downsmail.co.uk DaveMarten


DAVID “Dave” Marten (76) lived locally all his life, including 25 years in Eccles, and the final seven years of his life in the Siingbourne Road area of Maidstone. Dave worked in local paper mills, including a spell at Reeds’ mill. He met his first wife Jill through his work, and the couplewere married for 25 years until her death in 1999. Dave later married June, but was widowed again seven years ago. His sister Helen said: “Dave had to retire


early for health reasons. He had been a good village cricketer early in his life and also enjoyed playing darts in theWalnut Tree pub when he lived in Eccles. He followed horse racing aswell.” He leaves step-daughters Linda and Susan.


Jim Murray


JIM Murray (86) seled in Maidstone in 1967, having been born and brought up in Yorkshire. He had a long and successful career in agriculture until his retirement in 1996. He qualified as a football referee in the early 1970s, officiating at local and county level and he set up and managed a boys’ football club at Penenden Heath. He turned his sporting success to the game of bowls, winning many local


tournaments and club competitions. His proudest moment came in 1982 with the winning of his county badge and being able to represent Kent. His support of Maidstone Bowls Club led


to him being awarded the role of captain, followed by chairman and eventually president and for over two decades he looked after the green to ensure that Maidstone had one of the best playing surfaces in the county. When hewas no longer able to take an


active role within the club, the members honoured his service by naming the clubhouse after him. After his retirement, Jim volunteered for


many years with Age UK, escorting the elderly on minibus trips . Hewas a devoted husband to Margaret


for 61 years, until she died in 2014. Jim leaves children Jim,Ann and Ian, five grandchildren and one great grandson.


Dorothy Megan Drewe


DOROTHY Drewe (95), formerly of East Farleigh, has died. She spent most of her life in East Farleigh, andwas born at theWalnut Tree Inn, Forge Lane, East Farleigh where her father and grandfather before himwere the publicans. As a young child Dorothy moved to Rockwell Farm, New Cut (formerly The Deans) where her father and then her brother, Edward Archard (Ted) farmed for many years. On leaving school, she worked for the


Kent Typewriter Company in Maidstone. At the outbreak of the Second WorldWar, she joined the Land Army in Frienden until it was disbanded. After the war Dorothy met and married Donald Drewe and they farmed in Stocke Lane and Dean Street, East Farleigh, growing all types of fruit and employing many local people at harvest time.


When her husband died in 1988, her son


John took over the farm for 10 years. Dorothy spent her later years in Nuneaton where she lived with her daughter Pauline. Dorothy leaves her son and daughter,


four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.


“Jimmy” Sudra


JAMNADAS “Jimmy” Sudra (80)was known locally from years of work with the Kent Messenger Group (nowKMGroup) and from his years living in Burham. His time locally involved working in


Safeways and subsequently employment as a payroll clerk at the KM. Itwas one stop in a truly remarkable life


story that took a huge turn after Jimmy, as a young boy in his native Tanzania, was playing near the diamond mine that employed his father. He spoed something that looked like pink glass and took it to the mine owner. He had discovered a 23.6 carat diamond that eventually became part of the jewellery worn by the Queen at her wedding. Jimmy’s honesty in presenting the find


was rewarded with a private education. The mine then employed him navigating their aircraft (a job that eventually led to near disaster when the plane exploded after a cigaree smoker accidently ignited fuel). Jimmy required treatment for burns and re-trained as a policeman before


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coming to the UK. He met and married Mary, the daughter


of his boss and the couple lived locally, raising children Aaron and Elizabeth. After Mary’s death in 2015 Jimmy moved


to Ireland to be close to his daughter. In his final years, he suffered from dementia and he died in a nursing home in Ireland on 22August.


Tony Levick


TONY Levick (88), of Linton, who retired after a successful career as a Maidstone accountant, made a major contribution to the Kent and local community through his voluntary support for cricket and his parish council. Hewas long-term treasurer of Kent County Cricket Club andwas appointed club president in 1998 and made an honorary life member. The county flag flew at half mast on the first day of Kent’s final


game of the season at Canterbury. Tonywas captain of The Mote Cricket


Club from 1965 to 1972. During this period, the Kent Leaguewas launched, which the club has won six times, twice during Tony’s club presidency. For more than 20 years hewas chairman


of trustees of The Mote ground. Hewas deeply involved in the life of his


home village, serving as chairman of the parish council. He also played for the village cricket club. Professionally, he joined the family firm


of accountants Levicks, which today still has branches in London Road, Maidstone and Broadstairs. Tony was predeceased by his wife Pat


and is survived by his daughter Sally, son James, five grandchildren and two great grandsons.


Mick Nichols


MICHAEL “Mick” Nichols (74) lived in the local area his whole life. Brought up in Snodland, and resident for the last 46 years in Coxheath, Mick spent most of his working life driving HGV vehicles for Alan Firmin and later for Safeways. His wife, Sonia, said: “Mick didn’t need a


hobby because he loved his work so much. He alwayswanted to see whatwas over the next hill. He retired once but took on a part-time job driving minibuses for Sevenoaks council that turned into a full- time job. He finally retired aged 68.” Mickwas father to James and Edward. Sonia said: “Mickwaswell known as something of a joker and enjoyed a pint locally in the Bird in Hand or The Bell. He was one of the volunteers behind the bar in Hunton Working Men's Club. He used to drive us miles on family holidays and loved this as much as he loved his driving jobs.” Mick leaves his wife, son James and grandchildren, Gemma, Archie and Charlie, Renèe and great granddaughter Eleanor.


There is no charge for our obituary service. Call Neil Nixon on 01622 630422 or email nlnxn@aol.com Maidstone Weald October 2017


Obituaries


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