downsmail.co.uk PeterWilding Jones
PETERWilding Jones (87) lived in central Maidstone for 50 years. Before that, he resided inHeadcorn,where his fatherwas the local postmaster. Having earned a scholarship to Su�on Valence School, Peter beganwork in the PostOfficewith his father. Hewent on towork
in a number of local roles, including a sales jobwith Vaughans fireplace shop on Tonbridge Road, 25 years
working for the print union SOGAT and finally in a garage on Rawdon Road, Tovil. Peterwasmarried to Ivy for 65 years, and
the couple spent 73 years together.Hewas father to Peter, Sally and Katherine (Kate). Kate said: “My fatherwas an intelligent
and creative person. “His ability to be articulate and solve
problemswas a great asset in his union work, but his creative talentswere put to many
uses.Onewhich satisfied himthe mostwaswhen he finally got to play Santa Claus to a play group,where the audience included two of his granddaughters.He was so good that even they didn’t spot him. “Hewas involved and active to the end
of his life.” Peter leaves hiswife, children, 12
grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
John andMarinaMorrison THE deaths of John andMarinaMorrison (84 and 83 respectively) occurredwithin a fortnight of each other. The pair –who lived in Fant –werewell-
known locally as stalwarts of Labour politics. Both had fought election campaigns and John held the ParkWood ward from1980 to 2002, in one election polling 71%of the votes. A joint funeral took place at Vinters Park Crematorium.
JimGibson JAMES “Jim” Gibson (70), of Penenden Heath,Maidstone, died peacefully at home.
Jimwas born and grewup in South
Dakota, USA, and studiedmusic and English at Houghton College, NewYork. He completed a Ph.D in English at University of Pennsylvania,where hemet hiswife of 20 years, Lizzie. Jimlectured in English literature and
writing at Houghton College, before coming to Kent on sabbatical in 1984 to begin editing the Kent volumes for international research project Records of Early English Drama. Jimchose to remain in Kent, producing
several books and scholarly articles on Shakespearean andmedieval drama. He was also archivist to the Rochester Bridge Trust for 30 years.
Daughter Rosie
said: “People knew my father as a gentle, wise and considerate manwith a dry sense of humour and a hearty laugh. Hewas deeply appreciated by his colleagues and loved by his family and friends.”
Jimloved to play bridge, bake bread
and readwidely. He played violinmost of his life, and spent many years in the Maidstone Symphony Orchestra. Jim preached regular sermons as a lay reader at Holy Cross Church, Bearsted. He is survived by his sister Pat, children
Nicholas and Rosie, and his grandchildren, Lois and Eleanor.
Grace Evelyn Benne
GRACE Evelyn Benne� (103) has died at the Lavenders,WestMalling. Shemoved to the areawith her three
children in 1957, to be near her sister after the death of Grace’s first husbandHarry. In 1970, shemarriedwidower John
Bennet and the couple se�led in Whiteheads Lane, Bearsted. John died after 10 years ofmarriage. Gracewas born inOctober 1914, one of
eight children. Sheworked as a telephonist throughout the Bli� in London. She married her first husband, awildlife artist, during thewar at Epping Church, Essex, and lived together in awatermill on the Essex/Suffolk border.
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nlnxn@aol.com 30 Maidstone East May 2018 DaughterMerrilyn said: “Mymotherwas
president of theMadgingfordWI on two occasions in the 70s and 80s andwas always an enthusiasticmember of the amateur dramatics section, the darts team, the crafts group and organised outings. “Therewere three branches of theWI in
Bearsted in those days. She also ran the Over 60s Club in Bearsted until shewas in hermid-80s. Shewill be sadlymissed.”
Royceston Sargeant
THE close relationship between East Malling’s Royceston Sargeant (51) and staff at the Extrastaff recruitment agency on Pudding Lanemade local news after his sudden death. Royceston had done industrialwork
including pallet-making and the agency had become so a�ached to himthat hewas included in plans for social events, including a trip to Thorpe Park and the works Christmas party. Sefika and Sammy
fromExtrastaff said: “Roycestonwas lovely, hemade us laugh all the time and every daywe share stories about him.
Once youmet himyou couldn’t help but become his friend.” Staff at the agency also enjoyed
appraising his ideas for PlayStation games. Royceston,who had lost hismother some years ago, leaves his stepfather.
Bey Chadwick BETTY Chadwick (86), formerly of Church Lane, Bearsted, has died in a care home in Gillingham. She was
headmistress of South Borough Girls' Secondary School, Maidstone, prior to its closure, havingmoved to the area after teaching in the Midlands. Shewas ladies'
captain of Bearsted Golf Club in 1997/8, having joined in 1986. Be�y, a ladywith a forceful personality, was a talented artist.
Obituaries
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