downsmail.co.uk Donald Bish


DONALDBish (91),who lived inAllington for about 25 years,was a clericwho served Teston,Wateringbury andWest Farleigh from1979 to 1991. He finished his


working life as chaplain at theHeart of KentHospice. Donaldwas born


and raised in South Wales and spent 25 years in the RAF as a fighter pilot, flying Mosquito and Javelin aircraft.He later


worked as a consultant in industry,with spellsworking for a subsidiary of Rolls Royce inDerby and forHall Thermotank International (nowHall Engineering) in Dartford. Itwaswhilst living in Longfield and


working in industry that he decided to take holy orders. Beforemoving locally,Donald served as a curate in theMedway towns. Donaldwasmarried to Truda for 64 years


andwas father to Frances andAndrew. Frances said: “My father’s RAF career took himto Canada for two years and the PersianGulf for a year aswell as all over the UK. “Hewill be remembered as a friendly and


caringmanwhowas capable of conveying a deep concern for people. In his younger days,my fatherwas a talented sportsman. Hewas a gymnast butwent on to play rugby and tennis to a good standard and became a rugby referee. “He never lost his love of sport and


enjoyedmany different sports on television, especially rugby, tennis and athletics.” Donald lost hiswife in 2014.He leaves his


children and grandsonsWilliamand Christopher.


Evelyn “Dizzy” Ranger


EVELYNFlorence “Dizzy” Ranger (89) lived herwhole life locally, spending her final 29 years inWestMalling. Born EvelynWaters in a home near the


walls ofMaidstone Prison, she a�ended Maidstone Grammar School for Girls and beganwork for Phoenix Insurance group. Dizzywas also awell-knownmember of the San FairyAnn Cycling Club.


Aswas customary in 1956, she had to


give upwork aftermarrying John Ranger. Dizzyworkedwith John on a family smallholding and after buying land on Lunsford Lane in Larkfield the couple moved in to a home they helped to build themselves, raising children Belinda, Melanie and Jamie.


John said: “Dizzy and Iweremarried for


62 years. Shewas devoted to her family and was loved by everyone shemet. She did localwork like fruit-picking and raised the family,whilst Iworked locally including a spell atAylesford PaperMill. “Dizzy had ba�led rheumatic fever


earlier in her life, but shewent on towork locally by se�ing up a nursery school in Larkfield village hall and thenworking for Kent social services as a socialwork assistant. “Sheworked at the children’s disabled


centre on the east ofMote Park and later in our lives,Dizzy and Iwere founder members of LarkfieldActive Retirement Association (LARA). The association read out a tribute to her, after she died. “We travelled around theworld twice


after retirement and spent threeweeks in Mongolia,where our youngest gotmarried to aMongolian lady.” Dizzy leaves her husband, children and


grandchildren George,Owen,Wilf,Nichole andHelen.


ThomWalker


THE sudden death ofDownswood’s Thom Walker (19) has left family and friends devastated and prompted an outpouring of tributes. The teenager died after being found


unresponsive in his bedroom. The former student ofMaidstone Grammar School had earned promotion to section leader as an army cadet atMGS andwas aiming for an career in theArmy before a peanut allergy forced himto abandon the ambition. Thomworked locally as an IT


development technician for Caseware International andwas planning to travel to Nepal to teach English to orphans.


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32 Maidstone East June 2018 Head ofMGSMark Tomkins praised


Thomas a “natural leader…who in his time gave tremendous service and leadership to the school.” Thom’s other volunteering and


communitywork included helping out at a homeless shelter and at theHazli� Theatre. Thom’s parents, Sue andAdie, have


sharedmany stories chronicling Thom’s amazing intelligence and dedication to others – including a sponsored silence he carried out forDemelzaHouseHospice when hewas just nine. Thom’s best friend, BeckieWillmo�,who


was planning to travelwith him, said on Facebook including: “No onewill ever compare to this humanwho is holdingme safewithin his arms and kissingme because he lovesme somuch.” In another post she added: “Rest easy, you amazing boy.”


Paul Bradshaw


FRIENDS have paid tribute to teenager Paul Bradshaw(18) after his tragic death. The youngster fromEastMalling died


after falling fromthe Lunsford Lane bridge onto theM20 onApril 7. Amongst the tributes paid online is one


fromclose friend CharlieDuffield. She posted the last selfie the pair took, the day before his death, on her Facebook page. She added: “You always knewhowto


put a smile on our faces, you had a heart of gold…Youmeant theworld tome. “There are somanymemories, that Iwill


treasure forever. So thank you. I amfinding this so hard, don't ever forget that I love ya! This doesn't feel right, itwas only yesterday Iwaswith you, but I promise you that you won't ever leavemy heart…You had a whole life ahead of you.”


AlanGulsen


MAIDSTONE’S Alan Gulsen (20) died after falling into the RiverMedway on April 13. Rescuerswhomanaged to pull himoutwere unable to revive him. Alanwaswell known to local skinheads,


and friends have spoken of his plans to forma punk and ska band – playing the music he loved and had followed for a number of years. Alongwith tributes fromfriends,Alan’s


death has prompted calls for be�er lighting and safetymeasures in the areawhere he died.


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