downsmail.co.uk Alan Benne
THE sudden death on October 20 has been reported of journalist and Hollingbourne parish councillorAlan Benne� (63). Alan’s localwork
included a short period editing the DownsMail. The paper’s
founding editor Dennis Fowle recalled: “Hewas a talentedwriter and local newspaper
journalist.Alanwas
also a very keen follower of sport – an ardent and knowledgeable supporter of Kent County Cricket Club andMaidstone United, travelling tomany away games. He also enjoyed classical concerts.” Recently,Alan had been involvedwith
his local parish council. Hollingbourne Parish Council chairmanAdamWard said: “Alanwas very active in the time he spent with us and had a strong interest in planningma�ers.Hewas very jovial and a bright spark. Hewas never short of a word.” Alan’s later years had been blighted by
health problems but even the amputation of a leg did not prevent himleading a full and active life. He leaves hiswifeAnne.
MikeWhitfield
MIKEWhitfield (80) had a distinguished ca- reer with Kent Police, serving across the county and at the staff college, Bramshill, as he was promoted to chief superintendent at county headquarters, Maidstone. After
retirement
fromthe force, he took up management con- sultancy with a secu- rity company. He became involved in the life of Maid-
stone, joining the RotaryClub ofMaidstone in 1987 and serving a year as president be- fore later moving to the Maidstone River- side club. He served as a governor of Maplesden Noakes School and was a keen member of
Bearsted Golf Club. Mike,whose early lifewas spent inNorth
Shields, and his wife Christine lived in Barming. He is also survived by daughters Jane and Claire and three grandchildren.
David Cameron
DAVIDCameron (91)who lived in Addington and Leybourne for almost 50 years, established his companyMegafoam in 1969,with offices first in EastMalling, thenWrothamand later Tonbridge. His home insulation,
Megafoam, became the leading national brand in cavitywall insulation. David grewup in
Bermondsey, leaving school at 14. In thewar hewas evacuated to Sussex,which inspired hiswish tomove to the
countryside. In 1974, bad publicity in 1974 raised
health concerns aboutMegafoamand the business took a hit before bouncing back in 1976. Afewyears later,Davidwent on to buy
the run-downGreenways complex on the A20, ploughingmoney into the business. But in the early 80s, therewas another
a�ack by the nationalmedia about the health effects of cavity foam,which brought about the end of the busines. DaughterDawn said: “The claimswere
unfounded.My dadwas devastated to have to let somany good people go. “Heworked until the age of 78.He had
this amazingzest for life.When he retired he gained a degree in creativewriting.He said his epitaph should read: ‘When hewas knocked down, he bounced back up.’” David,who lostwife Lillian, in 1985,
leaves children Linda, Janice,Diane, Lily, Dawn and Sco�, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Claud Courtnell
CLAUD Courtnell (82) grewup in Mangravet and livedmost recently in Hereford Road, Shepway. He a�endedMangravet Primary School and Southborough School before starting
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work as a lorry driver, for construction groupWimpey and Tilbury Construction. Hewent on towork on building sites for
his friend Bernard Setchell, before going on to finish hisworking lifewith Safeways Distribution inAylesford. Claudwasmarried to Val for 44 years
andwas father to Barry, Lynda,Marie, Floyd and Dale. Floyd said: “My father was amember of awildfowling club. He also enjoyed sea fishing off Hythe. “He could be amusing but hewas a very
privateman, devoted to ourmother and happy to domost thingswith her. People will remember himas an honest and loyal personwith a number of close friends.” Claud,whowaswidowed, leaves his
children, 13 grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.
GrahamTodd
GRAHAM“Gray”CarpenterTodd(71) lived in Park Wood with wife Marsha from 2005 and before that in Charing. Born and brought up in Essex, as a
teenagerGraywas a drummer in a band. As the group travelled fromEssex to
London toworkwith legendary producer JoeMeek, amotorcycle accident claimed the life of their singer. Despite record sales
in Sweden and session workwith theDave Clark Five,Gray left themusic industry to work in the copyright department at the BritishMuseum,
where he stayed for 20 years. The second of his fourmarriages
produced children Jenny and Stewart. HiswidowMarsha said: “Graywas a
hugely creative personwith lots of ideas.He loved his allotment, photography and American sports.Hewas the first qualified American football referee in England and officiated at baseball games. “He sufferedwith epilepsy but never let it
hold himback.Heworked in a range of areas including importing and exporting. Music remained a passion and his funeral includedmusic byWoodyGuthrie, Rocky Sharpe and the Replays and Billy Bragg’s version of The Red Flag.” Gray leaves hiswife, children, step-
children Krissie, Paul and Emma and his grandchildren.
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neilnixon22@gmail.com Malling November 2018
Obituaries
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