill, and have kindly donated his fine collection of mil- itary history books to us to keep or sell for the benefit of the museum. This includes the complete 13-volume history of the GreatWar, published 1914- 1919, and the history of the Buffs. We also have copies of service records, photographs and letters from the family which Bill loaned to us.
To the above have now been added
some items which Bill had collected: trench art and Snodland pieces and a to- bacco cutter dated 1873, inscribed with the name of his great-grandfather James – possibly a 21st-birthday item. It is interesting to note that football
skills continue to run in the family; James Wenham was vice-captain of Snodland FC in 1903-4, Thomas’ prowess at football was mentioned by his com- mander sending his condolences to the family, and the tradition carries on with the youngest generation today. Bill’s grandson Alex is planning an-
other sponsored charity run (see Downs- mail June 2016), this time to raise funds for the forthcoming repairs to All Saints and for Snodland Museum. Bill's oldest daughter, Sarah Manning,
said: “Dadwas 76 when he died. Hewas born in Holborough Road, Snodland, and lived there until he married our mum and moved to Malling Road. “Dad spent most of his life living in
his beloved Snodland. “He only moved to Ditton four years
ago because his neighbours forced him to move because of their unreasonable behaviour. Believe me, Dad didn't want to move out of Snodland. "Dad worked at Rugby Cement while
the three of us were growing up and we all went to St Katherine’s and Holmes- dale schools. “His brother Tom still lives at Covey
Hall Road after moving there when his home in Holboroughwas knocked down to make way for the bypass. "Dad was very dedicated to instilling
in us, his three children, and his nine grandchildren, how important it is where we come from."
Obituaries
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