Former mayoress ‘looked for the good in everyone’
Family’s tributes to ex-teacher and active member of community
Former Mayoress of Maidstone Christine Ash has died.
Mrs Ash was born in Worcester on March 14, 1944, to Roy and Florence Peplow.
She spent her childhood and teenage years in Redditch, Worcestershire, attending Redditch County High School.
She was 12 when her brother Keith was born and she played a big part in bringing him up.
She left Redditch in 1962 to study geography and geology at Sheffield University, where she met her future husband, Bearsted ward councillor Richard Ash.
Graduating with honours in 1965, she embarked on a year’s teacher training course.
Mr and Mrs Ash married in the August of 1967, and following work opportunities moved first to Hornchurch, east London, and then to the Maidstone area.
Mrs Ash taught at various primary schools across the region, most notably Walderslade, Harrietsham, Hollingbourne, Wrotham and Ulcombe.
The couple finally settled in Bearsted in 1974 and have remained there ever since.
They had two children – Stephen, born in 1973, and Ian, born in 1977.
Christine was an active member of the her community, and was very proud to take on the role of mayoress when her husband served as mayor in 2007/08.
She was an active member of the WI, enjoyed long walks across the Downs, and meeting up for the local book club. She also liked to play mahjong.
She was a devoted grandmother to her five grandchildren, always going that extra mile for them. In March last year, she was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer which she fought head on, never giving in to her illness and continuing to live life to the full.
Ultimately, however, the cancer won. She died at the Heart of Kent Hospice on Friday, May 12, surrounded by family and friends. Her son Ian said: “Those who had her in their lives will count themselves fortunate and treasure the moments they shared with her.
“She was always positive, looking for the good in everyone, thoughtful and kind. She will be sorely missed.
“One thing mum would have insisted I mention was how wonderful were the staff and the care she received at the hospice. It was most appreciated.”
The funeral service will be on Monday from noon at the Holy Cross Church in Bearsted. All welcome, but the family request you wear bright colours to reflect Mrs Ash’s love of life. A former Kent Messenger village correspondent for Barming has died.
Ron Stubbs was born in 1937 in Woodford, Essex. After leaving school, he worked first in administration and finance.
He married Valerie Evans in 1969 and the couple moved to Epsom, Surrey, where they ran a village shop and post office for three years.
They then moved to Barming in 1972, to the house where Mr Stubbs was still living at the time of his death.
Mr Stubbs worked for several years as a writer on a hardware trade journal for Benn’s Publishing in Tonbridge, and then from 1985 to 1998 for The British Baker trade magazine.
After retirement, he took up the post of KM correspondent until last year, a job he thoroughly enjoyed because it gave him the chance to get out and meet people. He was a member of the Barming Horticultural Society, the Barming History Group and the University of the Third Age.
Mr and Mrs Stubbs had two children – Luke, born in 1972, and Rebecca, born in 1973.
Mr Stubbs’ health had declined over the past year and he spent his final five weeks in Maidstone Hospital, where he died on Thursday, April 27, of kidney and heart failure. He was 79.
Mrs Stubbs had predeceased him last May.
He leaves two children and three grandchildren.
His daughter, Rebecca Howard, said: “He was a very loving father and grandfather. He loved talking to people and finding out what was going on.”
The funeral will be at St Michael’s Church in Barming on Wednesday at noon.