Stephen Brooks


STEPHEN Brooks (63), of Mereworth, lived locally all his life and spent most of his working life in the local area. Born in Maidstone, he moved to Snodland as a child and his subsequent homes included time in West Farleigh, Hunton and Mereworth where he lived in a cottage linked to a job he loved, working as a vineyard manager. Stephen also


worked as a casino


manager, buyer and seller, fencing contractor and in an office for Lord Sainsbury. Stephen was father to Georgina and


Steve. Steve said: “My father was happiest when he was working out of doors. He enjoyed shooting and had been involved in forestry management. He loved his final job on the vineyard and never really retired. “The last relationship of his life was with


Diane for 16 years and she was the love of his life. She looked after him when he became ill and that meant he never needed hospital care.” Stephen leaves his partner, his children,


grandchildren Isabel, Harry, Jasmine, Kenzie and George and his parents.


Alice “Pip” Wakefield


THE funeral has taken place in West Farleigh of Alice “Pip” Wakefield (104). Alice was the village’s oldest resident


and well-known from many years teaching at the Boys High School on the High Street and at West Farleigh School. Pip was born during WWI in Gatley,


near Manchester. She trained as a teacher in Bangor, Wales before moving to the Maidstone area. Pip stayed at the Boys High School until


the 1950s when she was appointed to the headship of West Farleigh School. The post came with on-site accommodation on Lower Road and when the school closed


Pip retired but lived in the house next door to her school accommodation which she bought with her friend, Sylvia Whittle. Pip was very active in the local


community and served as parish council clerk for a number of years, and on the Parochial Church Council as secretary. She also conducted the village choir. Pip raised over £50,000 for Hearing


Dogs for the Deaf, was a keen gardener and travelled widely. She remained in good health for most of her life and died at home.


David Paine


DAVID Paine (60), who has died in Gibraltar, was a well-known member of the river community. He owned and ran the boatyard in East


Farleigh for 23 years before moving to Gibraltar in 2012. Born in Maidstone


and raised in Medway House, East Farleigh, David attended Maidstone Grammar School. He spent time in


the merchant navy and drove lorries for local firms before taking on the


boatyard, which was previously owned by his father. David built up the business, allowing himself to adopt a range of roles, using the full range of his talents. David – an accomplished mechanic –


was known for his inventive approach. His children said: “Many of his creations are still going, including a very fast speedboat (which he retro-fitted with a V12 Jaguar car engine) and a car which had the bodywork of a Land Rover, but a powerful Cherokee engine. He built a motorbike from scratch using a Rover car engine and various old parts. “He was always intrigued by people


with interesting stories, many of whom he met in different bars, pubs and marinas. His ‘local’ was the Victory Inn in Farleigh Lane. “Our father once transported a huge crane over East Farleigh bridge, with


centimetres to spare on each side. He had crossed the English Channel a few times in his boats, darting between ferries and other vessels and he enjoyed turning heads with his controversial loud creations, fast affordable cars, and smoky boats. He said he was proud of the way he had lived his life – doing and experiencing things that other people hadn’t.” David leaves his three children – Stephen, Christine and Louise.


Patrick Whelan


PATRICK Whelan (83), also known as Pat, lived in East Malling from 1976. Brought up in Fife, Scotland, he came from a mining family and was determined not to follow his father down the local pit. He started work in the RAF as a cook before a working life that took him southwards until he reached East Malling. At various points, Patrick worked as a


roustabout in a circus, as a kitchen porter in various London hotels and as a labourer. In the 1980s, he worked as a groundsman at Mereworth Castle and as a porter at Oakwood Park Hospital. Patrick lived with his partner Maureen


for many years, until her death in 2004. Patrick was a parish councillor and a


founding trustee of the East Malling Centre. In 2010, his local contributions were marked with an award for services to the community. Patrick was also a member of Larkfield Community Church, where he worshipped for over 10 years. Amongst the many people he had met


and befriended over the years was EastEnders actor John Altman, who he knew well enough to ask his advice on some big life decisions. Patrick leaves a niece in Scotland and one cousin in Newcastle.


Bob Walters


TRIBUTES have been paid to Robert “Bob” Walters (54), a well-known local landlord who ran a number of establishments in and around Maidstone, most recently the Papermakers Arms in Upper Stone Street. Bob, a father of four, grew up in


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Allington and was employed as an electrician at Aylesford Paper Mills before becoming a pub landlord. His work locally took in many of the county town watering holes, including The Cooper’s Cask, The Druids Arms and The Rose in Tovil. He worked for 10 years at Maidstone


Snooker Club, Buckland Hill, before moving to the Style and Winch in Union Street, and later buying the lease at the Papermakers Arms.


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