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downsmail.co.uk Alan Cole


ALANCole (86)was born and raised in Snodland and lived in the Springfield area of Maidstone for 62 years. His only significant period away from the


area came with national service in the RAF in which he took postings in various locations around England. Alan had a varied


and creative working life. He worked as a cartographer including spells working in the electricity industry and for Kent County Council and also


worked in a number of roles with his musical talents. He taught music, including guitar, in schools and worked for Sharon Music in Maidstone, aswell as managing stores for the company in Canterbury and TunbridgeWells. Alanwas married to June for 62 years and


was father to Pamand Chris. Pamsaid: “My fatherwas a man of many talents who truly embraced life. He achieved an incredible amount. Hewas involved locally as a Scoutmaster, in church music and performing music – including organising barn dances. “He also organised quizzes and worked


locally as a magician. He did gardens for local pensioners aswell as tending his own garden and had done a lot of cine filming including footage of British buerflies. “Hewas the chair of his local Active Retirement Fellowship and involved in a local table tennis league. Hewas also enjoyed painting and drawing, including running art classes and cake decorating. Wherever hewent in the local area he met people who knew him.” Alan leaves his wife and children.


Rosemary Dunn


THE death of Rosemary Dunn (77)was reported nationally. As a music teacher she did most of her significant work in east Kent butwas a figure of national standing who worked with musicians from all over the county, including many from the local area. In a Guardian obituary, Anstey Spraggan chronicled Rosemary’s roles as an educator and “a life-long champion of the awkward and the underdog” who made every effort to be inclusive in sharing her skills and passion for music. Rosemary Dunn’s PhDwas focused on inclusiveness in the teaching of music. She chaired the Deal festival and raised funds for Revelation Strings and, in the process, he worked with players of classical stringed instruments aswell as forging links with creatives who informed music-making across the county. Rosemary’s career came after strong support from her adoptive parents, and her adoptive father’s role as a staunch trade unionist informed her thinking about in- clusiveness and justice for all. She aended the Birmingham Conservatoire. After her retirement from music teaching in schools, Rosemary established the Sounds New festival in Canterbury, focusing on new music and the


work of contemporary composers. Rosemary’s many achievements included


being a prize-winning poet and a noted gardener. She married Clive Dunn in 1963 and the


couplewere parents to Dominic. Rosemary, whowas widowed, leaves her son and granddaughters Jessica and Keira.


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. Former Area Commander of Maidstone


Police, Roger Hext, who succeeded Mr Corben as chair of the Trust said: “Richard was a respected chair who gave many years of service to the trust.” In a death announcement placed in the


Daily Telegraph, Richard’s family stated: “His courage and sense of humour stayed with him to the end.” Richard leaves his wife, children and nine grandchildren.


Mike Davis


MICHAEL Howard “Mike” Davis (75) had lived locally since the early 1970s and lived in Hengist Court from 2012, having previously lived in Cornwallis Road and Upper Fant Road.


The son of a postmaster, Mike moved around with his father’s work and had lived in Kent before he moved to the local area from Falmouth in Cornwall. He worked locally


as a career civil servant in the benefits office.


With wife Chris, Mike raised daughter Mandy. She said: “My fatherwas the kind of friendly person who would stop and help anyone. People have described him as kind and wise and hewas very much a people person, very giving. “He regularly visited a few old people and


just generally loved to talk. He also loved sport andwas a member of Kent County Cricket Club. Maidstone CricketWeekwas a big event in his life for many years and he could enjoy almost any sport on television, although he had a particular love of rugby and football.” Mikewas widowed in 1992, but spent the


final 11 years of his life with his partner – also Chris. He leaves his partner, daughter and grandchildrenWesley, Freddie and Judd.


SirNicholas Fenn


SIR Nicholas Fenn (80) of Maidstone Road, Marden,was a distinguished career diplomat who had retired to Kent. 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 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 read medieval history at 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. 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. He later worked for three years as chief executive for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Sir Nicholas served as a churchwarden 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.


David Heaver


DAVID Heaver (74) lived locally in Kingswood for about 20 years and, before that, in Langley. Born in London, he met Val, his wife of


over 50 years, when the couple aended a youth club as teenagers. He began work for Beefeater Gin andwent


on to work as a sales rep for Lyons tea. He worked for the financial firm SlaterWalker in Lewisham and a local financial firm before establishing Rumwood Industrial Finance. The couple moved to the Maidstone area


from Orpington. Hewas father to Deborah. Val said: “David loved his music. He also loved cycling and golf. He played golf at theWeald of Kent Golf Club and had been captain there. He was a life-long Arsenal supporter who aended games as a boy with his father. People will remember him as someone who got on with everyone and had a good sense of humour. Davidwas a loving and generous husband and a genuine person.” David leaves Val, his daughter, grandchildren Emma, Cara and Michael and great-grandchildren Bethany and Isabelle.


The Stone Shop


Memorials. Any natural stone supplied, lettered and installed anywhere.


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The Stone Shop Station Hill, East Farleigh, Kent.


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There is no charge for our obituary service. Call Neil Nixon on 01622 630422 or email nlnxn@aol.com Maidstone Weald November 2016


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Obituaries


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