downsmail.co.uk JohnWare


JOHNWare (68)was Kentish through and through, born inAllington a�ending Brunswick House Primary and Maidstone Grammar Schools. He trained as a


building surveyor at Mid Kent College Horsted, and graduatedwith his CIOB in 1974. He started his


careerwith Croudace Builders, moving on to Finnegan’s and, for


the last 30 years, Coombs of Canterbury. Hewas involved inmany projects for major parties in the South East including Benenden Hospital, Kent County Council and the National Trust. Hewas honoured before his retirement


in 2015 by beingmade chairman of the Chartered Institute of Builders. He belonged to the ScoutAssociation for


over 30 years, and helped to found the HamletWoodDistrict Campsite in 1965. He helped establish The Kits Coty


Morris dancers,who have been entertaining the people ofMaidstone since the Queen’s Jubilee in 1977. He livedwith his firstwife Joy in


Allington until her death in the 1990s. He later remarried,moving to Ulcombewith wife Leila. Hewas a valued basswith the East


Malling Singers, part of the village hall commi�ee, performedwith the Ulcombe DramaticAmateurs Society,was membership secretary of the village History Society, and commi�eemember of Friends ofAll Saints’ Ulcombe. He is survived by Leila, step-children


Jeremy, Frazer and Rachel, and step grandchildren Sam, Josie, Rosie, Isaac and Lulu.


John Frisby


MEREWORTH’S John Frisby (90)was a tenacious local politician and tireless environmentalist,who served Kent County Council as a LiberalDemocrat member from1989 to 2005.Hewas


appointed as anAlderman of Kent in 2010. Johnmoved locallywith Joan, hiswife


of 67 years after forays into the local countryside allowed themto spot a coach house suitable for conversion. The couplewere parents toAlistair and


Clare, andwere together for over 70 years. Their only significant time apartwas a three-year periodwhen John’s careerwith BP took himto theMiddle East. John’swork in the oil industry included


responsibility for human resources and a long-standing interest in helping the industry towork in sympathywith the environment. These concerns informed his decision to enter local politics. Johnwas also a governor atMaidstone


Grammar School.His daughter Clare said: “My fatherwas aman verymuch ahead of his time in theway he championed the rights of the underdog.” County councillor TrudyDeanMBE


added: “Johnwas a great environmentalist and his political strengthwasmatched by his ability to bring humour to hiswork.” John leaves hiswife, children and


grandchildrenHolly, Callum,Ollie and Freddie.


Bey Pearson


BETTY PearsonMBE (89) lived locally, most recently inAllington, and previously inWestMalling andMaidstone. She earned herMBE for services to animal charities, notably with the RSPCA. Born Be�y


Charman in Surrey, shemoved locally as a girl and, after completing her education, began working in the shoe trade. She rose to


manage a ChrisHa�on shop before moving on towork forDolcis. Be�y later opened a transport café in


Addington and eventually ran her final business; a grocery shop on Bearsted Green. With her sister Brenda Johnson and


three other localwomen, Be�y established theAnimalWelfare Charity before going


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on towork for the RSPCA, eventually taking the lead role locally for dog re- homing and placing over 6,000 dogswith newowners. Shewasmarried to Ernest for 68 years


andwasmother to Jacqui. Jacqui said: “Mymother loved life and


was never one to complain. Shewas active in the RSPCAinto her eighties and people will remember her as very selfless.” Be�y leaves her husband, daughter,


grandchildren Robert andAlice, and great-grandchildren Ernie and Elsie.


Gavin Stanford


GAVINRawdon Stanford (83) lived locally for 50 years, the last 20 of themin Bearsted Park.


Born in Essex, he


boarded at Bethany School near Goudhurst before a career as an electrical engineer. Thiswork eventually brought himto the local area when hewas employed as an engineer surveyor by


part of the Royal Insurance Company, British Engine Insurance. Gavinwasmarried toMarjorie for 53


years and father to Jon and Jane. Jon said: “My fatherwould go out of hisway to help others.He had strong practical skills and hadworked inwood-turning and other crafts.He suffered fromarthritis, which brought about his early retirement, but he did continuewith his art.” Gavin leaves hiswife, children and


grandchildren James, Katie, Emily, William,Mencia andGavin.


NormanWilliams


NORMANWilliams (92), of Loose,was known inMaidstone for his performances with the Country PlayersAmateur Dramatic Society, always teaming up on stagewith his wife Pamela. Hewas once


selected as the best amateur actor in Kent and awarded the Marlowe Shield. Hewas a talented sportsman and


played rugby for CambridgeUniversity in the 1950/51 Varsitymatch againstOxford. He spent 18 years in Zambiawith the


Colonial Service. Later he servedwith Liverpool City Council and then Kent County Council. Hewas a talented artist and his


paintings soldwell at exhibitions. He is survived by his secondwife


Pamela and sons Richard andDavid from his firstmarriage, and Louise and James fromPamela’s firstmarriage.


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