downsmail.co.uk Joan Baker


JOAN Baker (88) lived locally herwhole life, 66 ofwhichwas inWestMalling after hermarriage. Born Joan King, she spent her early years in Di�on beforemarrying Norman Baker. Joanwasmother to 11


children (Chris, Nick, Marie, Nigel, Pat, Maxwell, Carol, Bridge�, Gordon, Simon and Jason). DaughterMarie said: “People knewher as a lovely ladywho enjoyed gardening and


did sewing and alterations for others. She held strong opinions on a fewthings and could stand her ground. Shewas a devoted grandmother and great grandmother.” Joan leaves 10 children – sonMaxwell


died fromwhooping cough, aged six weeks. Her combined grandchildren and great grandchildren number around 50. She also leaves a brother and a sister.


Geoff Gilbertson


GEOFF Gilbertson (67) lived a strange and remarkable life as a cult author,which earned himnational obituaries. Born in Pembury, he lived locally as a


small boy until the death of his father forced his family, including two older sisters and his twin sister Jill, to relocate. By the late 60s, Geoff


had become immersed in hippy culture, so much so that an obituary in the online International Times


noted: “He had a house in Glastonbury thatwas leaning somuchwith subsidence that the furniture had to be nailed to the floor, and he once swapped a car for a loaf of bread...he travelled through life like a holy fool.” Geoff’s highest profile camewhen he co-


authored in 1980 the influential The Dark Gods,which fuelled thinking about conspiracy theories and pre-empted the celebrity of people like David Icke. Geoff later claimed to have changed hismind on many of the arguments in the book.


By themid-90s, he had become aweb


designer,winning The Guardian’sweb designer of the year award. Tributes have noted that Geoff – also a


talentedmusician – lived an often troubled life,with The Guardian noting: “One friend described himas being entirely devoid of protective armour.” He leaves one older sister, Isolde.


Shirley Lowry


SHIRLEY Lowry (53),who lost a determined ba�le against cancer on January 27,waswell known inMaidstone area for herwork as a life celebrant. Shewas ordained aministerwith


Maidstone Independent Christian Spiritualist Church eight years ago, following 25 years with Lloyds Bank. She conducted weddings, blessings, baby namings and many local funerals. Shirleymarried


local funeral director Michael Lawrence at a


happy andmemorable service in BoughtonMonchelsea Church inApril last year after consultants discovered shewas suffering fromuntreatable cancers. At that timeMichaelwas President of


the Rotary Club of theWeald and Shirley was a proudmember of the Rotary Club of Maidstone. CurrentMaidstone President Velia LeQuelenec said: “Shewas a lovely, happy personwho greeted everyone warmlywith a smile.” Shirley lived formany years in


Egremont Road, Bearsted, but recently she andMichaelmoved to Sharps Field, Headcorn. Her funeral is at BoughtonMonchelsea


Church at noon onWednesday, February 21.


Andy Laing


THE death has been reported in Folkestone ofMaidstone bornAndy Laing (76).Andy had a distinguished career in insurance –working for NFU, Orion and Lombard andwas also known throughout county football circles as a director of


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23 Malling February 2018


Folkestone Invicta Football Club. To celebrateAndy’s love of football


those a�ending hismemorial in the bar of the Fullick’s Stadiumon January 30were asked towear navy,white, yellowor amber in honour of his favourite teams – To�enhamHotspur and Invicta.Andy leaves hiswife Jenny, daughters Cole�e and Katrina and his grandchildren.


JeanAdams


JEANAdamswonmany top prizes at Chelsea Flower Showand Kent County Showfor the high quality pansies she and her husbandWally grewin their large garden at Hazeldene, Dean Street, East Farleigh. When they retired fromthe business


theymoved to amore compact home in Headcorn. Jeanwas a long-standing member of East Farleigh Parish Council and included in her duties planting the horse trough outside the churchwith flowers and arranging li�er picking days. Shewas also a village allotment trustee.


Tony Craig


ANTHONY Charles “Tony” Craig (81), originally from London, lived locally from1965, after he queued up to buy a house in Holtwood. He lived there for


28 yearswith Joan, his wife of 52 years, beforemoving to East Malling.Aftermoving locally, Tony took up


an accountancy rolewith Kimberley Clark.He spent 25 years there,moving fromtheir accounts department to become a car fleetmanager. He thenmoved to Reed’s paper group, retiring fromthe company after it became SCA. He returned to SCA part-time as a consultant dealingwith its car fleet. Tonywas father toAndrea and Nicola.Wife Joan said: “Tony loved his sport and Kimberley Clark had a great sports club. He played competitive table tennis for the company and continued into his retirement. He played for Barming in the Kent League, really enjoying hismatches for veterans. Hewas also involvedwith the twinning of Maidstone and Beauvais formore than 40 years.”


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Obituaries


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