downsmail.co.uk Mike Oliver
MICHAEL James “Mike” Oliver (74), who spent his life living in theMedway townswas theworld’s first professor of disability studies. Hewas appointed by the University of
Greenwich, andmade amajor contribution nationally and internationally to broadening understanding of disability issues and improving the life of peoplewith a range of disabilities. HisWikipedia
page describes him
as a disability advocate and obituaries have appeared in a range of national publications and broadcast outlets. Born in Chathamand educated at
RochesterMath School,Mike began work as an office clerk, but an accident inwhich he broke his neck after diving into a swimming pool left himusing a wheelchair. Hewas offered a teaching position
with young offenders at Borstal Prison, a position that proved the start of a significant academic career.Mike worked hisway to a PhD and focused on sociology as hismain discipline. Hismanywri�enworks include
ground-breaking titles on the politics of disability andworks exploring the understanding of disability issues. Mikewasmarried twice andwas father
to Eleanor andWilliam. HiswidowJoy said: “Mikewas very
down to earth and straightwith people. Hewaswell-loved and enjoyed holding big parties. “Heworked all over theworld and
pushed forward the understanding of all the issues related to disability but hewas also a very loving familyman.” An obituary in Unitemagazine said he
“promoted the concept of ‘the social model of disability’,which said the need to remove barriers for disabled people to engagewith society is not an individual responsibility, but a societal one’.” Mike leaves hiswife, children and grandchildren Georgina andAlice.
Jean Firmager
THE death has been reported in Rangiora, NewZealand, of Jean Firmager (72). Jean,whowas reported to have died
after a short illness, formerly lived in Staplehurst and a death announcement stated she died after “a sudden decline in health.” Jeanwasmarried to Gordon,who died
before her. She leaves children Carol, Michael, Sue and Samand grandchildren Jessica, Geoff, Steven and Janelle and great-grandchild Rosabellawho is expecting Jean’s first great-great grandchild.
Frank Burniston
FRANK Burniston, of Hollingbourne, was a former long-serving chairman of the Leeds and Hollingbourne branch of the Royal British Legion. Frank had a
distinguished RAF career,which included service at Detling andwork as amotorcycle despatch rider – a skill he took into one of the businesses he ran in civilian life; a courier business.
The Hollingbourne parishwebsite
reported: “Frank once said that his busiest periodwas in the aftermath of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster in 1987 when, in pre-internet days, lots ofmedia companies needed films and pictures of the event to be couriered back to their studios.” Alongwith hiswife, Jill, Frank ran a
fewlocal shops at different times. He operated Hollingbourne’s village shop fromthe Old China Shop in Eyhorne Street. The couple subsequently ran a greengrocery business in the Hollingbourne Station Yard. In his later years Frankworked locally
as a gardener. His homes locally included Culpeper Close and –most recently – a house at the end of the Pilgrim’sWay in Upper Street,
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34 Maidstone Weald June 2019
Hollingbourne. His local involvementwith the Royal
British Legion included participating in three charity bicycle rides for the charity fromLondon to Paris. Frank leaves hiswidow, several children and grandchildren.
Anne Clinch THE death has been reported in Newcastle Upon Tyne ofAnne Clinch, formerly of Leeds. Annewas amember of the choir and
congregation of St Nicholas Church, Otham. Shewasmarried to the late James
Clinch,mother to Kate, Chris and Lucy and a grandmother to Emma and Hannah.
MargaretWarren
HOLLINGBOURNE’SMargaretWarren (103)was the village’s oldest resident. She lived near Vicarage Lane, having
moved therewith her husband – anArmy Major andWWII veteran – in 1971. Margaret served as amajor inWomen’s ArmyAuxiliary Corps during thewar. The couplewere noted followers of the
local point to point races (their house overlooked the old course).Atribute on the parishwebsite noted: “MrsWarren was very active in a number of Hollingbourne organisations including the Royal British Legion. Formany years, into her 90s,MrsWarrenwent to Hollingbourne County Primary School to listen to the children reading.” Margaret,whowaswidowed, had
moved to live near her daughter in Warwickshire during her finalmonths, though donations in hermemorywill go to the Leeds andHollingbourne Royal British Legion. One of hermany local friends,Derek
Davidson, said: “Shewas a lovely lady and great conversationalist. People locally enjoyed cha�ing to her. She did a lot in the local community, at one point she and the Majorwere the local collectors for the football pools in the village.” Margaret leaves her daughter and one
grandson.
Kay Kilby THE death of Kay Kilby (100) in a house firemade local headlines. Kay, a former nurse, had lived at
Longbeech Park in Canterbury Road, Charing for 32 years andwould have celebrated her 101st birthday in July. She lived independently and her qualities as a lovingmother and close friendwere praised by thosewho commented on her death. During thewar Kay’s nursing skills saw
her helpingwith the D-Day invasion by serving in a field hospital.
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Obituaries
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