Village mourns the death of stalwart campaigner Brian
‘A man generous with his time and resources’
One of the key figures in the fight to stop a huge international freight terminal being built at Hollingbourne has died.
Brian Clifford was heavily involved in the Say No to KIG campaign, which after three years celebrated victory in August 2010 when a government inspector rejected plans for the Kent International Gateway (KIG) scheme.
But Mr Clifford’s involvement in the community started a long time before KIG.
He did his two years’ National Service with the Royal Artillery in Germany. He enjoyed his time in the Army so much so that he joined the Territorials afterwards, rising to the rank of Major.
He was president of the Tonbridge Rugby Club before its merger with The Juddians. He played cricket for the YMCA and was a past president of Maidstone Rotary Club, an active member of the church and a trustee of the Red Hill Trust.
He was a member of the Maidstone Club and also of the Faversham and Mid Kent Conservative Association, and he was a volunteer for both the Maidstone Winter Shelter and the Heart of Kent Hospice.
In 2005 Mr Clifford became involved in the Bearsted and Thurnham Society at a time when it was on the verge of disbanding.
He took over as chairman and swiftly revitalised the society, pushing membership from 114 to 1,156 in a few months. Mr Clifford spent his working career in the family firm, James Clifford & Son Limited, which included Clifford Carpets in Hart Street, where he worked for more than 50 years with the majority as managing director.
The company, which was founded in 1747, was Maidstone’s oldest independent business, until its sale to the Headlam group in 2000.
His son Andrew said: “He loved Bearsted and Thurnham and he was truly generous with his time and resources. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.” He died last Thursday after a short illness.
He leaves his wife Jill, children Andrew, Susan and Nicola and three grandchildren.
The funeral will be at Holy Cross Church in Bearsted on Wednesday, July 17, at 11am. His family ask for donations in lieu of flowers.
They should be made to a cause close to Brian’s heart, Maidstone Churches Winter Shelter.