downsmail.co.uk Brenda Day


BRENDA DAY (100), of East Farleigh, was born Brenda Body, into a local farming family in Biddenden. After studying at Goudhurst Ladies College, she became a nanny andwent on towar service with theWAAF, as a ploer in the operations rooms at RAF Fighter Command in Stanmore. Her duties included ploing the route of the plane taken by Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess, as he flew to Scotland on a secret and unsuccessful mission to negotiate peace with Britain. Brenda married Roland Day in 1942. Her husbandwas also from a Kent farming family. They seled down after the war, forming Elphicks Farm, in Hunton, farming hops, fruit and livestock. They brought up children Robert, Simon and Diana.


Brenda took up bowls in later life, going


on to compete at county standard. She and Roland retired toWest Farleigh


20 years ago. Brendawas widowed in 2011 and lived independently until a few days before her death.A thanksgiving service for Brenda’s life drew over 100 people to Vinters Crematorium.


Rene Bramall


IRENE “Rene” Bramall (81) lived on Roseacre Lane, Bearsted from 1984 and was known locally from years in which she worked in local pubs. Born IreneWarren in Epsom, Surrey, her


early working life included a spell as a cashier at Fortnum and Mason in London and living in Mitchum, south London. Her first marriage produced daughters


Lynn and Karen, but Renewas widowed at the age of 29, when her husbandwas killed in a road accident. She travelled to South Africa for a short


while before coming to live and work in the local area, where she eventually met her husband of 27 years Don Bramall, and became step-mother to Helen, Philip and Jane.


Don said: “Renewas bubbly and friendly, qualities that allowed her to get on with customers in the local pubs in which she worked - the White Horse, The Plantation and The Bell. She loved her life andwewere able to really enjoy many years whenwe travelled extensively visiting all the countries inWestern Europe including Scandinavia and the USA. There was a lot of joy in those times.” Rene leaves her daughters, step-children,


10 grandchildren and five great- grandchildren.


Vic Mahews


VICTOR (Vic) Mahews (96)was born in Maidstone, and moved to Plantation Lane, Bearsted when hewas five years old. He later moved to Roseacre Stores, which was started by his parents in 1931. He was educated, at St Paul’s, Maidstone, and then Maidstone Grammar School. On leaving school


Vic started work in The Maidstone Borough Treasurer’s Office and joined the


Territorial Army. A few days before warwas declared, the


TAswere mobilised into the regular Army. Eighteen months later, Vic transferred to the RAF to train as a pilot. After gaining his wings he became a Lancaster bomber pilot, until hewas shot down over occupied France, from where he escaped back to England. After the war, Vic returned to Bearsted to


help his parents in Roseacre Post Office Stores. In 1960 he became the sub- postmaster, a post he held for 25 years until his retirement.A few years before this he met Rosemary who became his wife and upon Vic's retirement, they moved to her home in Keston, Kent. Vicwas a member of the Bearsted and Thurnham Rifle Club, joining in 1938. When his active competition shooting days were over, hewas honoured by becoming the club’s president, a position he held until his death in April. Vic’s brother Denis said: “He will be remembered best for his helpfulways regarding customers and their problems, and hewas always ready with advice etc. Another activity Vic did for a timewas to


take up flying again, from Headcorn where he obtained his private pilot’s licence and took great pleasure in taking family and friends for flights over Kent – a far cry from hiswartime flying experiences.”


Ron Stubbs


RON Stubbs (79) lived in Barming from 1972 andwas known locally for a range of involvements in his community including serving the area as local correspondent for the Kent Messenger.


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A former shopkeeper, Ron worked as a journalist in the trade press, including time spent on journals dealing with the hardware industry and baking. He became a local Kent Messenger correspondent after retiring from his other journalistic work and valued the contacts and insight the job gave him into his local community. Hewas also involved locally as a member of the University of the Third Age, his local horticultural society and the Barming History Group. Ron married Valerie in 1969 and the couple brought up Luke and Rebecca. Ron lost Valerie in May 2016 and suffered ill health this year, spending his finalweeks in Maidstone Hospital. Amongst the tributes paid, Ron’s daughter Rebecca his ability to talk to anyone and be a loving father and grandfather. Ron leaves his children and five grandchildren.


Jean Brownlow


JEAN Brownlow (78) lived locally her whole life, most recently on CollegeWalk, andwas a champion ladies darts player. Born Jean Beautridge in Maidstone she aended Vinters School and began work for Printway on the site now occupied by Clark’s furniture store. Jeanwas also a member of the Territorial Army for a number of years. She met and married Colin Brownlow and raised children David, Angie and Debbie and worked for many years on Alan Firmin’s farms. Jeanwas a local singles darts champion


and a newspaper dubbed her “The Queen of the Arrows”. Debbie said: “My motherwas very sociable, open-minded and friendly. She and my father were married for over 50 years. Shewas a loving mother and grandmother.” Jean – whowas widowed around five


years ago – leaves her children and grandchildren Keaton, Rebecca and Alex.


John Meacham


THE death has been announced of John Meacham, a former vicar of Brenchley. Born in Plymouth in 1924, John sawwar service as a glider pilot and trained with the Parachute Regiment ahead of the Bale of Arnhem in 1944. He worked in the Palestinian police service after thewar and was promoted to sergeant (becoming the youngest serving officer of that rank). He was ordained into holy orders in 1953 and married Joy in 1955. The couple lived in Croydon and moved


to a post in Siingbourne in 1958. John and Joy brought up sons Tim, Andrew and David. He served as vicar of Brenchley from 1974 to 1983 and also taught at TunbridgeWells Girls’ Grammar. Joy Meacham founded Roundabout – a village magazine which is published. The family moved from the local area in 1984 and Johnwent on to take a masters’ degree in Philosophy from the Open University. In retirement John and Joy seled in


Walmer where, after being diagnosed with Alzheimers, John spent his final years in a care home.


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Obituaries


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